2008 Most Impressive Most Disappointing Players - your club

[Bomber Man]

Doesn't have to be just one player from your club, but it would be great if people put down why rather than just a name.

For me (obviously Essendon):

Most Impressive
Mark McVeigh. Jumped 2 levels in what he has delivered in previous years - far more prolific ball winner, great use of the ball, stamped himself as a genuine on-field leader, and more controlled/disciplined than previous seasons.

David Hille. Our most important player to have on the field, noticeable difference in our play even when he is just resting on the bench let alone out of the side. Emerged as genuinely one of the best rucks in the AFL in 2008.

Andrew Welsh. Was on the outer with a lot of Essendon supporters at the start of the season and was looking like a player out of his era, mostly in terms of pace. Became a valuable presence in the middle, tagging and occasionally as a useful forward.

(Plenty of others I could name as always with your own side, but these were my stand-outs)

Most Disappointing
Brent Stanton. If stats told all the story the guy would be a legend. Unfortunately his ball use went backward in 2008, and too often he looked too slow in the contest. We need far better use from a guy who is fed the ball from the "insiders" and really delivers most of his disposals without much pressure.

Ricky Dyson. Pre-season hype probably sucked me in a little bit, but I just wish Ricky could find more of the pill. Love his run with the ball, love that he always looks up the ground rather than sideways, but he really needs to nail his disposal when doing it. Maybe he'll put it all together next year..?

Jason Laycock. Just doesn't get done what you need when it matters time and time again. Is able rather than good in almost all areas - ruck duals, contested marks, leading in the forward line. Makes virtually no second efforts and is sloooooow.

 

[Doggies_2008]

Most Impressive;

Adam Cooney
Dale Morris
Matthew Boyd
Daniel Cross

Most Disappointing;
Farren Ray


Reasonably happy with most of them.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Most impressive

Lance Franklin - we all know why.

Chance Bateman - always showed glimpses of what he could do in past years but injury always held him back. Although he missed a couple of games this season, he's been one of our best players consistently and is a big reason why we're playing on Saturday. Has always been known for his run and carry but his ability to keep quality opponents quiet in recent times (Nick Stevens in Round 22, Nick Dal Santo in the preliminary final being two examples) has been a great extra bow to his string.

Michael Osborne - it's taken him some time to realise his potential but I think that there is no doubt that he's been our most improved player this season. Renowned as a physical but somewhat immature back-pocket, he's been reinvented as a forward pocket who is there to put pressure on the opposition defenders whilst kicking goals. Bobbed up with four goals against the Bulldogs in the qualifying final and almost pulled off mark of the year against the Saints in Round 16. Hopefully he can put in a great performance on Saturday.

Most disappointing

Difficult to nail anyone on this given the season we've had. Injuries have derailed the seasons of Tim Boyle, Ben McGlynn, Beau Muston and Max Bailey, who would have played a bigger part in our season had they been fit. Mitch Thorp comes packaged with a lot of hype and has struggled to make an impact at times down at Box Hill. In the meantime, the player taken one spot after him in the draft polls 19 Brownlow votes for 2008.

 

[Lakey91]

Impressive:

Jarred Moore - stepped up and cemented his place in the team

Patrick Vespremi - should his ability to get shots on goals, kicking 4 goals once, and four behinds in a game also. Can get his hands on it, just needs to get some confidence and learnt o kick straighter

Paul Bevan - good strong tackler, hard at the ball, will continue this style and take over the hard man role when kirk and bolton retire


Disapponting:

LRT - again, what is this guy doing in the AFL?

Kennelly - should of just accepted his injury and gone and had surgery. Instead he tried to play through them, meaning his run and dash was sacrificed, and his ability to be hard at the context undermined. Im not sure if we will ever see him back at his best in the AFL again

Everitt - whilst he played well last year (2007) this year he was rubbish. Didnt see him have one good game and sometimes would end up with only 5-10 possessions and the same amount of hitouts. If it wasnt for jolly's dominance and success, he would of been cut long ago.

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

Impressive

Chris Judd -I dont think I really understood how good he was at West Coast...
Jarrad Waite - Mr Versatile, decision making seemed to have improved a great deal this year...
Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs & Matthew Kreuzer - All number 1 draft picks meeting expectations...
Brendan Fevola - 99 goals with more than 1 opponent every week... how could you not be impressed...

Disappointing -
Brad Fisher - although injury interrupted, his main assest in contested marks were well down and less convincing than last year... Less than 30 goals from your 2nd key forward is just not good enough...

 

[Gibba]

Impressive

Chris Judd -I dont think I really understood how good he was at West Coast...
Jarrad Waite - Mr Versatile, decision making seemed to have improved a great deal this year...
Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs & Matthew Kreuzer - All number 1 draft picks meeting expectations...
Brendan Fevola - 99 goals with more than 1 opponent every week... how could you not be impressed...

Disappointing -
Brad Fisher - although injury interrupted, his main assest in contested marks were well down and less convincing than last year... Less than 30 goals from your 2nd key forward is just not good enough...

Add Ryan Jackson to the disappointing list, i really thought he would go up a level this year after a couple of impressive games up forward last year. Should be on the list next season though

 

[Valhalla]

Impressive:

Jarred Moore - stepped up and cemented his place in the team

Patrick Vespremi - should his ability to get shots on goals, kicking 4 goals once, and four behinds in a game also. Can get his hands on it, just needs to get some confidence and learnt o kick straighter

Paul Bevan - good strong tackler, hard at the ball, will continue this style and take over the hard man role when kirk and bolton retire


Disapponting:

LRT - again, what is this guy doing in the AFL?

Kennelly - should of just accepted his injury and gone and had surgery. Instead he tried to play through them, meaning his run and dash was sacrificed, and his ability to be hard at the context undermined. Im not sure if we will ever see him back at his best in the AFL again

Everitt - whilst he played well last year (2007) this year he was rubbish. Didnt see him have one good game and sometimes would end up with only 5-10 possessions and the same amount of hitouts. If it wasnt for jolly's dominance and success, he would of been cut long ago.

I would put mcveigh, kirk and ROK on our impressive list and buchanan on our disappointing list along with ablett.

ps. LRT is everyones favourite whipping boy and it's just bullshit. He isn't that bad.

 

[skzm]

ps. LRT is everyones favourite whipping boy and it's just bullshit. He isn't that bad.

Is a fair call - he gets plenty of tough assignments, and usually does the job he needs to...

 

[HBF]

Impressive

Chris Judd -I dont think I really understood how good he was at West Coast...
Jarrad Waite - Mr Versatile, decision making seemed to have improved a great deal this year...
Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs & Matthew Kreuzer - All number 1 draft picks meeting expectations...
Brendan Fevola - 99 goals with more than 1 opponent every week... how could you not be impressed...

Disappointing -
Brad Fisher - although injury interrupted, his main assest in contested marks were well down and less convincing than last year... Less than 30 goals from your 2nd key forward is just not good enough...

Pretty much what I would have said. I would have added Paul Bower and Michael Jamison to the impressive list as well.

Both have really stepped up this year as AFL backman, and look to have long careers ahead of them.

 

[skzm]

Jason Laycock. Just doesn't get done what you need when it matters time and time again. Is able rather than good in almost all areas - ruck duals, contested marks, leading in the forward line. Makes virtually no second efforts and is sloooooow.

Good post.

Laycock is a very frustrating player - appears to have the talent to take his game to another level, but still year after year turns in the same disappointing performances. We know how it'll end too - we'll trade him, and he'll come good...

 

[Spikey]

Most Disappointing
Brent Stanton. If stats told all the story the guy would be a legend. Unfortunately his ball use went backward in 2008, and too often he looked too slow in the contest. We need far better use from a guy who is fed the ball from the "insiders" and really delivers most of his disposals without much pressure.

You call that an anti-Stants post? You forget the "He doesn't deserve the no 5!" bit FFS!

 

[Jezza U Beauty]

I'd add Hartlett and Edwards to our Disappointing list. Neither really progressed this year. Hartlett's hammies continued to snap, and he demonstrated no capability to get involved in a game.

 

[MadMac]

Most impressive:

Matty Pavlich
Luke McPharlin
Rhys Palmer
Aaron Sandilands


Most disappointing:

Brett Peake
Josh Carr
Michael Johnson

 

[dales.girl38]

Most Impressive;

Adam Cooney
Dale Morris
Matthew Boyd
Daniel Cross

Most Disappointing;
Farren Ray


Reasonably happy with most of them.

I'd add Josh Hill and Jarrod Harbrow to the most impressive list, we seem to have found 2 good players there- we can't say we were expecting that at the start of the year.

 

[dirtywhitepacker]

Impressive:

• Mathew Lloyd - Defied critics, and early season form slump and came back to play a blinder second half of the season and lead from the front.
• Tayte Pears - Looks exactly the kind of player we need down back leading into the future.
• David Myers - Cool, calm and collected with ball in hand. Great ball use, looks to be the absolute goods.
• Jobe Watson - Really improved his kicking and was so tough and handy in and under the ball and winning clearances.
• Sam Lonergan - Came out of no where for me and has well and truly cemented a place in our best 22. This kid has just got such a good attitude.

Disappointing:

• Ricky Dyson - Like previous have mentioned, pre-season hype sucked me in, looked to have had a ripper of a pre season, and with a new coach and discipline in place, thought he'd just break through.
• Jason Laycock - Has the ability, needs the heart.
• Scott Gumbleton, Heath Hocking, Tom Hislop & Courtney Dempsey - only because I was VERY excited about these four pre-season, and couldn't wait for them to get a chance to run around in 2008. All had horrible seasons with injury. Hoping to see a rejuvinated 2009 for them all!

 

[adelaide_40]

Most impressive-

David Mckay-First year player, shows he has good skills and will be a gun of the future

Nathan Van berlo- Stepped up a level from last year

Nathan Bock-went from a good player at CHB to one of the best in the league

Ivan Marich-Although a slow start to the year has come around and will be a very good ruckmen.

Dissapointments-

Ken Mcgregor-I know hes not the best player going hes far far from it around but I was hoping for him to perhaps kick 2-3 goals a match. AFL has past him and should be delisted at the end of the year.

 

[Essendonfc_4_lyfe]

Most impressive:

Matty Pavlich
Luke McPharlin
Rhys Palmer
Aaron Sandilands


Most disappointing:

Brett Peake
Josh Carr
Michael Johnson

Add Crowley To that - Great job on Ablett!

 

[stewrox19]

Impressive:

Ryan Gamble - Provided another target up forward and strong mark

Joel Selwood - This kid is an absolute gun with great skills and goes in hard

Harry Taylor - Filled in to Egan's spot nicely

Travis Varcoe- Puts great forward pressure on the opposition and is presenting more

Brent Prismall- See selwood

Disappointing:

Shannon Byrnes- The Cats whipping boy. Only has a left boot and can only kick behinds

 

[Essendonfc_4_lyfe]

Essendon
..........................................................................
Impressive:

Hille
McVeigh
Lonergan
Monfries
Reimers
Welsh
..........................................................................
Disappointing:

Davey (only because of Injury)
Dyson
Laycock (Just wait, he'll come good)
Stanton
Winderlich
..........................................................................

 

[Elder van Berlo]

Most impressive-

David Mckay-First year player, shows he has good skills and will be a gun of the future

Nathan Van berlo- Stepped up a level from last year

Nathan Bock-went from a good player at CHB to one of the best in the league

Ivan Marich-Although a slow start to the year has come around and will be a very good ruckmen.

Dissapointments-

Ken Mcgregor-I know hes not the best player going hes far far from it around but I was hoping for him to perhaps kick 2-3 goals a match. AFL has past him and should be delisted at the end of the year.

Agree absolutely, but can you spell our own players' names correctly please It's Mackay and Maric. Would also add Brent Reilly to the disappointing list - has all the potential but picks up too many injuries and I suspect his heart isn't really in it.

 

[dogeatdog]

Most Impressive:
Dean Cox - consistently performed his role to AA standard whilst carrying injury, the guy stepped up time and time again and skills continue to amaze

Quentin Lynch - Even though he did not kick as many goals as last year he simply gives everything on the field, led the team in inside 50's and played some stunning cameo's in the middle

Ben Mckinley - Leading goal kicker and showed star quality. The most impressive thing is he stuck with the team when it could have been easy for him to head east and chase the big bucks.

Eric Mackenzie - looks the goods even though he only played a handful of games. strong athletic and composed defender

Mentions to: Wirra, Adam Selwood, Beau Wilkes, Brad Ebert, Mark Nicoski &Josh Kennedy

Disappointing

Daniel Kerr - was looking forward to him stepping up as the #1 man in the middle, instead he gets suspended twice, plays a handful of good games and insist on a 4 year deal. Now nobody knows if hes coming or going!

Tyson Stenglein - Thought he had more of an offensive game, stats accross the board were all down and never impacted any games.

Ash Hansen, Sam Butler, Mitch Brown, Adam Hunter, Shannon Hurn and Chris Masten all had injury interrupted seasons, while although not their fault alone, was disappointing none the less

 

[GOTIGER]

MOST IMPRESSIVE : Richo, No Doubt (ND) A 33 year old was reinvented this year and almost won the charlie after missing two games with injury.
Deledio : Has shown signs of what he will be but finally he came on this year after cutting that ridiculous do off.
Cotchin : I have never seen a first year player at Richmond this impressive. His skills are sublime, he has touch, speed and heart. He will be our Captain one day in the near future.
Kelvin Moore : I was super impressed with Kel, he really came on in leaps and bounds this year. Held many a forward to hardly any goals this year and was hardly ever beaten. We have finally found someone versitile down back and he will be a consitent 200 gamer down there helping out the likes of Newman, McGuane and Bowden.

MOST DISSAPOINTING
JON : Why do we persist with skinny aboriginals? After all of the duds we have had over the years. Mary McGrath, Andrew Krackouer, Ashley Blurton and now JON. Please stop recruiting this type of player.
Greg Tivendale : Should have been delisted last year but played three good games at the end of the year to save his behind. Only had one good year at the club (2001) was to soft and unaccountable. Good bye you will not be missed.
Dean Polo : I think he has missed the boat now. We have to many players like him now and we don't need someone who only gets a game when better players get injured.

 

[disgruntled goat]

I would put mcveigh, kirk and ROK on our impressive list and buchanan on our disappointing list along with ablett.

ps. LRT is everyones favourite whipping boy and it's just bullshit. He isn't that bad.

I agree on LRT, as well as where Ablett would be on his year.
But I did agree with the first post on Kennelly, I couldn't understand why we thought it so desperately important to play a bloke who basically couldn't tackle and, as the season wore on and his shoulder kept popping out, it became obvious he had no confidence in any kind of physical contest.
Almost a liability in many games.

I think Leo continued his decline, unfortunately.

Spida, too, was mostly ineffective and often could barely break out of a shuffle.

 

[Valhalla]

I agree on LRT, as well as where Ablett would be on his year.
But I did agree with the first post on Kennelly, I couldn't understand why we thought it so desperately important to play a bloke who basically couldn't tackle and, as the season wore on and his shoulder kept popping out, it became obvious he had no confidence in any kind of physical contest.
Almost a liability in many games.

I think Leo continued his decline, unfortunately.

Spida, too, was mostly ineffective and often could barely break out of a shuffle.

I'm still on the fence with kenelly. People were saying he was past it because he just isn't as fast any more but he did show glimpses of his old self. Perhaps he shouldn't have played but I wasn't disappointed in him.

I think leo barry is massively underrated by swans fans and is fast becoming one of our whipping boys (like LRT is), we really missed him when he wasn't playing and we only had bolton and LRT; this showed what he actually does for us.

Spida, i completely agree, i couldn't believe he was still getting a game with us, he moved like a fridge.

 

[breeno]

Most Impressive

David Hale- Kicked 35+ Goals and was stunning towards the end.
Daniel Wells- Finally found some consistency.
Drew Petrie- Stepped it up a gear and should of been AA.
Brent Harvey- Explains Itself.
Gavin Urquhart- Averaged 15 disposals in his first year.
Lachlan Hansen- Showed signs and courage.
Matt Campbell, Lindsay Thomas- Kicked 32 goals each this year.
Daniel Pratt, Leigh Harding- Both showed great rebounding skills.

Most Disappointing

Adam Simpson- Really didn't have an impact this year.
Daniel Harris- Same as Simpson
Brady Rawlings- I didn't even notice he was on the field most weeks.
Corey Jones- Statistically did OK, Considerably down on last year and provided hardly any Scoreboard pressure.
Blake Grima- Injuries, Injuries and more injuries.
Sansbury, Watt, Brown -Should be delisted. All we very poor this year.
Jess.W.Smith - Only injuries held him back from brilliance.