Club Focus Essendon 2025

[Ticky009]

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

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[Yoda_]

I think we are in agreeance here. What im saying is that they have found out these blokes are a mile off it.

I actually think Essendons rebuild started at the 2024 draft, because the blokes drafted in the 3 drafts prior arent going to make it.

Have you been visiting our board. We literally had a thread started about this recently

Think you’ll find that now Matt Rosa is leading Rob Forster~Knight and not the circus act of a trade week in the shadows we’ve got clean air

 

[EBERT THE KING]

Have you been visiting our board. We literally had a thread started about this recently

Think you’ll find that now Matt Rosa is leading Rob Forster~Knight and not the circus act of a trade week in the shadows we’ve got clean air

No i havent but good to see the fans have picked up on it

 

[Yoda_]

No i havent but good to see the fans have picked up on it

we've been well aware of it, with the Rising Star nominations of Caddy, Clarke, the improvement of Kako, the high possession count of Zac Johnson and Archie Robert continuing to impress. Agreed that ideally, we'd love a young star midfielder to be in this conversation as well.

Albeit, the guys (bar Merrett) are all young still (Caldwell 24, Durham 23, Martin 24). Depth in this will help the overall 22 though

 

[firsttimeposter]

Plenty of footy left this year, but hard to see us winning more than 2-3 games, melbourne too so safe to say we'll have two of picks 4,5 or 6, moving back a back once WCE get compo for Allen.

Draper looks gone, likely band 2 compo, which will be pick 19 that moves back a couple of spots following band 1 compo for Allen and TDK.

Reckon by the time all the NGA and f/s picks a matched the Draper pick risks getting swallowed by a bid for El achkar or Sweid, so maybe trade that for a F1. Brisbane and Collingwood need points so might be interested.... would obviously only interest a team expected to finish high on the ladder in 2026.

Given we took 4 in the MSD we probably need 10 further list changes to create only 7 spots, using 5 on draft night, 1 on rookie draft night and a train on position over summer. It's a process of elimination for me.....

Bryan, Visintini and setterfield are obvious extensions, 2 years, 2 years and 1 with a trigger clause respectively. Lual and Day-wick are young and shown enough to be extended, prior and blakiston have held there own and can hopefully be handy cover/depth in healthier squad, extending them a year too. Goldstein too (otherwise we'll just need to recruit a depth ruckman).

Davey, Menzie and Shiel are the only obvious delisting's, despite only putting him on the list a few weeks ago it is hard seeing smartt extended into next year too. Unfortunately cox looks headed towards medical retirements. 5 list changes to go.

Of the uncontracted players that leaves Laverde, Hobbs and Mcmahon. Given the state of the list tradeable contracted players are tsatas, perkins, langford and Parish.

I'd cut hobbs loose for a later pick, hard seeing him force his way into the midfield.

Tsatas i'd keep, had it not been for setterfield having a career best year he plays a lot more and in the middle, his disposal is a worry but can see him blending with durham, merrett etc at centre bounces. Perkins is going awful right now (like an out of form racehorse), but i'd rather find out if he can be a solid HFF in the red and black rather than somewhere else.

That leaves parish and langford on the outer, probably getting little in return and maybe even paying some of their wage. They've both been good for us but both bodies are clearly an issue and I can picture others emerging in their roles, making them expendable. Laverde and mcmahon both unlucky to not be extended.

Think we'll take both the NGA picks in el achkar and Sweid on draft night. Early on take the best kick and best tall available and prioritise foot skills again later on.

Interested in what you think....

 

[Keystone agony]

firsttimeposter we dont want to win games on the run home, maybe could be argued the kids need a win or 2 to know the feeling of success

We need these picks as close to 1, we cant afford to finish higher than Carlton and hopefully dees dont either. If Draper gets band 1 then we could have picks 5, 6 and 7 (Absolute best case scenario)


Martin
Durham
Caldwell
Vigo
Caddy
Kako
Zak Johnson
A.Clarke
A.Roberts
Picks 5, 6, 7, 24 and 27 (In open pool)
Z.Reid
L.Hayes

Is the next group for this side to compete

What we do with guys like

Zerrett
Langford
Parish
Mcgrath
Redman
Ben Mckay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

Could be fascinating

 

[doug85]

I think we are in agreeance here. What im saying is that they have found out these blokes are a mile off it.

I actually think Essendons rebuild started at the 2024 draft, because the blokes drafted in the 3 drafts prior arent going to make it.

It started at the 2023 draft. Our NDs for the preceding 6 years were putrid.

 

[HBFlanker]

firsttimeposter we dont want to win games on the run home, maybe could be argued the kids need a win or 2 to know the feeling of success

We need these picks as close to 1, we cant afford to finish higher than Carlton and hopefully dees dont either. If Draper gets band 1 then we could have picks 5, 6 and 7 (Absolute best case scenario)


Martin
Durham
Caldwell
Vigo
Caddy
Kako
Zak Johnson
A.Clarke
A.Roberts
Picks 5, 6, 7, 24 and 27 (In open pool)
Z.Reid
L.Hayes

Is the next group for this side to compete

What we do with guys like

Zerrett
Langford
Parish
Mcgrath
Redman
Ben Mckay

Could be fascinating

Wont get band 1 for Draper.

I would look at moving out Langford to a contending team for a pick in the late 20s. Can see Sydney or the Bulldogs showing interest there.

Parish and Redman you would struggle to get anything decent in return for them.

Merrett is the needle mover, but it would be one of the biggest trade calls in history to move him out.

 

[Keystone agony]

Wont get band 1 for Draper.

I would look at moving out Langford to a contending team for a pick in the late 20s. Can see Sydney or the Bulldogs showing interest there.

Parish and Redman you would struggle to get anything decent in return for them.

Merrett is the needle mover, but it would be one of the biggest trade calls in history to move him out.

I mean we heard the same about Battle last year

Id hope we can keep him if hes only getting band 2 with our offer

There is no point moving alot of those guys out for late 20s picks in this draft

 

[essendon]

Whose not to say that Merrett may want out year end?.... a watch on that.

 

[HBFlanker]

What would the expectations be from an Essendon point of view on Perkins?

Mid to late second round pick?

 

[eth-dog]

What would the expectations be from an Essendon point of view on Perkins?

Mid to late second round pick?

Eh. Maybe a F2

 

[THE_GUN]

Hawks have Carltons 1st rounder

 

[Daka]

Bombers are rebuilding like us, it was plain obvious when they let Stringer go because he wanted more than his trigger clause contract.

And to be fair... it's what they need to do in my opinion with a new list manager, Dodoro continually stuffed them up for years. It's almost insulting that the guy sued the club for unfair dismissal it shows you all you need to know about Dodoro's character as well.

I like what they have done with Caddy/Kako need to keep developing, go to the draft again get more quality.

 

[Jack Richards]

What would the expectations be from an Essendon point of view on Perkins?

Mid to late second round pick?

If that.

 

[Vindicater]

Lots more moves again this offseason I reckon

 

[Lore]

Lots more moves again this offseason I reckon

Came here to say the same. Saw an article yesterday that listed off the following as gettable trade/FA targets:

Elijah Tsatas, 20 year old mid, contracted to 2026
Ben Hobbs, 21 year old mid, out of contract
Archie Perkins, 23 year old HFF, contracted to 2026
Sam Draper, 26 year old ruck, restricted free agent
Darcy Parish, 28 year old mid, contracted to 2029
Jayden Laverde, 29 year old defender, out of contract
Dylan Shiel, 32 year old mid, out of contract

Could be a bit of a moneyball thing in some cases I think, as none have really achieved their potential. I think all of them were first round picks, half were top ten picks in their respective drafts, excepting Draper who arrived as a rookie.

 

[jdstorm]

What would the expectations be from an Essendon point of view on Perkins?

Mid to late second round pick?

Doesn’t really help us all that much need to consolidate talent more then cash out

I’d we wanting a similar level talent that hasn’t quite put it together at a different position

 

[HBFlanker]

Came here to say the same. Saw an article yesterday that listed off the following as gettable trade/FA targets:

Elijah Tsatas, 20 year old mid, contracted to 2026
Ben Hobbs, 21 year old mid, out of contract
Archie Perkins, 23 year old HFF, contracted to 2026
Sam Draper, 26 year old ruck, restricted free agent
Darcy Parish, 28 year old mid, contracted to 2029
Jayden Laverde, 29 year old defender, out of contract
Dylan Shiel, 32 year old mid, out of contract

Could be a bit of a moneyball thing in some cases I think, as none have really achieved their potential. I think all of them were first round picks, half were top ten picks in their respective drafts, excepting Draper who arrived as a rookie.

They wont move on all of them.

Parish is the most intriguing for mine. I dont think he is a front line mid at any club anymore, so could be a seriously good depth option for a top 6 team, who will back themselves in to get him cheap.

 

[Keystone agony]

They wont move on all of them.

Parish is the most intriguing for mine. I dont think he is a front line mid at any club anymore, so could be a seriously good depth option for a top 6 team, who will back themselves in to get him cheap.

Youd think if he cares about success, then a successful club

Doesnt come across as the type of player to move states though

I know a journo has had him linked to geelong

Dogs, pies and hawks would be the only other sides imo and all need depth in their midfield.

Hawks still got Ward Nash and Worpel heavy in mid rotation

Libba at the dogs i think is 34 or 35 next year, Treloar also basically done/1 more year. Parish atleast doesnt have that many miles

Could keep pies in the window a bit longer when Steele, Pendles, Crisp, Titch ect finish in a year or two

Hes a very good moneyball play imo

Id rather keep him then get pick 55 for him. Hes just turned 28, if his body comes right, which a few do later in years as the body settles like Chapman, get another 4- 5 years of footy

 

[HBFlanker]

Hearing Laverde to GWS is gathering serious momentum. Stringer facilitating.

 

[eth-dog]

Hearing Laverde to GWS is gathering serious momentum. Stringer facilitating.

Sounds good to me

 

[HBFlanker]

Sounds good to me

I think it makes sense as well. Allows you to keep probably one more of the younger guys.

Laverde straight into Leek Aleers spot in the squad.

 

[Ash1337]

I'd let goldy retire and let Wright play main ruck 60/40 with a backup.
Keep Bryan, Setterfield, Prior, Lual, McMahon, Smartt, Blakiston.
If Hobbs wants to be traded let him go. Look for trades of Perkins & Tsatas if possible.
Delist the rest. Maybe a last chance saloon for Davey as a rookie.
Trade the 2nds to a team like swans for another first round pick.
Trade in 2 KPPs a ruck and a fringe mid. Zac Taylor from crows. Ruck probably Reeves. KPPs probably Gibcus & Riccardi.
Draft with 5,6,10 & whatever is gotten from Draper, Laverde, Hobbs etc.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

When I think the team in the worst position right now I do think its Essendon out of anyone. The list feels reliant on some very injury prone players, it has a ton of the same player type and then outside of that has massive gaping holes were it basically has 0 players capable in that spot. The current list to me needs multiple small defenders, multiple small forwards and then key replacements of finished players but they dont have the arsenal to do it.

I think they gotta get CDT myself. Wright is toast but they desperately need that style of 2nd ruck + forward in the side. Use 5 and 6 to get to pick 2 and Hawks 1st from the Eagles and back yourself to get one of the sliding mids with that Hawks pick after taking CDT with pick 2 . Trade wise I think they need 1 of Starcevich or McVee but id be targetting McVee as the younger player. They need to find a small forward because Kako is better as a guy getting some midfield run. No idea who. In the 2nd round they should be after slow burn pacey players who have alot of upside but are raw.

Its a long road for them

 

[Ash1337]

When I think the team in the worst position right now I do think its Essendon out of anyone. The list feels reliant on some very injury prone players, it has a ton of the same player type and then outside of that has massive gaping holes were it basically has 0 players capable in that spot. The current list to me needs multiple small defenders, multiple small forwards and then key replacements of finished players but they dont have the arsenal to do it.

I think they gotta get CDT myself. Wright is toast but they desperately need that style of 2nd ruck + forward in the side. Use 5 and 6 to get to pick 2 and Hawks 1st from the Eagles and back yourself to get one of the sliding mids with that Hawks pick after taking CDT with pick 2 . Trade wise I think they need 1 of Starcevich or McVee but id be targetting McVee as the younger player. They need to find a small forward because Kako is better as a guy getting some midfield run. No idea who. In the 2nd round they should be after slow burn pacey players who have alot of upside but are raw.

Its a long road for them

I suggested Zac Taylor as that player. He can play both forward and midfield, only 22 and has a good vision and kick. Also out of contract and cheaper. Mcvee not needed imo and Starcevich is a injury risk that they dont need. Also compromises the compo they get from Draper unless they trade.