Mega Thread Non-Freo AFL Discussion 2026

[fnerd]

I have zero interest in Essendon for some reason. Can anyone give me a quick summary of why they’re so bad?
Is it because their list manager is/was a fraud?

I think it’s underrated a bit how much Walls has done to build our list. Investing the blue chips wisely and getting incredible value for peanuts (Treacy) and trading in some moneyball guys like Clark and some real cream like Bolts and Jacko.

obviously development and trading have played a part but the crux of their problems (on field anyway) revolve around some truly abhorrent drafting .

Think Melbourne in the early 2010s and norf more recently

 

[go_the_dockers]

 

[Randomizor]

Surely Voss is dead

 

[oldgoat]

I love watching Carlton lose.

Schaden to Carlton fills me with Freude

 

[go_the_dockers]

I have zero interest in Essendon for some reason. Can anyone give me a quick summary of why they’re so bad?
Is it because their list manager is/was a fraud?

I think it’s underrated a bit how much Walls has done to build our list. Investing the blue chips wisely and getting incredible value for peanuts (Treacy) and trading in some moneyball guys like Clark and some real cream like Bolts and Jacko.

Poor drafting. This is the main one

Parish at pick 1 who was followed by two great players.
Tsatas instead of Humpries.
Lost the great winger to hawks for virtually nothing.
Brought in players like Stiel for good picks.
Have done nothing with late picks.


Our SSP selections are amazing. Ryan , Schultz, Treacy, Switta, Sceri, Didley etc all from late picks, or PSD, SPP

 

[Freo Big Fella]

I have zero interest in Essendon for some reason. Can anyone give me a quick summary of why they’re so bad?
Is it because their list manager is/was a fraud?

As people have said, it's essentially 5-6 years worth of absolutely heinous drafting - Caddy and Kako perhaps the only exceptions.

The 2020 covid draft is particularly brutal for them, going all in on a crop that had played basically no regular footy Cox/Perkins/Reid all largely busts - we took Treacy, Chapman, Walker and O'Driscoll by comparison.

The only comparable period from our end is probably that stretch between 2012-15 where we whiffed on a string of first round picks, but even then we still netted Alex Pearce plus some good honest toilers (Blakely, Tabs, Hughes) or even a guy like Weller whose trade opened up the current rebuild.

 

[King Tenz]

Poor drafting. This is the main one

Parish at pick 1 who was followed by two great players.
Tsatas instead of Humpries.
Lost the great winger to hawks for virtually nothing.
Brought in players like Stiel for good picks.
Have done nothing with late picks.


Our SSP selections are amazing. Ryan , Schultz, Treacy, Switta, Sceri, Didley etc all from late picks, or PSD, SPP

It's both drafting and player development.

I know your first point says Parish but you're referring to McGrath, the other two players picked after him was Taranto and then McCluggage.

I reckon Taranto and McCluggage both end up as very average players if they were drafted to Essendon.

 

[FreoRicci]

obviously development and trading have played a part but the crux of their problems (on field anyway) revolve around some truly abhorrent drafting .

Think Melbourne in the early 2010s and norf more recently

McGrath number 1 pick for example. A half backer at that pick… Jesus. That’s horrific.

Just poor development and too many changes in the last 10-15 years.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Putting some cash on the bulldogs.

 

[Spirit Level]

Seeing Andy Maher disappointed is quite satisfying.

Weedy little prick of a thing.

 

[King Tenz]

McGrath number 1 pick for example. A half backer at that pick… Jesus. That’s horrific.

Just poor development and too many changes in the last 10-15 years.

From memory the idea of McGrath was that he would develop into a midfielder... it doesn't always work that way.

 

[The Feeder Club]

From memory the idea of McGrath was that he would develop into a midfielder... it doesn't always work that way.

Yep
Plus he was #1 in what has turned out to be an absolutely putrid draft. SPS at 6. Logue at 8. Brodie at 9. Venables 13. Galluci 15.
I mean, yikes.
Apart from McGluggage, English and Bolton there wouldn't be one player taken below pick 30 in that draft that would be considered close to an A grader

 

[FreoRicci]

From memory the idea of McGrath was that he would develop into a midfielder... it doesn't always work that way.

It can. But clearly he isn’t that talented.
Their midfield is okay on paper but none of them want to work together and for each other. No defence or cohesion.

I would take Caddy in a heartbeat. Should build the team around him.

 

[Freo Big Fella]

Yep
Plus he was #1 in what has turned out to be an absolutely putrid draft. SPS at 6. Logue at 8. Brodie at 9. Venables 13. Galluci 15.
I mean, yikes.
Apart from McGluggage, English and Bolton there wouldn't be one player taken below pick 30 in that draft that would be considered close to an A grader

The sheer talent inversion between the first and later rounds in 2016 is genuinely something to behold. Cox, Darcy and Ryan for us. Battle at 39, Stewart at 40. Silly Willie and Jack Graham at 52 and 53. Larkey at 73(!) and Mitch Lewis at 75(!!).

 

[FreoRicci]

Imagine not conceding a goal by quarter time and only 1 goal by half time, yet still concede 100 points and lose by full time.

Carlton are a shambles.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Did the club and O’Reilly curse Carlton over that period of time? That whole saga* over those two trade periods seriously messed up that club.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Yep
Plus he was #1 in what has turned out to be an absolutely putrid draft. SPS at 6. Logue at 8. Brodie at 9. Venables 13. Galluci 15.
I mean, yikes.
Apart from McGluggage, English and Bolton there wouldn't be one player taken below pick 30 in that draft that would be considered close to an A grader

That draft turned out to be quite odd with decent to very good players all through out but like you said, terrible top 30 and very little genuine guns. 2020 is my favourite stinker draft. 4 genuine A graders in Gulden, Holmes, Treacy and Thriller but barely 20 actual afl players in the whole thing

 

[largebus]

For some reason everyone on the Carlton board in the preseason thought their club was a "dark horse" and a "sneaky bounce back candidate", even after trading their best forward and ruckman

It's not even April and they're going full sack Voss, sack Cripps, sack the board mode.

 

[ImperialPurple]

For some reason everyone on the Carlton board in the preseason thought their club was a "dark horse" and a "sneaky bounce back candidate", even after trading their best forward and ruckman

It's not even April and they're going full sack Voss, sack Cripps, sack the board mode.

 

[freo84]

For some reason everyone on the Carlton board in the preseason thought their club was a "dark horse" and a "sneaky bounce back candidate", even after trading their best forward and ruckman

It's not even April and they're going full sack Voss, sack Cripps, sack the board mode.

 

[mattis117]

I think so. Poor drafting like Richmond around Buddy Franklin time

There is a luck element to it. Essendon had lots of good picks in really bad drafts.

Myriad of reasons though. Ultimately just not a good club.

 

[Quazar2]

 

[greatgatsby]

Seeing Andy Maher disappointed is quite satisfying.

Weedy little prick of a thing.

The Front Bar's always better when Carlton is on a losing streak.

 

[swanny1234]

If anyone is having a slow monday like me and needs a laugh, this video of Blues Radio melting down will help

 

[Cam Payne]

Imagine not conceding a goal by quarter time and only 1 goal by half time, yet still concede 100 points and lose by full time.

Carlton are a shambles.

Far out. Hadn't checked the score for that match until now. Incredible stuff.