Michael HIBBERD

2017 Digest:   Worked through a slight knee issue but now battling Achilles soreness and missed JLT finale. Kicking skill will be vital in defence.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1		Achilles.
2		Achilles.
3		Achilles.
4	VFL	Excellent down back on return from injury and looks a moral to be rushed straight into the seniors.	–
5	Rich	Excellent first game for his new club. Kicked the ball well in the wet, bagged a running goal, but cramped up badly late.	7
6	Ess	Strong outing once again – this time against his former club. Kicked it at 94 percent efficiency and intercepted well.	7
7	Haw	Former Bomber helped keep side in the contest early and ended as one of the best with 27 disposals. Appeared to tire late.	7
8	Adel	Put the brakes on Tom Lynch and counter punched with nine rebound-50’s for a best on ground performance.	8
9	NM	Probably the Dees’ best with 34 disposals, five inside-50s and eight rebound 50s. Not much more he could have done.	8
10	GCS	Continued good form down back. One of a few to use the ball well throughout.	7
11		Bye.
12	Coll	Pies kept close eye on him and wasn’t able to provide usual drive. But had some brilliant defensive efforts – including key last-minute spoil.	7
13	WB	Strong in the air and on the ground again at half back. Had Dogs opponents in his back pocket.	8
14	WCE	Had a big second half and played a key role in the win.	7
15	Syd	Won the ball well off half back, but unable to be as incisive as recent weeks. Still Dees best.	7
16	Carl	The “Pig” plugged away down back and was a key reason side got the points; 21 disposals and plenty of rebound.	8
17	Adel	Couple of early fumbles and made some errors that he hasn’t made all season.	5
18	Port	Supreme with his attack off half back, but Boak was a threat going the other way with four goals.	7
19	NM	Roos tried to negate his impact off half back but won a lot of the ball. Good again.	7
20	GWS	Unusually fumbly at half back and it proved costly as GWS swooped on loose balls. Good numbers, but been better.	5
21	StK	Bounced back after a down week to provide great drive off half back.	7
22	Bris	Very good once again rebounding off half back. Won some crucial one-on-ones and was strong all day. Kicked at 100%.	7
23	Coll	Tried his guts out off half back, but will want out-on-the-full in third term back. Not his fault the game was lost though.	6

2016 Season

Played for : Essendon

1		Suspended.
2		Suspended.
3		Suspended.
4		Suspended.
5		Suspended.
6		Suspended.
7		Suspended.
8		Suspended.
9		Suspended.
10		Suspended.
11		Suspended.
12		Suspended.
13		Suspended.
14		Suspended.
16		Suspended.
17		Suspended.
18		Suspended.
19		Suspended.
20		Suspended.
21		Suspended.
22		Suspended.
23		Suspended.

2015 Season

Played for : Essendon

1	Syd	On Goodes at start and did a capable job on veteran.	6
2	Haw	Provided rebound from half back with his raking left boot.	6
3	Carl	Ellard tried to take him out of game but still able to stay involved.	7
4	Coll	Huge first term (10 disposals) and steady for remainder. Did his job well.	7
5	StK	Created a menace to St Kilda at times.	6
6	Frem	Tried to run with the ball but Freo stopped his long kicking.	4
7	NM	Had task on Thomas who ended up getting away from him as game unfolded.	6
8	Bris	Constant ball winner at half back and hit more targets than past two games.	7
9	Rich	One of few Bombers to offer some genuine drive from defence.	7
10	Geel	Got a lot of the ball but so often chipped in sideways. Had goals kicks on him.	5
11	WCE	Had 25 possessions but not damaging.	5
13	Haw	Gunston caused his some issues at times but kept working down back.	5
14	StK	One of a handful of Dons to play close to capacity.	6
15	Melb	Big second half after Howe touched him up. Pivotal in third term surge.	6
16	NM	On Cunnington early and was OK without starring in rebounding role.	6
17	Port	Too strong for Impey early and was always creative.	6
18	WB	Used the ball pretty well across half back but a lot were chip sideways kicks.	6
19	GWS	Bombers' best in first half but dropped off a touch as GWS got on top.	6
20	Adel	Did what he could from back half but Cameron caused him some problems.	6
21	GCS	Looked to get the ball at every opportunity to attack from back half.	7
22	Rich	Struggled early but worked into the game. Took Martin when he was forward.	6
23		Knee.

2014 Season

Played for : Essendon

1	NM	Had Black at first. Normal serviceable and accomplished game down back.	6
2	Haw	Had O’Brien beaten and swept across the back half with poise and creativity.	8
3	Carl	Influential early opposed to Yarran. Slowed a touch, but damage was done.	6
4	Frem	Matched up on de Boer and mopped up well in defence, but lacked attacking penetration.	6
5	StK	Reasonably steady in defence.	5
6	Coll	Worked well but impact petered out a little after half time.	7
7	WB	A good avenue out of defence.	6
8	Bris	Read the play well in defence and gathered a lot of touches.	7
9	Syd	Racked up the touches in the back 50, but was unaccountable for periods of the contest.	5
11	Rich	Morris tried to negate him in first half but the Bomber was able to impact the contest.	7
12	GWS	Palmer minimised his influence of half back and he looked frustrated at times.	4
13	Melb	Solid enough down back but wasn’t his best outing by any means.	5
14	Adel	Stormed from defence with 30 touches including four inside 50s, six rebound 50s.	8
15	Geel	Defensively stout and worked forward for a goal. Not his best game but handy.	6
16		Ankle.
17		Ankle.
18	WB	Looked unusually rusty down back and fumbled at times.	3
19		Hamstring.
20		Hamstring.
21	WCE	Returned after injury and Essendon’s best in first half. Solid to the end.	7
22	GCS	Steady in role across half back and pushing up the ground. Just does his job.	7
23	Carl	Won his fair share of the ball but Watson kicked four on him.	5
EF	NM	On Cunnington when he went forward and had to counter resting midfielders.	5
SF		–
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

Played for : Essendon

1	Adel	Capped off nice game down back with a lovely running goal.	6
2	Melb	Continually pumped the ball inside attacking 50. Good outing.	7
3	Frem	Excellent again in defence and is the side’s big improver.	8
4	StK	Had no flat spots in defence minding Saad and others.	7
5	Coll	Gave great drive from back half with his penetrating left boot. Improved player.	8
6	GWS	29 possessions and nine marks. A big afternoon from the lad from Frankston.	8
7	Geel	Among the best off half back. Everything he did was with some polish.	7
8	Bris	One of the better four-quarter contributors for the Bombers. Resolute.	7
9	Rich	Continued on with stellar form and used his booming left to perfection.	8
10	Syd	Again in fine form and showed plenty of run from defence.	7
11	Carl	Unable to deliver ball in telling style as he has done. Better second half.	5
12	GCS	Continued his strong season across half back. Solid in defence and kicked a long goal.	7
14	WCE	Solid game in defence.	5
15	Port	Started on Wingard but drifted into his customary mop-up role. Solid effort.	6
16	WB	Had Giansiracusa for a lot of the game and good on him. Class player.	7
17	GWS	The ball winner added another chapter to an incredibly consistent season.	7
18	Haw	Had Rioli/Puopolo for the most part. Had hands full but kept on giving.	6
19	Coll	Did what he could down back and used ball well when he got it. OK.	6
20	WCE	Freed up in back half and helped keep the Eagles at bay until the final term.	6
21	NM	Tried to generate attacks against the tide.	6
22	Carl	Not one of his better games, but good when the whips were cracking late.	5
23	Rich	Good end to his season. Used the ball well and tried to generate attack from defence.	7
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

Played for : Essendon

1	NM	Hard worker in first half but then had diminished input.	5
2	Port	Used on Boak at times and OK. Kicking and decision making needs work.	4
3	GCS	Good dash from half back and had 25 possessions.	6
4	Carl	Fine performance. Defended strongly and had 16 kicks.	7
5	Coll	Injured hamstring in first term and subbed out after seven touches.	1
11	VFL	Got through OK and needed the blow out.	–
12	VFL	Strong game in defence. Rebounded well.	–
13	Frem	Wasn’t as clean with the ball as he’d have liked.	4
14	WB	On Jones initially. Strong first half.	7
15	StK	Not a huge night.	4
16	Port	Substituted in the third term with a quad injury.	5
20	NM	Had big role on Harvey. Worked hard in defence.	5
21	Carl	Lack of polish hurts him too often. Didn’t give up but struggled.	5
22	Rich	Tried hard down back	6
23	Coll	Twice missed the ball early when attempting to spoil. Straightened up.	5