The Inevitable Rebuild

[Ants]

Moved to a more appropriate spot to debate with @dmaplestone and @whereswalla

@whereswalla

@Ants

@whereswalla

@Ants

@dmaplestone

@Ants

@dmaplestone

Put that 20 year comment aside, it’s irrelevant in terms of this latest list build. Take the frustrated supporter emotion out of it and just think of the business of sorting out the ruck situation the next 2-3 years.

On this list build, we have a bit of time to sort out what the ruck situation needs to be. We will have opportunities and levers over the next few years to add this plank to the broader list build.

The club says we’re not rebuilding, the evidence supports that, but keep some Blitzers keep on believing we are.

We’re rebuilding. Essendon think they’re rebuilding. They don’t want to talk about that because they don’t want the players to think they have time on their side. I’ve been to a couple of coterie events recently and I can tell you the club are rebuilding.

Essendon:
Management keep saying they’re not rebuilding. They don’t trade anyone out. They don’t prioritise youth. They choose an experienced coach to get “more out of the team”. They bring in players like Goldstein, Gresham, McKay, Prior and Fiorini. They say at AGMs they’re aiming for finals. They try to convince players like Jake Kelly to play on.

Blitzers: oh no, they are rebuilding. A coterie told me!

I might believe them if they did anything to support a rebuild plan.

Right now we’re in rebuild mode. This is undeniable and I don’t understand people who argue we’re not.

Then I’ll give you the same challenge I alluded to with dmaplestone. Please list 3-4 actions the club has taken that indicate they have been doing a rebuild.

Why 3-4 actions? How come you get to dictate the terms of what constitutes a rebuild?!!

Because you’re arguing the club has been rebuilding? If you think they have been rebuilding surely there have been actions you can point to that are evidence they’ve been rebuilding? I mean, you’re saying it’s undeniable we’re in rebuild mode - so presumably you can point to the actions the club is taking which prove this.

I’m happy to post actions the club has taken indicating they’re not rebuilding:

• Since 2022 topping up with Setterfield, Weideman, Goldstein, Gresham, McKay, Prior and Fiorini.
• Not trading Merrett or Ridley
• Picking a coach with HUGE question marks over his ability to develop kids and saying they selected him “to get the most out of the list”
• Not preferencing kids over senior players at selection until maybe 2026
• In speech and actions aiming for finals immediately

How come you get to dictate the terms of what constitutes a rebuild?!!

Well why not define one then yourself? Set out what a club who decides to rebuild does to separate themselves from business as usual attempts to improve the list. Port for example played finals in most of the 5 years to 2024. Three preliminary finals in 5 years. What would indicate they’ve decided to rebuild versus are just trying to improve the list?

I’ve been talking about needing to do a rebuild for years, discussing them on here and elsewhere, so feel well positioned to talk about them.