Club Mgmt. Board of Directors as led by President Andrew Wealshy - Ted Richards joins the board

[cobra land]

yeah but regardless of that, Solomon sending around an email saying ""get behind him!" is still, ultimately, pretty embarrassing. i don't know how anyone can feel pride about Solomon doing that....except for other ex-players.

I didn't feel that that was the message that Solomon was trying to get across, I took it as he's trying to unite the club and not just because it's one of his mates.

It's the same as on here, we have posters that want the old Essendon and others who want nothing to do with them, it doesn't mean that they can't find common ground and just back the club that we all want to be better than where we are today.

I took his message as whether your old Essendon or new Essendon we are still Essendon so let's get behind him and get us back to being a force again?

 

[crackers65]

There’s past players and there’s coteries and they’re a lot of people collectively. It’s a tough ask to get them all on the same page

But they need to be on the same page. If not we will have the same ole essington for the next twenty years. Seems that Welsh and Solomon realise this and will try to make it happen. FFS we all barrack for Essendon and anyone who doesn’t want to should turn into a turd and support Hawthorn.

 

[thepokey]

Maybe I've been a bit of ignorant to it but until recently I don't really recall much of a fuss being made about what relationship past players have with the club? Or that it really had much bearing? All seems a bit of a kneejerk reaction to the recent angry Barham thing. Also seems like one of the least important things to be galvanised about... Like, hell yeah Joe Footballman from the 60s is on board now, we cannot be stopped!

Like, it's nice that it's something positive about Essendon in the news. Maybe that's just its purpose though, a little feel good thing?

 

[Lore]

Maybe I've been a bit of ignorant to it but until recently I don't really recall much of a fuss being made about what relationship past players have with the club? Or that it really had much bearing? All seems a bit of a kneejerk reaction to the recent angry Barham thing. Also seems like one of the least important things to be galvanised about... Like, hell yeah Joe Footballman from the 60s is on board now, we cannot be stopped!

Like, it's nice that it's something positive about Essendon in the news. Maybe that's just its purpose though, a little feel good thing?

When coteries want to do a board spill they usually get a club hero on their side to help them get the votes

 

[thepokey]

When coteries want to do a board spill they usually get a club hero on their side to help them get the votes

I still think that would happen regardless of any of this.

I guess I just get wary of the big "one of us!" circle-jerk stuff because it makes me feel like we are going super insular again and that's not really worked out well for us in the past

 

[thepokey]

I'm probably just being cynical though, but I just found it hard to be excited by this news everyone is fist pumping about

 

[Dave]

I still think that would happen regardless of any of this.

I guess I just get wary of the big "one of us!" circle-jerk stuff because it makes me feel like we are going super insular again and that's not really worked out well for us in the past

I didn’t take as we are going super insular, more that if you are an Essendon person enough of the in fighting. You only have to look at the two fitness people they’ve brought in from outside the club to see it’s not Essendon people only.

 

[Dave]

I'm probably just being cynical though, but I just found it hard to be excited by this news everyone is fist pumping about

I hear you. I find it hard to get excited about anything right now

 

[thepokey]

I didn’t take as we are going super insular, more that if you are an Essendon person enough of the in fighting. You only have to look at the two fitness people they’ve brought in from outside the club to see it’s not Essendon people only.

That's not really a role you can go too insular with though anyways.

Like, it's probably not that, it just has the vibe of it given our past tendencies.

 

[cobra land]

I hear you. I find it hard to get excited about anything right now

I'm sure a lot of us feel the same way but we will enjoy the good times more when they eventually come...

Also, you know things are bleak when the only thing to be excited about is when we win the toss

 

[srobbo]

To be fair, Pies could have nearly coached themselves. They already had strong culture and leaders and fairly injury free.

No comparison to us.

To be fair, Pies could have nearly coached themselves. They already had strong culture and leaders and fairly injury free.

No comparison to us.

Lets just forget about collingwood 3 successive finals appearances and 1 goal from a flag the 3 years before

Its almost like they picked up a guy called Nick Daicos end of 2021

Collingwood where a side that had played in a GF in 2018 and had won a final in 2019. Dumb comparison.
They where not trying to rebuild a list at a club that has had 20 years of soft culture with no finals wins.
You really think anyone could have swept us into the top 6 ? If you do then you belong in the delusional thread.
It is not about a pass mark. This year was simply killed by injury. That is a fact. The list is average. That is not on the coach.

I’m well aware of the Pies recent history prior to McCrae’s tenure but he changed a number of non football issues within the player group that Brad could have easily & should’ve made an impact by now.

He built a strong connection on core values, respect & accountability which had definitely fallen away under Buckley & has largely been absent within our club for along time. These are traits that set a platform for learning & setting good habits, not an environment where blokes want to walk out of the club.

Fly has had a knack for empowering his players because he’s a bloody good communicator & his players trust in him which Brad wasn’t at North & still isn’t at Essendon. These are non tangibles that a coach has to create within a group & Brad hasn’t done that. Simple.

It’s got nothing to do with me wanting Hird back bc I don’t, nor has it anything to do with expecting anyone to sweep us into contention straight away, but if you can’t get the fundamentals of team unity right, or make an impact in that area you’re ultimately setting yourself up for failure.

 

[windyhill]

Also, you know things are bleak when the only thing to be excited about is when we win the toss

That's my top up line !
To be fair to the top boys, those two wins remain some of my all time favourites.

 

[bomberlegend2007]

The use of that 8 year quote is so dumb, people should be ashamed to misuse it so badly

He said it’s great to have a group who can play together for the next 8 years

It was used purely used to shit on Scott. It was frustrating reading this forum during that time.

 

[ant555]

It’s got nothing to do with me wanting Hird back bc I don’t, nor has it anything to do with expecting anyone to sweep us into contention straight away, but if you can’t get the fundamentals of team unity right, or make an impact in that area you’re ultimately setting yourself up for failure.

How is there an issue with team unity related to Scott ?
Zach never blamed the coach. He just want to win and do it now. How he went about it was a circus but that is hardly on the coach.
Ridley was looking for a fresh start injury wise.
Draper left because we had a limit on how much we would offer and also the injury issue.
The Parish and Langford issues where with the fitness department.
This year was a dogs breakfast because we kept getting injuries week on week. Early in the season the form was not to bad. Not top 6 stuff but good enough to go with the Hawks and Pies for at least 3/4.
You keep mentioning Collingwood but McRae was not there to turn the list over. Scott has been.
I doubt he is our next premiership coach but they are rebuilding the list and they had to make a slight adjustment as initially they thought they where building an 11/12 win side to take the next step up but we actually needed a bit more of a build as players like Cox and Perkins etc did not come on further despite the increased spend in development programs.
Is Clarkson a shit coach ? In the same time he has struggled to get North going.
I think you are stuck in the unrealistic expectations world and still think the list is better than it is.
They could sack Scott next year but it will not change the fact the list needed more work than first thought and the football program was pretty poor which Scott has changed. As someone who manages to see a reasonable amount of training during the year I can say the level has improved under Scott and improved a lot. Runs a bit more like a boot camp now and not a country pre season run which is how we looked at times.

 

[ant555]

It was used purely used to shit on Scott. It was frustrating reading this forum during that time.

You are right. In saying that some of the core players they where expecting to be the driving the team for 8 years have not exactly lived up to expectations.

 

[Keystone agony]

I’m well aware of the Pies recent history prior to McCrae’s tenure but he changed a number of non football issues within the player group that Brad could have easily & should’ve made an impact by now.

He built a strong connection on core values, respect & accountability which had definitely fallen away under Buckley & has largely been absent within our club for along time. These are traits that set a platform for learning & setting good habits, not an environment where blokes want to walk out of the club.

Fly has had a knack for empowering his players because he’s a bloody good communicator & his players trust in him which Brad wasn’t at North & still isn’t at Essendon. These are non tangibles that a coach has to create within a group & Brad hasn’t done that. Simple.

It’s got nothing to do with me wanting Hird back bc I don’t, nor has it anything to do with expecting anyone to sweep us into contention straight away, but if you can’t get the fundamentals of team unity right, or make an impact in that area you’re ultimately setting yourself up for failure.

I really dont think Brad would be doing much different to his twin at geelong

The only thing is there age group/experience compared to ours, he may not leave as much to them compared to what geelong do, because they dont have that experience

But as to what Chris did when they were younger, i dont think he would venture from a proven hymn book

 

[fishardansin]

I hear you. I find it hard to get excited about anything right now

Let me help you old fella:

 

[Mr Bultitude]

I still think that would happen regardless of any of this.

I guess I just get wary of the big "one of us!" circle-jerk stuff because it makes me feel like we are going super insular again and that's not really worked out well for us in the past

I think there’s a difference between insular and unity, hoping for the latter.

 

[fishardansin]

How do you show a semblance of game plan when half the team is sitting in the stands ?

Talk about unrealistic expectations.

Actually, I'd say the opposite. If you have younger players from the VFL program stepping up and following a similar game plan it means it is two ticks for the coach. The plan works, and he's capable of teaching it across the club. This would mean that there is buy-in so players have had a part in tweaking it.

When I look at Hawthorn, for example, I am not wowed by their list. They have built from the bottom of the ladder with little trade capital and mid-strength draft capital. Their trade targets have been Impey, Amos, Massimo, Chol, Barrass, Ginivan and Battle. Hardly world beaters. At the start of last year, I saw them as club in for pain over the next few years. Go back and check posting by most non-Hawthorn fans on big footy, I was not on my own! Their list hasn't had a lot added to it since. What they have got is a consistent run with fitness and players having roles that they fit into and a game plan that everyone seems to understand. They also lift their aggression for the ball/player in finals. As much as Mitchell grinds my gears, you have to acknowledge how much of that is down to him.

Does this team go and win a flag? Who knows. I think talent wise Brisbane, Gold Coast, GWS and Adelaide leave them in the dirt. I don't see them ahead of Freo, and Saints all in and Swans could be equal as well. Geelong and Collingwood should be outperforming them as well, but I don't think that is sustainable because surely their old lists catch up with them eventually. SURELY!!

Like them or loathe them, under Knights, Hird and Thompson, you could see that Essendon was playing to a plan/structure. Since that time under Woosha, Rutten and Scott, you can not see that. Players are unsure and in a game that's results are built on mounting split second decisions and running to exhaustion players make bad decisions and don't have team mates knowing where to direct their exaustive running.

The worst coaching of the lot was Woosha by a country mile. That SHOULD have been self evident 5 weeks into his 2nd season and seen the end of his time at Essendon immediately. I will sum that up in this way. We would start the season TERRIBLY and be out of finals contention 6 or 7 weeks in, then make a remarkable run and finish 10th or 9th. What this actually translated to was: we trained all season to implement his plan and it was garbage. He would throw his hands up and say just play freely and we'd start winning. Yes, our team demonstrated it had the talent to win games of footy purely off the talent with zero system, but the same team looked bottom 4 with his system. His coaching turned the 6th best side into the 16th best side.

I will say that I did see some system to Essendon's play this year before injuries, but not a lot. The fact that we could get opened up so badly when opposition midfield was on top, says there was no defensive structure. While it may be seen by some that throwing players with little system and definition of their roles means they get experience in different parts of the ground, as well as "achieving" a lower ladder finish so there are better draft picks. I have come to realise that exact opposite is true.

Players will not develop. They will lose confidence and start to 2nd guess themselves constantly. They then can start to be selfish as they feel like they're playing for their career. It is also harder to identify the exact players that would improve our system and sell them a defined role that they can slot into with confidence. We can also trade/delist younger players quickly because they try to fit into a certain role and if they can't we move on, but not completely losing their capital by trading them to another club that may have a system that gives them a role they fit.

The system allows players to spend more time of the year in auto-pilot so they sustain their effort and avoid injuries more. The system makes decision making under pressure in finals easier.

Essendon needs a coaching team that builds that one system, and a list management team that selects (and rates salary wise) players that fit that system, and a fitness team that builds the right body type for each player, and knows how to use that system to ensure they are at peak fitness come September so the same game plan can be rolled out, but players have that extra effort to increase pressure, absorb pressure, as well as steady when using the ball and shooting for goal.

Essendon will have brought in many players from 2023 to the end of this year from both end of season and mid season drafts. Essendon has gone hard with the fitness team. With all of these young players and hopefully some professional level availablility, if we don't have a definied system with what will be the core of our list over the next 7+ years by the end of this year, it is time to move Brad Scott on.

However, this time do it with a proper panel of coaching experts, sports scientests, current Essendon players, players from successful programs and then develop a plan with new coaching team that the players have been part of from day one. Build a club, not just a collection of professionals doing their own thing.

**** Carlton, and **** Hawthorne too.

 

[brutus76]

the non blue ones work better for me fishardansin

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I'm probably just being cynical though, but I just found it hard to be excited by this news everyone is fist pumping about

Yep.

Basically the dark forces have got rid of Barham as revenge for ****ing off Sheedy and Dodoro.

Considering the ****ing off of Sheedy and Dodoro is the single biggest achievement by any Essendon person over the past 20 years, it’s pretty depressing.

We’re lucky that Barham did it cleanly and that Welsh was a compromise that stopped an entire board spill.

It’s still pretty shit though. Barham had the nuts to take on the ****heads and he’s been done in as a result. That’s the result of doing the most stupidly obvious positive thing (getting rid of Sheedy and Dodoro)? Urgh.

 

[Phone]

you're not thinking of not getting behind Wooosha are you? Solly won't be happy with you. Lloydy and Hirdy might have a go at you.

 

[thepokey]

Yep.

Basically the dark forces have got rid of Barham as revenge for ****ing off Sheedy and Dodoro.

Considering the ****ing off of Sheedy and Dodoro is the single biggest achievement by any Essendon person over the past 20 years, it’s pretty depressing.

We’re lucky that Barham did it cleanly and that Welsh was a compromise that stopped an entire board spill.

It’s still pretty shit though. Barham had the nuts to take on the ****heads and he’s been done in as a result. That’s the result of doing the most stupidly obvious positive thing (getting rid of Sheedy and Dodoro)? Urgh.

Yeah I really think as much as Barham wasn't particularly smooth, he actually did shit. I hope his legacy is a little like that of Brendan McCartney at the dogs. Maligned by many at the time but in hindsight you realise he put a lot of pieces in place that set up future success

 

[yodellinhank]

Yeah he got shit done, like appointing a CEO and sacking them 7 minutes later. Nobody else has got shit done like that, and nobody else probably will either.

 

[ant555]

Actually, I'd say the opposite. If you have younger players from the VFL program stepping up and following a similar game plan it means it is two ticks for the coach. The plan works, and he's capable of teaching it across the club. This would mean that there is buy-in so players have had a part in tweaking it.

When I look at Hawthorn, for example, I am not wowed by their list. They have built from the bottom of the ladder with little trade capital and mid-strength draft capital. Their trade targets have been Impey, Amos, Massimo, Chol, Barrass, Ginivan and Battle. Hardly world beaters. At the start of last year, I saw them as club in for pain over the next few years. Go back and check posting by most non-Hawthorn fans on big footy, I was not on my own! Their list hasn't had a lot added to it since. What they have got is a consistent run with fitness and players having roles that they fit into and a game plan that everyone seems to understand. They also lift their aggression for the ball/player in finals. As much as Mitchell grinds my gears, you have to acknowledge how much of that is down to him.

Does this team go and win a flag? Who knows. I think talent wise Brisbane, Gold Coast, GWS and Adelaide leave them in the dirt. I don't see them ahead of Freo, and Saints all in and Swans could be equal as well. Geelong and Collingwood should be outperforming them as well, but I don't think that is sustainable because surely their old lists catch up with them eventually. SURELY!!

Like them or loathe them, under Knights, Hird and Thompson, you could see that Essendon was playing to a plan/structure. Since that time under Woosha, Rutten and Scott, you can not see that. Players are unsure and in a game that's results are built on mounting split second decisions and running to exhaustion players make bad decisions and don't have team mates knowing where to direct their exaustive running.

The worst coaching of the lot was Woosha by a country mile. That SHOULD have been self evident 5 weeks into his 2nd season and seen the end of his time at Essendon immediately. I will sum that up in this way. We would start the season TERRIBLY and be out of finals contention 6 or 7 weeks in, then make a remarkable run and finish 10th or 9th. What this actually translated to was: we trained all season to implement his plan and it was garbage. He would throw his hands up and say just play freely and we'd start winning. Yes, our team demonstrated it had the talent to win games of footy purely off the talent with zero system, but the same team looked bottom 4 with his system. His coaching turned the 6th best side into the 16th best side.

I will say that I did see some system to Essendon's play this year before injuries, but not a lot. The fact that we could get opened up so badly when opposition midfield was on top, says there was no defensive structure. While it may be seen by some that throwing players with little system and definition of their roles means they get experience in different parts of the ground, as well as "achieving" a lower ladder finish so there are better draft picks. I have come to realise that exact opposite is true.

Players will not develop. They will lose confidence and start to 2nd guess themselves constantly. They then can start to be selfish as they feel like they're playing for their career. It is also harder to identify the exact players that would improve our system and sell them a defined role that they can slot into with confidence. We can also trade/delist younger players quickly because they try to fit into a certain role and if they can't we move on, but not completely losing their capital by trading them to another club that may have a system that gives them a role they fit.

The system allows players to spend more time of the year in auto-pilot so they sustain their effort and avoid injuries more. The system makes decision making under pressure in finals easier.

Essendon needs a coaching team that builds that one system, and a list management team that selects (and rates salary wise) players that fit that system, and a fitness team that builds the right body type for each player, and knows how to use that system to ensure they are at peak fitness come September so the same game plan can be rolled out, but players have that extra effort to increase pressure, absorb pressure, as well as steady when using the ball and shooting for goal.

Essendon will have brought in many players from 2023 to the end of this year from both end of season and mid season drafts. Essendon has gone hard with the fitness team. With all of these young players and hopefully some professional level availablility, if we don't have a definied system with what will be the core of our list over the next 7+ years by the end of this year, it is time to move Brad Scott on.

However, this time do it with a proper panel of coaching experts, sports scientests, current Essendon players, players from successful programs and then develop a plan with new coaching team that the players have been part of from day one. Build a club, not just a collection of professionals doing their own thing.

** Carlton, and ** Hawthorne too.

Hawthorn had premiership players on their list when they where rebuilding. It is not a similar comparison.
The simple thing is young players make mistakes and that is where the game plan falls down. Throw in 4 guys from mid season that had virtually not trained with us let alone played VFL.