Club Focus Essendon 2025

[Ticky009]

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says: "While we make every effort to keep up to date with player contracts, it is likely that our data may at times be out of date, incomplete or inaccurate.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

Obviously Merrett departs in 6 months time. It's just about trying to maximise his value now. Have to pray he doesnt get injured.

Would they look at moving on Mckay if someone plays his salary? They could get a late second or early third in for him and clear his salary?

Ridley needs a fresh start and clearly flirted with the idea of leaving last trade period. Could get another second rounder in for him.

Perkins and Cox clearly delisted as well so there will be space to rebuild.

More likely we pay his salary.

 

[HBFlanker]

More likely we pay his salary.

I mean that's an absolute indictment on the list management team if they have to pay his salary just to get a late second/early third round pick.

 

[eth-dog]

I mean that's an absolute indictment on the list management team if they have to pay his salary just to get a late second/early third round pick.

Is it? More that we can afford to pay it and have cap room to spare so why wouldn't we?

 

[HBFlanker]

Is it? More that we can afford to pay it and have cap room to spare so why wouldn't we?

Because he was the highest paid player in the comp in 2024 and now after 3 seasons they will potentially pay him to play at another club.

 

[jdstorm]

Because he was the highest paid player in the comp in 2024 and now after 3 seasons they will potentially pay him to play at another club.

Deal was frontloaded. So it’s not that much going forward.

I’d suspect we would target another team with a similar issue and swap two players for one another. Similar to the Brandon Zerk Thatcher trade to port for Dursma.

I’d imagine there’d be a team with a better structure who’d think they could get more out of him

 

[catman2006]

Brad Scott needs to go back to basics and teach the players how to mark and kick would be a great place to start.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Brad Scott needs to go back to basics and teach the players how to mark and kick would be a great place to start.

What if we have players that cant be taught to kick and mark they are just shit in general

 

[Jason JC]

I wonder what happens to their list with yet another coaching turnover.

Do they take the attitude of anyone who wants out can piss off, or try to actively move on older players for picks or younger guys?

Which players on their list currently would attract good picks or be strong value as part of any trade?

 

[Yoda_]

I wonder what happens to their list with yet another coaching turnover.

Do they take the attitude of anyone who wants out can piss off, or try to actively move on older players for picks or younger guys?

Which players on their list currently would attract good picks or be strong value as part of any trade?

We already have something like the 3rd youngest list, we continually play one of the youngest teams each week. The senior guys are the problem so anyone over 25 would be tapped on the shoulder and asked to explore opportunities elsewhere.

Merrett (Hawks, 2026 1st, 2027 1st)
Ridley (Brisbane (2026 1st)
Langford (Adelaide, 2026 2nd)

these would be top of my pile to be honest. Go and get some leadership from good clubs, Ryan Lester (Brisbane), Joel Hamling (Swans), Jeremy Howe (Collingwood), Jed Bews (Geelong - playing coach)

 

[Mofra]

Will Hawks ask the question again? It sounds like they're heavily into Bailey Humphrey (Suns).

I'd be surprised if Essendon don't pick up a Luke Hodge/Luke Parker

26

Luke Parker

Age

33

Ht

183cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

24.2

5star

K

12.6

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

5.8

5star

D

22.1

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

9.9

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

5.0

5star

CL

5.5

5star

D

21.2

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

8.0

5star

CL

5.2

5star

type too. Organise the back half.

 

[Yoda_]

Will Hawks ask the question again? It sounds like they're heavily into Bailey Humphrey (Suns).

I'd be surprised if Essendon don't pick up a Luke Hodge/Luke Parker type too. Organise the back half.

Twomey reported recently Hawks will come back in for Zac

 

[tiger_tough]

Such an enormous blunder not trading Merrett out last year. Now the new coach will come in and want to get rid of every that doesn't want to be there, and they'll get less for him in trade and have missed out on a year of development they could've got into another top 10 pick form last year.

 

[eth-dog]

Such an enormous blunder not trading Merrett out last year. Now the new coach will come in and want to get rid of every that doesn't want to be there, and they'll get less for him in trade and have missed out on a year of development they could've got into another top 10 pick form last year.

No, it wasn't, and no, we won't.

Literally the best pick they offered we got anyway. A bunch of shit picks in the 20's are irrelevant.

 

[THE_GUN]

Merrett (Hawks, 2026 1st, 2027 1st)
Ridley (Brisbane (2026 1st)
Langford (Adelaide, 2026 2nd)

Very optimistic trades there
I dont believe Hawks will offer both their 1st rounders this year for Merrett with only 1 year left on his contract
probably a 20261st rounder plus something later but 2 x 1st rounder would be a massive achievement

Ridley , With the injury history this guy has thats a big ask

 

[tiger_tough]

No, it wasn't, and no, we won't.

Literally the best pick they offered we got anyway. A bunch of shit picks in the 20's are irrelevant.

Yes because keeping Merrett has done you wonders

 

[Yoda_]

Very optimistic trades there
I dont believe Hawks will offer both their 1st rounders this year for Merrett with only 1 year left on his contract
probably a 20261st rounder plus something later but 2 x 1st rounder would be a massive achievement

Ridley , With the injury history this guy has thats a big ask

Merrett, still contracted, other suitors likely to come in, deal although less than last year, is like a 1st + 2nd (2027 will be a pick in the 20s if they finish in the top 4)

Ridley, contracted, we hold all the cards,

Langford, contracted, need suitors, this one im not sure where he goes but time to move past him

 

[eth-dog]

Yes because keeping Merrett has done you wonders

You said we could get another top 10 pick in. That's factually incorrect.

1. We traded the best pick they offered in anyway, it wasn't a top 10 pick.
2. Their other two picks, one ended up at 25, the other will likely end up deep in the teens if not 20's anyway
3. The player they offered literally can't get a game with no Will Day.

We've ****ed up many things. Not trading Merrett for a bag of chips wasn't one of them.

 

[tiger_tough]

You said we could get another top 10 pick in. That's factually incorrect.

1. We traded the best pick they offered in anyway, it wasn't a top 10 pick.
2. Their other two picks, one ended up at 25, the other will likely end up deep in the teens if not 20's anyway
3. The player they offered literally can't get a game with no Will Day.

We've ****ed up many things. Not trading Merrett for a bag of chips wasn't one of them.

Didn't they offer pick 9?

Pick 9, a future first, a second rounder this year or next and Henry Hustwaite.

Of course it was a **** up.

 

[Yoda_]

Didn't they offer pick 9?


Of course it was a **** up.

the one we got anyways?

yes

 

[eth-dog]

Didn't they offer pick 9?


Of course it was a **** up.

Oh okay, you don't understand how the draft works. When an academy or father son player is bid on and matched, the pick slides back. So that pick 9 became, checks notes pick 13, where rechecks notes, Dyson Sharp was drafted to, makes 100% sure of it Essendon Football Club.

So what were you saying about an extra top 10 pick?

 

[tiger_tough]

the one we got anyways?

yes

got it for free did you?

 

[THE_GUN]

Merrett, still contracted, other suitors likely to come in, deal although less than last year, is like a 1st + 2nd (2027 will be a pick in the 20s if they finish in the top 4)

Ridley, contracted, we hold all the cards,

Langford, contracted, need suitors, this one im not sure where he goes but time to move past him

Ridley, contracted, we hold all the cards, ...... really what cards are you holding
I suppose i could also say Hopper is contracted so we hold the cards - kind of sounds silly yeah
He is an injury riddled player that cant get on the park taking a list spot

Merrett , Which clubs will come in ?
Merrett only wants to go to a club that is in a finals window so Hawks , Geelong , Brisbane , fremantle
most likely doesnt want to go interstate so that only leaves Hawks/Cats and maybe dogs but then there is Butters taking up 1 of these clubs picks

I truly cannot see 2 x 1st rounder this season and next year Hawks / Cats 1st rounder will be in the 30's

 

[eth-dog]

got it for free did you?

Pick 13, 25 and what is right now pick 15, which will definitely turn into a pick in the late teens at a minimum and a VFL player.

What an enthralling offer for our best player.

 

[THE_GUN]

Pick 13, 25 and what is right now pick 15, which will definitely turn into a pick in the late teens at a minimum and a VFL player.

What an enthralling offer for our best player.

That actually says more about the bombers list

 

[tiger_tough]

Pick 13, 25 and what is right now pick 15, which will definitely turn into a pick in the late teens at a minimum and a VFL player.

What an enthralling offer for our best player.

The bloke is nearly 31. Bombers won't even be thinking of finals for at least another 5 years.

Where did Murhpy Reid go in 2024 again? You should've taken what you could get. You don't want players at the club that don't want to be there and there is always steals to be hand in the teens and 20s.