Player Watch Brandon Zerk-Thatcher

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I think he's a good'n and wouldn't have minded if he had stayed now we have a big Key position defender to take the 2m 100kg + forwards. He wouldn't have been asked to play a role he's not suited. I reckon he's just about at the point when he becomes a consistent, reliable player.
I hope he goes well in the Kendom, and wouldn't mind if Duursma goes well for us.
 

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You guys are going to love Zerk. He got found out this year a bit because he likes to play a little in front of his man rather than shoulder to shoulder and on the number one forwards with a lack of pressure on the ball carrier he got done dirty.

Last year he was really quite good in a shite team, particularly at the back end of the season and he’s super competitive. He’s not a number one key backman yet but he’ll be a really solid number two or three and I think he still has a little bit of growth in him. Has a bit of SOS about him in the way he moves.

What are we getting with Duursma?
 
BZT is a solid player and played some good football down back. He'll benefit from being your second or third big fella down back because he reads the footy well coming in but is not string enough to hold his ground when isolated one out on the bigger boys.

Hopefully this trade is a win/ win.
 
Bad deal but probably better than letting him go to PSD, where it was unrealistic for him to make it to us.

Think we blew it by overpaying on other trades. If we could've preserved pick 41 then we either have a legit pick to threaten a ND option or at least have something for Essendon to upgrade and give fairer value for Duursma.

BZT and a 2nd rounder straight up was overs, there would have had to be something in the ballpark going back.
 
Not happy with the deal but I'm keeping an open mind. Keen to see Zerk-Thatcher in action in a Port jumper.
 
andrewb said:
You guys are going to love Zerk. He got found out this year a bit because he likes to play a little in front of his man rather than shoulder to shoulder and on the number one forwards with a lack of pressure on the ball carrier he got done dirty.

Last year he was really quite good in a shite team, particularly at the back end of the season and he’s super competitive. He’s not a number one key backman yet but he’ll be a really solid number two or three and I think he still has a little bit of growth in him. Has a bit of SOS about him in the way he moves.

What are we getting with Duursma?
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A hard two-way runner that will put his body on the line for the ball. You've got him at his absolute lowest trade value as he has had quite a few contact injuries. He was bulked up a bit last year which impacted his running ability but was slimmer this year. Ball use is suspect at times but he's not had a lot of continuity in his footy lately. He should be a starting winger when he knows your system or can come off half back as he did in his first (and statistically best) year with us.

He's a certified beautician and I'm ****ing furious we've pushed him out.
 

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andrewb said:
You guys are going to love Zerk. He got found out this year a bit because he likes to play a little in front of his man rather than shoulder to shoulder and on the number one forwards with a lack of pressure on the ball carrier he got done dirty.

Last year he was really quite good in a shite team, particularly at the back end of the season and he’s super competitive. He’s not a number one key backman yet but he’ll be a really solid number two or three and I think he still has a little bit of growth in him. Has a bit of SOS about him in the way he moves.

What are we getting with Duursma?
Click to expand...

A hack kick.

In all seriousness, I don't know. With a full pre season he could still come good.
High draft pick and first season looked like he could be anything but injuries really knocked him about. If he can get back to full fitness and get his kicking back he'll have a very good career. Super hard runner.
 
andrewb said:
What are we getting with Duursma?
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A hard running wingman who is courageous at putting his head over the ball and tl float into packs to take an overhead mark with a long-ish kick with pretty big average touch on his kick.

The type of player that goes relatively unnoticed by the competition until you have a strong year but then gets raved about. See Langdon from melb as an example (but duursma is better overhead).


Dons fans that have been harping on about him going backwards show they don’t know football outside of vic.

Had a couple of bad back to back injuries that were really just unfortunate impact injuries / Richmond thug trying to end his career with a reckless late tackle that he struggled to come back from. Plus the claims that came out about port playing duursma / wings in a sacrificial role are to my eye correct. We just do not play through them what so ever.

As long as he has a preseason and stays fit you guys will be very happy, he has the bad luck with injuries again (and it’s really been bad luck not crappy body soft tissue shit) and he might stall for a bit longer.

Just don’t expect an elite onballer. He’s not that.
 
Incarnate said:
Sorry, I clearly missed something, what are you suggesting? Is there some bad blood or has him/his management/media/club suggested as such? What is the innuendo you are hoping he will spill the beans about?
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Why Hinkley is such a campaigner.
 
andrewb said:
What are we getting with Duursma?
Click to expand...

You're getting a loyal as **** club man who could be a great wingman under the right coach and fitness regime.

Get his mental side right, and his body back to his pre-bulked-up physique, and you'll have a player that will play a role in a good team.

Personally, I'll be keeping an eye on his career and look forward to seeing him do well. He's a good get for you lot.
 
I think you will be pleasantly surprised with BZT next year. He will thrive with another pre season under his belt and playing as the second or even third tall defender. He has a lot of good attributes just don’t expect him to hold his own against the Hawkins, Lynch, Walker types…
 
Love all the Essendon supporters coming here and saying 'he'll do well now that he can just be an undersized third tall not having to play on the big guys' as though we don't already have 36 players like this and actually needed the guy who plays on the big guys.
 

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Player Watch Brandon Zerk-Thatcher

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