Footy Dept. Soon to be ex-GM - List & Recruiting Adrian Dodoro #putoutyourjackets

[Lore]

Cliff notes:

• Stepping back from his current senior role following the 2023 AFL Draft
• Transition plan, raised the possibility with Vozzo in April
• Replacement is Matt Rosa, whose thread is here: Welcome to Essendon Matthew Rosa
  Matthew Rosa

  Age

  37

  Ht

  191cm

  Wt

  84kg

  Pos.

  Mid

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  21.1

  5star

  K

  11.0

  4star

  HB

  10.1

  5star

  M

  5.0

  5star

  T

  2.7

  4star

  CL

  1.7

  4star

  No current season stats available

  D

  14.6

  4star

  K

  9.4

  4star

  HB

  5.2

  4star

  M

  4.4

  4star

  T

  1.4

  4star

  – AFL Talent & Operations Manager!

To coincide with this announcement, the Club’s General Manager of List and Recruiting, Adrian Dodoro, has made the decision to take a step back from his current senior role following this year’s NAB AFL National Draft. He will lead the Club through the upcoming 2023 Trade and Draft period in his current position prior to transitioning to and assisting Matt Rosa moving forward.​

​

Dodoro, an Essendon Life Member, has played a significant role at the Bombers over nearly three decades and said the time was right to take a step back.​

​

“I approached Craig back in April to discuss the concept of transition and I feel that now is the right time to make this decision,” Dodoro said.​

​

"I sat on the panel to assist in the selection of Matt, and I believe he will be an outstanding acquisition to the Club for years to come. I look forward to working with Matt moving forward.​

​

“These roles are very taxing on individuals and their families and it just feels like that. After nearly three decades and with stability in key roles at the Club, now is the right time for me to take a step back in to a role which will provide me and my family with a better work life balance.​

​

“More immediately, we have an important few months coming up and I’m looking forward to playing my part to deliver a strong Trade and Draft period for the Club to ensure that the playing list is in a strong position for the future.”​

​

Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo acknowledged the significant impact Dodoro has made at the Club since joining in a full-time role in 1998.​

​

“Adrian is a highly respected Life Member of the Essendon Football Club and has made an enormous contribution to the Club and the wider AFL industry during his time in football, including assisting to navigate the Club through unprecedented and challenging periods,” Vozzo said.​

​

“Throughout his time at the Bombers, Adrian’s commitment and passion to take the Club forward in its list management and recruiting, has been unquestionable. Some of the Champions of Essendon have been identified and selected by Adrian, and we will always be grateful for the important and enduring role he has played.​

​

“On behalf of the entire Club, we would like to acknowledge Adrian’s selfless decision and we look forward to his ongoing contribution to the Club.​

​

“Adrian will work with Matt to ensure a smooth hand-over and a successful transition of responsibilities.”​

 

[doug85]

I really don’t get the dodo hate. I think he’s done an outstanding job from 2013 onwards. We’ve done well with late picks and done pretty well at the trade table too.

 

[eth-dog]

I really don’t get the dodo hate. I think he’s done an outstanding job from 2013 onwards. We’ve done well with late picks and done pretty well at the trade table too.

I understand it. He's struggled to build a balanced list and seems to go for too many mercurial players over your solid 20+ disposals, 4 clearance midfielders for example. He's had a good strike rate for later picks and picked some stars early such as Hurley and Heppell though

 

[doug85]

I understand it. He's struggled to build a balanced list and seems to go for too many mercurial players over your solid 20+ disposals, 4 clearance midfielders for example. He's had a good strike rate for later picks and picked some stars early such as Hurley and Heppell though

I’m open to criticism of dodo. Some is definitely warranted. But I think he’s done a good job from 2013 onwards.

 

[boncer34]

I’m open to criticism of dodo. Some is definitely warranted. But I think he’s done a good job from 2013 onwards.

You keep saying from 2013 like the previous 14 don't exist.

 

[doug85]

No I don’t

 

[boncer34]

Oh ok then.

 

[Milanista28]

You keep saying from 2013 like the previous 14 don't exist.

In fairness they don't matter in 2020, The core of our list is now from 2012-2018 (Including the players we traded in)

 

[boncer34]

In fairness they don't matter in 2020, The core of our list is now from 2012-2018 (Including the players we traded in)

Of course they do. We don't know if he has been good since 2013 since its to early to call on a number of players.

But his history suggests they won't be good enough to win a flag.

 

[Milanista28]

But his history suggests they won't be good enough to win a flag.

Don't say things like that man, it hurts

 

[dave10]

Of course they do. We don't know if he has been good since 2013 since its to early to call on a number of players.

But his history suggests they won't be good enough to win a flag.

There’s so much more to winning a flag in my view. I think Dodoro has done a very decent job the last 6-8 years. Remember he’s had to cop lost draft pick selections in the same period which makes what he’s done since about 2013 more impressive. This could have cost us two quality young players or potentially more potent trades. We will never know. Yes we lack strong bodied players and Sheedy like mongrel and that’s my criticism of his philosophy and results.

To me, the main factors we should be equally focussed on are weaknesses in no particular order: Standards & professionalism (hopefully back on track now with new fitness / coaching group), culture (apparent soft & lacking ruthlessness - likely outcome of the saga), on field leadership (apparent lack of ruthlessness, natural leaders and playing group alignment in this area).

 

[boncer34]

We've had 20 years of failure, and during that time we've had one constant. Is it all his fault? No. But its an inescapable fact his ability to do his job successfully is vastly overrated on this board. He's meant to build lists that deliver premierships and he hasn't built one that has got past the first week of the finals.

 

[60sbomber]

We've had 20 years of failure, and during that time we've had one constant. Is it all his fault? No. But its an inescapable fact his ability to do his job successfully is vastly overrated on this board. He's meant to build lists that deliver premierships and he hasn't built one that has got past the first week of the finals.

I don't agree at all. Dodoro being in the role for 20yrs during which time we haven't won a flag, does not constitute cause and effect, just correlation.
There are many things that have to fall into place to win a flag, not just the list manager doing a good job of assembling a good playing group.
Nine clubs have won flags in the last 19yrs (10 if you want to start at 2000). Does that mean the other nine should all look to blame their list managers, coaches, CEOs, boards, leadership groups.......whatever, for their lack of the ultimate success?
I would argue the random bounce of a ball prevented St. Kilda from being a premiership team under Lyon. But Lyon should not be considered any lesser coach than if the ball had bounced the other way. Nor should St. Kilda's list manager, or any other contributing factor to their performance around that time, be blamed.
Granted we have not got even close, far from a bounce of a ball away, but the point is, you can't rationalise everything as contributing to an outcome when there a so many factors in play.

 

[DapperJong]

Thinking a bit too hard about it imo.

You look at the list, and it's kinda average.

get yourself in dodooddsodossowdw

 

[CBombers17]

A good place to highlight one of Dodo's old habits. Trying to 'win' trades. Has this philosophy actually changed/evolved over his tenure?
It's symptomatic of the clubs hubris for 20 years.

Add to that his self declared following of the Sheedy 'build the spine first' theory and subsequent failure to build a dominant midfield (in a dominant midfield era) and you get a dinosaur who hasn't evolved either his processes or our list in line with the requirements of success in modern football.

Edit; Add to this - no belief in data analytics for player recruitment either - T-Rex

 

[The Prosecutor]

He truly is Teflon.

 

[RaySamuel]

I should say, at the time they were good.
They were the kids widely touted to go where they went.

The big question for me isn't the list management, trading or drafting.
What are we doing with these kids?

I would bet all the money i have that Langford, Parish, Francis, Laverde & McGrath at a club like Geelong, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Sydney, etc would be ripping it up.

We don't develop players well.

Deve

I should say, at the time they were good.
They were the kids widely touted to go where they went.

The big question for me isn't the list management, trading or drafting.
What are we doing with these kids?

I would bet all the money i have that Langford, Parish, Francis, Laverde & McGrath at a club like Geelong, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Sydney, etc would be ripping it up.

We don't develop players well.

Development and culture are key to young guys fulfilling potential

 

[eDPS]

Think Dodo should just focus on picking young guns who don’t get badly injured after a few years

Gumbleton, Winderlich and Daniher just to name a few, we want perfectly healthy stars thank you very much

 

[Burzum]

I don't agree at all. Dodoro being in the role for 20yrs during which time we haven't won a flag, does not constitute cause and effect, just correlation.
There are many things that have to fall into place to win a flag, not just the list manager doing a good job of assembling a good playing group.
Nine clubs have won flags in the last 19yrs (10 if you want to start at 2000). Does that mean the other nine should all look to blame their list managers, coaches, CEOs, boards, leadership groups.......whatever, for their lack of the ultimate success?
I would argue the random bounce of a ball prevented St. Kilda from being a premiership team under Lyon. But Lyon should not be considered any lesser coach than if the ball had bounced the other way. Nor should St. Kilda's list manager, or any other contributing factor to their performance around that time, be blamed.
Granted we have not got even close, far from a bounce of a ball away, but the point is, you can't rationalise everything as contributing to an outcome when there a so many factors in play.

I think every other club in the league would look at replacing their list manager after 5 years if they hadn't won a final, let alone 15-20. The fact is that he has underperformed for a very long time and I would wager that he's the list manager with the most job security.

 

[eth-dog]

Think Dodo should just focus on picking young guns who don’t get badly injured after a few years

Gumbleton, Winderlich and Daniher just to name a few, we want perfectly healthy stars thank you very much

How is Gumby his fault? He'd had a pretty much uninjured junior career. Same with Daniher. Can't remember about Winderlich.

 

[eDPS]

How is Gumby his fault? He'd had a pretty much uninjured junior career. Same with Daniher. Can't remember about Winderlich.

Whoosh

 

[boncer34]

How is Gumby his fault? He'd had a pretty much uninjured junior career. Same with Daniher. Can't remember about Winderlich.

That's his point. Dodo can't be blamed for injuries. Totally unlucky every pick he's ever picked has ended up either injured, mismanaged by coaches or abducted by aliens isn't it eDPS

 

[boncer34]

At this stage I think the only way Essendon gets rid of him is if he stands down himself, as much as I feel he has done a good job the on-field results are taking their toll and it might not be a bad idea to get a fresh face at the club to oversee recruiting.

They are not linked?

 

[GUMBLETRON]

Interesting Dodcast this week talking about the pursuit of Stringer, Smith and Saad

A whole lot of discussion of good young players with their best years ahead but not once is the phrase "list balance" uttered.

 

[ant555]

Whoosh

 

[Red Black and Blue]

He has been both unlucky and should have drafted with more care.

Surely players who are more physically developed and are already playing in their long term position come draft time are less inclined to be injury prone. With less growth required they will have less potential complications with growing pains and their suitability to perform a role with durability has already been demonstrated.

With his proclivity to draft skinny flankers with the intention of them playing other roles or key position players requiring massive growth; he has not been attentive enough to probability mitigation in regards to individual risk and positional balance.