Essendon’s best and fairest
October 26, 2009
By
Steve Healy
Jobe makes the grade...
ESSENDON'S 2009 season was a strange one. Has a team ever made the finals, without anyone really feeling like they had made the finals? Well that was the case; they came into the elimination final against Adelaide without a ruckman, and without Lloyd who was suspended for hitting Brad Sewell. This is my take on their top 10 achievers in 2009:
1. Jobe Watson
Watson took huge leaps in 2009, and lived up to his expectations and his family name. He played all but one game, averaged 24.7 possessions, 9.2 of those contested, 4.5 tackles, 3.3 marks and 3.2 inside 50’s. His best two games for the year were against St.Kilda, both twilight games, both at Etihad, and both games he was wearing home shorts even though he wasn’t supposed to in the first. Enough of that, in these two games, he got 39 and 37 possessions respectively. In the latter game, he was basically the match winner. Is he better than his father? We’ll answer at the end of his career.
2. Dustin Fletcher
Does this guy know what age is? At 34 years-of-age, finishing second is a superb result. And he missed five games! After starting the year well, Fletcher finally broke down in his 300th game against Brisbane at the Gabba with a leg injury. Six weeks later he came back against the Dees, looking as good as ever, picking up 18 possessions. He then began to roam free for the rest of the year, playing well in almost every game. For season 2009 he averaged 17.8 possessions, 5.7 marks, 5.3 contested possessions, and he hit the target with exactly 80% of possessions. Well done Fletcher, great effort for a 312-gamer.
3. Brett Stanton
I honestly don’t know what to think of this guy. He gets plenty of the ball, and he seems to be a player who just blends in. I’ve criticised him quite a lot, but he always seems to deliver even if he isn’t playing that well (I know that doesn’t make sense). In 2009, he played all 23 games and led the club in disposals, averaging 24.9 a game. He averaged six marks, 3.8 tackles and four inside 50s. I guess it’s his disposal that is sometimes questioned. But looking at those stats, he had an amazing year.
4. Patrick Ryder
What a revelation 2009 was for this man. He began the first five games of the year as a normal centre half back, until David Hille went down with a knee injury on Anzac Day. What did they do? They put Paddy in the ruck, that’s what they did. Ryder went on to play a sensational game, picking up 16 possessions, 13 tackles, a goal and a magnificent 27 hit outs. And an Anzac Day medal. For the rest of the year, Ryder took on the role as the lone ruckman, and he excelled, averaging 24 hit outs a game from Round 5 onwards. He also picked up 12.5 possessions (more than half of those contested), 3.4 marks, 4.7 tackles and he kicked a career-best 12 goals. His athleticism is unbelievable, and he’s only 21.
5. Jason Winderlich
Wow, didn’t this guy have a good year. His season just seemed to click, even though he missed four games with injury. He averaged 20.4 possessions, 6.4 marks and 4.3 tackles. He was also handy up forward, kicking 17.8 for the year. He played some great games, like in round two against Freo, where he picked up 27 touches, eight marks and two goals, and against Richmond in round nine, where he gathered 28 possessions, 12 marks and two goals.
6. Tayte Pears
Well done young fella. Tayte Pears, at 19years-of-age, had an outstanding year of footy. After playing five games in his debut season, Pears backed it up by playing every game, averaging 15.1 possessions, 3.1 marks and 2.1 tackles. He was pivotal to Essendon’s structure, since they needed a full back, and Pears did the job superbly. He won himself a rising star nomination in round 13 for picking up 21 possessions, and making Fevola look lethargic in his club’s 69-point victory. He also hit the target with a tidy 79.3% of disposals. He is a unique player, a key position backman who runs down the ground and picks up possessions.
7. Ricky Dyson
Like Winderlich, Dyson was never an essential part to the Essendon line up until this year. He played the first four games, before being dropped for Anzac Day. But, no! McVeigh pulled up sore and Dyson was back in the team as a late inclusion. And what a game he played, picking up 27 disposals and kicking two goals, including a pivotal left-footer from the boundary line in the dying minutes. He then went on to play all remaining games for the season, averaging 19 possessions, his best of 30 coming in round eight against St.Kilda. He also averaged 3.5 marks and 3.7 inside 50s.
8. Angus Monfries
Monfries, for the fourth season in a row, put in a consistent year. He played all but two games, and kicked 25.15, finishing second in the goal kicking, only behind Lloyd. He averaged 15.7 possessions, 5.5 marks, two marks inside 50, 2.4 tackles and 0.8 goal assists. His most memorable performance was in round 13 against the Blues where he kicked five goals from five kicks. I don’t think he had a sensational year, but he might need to next year with the absence of Lloyd and Lucas.
9. Adam McPhee
McPhee had a pretty good year. Playing mainly across half back, he still kicked 16 goals in 21 matches, his best of four coming in the elimination final embarrassment against the Crows. He averaged 17.7 possessions, 6.5 marks and 2.6 tackles. He had some great matches, like in the round 14 loss against Collingwood where he racked up 29 possessions and six marks. He’s a good player, but I think he still needs to take that extra step. The recently-turned 27 will give it his best shot next year.
10. Henry Slattery
Rounding out the top 10 is Henry Slattery. This guy continues to improve, averaging 13.3 possessions, 3.6 marks and 3.8 tackles. He is a key part of Essendon’s defence, and is sorely missed when he doesn’t play. His best game was in round 17 against Richmond, where he picked up 25 possessions, four marks and eight tackles in a narrow loss, in a game I didn’t see because I was in Canberra.
Well, where are Essendon heading in 2010? Down, you’d think, but if Scott Gumbleton gets some luck then he could play a huge part. Michael Hurley will only improve, but they need veterans like Welsh and McVeigh to still be out there. David Hille should be back as well, which will really let Paddy Ryder take a deep breath. Even though the Bombers conceded some speed in Lovett, just watch out, they might surprise.
• Jobe Watson of Essendon. Photo by Lachlan Cunningham. The Slattery Media Group
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