As part of a club-by-club series, we look at Matthew Knights facing up to post-Matthew Lloyd reality at Windy Hill.
ESSENDON
Live selections: 10, 24, 26, 33
You could argue it was a year too late. Finally, the curtain has come down on the Lloyd/Lucas show. Scott Lucas saw the writing on the wall early while Matthew Lloyd had to be pushed, but the end result is that we now get to see whether Matthew Knights’ strategy of allowing Jay Neagle, Scott Gumbleton and Darcy Daniher to play second fiddle to former stars for the first year or two of their development is going to pay off. Neagle has shown promise, Daniher has not, while Gumby hasn’t shown anything at all in the face of a massive injury toll.
There are two wild cards in the Essendon depth charts. The first is Michael Hurley. He was drafted as a defender, and played most of his AFL footy in 2009 there, but his heroics up forward in the round 22 match against Hawthorn will have Knights’ trigger finger drifting towards the magnet labeled HURLEY in tough situations in the future.
The second wild card is Patrick Ryder. For one more year, the backline will be held together by Dustin Fletcher, though this is another situation where it can be argued that his presence stifles his proteges’ learning curve more than it helps, given how rudderless the kids looked at times in 2009 when he was off the ground. Where does Ryder fit in once David Hille is fit and firing again? Does Ryder become a spare parts man, filling the role just vacated by Adam McPhee?
All this means that the Bombers should probably invest that #10 pick in another tall, as well as one or two of their other three picks inside the top 35. Add some youthful speed and Essendon should be aiming at another top 8 finish in 2010.
wceagles
November 19, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Regarding Hill and Ryder I think they might play Hill as ruck moving up forward and Ryder covering him and playing down back. The emergence of Ryder will imo make the ruck duties more equal which could lessen both of their DT scores.
chadwick
November 19, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Hurley is an interesting one. Looks good in both positions. I guess it remains to be seen how well Hille tracks into the season, if his knee is right (if it stays right).
hibbo
November 19, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Prismall looks set to join the elite category (in DT that is). One to watch come pre-season.
chadwick
November 20, 2009 at 7:50 am
prismall is full priced though at 443.
ronl
November 20, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I think you’ll find Hille and Laycock doing most of the ruck work early on with Ryder filling in at CHF or CHB wherever he’s most needed. Hurley is being groomed to be a key defender and inherit Fletcher’s role in a year or two. Gumbleton and/or Neagle will hold the key up forward. Full pre-seasons from Prismall and Welsh will make a difference in the middle.
McVeigh, even though he is stupid, is a very good player, having been troubled with injury for the past 2 years he will be like a new recruit this year. I expect a really big year from him. Kyle Reimers out injured most of last year will make a big difference to the running game, as will a more experienced Zaharakis. Hocking and Lonergan in and under.
Pears and Hooker maturing down back. Bombers could have a surprisingly good year if they luck out on injuries.
Lakey91
November 20, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Just because they are 440k doesnt mean they are full priced chad? He could have 10ppg upside – he averaged 100 over the last 7 games of the H/A season. Add some more confidence, another year into the youth of the club (and the coach) and who knows?
Cant write anyone off at this stage.
Narkee
November 20, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Couldn’t agree more Lakey91.
Stanton will be the first tagged and with a full pre-season under his belt (unlike 2009), I think Prissa definitely has some upside.
Almost certain he can maintain a 100 ave.
Pozzato
November 20, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Could Hurley possibly fit into Mcphee’s old role and if he does so does this make his fantasy value go up?
hibbo
November 21, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Agree Lakey,
Chad – if Prismall can add 10 points to his average wouldn’t that make him underpriced?
No one is fully priced unless they’ve peaked in average. Which IMO doesn’t seem to be the case with Prismall at the moment.
toodledock
January 21, 2010 at 4:47 pm
-Lloyd was injured, badly bruised heel which makes things very hard, walking let alone running.
-Despite his injury hampers he made the ultimate self sacrifice in changing the momentum of the game against Hawthorn and getting us into the finals.
-Neagle has previously shown anything that would warrant above ‘second fiddle’ There is limited tangible proof he is even going to make it. So of course he would be playing second fiddle to the current greatest full forward of this era. A few goals here and there on low possessions isnt promise.
-We wont be rudderless wth Hurley down there, Dempsey gaining experience Pears once again improving. Look at what we did to Fev, that will become the norm soon experience has led to a little back half inconsistency.
Essendon has a bright bright future!