Was chatting with some close family and friends today in regard to trade week, and some of the list restructuring down at Essendon (Lovett trade speculation has set Essendon fans alight!). Of those I spoke to, many were knowledgeable Bomber fans. One thing they seemed to agree on, was what a poor move letting go Tom Hislop was. Admittedly, I knew nothing of him, but he was spoken about highly, and they were surprised he was not signed given that he fits the youth policy and has some talent. Apparently he is a good player, and the odd little injury has kept him out of playing a regular game.The guys I spoke to were sure he would be either picked up by Essendon again, or by another club without a shadow of a doubt.

Went pick #20 in the 2006 Draft. Only 20 years of age, and has plenty of football in front of him. Worth a spot on the Dees rookie list?

Link to profile - http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player.asp?id=111profile"]TOM HISLOP://http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/p...uot;]TOM HISLOP

Definately a good rookie list prospect..

I remember when he was drafted that I hoped we'd pick him up..

Someone will give him a go, lets have we at least have a look!

Since when have they let him go? I must have completely missed this....

Apparantly he's a bad egg off the field.

Rookie list prospect if indeed delisted as the kid can play.

Apparantly he's a bad egg off the field.

Rookie list prospect if indeed delisted as the kid can play.

Yeah. Word is Hodgey & Buddy are hardcore party boys and thats why Judd ruled the hawks out from the beginning, but i'd still take them.

Hislop would be great i recon

hes known as a tough nut i dont understand why essendon would of got rid of him?

What has happen was he delisted?

Tom is a tough kid..... again... being a Tassie boy I saw alot of his footy, when he played against grown men, he still had the knack of intimidating them. He is a clean ball winner and does the hard stuff..... Had a sensational year at Bendigo, had a few injuries late.....

He never had off field issues here......I'm wondering whether it goes a little bit deeper.

I was talking to his mother yesterday and she didn't mention he'd been delisted at that time.... I asked if he was enjoying his time off and she indicated he was back in training.

They havent delisted him

so wats the talk about??

Do not know. There has been no announcement and as far as Essendon is concerned he is still a contracted player

Since when have they let him go? I must have completely missed this....

Yeah... WTF!!! That's like us letting go of Bate or something. Hislop is a gun, I nearly had a heart attack... I'd take him in the draft, let alone the rookie or PSD...

Ok... Two things:

1: Is he being let go because he's a nuff nuff? Or SOLELY because of injuries? Something doesn't add up here.

2: Assuming he's not on drugs, or poisonous to the playing group, and assuming there is hope his body will pull itself back together, he's got to be the closest thing we've seen yet to someone who fits our needs in the PSD...

Like everyone else, I think these "should we or shouldn't we" threads are getting old, but surely this guy demands a serious look. He's the first delisting to pique my interest.

I remember in his draft year I wanted him.

I don't know much about him Dan, can you enlighten me a little?

for once i agree with you dappa!!!

i like this kid alot and would love to take him pick 1 in the PSD

he went pick 20 in 2006 and according to sum he can really play!!

a hard nut midfielder!!!

for once i agree with you dappa!!!

i like this kid alot and would love to take him pick 1 in the PSD

he went pick 20 in 2006 and according to sum he can really play!!

a hard nut midfielder!!!

Exactly why I'm quite suspicious of Essendon having let him go... what if he's on 2 strikes already? I get the feeling he's a bad egg.

of course, if we don't have any decent smokies, and there are no decent looking players that have fallen through the draft, then i'm all in favour of him.

You know, as opposed to a Shane Birss or a Charlie Gardiner or a Deluca, etc... *insert reject player's name here*

I'm all for giving a player with a perceived substance abuse problem a second go

Exactly why I'm quite suspicious of Essendon having let him go... what if he's on 2 strikes already? I get the feeling he's a bad egg.

I know Tom and his family and I can assure you he isn't a bad egg. He was highly regarded for his football and his personality when he played at Burnie, something definately isn't right....

Let's not jump to any hasty conclusions about this or any player's off field proclivities.

There's been a long discussion on Hislop on Bomber Blitz here. Judge for yourself whether you want him.

Let's not jump to any hasty conclusions about this or any player's off field proclivities.

There's been a long discussion on Hislop on Bomber Blitz here. Judge for yourself whether you want him.

Yeah, i completely went off on a tangent of wild speculation there, when i really shouldn't have.

That was reprehensible, and I take it back. I've been thinking about getting cousins far too much.

My main point i was trying to get across (unsuccessfully) was that i'm suspicious of why they'd get rid of him when he seems to be so promising.

Maybe there's an injury there that they think will never allow him to reach his best.

I really don't know.

Ok... Two things:

1: Is he being let go because he's a nuff nuff? Or SOLELY because of injuries? Something doesn't add up here.

2: Assuming he's not on drugs, or poisonous to the playing group, and assuming there is hope his body will pull itself back together, he's got to be the closest thing we've seen yet to someone who fits our needs in the PSD...

Like everyone else, I think these "should we or shouldn't we" threads are getting old, but surely this guy demands a serious look. He's the first delisting to pique my interest.

I remember in his draft year I wanted him.

Ditto 'Dappa Dan', it'll be interesting to read some feedback to the reasons he hasn't produced.

Edit. :- Perhaps a rookie if available.

Of most concern is that a team that isn't performing, and is already delisting 8 players decides that they are better off having a very late draft selection/rookie ahead of this guy.

Of the ones available he is the best so far but I suspect there will be a few more delistings from other clubs that topple him from PSD pick 1.

I don't know much about him Dan, can you enlighten me a little?

Well. I know only what the regular joes around footy know. Hard nut, he's a touch arrogant, but in a good way. Quick hands. Not sure if he's the archetype for the future of footy, as I know nothing about his kicking. But I do reckon one of the weakest teams in the history of handballing is the current MFC squad. Who, in our side, has hands as good as, say, Simon Black? We have extractors, sure, but my heart stops every time they look to deliver by hand... so Tom could be a good fit in that regard.

My info is all pretty flimsy though. Best people to ask would be your die-hard bomber supporter mates. They would have seen more of him than me, that's for sure.

for once i agree with you dappa!!!

Eh?!!! When have we ever not agreed? :D

Exactly why I'm quite suspicious of Essendon having let him go... what if he's on 2 strikes already? I get the feeling he's a bad egg.

I did exactly the same thing as you, and I might go back later and edit my comments about drugs if anyone else is bothered, as they are unnecessarily inflammatory, especially in today's climate.

I have NO idea why he's being let go, which is why I thought some sort of social, or team-oriented instability might be the cause. Also, if they were that keen to get rid of a top-20 draft pick in a super-draft, why didn't his name pop up in trade talks? SURELY it at LEAST would have come up somewhere in the Lovett trade-talks as an add-on. So what's happened between now and the end of trade week that has them so spooked that they want to let him go NOW?

Speaking of which, why did they delist 8 guys... then a few ays later add him to the list?

I'm very confused, and I reckon there'll be a lot more on this topic before draft day.

For what it's worth, right now, a speculative pick up of a player drafted within the last 3 years is pretty much DB's wishlist. Also, if his reputation is deserved, then he'll be Dean's kind of player.

Let's not jump to any hasty conclusions about this or any player's off field proclivities.

There's been a long discussion on Hislop on Bomber Blitz here. Judge for yourself whether you want him.

Seems like quite a few of the Bomber fans are angry he has been delisted. 185cm inside midfielder. Touted as tough and talented. I would have a good look at him.

They took one off us a few years ago and he played a lot of games ( Peverill).

Would it have anything to do with the list numbers on the lodgement day (or whatever the F*** it is)?

tbh I don't know much about him either, don't think I've ever actually seen him play . . .

*edit*

That's one area (inside midfielders) where the Bombers aren't too bad.

Watson, Lonergan, Hocking and to an extent Welsh are all good at finding the ball from stoppages, and the #5 pick could yield someone like Ziebell who is reportedly pretty good in that area

I wouldn't be surprised if Hislop has been delisted by Essendon with the intention of redrafting him as a rookie. His career appears to have been derailed a bit after he suffered some injuries.

Interestingly, Matt Burgan of afl.com.au had him slated to be selected with Melbourne's first selection in the 2006 National Draft:-

12 - MELBOURNE - TOM HISLOP Tassie Mariners, 7 June 1988, 184.4cm, 85.9kg Should a 'slider' fall through, Melbourne's first selection could be a fascinating outcome, yet the Demons are believed to be considering hard-at-it Taswegian Tom Hislop and Queenslander Ricky Petterd with its first selection, while key Victorian talls James Frawley and Ben Reid are also in the mix. Krakouer may also be considered with Melbourne's opening choice. Renouf will also be in Melbourne's thoughts. Hislop is likely to be a sought-after prospect from 10 to 15. His hardness and attack on the ball would compliment the likes of recent draftees Brock McLean and Colin Sylvia. Should Hislop pass Melbourne, expect him to figure in Richmond's plans the following pick and also Sydney's at No.15. Highlights/achievements: Robust and powerful player who is strong overhead and a prolific ball winner. All-Australian at U18 level this year averaging 20 disposals and ranking number one for tackles. Has an excellent speed and endurance combination being sub 3.00sec for 20m and mid level 14 for the Beep Test. AIS/AFL Academy graduate

I know Tom and his family and I can assure you he isn't a bad egg. He was highly regarded for his football and his personality when he played at Burnie, something definately isn't right....

Well there's an endorsement if ever I've heard one.