And Unwin. WWE will be well placed I. 12 months time
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Yeah he has the speed and agility but not the goal sense. In saying that he’s never really been given a good crack at the role in juniors.
We really have been playing at a massive disadvantage the last two years throwing Menzie and Guelfi though that small forward role.
I’m pretty unimpressed with Gresham too tbh, I think I would actually pick Guelfi ahead of him. Gresham is very slow and does not compensate with attacking weapons.
Kako looks very likely, I must admit I was surprised at how comfortable he looked stepping up basically two levels of footy from U18 to seniors. I think it was @barnz who put it succintly in that he has replicated his impact 1:1 from U18 level to senior footy.
He could be quite a special player I reckon.
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you hope it plays out like that, but it would be very nice to have a player just slot in and be a regular contributor from the get go.
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Some sportsman have a natural instinct and the way they play is as much about knowing what’s going to happen and seeing it, before it actually happens.
Others try to develop skills and you can see them thinking about what to do next as they are in the process of trying to do it.
But unfortunately they are either so transparent in their thought processes, or incapable of thinking and doing at the same time, that they mess up frequently.
2024 version of Menzie a classic example.
Kako looks like he is executing on the fly, what he had already decided to do moments earlier due to that instinct and intuition.
That kind of situational awareness and intelligence, when combined with adequate athletic capability is unstoppable.
If this guy works hard on his fitness and agility, there will be no stopping his brilliance.
It’s a bit like Neo in the Matrix, everyone else is in slow motion, it’s no contest.
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“situational awareness and intelligence”…Leon Baker, Hird and Mercuri had that.
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Every time
Perkins hasn’t
not sure if posted already - anyhoo - Matthew Lloyd likes Kako. And he also liked Darren Bewick.
Lloyd makes big call over new Bombers livewire
Isaac Kako’s pre-season performance for the Bombers has impressed club great Matthew Lloyd
By Kaitlyn Ferber
Isaac Kako celebrates during Essendon’s AAMI Community Series clash against Geelong on February 25, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos
ESSENDON fans have a lot to be excited about as Isaac Kako could be the club’s best small forward in 25 years, predicts Bombers great Matthew Lloyd.
Kako made a quick impression with four goals in Essendon’s AAMI Community Series win over Geelong on Tuesday.
“You’ve got to give some time to these kids, so I’m just saying over the journey of his career … could Isaac Kako be the best small forward at Essendon since Darren Bewick?” Lloyd said.
Lloyd’s former teammate, Bewick played 238 games for the Dons with the premiership player kicking 332 goals across his 13 years at the club.
“[Bewick] was a wonderful player. He stood up through [the 1993] premiership, 2000 premiership. I’ll never forget the centenary game, he kicked nine goals, coming back from an ACL injury. He was amazing,” Lloyd said.
At just 18 years of age, lifelong Bombers fan Kako wasn’t yet born to witness Essendon’s most recent premierships or see Bewick in action, with the small forward retiring after the Bombers won the flag in 2000.
Having been taken at pick 13 in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft, Kako is expected to make his debut in Essendon’s Opening Round clash with Gold Coast on Saturday.
The Next Generation Academy product’s performance against the Cats left Lloyd believing Kako “just knew where to be”.
Essendon has been looking for a small forward since the retirement of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, who hung up the boots at the end of 2021 before returning in 2023.
“Tipungwuti’s been good, but I don’t think he stood the test of time,” said Lloyd. "But this man, Isaac Kako, he’s a player that the club hasn’t had for a long, long period of time.
"I just feel like it’s been that thin over the years, that I think the call is there. He’s a pure footballer and he’s going to be a 200-game player.
“And small forwards, you have to go early on them. You see Kysaiah Pickett, you saw Cody Weightman, the Bombers have to go early on Kako.”
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“You’ve got to give some time to these kids…
could Isaac Kako be the best small forward at Essendon since Darren Bewick?”
Thanks Llordo
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Rioli Jnr at Richmond surely gets sick of losing and comes to the Dons
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I tell you what he clearly doesn’t get sick of doing and that’s eating. Seeing him the other day in the pre season match he is enormous at the minute.
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Getting on the Irving Mosquito post-ACL bulk diet.
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sorry what?
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It’s not the worst call. I mean how many seasons did we get out of Walla that were really good? 3 or 4? He wasn’t a 10 year gun player like Boris or Mercs. Kako will reach that Bewick/Mercuri level.
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“Tipungwuti’s been good, but I don’t think he stood the test of time,”
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Miss Walla gave me lots of joy and a reason to watch Essendon games. We now have Kako who will entertain us for the next 10 years
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And Essendon people today were questioning David king and Kane Cornes for asking if Essendon place too much expectation on youngsters.
Ffs lordo, the kid has even played a single game yet.
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He’s got elite pace which has as a weapon has translated really well.
And it’s one preseason game.
Which clubs have some of the best lockdown defenders on small forwards? It will be interesting to see how he handles the attention.