2 hours ago, A F said:

We don't play a deep defensive zone, so I'll expect him to play off half back. He might be the sort that is dragged back to the square occasionally against say a Dustin Martin, but I'd also expect Jetta to take that sort of role.

I think you're unnecessarily down on him. He might take a few weeks to get up to speed, but I agree with Abe. He'll become a very important player for us. He also releases Salem, Vince and potentially even Hunt into the midfield. 

Let's just say that I rate Hibberd slightly higher than Melksham. I'm not from the school that thinks that because Goodwin rates them, they must be ok. The Bombers weren't unhappy with losing either of them.

 

2 minutes ago, mo64 said:

Let's just say that I rate Hibberd slightly higher than Melksham. I not from the school that thinks that because Goodwin rates them, they must be ok. The Bombers weren't unhappy with losing either of them.

 

Interesting double negative

1 minute ago, mo64 said:

Let's just say that I rate Hibberd slightly higher than Melksham. I not from the school that thinks that because Goodwin rates them, they must be ok. The Bombers weren't unhappy with losing either of them.

 

I know for a fact Essendon, not its supporters, were pretty cut up about losing Hibberd

 

6 minutes ago, mo64 said:

Let's just say that I rate Hibberd slightly higher than Melksham. I not from the school that thinks that because Goodwin rates them, they must be ok. The Bombers weren't unhappy with losing either of them.

This is where it's handy to have eyes.

Hibberd is a gun, although he was a little down in his last year at Essendon (2015), but he's tough, loves to run, great intercept mark, is a great kick and makes smart decisions. 

Barry Prendaghast

Mark Neeld

Jason Taylor

Paul Roos

Simon Goodwin

We're pretty flexible when it comes to assigning praise or blame from recruiting decisions.

20 minutes ago, ProDee said:

This is where it's handy to have eyes.

Hibberd is a gun, although he was a little down in his last year at Essendon (2015), but he's tough, loves to run, great intercept mark, is a great kick and makes smart decisions. 

You just can't argue a point without getting personal.

The 2013 version of Hibberd had all the makings of being a gun. I'd loved to be proven wrong, but I doubt that the 2017 version will reach those heights. 

Just now, mo64 said:

You just can't argue a point without getting personal.

The 2013 version of Hibberd had all the makings of being a gun. I'd loved to be proven wrong, but I doubt that the 2017 version will reach those heights. 

If someone doesn't rate Hibberd I can only conclude they haven't seen much of him, hence the "eyes" comment.  Hardly "personal".  I had him in Dreamteam two years running, so watched him a lot.  

His last year was average, but prior to that he was in Essendon's best 5 players.

I see no reason he won't be as good or better at the Dees.

Btw, the 2014 version was better than the 2013 version.

12 minutes ago, ProDee said:

If someone doesn't rate Hibberd I can only conclude they haven't seen much of him, hence the "eyes" comment.  Hardly "personal". 

It is rude put-down, even if you didn't direct the comment to any individual.   Why not instead have just said "From watching him play, it is clear to me that Hibberd is a gun...."  

That doesn't make it seem like you think people who disagree with you are ignorant idiots (even if you think they are).  Some may have watched him closely and still come to a different opinion than yours.   (Personally I have never taken much notice of him and can only hope you are right about him.)

Calm down, erryone, 2 minutes till the teams come out....

Melbourne team: round five

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Jake Melksham

HB: Jayden Hunt, Sam Frost, Bernie Vince

C: Billy Stretch, Nathan Jones, Christian Salem

HF: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Alex Neal-Bullen

F: James Harmes, Jack Watts, Jeff Garlett

Foll: Jake Spencer, Jack Viney, Clayton Oliver

I/C: Dom Tyson, Michael Hibberd, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Tim Smith

Emg: Hannan, Oscar McDonald, Bugg

In: Hogan, Hibberd, Kennedy-Harris, T.Smith

Out: Dean Kent, Sam Weideman, Mitch Hannan, Tom Bugg

Kent omitted = W T F??

wouldve kept bugg for this game too

It should be Pedersen instead of Smith and Kent instead of Melksham.

EDIT: Fixed my mistake.

Melbourne team: round five 

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Jake Melksham

HB: Jayden Hunt, Sam Frost, Bernie Vince

C: Billy Stretch, Nathan Jones, Christian Salem

HF: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Alex Neal-Bullen

F: James Harmes, Jack Watts, Jeff Garlett

Foll: Jake Spencer, Jack Viney, Clayton Oliver

I/C: Dom Tyson, Michael Hibberd, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Tim Smith

Emg: Hannan, Oscar McDonald, Bugg

In: Hogan, Hibberd, Kennedy-Harris, T.Smith

Out: Dean Kent, Sam Weideman, Mitch Hannan, Tom Bugg

Interesting changes, although I don't disagree with any.  Having said that, I can understand most being slightly baffled by the omission of Kent.  Clearly it has nothing to do with him getting his hands on the pill, it has something to do with him not doing other things asked of him within the gameplan and the structure that Goodwin has set.  If that's the case then he deserves to be dropped while others are given an opportunity.  We're too far down the line towards pushing for finals for blokes to be gifted games.

Hogan straightens us up, Hibberd will be handy down back, JKH has had a good summer and Tim Smith gives us something across half forward without being the focal point.  It's pretty good, really.

Bring on the Tiges.

Would rather Kent than Melksham any day of the week 

5 minutes ago, ProDee said:

If someone doesn't rate Hibberd I can only conclude they haven't seen much of him, hence the "eyes" comment.  Hardly "personal".  I had him in Dreamteam two years running, so watched him a lot.  

His last year was average, but prior to that he was in Essendon's best 5 players.

I see no reason he won't be as good or better at the Dees.

Btw, the 2014 version was better than the 2013 version.

Ha,ha,ha. You, me and 80% of Dreamteam participants had Hibberd in their team. And I watched him as well. He racked up cheap stats by kicking the ball to himself after opposition points, and playing on. He was also on the receiving end of short kicks sideways, which resulted in a mark and kick for dreamteam points. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't a dud, but he wasn't a gun.

To say he was in their top 5 players at the club in 2014 is laughable. He may have finished in the top 5 of the B&F, but that doesn't equate to being in the top 5 players at the club. do the names Terlich and Matt Jones ring a bell?

For starters, Heppell, Watson, Goddard, Hooker, Ryder and Hurley were all better players, and you could debate whether another half dozen were better than Hibberd.

 

Kent: 2 tackles in 2 games, plus inaccurate in front of goal.

I was surprised when I saw him omitted, but on that basis I get it.

25 minutes ago, ProDee said:

If someone doesn't rate Hibberd I can only conclude they haven't seen much of him, hence the "eyes" comment.  Hardly "personal".  I had him in Dreamteam two years running, so watched him a lot.  

His last year was average, but prior to that he was in Essendon's best 5 players.

I see no reason he won't be as good or better at the Dees.

Btw, the 2014 version was better than the 2013 version.

Plus he brings an experience to a backline that desperately needs it, and I personally expect him to be desperate to prove any doubters wrong and make sure he is remembered as more than a drug cheat 

Just now, DeeZee said:

Would rather Kent than Melksham any day of the week 

See, I'll never understand this sort of comment.  While Melksham has been average, he and Kent play in completely different positions.  To suggest you want one for the other makes little sense.

If you want Melksham out then suggest someone who will play across half back - if you look at how our side is lining up, with Melksham in the side (and the return of Hibberd) allows us more freedom to use Salem, Hunt and even Vince further up the field where they can do more damage.  

Just now, Wiseblood said:

See, I'll never understand this sort of comment.  While Melksham has been average, he and Kent play in completely different positions.  To suggest you want one for the other makes little sense.

If you want Melksham out then suggest someone who will play across half back - if you look at how our side is lining up, with Melksham in the side (and the return of Hibberd) allows us more freedom to use Salem, Hunt and even Vince further up the field where they can do more damage.  

Gawn doesn't get enough touches so we should replace him with Ben Kennedy lol

1 minute ago, mo64 said:

Ha,ha,ha. You, me and 80% of Dreamteam participants had Hibberd in their team. And I watched him as well. He racked up cheap stats by kicking the ball to himself after opposition points, and playing on. He was also on the receiving end of short kicks sideways, which resulted in a mark and kick for dreamteam points. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't a dud, but he wasn't a gun.

To say he was in their top 5 players at the club in 2014 is laughable. He may have finished in the top 5 of the B&F, but that doesn't equate to being in the top 5 players at the club. do the names Terlich and Matt Jones ring a bell?

For starters, Heppell, Watson, Goddard, Hooker, Ryder and Hurley were all better players, and you could debate whether another half dozen were better than Hibberd.

Let's just say I disagree.  I rate his attributes highly.

This from 2014:

Your club's ratings stars for 2014

ESSENDON

Best defender: Michael Hibberd (AFL Player Rating: 87, club rating: 5) Hibberd is the man the Bombers want with the ball coming out of defence, because of his run, precise left foot and courage. Defensively, Hibberd is an excellent intercept mark.

 

Happy to leave it there.  

Goodwin must view Pedersen as I do.

Melksham is on his last chance this week surely. He has been woeful.

Dean Kent  out really sucks, this is the exact kind of game he would have excelled in. Disappointing.

I'm glad the MC have made a clear statement about the incipid tackle counts of our half forwards by dropping Kent and Hannan. Let's see if Smith and JKH can do any better.

Bugg makes way for Hibberd and Weideman for Hogan. That's about right.