I think pretty much anytime one of our players have a good year then it’s time, because they normally follow it up with injury and poor form for the next three seasons
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You could rename us Essendon Suns - we could be the AFL’s second development club.
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I’m really disappointed for him, took a few years to find his best position and the injuries have really curtailed his opportunity.
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Yeah look what they traded Stringer for, practically gave him away, our new recruitment team have NFI
We weren’t interested in keeping Stringer on the List.
Therefore, our bargaining position was reduced to zero.
GWS knew this.
Keeping him because we aren’t happy with the value is not good business.
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Great way to reward a solid season!
Rarely ever will a team get a good return from a situation like that, we pushed him out so there’s no incentive for any team to pay basically more than the minimum
I thought we did pretty well in the end, with Saints giving us their 2nd rounder this year for the pick we got from GWS.
Even with academy bids, that’ll still be a top 30-35 pick.
If we can trade our 2 x 2nd rounders (ours & Saints) for another 1st rounder, which I think is very doable given all the clubs needing points, that’s a great result in the end.
Essentially we could end up with a 1st rounder for a 2nd rounder + Stringer, which I’d happily take.
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I understand stringer is worth more than 53.
But we would have given him away for nothing.
It didn’t work having Perkins, Langford and Stringer all forward, plus wanting Martin/Durham to rest there.
We pushed Stringer out, have a potential medium forward trainee in Day-Wicks for the future, plus open up more forward/midfield opportunities for Perkins I believe. And better defensive pressure. And can use the future second this year possibly to trade up for a higher pick.
Perkins is a better mark over head, and has a better tank and he can still do bursts in midfield like Stringer. Just makes us a bit more flexible and entrusts Perkins with more responsibility, gives him a chance to become a star. He likes to win.
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Its Essendon - all players are assumed to have an out of the box until otherwise demonstrated they can be consistent. As that’s what 99% of players do. Just look at our B&F results of late, it’s either Zac Merrett or an out of the box season from a player that then becomes injured or returns to long run spud form.
2024 Durham is therefore to be considered ‘out-of-the-box’ & we should trade him to cash in?
Caldwell too?
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And hates to put in defensive efforts just like Stringer.
I don’t think we pushed Stringer out club was happy to keep him on a 1 year deal but chose not to and took the giants 2 year deal
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Between the off field associations and fitness / defensive efforts concerns we absolutely pushed him out
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I love the potential of Perkins. The last couple of seasons he’s started the year on fire, so to watch him bereft of confidence in the second half of 2024 was deflating. With Jake gone, he’ll feel the added responsibility of making the Stringer role his own. 2025 has the potential to be a breakout year for this highly talented player. All the best Archie, for you and for long suffering Essendon supporters desperate for success.
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