Hickey, Bruce and Hind

[shanegrambeau]

Who would have thought Coffield and Long would be so bad this year, they - our brains trust - just thought Hind was surplus to requirements given also that DMac was contracted and Jimmy the W was coming back. Essendon seem to have more bigger players than us (who doesn't) so Hind gets more protection blocking for his runs. Good coaching, shrewd recruitment.

If we needed another painful reminder of ARs limitations as a coach see T. Hickey's current form, and some good games for WCE it should be noted, and how J. Bruce has developed. Seriously wonder about our CEO's understanding of football - remember he renewed AR. Expensive, but its other peoples money and emotions.

Possible lesson: if another club wants one of our players and the recruiting team think it is a good deal take it, stop and get expert outside advice about what you are missing, what's the catch.

Look at this best TAC team of 2017!

2017 TAC Cup Team of the Year

B: Ben Paton (Murray), Mitch Podhajski (Calder), Joel Garner (Eastern)
HB: Hunter Clark (Dandenong), Oscar Clavarino (Dandenong), Nick Coffield (Northern)
C: Lachlan Fogarty (Western), James Worpel (C, Geelong), Patrick Naish (Northern)
HF: Jaidyn Stephenson (Eastern), Noah Balta (Calder), Luke Davies-Uniacke (Dandenong)
F: Gryan Miers (Geelong), Cameron Rayner (Western), Jack Higgins (Oakleigh)
FOLL: Sam Hayes (Eastern), Adam Cerra (Eastern), Paddy Dow (Bendigo)
I/C: Charlie Constable (Sandringham), David Handley (Geelong), Lloyd Meek (GWV), Callum Porter (Gippsland), Cassidy Parish (Geelong), Dylan Moore (Eastern)

We own the entire HB line and 1/3 of the back line.

How do you think the others have gone?

[samuraisaint]

Why isn't Clavarino playing seniors yet?

BTW we also have Higgins in our side now.

[IanRush]

Hi, when I saw Hickey, Bruce and Hird, I thought we were discussing ASADA again. That epic 600 page thread. Still immortality like, that thread

[shanegrambeau]

Hi, when I saw Hickey, Bruce and Hird, I thought we were discussing ASADA again. That epic 600 page thread. Still immortality like, that thread

Ah ha!!
Fair enough....

Guilty sir!

Well, it’s because since the thread went up, it became self-fulfilling.

All these boys are thriving...

Especially Hind and Hickey!

And I usually like our ex-players, but I’ve already developed a major distaste to Bruce. He seems nasty..Like a Richmond Lynch.

I won’t say anything nasty about him, because we shouldn’t say negative things about players in 2021..

[samuraisaint]

To my way of thinking, we have made an almighty blue trading these three players.

The club need to learn from this and not make the same mistakes ever again.

The club need to be very, very careful about how they develop players moving forward.

Hickey and Hind being touted as the two best trade acquisitions to their respective clubs, and Bruce's ability to hit the scoreboard are reminders that some of our decsion making about our list has been dubious at best. Bruce nearly outscored our whole team tonight.

These guys would be in our best 22 every week.

The other issue is whatever is happening at Sandringham. Our players are not coming back into the side prepared for senior footy.

[saintkid]

To my way of thinking, we have made an almighty blue trading these three players.

The club need to learn from this and not make the same mistakes ever again.

The club need to be very, very careful about how they develop players moving forward.

Hickey and Hind being touted as the two best trade acquisitions to their respective clubs, and Bruce's ability to hit the scoreboard are reminders that some of our decsion making about our list has been dubious at best. Bruce nearly outscored our whole team tonight.

These guys would be in our best 22 every week.

The other issue is whatever is happening at Sandringham. Our players are not coming back into the side prepared for senior footy.

Absolutely correct. They give up on Hind recently (who I thought had decent upside) yet extended the contract of Kent, who unfortunately is a spud and offers nothing. Now look at Melbourne compared with us. The recruitment and management of our club is a disgrace. Hickey and Bruce would be very handy now but we have to now settle on McKernan, Hunter, Frawley, Hannebury (luckiest AFL player on any list in the comp!) and of course Hill, who focused on money before anything else. What would Hill care about now anyway? He has premiership medallions already locked away in his safekeep and future memorabilia, when he reflects on his career. The others were discards, where our imbecile recruiters thought would take us to the next level!
Premierships are won by recruiting young talent wisely and nurturing this talent. Sadly we have failed dismally here since 2011.

[B.M]

We played Hind in the wrong position

Bruce, not sure why we thought offloading him was a good idea?

Hickey, is in good form. Played some good footy at StK but at times was also poor (maybe injury?)

[suss]

We played Hind in the wrong position

Bruce, not sure why we thought offloading him was a good idea?

Hickey, is in good form. Played some good footy at StK but at times was also poor (maybe injury?)

Letting Hickey and Bruce go I can understand - one looked like he wasn't going to make it and the other was offered a wage we could never match.

Letting Hind go for nothing was totally bizarre. He had had some good games last year and seemed to have plenty of upside. Why get a mature age guy in for nothing, develop him into a player, and then let him walk for nothing? Just baffling.

[saintkid]

We played Hind in the wrong position

Bruce, not sure why we thought offloading him was a good idea?

Hickey, is in good form. Played some good footy at StK but at times was also poor (maybe injury?)

Hickey played a lot more good games that poor and was miles ahead of Longer in overall play. The club stuffed him as we did Hind and several others. McEvoy trade still hurts our family. Great guy too that was destined for leadership. This all leads to incompetence and club administration and list management. Aren't there enough examples over the last 10 years. We never have looked likely since 2011 sadly.

[saintkev]

We played Hind in the wrong position

Bruce, not sure why we thought offloading him was a good idea?

Hickey, is in good form. Played some good footy at StK but at times was also poor (maybe injury?)

Letting Hickey and Bruce go I can understand - one looked like he wasn't going to make it and the other was offered a wage we could never match.

Letting Hind go for nothing was totally bizarre. He had had some good games last year and seemed to have plenty of upside. Why get a mature age guy in for nothing, develop him into a player, and then let him walk for nothing? Just baffling.

Afford? Mmmm...what are we paying Hannebery and Mr Cruisey Moneybags?

[B.M]

How can the Dogs afford Bruce when they are a shitload better team than us?

Bontempelli, McCrae, Daniel, Libba

Are all better than any players we have

[The_Dud]

Interesting, because I keep getting told we had so much money we had to spend it on someone, hence Hannerbry’s exorbitant contract.

But we couldn’t afford Bruce??

[saintkid]

Interesting, because I keep getting told we had so much money we had to spend it on someone, hence Hannerbry’s exorbitant contract.

But we couldn’t afford Bruce??

That alone makes you wonder and typifies why we have gone backwards. One is straightening up and improving their new club time big time and the other continues to sit in the stands in his 3rd season! Lethlean you are one of the cancers at our club at the moment but I blame our administration for giving him his current position after he was forced to leave AFL Headquarters.

[suss]

We played Hind in the wrong position

Bruce, not sure why we thought offloading him was a good idea?

Hickey, is in good form. Played some good footy at StK but at times was also poor (maybe injury?)

Letting Hickey and Bruce go I can understand - one looked like he wasn't going to make it and the other was offered a wage we could never match.

Letting Hind go for nothing was totally bizarre. He had had some good games last year and seemed to have plenty of upside. Why get a mature age guy in for nothing, develop him into a player, and then let him walk for nothing? Just baffling.

Afford? Mmmm...what are we paying Hannebery and Mr Cruisey Moneybags?

Yes, but I'm not sure he's worth +$800k either. He's playing well now because they have an incredible team but he was pretty ordinary last year.

The decision to let Bruce go doesn't keep me up at night unlike other blunders ...

[saintkid]

We played Hind in the wrong position

Bruce, not sure why we thought offloading him was a good idea?

Hickey, is in good form. Played some good footy at StK but at times was also poor (maybe injury?)

Letting Hickey and Bruce go I can understand - one looked like he wasn't going to make it and the other was offered a wage we could never match.

Letting Hind go for nothing was totally bizarre. He had had some good games last year and seemed to have plenty of upside. Why get a mature age guy in for nothing, develop him into a player, and then let him walk for nothing? Just baffling.

Afford? Mmmm...what are we paying Hannebery and Mr Cruisey Moneybags?

Yes, but I'm not sure he's worth +$800k either. He's playing well now because they have an incredible team but he was pretty ordinary last year.

The decision to let Bruce go doesn't keep me up at night unlike other blunders ...

Yes we've certainly covered their other blunders but I would still prefer Bruce on our list at the moment over Hannebery and Hill. I think this is the point he's trying to make.

[Ghost Like]

Bruce did not want to play for us & I'm not sure we really wanted him. I'm not fussed to be honest. He's kicked 18 this year against North, Carlton & us. Unfortunately we don't get to play against ourselves.

Included in his 3 was a Joe the Goose & a free. The Dogs had the money, what they were not getting sucked in by was his worth in terms of draft pick. They know the value of players, we don't. That's on Lethlean & Gallagher.

Let's bemoan those still on our list, they are the ones not trying, the ones disrespecting our jumper.

[Wayne42]

Essendon the big winners of the Nick Hind trade
The Bombers recruit was at his very best against North Melbourne, dictating play off the half-back flank and making smart choices when sending the ball inside 50. He found plenty of the footy, finishing with 21 disposals at 85 per cent efficiency. Hind had been drafted from Essendon's VFL list by the Saints in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft. Despite having made his name as a dashing half-back at VFL level, he was used as a forward at St Kilda, but is full of confidence back in familiar territory at the Bombers. He was a bargain price too with Essendon trading picks 67 and 74 for Hind and pick No.77. – Sarah Black

[Enrico_Misso]

Essendon the big winners of the Nick Hind trade
The Bombers recruit was at his very best against North Melbourne, dictating play off the half-back flank and making smart choices when sending the ball inside 50. He found plenty of the footy, finishing with 21 disposals at 85 per cent efficiency. Hind had been drafted from Essendon's VFL list by the Saints in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft. Despite having made his name as a dashing half-back at VFL level, he was used as a forward at St Kilda, but is full of confidence back in familiar territory at the Bombers. He was a bargain price too with Essendon trading picks 67 and 74 for Hind and pick No.77. – Sarah Black

Well at least Sarah isn't getting a game for them!

[Wayne42]

Essendon the big winners of the Nick Hind trade
The Bombers recruit was at his very best against North Melbourne, dictating play off the half-back flank and making smart choices when sending the ball inside 50. He found plenty of the footy, finishing with 21 disposals at 85 per cent efficiency. Hind had been drafted from Essendon's VFL list by the Saints in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft. Despite having made his name as a dashing half-back at VFL level, he was used as a forward at St Kilda, but is full of confidence back in familiar territory at the Bombers. He was a bargain price too with Essendon trading picks 67 and 74 for Hind and pick No.77. – Sarah Black

Well at least Sarah isn't getting a game for them!

They have a much better list than the Saints, maybe we should poach Adrian Dedildo.

[Scollop]

Interesting, because I keep getting told we had so much money we had to spend it on someone, hence Hannerbry’s exorbitant contract.

But we couldn’t afford Bruce??

That alone makes you wonder and typifies why we have gone backwards. One is straightening up and improving their new club time big time and the other continues to sit in the stands in his 3rd season! Lethlean you are one of the cancers at our club at the moment but I blame our administration for giving him his current position after he was forced to leave AFL Headquarters.

The other thing I don't like is that politics sometimes sends players off looking for other clubs (I remember threads on here questioning his worth the year before Bruce was traded).

Tony74 even came out after he was traded and was posting negative comments about him and it seemed similar to the Buckley bs about Treloar and the fact that his team mates didn't trust him or didn't value him

We need propper experienced footy heads. I think Ratts is good but we don't have enough quality experienced footy managers and foot y development people.

Get Justin Leppitsch and pay him more than the others are offering and give him a long term secure contract. Mark Williams isn't available but what about Rodney Eade?

Hind was in and out of the side instead of being given a good run at it on the wing or as a flanker... so again there were voices that didn't value Nick.

Let's see what happens with Long. I have a feeling that politics is at play and is contributing to Ben playing nervous and may be partly why he has poor form. Ratts identified Ben's strengths and Ben was playing very good football for us last year. For some reason there have been players and others who just don't value Ben Long... Too many voices and too many opinions from wannabe coaches and maybe s players.

Watch what happens with Ben Long at the end of this year. We'll probably lose him and watch him blossom under better footy leaders and better footy staff

[MC Gusto]

Watching bombers v west coast. Hind is brilliant off half back, exactly the player we need

[bangaulegend]

Watching bombers v west coast. Hind is brilliant off half back, exactly the player we need

Essendon have beaten West Coast at home . They have drafted very well & are now reaping the rewards IMO need to do the same

[saintkid]

Watching bombers v west coast. Hind is brilliant off half back, exactly the player we need

I liked Hind and was disappointed they cut him. Now he's showing our clueless list managers and coaches how wrong they were. The club is run by amateurs and that's why we won't be a serious contender for a while again. We've been treading water for the last 10 years unfortunately.

[suss]

Watching bombers v west coast. Hind is brilliant off half back, exactly the player we need

Essendon have beaten West Coast at home . They have drafted very well & are now reaping the rewards IMO need to do the same

Some of their kids look like being absolute jets. Bringing in a few promising young kids is something we should entertain.

[The_Dud]

Watching bombers v west coast. Hind is brilliant off half back, exactly the player we need

Nah, we’ve got Hill!