Who is our second best player ?

[Hencho]

12 years on and Fletcher is still in contention for a top 3 spot, what a freak!!!!

 

[Bombers36]

No Stanton love?

 

[Jade]

That is one epic freakin bump.

 

[BrownPearHookers]

Hurley in my opinion is equal with Watson as the most valuable player right now, When Hurley is on we look a million dollars.

I would have Crameri and Hocking equal 3rd.
5. Fletcher
6. Zaka

 

[Howard Moon]

thought i was in bizzaro world there for a second......

all these posters with no allegiance.... commenting on our board..

for the record i would have gone fletcher back then, when he missed we lost... (still do)

 

[nickcat0]

I hadn't noticed the date ...... and was assuming this was an all-time list, hence the talk of past players.

I was just about to point out that Hird was only the 3rd best player we've ever had.

Oops.

 

[Donakebab]

As said earlier, best doesn't equate to most valuable. That said, after Watson, Hurley fits both best and most valuable.



Great bizzaro bump!

 

[Rack Watts]

Stanton is our second best player.

 

[fishardansin]

I'll go back to the original OP. In 2000 Hird was the spiritual leader and many considered the "best" player. I, however, disagree. Fletcher was the most valuable player to Essendon and remained so until Watson just kept getting better and better.

Here are my reasons.

1. The coaching staff obviously thought so. Considering Essendon finished with around 160% that year it is RIDICULOUS that a full back could win the B&F. That says to me that he was the the most important player in the side according to the coaches, week in week out.

2. The stats back it up. Around 2002 and 2003 when the slide had begun but we weren't total crap, prior to the last quarter, we were a team with 4 super stars, a few good players and whole lot of battlers. Of course the media didn't recognise how good Lucas was, so the media saw us as a three super star side. They ran stats on the our win/loss percentages with either of those players in or out. Turns out that there was a much bigger change in the percentage when Fletcher missed. That to me says he was a more important player.

3. 1999. Essendon was the best team all that year, beating north when Carey kicked 10 is evidence of this. Lets face it we were only one super arrogant effort in the prelim full of bad kicking for goal finished with a final quarter choke away from a flag that year. Kouta playing one of the all time great individual games didn't help much either. Hird missed practically the whole year. There is just no way that would have been the case without Fletch.

4. Could either of them play each other's role? I have no doubt that Fletch could have dominated AFL football if he was allowed to just roam off the half forward line and push into the center square when he felt like it. In fact if he was allowed to build up the tank to run through the midfield he could have come close to the impact that Kouta had at different points. Hird could not have filled Fletcher's role.

This in no way diminishes my love for Hird's football ability and commitment to the club I love. I just rate Fletch that highly.

 

[Shane Hird]

Hocking is more valuable to the side than Stanton.


Not taking anything away from the current No5.