Apart from Bryan,Draper and Ridley.
I don’t think the rest of the injuries to the others will have much of an impact on our fortunes. Might actually force brads hand to try some of the younger guys which will benefit us long term
soo
OK, I haven’t been on here since flying the family down from Qld and meeting up with friends (Hawks supporters) for the round one game. I was gutted during that game and after watching and suffering many players insipid efforts, I reassessed my evaluation of our team and some of our players.
Now, nearly 2 months later, I believe having some injuries could actually not be such a bad outcome. If we play well for the rest of the year with an injury ravaged list, I think we still should remain a reasonable attractive prospect for potential and suitable targeted players.
However, especially with the compromised draft over the next 4-5 years I like the idea of hitting the draft this year (as it is meant to be pretty strong!) instead of wasting, or over spending on a Harley Reid.
Yes, he will likely be an awesome player, but his attitude doesn’t give me the same confidence as a Butters, Daicos, Rowell or Sheezel … Putting the Sheil fiasco aside for the moment, these are some of the highest paid player currently - Tom Lynch, Ben McKay, Christian Petracca, Aaron Naughton, Tim Kelly, Clayton Oliver. Actually they’re 5 of the 6 highest paid!
They’re certainly no where near the 6 best plyers. I would go hard on a player like Rowell, Wardlaw or even Butters maybe, but its also timing. We need the perfect mix, while we still have Merrett for a few years preferably. If we were to get 4 top-end required players from this draft and still keep our war chest, then we go into next year still with a first rounder and son of Darren Bewick the year after. Free agency combined with top end draft picks seems to be the quickest and best value formula to create a VERY good and competitive sustainable team in 2-3 years!!.
Imagine those 4 deputants playing early next season with Tstatas, Hobbs, Caddy, Reid, Kako with another pre-seaon under their belt and with our missing senior players back including Parish, Caldwell, Draper etc. (why would we even consider trading him???)
I was also wondering if perhaps Prior is a double agent? He’s certainly been no improvement on the previous below average players to play that position. It was good to see Perkins finally contribute. I understand his skillset makes us a better side, but I still believe he’s been the most underperformer who been gifted the most games in our squad.
If we go down the draft road, which I hope we do, then we also have a few extra swings that we would all agree we aren’t relying on such as Cox, Hayes, Jones, Brian, Johnson, Nguywen, and Edwards (who I rate highly although without any real justification)
If a few of these were to blossom (including Perkins), then I’m really looking forward to the next couple of years. If we spend all our cash and draft capital on a single player, well I think I will be actually disappointed (unless a free agent)
We are not in contention to be giving away draft capital unless its in our favour (ie Stringer at the time)
Anyway, probably wrong forum, but that’s my take 
P.s. Brandon Starcevich could be a ‘like-for-like’ for Prior, if we want to waste some more cash on free agency?? … surely not!
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ANNOUNCE SEPTEMBER COLORADA ALTITUDE TRAINING TRIP
TOUGHEST PRE SEASON EVER
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The significant difference this time round is we did it with Caddy, Kako, Roberts, Reid, and no no Parish, Stringer, Guielfi, Draper, Shiel + Ridley barely played, Redman didn’t get a kick, neither did Langford or Jones.
We have Rosa, multiple first round picks this year and a ■■■■ load of trade coin in 2026/2027 + Bewick arriving in 27.
BDB has a ■■■■ list and although I challenge his selection criteria there’s no denying the training standards are improving, we’ll be a far stronger list come 2028 than we were in 2023 when BDB arrived and if we’re not winning games by then, a better coach can take over and guide a far better list upwards.
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I think the next logical step is to change out medical and fitness team….too many players that get Re injured and are then out for much longer than the AFL average.
Ridley, Parish, Guelfi, Reid….over the years the list goes on……if clubs like Brisbane can get it right, we should be able to, if not get there guys
Hoping that they don’t become Essingtoned
StOp BeInG nEgAtIvE yOu LoT, aT lEaSt We BeAt WeSt CoAsT aNd NoRtH, aNd WeRe GoInG tO bEaT rIcHmOnD nExT wEeK.
iF yOu CaNt SuPpOrT uS aT oUr WoRsT, dOnT sUpPoRt Us At OuT bEsT
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R U OK?
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The supporters and members are a part of the problem too, y’all voted barham and this is what you get. More of the same
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We really aren’t.
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We are not capable of “belting anyone” at the moment, we struggle to kick goals as it is, the only beltings will be the ones some teams are going to give us over the next 6 weeks or so.
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I didn’t vote and cancelled my membership.
There should be a board meeting this morning and some difficult but necessary discussions and decisions made.
Scott is not the coach to rebuild.
He will need to be instructed to play the youth.
The selection panel must completely overhaul their decision making. If you don’t meet standards you don’t play.
The President needs to speak to the supporters. He needs to be honest that Essendon is going to rebuild and acknowledge that, while it’s disappointing, it’s the only path forward.
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That’s what a well run club will do and I agree with you on all of that.
But we’re not, we’ll just continue as we are and just ignore the outside noise coz we know what’s best.
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anyone who hands over money to this club, is apart of the problem.
would you give money to an alcholic who’s sitting at a bar ?
would you give money to a drug addict who’s standing on a corner with a syringe and spoon in hand ?
would you give money to a non for profit organisation to help kids, where they only actually spend 1% of the money on the kids ?
you condition people on how to treat you by what you’re willing to accept. The club treats people exactly how they ALLOW them to.
supporters are apart of the problem, because they let emotion over rule logic, and make emotional decisions based on fear of not wanting to be considered a bad supporter of the club, and get a moral sense of superiority for " sticking fat" through the bad times.
you’re sticking fat, you’re enabling an addict of mediocirty, to continue to be mediocre.
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I love this post @Heffsgirl but unfortunately the boys club at Essendon won’t admit that they got it wrong.
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Agree, I cancelled my membership and any finacial donation to the club when Xavier Campbell extended Worsfolds contract.
I have not seen one bit of evidence since that the club has made any right decisions since then. If more supporters thought the same they might force a change.
Club is cooked has been a thread on here for over decade for a reason.
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Just do a hiring process and dont short cut it with the person you tap up to do it
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the board is the problem though. They are the ones who’s vision this is.
This is Barhams vision, this is Barhams doing.
He started the revolt against the previous board, got them kicked out, and then this is what it’s lead to.
What’s he going to do at a board meeting ???
he’s gonna do exactly what Brasher and co and xavier would have done, they’d bury their heads, say everything is fine and the outside noise are just the big bad meanies picking on us.
Barham is the problem. the board is the problem, this is the current boards vision of what they wanted for the club.
They are the ones who need to be removed
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