foj1
Cancelled
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2005
- Posts
- 4,325
- Reaction score
- 3,188
- AFL Club
- Essendon
- Other Teams
- essendon
I have been barracking for the bombers for over 25 years.
We are lower than we have ever been.
What concerns me most of all is I do not see a plan for us to rise back to the top.
I do not have a great deal of faith with mr little, Campbell, dodoro, Craig and the other leaders at the club at present.
I think we need a complete overhaul.
An overhaul is not about spending money but becoming the most strategic football club in the AFL.
We need to accept two basic premises.
1. We are at the lowest point of the clubs history
2. We do not have a god given right to be at the top of the AFL. The days of the "big four" are gone.
Coaching and communication
We need to get a coach who can build relationships with players and has had a strong grounding on how afl has developed over the last three years. I believe we can cope with someone who can grow with the club but the candidate must be strong, resilient and experienced team success.
The two obvious candidates for me are Scott Burns and Stewart Dew
The left field pick is Cameron ling who I believe has the football nous and complete understanding of the modern game.
I believe we need a director of football who will also grow into the role and can mix a strong understanding of football with a well developed understanding of football administration to connect the two departments. I believe Neil blame has completed the role terrifically at Geelong and Collingwood. The clear candidate for this role for mine is Nick Maxwell. Nick would have the respect of the players, is a strong character and understands footy and has been working in admin. He would grow suitably into the role.
Our assistant coaches would be mark Harvey for his experience, hard edge and mentor role for new coach. Matthew Egan who should be defensive coach where I believe he has built a rapport with our back line. Leigh Brown has had a failed stint at Melbourne however he has been very good at Gippsland and I believe he is a much more rounded person and coach this time around.
I believe mark neeld, Paul corrigan and Marty Allison have shown some progress in player development. With the turnover of our list this area will be vital.
The List
We have a decent core to build a competitive side around however we have limited depth and need to inject speed into the side as well as the ability to kick a better score. Which would come with a much better game plan.
We need to accept some basic premises about our list development.
1. We need speed and elite kicking skills
2. We need to find a ruckman
3. We need to find another key position forward
4. We have not had an elite small forward since Darren Bewick
5. We have overestimated and held on to our players for too long in the past.
6. We are not a desirable destination in 2016
Changes
Dustin Fletcher- retired
Jason Winderlich- retired
Paul Chapman- retired
Nick Kommer- delisted
Elliot Kavanagh- delisted
Will Hams- delisted
Courtenay Dempsey- delisted
Tayte Pears- delisted
Jake Melksham- delisted
Adam cooney-delisted
Jake Carlisle- likely gone
I would punt on Browne and Dalgleish to have one more year to make it.
While Gwilt, Giles and OBrien provide a bit of depth with solid bodies.
Rookie
Kurt Aylett- delisted
Ariel Steinberg- delisted
I would retain McKernan, McKenna and long as rookies though long looks unlikely for mine.
There are whispers that baguley, colyer and Stanton may consider options.
Of the delistings Carlisle would secure us a first round draft pick between 6 & 18 and perhaps a young player.
Realistic Targets from other clubs
GWS are a goldmine. I would look to obtain Adam Tomlinson as my main target. Other players of interest would be Plowman, Bugg, Wilson, Sumner and Townsend. Tomlinson and the first three players would play for us every week. Our round two pick may jag Tomlinson if we are lucky. We may be able to secure a bugg or Wilson through trade or psd. Carlton would target GWS as well with Silvagnis intimate knowledge of the list.
Daniel Currie- north Melbourne
The best ruck an in the afl besides Lycett who does not get a regular game with his club. I believe we are better off targeting a currie over a free a gent such as leuenberger or kruezer as they would both cost a lot of money, take away salary cap flexibility and quite frankly probably wouldn't come to our side anyway.
Liam McBean- Richmond
Liam is contracted however he is not getting regular games and is very close to Joe Daniher and Marty Allison. Liam is still a couple of years away from having an afl rig but we have time. He is an immediate upgrade on ambrose as a tall high forward.
Nathan hrovat- bulldogs
Quality player who can't get a game in a stacked bulldogs midfield. Would play every week with us. I do not know Nathan's contract status however I do know players like to play in the seniors and contracts mean less than they ever did.
The Draft
I think we drafted well last year. It is difficult to argue with Langford, Laverde and McKernan in the rookie draft. We hopefully have two first rounders if Carlisle leaves and like paddy asks to be traded. We have holes everywhere in our list however I would hope we just get the best player available. I would like us to get Aaron Francis with our first pick. He is the best footballer in the draft in my opinion and a kid who can play forward, back and in small stints in the middle. If Aaron is gone I would think Darcy parish is a safe bet. Darcy reminds me of Tom Scully at Tac level. He has speed, accumulates the footy and can also win it. I love the way Darcy uses the footy.
If Carlisle leaves it old be terrific to secure Sam Weideman. My mail is Essendon haven't ruled him out at four and love his kamikaze attack on the ball. He is the closest I have seen to the brown dog running atound the tac.
With our other picks we just need to get the best available. I hope we focus on speed, kicking and some X factor. Take away Shaun Edwards and we are a boring predictable side. Some of my favourite X factors running around are Shane yarren, Daniel rioli, yestin eades and Blake hardwick. There is one or two I may be keeping quiet for the phantom draft!
2017
By the end of 2016 wada is hopefully a memory, we have a rejuvenated list, a stable young coach and panel and one of the best training facilities in the afl. We are playing exciting footy and bombers supporters are loud and proud once more. The hunted become the hunters.
Tom lynch, jaeger omeara and Jonathan Patton become our targets. We should be in a position to go really hard at a marquee talent. Lynch would be my first choice and he would immediately assume a leadership position at the club and take over the number 5 guernsey.
This is my blueprint. I am sure there is a lot that people would disagree with. I am interested in reading other people's ideas. It has been cathartic to have the imaginary control of the footy club I love.
We are lower than we have ever been.
What concerns me most of all is I do not see a plan for us to rise back to the top.
I do not have a great deal of faith with mr little, Campbell, dodoro, Craig and the other leaders at the club at present.
I think we need a complete overhaul.
An overhaul is not about spending money but becoming the most strategic football club in the AFL.
We need to accept two basic premises.
1. We are at the lowest point of the clubs history
2. We do not have a god given right to be at the top of the AFL. The days of the "big four" are gone.
Coaching and communication
We need to get a coach who can build relationships with players and has had a strong grounding on how afl has developed over the last three years. I believe we can cope with someone who can grow with the club but the candidate must be strong, resilient and experienced team success.
The two obvious candidates for me are Scott Burns and Stewart Dew
The left field pick is Cameron ling who I believe has the football nous and complete understanding of the modern game.
I believe we need a director of football who will also grow into the role and can mix a strong understanding of football with a well developed understanding of football administration to connect the two departments. I believe Neil blame has completed the role terrifically at Geelong and Collingwood. The clear candidate for this role for mine is Nick Maxwell. Nick would have the respect of the players, is a strong character and understands footy and has been working in admin. He would grow suitably into the role.
Our assistant coaches would be mark Harvey for his experience, hard edge and mentor role for new coach. Matthew Egan who should be defensive coach where I believe he has built a rapport with our back line. Leigh Brown has had a failed stint at Melbourne however he has been very good at Gippsland and I believe he is a much more rounded person and coach this time around.
I believe mark neeld, Paul corrigan and Marty Allison have shown some progress in player development. With the turnover of our list this area will be vital.
The List
We have a decent core to build a competitive side around however we have limited depth and need to inject speed into the side as well as the ability to kick a better score. Which would come with a much better game plan.
We need to accept some basic premises about our list development.
1. We need speed and elite kicking skills
2. We need to find a ruckman
3. We need to find another key position forward
4. We have not had an elite small forward since Darren Bewick
5. We have overestimated and held on to our players for too long in the past.
6. We are not a desirable destination in 2016
Changes
Dustin Fletcher- retired
Jason Winderlich- retired
Paul Chapman- retired
Nick Kommer- delisted
Elliot Kavanagh- delisted
Will Hams- delisted
Courtenay Dempsey- delisted
Tayte Pears- delisted
Jake Melksham- delisted
Adam cooney-delisted
Jake Carlisle- likely gone
I would punt on Browne and Dalgleish to have one more year to make it.
While Gwilt, Giles and OBrien provide a bit of depth with solid bodies.
Rookie
Kurt Aylett- delisted
Ariel Steinberg- delisted
I would retain McKernan, McKenna and long as rookies though long looks unlikely for mine.
There are whispers that baguley, colyer and Stanton may consider options.
Of the delistings Carlisle would secure us a first round draft pick between 6 & 18 and perhaps a young player.
Realistic Targets from other clubs
GWS are a goldmine. I would look to obtain Adam Tomlinson as my main target. Other players of interest would be Plowman, Bugg, Wilson, Sumner and Townsend. Tomlinson and the first three players would play for us every week. Our round two pick may jag Tomlinson if we are lucky. We may be able to secure a bugg or Wilson through trade or psd. Carlton would target GWS as well with Silvagnis intimate knowledge of the list.
Daniel Currie- north Melbourne
The best ruck an in the afl besides Lycett who does not get a regular game with his club. I believe we are better off targeting a currie over a free a gent such as leuenberger or kruezer as they would both cost a lot of money, take away salary cap flexibility and quite frankly probably wouldn't come to our side anyway.
Liam McBean- Richmond
Liam is contracted however he is not getting regular games and is very close to Joe Daniher and Marty Allison. Liam is still a couple of years away from having an afl rig but we have time. He is an immediate upgrade on ambrose as a tall high forward.
Nathan hrovat- bulldogs
Quality player who can't get a game in a stacked bulldogs midfield. Would play every week with us. I do not know Nathan's contract status however I do know players like to play in the seniors and contracts mean less than they ever did.
The Draft
I think we drafted well last year. It is difficult to argue with Langford, Laverde and McKernan in the rookie draft. We hopefully have two first rounders if Carlisle leaves and like paddy asks to be traded. We have holes everywhere in our list however I would hope we just get the best player available. I would like us to get Aaron Francis with our first pick. He is the best footballer in the draft in my opinion and a kid who can play forward, back and in small stints in the middle. If Aaron is gone I would think Darcy parish is a safe bet. Darcy reminds me of Tom Scully at Tac level. He has speed, accumulates the footy and can also win it. I love the way Darcy uses the footy.
If Carlisle leaves it old be terrific to secure Sam Weideman. My mail is Essendon haven't ruled him out at four and love his kamikaze attack on the ball. He is the closest I have seen to the brown dog running atound the tac.
With our other picks we just need to get the best available. I hope we focus on speed, kicking and some X factor. Take away Shaun Edwards and we are a boring predictable side. Some of my favourite X factors running around are Shane yarren, Daniel rioli, yestin eades and Blake hardwick. There is one or two I may be keeping quiet for the phantom draft!
2017
By the end of 2016 wada is hopefully a memory, we have a rejuvenated list, a stable young coach and panel and one of the best training facilities in the afl. We are playing exciting footy and bombers supporters are loud and proud once more. The hunted become the hunters.
Tom lynch, jaeger omeara and Jonathan Patton become our targets. We should be in a position to go really hard at a marquee talent. Lynch would be my first choice and he would immediately assume a leadership position at the club and take over the number 5 guernsey.
This is my blueprint. I am sure there is a lot that people would disagree with. I am interested in reading other people's ideas. It has been cathartic to have the imaginary control of the footy club I love.
