Should Essendon bid on Setterfield with Pick 1?

[Malte]

I know a lot of people are saying it will be McCluggage, but two of their best young midfielders are already light-bodied, clean ball users (Merrett and Parish). Should they not be looking to add a tall, classy beast to help balance out their midfield, especially after Watson hangs up the boots?

I know McCluggage is probably the best performed player, but as the 2013 draft showed, it's not all about performances in the under 18s, it's about having all the right attributes to be one of the best players in the AFL. Bontempelli was never rated among the best performers of his year, most Phantom Drafts during that year had him below the likes of Aish, Scharenberg and Sheed, but here we are today, and he's the best player by a mile.

Bearing this in mind, I think Essendon should consider placing a bid on Setterfield. He stands out among the other top 10 prospects as a tall, classy ball user, arguably the most similar type of player to Bont in the draft and the type of player Essendon could benefit more from compared to a player like McCluggage or McGrath. GWS probably won't match the bid either, so would it be worth at least considering?

 

[TheSierBear]

Yes.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Yes.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

No because GWS won't match anyway and then you have a bloke you don't want. He's not worth pick 1 anyway so Essendon won't bid- they didn't even bid on Hopper last year.

 

[Malte]

No because GWS won't match anyway and then you have a bloke you don't want. He's not worth pick 1 anyway so Essendon won't bid- they didn't even bid on Hopper last year.

Do you have this superficial mindset for every post you make?

How about actually reading my post first?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Do you have this superficial mindset for every post you make?

How about actually reading my post first?

He's not worth pick 1.

Every time someone says "oh he will be the next Judd, Bont, etc" you are opening yourself up for a disaster.

It's a waste of time for Essendon he will only be there for the initial contract as he will want to go home.

Take McGrath or McCluggage and you have a 10+ year player.

 

[Malte]

He's not worth pick 1.

That's what everyone said about Bontempelli.

Every time someone says "oh he will be the next Judd, Bont, etc" you are opening yourself up for a disaster.

A bit like saying McCluggage will be the next Akermanis/Pendlebury/whatever?

It's a waste of time for Essendon he will only be there for the initial contract as he will want to go home.

Based on what? Did he tell you personally? This sounds like laughable made up garbage.

Take McGrath or McCluggage and you have a 10+ year player.

Take Setterfield and you have a guaranteed 10+ year player.

See? I can make thoughtless, meaningless statements too.

 

[coniglio_number1]

Why are you roasting the poster that gave you a detailed reply?

 

[RedFeather]

McCluggage is exactly what Essendon need, a goalkicking midfielder. So many honours won throughout this season with such a limited preseason. Yes players like Bontempelli mature at different rates once in the AFL system and that is mostly unpredictable, but from the season McCluggage has had he is to good to pass up and looks like he'd fit straight into the lineup with a bit more weight added.

 

[Theo X]

Yes, and GWS will let them take him.

 

[Seb78]

I guess if Essendon were to go after a big bodied mid they would just get Will Brodie with pick 1, therefore no need to bid on Will Setterfield.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I guess if Essendon were to go after a big bodied mid they would just get Will Brodie with pick 1, therefore no need to bid on Will Setterfield.

Exactly. If they want to replace Watson, Brodie is there. McCluggage will be the pick though.

 

[Malte]

McCluggage is exactly what Essendon need, a goalkicking midfielder. So many honours won throughout this season with such a limited preseason. Yes players like Bontempelli mature at different rates once in the AFL system and that is mostly unpredictable, but from the season McCluggage has had he is to good to pass up and looks like he'd fit straight into the lineup with a bit more weight added.

No problem with that line of thinking, but it still comes down to what you see right now vs scope for improvement, and based on my very limited knowledge of this year's crop, I think Setterfield has the attributes to develop into the best player of the draft, so I think Essendon should at the very least consider a bid.

I guess if Essendon were to go after a big bodied mid they would just get Will Brodie with pick 1, therefore no need to bid on Will Setterfield.

Maybe. He comes across as more the Ollie Wines type to me, not a premium tall classy mid.

Exactly. If they want to replace Watson, Brodie is there. McCluggage will be the pick though.

Of course! Someone else's solution was the right answer all along!

 

[Big Fresh]

I really like the look of Setterfield and wouldn't be disappointed if Essendon took him with pick one. Big mid who can win clearances, move through traffic, remain composed, use the ball well, and also take a mark. I don't see it happening though.

 

[Dr Whoooooooo]

Yes Lets play chicken

 

[Thewlis Dish]

It's a waste of time for Essendon he will only be there for the initial contract as he will want to go home.

Doesn't he support them? Obviously that doesn't counter the potential go home factor but not every kid has that.

 

[WilloTree]

Yes. Then Bowes, Perryman, Macreadie, Mutch, Allison, Daicos with no clubs matching bids.. all the way down until Freo get the steal of the Draft and nab Hugh McCluggage at Pick 7.

..and then I woke up.

 

[_Irk]

Even if an academy player was the best in the draft, why would we bid?
Why would you taint the marketing that you get from pick 1?

 

[EckersDevs]

I guess if Essendon were to go after a big bodied mid they would just get Will Brodie with pick 1, therefore no need to bid on Will Setterfield.

From what I've seen, setterfield has more tricks than brodie. Brodie going to be a very solid inside mid but setterfield could be that inside/outside 'bont' prototype.

I agree setters probably suits our midfield group the most out of all the candidates so I wouldn't be disappointed if we read his name out however I think McClug and McGrath have shown a more complete season this year which is usually the deciding factor where pick 1 goes.

Pretty much a toss up this year, but would be a bold choice to go with Setterfield over the Mc's - should make draft night exciting though anyway

 

[Big Fresh]

Even if an academy player was the best in the draft, why would we bid?
Why would you taint the marketing that you get from pick 1?

Because you want to pick the best player in the draft?

 

[EckersDevs]

Even if an academy player was the best in the draft, why would we bid?
Why would you taint the marketing that you get from pick 1?

I don't really rate this argument about marketing, GWS would most likely let him go anyway given their keenness for McGrath but surely the risk of some extra media time for the first couple of years doesn't outweigh the reward if Dodo rates him as the best player

 

[Zach Package]

It's a waste of time for Essendon he will only be there for the initial contract as he will want to go home.

'Home' for Setterfield is the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne, has been for the last 2 and a half years. It could get problematic if he wants a trade to his actual home though, I'm not sure Albury will have the picks to satisfy us.

 

[ParapMarkets]

Even if an academy player was the best in the draft, why would we bid?
Why would you taint the marketing that you get from pick 1?

If they rate him number 1 they should absolutely bid on him, would probably get him too. Sounds like it will be McCluggage, but if you rate a guy you should go after him and not worry about marketing, number 2 pick would be also very marketable and the exact same player.

 

[JG22]

Ridiculous

 

[SterlingArcher]

Even if an academy player was the best in the draft, why would we bid?
Why would you taint the marketing that you get from pick 1?

Not sure Essendon would be worried about tainted marketing after how strongly they've come out of the past 4 years, plus if Setterfield ended up with performances worthy of pick 1 he would deliver marketing in spades over the years anyway.