The thing that got me we’re the people who were upset that our list was underperforming by not wnning games, but at the same time thought the list was terrible and needed to cannon everyone into the sun
When your 2-6 and just been beaten by the winless arch enemy it’s difficult to be objective. I think the majority of blitzes even in those dark days felt it was a performance issue vs. a list issue.
One of my best calls. I said he was far too small to get a game at AFL level. Not enough tricks.
But not as bad as the one in early 1986 calling for Steve Carey to be shipped off because he couldn’t handle this slow, fat, useless bloke at Hawthorn - Jason Dunstall.
Stephen Milne was never, ever on our AFL list. We never had him to lose no matter how much people rewrite history
Podsiadly was on the multiple AFL rookie lists and close to several others, but never made it until his late 20s after years at Werribee. The fact is, that at the time he just wasn’t good enough for any AFL team. Delisted rookies who then go on to play VFL for years are not a good example of losing quality players to other clubs
He was on the supplementary list for that reserves year. So l think we had the option to upgrade him to the senior list at the end of the year if we wanted but had no interest.
I just read an article where milne says he was on the supplementary list but Essendon had no interest in upgrading him so he went elsewhere. He didn’t just play for the two’s, there was some benefit to being on the supplementary list.
GAblett senior, some consider the best player ever. Played a handful of games for the Dawks, and let go. Rumoured to have upset the family club culture.