Player Watch Former Essendon players who have won a finals before Essendon - Best 18 edition

[SSSSSS]

With Hawthorn's victory over the Western Bulldogs we welcome the 17th addition to the squad, Massimo D'Ambrosio.
With Port Adelaide's beating Hawthorn in a 3 point thriller we welcome the 18th addition to the squad, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher

25

Brandon...

Age

26

Ht

195cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.5

3star

MG

148.5

2star

D

12.0

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

5.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

0.0

1star

MG

124.0

2star

D

11.5

3star

K

8.5

4star

HB

3.0

3star

M

4.5

5star

T

1.5

4star

MG

148.5

3star

.

How would you line up this hypothetical list of players on the field?

Kepler Bradley (Fremantle)
Jake Carlisle (St Kilda)
Massimo D'Ambrosio (Hawthorn)
Joe Daniher (Brisbane)
Orazio Fantasia

14

Orazio Fantasia

Age

29

Ht

180cm

Wt

73kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.6

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

6.2

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

3.1

5star

G

1.4

5star

D

9.8

2star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.4

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.2

2star

G

0.2

3star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.2

4star

G

0.0

1star

(Port Adelaide)
Damien Hardwick (Port Adelaide)
Michael Hibberd

14

Michael Hibberd

Age

34

Ht

186cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.4

5star

K

13.1

5star

HB

8.3

5star

M

5.2

5star

T

1.5

3star

MG

326.6

4star

D

16.8

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

6.8

4star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.4

2star

MG

326.6

5star

D

19.2

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

5.6

5star

T

2.0

4star

(Melbourne)
Bachar Houli

14

Bachar Houli

Age

36

Ht

180cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.4

5star

K

12.8

5star

HB

9.6

5star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.5

4star

MG

431.0

5star

D

22.8

5star

K

10.5

4star

HB

12.3

5star

M

6.5

5star

T

2.3

3star

MG

302.8

4star

D

14.0

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

7.4

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

(Richmond)
Adam McPhee

Adam Mcphee

Age

42

Ht

190cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.1

4star

K

10.1

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

6.0

5star

T

2.8

4star

G

0.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

10.4

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.2

3star

(Fremantle)
Josh Jenkins

11

Josh Jenkins

Age

35

Ht

200cm

Wt

108kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

9.1

4star

HB

3.8

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.1

5star

No current season stats available

D

11.0

3star

K

7.6

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

1.2

3star

G

1.6

5star

(Adelaide)
Conor McKenna (County Tyrone + Brisbane Lions)
Jake Melksham

18

Jake Melksham

Age

33

Ht

186cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.2

2star

K

5.8

2star

HB

3.3

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.8

4star

D

9.2

2star

K

5.8

2star

HB

3.3

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.2

2star

G

0.8

4star

D

9.2

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.8

4star

(Melbourne)
Angus Monfries (Port Adelaide)
Ted Richards

Ted Richards

Age

41

Ht

193cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.6

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.7

4star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

153.4

2star

No current season stats available

D

5.8

2star

K

3.2

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.8

3star

(Sydney)
Paddy Ryder (St Kilda)
Adam Saad

42

Adam Saad

Age

30

Ht

178cm

Wt

79kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

7.5

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.7

4star

MG

349.1

5star

D

20.7

5star

K

12.0

5star

HB

8.7

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.4

3star

MG

388.3

5star

D

17.6

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.2

3star

(Carlton)
Gavin Wanganeen (Port Adelaide)
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher

25

Brandon...

Age

26

Ht

195cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.5

3star

MG

148.5

2star

D

12.0

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

5.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

0.0

1star

MG

124.0

2star

D

11.5

3star

K

8.5

4star

HB

3.0

3star

M

4.5

5star

T

1.5

4star

MG

148.5

3star

(Port Adelaide)

Edit: Blake Caracella

Blake Caracella

Age

47

Ht

186cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.5

4star

K

10.1

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

4.7

4star

T

1.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.2

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

4.4

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.6

3star

(Brisbane)

My team;

B: BZT Richards Wanganeen
HB: Houli Carlisle Saad
C: McKenna McPhee D'Ambrosio
HF: Melksham Daniher Monfries
F: Bradley Jenkins Fantasia

Foll: Ryder Hibberd Hardwick

Pretty light on mids, especially centre square, having to put Hardwick in for some grunt and Hibberd at least having some size who could compete. Pretty decent options to stream out of the back half and some speed on the wings.

How many games could this best 18 realistically win in a season at their prime? I'd hazard a guess and say 6-8.

 

[NetworkNerd]

If you have Hardwick you can have Caracella right?

 

[InternetToughGuy]

If you have Hardwick you can have Caracella right?

Correct.

Essendon's last finals win = 4th of September 2004
Blake Caracella's last finals win = 18th of September 2004

 

[SC_Power]

I literally was going to start a thread like this after BZT’s stellar performance on Friday, but thought I’d do a search if there was an old thread. And there was, a day old!

 

[windyhill]

Once again, thank **** Port won.

 

[SSSSSS]

If you have Hardwick you can have Caracella right?

Oh that's one I missed.

I wonder if we will have enough for a best 22 in a few seasons.

 

[CakeEater]

Keplar was a better player than Daniher so surely he should be chf.

 

[Harris Specter]

Can also include McKenna on the list

 

[BF Tiger]

If you have Hardwick you can have Caracella right?

Frees Hardwick up to coach, and given the Bombers rejected him as a coach it’s a perfect fit.

 

[SSSSSS]

Can also include McKenna on the list

Already there.

Also won a final for County Tyrone as well as Brisbane. A rare double.

 

[NetworkNerd]

Does James Podsiadly count? Was on the Essendon list.

Also David Johnson was on the Essendon rookie list too

 

[Rod Stroker]

Correct.

Essendon's last finals win = 4th of September 2004
Blake Caracella's last finals win = 18th of September 2004

Interesting technicality there. My guess was Massimo for having to wait the least amount of time between washing off the Essendon shame and tasting finals glory

 

[Gavin Excell]

Poor old Essendon copping it left right and centre

 

[NetworkNerd]

The insertion of Caracella makes it a decent team. However with only one player on the bench they will struggle in the second half.

Do the rookies I mentioned count SSSSSS

 

[SSSSSS]

Congrats to Tippa who has won a Granny for the Imperials in the Sunraysia league. Not quite AFL level but I loved watching him so happy to see him taste success.

The insertion of Caracella makes it a decent team. However with only one player on the bench they will struggle in the second half.

Do the rookies I mentioned count SSSSSS

Can't see why they shouldn't count. Former Essendon player and all.

 

[Scritchyscroony]

Dean Solomon

Dean Solomon

Age

44

Ht

189cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.8

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

5.5

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

3.7

5star

No current season stats available

D

17.6

5star

K

13.4

5star

HB

4.2

4star

M

6.2

5star

T

2.8

5star

 

[Anja_Nees]

Does James Podsiadly count? Was on the Essendon list.

Also David Johnson was on the Essendon rookie list too

Basically a full team with them included.

 

[Anja_Nees]

Dean Solomon

Never played in a final at Freo.

 

[SSSSSS]

Dean Solomon

I don't think Solomon played in the finals for Freo off memory. Happy to be corrected.

 

[NetworkNerd]

I don't think Solomon played in the finals for Freo off memory. Happy to be corrected.

Nah he didnt. Already checked

 

[Rod Stroker]

Poor old Essendon copping it left right and centre

* em!

And now there's reports that Merrett could be on the way out. Their absolute gun. Rabble.

 

[SSSSSS]

* em!

And now there's reports that Merrett could be on the way out. Their absolute gun. Rabble.

Would be a much needed midfielder in this side. Plenty of flankers but very thin in the middle.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

jeez.

there are some ****in ancient names on that list rofl

Gavin Wanganeen lol

he literally had a kid play for Essendon, before Essendon won another final.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

* em!

And now there's reports that Merrett could be on the way out. Their absolute gun. Rabble.

could be worse.

 

[SSSSSS]

Congratulations McKenna and Daniher.

Joins Hardwick, Wanganeen, Hibberd, Richards and Houli as former Essendon players who played in a premiership before Essendon have won a final.