I reckon he's one of those players that you play just so that he can find his feet. A bit like Melksham who only started playing good consistent football from mid last year. Whether or not we can afford to play him is another question........
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AFLW 2024 - Round 4 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Delisted #28: Elliott Kavanagh - Gone to play SANFL
- Thread starter Kong
- Start date
- Tagged users None
It's probably true and gets back to the reference to the 'good ol' days which had been made previously.
Melksham got games because our midfield depth was appalling and he brought something quite different to the table. Think that he's been ok to solid as an AFL player but that, for his own good, there were times he would have been better served being dropped to the VFL a few weeks here and there just to get his hands on the ball 30+ times but we have not had the depth to justify that sort of thing until now.
Kav, on on the other hand, hasn't been gifted games because three years after Melksham was drafted (allowing for the fact the Kav's year one was always a write off) he's a long term project midfield accumulator in a side with serious midfield depth especially of inside accumulator types.
He's going to have to bide his time and genuinely earn a spot as youngsters used to have to do (both at Essendon and AFL wide). It's not a bad thing and with his contract being extended by 2 years late last year to give him three years to earn his spot we can assume that the club is happy with his development.
Crazy to think two draft picks from last year are playing before him. I have seen so much hype from this board about him but havent seen any of it yet 
- May 6, 2007
- 42,027
- 25,599
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- Essendon
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- Tottenham Hotspurs, Melbourne Vixen
Out of this years best 22, who's position would he be looking to take?
eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Howlett or Hardingham
- May 6, 2007
- 42,027
- 25,599
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- Essendon
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- Tottenham Hotspurs, Melbourne Vixen
Would think Howlett as a midfield rotation.
Playing as the sub hasn't helped him much in the AFL either. As has been mentioned, he is a death by a thousand cuts rather than a quick kill type of player.
Zach Package
Prespakis2Tsatas
he's been emergency for the opening 2 rounds
Doss
Ass
- Aug 1, 2011
- 75,222
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- Essendon
Wouldn't say he's the forgotten man. Our third draftee from the 2011 draft fits that bill much more closely.
Rack Watts
Here's MASON
O'Brien?
- Banned
- #786
I think it is a great sign that a guy like EKav can't 'force' his way into the side.. shows the huge depth we have in the list with real competition for spots. Look at players at Geelong and Hawthorn.. they often have to wait for 4+ years before getting a real shot at it..
Much better than the days when guys like Quinn were getting games..
Much better than the days when guys like Quinn were getting games..
Zach Package
Prespakis2Tsatas
That's the paradox.
On the one hand there have been several guys that have become excellent footballers through being 'gifted' games early in there careers (Jobe and Melksham just looking at essendon examples), but their sides never had any success while it was happening.
I don't think it's a bad thing at all, it just requires patience from eager fans, and Elliott
- Banned
- #788
Absolutely see the point Jack Package.. and you have to wonder where EKav would be had he been given the games Melky has.. but ultimately if he is good enough then he will push himself into the team.. and then fight hard to stay there.
I love the fact that every single player knows that they need to give 100% to stay in the team...
I love the fact that every single player knows that they need to give 100% to stay in the team...
AlexEss
Team Captain
- Sep 8, 2012
- 346
- 135
- AFL Club
- Essendon
Hahahahah mate you made me laugh...I remember like its yesterday when Quinn would get games, miss his foot with the ball, etc but was best on in every second vfl game
- May 6, 2007
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- Tottenham Hotspurs, Melbourne Vixen
The bloke did win a VFL BnF if I'm not mistaken
- Banned
- #791
Zach Package
Prespakis2Tsatas
don't sell quinn short, there was a time where he was quasi competent at VFL level.
Would absolutely butcher the pill but worked really hard
Would absolutely butcher the pill but worked really hard
AlexEss
Team Captain
- Sep 8, 2012
- 346
- 135
- AFL Club
- Essendon
Correct, in 2010...nonetheless was easily the most out of place player I've ever seen in afl
Ben the Gooner
Stand by Hird
Woah, let's not go overboard.
Leave my mum alone.
Autobahn
Cancelled
- May 24, 2013
- 3,111
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- Jeremy Cameron
Woah, let's not go overboard.
Looks like death forgot to swing-by Bootsma and Keith Richards home.
yaco55
Hall of Famer
I wonder whether Kavanagh will make it as an AFL player. I suspect that O'Brien either needs to tag or be a mobile hard working half forward. I'll be interested in the VFL reports in 2014.
- May 6, 2007
- 42,027
- 25,599
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- Essendon
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- Tottenham Hotspurs, Melbourne Vixen
Have argued vehemently that O'Brien in particular is not being given every chance to become an AFL quality player due to his differing roles at the two levels (big bodied onballer at VFL level > half forward at AFL level).
AlexEss
Team Captain
- Sep 8, 2012
- 346
- 135
- AFL Club
- Essendon
Ive seen bits and pieces of brilliance from kav, like really quick hands/quick decision making/good foot skills, but only glimpses so far. I am confident he's got what it takes, just feel like he needs some regular games in the seniors to find his feet. Its my opinion that kav has a much better skills than NOB, and yes different role players but i think kav has a much higher ceiling than NOB
