The beauty of Matthew Lloyd

dingus · Post by **dingus** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:15 pm

Continuing on a theme...

It does seem to be the time for bold predictions. My prediction for this year: Lloyd to be permanent CHF and Lucas to play FF for the majority of the year.

Imagine how many Lucas would have kicked last year if he faced the second best defender each week? With Lloydy back in the team this is the situation we find ourselves in. The same way that Mal Michael frees up Fletch, I think Lloydy frees up Lucas.

I'm not suggesting that Lucas is a better specialist full forward than Lloyd. What I am suggesting is that Lucas is hard to match up at full forward and Lloyd is hard to match up at CHF. He has the same pack-busting ability as a certain W. Carey at (or near) his peak, and is very capable of slotting goals from 50-55 metres out.

Either way, we're on a winner. If my prediction proves completely off the mark and we see Lucas at CHF and Lloyd at FF then I'll be the happiest wrong-ass topic posting mofo on the forum.

Rossoneri · Post by **Rossoneri** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:27 pm

I will get burned at the stake for this, but I still think that Lucas is a better shot for goal than Lloyd, a better mark than Lloyd in a contested situation and a better field kick than Lloyd as well.

The difference in the two is consistency and also the fact that Lloydy is out in the media more, whereas Lucas is you typical modest workhorse type of footballer.

Gets his tools, goes to work, then goes home.

I dont want to sound like Lloyd doesnt deserve his congratulatory back slaps, but Lucas is so underrated by everybody outside Essendon it is quite sickening. Of course, Scotty wouldnt mind that, but others at Essendon do.

Gossy7 · Post by **Gossy7** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:28 pm

Sorry Dingus, i cant agree with that mate.

I know Lloyd played well up the ground, but Lucas has been doing this for years, and doing it bloody well!

The old saying goes "If it aint broke, dont fix it!"

rama_fan · Post by **rama_fan** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:36 pm

The only distinct advantage of Lucas as CHF instead of FF is that he has that abiltiy to swing on to the left and pump the ball 60 metres into the forward 50. This often clears any flooding situations and breaks that defensive wall.

I'm not sure Lloyd can do this as well as Lucas.

Ramanama · Post by **Ramanama** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:45 pm

Rossoneri wrote:I will get burned at the stake for this, but I still think that Lucas is a better shot for goal than Lloyd, a better mark than Lloyd in a contested situation and a better field kick than Lloyd as well.

The difference in the two is consistency and also the fact that Lloydy is out in the media more, whereas Lucas is you typical modest workhorse type of footballer.

Gets his tools, goes to work, then goes home.

I dont want to sound like Lloyd doesnt deserve his congratulatory back slaps, but Lucas is so underrated by everybody outside Essendon it is quite sickening. Of course, Scotty wouldnt mind that, but others at Essendon do.

Hate to admit it, but i totally agree with you ross. Only one thing, i think that Lloyd is a better shot for goal than Lucas inside 40. But anywhere else it would be Lucas.

dingus · Post by **dingus** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:50 pm

Gossy7 wrote:
The old saying goes "If it aint broke, dont fix it!"

And that saying is a good one, unfortunately considering our last three seasons I don't think it can be applied to the EFC at this point.

And Rosso, I will shelve my zippo on this occasion because I happen to agree with you, although Scotty's kicking has improved incredibly over the last three years. I'm no longer nervous when he shoots for goal from any angle or distance.

As I said before, we lose absolutely nothing if we leave Lloyd at FF and Lucas at CHF. I just really liked what I saw on the weekend and all of last year for Scotty.

Rossoneri · Post by **Rossoneri** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:50 pm

Ramanama wrote:
Rossoneri wrote:I will get burned at the stake for this, but I still think that Lucas is a better shot for goal than Lloyd, a better mark than Lloyd in a contested situation and a better field kick than Lloyd as well.

The difference in the two is consistency and also the fact that Lloydy is out in the media more, whereas Lucas is you typical modest workhorse type of footballer.

Gets his tools, goes to work, then goes home.

I dont want to sound like Lloyd doesnt deserve his congratulatory back slaps, but Lucas is so underrated by everybody outside Essendon it is quite sickening. Of course, Scotty wouldnt mind that, but others at Essendon do.
Hate to admit it, but i totally agree with you ross. Only one thing, i think that Lloyd is a better shot for goal than Lucas inside 40. But anywhere else it would be Lucas.

I reckon he is a better kick inside the 40m than Lloyd.
However, its good when you can feel confident when either of them have the ball. Lloydy does have better leadership skills. He knows leadership isnt just about winning the game for your team, its about making sure that others can win the game as well. Its important for a captain to bring others into the game, which is what Lloydy and Hirdy do so well.

Lucas cops alot of crap because he doesnt handball, but I think thats a load of shit. I love Lucas because he doesnt go for this dinky short chip shit crap. If he is within 80m, he pumps the f****** thinkg long, which imediately puts pressure on the defenders and creates oppurtunities for the forwards. Perfect example was our first goal yesterday. Welsh took the mark around 60m out, handpassed off to someone. They handpassed again to Lucas who booted the crpa out of the ball into the forward line. MJ playing in front takes a mark.

People call it luck, and it may well be. But you can only get lucy if you give yourself a chance to get lucky.

Post by **danstar84** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:10 pm

I think we will see the two change around a fair bit during the year. I think it is better that way. Keeps the opposition guessing.

The days of the Lloyd focus should be gone, because we have plenty of targets up there.

I think we will see Lloyd play out of the square next week. He has done fairly well against Freo in recent times.

bomberdonnie · Post by **bomberdonnie** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:23 pm

I agree that Lucas is the most under rated player I have ever seen.

As far as being better than Lloyd in every facet of the game... I think we have not seen much of Lloyd in the past year and might be a touch over awed by Scottys genius game yesterday...

robbie67 · Post by **robbie67** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:24 pm

You can just about play them both from around the goalsquare to 25 out because of the injection of pace in our forward line. The two of them are both footy smart enough not to get in each others way, and the quickness of the small forwards mean they have to be checked closely, which frees up space. Lucas can lead to the left, and Lloyd the other way, or straight up the middle.

dingus · Post by **dingus** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:26 pm

He speaks!

How are things, Mr 67?

robbie67 · Post by **robbie67** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:27 pm

Hangin in there Dingy boy. Somewhere between West End, and VB. Tastes like shit, but on the improve. How is your good yourself.

dingus · Post by **dingus** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:30 pm

Sleep deprived, impoverished and generally surly, but having a good time...

robbie67 · Post by **robbie67** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:31 pm

Welcome to fatherhood.

Sartorius · Post by **Sartorius** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:51 pm

I think we will see lloyd mainly at full forward with Lucas pushing down there sometimes. If one is struggling they may switch, or maybe to get their opponents out of position by taking them back to the goals square or up the ground.

I think Lloyd works best at full forward as he is a better lead, and one on one. Lucas seemed to read the ball very well the other day, but as someone said it is fantastic to have him get it around the half forward line and kick long for a goal, or even around the center, and boot it into the forward line.

Either way its a nice problem to have.

Rossoneri · Post by **Rossoneri** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:54 pm

They'll work out who has the edge over their opponent and then work on that. Lloyd was just coming back from injury and Rutten is a decent defender.
Stevens is not that good a defender and it was clear early on that Lucas would have the upper hand. So Lucas stayed in the goal square and Lloydy went up the field.

This week, if Lloydy gets the first couple of goals from strong marks, you will see Lucas go up the ground and Lloyd remain one out.

rama_fan · Post by **rama_fan** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:01 pm

Ok, I'm going to throw something else into this conversation:

Courtney Johns

Where (if at all) does he fit in?

Queen Elizabeth Oval?
Or taking the worst defender in the 1's?

Sartorius · Post by **Sartorius** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:02 pm

Well it seems like Neagle is also putting his case forward for a position with strong pre season reports, and five goals on the weekend.

Ramanama · Post by **Ramanama** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:03 pm

They will take it in turns to kick 5 each

.

Rossoneri · Post by **Rossoneri** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:07 pm

rama_fan wrote:Ok, I'm going to throw something else into this conversation:

Courtney Johns

Where (if at all) does he fit in?

Queen Elizabeth Oval?
Or taking the worst defender in the 1's?

I think we can play with three talls, but its all about the speed. They will need more time together. Its a spew that Lucas and Johns were out for a couple of weeks in the PS, that would have given them some time to work together.

Lucas is not needed down back anymore, so maybe Johns to play as the third tall with Jetta, davey and Gus at his feet?