Where are our on field leaders? Blokes who light a fire? Are Merrett, Durham, Caldwell and Martin enough? We’re no closer than we were a decade ago. We are as relevant as Carlton and St Kilda. All the talk of memberships, money and loyalty mean nothing. Two test tube clubs that started with zero members, culture and history have waltzed by us
All I know anymore is that I agree with 2022 Nino passionately.
It’s probably what will happen
We finish bottom four 2026 and Brad gets the bullet with a year remaining.
Probably shouldn’t have extended him until at least getting to the end of this year then hey.
I reckon he stays for the rest of his contract.
He will fix a majority of this mess, if not all of it.
The next person who comes in will be showing him a huge amount of gratitude because he will make the hard decisions.
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We are miles off our 2015 side.
It’s a complete stretch and utterly ridiculous.
There has never been a reset of this club’s list in 20 years.
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As Sam Walker, US sports writer and leadership person says, there’s 26 letters in the alphabet and X’s and O’s are only two of them. That’s why I’m not as critical or concerned about Brad Scott as most at present. Selection, his style in pressers, game day and That stuff to me are secondary to Essendon’s most important priorities right now.
Fixing fitness and conditioning and the upcoming list management season are clearly our biggest priorities as a club. That’s where I want all our (and Scotts) energy directed. I don’t care for matchday atm to be honest. I’d be happy to call the year off and not play, we can only get more injuries and this impacts 2026. Matches currently serve to sensationalise the current unforeseen predicament and exaggerate the reality.
Get the games done and get all focus into fixing the critical shortcomings threatening to fragment this club further. It’s a big offseason coming up.
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I think Durham can light a fire and Merrett used to be able to - maybe he can get it back. I’m hopeful that in a couple of years Kako and Caddy can but we desperately need a player who can tear a game apart.
The team will be super young and inexperienced again.
He won’t have a full squad to chose from again with majority of the 12 month injured players missing the first half of the season.
Anyone expecting an improvement next year have rocks in their head
So Brad goes into his 4TH year as Senior Coach with another free year without responsibility or accountability. And let me guess, we’ll have injuries next year too so this time next year you’ll be saying the same about 2027.
Absolute ■■■■■■■ madness. Brad got the best coaching job in the world.
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What if 2026 is another repeat of 2025?
If that’s the case you cant expect him to improve us much would be unfair to sack him considering the circumstances.
Totally agree.
I have criticisms of Brad Scott, but I think many people are just on the hate train now…… and looking for everything to blame him for.
As I said a few days ago, people continually raising the “sh*t game plan” argument. But from what I am seeing, the senior players are refusing to apply those tactics, yet the young players are.
The reason why I believe this, is because if I’m an 18-19 year old in my first few games…… I’m hanging on every instruction the coach says, so I don’t get dropped.
The backward kicking and slow ball movement is a combination of previous regime’s game plan and players self preservation…… to pad their efficiency stats.
This is my main reason why we must get rid of the senior players.
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Well get use to it Brad hanging around because the club ain’t going to sack him no matter how ugly it gets.
The R word isn’t spoken about within club. But we wanted a rebuild, we needed a rebuild, we got a rebuild. Buckle in, its gonna be very bumpy ride but there are certainly green sprouts.
We need changes without doubt on and off the field and I think they are happening (High performance etc) I’m not convinced BS is the right man to bring us ultimate success, but I think he may have been the right fit to get the process underway.
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Yep I noticed that too the youngers players seem to be doing fine. you’re right the senior player are the ones letting us down every week
We’re going into another rebuild year.
The list needs to be dumped on its head, and we start from scratch……. Of course he gets another free run of it.
The ambition of some supporters to play finals next year is simply not realistic.
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Yep
Where did I or literally anyone on here suggest or imply or demand finals ambitions next year? Improvement doesn’t just revolve around getting into finals when you’re as messed up as us.
Brad Scott is not a new coach here, he has been here nearly 3 years.