Team Mgmt. Talk about the makeup of our list - midfield balance, height profile, endurance runners

[TDay]

We would be holding onto a list spot for the midseason draft yeah? We have been getting really good value out of that one

 

[Ambrosia]

If you have 44 players on the list, without naming them as individuals or worrying about seniors vs rookies, how many should be key forwards/defenders? How many general forwards/defenders? How many rucks? How many to run through the midfield? How many for those flexible wing/pressure/sub/bench roles?

The simple answer I guess is 2x22- so 12 forwards [4 talls], 12 defenders [4 talls], 10 mids, 2 rucks, and 8 more players of some combination to represent the bench..?

My counter to this is that I’d say pretty much every list should have at least 3 guys capable of playing first ruck or else you get into trouble too easily.

 

[Lore]

We would be holding onto a list spot for the midseason draft yeah? We have been getting really good value out of that one

You can make a spot for the MSD by putting someone on the inactive list before round 11.

 

[quotemokc]

Is there any reason why Nick Bryan couldn't become another Rory Lobb

7

Rory Lobb

Age

32

Ht

207cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.4

4star

MG

174.6

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.3

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

1.4

2star

MG

228.6

3star

D

7.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.8

5star

MG

133.0

3star

type ruck/forward?

A forward line of Wright, Jones and Bryan is spine tingling.

Francis doesn't give us enough to justify experimenting with him there when we also have Langford and Stringer that are more than capable medium forwards.

 

[Old Campaigner]

I did say it was the simple answer. What’s your more erudite version?

Probably around 3-4 depth players for the the ruck, tall forward, tall defender positions. Reduce that if you’ve got guys capable of playing multiple positions. Then apportion the remaining list spots in roughly the ratio you have in your post.

 

[Bjchan13]

Walla is the one that needs support. Snelling and Smith can be good with the blue collar stuff but we need some more class/polish inside 50.

We had a dirty day to finish the season in the wet but we are still fine for talls next year. Wright, Jones, Francis, Hurley, Langford, Stringer, Cox and Perkins can all play as a marking target, now, if required. Baldwin, Bryan, Eyre etc can find their feet at VFL level. But as we saw, if Walla goes down we have no replacements. Cahill doesn't count as he is not physically capable of playing in the AFL yet. Not sure he ever will be.

Mosquito, Ronke, Schultz, national draft, rookie draft, state league. Dont mind where, but i think it needs addressing this off season.

 

[Vindicater]

Is Mitch Wallis cooked or could he come in as the bash and crash mid we need?

Honest question as have no idea other than the Bulldogs have Libba and Dunkley doing this role for them.

 

[crackers65]

Keen to see what plans are with Bryan & Baldwin with talks of Chol being a target.

One thing i'd like to see is more aggression on goal from the midfield. Feel we spend too much time looking for inside 50 targets, or a chaos ball in, vs stretching defences by having forwards leading and mids taking shots from 40-50. I feel much of that is the limitation of kicking distance from our mids.

This is where we really missed Jones. His constant movement, mobility and endurance up and down the ground opens up the forward line for everybody.
Hope he can get over his stress fracture, but being susceptible to them could limit how much extra size he puts on.

 

[citizen-erased]

This is where we really missed Jones. His constant movement, mobility and endurance up and down the ground opens up the forward line for everybody.
Hope he can get over his stress fracture, but being susceptible to them could limit how much extra size he puts on.

i'd be loathe for him to get much bigger. His agility and leap is a weapon. Kid reminds me of a tall Hird with the way he gets around & handles the ball off the deck.

 

[blitzer]

Even though our forward line was crap in the finals I can see some improvement. Jones will only get better. Langford is very good as a forward and I think will spend more time up there if we can keep our midfielders on the park next year a bit better. Stringer will still do his bit. Tippa will get back to his best I reckon. Smith is passable but hopefully we can replace him soon with someone more disciplined. Snelling will rotate there but he can't kick unless he's within like 35m so that limits his effectiveness big time, so might as well use him up the ground.

Wright is a pretty good option as a FWD/RUCK even though he had a terrible final - he's no star but he's OK. I have no faith in Francis as a forward. Just doesn't have the goal kicking instincts. Hurley may play a few games up forward as a stop gap but I doubt he'll do that well.

So we need to find a good key forward and a good small forward (probably 2 given Tippa is getting older). Its not the worst situation ever but it could do with some improvement.

I'd be happy if we could go after Chol and a good mature aged small forward. Give us some more depth and options without breaking the bank. Then at the end of next season if our young key forwards that are untested like Baldwin and Eyres don't seem to be coming on then maybe we consider throwing the kitchen sink at a King/whoever if it seems to fit where our list is at.

 

[yodellinhank]

It's always been that mobile lead up player that has made the difference. Jones out was actually a big deal in the scheme of getting everything to work together.

 

[ant555]

It's always been that mobile lead up player that has made the difference. Jones out was actually a big deal in the scheme of getting everything to work together.

If they give him space to work in he will kick 40 goals next year. IMO.

 

[faible]

It's always been that mobile lead up player that has made the difference. Jones out was actually a big deal in the scheme of getting everything to work together.

Langford also does this to good effect, so both missing is quite a big deal.

 

[brutus76]

Go with the kids.

Unless you can extract a ready made like a Tom McDonald

25

Tom Mcdonald

Age

33

Ht

195cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.4

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

6.7

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.9

4star

MG

261.8

4star

D

8.0

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

3.4

3star

T

0.6

1star

MG

135.6

2star

D

13.8

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

7.0

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.4

4star

play the kids.

THe more games into Reid, Brand, Jonesy, Eyre, Baldwin the quicker the development and you know which ones are keepers.

 

[brutus76]

Hooksy and Zaka save surely 1m to 1.2m?

 

[ghostdog]

I just want to see Balls get a really good run at it next year. Train like a champ all Summer, Ballsy, and get that R1 berth!

 

[ant555]

Caldwell should be that when he is fit and firing

Hope so.

 

[Lore]

Hooksy and Zaka save surely 1m to 1.2m?

After the cash we saved last year and the increases given to Parish, Merrett and Stringer (who would surely have already been on something decent enough), and now these retirements, I’m not convinced we’re even making cap floor in 2022 as it stands.

 

[Seb78]

With Zaka now officially moving on and Chook & Ambrose both retired. How many 30+ guys does this leave us with?

Hurley, Phillips?

 

[faible]

With Zaka now officially moving on and Chook & Ambrose both retired. How many 30+ guys does this leave us with?

Hurley, Phillips?

Essendon Bombers Football Club Player List (footywire.com)

And Doise will turn 30 during the season next year.

 

[ant555]

My view on the midfield rotations is we need to maximize Parish , Shiel and Stringer as clearance players and try and allow Merrett and McGrath to be first receive more often than not. Parish and Shiel are both exceptional clearance players at both center bounce and stoppage and Jake is a gun in the center when he gets opportunity.

 

[Mikevk123]

I think next season we should trial a few of the younger talls up forward and rotate them. Through the VFL and at senior level.

Give Cox stints up forward when he’s gassed and see if he’s comfortable playing as a key forward.

Fingers crossed Baldwin stays healthy and he’s able to make his debut sometime next year. Same goes with McBridge, Eyre and Brand. Would it be worth experimenting Zach Reid up forward or a no go.

 

[Lore]

My view on the midfield rotations is we need to maximize Parish , Shiel and Stringer as clearance players and try and allow Merrett and McGrath to be first receive more often than not. Parish and Shiel are both exceptional clearance players at both center bounce and stoppage and Jake is a gun in the center when he gets opportunity.

Agree. Where do you see Caldwell? Or haven't seen enough yet?

 

[ant555]

Agree. Where do you see Caldwell? Or haven't seen enough yet?

Caldwell will play some inside footy but may have to do some of the defensive work. For me the main thing with him is get him on the park for a season and see where it goes.

 

[Yoda_]

Who actually goes out when we discuss the upgrading of the current best 22?

Easy enough to suggest we need 'player x' but we obviously need to drop someone from the AFL side to do so.