News

Crichton Medal preview - Stanton and Heppell

Monday, 3 October 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
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In the lead up to Friday night’s highly anticipated Crichton Medal evening, BomberTV catches up with General manager of football operations Paul Hamilton to preview the hot favourites set to stake their claim for the best and fairest medal.

Watch Hamilton discuss the favourites ahead of the Crichton Medal on BomberTV →

Reviewing the season's of utility Brent Stanton and young gun Dyson Heppell, Hamilton said both players were strong chances to poll well.

“Stants is a regular top five performer so I definitely expect him to be in the mix. He has had a really good, consistent season and only missed two games so I expect him to be right up there,” Hamilton said.

“He has played better football this year than the previous years and he has always polled well. Stants kicked more goals this year, was a regular ball winner and had a lot of impact, particularly in the second half of the year. He is a big chance come Friday night.”

Hamilton said it would be a fairytale finish for young gun Heppell should he claim the Crichton Medal in his debut season.

“A first year boy – and what a season he has had. He has played every game and has shown maturity beyond the years with the way he goes about things,” he said.

“His balance and poise has been wonderful and to see him come on to our list and develop over the course of the year has been terrific.”

In tomorrow's edition, Hamilton will review the year's of Dustin Fletcher and Paddy Ryder ahead of Friday's Crichton Medal evening.

Only 100 tickets remain to Friday's Crichton Medal evening at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Click here to purchase your tickets today.

PLAYER PROFILE: Dyson Heppell
PLAYER PROFILE: Brent Stanton

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Fantastic to have a bit of mystery surrounding who can win it. One of our problems over the past seasons has been too much reliance on too few players, particularly Watson and Stanton. A log-jam at the top end can only be good for us. I thought Jobe, but now I am not sure. A tie, maybe more than two, on the cards.

- Kris Bayne (posted 3/10/2011 5:30:54 PM)

Part 1…For coaches to change the football practice of an already established team involves both modifying their own football persona and embarking on a learning task of enormous magnitude. Changing one’s routines involves a great deal of UNLEARNING before one can begin to reconstruct new routines and the experience is like going back to being a novice again. This is the task Hirdy set himself…

- David Husk (posted 3/10/2011 6:11:26 PM)

Part 2…We can see in the course of the year how the side was up and about in the first part of the season (pre-season included) but then dropped off and fell back into old routines. We should see greater improvement next year as the new routines become more firmly established so that initiative decision making become second nature (those semi-conscious cues or navigation lights that just come on automatically when the situation presents itself)…Go Bombers, 2012

- David Husk (posted 3/10/2011 6:11:36 PM)

Heppell in his first year...Go Bombers in 2012!!!

- David Husk (posted 3/10/2011 6:12:33 PM)

nothing against the other boys but l would love to see Brent Stanton win it as he is a great player for us

- Doug Pridham (posted 3/10/2011 6:22:49 PM)

gotta be stanton for mine... shut up the tools that call them self supporters...

- Ian Welsh (posted 3/10/2011 6:39:56 PM)

when do we find out who stays and who goes

- Paul Vassallo (posted 3/10/2011 6:45:13 PM)

Zaharakis, Jetta, Fletcher, Crameri, Howlett, Reimers, Hurley, Paddy, Hardingham ...I could keep going, but they should all get a medal. I think it was the youth that got us through this year, and Fletch was incredible.

- Stefanos Yannoukas (posted 3/10/2011 7:56:56 PM)

If Dyson gets it, well that'd be dandy. But I would like to see Stanton get it more, he is a diamond-grade player.

- Peter Gassner (posted 3/10/2011 7:59:37 PM)

A solid front half of the season and easily the best in the second should result in Stants winning in a canter. Well deserved!

- Nigel Jarvis Fullerton (posted 3/10/2011 8:00:20 PM)

Will Essendon be active in next week's trade period? Is there a hard-at-it inside midfielder available to compliment Jobe Watson? Would West Coast consider a player exchange for Koby Stevens?

- Martin Gol (posted 3/10/2011 8:37:28 PM)

What you describe with such clarity, Dave H, is a classic case of culture shock. Although it has it's critics, the culture shock U-curve may apply. A euphoric start then slide into the depths of doubt then a gradual climb out as a better and adapted person. When facing a new culture most (willing) participants will revel in it, but as time goes on, they are challenged and they will fall back on the 'known'. With more time they will sort it out and find a way to deal with it and prosper (in most cases). We are not there yet, but we will be. The lights WILL go on.

- Kris Bayne (posted 3/10/2011 9:23:28 PM)

Japan AFL 'Japan Cup' Carnival this Saturday in Narita - BE THERE!

- Kris Bayne (posted 3/10/2011 9:24:39 PM)

Have to disagree with you Kris Bayne. I don't feel the team has relied on Watson and Stanton. The team hasn't been going well for a while now, but a lot of players deserve recognition and now we're starting to see some results thanks to NLM, Jetta, Paddy Ryder, Hardingham, Fletcher, Hocking, Zaharakis, Reimers, Heppell, Melksham, McVeigh, Dempsey, Winderlich, Howlett, Hooker, Monfries, Crameri and the Hurl...might have forgotten a few, and good coaching. There are more than 2 players on a team. And Zaha to win!

- Stefanos Yannoukas (posted 3/10/2011 9:25:46 PM)

Any of these two boys winning it would be a great story.

- Alan De Menezes (posted 3/10/2011 10:21:58 PM)

would love stants to win he is so humble and yet puts in week after week with little fanfare. david parkin reckons stants and jobe are our only "a" midfielders currently. lets see stants get that recognition from inside the club.

- Joe Ferry-Gibson (posted 4/10/2011 12:05:40 AM)

Stefanos Y, yeah nah, in fact you seem to agree with what I said, I think.

- Kris Bayne (posted 4/10/2011 1:18:21 AM)

Stefanos Y. Me, again. I have a pretty good memory but thought I'd better check. Of current players Brownlow votes: Watson 66, Stanton 49, McVeigh 23, Hille 15 & Fletch has 65 for obvious reasons. In the Crichton the past 3 winners are Watson, Watson, Hille, and Stanton has been in the top five on numerous occasions (2010 5th, 2009 3rd, 2008 3rd, 2007 6th, 2006 4th, 2005 3rd). Watson has also polled well as has Fletcher. There is quite a drop off after that with regards to the current recent list. I stand by what I wrote above: we have relied on too few, but 2011 is a pleasing spread.

- Kris Bayne (posted 4/10/2011 2:42:43 AM)

Zacka, Jetta, Heppell and Hurley for me. I think they all consistently carried the team in 2011, Whoever wins it will be well deserved as there are so many to choose from, and I wouldn't like the job of doing it. Also we musn't leave out Fletcher, as he has had an enormous year and I for one will be hoping he does as well next yr.

- Lyn Robeson (posted 4/10/2011 3:56:55 AM)

I think Jobe will still poll reasonably well, he missed 7 games but dominated in alot of the games he played in... Heps, Stants and I'd love to see Hurls up there too... Very productive year boys, lets go another step further in 2012! Essendon 4 life!!!

- Aaron Salmon (posted 4/10/2011 9:43:16 AM)

ZAHA has it in the bag for MINE or my name is not Marg.

- Margaret Dickson (posted 4/10/2011 9:51:40 AM)

Kris, thought your comment very insightful & wise. I guess it's not just about what happens on the field, much more commitment on many levels. Have a fantastic night on Friday everyone. missing football already.

- Gail Taylor (posted 4/10/2011 10:09:42 AM)

Spot on Kris, too much relies on Jobe, Stanton & Fletcher plus 1 or 2 others playing well each week, the rest are either "hot" or "cold" we need more consistency from the playing group

- Mark McLachlan (posted 4/10/2011 10:36:21 AM)

Why was no Bomber players featured in the AFL Footy Show Revue??. Thanks for improved game plan this season, expect more in 2012.

- Doris Flanagan (posted 4/10/2011 11:20:19 AM)

Kris, I recognise that the accolades have been going to 2 players in particular, but those 2 players have been developing for years and our youth of today are instant stars. We need to start giving more credit where it's due or we're not going to get the best out of them. Just have a look at the Essendon game highlights on the internet, who do you see featured?

- Stefanos Yannoukas (posted 4/10/2011 11:58:57 AM)

David H & Kris, if you need a working example of the "unlearning" and adherence to new routines, you only need look at what Sheedy did on arrival in 1981. He took the remainder of the Davis/Stephen Baby Bombers, pruned off the unhelpful habits, introduced his own methods and waited till 1984 for ultimate success. He inherited a good side which he fine tuned and retrained. Hird is in a similar position now and could set sights on 2013/4 for fruition.

- Wesley Hull (posted 4/10/2011 12:22:20 PM)

Doris, this shows how little regard exists for our list outside the club, as evidenced in the low Brownlow polling, lack of All-Australian nominees, etc. Our guys have been ordinary for almost a decade now. We have a questionable midfield, injury riddled key position players, terrible inconsistency. Results suggest we are only marginally ahead of last year, despite all the Hird hype, and it will be significantly harder for us next season.

- Dennis Green (posted 4/10/2011 1:08:25 PM)

Stenfanos, it was not only the accolades, it was their workload that drew them. I am not ignoring or taking away from how the likes of Hocking, Zaka and others have improved their consistency this year in any way at all. And others you mentioned showed they are developing. Just that for some time Jobe and Stants and Dustin have been our most consistent. Some of the most satisfying games for me this year were seeing the team play without those three.

- Kris Bayne (posted 4/10/2011 1:19:31 PM)

I agree with Wesley that Hirdy inherited a good list, like Sheedy did. Hirdy knows was he's got now, and what he wants to do with what he's got, he also knows what he needs to get in the draft. But it's not just Hirdy who knows these things, Bomber Thompson knows them too, and Bomber was the main architect in building Geelong's brilliant list.

- Gordon Moss snr (posted 4/10/2011 1:40:39 PM)

Doris - Thank God our players were not involved with that Footy show Revue. The whole thing except for David Roden was pretty average to say the least. Our boys have much more class than that. Also if involved they would have been forced to do what Channel 9 directed them to do like Sam Fischers disgusting skit. We do not need any of that rubbish.

- Alan De Menezes (posted 4/10/2011 1:44:53 PM)

I'd love to see Dyson take out the medal. Young man with an old brain. His consistent performances will have him just beat David Zaharakis.

- Paul Mills (posted 4/10/2011 1:45:59 PM)

Mark - I thought Heppell and even Hocking were pretty consistent throughout the year overall. This is to add to your list of 3 above. Zaka too was there abouts but there is definitely room for improvement.

- Alan De Menezes (posted 4/10/2011 1:47:14 PM)

Would top off my night,if Stanton won.Have a guilt free conscience,knowing I backed him up throughout the year.Spoke to him personally and told him what a great player he was and how I emailed him a letter.To which he said he received many emails of support. Make our night Stanton,and come away with the Crichton Medal and do us all proud.Diane

- Diane Trask (posted 4/10/2011 2:10:17 PM)

Part 1…Kris and Wes, being teachers you understand the principle of ‘unlearning’ old habits which die a slow death. As with any art form, some people are made for it and have that natural ability (music, art, writing and football). Hird & Long were naturals. Others have to work at their craft over and over again…

- David Husk (posted 4/10/2011 2:46:31 PM)

Part 2…As with any display of a gift, to the novice it appears to be performed with ease. A brilliant football side makes the demolition of another side look easy. Behind the image are years of rehearsal for that one moment when it truly matters. I remember clearly the 2000 side doing this week-in and week-out. They made it look so easy. Let’s help get Essendon back to that…Go Bombers!!!

- David Husk (posted 4/10/2011 2:46:42 PM)

True, Wes, but learning to take a different perspective with new ideas of application works well, also, and according to Tim Watson in his book on Sheeds, he also trained them into the ground to get their fitness and mental hardness up! It was also still an era where you could go shopping for who you need to roundout the list. That is a bit harder nowadays unless you are Collingmud. We're still a few seasons off, as you say (but so are GW and GWS...).

- Kris Bayne (posted 4/10/2011 2:54:21 PM)

I dont know what to believe - according to the experts on this site Stanton is our worst player EVER! How can he possibly win when the EXPERTS here say he is no good... can someone please explain?

- Daniel Grbac (posted 4/10/2011 4:24:23 PM)

You may have to point out, or even name who you referring to Daniel. Did not happen to read anything you refer to above? Zaha would be top 5 at the halfway and was up there as one of the more consistent players of the last couple of months of the season. Love to see Jake M give it a shake.

- Brad Scarr (posted 4/10/2011 6:03:32 PM)

Martin Gol, I agree - lets bring Kobe home

- Jeff Forster (posted 4/10/2011 7:15:30 PM)

Hi Jeff F. long time, no hear! Glad you're still with the website. It seems that neither of us have changed our minds from 2 drafts ago. Personally, I regard Koby Stevens as too good a player to be left out of AFL and simply marking time at East Fremantle. I think he would get greater opportunity at a club like Essendon. Cheers

- Martin Gol (posted 4/10/2011 7:40:08 PM)

i.e., i posted my views about who will win and who will not , yet you won't post my comments , so if my comments don't agree with you then none of them will get posted, none of them are vulger, no fowl language, just me stating how i feel , you must be able to except critism, otherwise your in the wrong business, people must be allowed to express their views..

- Darren Pigott (posted 4/10/2011 8:26:55 PM)

And an inside mid Martin. Sounds like he is what we are after. Maybe we will get him with change for Leroy, who again tapered off this season?

- Brad Scarr (posted 5/10/2011 7:39:36 AM)

Your right Alan, add those 3, I think Zaha is the most improved in performance & consistency this year but we have so much talent that might play a quarter, a half then go missing, we know they are good enough but not sure which "game" will turn up on any given day.. would love to see a couple of speedy defenders recruited as well..

- Mark McLachlan (posted 5/10/2011 9:29:06 AM)

Martin, I would gladly trade 1 high pick WA player on our list for him, Stevens could only be an improvement to our list, instead of clogging it??? Cheers Ray.

- Ray Brough (posted 5/10/2011 10:11:37 AM)

Brad, I think Leroy worked his butt off really well at the start of the season, and maybe he did drop off as all players do at times, but he's only going to get better from here on. We can't keep developing them and letting them go. When the team's flat and not going so well let's not put the blame on one or two players, and especially not on the ones who've starred for us.

- Stefanos Yannoukas (posted 5/10/2011 10:29:16 AM)

Point taken Stefanos. We had a little trouble signing Leroy last time. Would not like to lose him if he does become consistently good. After what he showed late last year, I was disappointed with his finish this year. Sound him out, his currency would be OK right now.

- Brad Scarr (posted 5/10/2011 12:04:11 PM)

@Brad Scarr (posted 5/10/2011 12:04:11 PM. Hi Brad, so did Leroy Jetta taper off last year (who again tapered off this season) or didn't he (After what he showed late last year,)? You've confused me?

- Mark Hickleton (posted 5/10/2011 5:09:24 PM)

Hey Fonz, hows things. I thought Leroy was one of our best late last season and we may have had him playing good consistent footy this year. He did too up to our slump - as a few were (Kyle's, Cale, Belly, Crammers, Stants etc). Dropped off badly and his final was terrible. Consistency, regular 20 touch games should be the norm with Leroy. Hows that?

- Brad Scarr (posted 5/10/2011 7:14:27 PM)

As I am looking to send guys home. Alwyn - another that has trouble getting quality and quantity touches, in a trade for Gunstan. He has potential, and 'NORM' could be a crowd fave!

- Brad Scarr (posted 5/10/2011 10:07:15 PM)

Ray B. the problem with so-called list cloggers is they can turn it around and become an asset. In 2010 Luke Darcy used the term for a list of AFL ruckmen. From Essendon he named Jason Laycock and Tom Bellchambers! I think it's fair to say T-Bell is now hot property. On the subject of ruckmen I'm hopeful Dons will senior list Josh Jenkins. Cheers

- Martin Gol (posted 5/10/2011 10:08:34 PM)

Brad S. Leroy for Koby? Do you know if something's in the wind? If it were to happen I think it would be a straight swap. Cheers

- Martin Gol (posted 5/10/2011 10:16:10 PM)

Would love to get a chant going on here: "Stants Stants Stants Stants Stants..." :)

- Angeline Baron (posted 6/10/2011 1:10:14 AM)

Angie,Angie,Angie,Angie,Angie...that's the best I can do?

- David Husk (posted 8/10/2011 4:27:49 PM)