It’s becoming increasingly likely that El-Ackar will be a category B.
Which is a real win.
Essentially having 2 extra players on our list in Nguyen and El-Ackar.
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If that’s the case he automatically goes on our list doesn’t he
If he gets through the ND, without being bid on…. Then we can pick him up as a Category B rookie.
The fact that most clubs will likely take minimal picks to the draft, would suggest that it’s likely.
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If he doesn’t get bid on inside 30 then we are pretty much safe to grab him as a cat b rookie
Smart has been delisted already, wont that create another spot on the list?
Him coming in then getting cut, cancels that out
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Did I mention… Giving that extension to Edwards was silly.
Just pay him out. We need 5 picks in the draft.
Edwards and Jones
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with our 8 rookies (excluding Nguyen), do we still need to use a pick to move some of them to the main list?
Given the non-trade of Merrett, I’d love to know what the plan is for the club? How do we get from where we are now to being the best team in the comp within 10 years? Most clubs in our position are forgoing their success in the next 3-4 years in order to have a chance at success in 5-10 years. I don’t know what we’re actually trying to pull off aside from hoping for the best.
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No, you can automatically promote rookies.
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I said this in the rebuild thread.
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The options were go full crazy Rosso and desperately try and win a final with a team of free agents, or go full rebuild.
We brought in Brayden Fiorini.
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Gonna be hard to rebuild in welsh’s era.
more 11-8th wasteland for us
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I thought we had 2 top 10 picks?
Is that not a good draft hand?
Amazing how Essendon seem to be headed for mid table again in the minds of many here.
The list is ■■■■, in all likelihood the younger players will turn into the next batch of Perkins, Hobbs, Tsatas types, our only A grader doesn’t want to be at Essendon, and there are enough senior list cloggers on the list to fill a worst 23!
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Could have gotten 2 firsts, which could be used as currency to trade up, and improved our 2026 1st to be in the 1-4 range. But instead we added 0 1sts and downgraded our 2026 1st to be in the 8-12 range. Hard to build when you don’t buy any tools
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This the most deflated I have been after a Draft since the Saga.
Rosa openly stated we are happy with our core group of players, which I took as the senior group, as he refenced Caddy & Kako earlier.
It was reported players & player managers were not interested in us as a Club, with some apparently not even taking calls.
Now we have 2 Top 6 picks and 3 in the 20’s, as well as the possibility of losing, at least, one of those to an NGA. So likely 4 + the 2 NGA’s.
We are also going into the season with a number of players on delayed starts and most likely, a new Leadership Group.
Add a Coach & Assistants the majority on here have very little to no faith in and 20+ years of failure, I am struggling to see the positives other than the kids.
Note: I think we did the right thing knocking back the average offer for Merrett, Hawthorn offered nothing special for a player they hoped would bring them a premiership.
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I was speaking in terms of our draft hands over several years. We’ve got an extra first that will be 10 odd in a weaker draft because we gave up last year’s first. Across 2024-2027 we won’t have a particularly strong draft hand. Good odds that other than Bewick (who we may not be able to afford) we won’t have a single top 5 pick.
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I think 4 picks 3 top 15 picks + Sweid, then El-Achkar as Cat B