Strategy Aggressive reset

[Le Grille]

Could Richmond afford to keep him?

Do Richmond hate us?

 

[tenderwarrior]

McDonald will get there first, but yeah.

McDonald I thought came on really well this year, really showed his potential. Future Captain?

 

[Lance Uppercut]

What is Zach Merretts contract status, surely would be getting well underpaid at the dons. Would throw a heap at him

signed a 5 year contract just last year, until the end of 2021 and the least likely player to leave Essendon of all time, alongside his best mate Joe Daniher

 

[Elroo]

signed a 5 year contract just last year, until the end of 2021 and the least likely player to leave Essendon of all time, alongside his best mate Joe Daniher

But whats the drive time from Elwood to Arden Street like??

 

[KiwiRoo]

You would really move Swallow and Gibson on when our midfield is so skinny as it is?

Totally agree. They're good pros who can teach the young ones plenty
Never been a fan of totally cleansing the list. Need some senior players to take the burden and ease the younger players into the AFL life

 

[Grogg]

McDonald I thought came on really well this year, really showed his potential. Future Captain?

Without a shadow of a doubt.

Needs to be part of the starting mid rotation next year, then we should really see him come into his own as a footballer.

 

[shintemaster]

McDonald I thought came on really well this year, really showed his potential. Future Captain?

Most obvious one, yes.

I said a couple of years ago he'd be a slow burn and that's the way it's gone. He's now starting to look extremely strong in the contest and can push forward and kick goals. Played mid wing a bit this year until injuries took their toll on our backline. I see him as a genuine mid / utility type floating between HF/HB with middle stints. Very hard to tackle now and can roost 55m+ with ease. Tough as nails.

 

[Passmore]

signed a 5 year contract just last year, until the end of 2021 and the least likely player to leave Essendon of all time, alongside his best mate Joe Daniher

The big question is he one of Josh Kelly's 69 best mates?

 

[XU1-ROO]

I agree with you that neither of these guys should be given away, and also think they both have good footy left in them. However given their age profile and their position on the fringes of the 22, if an option came up where we could potentially upgrade our picks then I wouldn't be against trading either of them. For example if we could trade Spitta to Gold Coast- who desperately need a player of his calibre both on and off field- and in the process our pick 4 moves to pick 2, that would be a clear win win. Same goes for Goldy, of course we don't just give him away, but if we could upgrade our 2nd to a mid 1st pick and thus have access to the likes of Lochie O'Brien who perfectly fits our needs, then given Preuss' emergence id be strongly in favour of doing the deal. I love and appreciate all that those players have done for the club, but at the same time if a trade could help us get in more elite talent then I don't think any of these guys are untouchable.

Basically that's it. Use players to trade up picks, and target certain players in the draft. Upgrade our 1st pick to get Kelly. And upgrade 2nd pick for O'Brien. His kicking skills are elite. Will be a classy player like NDal.

 

[Kimbo]

This is part of the reason I am annoyed we re-signed Brad... Facts are for a myriad of reasons our last year and a half has been very poor, hardly cause for re-signing.

So, we shouldn't have (of) re-signed him because of the myriad of reasons that, presumably, don't include him?!

 

[kool kangas]

So who is left that we can go after NOW!!!!! ...

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Anthony Miles is worth a look as a cheap pick up.

Him and balic, handy depth.

As for Kelly, front end the deal to blow the rest of the comp out of the water.

 

[Le Grille]

So, we shouldn't have (of) resigned him because of the myriad of reasons that, presumably, don't include him?!

What I am saying that we have been poor for a year and a half for many reasons so there wasn't enough evidence to make a definitive call, but to re sign or sack him was premature he should have been judged on the final season of the contract.

 

[Saintly_]

We have enough senior players on the list to move on Swallow, Gibson and LT and not worry about not enough "support for the kids".

If we can get draft picks for LT/Swallow even better, otherwise delist/payout as they are just taking up list spots - harsh yes, but that's where we are at.

Who's to say we don't pick up another Brown with a latish pick, or a Zurhaar who's been very impressive for a rookie pick? With our list profile I'd much rather a Zurhaar than a Gibson, even acknowledging his quality service to the club.

Thommo gets another year due to form and KPP injury concerns, Waite another year to help the KPP in playing/coaching role (plus he's still a gun and very influential at his best).

Goldstein, Ziebell, Cunnington, Higgins, Tarrant, Macmillan, McDonald, Atley, Mullett, Brown, Thompson, Waite, Jacobs, Wright have been around long enough to support the very young players.

Bring Kelly in if we can, maybe Hopper also, and put the focus on the draft for this year and next.

Need as many picks as possible, I would also be happy if we traded up some of the ^ in surplus list areas (especially flankers) to get more picks.

 

[Kimbo]

What I am saying that we have been poor for a year and a half for many reasons so there wasn't enough evidence to make a definitive call, but to re sign or sack him was premature he should have been judged on the final season of the contract.

"we have been poor" is an interpretation. "We have won fewer games than previously" is the fact. Not everyone comes to the same interpretation of those facts. In my case, I make considerable allowance for our horrendous injury run and the significant lack of on-field experience.

Given the club itself wasn't worried about W/L this year and clearly prioritised other issues (development, stability, player support, personnel management etc), and have past history to go by too with winningness, I'd suggest they thought there was plenty of evidence. The arguments have been made time and time again.

Leaving it until next year wouldn't necessarily have given us any more reasons or evidence than we currently have if we're in a rebuild mode and, in fact, have had the downside of instability with the inevitable media scrutiny.

 

[Shinboner roo]

When richmond go out in straight sets and implode, then turn on each other dustin martin might be worth a look. Would get him cheaper now too.

 

[sbdan]

I'm seeing these (player name) to North threads. We got to stop panicking.

Even if just one or two of our young develop into the mid field and then we are looking promising again.

 

[Le Grille]

"we have been poor" is an interpretation. "We have won fewer games than previously" is the fact. Not everyone comes to the same interpretation of those facts. In my case, I make considerable allowance for our horrendous injury run and the significant lack of on-field experience.

Given the club itself wasn't worried about W/L this year and clearly prioritised other issues (development, stability, player support, personnel management etc), and have past history to go by too with winningness, I'd suggest they thought there was plenty of evidence. The arguments have been made time and time again.

Leaving it until next year wouldn't necessarily have given us any more reasons or evidence than we currently have if we're in a rebuild mode and, in fact, have had the downside of stability with the inevitable media scrutiny.

I disagree to a point, we had injuries, jettisoned a lot of experience. However at the same time, the club has been unable to address the "easy fixes" even with a more favourable injury list we couldn't stop run ons and continually gave up leads. Just like a player in the last year the contract is addressed in many cases at the end, then the whole body of work is considered. In my opinion the club should have reserved the right to assess at some point next season.

 

[archereleven]

Him and balic, handy depth.

As for Kelly, front end the deal to blow the rest of the comp out of the water.

FMD, we are in deeper shit than first thought of we are chasing spuds like them. What a fall from grace lol

 

[Snake_Baker]

Him and balic, handy depth.

As for Kelly, front end the deal to blow the rest of the comp out of the water.

There. Is. No. Bidding. Process. For. Kelly.

I repeat.


There. Is. No. Bidding. Process. For. Kelly.

 

[Saintly_]

FMD, we are in deeper shit than first thought of we are chasing spuds like them. lol

Just don't trade with Hawthorn under any circumstances and hopefully we'll be ok

 

[Brufen]

You would really move Swallow and Gibson on when our midfield is so skinny as it is?

I say keep Swallow for the balance of his contract, but Gibson can hang them up. Swallow was really solid post Werribee games.
Let's be honest, Gibbo has been a tremendous servant of the club (and whipping boy), but he is only in the side because of his running prowess...that's it.
I've been told by an NMFC coach that he is picked week in week out purely because he is an advantage to the midfield rotations, because he doesn't need them... Assuming Wagner is on the list next year he needs to get and own Gibbo's spot. Wagner has a massive tank (yes. tank!) and could easily take that role.

Whilst on Wagner...Some people on other boards are questioning his spot on the list and calling for him to be traded...What more do you want from him...?
He only got games in the seniors last year because of team injuries (as a first year player) and again this year because of injury.
If those team injuries hadn't have happened, this bloke would have played 40 VFL games so far and would have shown enough from that form alone to deserve a contract extension...

Stays all day long!!

 

[CarnTheKANGAS]

If we finished last next year, would that mean we get pick 1 and then would be able to use next pick (19 roughly) on T.Thomas?

 

[Snake_Baker]

I say keep Swallow for the balance of his contract, but Gibson can hang them up. Swallow was really solid post Werribee games.
Let's be honest, Gibbo has been a tremendous servant of the club (and whipping boy), but he is only in the side because of his running prowess...that's it.
I've been told by an NMFC coach that he is picked week in week out purely because he is an advantage to the midfield rotations, because he doesn't need them... Assuming Wagner is on the list next year he needs to get and own Gibbo's spot. Wagner has a massive tank (yes. tank!) and could easily take that role.

Whilst on Wagner...Some people on other boards are questioning his spot on the list and calling for him to be traded...What more do you want from him...?
He only got games in the seniors last year because of team injuries (as a first year player) and again this year because of injury.
If those team injuries hadn't have happened, this bloke would have played 40 VFL games so far and would have shown enough from that form alone to deserve a contract extension...

Stays all day long!!

I can come to terms with Gibbos delisting if we land Kelly. I think JK will effectively play his role.

 

[Snake_Baker]

If we finished last next year, would that mean we get pick 1 and then would be able to use next pick (19 roughly) on T.Thomas?

Who knows what will happen between now and then. 2018's draft will take care of itself.