This
And ensuring we have viable depth IF needed to be called upon. Our kpf depth was non existent as far as viable, Jones listed but he doesn’t do anywhere near enough. Cox done. Gerryn patchy & a while off being AFL ready
McMahon has shown enough already in VFL to be considered as someone who could impact in future years.
And if nothing else., we rescued him from FC.
Because we also have Gerreyn, Jones, Visentini (who was playing forward until Draper & Bryan went down). As well as Edwards and Langford who play like key forwards. Taking two more key forwards looked like overkill.
Unless they’re trading Wright and Langford out at the end of the season, which I’d be all for.
Caddy
2MP
Gerryn
Langford
Draper playing key forward under a 2 ruck system
May recruited
Jones re-signed for 2 years
Edwards re-signed for 1 year
4 of those guys have LTIs and McMahon still cannot get a look in.
He may be a handy player (indeed he looks like it) but it was the wrong pick for us. I am more frustrated that we re-signed Jones and Edwards than anything else.
Edit: what @Ants said.
Yeah, and I forgot to mention Draper!
I mean, if Draper leaves and we trade out Langford and Wright, it’s a great move. Go forward with Caddy, May and McMahon, use Edwards as depth, have Gerreyn and Visentini developing, and have 3-4 extra draft picks across the next few seasons of varying levels. But somehow I doubt that is what Essendon is doing.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Langford is traded. Its clear we are not contending for a while, best for both parties.
Brad seemed glowing of him in his presser so at least it means he isn’t on his ■■■■ list like some blokes, so he might be a chance later in the year. I can typically tell who are his favourites and who he doesn’t like from his pressers.
Obviously Perkins and Jones are at the absolute top of the favourites list, tsatas and Davey jnr now right at the bottom.
You’d wanna give this guy at a minimum 3 games, i think he’ll be a real find, even if it means giving May a spell who’s signed for next year anyway.
Key position = genuine tall fwd options.
Neither Langford or Edwards are that. They are medium fwds. McMahon is 198cm
I also think we only persisted with two rucks as Wright had lost his mojo and we had no other viable options. Now we do. Either Draper or Bryan will be gone end of this year I expect. Seemingly Draper.
Caddy projected to potentially end up playing a Stringer type role from fwd line/ pinch hitting at CBA’s.
If that happened we’d likely be running
May full forward, Wright fwd/ruck, Langford med, Caddy fwd/mid and then smalls
That leaves as far as tall forwards in 2’s - McMahon who is ready to go now, Gerryn who is a way off in his development (very poor endurance, even being trialled in def now ) & Jones as another option.
If a forward line kpf opportunity opened up McMahon considering his VFL output would be front of the queue
As an aside Langford is a real worry though presently, and how much we can rely on him in future is uncertain
…
I also do not agree with Jones being re-signed when we did. Edwards getting 1yr was fine
Mc Mahon is more a Langford replacement. Jones is chronically injured. Vigo is a ruckman. Langford is chronically injured and Edwards won’t make it. Gerryne, I’m not convinced he’s a player.
Therefore, it makes sense to have recruited Mc Mahon, if nothing else then to provide likely needed depth and strengthen our VFL program.
We probably took May and McMahon to look at with a view of only keeping 1 long term. Right now May is the one getting the shot in the seniors
May: “What a grab; should be in for mark of the year, Josh. Nice goal there Pete; you kick so beautifully”
McMahon: “Not an unacceptable mark Josh. Your stubble is ok, Pete.” … (then mumbles to himself: “Why can’t I get a game, damn it?”)
Nate: This bloke is so cooked he thinks I’m my uncle. No wonder he can’t get a game.
On what basis being almost 2m is McMahon a Langford replacement? Do you really expect Langford to be going anywhere anyway?
And sure, if you’re going to write off Gerreyn, Edwards, Jones and ignore that Visentini and Draper have been playing forward a lot, then there may be a need for another tall on the list. But given EFC’s other activities I’m not sure they agree with your analysis.
The idea we recruit someone to strengthen our VFL team is also incredibly stupid. List spots are too precious to do that.
McMahon might be tall but, like Jones, he probably too lightly built to be a key forward at AFL level. He might be handy as a 3rd tall so that does mean he is competing with Langford and Edwards for a spot (Jones too if Scott didn’t see him as a winger).
There is no way Visentini is an AFL forward at this point in his career; he averaged about five possessions a game playing there in the VFL.
Yeah from what little I’ve seen of McMahon he doesn’t strike me as a genuine key position player in terms of the manner in which he plays. Certainly not an AFL key position player. Despite the 198cm stature.
McMahon >>>> Gerryne
My overall point is I think getting Mc Mahon in was a good decision for a variety of reasons
Generally yes, but I don’t think it’s necessarily true in the specific case of a 6 month midseason draft pick. Most years a few teams choose not to fill a midseason spot at all by either passing or not declaring the spot open in the first place despite having the injuries to do it. So the six month list spot is clearly not that precious if having literally nobody in it is a common strategy.
You could draft a guy, especially a key position player, to provide some structure to the VFL team without any real intention of giving them a chance in the seniors. It would be kind of a ■■■■ move to the player and their current club (although in this case that’s carlton, so the second bit doesn’t apply), but I don’t think it would be that much crazier than having to call up some guy from the EDFL thirds to fill the position on the VFL list for half a season.
You post some stupid ■■■■ at the best of times but this is really up there.
Really should be the other way round with jones on a six month deal and McMahon with at least a deal for next year