Universal Love Essendon Team of the 21st Century

[Shane Hird]

Yeah no monfries, no McPhee and no Stanton.

Dean Solly- Fletcher -Mark Johnson

Hardwick - hooker - Wellman

Heppell- Jason Johnson- rama

Hird- Lucas- Bewick

Mercuri Lloyd Caracella

Hille Watson Misiti

Hurley, Barnard , Heffernan Winderlich

 

[Eleven 38]

Considering how crap we've been since 2000, everyone who made all Australian and won a B&F has to be in the team, McPhee is in for sure.

 

[Shane Hird]

Considering how crap we've been since 2000, everyone who made all Australian and won a B&F has to be in the team, McPhee is in for sure.

Probably..but like Stanton he's not one of my favourites.

Winderlich should be in.

 

[Rack Watts]

Just the 2000 premiership team, with a few splashes of Heppell, Stanton, McVeigh, Hurley, Hille and Watson.

 

[Blind Turn]

B Fletcher - Hurley - M Johnson
HB Hardwick - Hooker - Wellman
C Stanton - Watson - Goddard
HF Mercuri - Lucas - Hird
F Caracella - Lloyd - Ryder
R Hille - J Johnson - Heppell
I Misiti - Zaharakis - McPhee - McVeigh

Probably something like this. Hird played his best on-ball but for balance HF suits fine.

Hooker and Wellman are massive oversights in OP.

 

[Shane Hird]

Probably something like this. Hird played his best on-ball but for balance HF suits fine.

Hooker and Wellman are massive oversights in OP.

Yep..Wellman first one in behind Lloydy, Hird and Mercs.

 

[Blind Turn]

Yep..Wellman first one in behind Lloydy, Hird and Mercs.

Fletch, Jobe and Scotty nudge him for mine but definitely in first 10 chosen.

 

[monty1104]

Did Caracella actually play enough at Essendon in the 21st century to be considered? I'd think not. Same with Hardwick.

 

[Blind Turn]

Did Caracella actually play enough at Essendon in the 21st century to be considered? I'd think not. Same with Hardwick.

Premiership/GF players counts for a lot. And they were critical components, whereas players like Boris and Longy had become purely bit-part players at that point and probably miss for this era.

 

[eth-dog]

Yeah no monfries, no McPhee and no Stanton.

Dean Solly- Fletcher -Mark Johnson

Hardwick - hooker - Wellman

Heppell- Jason Johnson- rama

Hird- Lucas- Bewick

Mercuri Lloyd Caracella

Hille Watson Misiti

Hurley, Barnard , Heffernan Winderlich

You're kidding yourself.

M Johnson - Hooker - Fletcher
Wellman - Hurley - Ramanauskas
Caracella - J Johnson - Heppell
Mercuri - Lucas - Hird
Hille - Lloyd - Bewick
Ryder - Watson - Misiti
Stanton - McPhee - McVeigh - Goddard

 

[Shane Hird]

You're kidding yourself.

M Johnson - Hooker - Fletcher
Wellman - Hurley - Ramanauskas
Caracella - J Johnson - Heppell
Mercuri - Lucas - Hird
Hille - Lloyd - Bewick
Ryder - Watson - Misiti
Stanton - McPhee - McVeigh - Goddard

Actually Alesio instead of Hille.

Ryder. What did he do really in all that time? Not much.

McPhee had maybe 2 really good seasons and then crud.

Stanton Spike and Goddard...you're kidding yourself.

It's all personal opinion anyway.

It can never be settled with everyone agreeing so lists like this are a waste of time.

 

[Kakkle]

Steve Alessio, really?

 

[calyam]

Laughing at people naming Alessio. You could probably make a more compelling argument for Tom Bellchambers (even if it would be absurd). Ryder is undoubtedly the best ruckman we have had this century; Hille is the one who has played the most games. They are the only two options and you could probably name both if you wanted.

You're kidding yourself.

M Johnson - Hooker - Fletcher
Wellman - Hurley - Ramanauskas
Caracella - J Johnson - Heppell
Mercuri - Lucas - Hird
Hille - Lloyd - Bewick
Ryder - Watson - Misiti
Stanton - McPhee - McVeigh - Goddard

Bewick is my favourite Bombers player of all time but he played one season this century and was a mere shadow of his former self. Likewise Mercuri is a club great but his career fell apart after 2000 - is one good season this century really good enough to make the team? Ramanauskas never progressed beyond really promising youngster (though obviously through no fault of his own).

Of course at the same time we haven't enjoyed any success since then so it's hard for many of these players to get nudged out. We really have lacked quality over the past 15 years.

 

[Halftimehero]

M Johnson Hooker Fletcher
Wellman Hurley Mcphee
Heppell Watson Stanton
Hird Lucas Monfries
Ryder Lloyd Crameri
Hille J Johnson Misiti
Mcveigh Winderlich Zaharakis Goddard

I cant include players like Bewick, Mercuri, Long, Caracella as didn't play long enough or perform well enough for long enough after 2000, Crameri and Monfries will raise eyebrows but we have had rubbish forwards for the last 8-10 years baring the obvious ones in Lloyd and Lucas and the other two were the best of an average lot.

 

[monty1104]

Fwiw, this is mine

FB. M. Johnson, Hooker, Fletcher
HB. Solomon, Wellman, McVeigh
C. Stanton, Watson, Heppell
HF. Hurley, Lucas, Hird
FF. Mercuri, Lloyd, Monfries
R. Hille, J. Johnson, Misiti
Int. Ryder, Peverill, McPhee, Heffernan

Hurley only forward on balance. Couldn't leave out any of Fletcher, Hooker or Wellman.

 

[menzel case]

Probably something like this. Hird played his best on-ball but for balance HF suits fine.

Hooker and Wellman are massive oversights in OP.

Massive oversights? So you would start with 4x 193cm + key position players in defence?

 

[blitzer]

Fwiw, this is mine

FB. M. Johnson, Hooker, Fletcher
HB. Solomon, Wellman, McVeigh
C. Stanton, Watson, Heppell
HF. Hurley, Lucas, Hird
FF. Mercuri, Lloyd, Monfries
R. Hille, J. Johnson, Misiti
Int. Ryder, Peverill, McPhee, Heffernan

Hurley only forward on balance. Couldn't leave out any of Fletcher, Hooker or Wellman.

Nice side overall. I think Hurley as a 3rd tall forward would have been pretty damned good and it makes sense to include all of Hooker/Fletcher/Wellman in the backline so i think that's a really good call.

Mercuri probably doesn't deserve to be in given the criteria. I would also be trying to find a replacement for Heffernan.

I would probably consider guys like Goddard/Lovett/Rioli/Crameri as possible candidates.

 

[monty1104]

Nice side overall. I think Hurley as a 3rd tall forward would have been pretty damned good and it makes sense to include all of Hooker/Fletcher/Wellman in the backline so i think that's a really good call.

Mercuri probably doesn't deserve to be in given the criteria. I would also be trying to find a replacement for Heffernan.

I would probably consider guys like Goddard/Lovett/Rioli/Crameri as possible candidates.

I'd honestly overlooked Rioli and Lovett, which is odd considering Lovett now plays for my local team. I'd still be reluctant to take Mercuri out, but I'd put Lovett in place of Heffernan.

 

[Blind Turn]

Massive oversights? So you would start with 4x 193cm + key position players in defence?

Hooker and Wellman are massive oversights.

 

[harry_caul]

Massive oversights? So you would start with 4x 193cm + key position players in defence?

Are they actually going to play a game? If it is deemed that 4 of our best defenders happen to be that size, then so be it, even if it's not conceived as practical. Who are the opposition? Maybe they have 4 large forwards.

 

[Halftimehero]

Massive oversights? So you would start with 4x 193cm + key position players in defence?

If Hawthorn can win a premiership with Lake, Frawley, Gibson and Stratton in the one side then you could play Fletcher, Wellman, Hooker and Hurley in the same defence. Yes, they are collectively taller but Fletcher and Hurley can play on smalls, mediums and talls quite easily.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I'd have no problem playing Wellman and Fletcher in addition to 2 KPPs. Both were super versatile.

 

[efcboy]

B: M.Johnson, Fletcher, Hurley
HB: Wellman, Hooker, McPhee
C: Stanton, Watson, Heppell
HF: Hird(c), Lucas, Mercuri
F: Caracella, Lloyd, Hille
Foll: Ryder, Misiti, J.Johnson
Int: Goddard, Ramanauskas, Zaharakis, Barnard

n.b Hardwick only played 45 matches so was ineligible post 2000 (with the original posters 50 match rule who overlooked this including Hardwick)

 

[Halftimehero]

Hi all, as part of a promotion of our game to the community, i am involved in a 21st century afl publicisation. for every team, we are preparing what we believe is the best 22 since 2000 inclusive. all players must have played minimum 50 games in this time period to be considered. I have chosen players purely on position so thats why someone like monfries gets a spot. would appreciate your thoughts on your team:

FB M.JOHNSON D.FLETCHER D.HARDWICK

HB M.MCVEIGH M.HURLEY* A.MCPHEE

C D.HEPPELL* J.WATSON* (vc) B.STANTON*

HF M.MERCURI S. LUCAS D.ZAHARAKIS*

FF B.CARACELLA M.LLOYD A.MONFRIES

RR P.RYDER J.HIRD (c) J.JOHNSON

INT D.HILLE J.MISITI B.GODDARD* D.PEVERILL

COACH: KEVIN SHEEDY

Hardwick doesn't fit the criteria of having played 50 games for Essendon this century and why are we including 2000? The 21st century started on Jan 1 2001.

 

[Doss]

Hardwick doesn't fit the criteria of having played 50 games for Essendon this century and why are we including 2000? The 21st century started on Jan 1 2001.

Because a lot of people count 2000. It's not uncommon.