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says: "While we make every effort to keep up to date with player contracts, it is likely that our data may at times be out of date, incomplete or inaccurate.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."

 

[Wild Bill]

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.

Barrass turns 28 shortly, will cost much more than McKay and has played less games than the injury prone McKay in the last 3 years.

 

[eth-dog]

Barrass turns 28 shortly, will cost much more than McKay and has played less games than the injury prone McKay in the last 3 years.

The contract we'd be swallowing for Barrass will take him to 31 at the end of that playing year. The contract we're apparently offering for McKay takes him to 30 at the end of that playing year.

Barrass will be more expensive due to the fact that we'd be trading a first round pick without a later first coming back. He's more expensive because he's a better player.

I'd rather have Barrass for the compensation pick and some steak knives over McKay and Port's first for the compensation pick and some steak knives

 

[Wild Bill]

The contract we'd be swallowing for Barrass will take him to 31 at the end of that playing year. The contract we're apparently offering for McKay takes him to 30 at the end of that playing year.

Barrass will be more expensive due to the fact that we'd be trading a first round pick without a later first coming back. He's more expensive because he's a better player.

I'd rather have Barrass for the compensation pick and some steak knives over McKay and Port's first for the compensation pick and some steak knives

Barrass has been the better player but in 2023 they are very close.

If the rumours are true the Swans are leading the race so you may need to go to a plan B. The good news is there are a few key defenders in the market this year.

 

[eth-dog]

Barrass has been the better player but in 2023 they are very close.

If the rumours are true the Swans are leading the race so you may need to go to a plan B. The good news is there are a few key defenders in the market this year.

My plan B would be McKay.

 

[Ants]

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.

Ignoring that I think they’ll both re-sign, irrespective of McKay we may match. We’d easily get more at the trade table for Parish and quite possibly Redman too.

 

[eth-dog]

Ignoring that I think they’ll both re-sign, irrespective of McKay we may match. We’d easily get more at the trade table for Parish and quite possibly Redman too.

Depends on who's signing them. If they finish ahead of us (Geelong/Adelaide the most likely) I doubt they give us more.

 

[Ants]

Depends on who's signing them. If they finish ahead of us (Geelong/Adelaide the most likely) I doubt they give us more.

For Parish you would push for two firsts with our second back.
On Redman if Adelaide finish above us likely correct, although if really want him should chip in more than a first.

 

[eth-dog]

For Parish you would push for two firsts with our second back.
On Redman if Adelaide finish above us likely correct, although if really want him should chip in more than a first.

I don't think we get either of those.

 

[Ants]

I don't think we get either of those.

That kind of attitude wouldn’t have got a top 10 pick for Saad or a 2nd and 3rd rounders for a broken Raz.

Parish is easily worth the two firsts & second back/decent first & second/single top 8 pick territory. What Prestia, Treloar, Tarranto, Shiel, Kelly, Cerra, Hopper etc all got. If our first pick is around 12, it’s a no-brainer to match.

Redman for #12 is more line-ball, but i doubt we’d hesitate if getting a free-agent in. And then push for Adelaide’s first plus a little extra. Still way cheaper than Saad.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Barrass has been the better player but in 2023 they are very close.

If the rumours are true the Swans are leading the race so you may need to go to a plan B. The good news is there are a few key defenders in the market this year.

if Mckay is our Plan A that is a serious problem.

that guy is massively over rated.

 

[eth-dog]

That kind of attitude wouldn’t have got a top 10 pick for Saad or a 2nd and 3rd rounders for a broken Raz.

Parish is easily worth the two firsts & second back/decent first & second/single top 8 pick territory. What Prestia, Treloar, Tarranto, Shiel, Kelly, Cerra, Hopper etc all got. If our first pick is around 12, it’s a no-brainer to match.

Redman for #12 is more line-ball, but i doubt we’d hesitate if getting a free-agent in. And then push for Adelaide’s first plus a little extra. Still way cheaper than Saad.

Difference being that all those players were OOC, not free agents.

 

[Ants]

Difference being that all those players were OOC, not free agents.

If you match there is no difference.

 

[eth-dog]

If you match there is no difference.

Not really. Carlton, Richmond, Collingwood, us and West Coast all approached those deals knowing that they'd have to give something significant for those players for various reasons. The main one for all of them being that none were free agents.

The only comparable situation for either of these guys is Dangerfield. And in that case, only that case, it was a situation where Geelong's first was higher than that of Band 1. If we finish ahead of Geelong and Parish wants to go there, Geelong will play ball as far as a trade goes. Adelaide have become ruthless at the trade table recently, they won't give up what we want.

When push comes to shove, what suits us more? Trading for McKay soas to keep a late first, or matching the bid and risk getting less?

 

[Ambrosia]

Don’t think our list is in a position to go for a big free agent signing.

Would much rather target fringe types that can plug a lot hole and focus on developing players from the draft.

 

[Lore]

Don’t think our list is in a position to go for a big free agent signing.

Would much rather target fringe types that can plug a lot hole and focus on developing players from the draft.

They've been talking about looking at free agency this year since the CEO was interviewed in the paper way back in the pre-season or something. And given we have a fair bit of cap space, we might as well... the key to it is getting someone who is of an age to come through with the rest our players, or at least contribute in a significant way to their development. Whatever we do should be about enhancing the build we are in the middle of, not wasting money to short-circuit it (again).

 

[Ants]

Not really. Carlton, Richmond, Collingwood, us and West Coast all approached those deals knowing that they'd have to give something significant for those players for various reasons. The main one for all of them being that none were free agents.

The only comparable situation for either of these guys is Dangerfield. And in that case, only that case, it was a situation where Geelong's first was higher than that of Band 1. If we finish ahead of Geelong and Parish wants to go there, Geelong will play ball as far as a trade goes. Adelaide have become ruthless at the trade table recently, they won't give up what we want.

I don’t think it makes a difference. Once a club has got someone to agree to come they’re pot committed. It is very rare for them to walk away, unless the price is astronomically high (eg us and Dunkley).

That it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it won’t. Nobody had matched. Until GWS did a for Cameron.So much depends on the team.

Sydney give away players for peanuts (Alirr, Dawson, Mitchell), others play hard ball. I think we play hard ball if Parish leaves rather than accept a single mid-teens pick. Redman they may match since that won’t be wildly off his worth.

Strategically, we’d be idiots not to match Geelong and Adelaide. Simply ignoring we should get at least equal value, we deprive close competitors of keeping first rounders to use.

When push comes to shove, what suits us more? Trading for McKay soas to keep a late first, or matching the bid and risk getting less?

If we suddenly had the excess salary cap from losing Redman and/or Parish in addition to what we already have we simply pay McKay overs so North get sufficient FA compo, match our players and trade out.

 

[Ants]

Don’t think our list is in a position to go for a big free agent signing.

Would much rather target fringe types that can plug a lot hole and focus on developing players from the draft.

Our list is in a perfect position for a big FA. Unfortunately, there aren’t any real A graders available.

Our list is performing very well, is one of the youngest in the league, still has three top 10 draftees not playing due to injuries/youth, and has a tonne of salary cap. Really we should be adding a good to very good FA this year and next. Uses the salary cap, fills holes and keeps our picks.

 

[Ambrosia]

They've been talking about looking at free agency this year since the CEO was interviewed in the paper way back in the pre-season or something. And given we have a fair bit of cap space, we might as well... the key to it is getting someone who is of an age to come through with the rest our players, or at least contribute in a significant way to their development. Whatever we do should be about enhancing the build we are in the middle of, not wasting money to short-circuit it (again).

Our list is in a perfect position for a big FA. Unfortunately, there aren’t any real A graders available.

Our list is performing very well, is one of the youngest in the league, still has three top 10 draftees not playing due to injuries/youth, and has a tonne of salary cap. Really we should be adding a good to very good FA this year and next. Uses the salary cap, fills holes and keeps our picks.

Yeah fair enough. I guess it’s more that there’s no real A graders available.

I don’t think overpaying a Ben Mckay would make any sense for the long term build of our list.

 

[Yoda_]

Yeah fair enough. I guess it’s more that there’s no real A graders available.

I don’t think overpaying a Ben Mckay would make any sense for the long term build of our list.

Next year's free agency talent pool looks fairly thin already.

Some names to consider imho;

Connor Rozze, Todd MArshall, Ben King. The Bulldogs are a huge watch though. Naughton, Smith, Jamara, Johaniesen, Liberatore, English ALL out of contract.

 

[Lore]

Sydney give away players for peanuts (Alirr, Dawson, Mitchell), others play hard ball.

I assume some salary went with them

 

[citizen-erased]

Id rather target a CHF than a back.
Zerk, lav, Ridley has been good when the pressure is on and we protect the backline
Cox and Baldwin are knocking on the door and Hayes/reid will get time to develop.

All for spending the warchest but I'd be looking to tempt what we need, not just what's out there.

 

[Ants]

I assume some salary went with them

I believe they were all out of contract? Definitely Mitchell and Dawson were.

 

[Ants]

Id rather target a CHF than a back.
Zerk, lav, Ridley has been good when the pressure is on and we protect the backline
Cox and Baldwin are knocking on the door and Hayes/reid will get time to develop.

All for spending the warchest but I'd be looking to tempt what we need, not just what's out there.

We've got the money to easily target both, so if you can get one via FA that leaves trade currency for the other. The issue is I'm not convinced on McKay, the age & cost of Barass, and whether there is any good CHF available at the moment?

 

[citizen-erased]

We've got the money to easily target both, so if you can get one via FA that leaves trade currency for the other. The issue is I'm not convinced on McKay, the age & cost of Barass, and whether there is any good CHF available at the moment?

the money can shake loose availability, as can our season.
My point is the war chest should be used to entice, not throw our hat in the ring for the shiniest FA.

600k+ for McKay doesn't strike me as money well spent. I'd rather drop it on extending some contracts for what we have.
We play a game that relies on good foot skills out of the back and team structure. I get he's had some lean years at North, but i dont see any of that from McKay. I see size and that's about it. He's a good intercept mark, but then so are Ridley, Lav, Zerk, Reid, Cox and Hayes.

Target the instability at GCS
Look at potential "go home" options
Sound out clubs who may want a pick and have a player who may be up for coming in

 

[Keystone agony]

the money can shake loose availability, as can our season.
My point is the war chest should be used to entice, not throw our hat in the ring for the shiniest FA.

600k+ for McKay doesn't strike me as money well spent. I'd rather drop it on extending some contracts for what we have.
We play a game that relies on good foot skills out of the back and team structure. I get he's had some lean years at North, but i dont see any of that from McKay. I see size and that's about it. He's a good intercept mark, but then so are Ridley, Lav, Zerk, Reid, Cox and Hayes.

Target the instability at GCS
Look at potential "go home" options
Sound out clubs who may want a pick and have a player who may be up for coming in

Laverde, Kelly, Zerk, Heppell arent damaging by foot. A few of them can kick little 20m passes sideways or down the line wide otherwise its 50m down the line

Id happily pay 600k for Mckay as a need, still would be moving on a defender which we have too much alike and no one like Mckay