AFL Player 20: Peter Wright

[Lore]

Contract Status: Free Agent (?) 2027
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 21, TheGrizz

 

[jdstorm]

The real conundrum for us is what the hell do we do with Bryan when he’s not rucking? He’d be a liability resting forward and would limit the flexibility of our bench if he’s resting there. I don’t want him in the 22 if he’s a liability. He’d need to be a top tier first ruck to warrant that sort of allowance in the 22. A fit, confident Wright who pinch hits in the ruck appeals far more to me than a limited, one-dimensional ruckman like Bryan. He’s got to start dominating more than he does at VFL level.

Put him on the bench. Maybe some KPD

Most teams carry 1 ruck and 1 ruck/forward

Wright and Draper have both shown to be better part time rucks than full time rucks.

Why does he (Bryan) have to do better at VFL level when he just won best ruck in the comp and the guys in front of him (Draper and Wright) are mediocre.

He’s the no1 ruck on the team.

 

[Blind Turn]

Put him on the bench. Maybe some KPD

Most teams carry 1 ruck and 1 ruck/forward

Wright and Draper have both shown to be better part time rucks than full time rucks.

Why does he (Bryan) have to do better at VFL level when he just won best ruck in the comp and the guys in front of him (Draper and Wright) are mediocre.

He’s the no1 ruck on the team.

If you’re going to be no 1 ruck and not have a second string to your bow you’d want to show more than he has at VFL level. His performances have been fine, don’t get me wrong. He has played well, but it’s based mainly on tap work. He’s not that impressive around the ground and doesn’t dominate games. To supplant Draper he needs to be stepping up because he’s not showing any superior 1st ruck traits that would be better for us than having Draper’s follow-up game in there.

 

[boncer34]

If you’re going to be no 1 ruck and not have a second string to your bow you’d want to show more than he has at VFL level. His performances have been fine, don’t get me wrong. He has played well, but it’s based mainly on tap work. He’s not that impressive around the ground and doesn’t dominate games. To supplant Draper he needs to be stepping up because he’s not showing any superior 1st ruck traits that would be better for us than having Draper’s follow-up game in there.

Last year Bryan got more of the ball than Draper and laid more tackles.

Draper of course kicked more goals due to moving forward but in terms of around the ground follow up work, Bryan's not miles behind him.

 

[jdstorm]

If you’re going to be no 1 ruck and not have a second string to your bow you’d want to show more than he has at VFL level. His performances have been fine, don’t get me wrong. He has played well, but it’s based mainly on tap work. He’s not that impressive around the ground and doesn’t dominate games. To supplant Draper he needs to be stepping up because he’s not showing any superior 1st ruck traits that would be better for us than having Draper’s follow-up game in there.

By SuperCoach points average last season neither were top 18 rucks by average points. Draper saw an uptick in points once he started playing forward. But as far as his points per minute went he was a mediocre to bottom tier AFL ruck in his best stretch of games.

No point focusing on elite traits if the overall performance isn’t there.

Bryan was voted the best ruck in the VFL last year and has earned the right to progress. He may never be an elite ruck but that’s okay. To get minutes on this team he doesn’t have to be. He’s earned the right to more opportunity.

Draper and Wright both have elite traits but also large weaknesses. Draper his skill, kicking and game sense. Wright his physicality.

Draper gets the nod as FF because this team needs his physicality close to goal more then it needs wrights elite long kicking.

 

[Blind Turn]

By SuperCoach points average last season neither were top 18 rucks by average points. Draper saw an uptick in points once he started playing forward. But as far as his points per minute went he was a mediocre to bottom tier AFL ruck in his best stretch of games.

No point focusing on elite traits if the overall performance isn’t there.

Bryan was voted the best ruck in the VFL last year and has earned the right to progress. He may never be an elite ruck but that’s okay. To get minutes on this team he doesn’t have to be. He’s earned the right to more opportunity.

Draper and Wright both have elite traits but also large weaknesses. Draper his skill, kicking and game sense. Wright his physicality.

Draper gets the nod as FF because this team needs his physicality close to goal more then it needs wrights elite long kicking.

Bryan has no right to the number 1 ruck spot if it is detrimental to the overall team balance. He needs to be controlling the ruck position or he’s worthless to us. He’s yet to show that he has the tools to be a dominant first ruck. Sure he deserves a chance to show it in the preseason but on the evidence of last season he is only showing us that he has improved, not that he is the answer.

 

[Blind Turn]

Last year Bryan got more of the ball than Draper and laid more tackles.

Draper of course kicked more goals due to moving forward but in terms of around the ground follow up work, Bryan's not miles behind him.

Draper has that rare ability of bringing directness and incisiveness to our play which is a fantastic trait to have. He also took several timely late-game contested makes to deny forays forward by the opposition that might’ve won them the game. Bryan hasn’t shown a slither of this in his game yet. It’s about moments and clutch plays that has Draper well ahead of Bryan.

 

[jdstorm]

Bryan has no right to the number 1 ruck spot if it is detrimental to the overall team balance. He needs to be controlling the ruck position or he’s worthless to us. He’s yet to show that he has the tools to be a dominant first ruck. Sure he deserves a chance to show it in the preseason but on the evidence of last season he is only showing us that he has improved, not that he is the answer.

By that definition none of our rucks are the answer.

Analytics tend to suggest that a dominant ruck isn’t all that important in winning a flag.

Being good enough is fine.

As far as secondary positions go with Bryan. If push comes to shove I’d say KPD is the right spot. Having him rotate through there would allow Ridley to play 100% of his TOG at 3rd tall and that’s a nice structural advantage

Edit: given how many games Draper missed and how many games we won the back half of the season I don’t think that clutch sample size is all that large.

And who can forget his brain fade vs Adelaide lying all over the ball and luckily not being penalised for it

 

[Blind Turn]

By that definition none of our rucks are the answer.

Analytics tend to suggest that a dominant ruck isn’t all that important in winning a flag.

Being good enough is fine.

As far as secondary positions go with Bryan. If push comes to shove I’d say KPD is the right spot. Having him rotate through there would allow Ridley to play 100% of his TOG at 3rd tall and that’s a nice structural advantage

Edit: given how many games Draper missed and how many games we won the back half of the season I don’t think that clutch sample size is all that large.

And who can forget his brain fade vs Adelaide lying all over the ball and luckily not being penalised for it

Draper has game-saving and game-winning attributes. He also gets us moving forward and lifts the energy of the team. Ironing out his brain-farts is the key. I don’t know if it’s possible but the upside is huge.

I’m not sure where you’re seeing a KPD in Bryan. Sounds like another liability situation to me.

 

[jdstorm]

Draper has game-saving and game-winning attributes. He also gets us moving forward and lifts the energy of the team. Ironing out his brain-farts is the key. I don’t know if it’s possible but the upside is huge.

I’m not sure where you’re seeing a KPD in Bryan. Sounds like another liability situation to me.

I think a lot of what’s required of a ruck is also required of a KPD (and Forward) use strength to hold space/contested marks. Read the play. Drop back into space ect.

Bryan has the length and strength to spoil against a KPF plus he’s a good ball user. One of McKay/Reid would always take the harder option and Ridley would be loose in support so I think it works.

Draper has his moments of brilliance and he’s good for energy but he’s just not reliable. That’s why I like him close to goal

Takes the oppos most physical defender which gives Langford an easier matchup and will get a brilliant energy goal or two just by being close to goal when inspiration strikes.

Hopefully midfield gut running/straightening comes from Tsatas and Durham

 

[faible]

Bryan is the kind of ruck that will play high % game time in there, giving our midfielders predictability and provide a solid link-up option through the middle of the ground. His actual football skills are quite good for a big man.

He probably won't take mark or goal of the year.

Wright at his best is a far better forward than Draper, and is a solid 2-3 year option as a FWD / RUC alongside one of Draper or Bryan.

Draper seems to get valued on his best handful of moments because they're flashy, whereas Wright and Bryan get judged on their boringness because they aren't flashy.

Wright (if fit) will give you 1.5 - 2.5 goals a game and cover your ruckman while he's resting. There's no guarantee Draper can do that each week even if his highlight reel will be better.

 

[jdstorm]

Bryan is the kind of ruck that will play high % game time in there, giving our midfielders predictability and provide a solid link-up option through the middle of the ground. His actual football skills are quite good for a big man.

He probably won't take mark or goal of the year.

Wright at his best is a far better forward than Draper, and is a solid 2-3 year option as a FWD / RUC alongside one of Draper or Bryan.

Draper seems to get valued on his best handful of moments because they're flashy, whereas Wright and Bryan get judged on their boringness because they aren't flashy.

Wright (if fit) will give you 1.5 - 2.5 goals a game and cover your ruckman while he's resting. There's no guarantee Draper can do that each week even if his highlight reel will be better.

Big issue with wright vs Draper as forwards is team construction

Wright is a 2nd or 3rd option tall forward. Likes hanging out on the arc. Marking on a lead and bombing long goals.

He’s poor at holding space/bringing the ball to ground in contested situations.

Drapers a 6th option forward but is strong, can hold position under an high ball, and can crash a pack and can bring it to ground.

Essendon doesn’t have another player on the list that can do what Draper does as a forward.

Caddy/jones/cox can largely do what wright does at CHF but with better defensive mobility

So while wright is better he’s a worse fit as far as the team goes

 

[fairbump_playon]

Big issue with wright vs Draper as forwards is team construction

Wright is a 2nd or 3rd option tall forward. Likes hanging out on the arc. Marking on a lead and bombing long goals.

He’s poor at holding space/bringing the ball to ground in contested situations.

Drapers a 6th option forward but is strong, can hold position under an high ball, and can crash a pack and can bring it to ground.

Essendon doesn’t have another player on the list that can do what Draper does as a forward.

Caddy/jones/cox can largely do what wright does at CHF but with better defensive mobility

So while wright is better he’s a worse fit as far as the team goes

Agree with this

Wright is incredibly frustrating given the gap between his talent & impact

And the one time he actually crashes a pack, he gets 6 weeks and loses his nerve forever

 

[jdstorm]

Agree with this

Wright is incredibly frustrating given the gap between his talent & impact

And the one time he actually crashes a pack, he gets 6 weeks and loses his nerve forever

The really wild thing about wright is that his impact is good. He’s actually quite productive. It’s just when you see the glimpses you think he should be twice as good as he is.

On another team with a different list balance he’d be so good. Get 10 marks he should take a game drop 5 and still get 3 goals a game

 

[Blind Turn]

The really wild thing about wright is that his impact is good. He’s actually quite productive. It’s just when you see the glimpses you think he should be twice as good as he is.

On another team with a different list balance he’d be so good. Get 10 marks he should take a game drop 5 and still get 3 goals a game

If we need a goal from distance in a final with minutes to go there’s only one bloke you want with ball in hand. It’s why we desperately need to get him back to form and in the mix for a few years.

 

[fairbump_playon]

If we need a goal from distance in a final with minutes to go there’s only one bloke you want with ball in hand. It’s why we desperately need to get him back to form and in the mix for a few years.

No sure how many finals you make with forwards that turn like the Titanic

I'm being a bit unfair, at his best his pros outweigh his cons.. but to be a valuable contributor he really needs to dominate the air up on the logos, and then get back & kick 3+.

 

[Blind Turn]

No sure how many finals you make with forwards that turn like the Titanic

I'm being a bit unfair, at his best his pros outweigh his cons.. but to be a valuable contributor he really needs to dominate the air up on the logos, and then get back & kick 3+.

He just needs to avoid icebergs like Cunningham that put a hole in his psychological hull.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

No sure how many finals you make with forwards that turn like the Titanic

I'm being a bit unfair, at his best his pros outweigh his cons.. but to be a valuable contributor he really needs to dominate the air up on the logos, and then get back & kick 3+.

Peters got the talent to do it. He kicked 53 in 2022 & he's costing us **** all salary wise.

Since then, he's had injuries in 2023 and i think that incident last year with Cunningham genuinely screwed his confidence.

I'd back him in to kick bags again, he is still young.

I think real issue holding Pete back is our horrendous fwd 50 entries, it's been a theme for years and years, and unless we sort that we will never get the best out of guys like Pete. Unless Merrett is the one taking the kick, it's a set said 50/50 at being a turnover. We have minimal elite ball users in the middle and hopefully we see some development in that space in 2025.

There were multiple times last year where we doubled other teams fwd. 50 entries, and than lost the game or won it in a very tight manner.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Peters got the talent to do it. He kicked 53 in 2022 & he's costing us **** all salary wise.

Since then, he's had injuries in 2023 and i think that incident last year with Cunningham genuinely screwed his confidence.

I'd back him in to kick bags again, he is still young.

I think real issue holding Pete back is our horrendous fwd 50 entries, it's been a theme for years and years, and unless we sort that we will never get the best out of guys like Pete. Unless Merrett is the one taking the kick, it's a set said 50/50 at being a turnover. We have minimal elite ball users in the middle and hopefully we see some development in that space in 2025.

There were multiple times last year where we doubled other teams fwd. 50 entries, and than lost the game or won it in a very tight manner.

Agree on talent & I know those are the reasons / excuses for the last couple of years

Injury, sure. But on confidence post suspension.. I don't buy it as an acceptable reason. How many elite players lose confidence after being suspended? Almost none, they come back and get stuck into it.

It speaks to the way Wright naturally plays the game. He is tall and talented but unreasonably soft for his size. I'm not talking about hurting others, I'm talking about how easily he gets pushed off his line by defenders smaller than him.

Start of last year I reckon coaches demanded he go harder at the footy. He did that, got suspended and then reverted to type.

Issue is that while, like all forwards, he would benefit from silver platter service, he shouldn't need it. He has height, reach, weight advantages on most and inside 50 he gets two hands to the ball a dozen times a game.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Agree on talent & I know those are the reasons / excuses for the last couple of years

Injury, sure. But on confidence post suspension.. I don't buy it as an acceptable reason. How many elite players lose confidence after being suspended? Almost none, they come back and get stuck into it.

It speaks to the way Wright naturally plays the game. He is tall and talented but unreasonably soft for his size. I'm not talking about hurting others, I'm talking about how easily he gets pushed off his line by defenders smaller than him.

Start of last year I reckon coaches demanded he go harder at the footy. He did that, got suspended and then reverted to type.

Issue is that while, like all forwards, he would benefit from silver platter service, he shouldn't need it. He has height, reach, weight advantages on most and inside 50 he gets two hands to the ball a dozen times a game.

yeah, i think a few of these points are relevant and fair. Pete definitely is not the classic bully forward, he never was.

I think we have to be realistic of what we expect from Pete, he is on a mediocre salary for a reason. Theres definitely some stuff like his hardness for the ball he can work on, for sure. but it think if we can sort out fwd 50 entries and make his life easier that's half the battle.

The good thing about Pete is, get him the ball in the fwd 50, and he is a bloody good chance at kicking it. His kicking is pretty bloody good.

 

[dank420_]

I hope his season doesn't go Peter Wrong

 

[astrowizzle]

Agree on talent & I know those are the reasons / excuses for the last couple of years

Injury, sure. But on confidence post suspension.. I don't buy it as an acceptable reason. How many elite players lose confidence after being suspended? Almost none, they come back and get stuck into it.

It speaks to the way Wright naturally plays the game. He is tall and talented but unreasonably soft for his size. I'm not talking about hurting others, I'm talking about how easily he gets pushed off his line by defenders smaller than him.

Start of last year I reckon coaches demanded he go harder at the footy. He did that, got suspended and then reverted to type.

Issue is that while, like all forwards, he would benefit from silver platter service, he shouldn't need it. He has height, reach, weight advantages on most and inside 50 he gets two hands to the ball a dozen times a game.

I din't think it was Wright getting suspended they messed him up I think it was getting suspended for something that he really should not have been suspended for .
He was crucified by the media and because it's Essendon he goes for a ridiculous amount of time. There were so many players throughout the year where they crossed the white line but got off because of who they are

 

[ant555]

Based on what I watched last Saturday he is still struggling. Same marking issues. Easily moved off the footy. Also no ruck work in match sim. Early days but the finger is in n the alarm bell button.

 

[P Money]

Based on what I watched last Saturday he is still struggling. Same marking issues. Easily moved off the footy. Also no ruck work in match sim. Early days but the finger is in n the alarm bell button.

I love Pete but the fact is you could say this about all but one of his seasons so far in his career - marking issues, easily moved off the footy. I don't buy confidence issues stemming from a suspension, I think this is just who he is. There's a reason he couldn't get a game at GC and came to us for a bag of chips.

Agree that our service to him sucks and he can/will do a lot better if we improve that, but in the end he is who he is.

 

[jdstorm]

I love Pete but the fact is you could say this about all but one of his seasons so far in his career - marking issues, easily moved off the footy. I don't buy confidence issues stemming from a suspension, I think this is just who he is. There's a reason he couldn't get a game at GC and came to us for a bag of chips.

Agree that our service to him sucks and he can/will do a lot better if we improve that, but in the end he is who he is.

Who he is, is a guy who can kick you 50 goals at CHF with clean service (While dropping 40% of his marks) and 20% ruck chopout.

Basically the role Joe Danniher played for Brisbane last season.

Very square peg round hole at Essendon every season apart from his best year. But it’s just as much a club/structure issue as it is a 2MP issue

 

[ant555]

Who he is, is a guy who can kick you 50 goals at CHF with clean service (While dropping 40% of his marks) and 20% ruck chopout.

Basically the role Joe Danniher played for Brisbane last season.

Very square peg round hole at Essendon every season apart from his best year. But it’s just as much a club/structure issue as it is a 2MP issue

One swallow does not make a summer. He has done it once. Some players are one season wonders.