Who do you think will step up next year

[dapto]

Crossing swords over the wrong thing with Dyson, I think. He is NO AFL teams' midfielder but he serves our purposes now while we blood one. He's got 12 months(24 on contract I know). Ricky knows it, the other clubs know it, and I hope that Hocking, Longeran, Hislop, Jetta, Myers, Lovett, Monfires and be ****ed CJ because anyone who wants a slot there can have it if they can hold it down.

You guys are sucking air where you should be blowin' it. The midfield spots are tight. Jobe & Stats and the four or more rotations that follow, will make Dyson run harder but wider. It is his cancer, runs hard, cannot earn the ball, give to contested forward mark.

Just remember Mercuri's disposal time in 2001. Not fleet of foot but had footy acumen. Before he even got the ball evey punter knew what he was going to do. Glory days maybe but ..... instinct=\Dyson. We can find others.

Dyson has no poise. All the great Essendon teams and indeed premiers have had good to great midfielders. Who sees that photo!!??

He is just not there.

 

[Azzballz Deluxe]

I think Dyson could be a very valuable player for us if he can have a winder-like break out season next year. Like a lot of other posters i feel he is a confidence player, who just isn't feeling it because of his sparodic game time last season (wether thats sheeds fault or not is debatable).

Now, its easy to say that he is just a good VFL-standard player that cant cut it in the big-time (who knows it may turn out be true), but until he starts getting fluid game-time i cant really see him improving all that much on the big stage.

His best chance at getting some decent game time is obviously this pre-season. I reckon he could be a very handy depth player to our new-look need-for-speed midfield, rotating with winders or lovett (and hopefully dempsey). He is no slouch at kicking from 50 on the run and his accuracy would be a much welcomed assett for our forwards.


Carn Ricky-boy, you have it in ya!

 

[Slattery_20]

Dapto - I don't think anyone's kidding themself that Dyso will be a Mercuri or Hird... but he just might be a Blumfield or even play the role Rama played that year... cheeky, taking them on, very attacking

I'm not ruling anything in or out, the new coach will see things differently & no doubt there will be surprises. I ruled Dyso out last year, now I'm not so sure.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

I actually thought he played a pretty handy defensive game on Akermanis later in the year so he's not completely without talent in that regard.

He got spanked by Aker in that game. It was embarassing seeing an old man that has struggled toy with Ricky.

 

[GoDons]

He got spanked by Aker in that game. It was embarassing seeing an old man that has struggled toy with Ricky.

Ricky wasn't bad that night and was by no means 'toyed' with.

But there's obviously no use arguing.

 

[ant555]

He got spanked by Aker in that game. It was embarassing seeing an old man that has struggled toy with Ricky.

Actually he didnt get spanked. Dyson didnt move onto him until the second quarter. During the time Dyson played on Aker Dyson had more possessions and Aker was clearly less damaging.
Aker did all the damage in the first quarter when Dyson wasnt playing on him. I have been critical of Rick as well but you cant say he played badly that day.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Actually he didnt get spanked. Dyson didnt move onto him until the second quarter. During the time Dyson played on Aker Dyson had more possessions and Aker was clearly less damaging.
Aker did all the damage in the first quarter when Dyson wasnt playing on him. I have been critical of Rick as well but you cant say he played badly that day.

Yep... but I still thought he was getting a serious towelling in the second quarter and it frustrated the hell out of me seeing Aker waltzing around him and doing as he pleases.

The pattern for the rest of the game was set and we had picked a pretty slowish side so I wanted Dyson to do more but the doggies runners were having a field day and he IMO was pretty invisible even though his second half stats might say otherwise. I think he got a couple of cheap ones right at the end when the game was done and dusted.

I believe Aker got votes and was only behind Cooney as BOG.

 

[Windas_Magic]

Actually he didnt get spanked. Dyson didnt move onto him until the second quarter. During the time Dyson played on Aker Dyson had more possessions and Aker was clearly less damaging.
Aker did all the damage in the first quarter when Dyson wasnt playing on him. I have been critical of Rick as well but you cant say he played badly that day.

Yeah, i believe Campo was playing on Aker in the first quarter when he was killing us. I don't know why Campo was playing on him because hes way to slow for Aker

 

[dapto]

Dapto - I don't think anyone's kidding themself that Dyso will be a Mercuri or Hird... but he just might be a Blumfield or even play the role Rama played that year... cheeky, taking them on, very attacking

I'm not ruling anything in or out, the new coach will see things differently & no doubt there will be surprises. I ruled Dyso out last year, now I'm not so sure.

Thats fair. But I cannot see what value he specifically adds that cannot be found elsewhere. The Mercuri example was probably bad, Dyson has more defensive qualities but what I was trying to say was that if he was modeling himself on a kind of player it might be Merc but he just has not got the vision nor finish.

 

[Slattery_20]

There's been plenty of good players in great teams who don't have that vision
& I think we disagree a bit on his finishing skills, he's a pretty good running shot on goal & he can weight a kick nicely for a leading forward
For us to get value out of him, we have to use him as a running creative player. He can burst open packs & make the play.

 

[mercs]

Thats fair. But I cannot see what value he specifically adds that cannot be found elsewhere. The Mercuri example was probably bad, Dyson has more defensive qualities but what I was trying to say was that if he was modeling himself on a kind of player it might be Merc but he just has not got the vision nor finish.

yes he is not a Mercuri, Mercs was one of kind he had great silky skills and was very difficult to tackle and made opponients look bad. Ricky needs to use his asset and run and use that fantastic long kick of his to break the lines. Make or break year and time will tell

 

[dapto]

There's been plenty of good players in great teams who don't have that vision
& I think we disagree a bit on his finishing skills, he's a pretty good running shot on goal & he can weight a kick nicely for a leading forward
For us to get value out of him, we have to use him as a running creative player. He can burst open packs & make the play.

Granted. Granted to everyting you have said. I just would not keep a spot for a player that portends to do what you say without an extra dimension. I think he is a bit soft, he doesnt really burst packs but he does run and make play but too infrequently to warrant a starting 18/22. He's needs another tool in the shed (lol).

You will hit me again for making poor comparisons but TW burst packs and made play but he also ran back to the defensive 50, and wsa more than handy in forward 50 scoring goals. Sure he is no TW but he does need that other aspect to his game and I cannot see it.

yes he is not a Mercuri, Mercs was one of kind he had great silky skills and was very difficult to tackle and made opponients look bad. Ricky needs to use his asset and run and use that fantastic long kick of his to break the lines. Make or break year and time will tell

It would have been a disgrace to your user name if you did not lodge that post.

 

[ant555]

Yep... but I still thought he was getting a serious towelling in the second quarter and it frustrated the hell out of me seeing Aker waltzing around him and doing as he pleases.

The pattern for the rest of the game was set and we had picked a pretty slowish side so I wanted Dyson to do more but the doggies runners were having a field day and he IMO was pretty invisible even though his second half stats might say otherwise. I think he got a couple of cheap ones right at the end when the game was done and dusted.

I believe Aker got votes and was only behind Cooney as BOG.

Aker had 4 possessions in the second quarter yet he was towling up Dyson.
Amazing

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Aker had 4 possessions in the second quarter yet he was towling up Dyson.
Amazing

Here's the Brownlow votes:

Brownlow Votes: 3: A Cooney, 2: B Johnson, 1: J Akermanis

Here's the AFL bests summary :

Best: Western Bulldogs: A Cooney J Akermanis N Eagleton D Giansiracusa D Morris. Essendon: J Watson J Johnson M Johnson J Nash A Monfries.

Strange that Aker got votes everywhere but was well held by Dyson for 3 quarters.

His possessions in the second quarter were very telling as they were for the whole game. He averaged 15.7 for the year yet had 24 against us.

If thats doing an alright job then I guess our standards have seriously slipped.

 

[ant555]

Here's the Brownlow votes:

Brownlow Votes: 3: A Cooney, 2: B Johnson, 1: J Akermanis

Here's the AFL bests summary :

Best: Western Bulldogs: A Cooney J Akermanis N Eagleton D Giansiracusa D Morris. Essendon: J Watson J Johnson M Johnson J Nash A Monfries.

Strange that Aker got votes everywhere but was well held by Dyson for 3 quarters.

His possessions in the second quarter were very telling as they were for the whole game. He averaged 15.7 for the year yet had 24 against us.

If thats doing an alright job then I guess our standards have seriously slipped.

Keep up the good work. He had 11 possesions in the first quarter . Thats where he got the votes from. Anyway well held are your words. I was simply pointing out to you that he didnt toy with Dyson. He destroyed us in the first quarter before Dyson was moved onto him. After quarter time he didnt have as much influence on the game and Dyson had 17 possessions to Akers 13.
You cant hold his first quarter dominace against Dyson as he wasnt playing on him. You really need to have a better memory

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Keep up the good work. He had 11 possesions in the first quarter . Thats where he got the votes from. Anyway well held are your words. I was simply pointing out to you that he didnt toy with Dyson. He destroyed us in the first quarter before Dyson was moved onto him. After quarter time he didnt have as much influence on the game and Dyson had 17 possessions to Akers 13.
You cant hold his first quarter dominace against Dyson as he wasnt playing on him. You really need to have a better memory

Ant... there's a few things that stick in my mind from last year and one that really annoys me is Aker baulking Dyson a few times and then delivering a perfect pass in the second quarter.

I can't let go of it because anyone with any footy nous would not have let that happen. It reminded me of a dad playing with his son it was that obvious!

How many possies did Dyson have in the last quarter when the game was done and dusted? I recall he got a few cheapies with a few minutes to go.

He frustrated me just as much as Courtney Johns' second efforts. Another thing that sticks out from last year is when Shannon Grant baulked Johns to kick an easy goal.

I have nightmares every night about those two piss poor efforts.

 

[Merv]

Ant... there's a few things that stick in my mind from last year and one that really annoys me is Aker baulking Dyson a few times and then delivering a perfect pass in the second quarter.

I can't let go of it because anyone with any footy nous would not have let that happen. It reminded me of a dad playing with his son it was that obvious!

How many possies did Dyson have in the last quarter when the game was done and dusted? I recall he got a few cheapies with a few minutes to go.

He frustrated me just as much as Courtney Johns' second efforts. Another thing that sticks out from last year is when Shannon Grant baulked Johns to kick an easy goal.

I have nightmares every night about those two piss poor efforts.

He frustrated me just as much as Courtney Johns' second efforts.

You are such a kidder kelvin

 

[ant555]

Ant... there's a few things that stick in my mind from last year and one that really annoys me is Aker baulking Dyson a few times and then delivering a perfect pass in the second quarter.

I can't let go of it because anyone with any footy nous would not have let that happen. It reminded me of a dad playing with his son it was that obvious!

How many possies did Dyson have in the last quarter when the game was done and dusted? I recall he got a few cheapies with a few minutes to go.

He frustrated me just as much as Courtney Johns' second efforts. Another thing that sticks out from last year is when Shannon Grant baulked Johns to kick an easy goal.

I have nightmares every night about those two piss poor efforts.

Well given Aker is/was a champion player i suspect he could baulk a lot of guys playing the game. You are picking out single faults and using them to judge a whole game. If you are going to do that then there are any number of times in games where you could have a shot at most players .
Now i am not going defend Dysons whole year. He was ordinary but in the game against the Dogs he was ok. You cant say he wasn't. He went onto a player who had 11 possessions and a few goals in the first quarter and kept his influence to a minimum for the rest of the game. Yes Aker did a couple of good things in the last three quarters, the pass balk and pass you mentioned was actually in the last quarter , but over all Dyson kept his influence on the game down. Im not convinced tht Dyson was the way to go but you cant use the game against the Dogs as evidence that he cant play.

As far as Grant baulking Johns i suspect Grant would do the same to most big men. You are talking about a midfielder on a tall. He would have done the same to Lloyd, Lucas, Mal ,Laycock,Hille and preactically any other tall other than Fletcher.

 

[freakofnature]

Dyson needs to learn the art of the chase down. He has the pace to do it and is becoming a feature of the AFL quicks. If he created one turn over per quarter he would be a much better player. Davey does it perfectly a great mix of exciting attacking dash with feared defensive pressure.

 

[bomber_girl]

I would love to see Lonergan and Hocking become regulars next year. I'd also like to see Andy Lee get over his injuries and get a few games.

 

[GoDons]

As far as Grant baulking Johns i suspect Grant would do the same to most big men. You are talking about a midfielder on a tall. He would have done the same to Lloyd, Lucas, Mal ,Laycock,Hille and preactically any other tall other than Fletcher.

And Patrick Ryder. Just ask Dale Thomas.

 

[ant555]

And Patrick Ryder. Just ask Dale Thomas.

I didnt include Ryder . Yes he nailed Thomas but he was also guilty of some very ordinary attempts to tackle in the past as well.

 

[Houli2Gumbleton]

y is lonergan never talked about.

 

[Windas_Magic]

y is lonergan never talked about.

Probalby because he hasnt played a lot of footy (for essendon and bendigo) because of injury which hasnt allowed people to make a call on him and to make a fair judgement. Hes been on the list for a few years but hes had a real unlucky run with his injuries. On what ive heard and seen, he seems like a real tough midfield (maybe similar to JJ) who attackts the footy. He'll definently be competing for a spot in the side with the likes of Slattery, Hislop and Hocking.

 

[ant555]

Probalby because he hasnt played a lot of footy (for essendon and bendigo) because of injury which hasnt allowed people to make a call on him and to make a fair judgement. Hes been on the list for a few years but hes had a real unlucky run with his injuries. On what ive heard and seen, he seems like a real tough midfield (maybe similar to JJ) who attackts the footy. He'll definently be competing for a spot in the side with the likes of Slattery, Hislop and Hocking.

Sort of sums it up really. Hasnt had the chance to continually impress becasue of injury interuptions. Twice he has been on the verge of senior selection only to get injured.
What he may give if he steps it up in the midfield is a player who can do the job in the midfield but also be a dangerous small forward. He knows how to find the footy in and around the forward line. Just needs to improve his conversion rate a bit.