View Full Version : 2011
Saw this on Bomber Blitz and thought it is a good topic to discuss, see people's feedback.
In light of the failure that is season 2010, what would you, as fans like to see for season 2011?
OPTION 1: AIM FOR FINALS:
Leave the list the way it is, make minimal changes, add those two/three mids we are looking for and hope that this year was just a freak year and try and break into the bottom half of the 8 (5th - 8th) with the current squad we have. Hope that David Myers, Bachar Houli, Sam Lonergan, Darcy Daniher and the other young guys can break into the senior side on the back of some outstanding reserves form, hence moving out the older guys like Andrew Welsh, Nathan Lovett - Murray, Mark Mcveigh back to the reserves, enabling us, the Essendon Football Club forward and back to the top of the ladder where we belong.
Do you like this option?
OPTION 2: DEVELOP THE LIST
Leave the list the way it is, bring in the minimal changes to the team, then force the hand of some senior guys like Dyson and Welsh, play them at Bendigo for the whole year, then play the kids in season 2011 and write it off as another development year? Give guys like Myers, Jetta, Tyson Slattery a free reign in the senior side with the experienced guys that are deserving of a game. We would only drop the kids for really poor form, injuries or suspensions..
Would you like to see the Essendn Football Club do this in season 2011?
OPTION 3: FULL REBUILD
This is exactly what Fremantle did, retiring/delisting/trading out 14 players over a 2 year period. Do you think that the Essendon Football Club should take this path, this would mean we would make some tough calls on guys like Myers/Houli/Jetta/Dyson/Atkinson and the likes, we would play the kids, and give them a free reign in the senior side, allowing them to play games together (no homo), ensuring we move forward in the future..
Would you like to see the Essendon Football Club do this in season 2011?
I would love to know what people think we should do in the silly season, and moving forward in season 2011..
Feel free to vote and comment.
George Washington
15 Aug 2010, 20:31
Seems like a loaded poll to me.
What about Option 4: Everything comes together just as Knights' planned. Fill up on a few midfielders in the draft, maybe lure a star and all our KPP's come on.
bombersaway
15 Aug 2010, 20:36
ill take option 4 thanks
Frothies Mcveigh
15 Aug 2010, 20:42
Not very unique option descriptions.
table tennis
15 Aug 2010, 20:43
Seems like a loaded poll to me.
What about Option 4: Everything comes together just as Knights' planned. Fill up on a few midfielders in the draft, maybe lure a star and all our KPP's come on.
Wouldn't that come under aim for finals?
Ben the Gooner
15 Aug 2010, 21:04
Aim for finals every year until it is mathematically impossible.
George Washington
15 Aug 2010, 21:17
Wouldn't that come under aim for finals?
Ahh HFF did a ninja edit on me.
Option 1 was originally called Option 1: Bad Year.
Just to clarify.
Ahh HFF did a ninja edit on me.
Option 1 was originally called Option 1: Bad Year.
Just to clarify.
and has duly been
"edited for accuracy"
;)
EVERLAST
15 Aug 2010, 23:54
Needs rebuilding, we're dead certainties not to see top 4 before 2015, unless we trade for now.
Otherwise, keep recruiting the best available young talent over the next 3 years, whilst developing the current cattle and hope we're ready when the Cats, Bulldogs and Saints begin to show signs of slowing down.
Currently, Tigers, Demons, Hawks and Roos are in the box seat in terms of their development to advance into the top 8 consistently and keep us out of finals for the next 3 years I'm afraid.
Currently, Tigers, Demons, Hawks and Roos are in the box seat in terms of their development to advance into the top 8 consistently and keep us out of finals for the next 3 years I'm afraid.
Currently
Would you have said that a year ago when projecting forward three years? No.
Tigers are not in the box seat by any means. They have a coach and a list capable of seeing them return to 9th and that's it.
Hawks and Demons are the on the way up.
Knowing the Roos they'll find somehow to **** up their list after a promising rebuild start.
Would prefer option 3 but this may not be possible for a variety of reasons.
Probably need to go option 2.
TheDon35
16 Aug 2010, 08:00
Seems like a loaded poll to me.
What about Option 4: Everything comes together just as Knights' planned. Fill up on a few midfielders in the draft, maybe lure a star and all our KPP's come on.
The Knights option can't be risked.
There's enough talent to work with but it obviously needs to be added to in a pretty major way.
.
Slattery_20
16 Aug 2010, 08:02
Flogging content off other sites.
Nice.
eth-dog
16 Aug 2010, 10:26
option 3. We need to rebuild, get a good coach and improve over 3-5 years
The Donners
16 Aug 2010, 12:05
I'm with the horde, get rid of Knights. The board made the wrong choice, own up to it, rectify it and move forward.
We need a coach who was a tough player, not a coach who wore a skirt in over 250 games.
We also need a coach who is qualified, they've done an apprenticeship under a senior coach and we also need qualified assistant coaches to compliment the senior coach.
If you asked me last year I would have easily said make finals but this year has showed me that developing the list is far more important at this stage. Developing players like Myers, Melksham, Colyer, Zaharakis, ect should be our main priority. If we make the finals it will be a bonus.
EVERLAST
16 Aug 2010, 16:22
Currently
Would you have said that a year ago when projecting forward three years? No.
Tigers are not in the box seat by any means. They have a coach and a list capable of seeing them return to 9th and that's it.
Hawks and Demons are the on the way up.
Knowing the Roos they'll find somehow to **** up their list after a promising rebuild start.
I disagree. Foley to return gives them drive in the middle, they only need a KP down back and I'd suggest they're ready to get back into the top 8.
Their kids have taken on all before them, win or lose and still playing competitive football, and they have the best kid in the country who will become an elite player in the competition in Dustin Martin.
Best kid to emerge since Selwood. Plus a forward that is able to kick 50+ goals in a season.
Certainly a recipe for advancement. You're basing your opinion on their past inadequacies. They're turned a corner in a positive sense, something we are yet to do.
bombersno1
16 Aug 2010, 16:40
Option 3 for mine, and our midfield needs seriously rebuilding, we just don't have an elite midfielder on our list.
Ben the Gooner
16 Aug 2010, 16:50
These are the sort of results I'd expect from the Richmond or Melbourne boards.:thumbsd:
ManWithNoName
16 Aug 2010, 19:13
So you completely stole my thread idea, poll, and essay length opening post and gave me zero credit?
F-ing tool.
Its not the first time and won't be the last time that threads have been lifted from BB and vice versa.
ManWithNoName
16 Aug 2010, 19:53
Its not the first time and won't be the last time that threads have been lifted from BB and vice versa.
Generally only if the poster on the original site doesn't post on the other. And to copy it completely word for word, especially by a mod, is beyond stupid.
Generally only if the poster on the original site doesn't post on the other. And to copy it completely word for word, especially by a mod, is beyond stupid.
Jarryd
I understand your concern but it happens regularly and some posters let it pass.
Not saying that it applies to you.
The team we are fielding each week is young enough and inexperienced enough to suggest we are actually are a year-ish behind Melbourne in development.
Please don't start writing off our kids after a rough year, which probably was always coming in hindsight. There are kids with potential to become "elite" onballers on our list it's just they have almost no help from guys who have played 50+ matches because we simply don't have any apart from Jobe of course.
Option 2 for me.
Terrible time to rebuilt with GC and GWS coming in.
And why would we anyway?
Pretty sure we've been rebuilding our side for the last three years anyway.
Defence - Hurley, Hooker, Pears, T Slattery,
Midfield - Zaharakis, Melksham, Colyer, Howlett, Houli, Jetta
Rucks - Ryder, Bellchambers
Forwards - Gumbelton, Neagle, Hardingham, Carlise
Not exactly an old side.
If we can grab a decent midfielder or two in trade week or in this years draft we have a foundation for a decent side.
We just need to continue to develop this list, give the young guys all the opportunity possible to get the best out of themselves.
I think we can get rid of a few crabs this year (wont mention names as wont happen) replace them with some young tallent, as there is always risky tallent in every draft late which i get confused doesnt get picked earlier then goes in psd or rookie and they become a good player. Maybe i should be a recruiter :p
But i think next year would be a fail if we didnt make finals. Also correct me if im wrong. Now would be the worst time for a rebuild due to obvious. And even more so as we have a top 3 pick next year coming in young daniher which we would probs get anyways if we did a full rebuild.
Ideally Id love a development year pushing for finals win or competitive final. Not to much to ask after 9 years of building.
Get atley or parker :thumbsu:
Sure our midfield needs developing and is a little behind other teams but Watson, Melksham, Stanton, Colyer and Zaharakis is a decent starting point.
3 of those 5 need 2-3 pre-seasons of fitness and weights, which will hopefully culminate with the rise of our teenage-like, but very talented spine.
The Donners
16 Aug 2010, 22:02
Sure our midfield needs developing and is a little behind other teams but Watson, Melksham, Stanton, Colyer and Zaharakis is a decent starting point.
3 of those 5 need 2-3 pre-seasons of fitness and weights, which will hopefully culminate with the rise of our teenage-like, but very talented spine.
I like your optimism. I must say I'm not sold on Melksham nor Colyer - though the latter is definitely showing real promise.
To me, Knights effectively said he wanted Melksham based on his u/18 GF form. There isn't anything in his game that really stands out as superior apart from running speed. For Stanton it's endurance. Watson's disposal by foot, although improved, is sub-standard. Colyer's kicking has improved very quickly from his first game but he's not what I would yet call reliable in those stakes.
With the exception of Zaharakis, I don't believe we have a midfielder with potential for elitism. In my honest opinion, we either need 5 very high quality midfielders (with of course a number of players to rotate) with average to above average kicking skills or we need 2 elite midfielders and 3 good midfielders with average kicking skills to compete consistently with the top teams AND the bottom teams.
We currently have neither 2 elite midfielders or 5 very high quality midfielders. There is no sugar-coating, our midfield matches our ladder position.
End of "semi" rant.
stugots
17 Aug 2010, 07:25
well if we have to start rebuilding now, then meh its going to be a long drought between flags for this club
so i go with teh option whereby
- the coach employs a game style that the players can understand & execute at an acceptable afl level
- younger players are given a chance to establish themselves in the side at a position suited to their ability & playing history, ie allow younger players to develop some confidence ffs
- the coach, if he is to stay, willingly accepts that development has stagnated & the expertise of others more credentialed than himself is required to assist him to see this group moving forward
that will do for starters
ManWithNoName
17 Aug 2010, 17:30
Jarryd
I understand your concern but it happens regularly and some posters let it pass.
Not saying that it applies to you.
When it's some off the cuff one liner, no biggy. When it's a post I've clearly thought out and put some effort into, adding the complete lack of credit, I get pissed off.
Slattery_20
18 Aug 2010, 08:32
If yaco didn't copy stuff between boards he wouldn't post at all.
We'll do what we should've done this year; put more faith into the kids instead of persisting with the likes of Dyson and NLM.
We should be looking to draft either Josh Caddy, Luke Parker or Brodie Smith with pick 8 or 10. All inside players. Parker is the smallest of the three (182cm i think). Smith is 188cm and has good inside ability with good speed and can break tackles - good core strength.
Our youngsters need to spend a lot of time in the gym. Gumby, Hooker, Zaka, Colyer and Melksham get pushed off the ball too easily.
Tony Delaney
18 Aug 2010, 13:35
You don't beat the Saints 3 times in a row if you don't have a side that should aim for finals. We need to learn to win and the sooner we can win a final the better off we will be. We should also be rebuilding at the same time.
Slattery_20
18 Aug 2010, 13:56
We'll do what we should've done this year; put more faith into the kids instead of persisting with the likes of Dyson and NLM.
Dyson & NLM have hardly been automatic selections. Played 3 first years for 10 odd games, but (hardly surprisingly) they've tired & the depth guys come back into the side.
It'll be the same story for the next few years I'm afraid.
If yaco didn't copy stuff between boards he wouldn't post at all.
Is this another off Topic post ?
The topic is 2011 not YACO or SLATTERY_20.
Ben the Gooner
18 Aug 2010, 16:54
The topic doesn't look like being discussed any time soon.
Closed.