Club Focus Essendon 2023

[Lore]

Data from footywire. To check the draft order see the thread here.

Footywire says: "While we make every effort to keep up to date with player contracts, it is likely that our data may at times be out of date, incomplete or inaccurate. If you find any player contracts that need updating, please let us know using our brand new contract submission form."

 

[Red Bull]

Think about your workplace, if a bunch of managers 5 levels up are having a spat, does it impact you even slightly?

Let’s say you are the manager of Ben McKay or Tom De Koning for example.

Someone from the dons reach out to you about the possibility of your player coming on board.

In light of the seemingly endless unrest at the club, would you be guiding your player in that direction or fielding interest from other more stable prosperous clubs.

Perhaps this was even the case as recently as Bowes/pick 7 …

 

[eth-dog]

Let’s say you are the manager of Ben McKay or Tom De Koning for example.

Someone from the dons reach out to you about the possibility of your player coming on board.

In light of the seemingly endless unrest at the club, would you be guiding your player in that direction or fielding interest from other more stable prosperous clubs.

Perhaps this was even the case as recently as Bowes/pick 7 …

Why would we try to lure Tom De Koning over? Draper is only 1 year older and shitloads better.

 

[eth-dog]

Substitute any potential recruit if it makes you feel better
You did lure Kelly over so anything is possible i guess …

Yes, because every recruit ever has to be a sexy superstar.

Kelly is an AFL standard defender who can play on mediums and smalls to good effect. I mean, you currently have Lachie Plowman just outside your 22...

 

[pushintheback]

Not exactly the correct thread for this question. But why is Ben Hobbs still unsigned?

 

[Vindicater]

Not exactly the correct thread for this question. But why is Ben Hobbs still unsigned?

Is a pattern with Dodo.

Often does not sign younger players until late in the season.

 

[noobermensch]

Not exactly the correct thread for this question. But why is Ben Hobbs still unsigned?

This is common for us, this time last year we still had the trio of Perkins, Cox and Reid unsigned.

 

[pushintheback]

This is common for us, this time last year we still had the trio of Perkins, Cox and Reid unsigned.

Cool was asking for a friend as Horsham is halfway to Adelaide

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Hobbs wants to stay his manager and Essendon are working on a 2 year contract extension

 

[citizen-erased]

Cool was asking for a friend as Horsham is halfway to Adelaide

1/3 the way
I think nhill is halfway.

 

[Ants]

On the signing front, Redman, Parish, Bryan and Menzie are priorities. Let's get them done.

Jones and Zerk are also important.

 

[Ants]

On a broader front, Essendon are in an interesting place with list spots. As in, they're looking tight. If we keep everyone we want to keep, and ignoring Cat B players (McBride will go, Munkara will stay), then we currently need to delist or promote Baldwin, take 3 (or 2 if Baldwin is promoted) national draft picks, and assuming we keep him find a list spot for Hunter. Meanwhile, our most obvious delisting/retirement options are:

1. Lord. He's goneski.
2. Stewart. Contracted, but you would think a monty to be delisted and rookied as a minimum. Can only do that if a rookie is delisted though, so good odds he "retires" or is delisted. We've also got LOTS of talls.
3. Walla: struggling to get back, may choose to retire.
4. Heppell: rumours say he intends to coach next year. That said, solidly in the best 22.
5. Montgomerie (rookie): some good VFL reports, but when you're a mature pickup and not playing seniors you have to be put in the 'at risk' list.
6. Tex (rookie): similar situation to Montgomerie, but the extra protection of being contracted.
7. Voss (rookie): performed very well last year and early in the season in the VFL, but no senior games. Has to be put in the 'at risk' list.
8. Baldwin (rookie): performed well last two years in the VFL and did solid-to-well as a back in the AFL when he got a go due to injuries this year. Is very unlucky to be put on the 'at risk' list.
9. Phillips: listed due to age, but given you need 3 rucks on the list and he's getting senior games unlikely to go.

So of those, only one is clear cut and several of the most at-risk are actually contracted. I'm assuming nobody who is younger than 30 and regularly getting AFL games is at risk (e.g. Hind, Kelly, Snelling, Shiel). Although there could always be a sneaky trade/leaver, or we fail to retain someone we do want.

Which, if we're making a spot for Hunter, maybe a FA/traded player, suddenly means some tough calls are going to have to be made.

 

[Vindicater]

Looking more likely both Parish and Redman stay now.

Rumours we are big into Bergman.

List spots will be tight though so I expect some unhappy fans when delistings occur.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Looking more likely both Parish and Redman stay now.

Rumours we are big into Bergman.

List spots will be tight though so I expect some unhappy fans when delistings occur.

Rumours say Bergman is St Kilda bound is from around there.

 

[Ants]

I'd be targeting Dylan Williams if Bergman is off the table. Given he'd only cost salary cap, arguably better to get him and keep our first than target Bergman either.

I agree with Vindicater there may be some shocks with delistings/trades. I don't think Voss is safe.

And frankly, I'm surprised that nobody is targeting Baldwin. Given we'd get a future third at most, he'd probably be open to offers given where he is in the pecking order, and he could be a 10 year tall, if I was someone like North he'd be a big priority.

 

[Ambrosia]

I'd be targeting Dylan Williams if Bergman is off the table. Given he'd only cost salary cap, arguably better to get him and keep our first than target Bergman either.

I agree with Vindicater there may be some shocks with delistings/trades. I don't think Voss is safe.

And frankly, I'm surprised that nobody is targeting Baldwin. Given we'd get a future third at most, he'd probably be open to offers given where he is in the pecking order, and he could be a 10 year tall, if I was someone like North he'd be a big priority.

Really hoping Baldwin pushes Laverde out of the side in the back half of the year

 

[Yoda_]

I'd be targeting Dylan Williams if Bergman is off the table. Given he'd only cost salary cap, arguably better to get him and keep our first than target Bergman either.

I agree with Vindicater there may be some shocks with delistings/trades. I don't think Voss is safe.

And frankly, I'm surprised that nobody is targeting Baldwin. Given we'd get a future third at most, he'd probably be open to offers given where he is in the pecking order, and he could be a 10 year tall, if I was someone like North he'd be a big priority.

I think he is one along with Mass who we like because they have talent but if we are to be changing as a football club, these tough(er) decisions need to be made.

 

[King Patty]

Is Mass any closer to a new contract, or is there a chance another club might swoop in and get him like Collingwood?

 

[Lore]

Is Mass any closer to a new contract, or is there a chance another club might swoop in and get him like Collingwood?

I don't think so. He's still fairly raw and his traits aren't particularly rare, so it's unlikely anyone would be coming knocking with anything other than another rookie spot to offer. Poaching rookies is unusual, Josh Jenkins was the last time we lost one, which is almost 12 years ago.

 

[Keystone agony]

Is Mass any closer to a new contract, or is there a chance another club might swoop in and get him like Collingwood?

Seems to be alot of smoke around him

Article recently said club has had to leave him in the lurch in regards to a contract, due to such tight list spots

I feel he may be at another club and id bet that way right now

 

[Ants]

Really hoping Baldwin pushes Laverde out of the side in the back half of the year

I don’t think that’s Scott’s style while Lav is performing.

I think he is one along with Mass who we like because they have talent but if we are to be changing as a football club, these tough(er) decisions need to be made.

Um, what? We play 4 medium/small defenders. McGrath, Kelly, Redman and Heppell. Hind and Mass are next in line. It is Mass’s second season and three of those ahead of him are old or getting on. Delisting him would make no sense whatsoever. Lord and Montgomerie are the small/medium backs at risk.

 

[Ambrosia]

I don't think so. He's still fairly raw and his traits aren't particularly rare, so it's unlikely anyone would be coming knocking with anything other than another rookie spot to offer. Poaching rookies is unusual, Josh Jenkins was the last time we lost one, which is almost 12 years ago.

It seems crazy not to sign him up with a basic 2 year extension.

I know list spots look tight but Mass has shown plenty of ability in multiple positions.

 

[Lore]

It seems crazy not to sign him up with a basic 2 year extension.

I know list spots look tight but Mass has shown plenty of ability in multiple positions.

I think we just have other priorities atm. We never sign our players this early, usually the important ones like free agents and first round draft picks that are coming out of contract don't even get their contracts done until June/July most of the time. And then work down the list from there seeing what you've got, what you need, what you can get, and how much room/money there is.

 

[Keystone agony]

It seems crazy not to sign him up with a basic 2 year extension.

I know list spots look tight but Mass has shown plenty of ability in multiple positions.

Menzie is the one that should be signed up

Plenty of clubs in the AFL would be happy to offer him 2 years, maybe even some with 3

Baldwin also maybe more of a priority with what hes doing in the VFL

Clubs want flexibility just in case they can land certain players in trade ect

 

[Yoda_]

I don’t think that’s Scott’s style while Lav is performing.

Um, what? We play 4 medium/small defenders. McGrath, Kelly, Redman and Heppell. Hind and Mass are next in line. It is Mass’s second season and three of those ahead of him are old or getting on. Delisting him would make no sense whatsoever. Lord and Montgomerie are the small/medium backs at risk.

Mass is playing forward at the moment unless im mistaken

 

[eth-dog]

The trading part is interesting for us now. If Parish and Redman sign on it's a very easy way of looking at it, just sign McKay. However, if one leaves I suspect we try to trade for him with North instead so we don't lose our first round compensation.

If that were the case, why not trade for Barrass? Is a better, more proven player who is also less injury prone.