It’s majority young players from cat b, rookie and later draft picks. It’s smart that we have our better players locked up. Better for us the speculative picks are unsigned so they can prove themselves. More of these types because of our injuries and extra list spots.
The point being that I really couldn’t care less if every single one on that list was moved on this year. I honestly don’t think there is many that are good enough
Half have been at the club for what, a year? Probably got games they shouldn’t have. Three haven’t had a full preseason at the club.
Add the 5 or 6 senior absolute duds that shouldn’t be on an AFL list.
One or two on that whole list might suprise me and I really hope a couple do but I think the vast majority of it aren’t up to standard and I wouldn’t be too upset if most were delisted or moved on.
I’d be ecstatic if we found just one or two that could step up
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Not even Zak Johnston and Jayden Nyguen that every one on here seems to cream there jocks over?
As I said, I really hope one or two can really take a leap forward but I’m not holding my breath
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I think both parts can be true. Absolutely no reason we couldn’t have given Munkara or Alwyn Davey longer. But the AFL could also be doing a lot more to encourage clubs to give indigenous players opportunities, with things such as special list slots that can be used on indigenous players and cross-club support for young indigenous players.
A few more if you include the ones we’ve either bid on (e.g. Coleman) or tried to lure (Stengle, A Jones, Hill).
Part of a problem is a lot of indigenous kids are now linked to clubs already, reducing the options in the free draft. That said, I agree with others Essendon has done a pretty terrible job of developing and supporting the ones we have brought in.
WTF??? How the hell is Guelfi an RFA? That means his salary is in our top 25% for 2025! Please tell me that list is just listing guys as RFA if they’re not yet eligible as UFA based on years in the system!
With the Ridley news, can’t help thinking about the below, which is (IMO) a reasonable scenario that could have existed from last trade and draft period, if Essendon had taken a completely different approach.
- Trade Ridley to Brisbane, covering his entire salary, for a F2, FF1 (really a FF2 due to Tassie concessions) and pick #44 (after draft). Brissie offers Draper sufficient for Band 1 compo. So, although they effectively pay two 2nds and one 3rd, we effectively get for Ridley & #22 for #7, #44 and a F2 and FF2.
- Trade Merrett and Brisbane’s F2 to Hawthorn for #10, #23, F1 and FF1, paying all of Merrett’s salary. Compared to what they offered, they keep HH, get a (Brissie) F2, lose a FF1 (effectively a second rounder). The other option is to offer to add in our F2 (instead of Brissie) for their F2 and FF1. They might prefer that over Brissie’s F2 for adding their FF1.
- Don’t trade in Fiorini.
- Beat out Brisbane to trade our F3 for Carlton’s #38.
- Replace in the Carlton trade #23 & #44 for the original #22. I assume that doesn’t change that trade.
At the 2025 draft we have two extra firsts #38. Then we either:
- Take Dovaston, one of Schubert/Barker/Lindsay/Thredgold, and BOB with #38; or
- Do the trades the Hawks did and take two of Schubert/Barker/Nairn/Thredgold, get two F2s, and Tobyn Murray or BOB with #38. Or maybe trade one of our firsts for a F1.
Then as a minimum we’d have an additional F1 in 2026 and two FF1s in 2027. Possibly another 2 2026 F2s.
We’d lose Merrett and Fiorini, but Ridley wouldn’t be a huge loss and our future drafts would be much stronger, while getting another small forward in now plus at least one more good draft pick.
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Watching the practice match against Richmond, I was super impressed with the disposal of Johnson. He rarely made an error and always seemed to move the ball forward to advantage. Often over significant distances.
Huss doesn’t get a lot of the ball but pressures the opposition and makes the most of his opportunities.
However, El-Hawli got a bit but mostly bombed it forward to no one in particular.
Prior might run to the right places and act to the coaches instructions, but to a supporter doesn’t get it enough and doesn’t do much when he does.
Gresham: Enough said.
IMO we can include lesser kickers, such as Parish and McGrath, along with the younger ones like Roberts and Sharp, as they bring other assets. But not any more.
Moving forward, I would like us to really prioritise players who can dispose of the ball, such as those mentioned and Farrow over the tried and failed.
We all know that one of our biggest weaknesses over the last two decades is that last kick into the forward 50. The club really needs to get this right.
Would like to see Merrett play forward more to help out.
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Thing is club didn’t want any more draft picks we had 5 with 3 of those inside 15
Would have loved another pick or two
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Yep.
To some extent the club had poor luck in the injury list last year, which necessitated the Mid season picks, but really just shows how poor a decisions to give an extra year to Jones and Guelfi.
Most decisions the club makes I can at least see the logic even when they don’t turn out.
ADW - lean towards delitst
May - 1 year
Perkins - 1 year
Tsatas - 1 year
Gresham - Delist
Prior - Delist
Nguyen - 2 years
Gerreyn - 2 years
Blakiston - 2 years
Hayes - 2 years
McMahon - 1 year
Guelfi - delist
Cox - 1 years
Unwin - 1 year
SEH - 1 year
Edwards - delist
Setterfield - delist
Johnson - 3 years
That’s 6 pretty easy delistings IMO with potential for all of SEH, McMahon, Unwin, Cox, Tsatas and May to also be delisted.
The only locks to re-sign and potentially early IMO are Johnson, Nguyen, Hayes and Blakiston
Cox, Tsatas and Perkins should be moved on without a second thought.
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Prior should be a lesson for all players.
play like a softcock for your first few games at a new club and you will never be forgiven.
I think he is a mile off of being delisted.
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Did we ever find out what was troubling Perkins for the last few years and if he is over it now?
He had a lingering case of being an average footballer. No signs of recovery at this stage.
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It has to be OP doesnt it?
He lost all his power when running, and didn’t have any penetration on his kicking.
Considering those are his 2 strengths and he lost that, it’s got to be OP…. Surely.
Edit: and considering he’s missed all of the pre-season with a “groin injury”…. It would suggest that it is the issue.
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does seem like it