17 minutes ago, Tony Tea said:

Left footers don't need a right foot.

Thats what left footers think.

2 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

Kents kicking is hit and miss.
As is Tysons.
As is Vineys.

 

You are right, but both Viney and Tyson have improved this part of their games.. Kent is an interesting one, as he hits them well on the run, but cannot do it while stationary. 

15 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Pro: powerful running (but not super quick), long kicking midsized defender, strong in the air and solid one on one

Cons: Probably struggles with his weight at the best of times, will be interesting to see if he's in shape. 27 in Jan. At 186cm he probably doesn't solve our 3rd tall issues

 

Hmm, he players taller than he is. At 84 games is another player we add to the pipeline in the 100-game mark. If we're not paying over he'd be a great addition. 

I like him as a player, but he's not a game changer. At his age, he's the type that you'd pick up as a free agent.

At worst, would could use a player like ANB as bait, but let's not overpay like we did with Melksham. Hibberd has had a year out of football, so his currency should be lessened.

Hibberd, Melksham, Lumumba, Wagner, White, Hunt, Salem, etc. I'm not sure we need another HBF.

The only circumstances under which I would want Hibberd are (a) if Lumumba retires / is delisted at year end and (b) Hibberd comes as a free agent.

Anything else would detract from our ability to add talent where we desperately need it, ie midfield and key position.

6 minutes ago, poita said:

Hibberd, Melksham, Lumumba, Wagner, White, Hunt, Salem, etc. I'm not sure we need another HBF.

The only circumstances under which I would want Hibberd are (a) if Lumumba retires / is delisted at year end and (b) Hibberd comes as a free agent.

Anything else would detract from our ability to add talent where we desperately need it, ie midfield and key position.

Hunt will likely move to Wing and Salem will move to HFF or Midfield. White and Wagner will be depth next year and Lumumba may not be able to play on.. That would leave only Hibberd and Melksham.

7 minutes ago, SPC said:

Hunt will likely move to Wing and Salem will move to HFF or Midfield. White and Wagner will be depth next year and Lumumba may not be able to play on.. That would leave only Hibberd and Melksham.

Hibberd would be a great addition, and you can probably add Vince to the half back group.

Anyone know if Hibberd has played through the middle at all at Essendon?

12 minutes ago, SPC said:

Hunt will likely move to Wing and Salem will move to HFF or Midfield. White and Wagner will be depth next year and Lumumba may not be able to play on.. That would leave only Hibberd and Melksham.

Melksham has less of a track record as a HBF than Wagner. Hunt's run and carry is pivotal to our backline structure, as is Salem's ball use.

IMO, Hibberd needs to play as a 3rd tall, and Melksham needs to find a place in the midfield.

41 minutes ago, poita said:

Hibberd, Melksham, Lumumba, Wagner, White, Hunt, Salem, etc. I'm not sure we need another HBF.

The only circumstances under which I would want Hibberd are (a) if Lumumba retires / is delisted at year end and (b) Hibberd comes as a free agent.

Anything else would detract from our ability to add talent where we desperately need it, ie midfield and key position.

I cannot understand this line of thinking.

Hibberd has more runs on the board than Melksham. To date he has shown he is a superior player in almost every respect bar leg speed. Seeing will be believing with Melksham.

Of the other names you reel off, the only ones that leap out are Salem and Hunt. The rest are not certainties to be around long term imo.

Surely you would concede that we desperately need more class and composure by foot?  Hibberd provides this along with other assets. The gamble is how damaged he is by the Essendon saga but I'd take that gamble.

A second round pick would be worth it, if it came down to that.

Edited August 2, 20169 yr by P-man

6 hours ago, Hulett Packard III said:

So if we get Hibberd then we have Melksham and him as our new players for 2017 which doesn't quite add an exciting dimension to the team. Essendon achieved very little in the years they played with them so I don't see their additions to the list moving us forward in leaps and bounds.

What an inane comment.

By that logic Flower was a dud and Gold Coast's Tom Lynch wouldn't improve us.  Judge a player on their merits.

Hibberd is a very good player.  Melksham less so.

The only reason I can think of as to why we seem to be stockpiling half backs is that we have guys like Hunt , Melksham and Salem earmarked for positions further up the ground.

Goodwin may even think that Hibberd could be a really strong big bodied midfielder.

I guess though ,that in the end you can never have enough quality players on the list.

5 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

The only reason I can think of as to why we seem to be stockpiling half backs is that we have guys like Hunt , Melksham and Salem earmarked for positions further up the ground.

Goodwin may even think that Hibberd could be a really strong big bodied midfielder.

I guess though ,that in the end you can never have enough quality players on the list.

I think the last line covers it DeeZee

5 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

Slightly off topic, but I wonder if we keep the 2017 first rounder or look to trade it.  I know they are saying it's going to be a 'strong draft' but we already have the youngest list in the comp.  If we can use it to get in some quality talent in the 23-25 year old range then I'd be happy for us to trade it.

2017 first round and 2016 second round for Hurley and Hibberd ?

Edited August 2, 20169 yr by johndemons

1 hour ago, poita said:

Hibberd, Melksham, Lumumba, Wagner, White, Hunt, Salem, etc. I'm not sure we need another HBF.

The only circumstances under which I would want Hibberd are (a) if Lumumba retires / is delisted at year end and (b) Hibberd comes as a free agent.

Anything else would detract from our ability to add talent where we desperately need it, ie midfield and key position.

Looking it at the wrong way. 

2 tall forwards

1 fwd/ruck

1 small forwards

3 tall defenders

1 small defender

1 ruck 

13 mids 

Look at Geelong 07, 09, 11 and the Hawks 13-15.

Mids who could play back, forward or both. 

So we now ha w a number of players that can or are working towards playing off half back as well as the midfield as well as players like Petracca, VB and Kent that can play forward and are working towards spending time in the middle.

 

 

39 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

The only reason I can think of as to why we seem to be stockpiling half backs is that we have guys like Hunt , Melksham and Salem earmarked for positions further up the ground.

Goodwin may even think that Hibberd could be a really strong big bodied midfielder.

I guess though ,that in the end you can never have enough quality players on the list.

It was stated by Melksham himself in a pre season interview, that the coaching staff had advised that he was recruited to play across half back.

5 hours ago, Ron Burgundy said:

Hibberd would be a quality addition to our side. Without doubt.

Cant afford to give away much to get him though.

Need to re-sign Tommy Mac.

And go after a player like Gary Rohan.

Hurley would obviously be great, but I reckon he'll stay with the Dons.

 

 

Rohan averages about 10 possessions a game over the last 7 years and less than a goal a game. He has never really had a breakout year and even though he is supposed to be hard at it only averages 2.5 tackles a game.

I'm just not sure why Sydney love him, because if it's for his goal kicking or tackling, it's just not there. 

Honest question, what is it you see in him that I miss?  

If it's true, this is a great get...

 

5 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

They've got nothing on these highlights.

 

Hows Jones taking Greg Broughton (took a while to find who it was!) out, great bump!

Edited August 2, 20169 yr by AzzKikA

3 hours ago, poita said:

Hibberd, Melksham, Lumumba, Wagner, White, Hunt, Salem, etc. I'm not sure we need another HBF.

The only circumstances under which I would want Hibberd are (a) if Lumumba retires / is delisted at year end and (b) Hibberd comes as a free agent.

Anything else would detract from our ability to add talent where we desperately need it, ie midfield and key position.

Lumumba is finished.  White is depth at best. 

Theres plenty of spots for the other 5, and all of them bar Wagner can play through the middle.

Edited August 2, 20169 yr by Petraccattack

1 hour ago, faultydet said:

It was stated by Melksham himself in a pre season interview, that the coaching staff had advised that he was recruited to play across half back.

True, but circumstances change.  Ask Jeremy Howe. 

8 hours ago, DemonAndrew said:

if we give up a future first round draft pick for him as has been mooted i will scream bloody murder.

 

he's a good player, not a very good or even great one.

 

my preferences:

1) 2017 second round pick

2) 2017 first round for hibberd and essendon's 2016 and 2017 second round picks

 

next year is meant to be a far stronger draft than this year and we do NOT want to be miles out of it.

We will be DA.

When you play in a Prelim final that happens

18 minutes ago, old dee said:

We will be DA.

When you play in a Prelim final that happens

All right you guys, own up. Who has taken control of OldDee's keyboard?

3 minutes ago, sue said:

All right you guys, own up. Who has taken control of OldDee's keyboard?

As nutbean would say

I love ya sue

45 minutes ago, ProDee said:

True, but circumstances change.  Ask Jeremy Howe. 

Melksham at least needs to be given the chance to fail in the nominated position, just like Howe did.

Maybe the Dons have bigger issues to worry about than Hibberd... http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-02/beveridge-admits-dogs-interested-in-hurley