Player Watch #40: Eddie Ford - re-signed until end of 2025

[Heaps of fun]

Both start in the 2s.

 

[Phillyroo]

Both start in the 2s.

You might be right…. But go watch that Sydney game again, and he was possibly our best and most dangerous player.

 

[Mav]

I know I’m biased here…. But Curtis Taylor way ahead of Eddie?? Really??
Ford’s game against the Swans in his third game at the level is better than anything Taylor has produced.

yeah, na. You're biased.
Eddie, 11 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals.
Taylor: Second year: 18 disposals, 6 marks in an absolute belting by the Tiges. He also had a 13 disposal, 5 mark 2 goals game before that. Last year he had a 16 D, 7 M, 1 G game and 15 D, 7 M, 2 G game and 19D, 6M, 1 G game.

Taylor has shown more. Fords time will come, but not just yet.

 

[Phillyroo]

yeah, na. You're biased.
Eddie, 11 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals.
Taylor: Second year: 18 disposals, 6 marks in an absolute belting by the Tiges. He also had a 13 disposal, 5 mark 2 goals game before that. Last year he had a 16 D, 7 M, 1 G game and 15 D, 7 M, 2 G game and 19D, 6M, 1 G game.

Taylor has shown more. Fords time will come, but not just yet.

10 score involvements, and 8 goal assists.
He is more efficient, brings far more tackle pressure and scares the opposition with his size and aggression.

 

[AnEmptyChair]

I know I’m biased here…. But Curtis Taylor way ahead of Eddie?? Really??
Ford’s game against the Swans in his third game at the level is better than anything Taylor has produced.

Yeah, nah. He was good in that game, no doubt, but it was very much a shiny new toy reaction from supporters (although I recognise your personal stake, mate) as opposed to Taylor being the former shiny new toy.

Wasnt even better than Taylor last year. In all but three games he had more disposals than Ford did in that one and matched or beat Ford's marks output, a relevant stat for that role, four times. But yep, agree the score involvements stat was great for Ford in that game, but it's not the only determining factor on whether someone plays well and probably worth pointing out that Taylor does play higher than Ford. It's why I think Ford is mainly competing with Zurhaar for a spot.

Taylor is definitely best 22 IMO and Ford is probably in the emergencies if I put one together. He'll get his chance, but Taylor's better versatility and ability to play through the midfield is much better at this stage, as you would expect given their experience levels.

 

[Phillyroo]

Yeah, nah. He was good in that game, no doubt, but it was very much a shiny new toy reaction from supporters (although I recognise your personal stake, mate) as opposed to Taylor being the former shiny new toy.

Wasnt even better than Taylor last year. In all but three games he had more disposals than Ford did in that one and matched or beat Ford's marks output, a relevant stat for that role, four times. But yep, agree the score involvements stat was great for Ford in that game, but it's not the only determining factor on whether someone plays well and probably worth pointing out that Taylor does play higher than Ford. It's why I think Ford is mainly competing with Zurhaar for a spot.

Taylor is definitely best 22 IMO and Ford is probably in the emergencies if I put one together. He'll get his chance, but Taylor's better versatility and ability to play through the midfield is much better at this stage, as you would expect given their experience levels.

Nothing I’ve seen from Curtis tells me he can play midfield. I think he is a forward, who can do the spectacular… but doesn’t often enough. I guess we will see.

 

[AnEmptyChair]

Nothing I’ve seen from Curtis tells me he can play midfield. I think he is a forward, who can do the spectacular… but doesn’t often enough. I guess we will see.

The second half of last year he played a lot on the wing and showed a lot IMO. He's part of that group that will rotate through their and half forward with JHF, Thomas, Stepho etc. Whereas I think Ford's lack of versatility will hurt him in that respect because he clearly doesn't play ahead of Zurhaar atm, who i think is his main competition.

Edit: I'd change my mind if it didn't look like we were going with up to 3 tall forwards though. If, say, Comben doesn't play and CCJ is used more as a ruck, then Ford would be a good choice as that pseudo-tall.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I’m a big Curtis fan, but I don’t think he has anywhere near as natural forward craft compared to Ford. I also think Ford’s defensive intent is far superior.

At this stage though, Curtis is ahead mainly due to his ability to play up the ground more. That ability to rotate through the wing is something that Nobz values highly.

Eddie no doubt has the potential to rein through the midfield and get up the ground, but I’m not sure he had the tank just yet.

If we play 3 talls forward (2 keys and a resting ruck), then it leaves 3 mid/small forwards and a bench position. Ford will play plenty of games this year but ultimately he is currently competing with Zurhaar, Thomas, Stephenson, Taylor, Mahoney, JHF and Taylor. That’s a tough position to break into.

 

[Fish Sticks]

I can’t see Eddie starting the season in the best 22. Obviously, we all hope he can force his way into the side with his performances in the 2’s
If we can maintain the relatively small injury list we have at the moment, it will be a close call for Taylor to be best 22 rd 1 also, although I hope he is cause I reckon he could be a beauty!
Very creative player, runs well and as courageous as they come.

 

[Mav]

10 score involvements, and 8 goal assists.
He is more efficient, brings far more tackle pressure and scares the opposition with his size and aggression.

Put your glasses on, it was 3 GA's, In the same game Taylor played mid, had 19 disposals , 5 score involvements and kicked a goal!

 

[the flying ham]

I know I’m biased here…. But Curtis Taylor way ahead of Eddie?? Really??
Ford’s game against the Swans in his third game at the level is better than anything Taylor has produced.

I'm sorry Eddie looked great in that game but isn't better than CTs best

 

[ferball]

Put your glasses on, it was 3 GA's, In the same game Taylor played mid, had 19 disposals , 5 score involvements and kicked a goal!

Ford kicked two goals and it was his third game.

It was Taylor's 30th game, or there abouts.

Not that I want to play them off against each other. They are both kids from outer NW Melbourne who slid in the draft most l;ikely because they were from the outer NW of Melbourne. They both have plenty of talent.

 

[ferball]

My point is comparing a 3 game player to a 30 game player in a game after the 30 game player played most of that season is just a bit silly.

its too early for both of thewm to say anything other than one guy looked good for three games and the other is developing nicely.

 

[Mav]

Ford kicked two goals and it was his third game.

It was Taylor's 30th game, or there abouts.

Not that I want to play them off against each other. They are both kids from outer NW Melbourne who slid in the draft most l;ikely because they were from the outer NW of Melbourne. They both have plenty of talent.

I agree, just showing Phillyroos his bias. Taylor has played better games than that one game of Fords. Check out some of the marks Taylor took in his first year

 

[the flying ham]

yeah, na. You're biased.
Eddie, 11 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals.
Taylor: Second year: 18 disposals, 6 marks in an absolute belting by the Tiges. He also had a 13 disposal, 5 mark 2 goals game before that. Last year he had a 16 D, 7 M, 1 G game and 15 D, 7 M, 2 G game and 19D, 6M, 1 G game.

Taylor has shown more. Fords time will come, but not just yet.

Taylor rising star nom in 2020, played a couple very good games this year across wing and HFF. Ford looks fantastic and could easily go past CT but CT has more runs on the board. And could just be from a time served perspective. That being said, it's nice to have some young talented players trending upwards. And they can both play in the same side and probably will this year

 

[disco_cowboy]

Having a second key down there (Comben hopefully) will free up Curtis to play more attacking again.

He was very much used as a pressure forward last year and I felt his natural game suffered.

That said - I want Ford to succeed like no one else in the team - just seems like a genuine shinboner.

 

[the flying ham]

Having a second key down there (Comben hopefully) will free up Curtis to play more attacking again.

He was very much used as a pressure forward last year and I felt his natural game suffered.

That said - I want Ford to succeed like no one else in the team - just seems like a genuine shinboner.

I've seen enough in his VFL to suggest that he will have his break out soon enough.

 

[ferball]

I agree, just showing Phillyroos his bias. Taylor has played better games than that one game of Fords. Check out some of the marks Taylor took in his first year

That was his second year but yeah he was good. I remember Pykie likening him to Nat Fyfe around the games before and just after that first lockdown.

Must be the build...

Ford does have something about him tho. I think he could a very good player in a few years. If we weren't spoiled for choice I'd be raving about him. Can't blame Phillyroo, wasn't he mates with Ford's dad?

 

[Intothewind]

They are both exciting young players. Hope at least one of them makes it because it adds an extra dimension to our team, just a bit more aerial than Cam. Both have some swingman potential as well, although not sure that's a thing in modern footy?

 

[King Corey]

I agree, just showing Phillyroos his bias. Taylor has played better games than that one game of Fords. Check out some of the marks Taylor took in his first year

That clip reminds me of his best and reinforces the notion that he is a potentially very good kick-mark forward.

Can't quite see mid or wing aspirations in his skillset but happy to be wrong.

 

[Fish Sticks]

I agree, just showing Phillyroos his bias. Taylor has played better games than that one game of Fords. Check out some of the marks Taylor took in his first year

Just looking at those highlights, he is beautiful set shot for goal.
He gets his whole body weight going forward in his kicking action, similar to Larkey & Ben Brown.

 

[Phillyroo]

Heard from a good source that Eddie kicked 4 goals in 15min last Friday…. #firstpicked

 

[Orange Peanut]

Heard from a good source that Eddie kicked 4 goals in 15min last Friday…. #firstpicked

Was your sauce a former western Jets player?

 

[Phillyroo]

Was your sauce a former western Jets player?

Nope

 

[Ball Dont Lie]

I like Eddie and think he will make it but based on exposed form Curtis has him covered right now. In fairness it would be best to compare at the end of this year once Eddie has had 2 years in the system. Ideally they are both guns.