Training Official Essendon Preseason Thread

[JayJ20]

Without having seen it, I'm going to set the expectations pretty low.

When your coach comes out and says we have more options than we like, it shows no one (at least in the coaches eyes) is grabbing the positions.
It sounds like it will be games that decide it, instead of having a preferred structure that they are confident in.

When some of the key pieces are a guy who's confidence seems shot in Wright and who finished the year in the VFL, a ruckman that you are trying to make a forward and who may only be here one more year, a player in Perkins who everyone was screaming to drop last year, and a rookie in Kako.
I think the expectations should be well down.

It's certainly our most fascinating line going forward (pardon the pun). Would be great to make some real inroads this year at least from a structure perspective.

Yeah I agree. I'm not expecting much because the ceiling is a similar year to 2023 and 2024.
In reality, it's more likely we go backwards ladder-wise but hopefully forward as a list.

I want to at least see the makings of a good team. My focus is on the development of Caddy, Kako, Tsatas, Martin, Perkins, Durham, Bryan, Duursma and Reid in particular because I believe they will be the group that dictates what the future will look like.

Not sure if it's realistic, but we need at least a couple of elite players from that bunch. Ignoring Caddy and Kako as they just came, I'm confident in Martin and Durham to become at least A-graders. We need Bryan, Reid and Tsatas to show they can become elite at AFL level for us to be more confident in our list.

 

[faible]

Yeah I agree. I'm not expecting much because the ceiling is a similar year to 2023 and 2024.
In reality, it's more likely we go backwards ladder-wise but hopefully forward as a list.

I want to at least see the makings of a good team. My focus is on the development of Caddy, Kako, Tsatas, Martin, Perkins, Durham, Bryan, Duursma and Reid in particular because I believe they will be the group that dictates what the future will look like.

Not sure if it's realistic, but we need at least a couple of elite players from that bunch. Ignoring Caddy and Kako as they just came, I'm confident in Martin and Durham to become at least A-graders. We need Bryan, Reid and Tsatas to show they can become elite at AFL level for us to be more confident in our list.

If the W:L is about the same, with the losses being in the < 5 goal range instead of the > 5 goal range, and some of the 21 - 23 cohort doing more of the heavy lifting, I'd say that's a positive season. Last year the difference between 9th and 14th was 1 single win, I think we're still around that group of teams.

 

[boncer34]

If the W:L is about the same, with the losses being in the < 5 goal range instead of the > 5 goal range, and some of the 21 - 23 cohort doing more of the heavy lifting, I'd say that's a positive season. Last year the difference between 9th and 14th was 1 single win, I think we're still around that group of teams.

That's our problem

 

[Mercurial89]

If the W:L is about the same, with the losses being in the < 5 goal range instead of the > 5 goal range, and some of the 21 - 23 cohort doing more of the heavy lifting, I'd say that's a positive season. Last year the difference between 9th and 14th was 1 single win, I think we're still around that group of teams.

Pushing media pressure and everything to the side for the minute.
I'm not sure the final wins and losses tally means much of anything this year, but the winning is important more from a how perspective.

I'd kind of place the goal of the year as follows, see if you agree.

1. Can we find a structure and a system that is consistent and can win games.
-I emphasise the structure and the system winning the games, not Zach going nuclear and kicking 3 goals with 38 disposals willing us over the line for example.
2. Can the youth core that JayJay mentioned stand up and play a full year consistently, with 1-2 of the group giving us our "A grade talent"

3. Lower injury rate to core players or players we need film on.
-we desperately need to get a solid season on the unknowns of the list. To try and get a stable foundation to then add pieces to.

4. Play out a full season. Just don't collapse again.


If we can get out of this year with a core of 13-15 players that we know are the bedrock of what we want to do, we have an identifiable style and system that we can rely on and we have run out a full season consistently I think that is the perfect stepping off point for when we have our new list manager in the job for 12 months and a few picks that could be on the higher side.

 

[JayJ20]

If the W:L is about the same, with the losses being in the < 5 goal range instead of the > 5 goal range, and some of the 21 - 23 cohort doing more of the heavy lifting, I'd say that's a positive season. Last year the difference between 9th and 14th was 1 single win, I think we're still around that group of teams.

Definitely agree. I feel like percentage is a far better indicator of improvement than win-loss

 

[P Money]

It will happen again at some stage. Coaches can not help themselves but the word is Vozzo has given the whole football department a bit of a smack with the rolled up newspaper including Scott after the end of last season. The message was basically sort this shit out. What that equates to going forward is the unknown for us. The fork in the road is looming.

Always great to hear that issues we are seeing as fans are recognised internally. I feel like there was a long, long time when that wasn't the case...

 

[ant555]

Without having seen it, I'm going to set the expectations pretty low.

When your coach comes out and says we have more options than we like, it shows no one (at least in the coaches eyes) is grabbing the positions.
It sounds like it will be games that decide it, instead of having a preferred structure that they are confident in.

When some of the key pieces are a guy who's confidence seems shot in Wright and who finished the year in the VFL, a ruckman that you are trying to make a forward and who may only be here one more year, a player in Perkins who everyone was screaming to drop last year, and a rookie in Kako.
I think the expectations should be well down.

It's certainly our most fascinating line going forward (pardon the pun). Would be great to make some real inroads this year at least from a structure perspective.

I think the message is more I do not know what I am going to do with Wright and Jones rather than no one grabbing positions. Draper / Kako / Caddy have certainly grabbed spots so far. So has Perkins. Martin will play some forward time. Looks like Merrett will as well. Obviously there are real question on if it will work but it will be much more mobile.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

I think the message is more I do not know what I am going to do with Wright and Jones rather than no one grabbing positions. Draper / Kako / Caddy have certainly grabbed spots so far. So has Perkins. Martin will play some forward time. Looks like Merrett will as well. Obviously there are real question on if it will work but it will be much more mobile.

Is there any chance they'll run with three small forwards (kako and gresh locked in plus one of unwin/menzie/adj when fit)? I really hope so but sounds like they're still favouring more tall/medium forwards plus a rotating mid.

 

[ghostdog]

Yeah I agree. I'm not expecting much because the ceiling is a similar year to 2023 and 2024.
In reality, it's more likely we go backwards ladder-wise but hopefully forward as a list.

I want to at least see the makings of a good team. My focus is on the development of Caddy, Kako, Tsatas, Martin, Perkins, Durham, Bryan, Duursma and Reid in particular because I believe they will be the group that dictates what the future will look like.

Not sure if it's realistic, but we need at least a couple of elite players from that bunch. Ignoring Caddy and Kako as they just came, I'm confident in Martin and Durham to become at least A-graders. We need Bryan, Reid and Tsatas to show they can become elite at AFL level for us to be more confident in our list.

Agreed, though I'd add Caldwell, whom I think is a smoky for the Captaincy at some point.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Agreed, though I'd add Caldwell, whom I think is a smoky for the Captaincy at some point.

This is the take, really hope they reward him with a vc role this year.

 

[Mercurial89]

Agreed, though I'd add Caldwell, whom I think is a smoky for the Captaincy at some point.

I like a Durham and Caldwell captaincy combo, it feels like they have something intangible that would lend itself to the role

 

[fairbump_playon]

I like a Durham and Caldwell captaincy combo, it feels like they have something intangible that would lend itself to the role

Durham is a warrior but no captain IMO

Caldwell is a winner. He’s the one.

 

[FootyGuru]

I think we will definitely struggle to replace stringer. At times last season stringer was not only our best forward but also our best cb player. Scott used him as the X factor guy to give us a spark and don’t think we have anyone ready to take on that load. Opposition always put time and a good defender into him too

Maybe you could argue pressure might be better, or potentially more determined roles up forward. Still think we will miss what he brings

 

[maverick001]

Essendon fans, apologies for wandering in here uninvited....

Wondering where you see Peter Wright at & also Nick Bryan.

Will Wright be in best 22 this year & (i) are you expecting him to still spend a decent amount of time in ruck, & (ii) do you think he'll hit the scoreboard a bit harder again?
Bryan - is he still 3rd banana behind draper & goldy, or is this the year he actually gets a decent run?

THANKS

 

[jdstorm]

Essendon fans, apologies for wandering in here uninvited....

Wondering where you see Peter Wright at & also Nick Bryan.

Will Wright be in best 22 this year & (i) are you expecting him to still spend a decent amount of time in ruck, & (ii) do you think he'll hit the scoreboard a bit harder again?
Bryan - is he still 3rd banana behind draper & goldy, or is this the year he actually gets a decent run?

THANKS

Currently it’s looking like Bryan will be the No1 ruck with Draper playing mostly FF and chopping out at ruck

Wright and Goldy finished last season in VFL and I’d expect that to continue. As I can’t imagine playing 3 of them in the same side

 

[ghostdog]

Interesting hearing Scott imply our small forwards going forward could be Kako and Unwin. I wonder if he sees all of Kako, Unwin and ADJ, given Kako and ADJ can also play higher up the ground. That gives us a Bailey-Lohman resemblance.

I want to see the Unwin wheels everyone raves about.

I lolled when he nearly called him Onion.

 

[ant555]

Interesting hearing Scott imply our small forwards going forward could be Kako and Unwin. I wonder if he sees all of Kako, Unwin and ADJ, given Kako and ADJ can also play higher up the ground. That gives us a Bailey-Lohman resemblance.

I want to see the Unwin wheels everyone raves about.

I lolled when he nearly called him Onion.

Kako and Unwin certainly play with a bit of pressure and enthusiasm which is why he would be mentioning them. Davey was also showing a lot of improvement on the tackling and pressure front before he had to have his knee fixed.

 

[ghostdog]

Kako and Unwin certainly play with a bit of pressure and enthusiasm which is why he would be mentioning them. Davey was also showing a lot of improvement on the tackling and pressure front before he had to have his knee fixed.

Damn. Didn't know about ADJ's knee.
How many weeks?

 

[ant555]

Damn. Didn't know about ADJ's knee.
How many weeks?

Was two weeks ago and they where saying 3 or 4 weeks .

 

[jdstorm]

General forward structure is normally

1 ruck/forward 1 key forward 1 medium forward 1 mid/forward and 3 pressure forwards

Given how we’re setting up this year I’d expect

Ruck forward Draper
Key forward Caddy
Medium Langford
Mid forward - Merrett
Pressure - Perkins Gresham Kako

Looks pretty well balanced which is a nice change.

Some decent players missing out too which is good for depth/competition

 

[eth-dog]

General forward structure is normally

1 ruck/forward 1 key forward 1 medium forward 1 mid/forward and 3 pressure forwards

Given how we’re setting up this year I’d expect

Ruck forward Draper
Key forward Caddy
Medium Langford
Mid forward - Merrett
Pressure - Perkins Gresham Kako

Looks pretty well balanced which is a nice change.

Some decent players missing out too which is good for depth/competition

Perkins and Gresham are shit pressure wise

 

[fairbump_playon]

Perkins and Gresham are shit pressure wise

Yep, fit, quick, agile and still somehow … meh

 

[eth-dog]

Yep, fit, quick, agile and still somehow … meh

Gresham isn't quick nor agile. He's smart with ball in hand and positions himself well though.

 

[jdstorm]

Perkins and Gresham are shit pressure wise

theres Zero reason Perkins should be poor at pressure

 

[Gumby2Hurley]

How has Hobbs' and Roberts pre seasons been? Looking to pick up one of them for a long term keeper league.