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says: "While we make every effort to keep up to date with player contracts, it is likely that our data may at times be out of date, incomplete or inaccurate.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

 

[eth-dog]

Essendons pick in 2023 will be around the perfect spot to dradt a KPP. They are also not in some magical premiership window either so why they want to s**t the bed to bring a mature one in is odd to me too. Need to show some more patience

If they got a ton of cash they need to spend they need someone younger really. Sam Flanders would be my target if I was them as well as a guy like Liam Henry

McKay, if he can stay on the park, is at the very least a medium term option.

We have Young KPP's. Jones, Baldwin, Reid, Cox, Bryan, Hunter, Voss and Hayes are all between 18 and 22. Draper at 24 as it stands is hardly old, either.

Flanders is really similar to what we have, and Henry doesn't really fill a need. Getting McKay isn't cos we're in the window, it's pragmatism. He might still be around when we are in the window but at the very least he's a guy who will be best 22 for the next few years and depth after that.

 

[citizen-erased]

Agree with the not wanting to push our own 1st round pick back, but at the end of the day the number on the pick doesn't matter as much as what players are available there. You might get the same player with pick 6 as pick 12 depending on how the cookie crumbles.

The other side of it is that if they don't get Band 1, the AFL probably adds it to their assistance package. So they get the pick either way, it's just whether we give up another pick in the process.

i'd be wary Duursma looks like the best need and becomes out of reach.
iim not so much concerned about the pick number after bids, because those academy kids aren't available anyway.
But FA comp takes an active kid off the board.

I'd think the assistance package would need to be in place pre FA/trade period. It's best for North to know what they have going into that period i'd have thought. And the comp to know what picks they truly hold. So the AFL should be ironing that out outside of what McKay gets them.

Unless it's the AFL saying we'll give you 3 if McKay doesn't get you that via FA.
In any event, i'm hoping it's limited to pre-listing Sanders (as BS as that is). 3x top 10 kids to GCS, a top 10 kid + a top 3 pick to North.
There's uncompetitive teams, yes. But there's also sides trying to rebuild.

If the outcome is the AFL gives them 3 one way or another, then sure. Sign McKay for overs. But i'm rather hoping it's not that package.

 

[Keystone agony]

So, it's either a wage he doesn't deserve or a pick that he's not worth?

What exactly were the finer details?

For example and Zerk wont go anywhere except Adelaide or Essendon imo

But say we paid up so North could get Pick 3

Then how would the AFL stop North giving pick 20 + 3rd for Zerk and our 3rd?

 

[boncer34]

Essendons pick in 2023 will be around the perfect spot to dradt a KPP. They are also not in some magical premiership window either so why they want to s**t the bed to bring a mature one in is odd to me too. Need to show some more patience

If they got a ton of cash they need to spend they need someone younger really. Sam Flanders would be my target if I was them as well as a guy like Liam Henry

The problem is our midfield is young-ish. So draft a KPP and by the time they come good our young-ish midfield isn't young-ish anymore.

 

[boncer34]

McKay isn’t getting band 1 compo.

He will. He shouldn't because his contract is high enough but he'll get it.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

McKay, if he can stay on the park, is at the very least a medium term option.

We have Young KPP's. Jones, Baldwin, Reid, Cox, Bryan, Hunter, Voss and Hayes are all between 18 and 22. Draper at 24 as it stands is hardly old, either.

Flanders is really similar to what we have, and Henry doesn't really fill a need. Getting McKay isn't cos we're in the window, it's pragmatism. He might still be around when we are in the window but at the very least he's a guy who will be best 22 for the next few years and depth after that.

I just dont think the squad is at the "we need a medium term" option yet . If Essendon just progress like they are, in 2 years time they can have the salary cap room to pick up a superstar and not a Ben McKay.

 

[perplexed]

What exactly were the finer details?

For example and Zerk wont go anywhere except Adelaide or Essendon imo

But say we paid up so North could get Pick 3

Then how would the AFL stop North giving pick 20 + 3rd for Zerk and our 3rd?

We don't have pick 20, but we have Port's first round pick. How about Zerk + your second for that? All you have to do is pay McKay what he thinks he's worth.

 

[Wild Bill]

He will. He shouldn't because his contract is high enough but he'll get it.

My money is on band 2. Gives us our 2nd rounder back.

 

[Keystone agony]

I just dont think the squad is at the "we need a medium term" option yet . If Essendon just progress like they are, in 2 years time they can have the salary cap room to pick up a superstar and not a Ben McKay.

Im not sure who your referring to in regards to medium term option

But, i think we still will have that option regardless of picking up Mckay on 600k or not

It was said we had about 2mill spare for next year so toud think we are front loading a bit of these bigger deals and hardly have any superstar kids that need to make coin. Hobbs probably the only one

Tsatas will probably get the usual 3rd and 4th year deal for a first round pick

We should be targetting Georgiades and Mckay

Whilst trading Zerk and hoping that the Adelaide teams push his worth to around mid 20s in term of pick return

Mckay, Reid, Ridley and Cox can all play in the same back 7

Until Reid is ready it will be Laverde doing the job

I think at pick 6 you probably just take best available (Watson, Caddy, Duursma, Mckercher, Sanders) group. Which we're in a very good spot draft wise for, as atleast 1 will be available.

Most of those guys outside of Sanders arent really going to be onballers early in their career anyway and the good think about him is hea different to our other mids so if hes the last available then wed be fine with him. Probabky just means the Perkins experiment is placed on the back burner

 

[Lore]

Essendons pick in 2023 will be around the perfect spot to dradt a KPP. They are also not in some magical premiership window either so why they want to s**t the bed to bring a mature one in is odd to me too. Need to show some more patience

If they got a ton of cash they need to spend they need someone younger really. Sam Flanders would be my target if I was them as well as a guy like Liam Henry

Cash is burning a hole in our pocket.

We basically have a dual-core list build.

The first focal point is around a core of Merrett, Wright, Langford, Parish, Redman, McGrath, Draper and Ridley, aged 25-28 by the end of 2023. We are drafting missing pieces for that group – Hind, Kelly, Setterfield, Weideman and Wright are all examples. McKay doesn't sound overly expensive, is the right age and helps address the lack of proper spine.

The second focal point is 21-23yo Caldwell, Jones, Martin, Durham, Bryan, Cox, Reid, Perkins, but despite the large number of players in the 195-205cm range, they've had more than their share of injuries. It doesn't need more KPPs, it just needs time for them to mature. If they do we'll be trading for the missing pieces in a year or two, but for now we just keep drafting the smalls to go with them.

And then there's the back up plan of cobbling together some 25-28yo spine bits with some 21-23yo midfield bits, which is basically our 2023 best 22.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

I just dont think the squad is at the "we need a medium term" option yet . If Essendon just progress like they are, in 2 years time they can have the salary cap room to pick up a superstar and not a Ben McKay.

McKay will easily replace Jake Kelly and Laverde

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Cash is burning a hole in our pocket.

We basically have a dual-core list build.

The first focal point is around a core of Merrett, Wright, Langford, Parish, Redman, McGrath, Draper and Ridley, aged 25-28 by the end of 2023. We are drafting missing pieces for that group – Hind, Kelly, Setterfield, Weideman and Wright are all examples. McKay doesn't sound overly expensive, is the right age and helps address the lack of proper spine.

The second focal point is 21-23yo Caldwell, Jones, Martin, Durham, Bryan, Cox, Reid, Perkins, but despite the large number of players in the 195-205cm range, they've had more than their share of injuries. It doesn't need more KPPs, it just needs time for them to mature. If they do we'll be trading for the missing pieces in a year or two, but for now we just keep drafting the smalls to go with them.

And then there's the back up plan of cobbling together some 25-28yo spine bits with some 21-23yo midfield bits, which is basically our 2023 best 22.

3 mill on a stop gap because the money is there doesnt seem like the greatest use of 3 mill.

The biggest issue you guys have is clearly HFF if you ask me. Snelling cant make the move to AFL level. Davey Jnr is a bit lost in that role, McDonald-Tpgunwuti is past it. For me its the area that needs addressing

If you change focus to Jade Gresham with that money, I see him best 22 for the next 5+ years without any real pressure on his spot and filling in a bigger need then a KPP who is really only minding the chair for someone better

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

McKay will easily replace Jake Kelly and Laverde

For 3-4 mill he bloody well better. I dont see him competing with Kelly since they are different players. I also dont see why Kelly plays anyway. Always been more logic in using Nick Hind as a offensive weapon of HB and relegating someone like Ridley to a more defensive stopper role.

 

[Lore]

3 mill on a stop gap because the money is there doesnt seem like the greatest use of 3 mill.

3 mil over how many years?

At the moment we have Redman, Wright, Merrett, Ridley and Langford on sizeable contracts until or beyond 2026.

Draper, Laverde, Weideman, Hobbs and Reid have 2025 contracts of unknown but probably not all that significant value.

2024 out of contract players:

• Reasonably more expensive or trade: McGrath will be a free agent and probably doesn't get that much more than he's on unless he starts doing at AFL level what he used to do in juniors. Perkins, Durham, Martin, Caldwell and Tsatas should also earn reasonable wage increases.
• May cost a little more: The jury is still out on whether Setterfield, Daveyx2, Cox, Wanganeen and Hayes need much of a pay increase, but probably all stay on the list.
• Unlikely to cost more, probably less: no impact on year to year cap: Kelly, Hind and Stewart are getting to their late 20s and would be cheap re-signings or delisted. Guelfi is in a similar boat despite being younger, because we have plenty of small forwards (dunno if they're any good). He could be traded or re-invent himself as a defender.
• Reasonably cheaper or retire: Shiel and Stringer re-sign on less or retire freeing up a fair bit of cash.

For 2023, Parish is yet to re-sign, and no one else who is currently out of contract is going to require much more cash than they're already on if they're even still here next year.

And with all of that as currently accounted for, we currently apparently have a 2m hole in the salary cap for 2024.

Adding a 600k player to that mix isn't going to be particularly painful, nor should it impede anything else we're doing except to say that some of the draft investments of the last few years may be put to better use elsewhere if we have a somewhat competent defence.

The biggest issue you guys have is clearly HFF if you ask me. Snelling cant make the move to AFL level. Davey Jnr is a bit lost in that role, McDonald-Tpgunwuti is past it. For me its the area that needs addressing

The biggest issue is our ability to take a mark somewhere across half-forward, yeah.

All those you named are smalls though, and they're not really marking targets. Here's a full list:

• Menzie and Guelfi are currently playing most weeks.
• Snelling is already at the level but is solid without being a star.
• Walla is probably past it since he can't get his fitness back to the level required, even though the skills are there.
• A.Davey is avoiding contact with both shoulders strapped and was better earlier in the year.
• J.Davey has been rehabbing an injury so we haven't seen him yet, but he's also a promising small forward (A.Davey plays higher, J.Davey more pocket).
• Wanganeen is another that plays somewhere down the flank, he's starting to get in the groove in the VFL so hopefully we see him again soon.
• Munkara is also a HFF sort afaik, but no idea if he'll make it.
• Shiel, Caldwell, Hobbs, Parish have all had their moments but are mids not small forwards. Caldwell is probably the best of them in that spot.

For those that can take a mark at HFF/high half-forward:

• Merrett can go anywhere, including wing/HFF, but lately he's been back in the middle as the kids are running out of gas (and Shiel is still injured).
• Stringer usually plays centre bounce & fwd flank, but is currently injured.
• Perkins usually plays HFF but is in the middle to cover Stringer and Setterfield.
• Langford has made HFF his own, but now plays deeper due to KPF & ruck/fwd injuries.
• Martin and Durham usually have a wing each, but have had to go forward to cover Stringer, Perkins and Langford.
• Nik Cox can also take a mark and is finally back in the side, but he loses confidence on a wing and has been in defence covering Ridley's absence anyway.
• Nick Bryan can't play ruck/forward, so he does limited minutes rucking and occasionally finds himself on a wing where he can mark it.

So HFF is not an area of significant need so much as an area that has been robbed extensively to cover injuries in other parts of the ground that are regarded as being more crucial.

If you change focus to Jade Gresham with that money, I see him best 22 for the next 5+ years without any real pressure on his spot and filling in a bigger need then a KPP who is really only minding the chair for someone better

If we wanted to we could have both, there's enough cash. But a tiny midfielder that kicks a goal a game in a team with good supply is not really a major need.



I'm not really a massive McKay fan, I think we have enough key position players and that the issue is more about the type and age profile than a lack of them. But the money is there and it's not stopping us from doing anything else we need to do, so ultimately I don't think it's a big deal. Might mean we lose Zerk-Thatcher and/or Stewart but that's neither here nor there.

 

[Ants]

McKay will easily replace Jake Kelly and Laverde

Baldwin is an upgrade on Laverde and given Kelly plays on smalls and medium forwards, no, McKay can’t easily replace him.

Personally I see McKay as superfluous and I’d be trading out Lav while convincing Zerk to stay.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

In all honesty, it's hard to tell whether the Bombers aren't that far off (just need one or two decent draft and trade periods) or whether their first half form was a false economy/new coach bounce, and they should blow it all up and start an extensive rebuild, starting with their midfield and wing positions.

Favouring Dodoro over Mahoney is a decision from the EFC board that Essendon fans should rightfully be fuming over.

 

[Ambrosia]

In all honesty, it's hard to tell whether the Bombers aren't that far off (just need one or two decent draft and trade periods) or whether their first half form was a false economy/new coach bounce, and they should blow it all up and start an extensive rebuild, starting with their midfield and wing positions.

Favouring Dodoro over Mahoney is a decision from the EFC board that Essendon fans should rightfully be fuming over.

Think it’s a bit of a false dichotomy you’re creating.

Essendon currently clearly aren’t good enough and don’t have enough high end young talent to project them improving to be good enough.

So in my opinion we should be fielding a young side to improve our draft position and develop the list.

I don’t see how pushing out good senior players to tear down one of the younger sides in the comp further makes any sense

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Think it’s a bit of a false dichotomy you’re creating.

Essendon currently clearly aren’t good enough and don’t have enough high end young talent to project them improving to be good enough.

So in my opinion we should be fielding a young side to improve our draft position and develop the list.

I don’t see how pushing out good senior players to tear down one of the younger sides in the comp further makes any sense

It's an odd take because we made it clear at the start of the year that this was a rebuilding team and I'm sure, had you asked most posters on the board how many wins did they think Essendon was reasonably capable of in 2023, 11 would have been at the higher end of estimations. I for one did not expect us to be in the finals conversation at all and most people on our board were talking a 3-5 year timeline from Scott's appointment before we looked to contend. The club should forget we were ever in the hunt for finals and just treat this as a 10th-13th finish that it was instead of trying to take the next step too early which has consistently failed us (2011, 2017, 2021...)

 

[jdstorm]

In all honesty, it's hard to tell whether the Bombers aren't that far off (just need one or two decent draft and trade periods) or whether their first half form was a false economy/new coach bounce, and they should blow it all up and start an extensive rebuild, starting with their midfield and wing positions.

Favouring Dodoro over Mahoney is a decision from the EFC board that Essendon fans should rightfully be fuming over.

I think it’s hard because Essendon has quite a young team and is far under the cap. (Rumours suggest about 3M) and that’s 5-6 really good players.

That’s the difference between having Jake Kelly and Tom Stuart at HB for example.

If you replaced the 5 worst vfl only players on the list with 5 high level starters that would make a huge difference. Especially because it would mean competent replacements for players who were injured and actual selection pressure.

But then again Essendon has been so poorly run for so many years that players of that quality don’t typically want to play there. (Which is wild given they have Anzac Day + the Dreamtime game which are two of the biggest games on the calendar every year.)

In practice I think both rebuild paths go back to team culture and that it’s required for that to completely change. In that sense new faces might just be shuffling the deck chairs on the titanic.

 

[Red Bull]

Congratulations to Hepp, Adrian and dons supporters

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Congratulations to Hepp, Adrian and dons supporters

View attachment 1782195

Was probably the coach's call tbh

 

[Ambrosia]

Holding out hope it just means the veterans list is being brought in

 

[eth-dog]

Holding out hope it just means the veterans list is being brought in

Won't be eligible due to his May birthday

 

[Ambrosia]

Won't be eligible due to his May birthday

Well Essendon gonna Essendon

 

[Wild Bill]

Dodo should make a play for Reid. McKay is all but gone.

Up the offer to 800k to trigger band 1 if the Roos agree to trade 1.

Ess offer BZT (we need anyone at this stage) their pick 9 and F1.

We end up with BZT, 2, 9, 16 (ports) and a F1 and get an awesome death ride.

Ess get Reid and McKay
North - BZT, Curtain, O’Sullivan, Reid (the other one) and hopefully Sanders.

3 key backs a key forward and gun mid.