Could always run all day, now he does a bit of everything quite well, I’ve become a big fan. And I love his attitude. Players like him taking the next step is what we need. 

I thought Billy was going to be the far better player, but ANB has blown past him the last year. I hope Billy takes a few steps forward this year too. 

25 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

I'd argue that none of the players' you've listed are 'very good' for us just yet, Ron.

Sure, but compare with the "second stringers" of just a few short years back .. M Jones, Blease, Tapscott, Petterd, etc. World of difference. (Some of them were "first stringers"!)

 

If these guys (ANB, Harmes, etc) are are our second rank then we're doing alright in team development.

8 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Sure, but compare with the "second stringers" of just a few short years back .. M Jones, Blease, Tapscott, Petterd, etc. World of difference. (Some of them were "first stringers"!)

 

If these guys (ANB, Harmes, etc) are are our second rank then we're doing alright in team development.

Spot on. We’re a world away from where we’ve been in the past - which consumed us all with constant ‘hoping’ that certain players would take the next step and develop / progress / grow into our next important players. I’m not saying we’ve got them yet but this batch is the first in a long time (probably ten bloody years)  that as a core group is developing together and showing signs of consistent improvement.

And from what I can tell they’re demanding that improvement from each other to grow and get better - a real sign of maturity for a young group.

1 hour ago, Mazer Rackham said:

If these guys (ANB, Harmes, etc) are are our second rank then we're doing alright in team development.

I agree MR, though i don't want to jump the gun early or jinx any further development. But if some of them keep tracking the way they are, then the team will only get better.

ANB has been delivering for some time, now. He is a terrific competitor and will continue to flourish. Billy should be played on the outside to develop his confidence, and be let loose to run in possession like his dad, who used to burn up the field unhindered and often hit great goals. He is a natural triangulator for the forwards and makes it difficult for opponents to catch, tackle and smother.

9 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

I'd argue that none of the players' you've listed are 'very good' for us just yet, Ron.

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised this year DD.

 

5 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

ANB has been delivering for some time, now. He is a terrific competitor and will continue to flourish. Billy should be played on the outside to develop his confidence, and be let loose to run in possession like his dad, who used to burn up the field unhindered and often hit great goals. He is a natural triangulator for the forwards and makes it difficult for opponents to catch, tackle and smother.

I have no idea what this means but am happy to agree with it because it sounds impressive.

27 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I have no idea what this means but am happy to agree with it because it sounds impressive.

Options deep in the fwd line, LD-vC, where players may break towards the ball carrier (triangulator) but more often, in a triangle shape covering an open space (1) towards a flank, (2) from the goalsquare straight down the central guts, and (3) towards the other flank. The foot pass is effected to space to which the receiver will mark the ball for a set shot at goal - so hopefully, that space is in kicking distance from the goalmouth. Angulation is most important lest the resulting kick be required from too tight an angle (ie: right on the boundary line.) This give the ball-carrier 3 options to pass the ball with precision and the 4th options is to get within his own range of the goals for a shot at goal on the run - as defenders rush out of the goalsquare to cover the possible receivers.  It is a better percentage play than bombing the ball long to the goalsquare from the wings or from the centre.

14 hours ago, Ron Burgundy said:

Our recruitment is seriously good these days. It has been for a while now.

I’ve always thought ANB, Harmes, Bugg, Stretch, Salem, Melksham, Oscar Mac etc we’re going to be very good players for us.

What I find a little disappointing/annoying in these threads however is that, if you expressed this view prior to any of these players consistently performing for the club, you were seen by some here to be an uncritical cheerleader.

Yet now some (or all) of these players are consistently performing well for the club, those very same posters feel free, unabashedly so, to laud praise on these guys without ever taking ownership or accountability for their previous statements about them.

It’s really not that cool. Just sayin’.

I don't agree with you on a couple of fronts.

Firstly, I find most posters on here own their opinions pretty well.  I thought Neal-Bullen wouldn't make it, because he was exposed in the midfield as making poor decisions and skill executions under pressure.  His turn around is a revelation and I have no qualms in acknowledging this.

Secondly, there are supporters who simply are satisfied with bog ordinary players.  Tonnes of Matt Jones have come through the MFC and there are always supporters who overrate the contribution of said types of players.

Let's face it, you're going to get the odd one right occasionally.  

I like how just when I'm feeling over positive about the Dees (I've been telling people top 4 fo sho) the names of players from the last 10 yrs come out... gebus some poor choices were made. Glad to feel like we are coming out of the other side with players like Nibbles driving the change.

5 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

I like how just when I'm feeling over positive about the Dees (I've been telling people top 4 fo sho) the names of players from the last 10 yrs come out... gebus some poor choices were made. Glad to feel like we are coming out of the other side with players like Nibbles driving the change.

Edited March 1, 20187 yr by Ethan Tremblay

5 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Hahhaha bastard!

It looks like the day after the worst school breakup ever.

On 2/26/2018 at 12:44 PM, Redleg said:

I was wrong on this bloke, I hated his disposal. He has improved with hard work to be a regular.

Yep, agreed. I'm another who will put their hand up and say I called him incorrectly.

If guys like ANB, Harmes and even Manyard can continue to show improvement, our midfield will be able to withstand potential injuries and become less reliant on one or two players.

Gotta say, ANB's improvement (and even Harmes' improved disposal) another tick for the recruitment and development teams.

Bugg is the one that still bothers me. IMO, he's shown little improvement with his disposal, but if he becomes our biggest problem, we'll be streets ahead of many teams.

20 hours ago, Ron Burgundy said:

Our recruitment is seriously good these days. It has been for a while now.

I’ve always thought ANB, Harmes, Bugg, Stretch, Salem, Melksham, Oscar Mac etc we’re going to be very good players for us.

What I find a little disappointing/annoying in these threads however is that, if you expressed this view prior to any of these players consistently performing for the club, you were seen by some here to be an uncritical cheerleader.

Yet now some (or all) of these players are consistently performing well for the club, those very same posters feel free, unabashedly so, to laud praise on these guys without ever taking ownership or accountability for their previous statements about them.

It’s really not that cool. Just sayin’.

Of your list Ron I admit I’ve flip flopped around a bit. 

Melksham. I was told by an Essendon supporting friend that he was glad to get rid of him and that he only played one good game in five. His first few games were pretty bloody woeful and that’s what I thought of him too. He has since improved and so has my opinion of him.

OMac. He wasn’t AFL quality, hardly VFL, when he first played. He is now. 

Stretch/ANB. I thought Stretch was going to be the better of the two. Now I’m not sure if he is in our top 24. 

Harmes. Let’s just say I thought being good mates with Hogan would be one of his big positives in any contract negotiations.

Salem. Blind Freddy could see that Christian had all the goodies to make a very good footballer if he got his body right. 

Of your list though I can only really see Salem and, strangely, perhaps Harmes becoming ‘very good’ (A-) players. The others may have very good games on occasions but will be serviceable to good overall 

On 2/26/2018 at 5:11 PM, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Not a bad year for recruiting. Petracca, Brayshaw, ANB, Stretch and O McDonald in the draft and Garlett as a trade. (Also picked up Lumumba, and lost Frawley and Clark) 

It's that sort of recruiting that puts you in contention pretty quickly. We've basically recruited 5 best 22 players in one off season. It's comparable to the recruiting (and probably development) of the Geelong and Hawthorn glory teams of the late 2000s. If Billy comes on, that'll make 6. He certainly has the pedigree and some tools.

On 2/26/2018 at 5:11 PM, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Not a bad year for recruiting. Petracca, Brayshaw, ANB, Stretch and O McDonald in the draft and Garlett as a trade. (Also picked up Lumumba, and lost Frawley and Clark) 

And, of course, we now have Lever from that same draft class.

19 hours ago, ProDee said:

I don't agree with you on a couple of fronts.

Firstly, I find most posters on here own their opinions pretty well.  I thought Neal-Bullen wouldn't make it, because he was exposed in the midfield as making poor decisions and skill executions under pressure.  His turn around is a revelation and I have no qualms in acknowledging this.

Secondly, there are supporters who simply are satisfied with bog ordinary players.  Tonnes of Matt Jones have come through the MFC and there are always supporters who overrate the contribution of said types of players.

Let's face it, you're going to get the odd one right occasionally.  

I accept what you’re saying.

Putting our recruitment prior to Taylor, Viney etc to one side, which was plainly horrible and need not be discussed/reflected upon, I (like virtually all others here) have absolute confidence in our recruitment approach and the development of our players now.

I seem to recall that ANB was considered a top 25 pick coming into the draft, as was Oscar McDonald. That they are now both hitting their strides shouldn’t be such a surprise.

It is hard to predict the trajectory of players though. I could not believe Hunt’s transformation in one season into a virtually elite half back flanker. I had thought JKH would turn into a really good player, yet he seems to be on borrowed time. Stretch is another player who intrigues me - he was clearly in front of ANB, he’s super professional, he’s a really neat and tidy player whom I expect diligently follows the coaches instructions to the letter, and yet he’s struggling to find relevance/a permanent role in the team. 

Charlie Spargo and Joel Smith are the ones I’m really watching this year. Love Melksham’s transformation, although I always had high hopes for him, Hibberd and Vince - thought each of them represented an astute use of picks in the 20s.

Long gone are the days of picking dour, high possession, meat and three veg midfielders from the VFL, which is a relief. The club now nails high end picks and also its ‘left field’ ones.

 

20 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

One of those players is not like the others.

1 hour ago, Wiseblood said:

One of those players is not like the others.

2 really

9 minutes ago, binman said:

2 really

The other one is dead to me, so it's 1 really...

1 hour ago, Wiseblood said:

One of those players is not like the others.

Yeah, one's got a huge chin and a dachsund body, one's a dork who wandered into the shot by accident. One's crossbred with a sheepdog, one's climbed down a beanstalk that grew up to his castle in the clouds overnight, one's a terrific young bloke who's suffered more than he deserves, and one's a traitor.

 

But which one were you talking about?