Is Tom still on an upwards trajectory or has he plateaued? If there’s still growth and he’s displaying consistent attitude to improve, then he’s a viable option to consider moving to the rookie A list. If this is close enough to the finished product, then likely not.
If we can negotiate an extension for McBride and Hird on the B list due to covid, then I think both stay on.
We have no rookie A spots and he probably wouldnt be worth one if we did.
Oh we are well and truly stuffed for rookie spots.
That being said, Hird is basically only had this year to play without disruption. He’s done pretty well. I think his best chance is a B-list extension to prove himself.
Lot’s writing him off on here. Consider this though, he has effectively been playing the game for a grand total of about 15 months (3 years at 5 months per year of games) and half of that was covid disrupted. He is by no means disgraced at VFL level and is still getting better. This against blokes who have played the game their entire lives.
I reckon fans are just replying to the “why hasn’t he gotten a game yet!?” brigade with an honest assessment of how he’s actually tracking.
He’s on the improve - which is great - but is still a way off senior selection. And tbh, I’m really not sure what’s wrong with that, given where he’s at in his development.
It makes absolute sense for the AFL to allow them an extra year given COVID interruptions (and the fact they allowed this last year).
Unfortunately it almost makes too much sense for the AFL to actually do it.
That was quite possibly the dumbest decision I’ve seen. Playing on with a minute to go…
Flashbacks of Wallis taking on Fraser Brown
But what has Snelling done for us lately?
He came 3rd in our most recent best and fairest.
“lately” = this year, same as Tom Hird is judged by in his thread
Snelling hadn’t missed years of development due to the toll of the saga and not playing footy. Look at rate of improvement for a kid that hadn’t played since 12 years old. Toms biggest issue is size , not skills , hardness , awareness or tank. Coming from soccer where slighter is better, Tom was always going to take 4 pre seasons to even get to a draftee body
Jim Stynes running off the mark, vid of 87 prelim still available.
Doesnt the coach give b anf f votes? Says it all.
Could be his last game in red and black tomorrow if he isn’t eligible to stay on the Cat B rookie list.
Ah well
He will get there.
Not offered a new contract. Was looking likely when only McBride was extended on the B-list.
Essendon Football Club has today farewelled Tom Cutler, Garrett McDonagh and Tom Hird after the trio were informed their contracts would not be renewed for 2023.
McDonagh and Hird were important contributors at a VFL level, with McDonagh arriving at the Bombers in the 2021 NAB AFL Draft as a mature-aged recruit.
Hird was signed in early 2020 as a Category B rookie following a career in elite soccer.
General Manager of Football Josh Mahoney thanked Tom, Garrett and Tom for their contribution to Essendon.
“It is always a tough time of the year when we make changes to our playing list,” Mahoney said.
“These three players handled this news with great professionalism and we wish them all the best for their future endeavours. They will always be welcome at the Essendon Football Club.”
