Is McVeigh the new Hird?
July 24th 2008 06:36
Let me first state that nobody could ever replace Hird in the hearts and minds of the thousands of loyal Essendon supporters throughout the country. James Hird is an undisputed legend of the game and always will be.
At the same time, AFL football is a forward-looking game; a game where rules are refined and records are broken, where legends are honoured and new heroes rise in the ashes of their former glory.
One such modern-day achiever is Mark McVeigh, a gritty, gutsy, hard-working utility with athleticism to burn, irrepressible tenacity of spirit and a bucket-load of heart. He may not be the captain of the team, but McVeigh is already doing a lot of good things that have commentators and spectators alike drawing comparisons with the great James Hird.
1.) Tenacity
Mark McVeigh displays Hird-like tenacity at every contest, throwing his body at the ball without thought of his own wellbeing. McVeigh is desperate, hungry and committed. More often than not, he's the man at the botton of the pack when the umpire blows his whistle.
2.) Reading the play
It's a monumental claim to suggest that anybody reads the play as well as James Hird, but Mark McVeigh certainly comes close. Like Hird, he doesn't have extreme height, strength or athleticism. Instead he relies on speed, agility, slick movement and an uncanny ability to read the play to win more of the ball than some of the league's most experienced midfielders.
3.) Position
Like Hird, Mark McVeigh is basically a utility. His ability to read the play means he can play any position of the ground, helping out wherever the Essendon structure is weak. Whether it is scrapping hard in defence, carrying the ball through the midfield, or taking screamers in the forward pocket, McVeigh always gets the job done.
4.) Injuries
Like Hird, however, McVeigh is increasingly succumbing to inuries as he progressive toward the later stages of his career. He is currently out for 5 weeks with a knee injury after missing matches earlier on with a hamstring strain, the longstanding bain of Hird's otherwise illustrious career.
5.) Ability to turn a game off his own boot
AFL players and supporters across the board would stand in awe of Hird's remarkable ability to single-handedly turn the momentum of a game in Essendon's favour. Whether it was in front of a roaring MCG on ANZAC day, or in front of subdued crowds at Docklands, Hird was a master at it. McVeigh has shown a similar flair for sparking momentum swings and team comebacks at Essendon this season, and has a similar ability to rise to the occasion of big matches like the traditional ANZAC day clash. Check out Essendon's record this season with and without Mark McVeigh. You might be surprised by the result.
Clearly, James Hird is a giant of AFL football and nobody will ever replace him. The occasional glimpse of Hird-like brilliance is always a glorious sight to behold, and with McVeigh on the road to recovery, we look forward to seeing a lot more of it in the future.
At the same time, AFL football is a forward-looking game; a game where rules are refined and records are broken, where legends are honoured and new heroes rise in the ashes of their former glory.
One such modern-day achiever is Mark McVeigh, a gritty, gutsy, hard-working utility with athleticism to burn, irrepressible tenacity of spirit and a bucket-load of heart. He may not be the captain of the team, but McVeigh is already doing a lot of good things that have commentators and spectators alike drawing comparisons with the great James Hird.
1.) Tenacity
Mark McVeigh displays Hird-like tenacity at every contest, throwing his body at the ball without thought of his own wellbeing. McVeigh is desperate, hungry and committed. More often than not, he's the man at the botton of the pack when the umpire blows his whistle.
2.) Reading the play
It's a monumental claim to suggest that anybody reads the play as well as James Hird, but Mark McVeigh certainly comes close. Like Hird, he doesn't have extreme height, strength or athleticism. Instead he relies on speed, agility, slick movement and an uncanny ability to read the play to win more of the ball than some of the league's most experienced midfielders.
3.) Position
Like Hird, Mark McVeigh is basically a utility. His ability to read the play means he can play any position of the ground, helping out wherever the Essendon structure is weak. Whether it is scrapping hard in defence, carrying the ball through the midfield, or taking screamers in the forward pocket, McVeigh always gets the job done.
4.) Injuries
Like Hird, however, McVeigh is increasingly succumbing to inuries as he progressive toward the later stages of his career. He is currently out for 5 weeks with a knee injury after missing matches earlier on with a hamstring strain, the longstanding bain of Hird's otherwise illustrious career.
5.) Ability to turn a game off his own boot
AFL players and supporters across the board would stand in awe of Hird's remarkable ability to single-handedly turn the momentum of a game in Essendon's favour. Whether it was in front of a roaring MCG on ANZAC day, or in front of subdued crowds at Docklands, Hird was a master at it. McVeigh has shown a similar flair for sparking momentum swings and team comebacks at Essendon this season, and has a similar ability to rise to the occasion of big matches like the traditional ANZAC day clash. Check out Essendon's record this season with and without Mark McVeigh. You might be surprised by the result.
Clearly, James Hird is a giant of AFL football and nobody will ever replace him. The occasional glimpse of Hird-like brilliance is always a glorious sight to behold, and with McVeigh on the road to recovery, we look forward to seeing a lot more of it in the future.
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