Correct. And this is the big question of the off season.
Whether we want to bounce back quickly, or actually cut deep and hard.
It’s not about any one single player decision - it’s about the sum total.
Historically “Essendon people” expect things to happen quickly - coach is under pressure - board/pres feeling the same pressure via low attendances.
I would (and have!) argued that ~10th is just about the worst spot to be: close enough to tease yourself you’re somewhere near it - far enough away to miss the really good, ready to go kids.
I will add that we’ve got probably 4-5 pieces that did ■■■■ all for us over the last 2 years, that would get some value as trades (/ letting go as FA):
Parish
Ridley
Redman
Langford
Draper
Shiel, Menzies, Setterfield, Goldie, Blakiston are really not saying anything either way.
Which is also the top end of our salary cap, about the worst situation you can be in. As there is always the “well if they were not injured we would be playing finals” comments/board thinking, and look how the other are holding the fort. When in reality, their absence tends to inflate their worth and you appear closer than you are.
Getting to the point where out best players, who are also the highest paid are also the ones who are on the park the most is critical. Whether that changes through trade or delisting and draft, if we don’t fix it, we will always be crap.
Sounds like the kind of hoodlum who sports sideburns and rolled up shirt sleeves, smokes cigarettes while leaning on the bonnet of his hot rod out front of the high school. Leave him to Freo or the Pies. Not for us THANK YOU.
I think the main ones promoting trading many key older players/cutting deep recognise the impact it will have. That is actually part of the intent, to get us better picks.
I would divorce that from Scott though as I think a number would be happy for him to be sacked now. Development of youth is not something he’s shown any skill at or enthusiasm for.
Cutting too deep gets us more picks at the bottom of the draft. It needs to be done, but spread over a couple of seasons or we’ll be loaded with bottom end of the draft picks we’ll be delisting in 2 seasons
“Walls moved to his former club Carlton in a swap with David Parkin in a jointly announced agreement between Fitzroy Football Club and Carlton Football Club to swap senior coaches. Walls was then replaced by Parkin as Fitzroy Football Club senior coach”