Jones has some good defender traits, can run all day, has a good leap, can intercept mark. They used to say some of the best defenders are failed forwards. If he’s here for two years, would be worth finding out.
May now he’s a forward you can build the side around. with Caddy.
Lav staying next year is part of the problem! At his age for us he’s a list clogger. And we could get some valuable points to match bids if he gets a gig elsewhere.
Ridley, Reid and Hayes are 3 defenders. You should have around 5-6 on the list. Reid has managed <20 games in 5 years; he probably shouldn’t even be included in the primary options. Since 2022 Ridley has managed 17, 9 and 6 (so far) games a year. With him and Reid we must list a full 6 KPDs.
So, we need 3 depth. McKay is one. Lav must go. We need two more. Taking some MSD KPDs we could have trialled them, hope one works out and taken a single 18yr old in the draft with a late pick. Now we’ll be reaching into the unknown.
if someone else wants him, then fine for him to go and we get some points, i just don’t see that as a likely scenario. like he’s worth less than what we got for stringer and points will be worth less this year.
Lav is not worth any points in the new draft value index.
He will be a free agent and we will get no compo for his value.
One thing I’m interested in now is - how do McMahon/May compare to Edwards?
Because using a list position on a post-knee Edwards, when our list numbers are overflowing…if he’s not clearly better than these new younger players…does not seem sensible.
I just can’t see a spot for jones anymore, the forward line has better option in caddy may McMahon and wright.
The wing is covered with Clarke and Duursma.
And the backline has Reid Ridley McKay Hayes.
It was a premature signing that didn’t need to happen
Band 5 is still a third rounder. If a lot of seconds are wiped, and the NGA kids get picked in the mid twenties, that may match for one of them.
Nick Haynes joining Carlton as a free agent in 2024 did not generate a compensation pick for Greater Western Sydney (GWS). This is because Haynes was an unrestricted free agent, and his age and the size of his new contract with Carlton meant he didn’t trigger a compensation pick for GWS.
Lav is worth no more than Haynes was last year.
No compo
Rats.
Good comparison.
May and McMahon haven’t played an AFL game yet. How do you know?
Shiny and new!
I don’t hate Lav. I think he’s fine as depth, but not as a first 22. If we were a premiership contender, he’d be perfect as you’re 4th or 5th KPD on the list. But we’re not. If he stays, he’s taking the spot of a youngster who might be a contributor when we are challenging.
We have a very young list, not fussed if he is on the list or not next year as experience also helps development.
The fact he isn’t playing in the forward line now tells me he is done there, add to that McMahon alone has kicked more goals (67)in his last 25 games then Jones has kicked in his entire career in the vfl and afl.
That’s without May coming on
Jones hasn’t been playing forward in the VFL. Who knows how he goes if he was.
So what are we meant to measure him against then?
As a forward he is rated below average and as a wing he is rated below average
I think this is our most important offseason in a while. I think we can position us to be a team which competes for top 4-6 in around 3-4 years - led by a nucleus of current c. 23 year olds in Martin, Durham, Caldwell and Reid.
This year has been a bonus in that we’ve gotten to have a much better look at our list than a standard Brad Scott year of playing the same 26 of his favourites. So let’s leverage that and get aggressive.
These are the changes I’d make:
Delist/retire: Goldy, Shiel, Prior, Menzie, Davey, Smartt, [Lual] (unless he comes on in H2), [Cox] (pending medical ruling). Will likely need to move one of McMahon or Blakiston on.
Retain Lav, Setterfield and Guelfi (may already be contracted) on 1 year deals on the full expectation that they are back ups and providing leadership in the 2s absent injury.
Back one of Hobbs or Tsatas as a long term option (who will get mid minutes) and look to trade the other.
Shop the following senior contracted players in an effort to get some draft capital in the door - Parish, Langford, Redman and Gresham.
Choose a number 1 ruck and move the other on for max value. I’d prefer to keep Draper and move Bryan. But the alternative is also ok. If Blakiston shows something in H2, keep in for another year as the break glass backup.
Promote Martin to VC as a further step towards him ultimately taking over from Merrett in a couple of years.
Keep picks [5] and [9] (likely to improve). Draft flankers who can run with good kicking skills. I’m not that close to the draftees yet but names like Lindsay, Grlj and NHH. Maybe consider Sharp if he falls there as we will need another mid coming through. Take Sweid and Huss.
Prioritise a smaller line up of guys who can run and kick
Best 23 round 1 next year:
B: McGrath, McKay*, Ridley
HB: Johnson, Reid, Roberts
C: Clarke, Martin, Duurs
HF: Durham, Wright**, ADW
F: Kako, Caddy, Huss
Mid: Draper, Merrett, Caldwell
Int: Tsatas, El HAWLI, Nguyen, Perkins
A smaller lineup you say?
I am neither here nor there if we get Reid or not.
I can easily talk myself into the move given his upside but I am not fussed at all if we miss out on him as I have always loved the draft. Despite what a lot of the gloomers will tell you about the strength of this class, I actually think there are some really interesting players at the top end that can come in and make a big impact on the outlook of this list.
If we missed out on Reid I think targeting some quality on the flanks / outside would be a good move. Who knows if they will be available at our picks when it is all said and done, but adding NHH and Lindsay would be a home run for me.
The reality is that Rosa has put us in a great position with multiple picks which gives us a lot of flexibility.
Time for a section of Essendon fans to move onto the next messiah fantasy.
Jeremy Cameron, then JUH, then Reid. Who is next?