Yeah fair pointI meant defenders. Ryder is not going to be a career defender IMO. He will play more in the ruck in the future.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

Soccer Notice Image
FA Cup Semi-Finals ⚽ 2026 FIFA Series A - Socceroos friendlies ⚽ Europa - Rd of 16 ⚽ The Matildas x 2026 Womens Asia Cup ⚽ Conference League - KNOCKOUTS! ⚽ Conference League - Rd of 16 ⚽ Socceroos Internat'l Friendlies ⚽ Champs League - League Phase ⚽
Fantasy Footy Notice Image Round 5
SuperCoach Rd 5 SC Talk - Trade Talk - Capt/VC ,//, AFL Fantasy Rd 5 AFF Talk - AF Trades - Capt/VC
Yeah fair pointI meant defenders. Ryder is not going to be a career defender IMO. He will play more in the ruck in the future.
Um Gumby, Ryder, Neagle.
From an outsider's view and i'm not attempting to troll. (feel free to correct me where i'm wrong you lot probably know more than me regarding Essendon)
I honestly think the bombers will struggle for the next few years.
Apart from last years draft, there hasn't been many quality youngsters coming through. For most of Sheedy's career he's managed to 'top' up a list to great success, and find quality players that struggled at other clubs.
The last couple of years however have really not worked out that well with regards to trading.
Strengths for Essendon are your terrific forward line and solid defense. Your best players in these positions have probably 3 years left in them.
Weakness is your midfield, probably bottom 4 in the competition, although this looks to be rectified from drafting it will most likely take another 2 years before your midfield is in the top8 of the competition.
At this time I feel your Forward and back lines will be heavily hit with retirements.
So I don't quite think Essendon will get the spoon next year, I do feel you will be languishing in the bottom 6 for another 3-4 years.
Best Case scenario is of course players like Gumbleton, Ryder, Dempsey,Monfries, Neagle come along a lot quicker than expected and fill the void of those key players expected to retire, then you have a chance to be mixing it in 8 the in 1-2years time.
I meant defenders. Ryder is not going to be a career defender IMO. He will play more in the ruck in the future.
Log in to remove this Banner Ad

ye who ever started this thread is a carlton fan i betI'd be surprised if we got the spoon. I think we're a good bit better than that though I think our best result is 7 or 8. Probably finish about 10th. Injuries obviously will play a massive role.
Hird is a massive loss but often teams can do just as well or better when the star leaves as strange as it sounds as the others lift to fill the void (look up the "Ewing effect").
So much depends on how guys like Watson, Nash, Winder, Stanton, Hocking, Dempsey, Houli, Hislop and Laycock develop. I'm confident they'll leave us well clear of the spoon.
Lol you guys really overate sheedy and hird dont you
Matthews is way ahead of sheeds as good as sheeds was
Norm Smith also wasnt bad
wat u mean carlton way? breach the salary cap and lose almost 1 million which made your club the horrible team it is today? you can't rly liveo na team where mids are striving to surviveI DO!! Bottom 2
Without Hird this year you may have finished in the bottom 3 or so anyway....
It would be the best thing for your club if you do the Carlton way a bit... All Jokes Aside--We have a very bright future because of it..
When i think 2000, i think Essendon..when i think 95 its da Blues--
IF YOUR NOT WINNING GRANDFINALS THEN SUCK EGGS AND REBUILD THE BEST WAY...
Long term you will be a powerhouse again like the Blues competing for the 17th
why? thats a fair enough question, its not like we are premiership material
No chance of spoon you fools!!!!!!!!
Here's why:
Lloyd and Lucas will kick about 120+ goals.
Fletch, Mal and Ryder will have the defence covered.
All the guys that have 20-70 games will improve - Stanton, Watson, Winderlich, Nash, NLM, Davey, Lovett, Laycock, Monfries, Slattery.
We will have impact throughout the year at various times from Gumby, Jetta, Hislop, Houli, Reimers, Neagle, Lonergan.
Rama will prove what a good player he really was and still can be.
And finally the jewell in the crown... Dempsey. He will announce himself next year as a player to watch.
Anything less than finals and I'd be seriously disappointed.
The guys in bold will determine where you can finish on the ladder,
Expect your top 4 players to do a great job, and the 'imapct at various time' players to show glimpses of what they can do.
The Bolded players will be the ones verging on 50games / just over and will need to be solid contributors, or else i'd guess you will be around 13th on the ladder.
I can't see us going anywhere next year.
I expect us to finish 10-12 again.