I think it’s probably better in general if delistings tend towards people saying “that seems harsh” than “about time”.
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This says to me we want space to use late picks on the likes of Riccardi and Bowman, for whom we might not have had room otherwise. Not sure Riccardi will last long enough to pick up late, but Bowman should.
Played 11 games this year. That’s not far off.
Myers has now retired, so there is one less challenger for the inside mid role.
And he has very little real competition for his spot, in that most of our midfielders are small. And our big bodied mid options, aren’t really midfielders.
Would be fascinating to know how the club rates Clarke, Mutch and Begley internally.
When they were doing the sums were any of them vaguely in the gun, or are we really happy with where they’re at? From the games played perspective, Clarke played 11 this year and had an impact, Mutch was selected in Round 1 before copping the injury, and Begley seems to have been liked a bit by the coaches, but we all (on here) see deficiencies that make us worried about them all long term.
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If we are keeping Begley, it might suggest we may not take someone like Riccardi
He’s contracted, luckily for him.
I agree, that would be interesting.
For me, Clarke has an obvious role. That puts him well ahead of the other two.
Begley just cannot seem to get enough of the ball, but was coming back off a knee. So needs time.
Mutch has a body that is letting him down. But even if it wasn’t, he lacks speed and kicking penetration. Has other skills of course, but those two limitations are going to hold him back in my opinion.
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I’m surprised on Mynott. He has been very good at VFL level, and is only in his second year. Lots of in the bests when playing midfield, and he’s done ok when playing a bit forward for the first time. But I suppose it might be seen that Snelling has effectively taken his spot on the (overall) list, as being both inside and forward depth. Although Mynott is better overhead.
Given we’re going to have a number of rookie spots, I’d have thought Mynott would stay. He’s a year younger than Clarke and Mutch, and I’d have said he’s at a similar level.
I’m not surprised about Jok, I called this months ago and got ridiculed for it. And everyone knew Zlarke and Long would be delisted.
Unfortunately I don’t think anyone has answered (or rather, been able to answer) the above questions. However, as long as Snelling is a rookie or counts as 1 of our 3 senior list changes, we don’t need to cut anyone else.
The above is correct. Assuming that Draper is definitely promoted (as he can’t stay rookie anymore) the changes are:
Main List (3): Philips, Cutler, Draper (takes the 39th spot that was free, so still 2 spots free)
Rookie (1): McQuillan (lose the extra rookie spot we have, so 1 less rookie spot 3)
Cat B (2): McBride
And the free spots (before Snelling) are Main List (2), Rookie (3), and Cat B (2). Snelling will take either a main list spot or a rookie spot. As long as he counts as a new acquisition, that means either way we don’t have to cut another player.
But, if we want to use both pick #30 and #33, we have to either put Snelling on the rookie list, or free up another spot.
Looking at the stats and times in bests, I would say he had a very good first half of the year, and then fell off a cliff in the second half. Maybe that was role change, or injury, or the arrival of Snelling or something else, but his possession numbers fell off a cliff from the start of July, and he was barely in the bests after then either. I know stats aren’t everything, but I wonder if he’d have been kept if his 1st half of the season was his second and vice versa.
Tbh, I thought he was ok, but maybe lacked a stand out attribute.
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He had an injury, and then when he came back we had that dearth of forwards in the seniors, so he was played forward for a lot of games.
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Recent additions, Ham, Snelling and Guelfi really put Mynott under pressure as they can also all go forward and kick goals in the small forward rotation if required. But addition of Tom Cutler has also reduced scope for these players in the midfield. I am not sure about his tank, but that might also have been a negative. All of the others I mentioned can run for 120 minutes, no problem.
I hope we pick up Buzza as a delisted free agent
23 year old 198cm 102kg forward Rick as back up for Smack and taking over his roll in a few years.
He would also give us a tad of depth an area which has some uncertainty as Joe may leave next year.
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Guelfi is not a forward. At all. Snelling has definitely put pressure on Mynott’s spot though.
Essendon coaches often try to make defenders and even midfielders into forwards.
I’d happily tip Mutch and D.Clarke out too. To me they are in that same category of low-skilled, slowish midfielders - like a current day Lonergan and Bullen. Not terrible, but careers purely persisting due to the shallow state of the list.
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It does seem highly unlikely we’d given someone a two year contract and delist them the same year, you’d have to admit.
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You keep Dlarke for another year just to smother Cripps & FarkCarlton
In a similar way to Lonergan smashing Carrazzo.
When you’ve got a depth spot, the ability to make FarkCarlton fans cry is a prime football attribute.
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Taking bigger risks on character & professionalism for those that can clearly play over long term projects on rookie lists might be the way clubs go
Pickett / Stack have changed things
The changes do have the feel of a change of portfolio manager.
Out with the guys you have the lowest conviction about, and bring in players that fit the new football philosophy.
You forgot Stringer.