Tough

[LND]

Just a question, want to get people's thoughts....

are we tough enough? there was a time when playing essendon meant pain...meant u were playing a side that enjoyed gettng physical (legally), i know the rules of the game make this harder, but it seems that we get pushed aside easily...we don't like the physical stuff.

I know it doesn't help with Spike, Lonergan on the sidelines, but more guys need to get dirty, we can't rely on Davey, Slatts, Watson and co. there has to be a time when guys like Dyson, Houli, Jetta have too and they don't...

Just some thoughts

[Crazyman]

I tend to agree, but I also think a little of this is to do with the age of our list and the fact that a number of players need to bulk up...

Having said that, Davey gives it a red hot go whenever he is out there and I would like to see a few players step upto his level of commitment to the contest...

[Ronny Rotten]

I agree that we are not tough enough, Knights get them aggressive at the ball & the man with the ball. Get them playing "in your face, unsociable" footy!!!

Knights was a fancy , skilful ball player from a soft, unsuccessful football club. Essendon is not like that. We have been successful because we were hard at it, verbally & physically (Merrett,Terry Daniher, Ducky, Wallis, Hardwicke etc) .Whorethorn last year proved toughness wins out.Who is our enforcer type now?

Knights still persists with cream puffs like Dyson & wonders why we are being pushed around & not taken seriously. GO HARD OR GO HOME.

Off field is fantastic with stong business decisions being conducted, how about bringing that ruthless attitude over to the playing group.

Starting to wonder if Hardwicke might have been a better choice as coach. Time will tell at seasons end. If no major improvements in attitude & controlled aggression are forthcoming, knights maybe looking over his shoulder.

[BenDoolan]

This is the problem;

Jay Neagle - 9 games, 96kg (solid, but inexperienced)
Ricky Dyson - 65 games, 82 kg (never going to be a physical player)
Scott Gumbleton - 5 games, 95kg (no need to comment)
Jobe Watson - 73 games, 91kg (goes in and under - but doesn't physically threaten the opposition)
Brent Stanton - 99 games, 82kg (a ball getter, but can't be a physical player)
Angus Monfries - 73 games, 80kg (will go for the ball, but is always physically pushed around)
Leroy Jetta - 22 games, 75kg (a back pocket player could pick him up with their little finger and toss him around)
Jason Winderlich - 57 games, 83kg (nothing solid about him at all)
Brent Prismall - 25 games, 82kg (nothing solid either)
Mark McVeigh - 176 games, 84kg (doesn't take a backward step - but could he physically intimidate anyone?)
David Zaharakis - 0 games, 76kg (can't expect him to do much)
Andrew Welsh - 134 games, 86kg (one of the physical players at the club)
Andrew Lovett - 67 games, 74kg (the 2nd lightest player at the club)
Sam Lonergan - 21 games, 80kg (still establishing himself, but goes in hard)
Courtney Dempsey - 11 games, 82kg (likely to break his ribs while sneezing)
Tayte Pears - 6 games, 91kg (solid guy but is far too inexperienced)
Jay Nash - 41 games, 84kg (not known for his physical work)
Matthew Lloyd - 253 games, 93kg (the velvet sledgehammer, say no more)
David Hille - 145 games, 111kg (big solid bastard who could hurt many a player)
Henry Slattery - 53 games, 86kg (could play more physically stronger)
Hayden Skipworth - 45 games, 78kg (just back after 3 years off)
Michael Hurley - 1 game, 91kg (new kid on the block)
David Myers - 8 games, 85kg (too inexperienced)
John Williams - 1 game, 84kg (same)
Scott Lucas - 257 games, 98kg (solid and strong but not known for any rough stuff)
Cale Hooker - 2 games, 93kg (no experience)
Jason Laycock - 58 games, 103kg (needs an injection of "mongrel")
Darcy Daniher - 3 games, 89kg (no experience)
Alwyn Davey - 19 games, 70kg (the lightest bloke at the club)
Paddy Ryder - 53 games, 90kg (too gentle)
Dustin Fletcher - 295 games, 93kg (gets physical when he needs to)
Adam McPhee - 147 games, 89kg (could get more physical)
Michael Still - 0 games, 82kg (unknown)
Tyson Slattery - 0 games, 81kg (unknown)
Kyle Reimers - 18 games, 78kg (has some mongrel in him despite his youth and frame)
Jarrod Atkinson - 5 games, 81kg (not a physical player)
Heath Hocking - 5 games, 91kg (goes in hard, but very inexperienced)
Nathan Lovett-Murray - 85 games, 87kg (a noted physical player - even shaped up to Barry Hall one day which takes balls or no brains)
Bachar Houli - 15 games, 83kg (not noted for his physical play)
Tom Bellchambers - 3 games, 102kg (no experience)

The cupboard is bare. I guess the body strength isn't there with the majority of our players. But that still doesn't prevent a player becoming a bit in your face al la Reimers. Attitude is everything.

[Ronny Rotten]

Agree with your summary BD, the gym has to be the most used room at Windy hill this year & over the off season.

But a tougher MENTAL ATTITUDE WITH A NEVER SAY DIE SPIRIT can be achieved NOW by ALL players,including Dyson & Laycock, otherwise they won't be at the club next year.

[sconsey]

This is the problem;

Jay Neagle - 9 games, 96kg (solid, but inexperienced)
Ricky Dyson - 65 games, 82 kg (never going to be a physical player)
Scott Gumbleton - 5 games, 95kg (no need to comment)
Jobe Watson - 73 games, 91kg (goes in and under - but doesn't physically threaten the opposition)
Brent Stanton - 99 games, 82kg (a ball getter, but can't be a physical player)
Angus Monfries - 73 games, 80kg (will go for the ball, but is always physically pushed around)
Leroy Jetta - 22 games, 75kg (a back pocket player could pick him up with their little finger and toss him around)
Jason Winderlich - 57 games, 83kg (nothing solid about him at all)
Brent Prismall - 25 games, 82kg (nothing solid either)
Mark McVeigh - 176 games, 84kg (doesn't take a backward step - but could he physically intimidate anyone?)
David Zaharakis - 0 games, 76kg (can't expect him to do much)
Andrew Welsh - 134 games, 86kg (one of the physical players at the club)
Andrew Lovett - 67 games, 74kg (the 2nd lightest player at the club)
Sam Lonergan - 21 games, 80kg (still establishing himself, but goes in hard)
Courtney Dempsey - 11 games, 82kg (likely to break his ribs while sneezing)
Tayte Pears - 6 games, 91kg (solid guy but is far too inexperienced)
Jay Nash - 41 games, 84kg (not known for his physical work)
Matthew Lloyd - 253 games, 93kg (the velvet sledgehammer, say no more)
David Hille - 145 games, 111kg (big solid bastard who could hurt many a player)
Henry Slattery - 53 games, 86kg (could play more physically stronger)
Hayden Skipworth - 45 games, 78kg (just back after 3 years off)
Michael Hurley - 1 game, 91kg (new kid on the block)
David Myers - 8 games, 85kg (too inexperienced)
John Williams - 1 game, 84kg (same)
Scott Lucas - 257 games, 98kg (solid and strong but not known for any rough stuff)
Cale Hooker - 2 games, 93kg (no experience)
Jason Laycock - 58 games, 103kg (needs an injection of "mongrel")
Darcy Daniher - 3 games, 89kg (no experience)
Alwyn Davey - 19 games, 70kg (the lightest bloke at the club)
Paddy Ryder - 53 games, 90kg (too gentle)
Dustin Fletcher - 295 games, 93kg (gets physical when he needs to)
Adam McPhee - 147 games, 89kg (could get more physical)
Michael Still - 0 games, 82kg (unknown)
Tyson Slattery - 0 games, 81kg (unknown)
Kyle Reimers - 18 games, 78kg (has some mongrel in him despite his youth and frame)
Jarrod Atkinson - 5 games, 81kg (not a physical player)
Heath Hocking - 5 games, 91kg (goes in hard, but very inexperienced)
Nathan Lovett-Murray - 85 games, 87kg (a noted physical player - even shaped up to Barry Hall one day which takes balls or no brains)
Bachar Houli - 15 games, 83kg (not noted for his physical play)
Tom Bellchambers - 3 games, 102kg (no experience)

The cupboard is bare. I guess the body strength isn't there with the majority of our players. But that still doesn't prevent a player becoming a bit in your face al la Reimers. Attitude is everything.

Classic comments!!

Definetly need to get back the aggression that put fear into the minds of any opponents we played against back when the Dons were a dominant force!

[LND]

Agree with your comments BD but it is quite scary when the lightest bloke at the club, happens to be one of the toughest.

You don't need to be solid to tough..just hit the ball as hard as you can, don't take a backward step...then the respect will come back..the physical stuff will come as the lads get bigger.

[Doctor Fish]

We seem to have traded our more intimidating players in recent years (Solly, MJ and even CJ).

Wonder if Solly will be throwing his weight around tomorrow... I might be alone here but I wish we still had him on our list...

[tom9779]

not concerned.

the toughest blokes at most footy clubs are between 23-27

which is the exact age group essendon comes up short in.

Essendon will be hard agressive and hopefully a premiership contender when our boys come of age...

we have a signigicant chunk our group that will be coming through that period from around 2011-2013.
(eg Pears/Myers/Gumby/Daniher/Hurley/Bellchambers/Neagle)....it will be those names which drive us to premiership glory.

What is required now in this point in time, is good strong guidance from blokes like Lloyd/Lucas/Fletcher/Hille etc so that all our young guys build their confidence, not have it totally decimated by teams more filled with hardened men. Heck if they go a good enough job and the rest of the field slip a little bit, we could have another baby bombers flag....a lot would have to go right tho...and with the injuries some of our boys keep copping, and where some of the competition is at(ie hawks/cats in particular) we have to be realistic that this might not happen.

I am hoping Knights had a quiet word in the ear of Lloyd/Scotty/Hille etc and has made that clear

We must be a club which builds confidence through our performances regardless of the result.