I can't see it. Where is the improvement going to come from?
Hopper, Taranto and setterfield still have significant upside but you can't expect any of their other young guns to get much better. And they're looking like losing Devon smith and Matt Kennedy this trade period.
Plus mummy and shaw have hit the wall. So I wouldn't be counting on Deledio or griffen offering much either after having lengthy injuries
SJ out is a big one for them. He pulled a game from nowhere last week. But he got every last drop out of his career.
Couldn't provide the pressure and pace required. Cameron in for him is a massive improvement.
Taranto and Hopper have come on at a rate of knots this year. Hoppers ability to step up when Shiel went down and Taranto to miss a chunk of this year and then come back into the finals and play good games is a great positive for them.
Setterfield is a good prospect. I was hoping he'd leave GWS and come to Essendon. But they have a culture up there that gets buy in. Can't help but respect that.
Once Shaw is done, there is Isaac Cumming. He's a good one.
Lobb and Flynn will carry the load post-Mumford, and if I'm honest when Cameron is back, they should play one of Lobb or Mumford.
Cameron @ CHF, Patton @ FF, Himmelberg as 3rd tall. Pick their ruck based on the game and form.
Smith and Kennedy didn't play towards the end of the season and they still made a prelim.
Griffen and Deledio would barely feature next year unless they can get fully fit.
Shaw Corr Tomlinson
Wilson Davis Williams
Kelly Shiel Scully
Greene Cameron Taranto
De Boer Patton Himmelberg
Lobb Hopper Ward
thats a starting 18 only adelaide could compete for quality against.
And only Shaw is approaching retirement