Essendon Bombers Player Review

2011 List

1 - Jay Neagle - To slow to be an AFL player. Has a long strong kick and is a good mark but that just isn't good enough, especially when you aren't hungry enough
2 - Ricky Dyson - Has a great left foot but isn't smart enough not has the heart to play AFL. Both he and Jay will be delisted at season’s end
3 - Scott Gumbelton - A lot of natural ability but injuries are killing his career. He still has 2012 and maybe even 2013 to prove himself. People have called to trade him while he still has value, I completely disagree.
4 – Jobe Watson – Our captain. He had issues with his foot skills at the start of his career but he has got over that. He wasted a couple of years playing him at centre half forward.
5 – Brent Stanton – Our best runner. Receives a lot of criticism and a lot is unjustified. Not many realise just how important he is to our side. He will always be in our best 22.
6 – Angus Monfries – Again, he is so important to our team structurally. He can play the defensive forward but he is best used as a lead up player, a link in the chain.
7 – Leroy Jetta – Turning into a great player but will never even attempt a contested mark
8 – Jason Winderlich – His run helps us out so much, in fact, it is one of the main reasons we had our mid season slump was him going down with the knee
9 – Brent Prismall – Came to the Bombers with exceptional skills but has lost so much confidence playing under Matthew Knights. He is a classic example of how a good team can make a player look so much better than they actually are. I still can’t believe Chad Fletcher won an All Australian
10 – Mark McVeigh – He is still one of my favourites but has had an average year. His best position is playing one kick behind the ball and setting up.
11 – David Zaharakis – One of my current favourites. He has the ability to become one of our best if not our best player. He has great foot skills, will build up great endurance and incredible vision. He is one to watch
12 – Andrew Welsh – Past his best, I would delist at season’s end.
13 – Anthony Long – Has a lot of natural ability but is being killed by soft tissue injuries.
14 – Sam Lonergan – Love his tough work in the middle. His skills are good enough so he should progress into a decent ten year player.
15 – Courtney Dempsey – Had a slow start to his year due to hamstring injuries but over the last three years he has turned into a good player. We are missing him this year as well
16 – Tayte Pears – He is so good he will be better than Michael Hurley
17 – Jake Melksham – Incredible vision, all the guts in the world. He will be a player
18 – Michael Hurley – Great guts, skills and body shape. He should turn into one of the best players in the AFL. I still worry at times at his pace.
19 – David Hille – Played some great footy when he got a couple of years of injury free footy. He has lost all his confidence and with Belly in the wings, he will have less than 50 games in him
20 – Henry Slattery – Plays with a lot of guts and normally keeps the small forward quiet. He is a decent player
21 – Dyson Heppell – Gee, what can you say about this boy. We haven’t seen a better first year from a player since Rama? Surely not. The kid is all class. His ability to stay composed when the pressure is on him is just great. One concern is that the way he plays he will be very susceptible to a tag.  
22 – Jake Carlisle – A tad undersized for to play KP but he has some skill.
23 – David Myers – One of our best clearance players. He will progress into a great player in a couple of years.
24 – Alex Browne – Haven’t seen enough of him. I don’t think he will make it.
25 – Ariel Steniberg – He may end up becoming a great player. Good endurance.
26 – Cale Hooker – Will be a ten year player for us. Has great closing speed.
27 – Luke Davis – I haven’t seen him play yet
28 – Darcy Daniher – Injury prone. Can’t see him getting into the side with the so many other KPP players ahead of him
29 – Alwyn Davey – What has happened to him? He burst onto the scene. That knee injury really slowed him down.
30 – Patrick Ryder – He will be a great player. People have to remember that he is still only 23 years old. He will be playing his best footy in 3-4 years time.
31 – Dustin Fletcher – Served the club so well for years and years. I think this year will be his last.
32 – Travis Coyler – All the speed in the world. He could make it.
33 – Mark Williams – It was a waste of a trade. He wasn’t the player we needed. He will be delisted soon.
34 – Kyle Hardingham – I like him in defence. He does provide us with some run.
35 - Taite Silverlock – I don’t think he will make it
36 – Tyson Slattery – Again, I don’t think he will make it
37 – Kyle Reimers – Good player with great skills. He will make it.
38 – Michael Ross – I haven’t seen him play
39 – Heath Hocking – I love the way he plays footy. He is super important to us in the middle.
40 – Ben Howlett – He is a great back up to Watson, Lonergan and Hocking. He is an example that if you don’t have all the talent but have the heart then you can make it at AFL level.
41 – Michael Quinn – I can’t believe he has stayed on the list for this long. He is a good VFL player but that’s it.
42 – NLM – Useless. Delist
43 – Michael Hibbard – He has the biggest heart in the side. He wills himself to every contest and tries his guts out every game. If you could put his effort with someone with a skill (like a Damien Cupido) you would get a Brownlow winner (James Hird)
44 – Tom Bellchambers – He will be our No.1 ruckman soon. I was very happy to hear he resigned.
45 – Stuart Crameri – I’m not the biggest fan of him. He does have great hands but doesn’t do much else for the team.
46 – Josh Jenkins – I like this kid. Plays with a lot of heart. He will play for the senior side one day
47 – James Webster – I don’t think he will make it.  

I didn't think we had any chance beating the Cats last night. I was great!