Here is an email that has been doing the rounds about the "inside word" on Essendon during the trade period.
As with everything on the board, what is said must be taken with a grain of salt.
--------------------------
This came through the grapevine......
Here's an email I got declaring the inside word from Essendon during Trade
Week (from a bloke who knew a bloke in the cheer squad)...
Lance Whitnall
Essendon were never interested. Carlton were only prepared to pay $50,000
of his reported $550,000 contract, so it was never going to happen.
Scott West
Essendon never initiated contact with West or his management. He was really
disappointed that the Bulldogs didn't make more of his 6th best and fairest
win and decided he wanted out of the kennel. He chose Essendon as his
preferred destination and is great mates with Misiti, Harvey and Wallis.
The deal would have seen the Bulldogs pay $100,000 a year for 2 years of
West's contact. Essendon would have paid $300,000 and West would've taken a pay cut as well. He's currently on about $470,000 a year. The Dogs asked for Scott Lucus in a straight swap. The Bombers bluntly declined. They then asked for Ted Richards and Pick 14, but this deal was also scoffed at.
Essendon's initial offer to the Bulldogs was pick 30, with Darren Walsh
thrown in as talks progressed. The only reason the deal didn't go through
was because the Bulldogs feared a backlash from its supporters for trading
away a "favourite son" so cheaply. The Bulldog's weren't really concerned
about losing West. Essendon weren't happy with "Rocket" Eade shooting his
mouth of in the papers over the weekend. They've warned him to shut his
trap or have the real details of the West deal made public.
Daniel Kerr
Our biggest target, but the Eagles weren't prepared to let him go. It is
believed that James Hird will most likely call it quits at the end of 2005
and the club felt that landing Kerr would've given us a huge chance of
snaring a flag before Jimmy bowed out. Kerr genuinely hates Ben Cousins and
may look to make a move when his contract expires at the end of 2005. I'm
told Essendon will try again next year. Essendon also looked at getting
David Wirrpunda, but again the Eagles weren't dealing.
Ty Zantuck
Essendon are far from heart-broken at missing out on him. He hates Richmond
and his teammates. The feeling is mutual. He simply doesn't want to be
there. Not only that, but he was seen at the funeral of a notorious
underworld figure during the year. Zantuck's contract was the other
problem. Essendon decided they didn't want him, but at the last minute,
Miller approached Essendon and said he wanted to do a deal. Miller even
agreed that Richmond would pay a hefty chunk of Zantuck's contract.
Essendon's final offer was a straight swap for Pick 46 and it would've
happened had time not run out. Now Richmond are stuck with a player they
don't want for the bargain price of $260,000.
Kane Tenace
We made inquiries, but Geelong weren't dealing.
Chris Tarrant
This is the rumour that comes up yearly, but his name actually did come up.
Tarrant's best mates are Solly and Alvey. They all want to play together.
Tarrant is said to be very unpredictable and could quit footy without a
moments notice as he did a few years ago. Solly and Alvey are also said to
be quite erratic.
Aaron Henneman & Sam Hunt
Both are likely to be offered new 1-year contracts and not be delisted as
most have assumed.
Darren Walsh
Will probably be the only one delisted, but no decision made yet. They
wanted him to put on 8kg to be considered senior ready, instead he got
glandular fever and lost 4 kg. Essendon want to rookie him, but think he
might go before they get a pick.
Nathan Lovett-Murray & Andrew Lovett
At this stage, both will earn permanent promotion to the senior list.
Justin Blumfield
Is only considered a remote chance of being drafted. The club will wait
until they know who's available (who other clubs have dumped) before
deciding whether or not to participate in the PSD. Essendon have about
$300,000 to play with.
Other Player News
Mark Johnson
His dust up with Chris Tarrant wasn't his only off-field indiscretion in
2004.
Adam Ramanauskas
Still can't move his neck properly, but the club is optimistic that he'll
be better in 2005 after his performance against Geelong in the finals.
Brent Stanton
Will be a gun and the club will work hard to help him improve his kicking.
Ricky Dyson has also impressed.
Kepler Bradley
My source said "he better turn out to be a gun CHB for what we've given up
for him". I assume he wasn't talking about Danny Jacobs, but rather, Kane
Tenace.
Jay Nash
Had some trade interest shown in him, but Sheedy reckons he'll be a good
midfielder.
Mark Alvey
Although Essendon think he can play, the main reason we recruited him was
to give Solomon another reason to stay at Windy Hill.
Jobe Watson
Is set to explode in 2005. His endurance and overall fitness are expected
improve greatly over the summer. Expect him to play more in the midfield.
Mark him down as the rising star of 2005!
Dean Rioli
Has had post-season hip and knee surgery. Both injuries were considered the
main reason for his continual hamstring problems in 2004.
Matthew Lloyd
Played out 2004 with a broken bone his lower back and a stress fracture in
his leg. Kicking 98 goals was a damn good effort.
Jason Laycock
The big hope is that he and David Hille will rotate between ruck and CHF,
with Matthew Allan considered a back up ruckman. Time will tell.
Courtney Johns
Not expected to play before June, but his rehab is progressing very
encouragingly. Similar things were said last season though.
Mark Bolton
As Kerr was our main incoming trading target, Bolts was the one we most
wanted to offload. Opposition clubs showed minimal interest.
Tristan Cartledge
Said to be a little bit "chicken". Is still spooked by the bigger, stronger
AFL bodies and needs to toughen up.
Ben Haynes
Really struggled to cope with the death of his father during the year and
his footy suffered as a result.
Bendigo Bombers
Essendon listed players hate going to Bendigo. Traveling to and from
Bendigo really takes it out of them and QEO makes the venture even less
appealing.
As with everything on the board, what is said must be taken with a grain of salt.
--------------------------
This came through the grapevine......
Here's an email I got declaring the inside word from Essendon during Trade
Week (from a bloke who knew a bloke in the cheer squad)...
Lance Whitnall
Essendon were never interested. Carlton were only prepared to pay $50,000
of his reported $550,000 contract, so it was never going to happen.
Scott West
Essendon never initiated contact with West or his management. He was really
disappointed that the Bulldogs didn't make more of his 6th best and fairest
win and decided he wanted out of the kennel. He chose Essendon as his
preferred destination and is great mates with Misiti, Harvey and Wallis.
The deal would have seen the Bulldogs pay $100,000 a year for 2 years of
West's contact. Essendon would have paid $300,000 and West would've taken a pay cut as well. He's currently on about $470,000 a year. The Dogs asked for Scott Lucus in a straight swap. The Bombers bluntly declined. They then asked for Ted Richards and Pick 14, but this deal was also scoffed at.
Essendon's initial offer to the Bulldogs was pick 30, with Darren Walsh
thrown in as talks progressed. The only reason the deal didn't go through
was because the Bulldogs feared a backlash from its supporters for trading
away a "favourite son" so cheaply. The Bulldog's weren't really concerned
about losing West. Essendon weren't happy with "Rocket" Eade shooting his
mouth of in the papers over the weekend. They've warned him to shut his
trap or have the real details of the West deal made public.
Daniel Kerr
Our biggest target, but the Eagles weren't prepared to let him go. It is
believed that James Hird will most likely call it quits at the end of 2005
and the club felt that landing Kerr would've given us a huge chance of
snaring a flag before Jimmy bowed out. Kerr genuinely hates Ben Cousins and
may look to make a move when his contract expires at the end of 2005. I'm
told Essendon will try again next year. Essendon also looked at getting
David Wirrpunda, but again the Eagles weren't dealing.
Ty Zantuck
Essendon are far from heart-broken at missing out on him. He hates Richmond
and his teammates. The feeling is mutual. He simply doesn't want to be
there. Not only that, but he was seen at the funeral of a notorious
underworld figure during the year. Zantuck's contract was the other
problem. Essendon decided they didn't want him, but at the last minute,
Miller approached Essendon and said he wanted to do a deal. Miller even
agreed that Richmond would pay a hefty chunk of Zantuck's contract.
Essendon's final offer was a straight swap for Pick 46 and it would've
happened had time not run out. Now Richmond are stuck with a player they
don't want for the bargain price of $260,000.
Kane Tenace
We made inquiries, but Geelong weren't dealing.
Chris Tarrant
This is the rumour that comes up yearly, but his name actually did come up.
Tarrant's best mates are Solly and Alvey. They all want to play together.
Tarrant is said to be very unpredictable and could quit footy without a
moments notice as he did a few years ago. Solly and Alvey are also said to
be quite erratic.
Aaron Henneman & Sam Hunt
Both are likely to be offered new 1-year contracts and not be delisted as
most have assumed.
Darren Walsh
Will probably be the only one delisted, but no decision made yet. They
wanted him to put on 8kg to be considered senior ready, instead he got
glandular fever and lost 4 kg. Essendon want to rookie him, but think he
might go before they get a pick.
Nathan Lovett-Murray & Andrew Lovett
At this stage, both will earn permanent promotion to the senior list.
Justin Blumfield
Is only considered a remote chance of being drafted. The club will wait
until they know who's available (who other clubs have dumped) before
deciding whether or not to participate in the PSD. Essendon have about
$300,000 to play with.
Other Player News
Mark Johnson
His dust up with Chris Tarrant wasn't his only off-field indiscretion in
2004.
Adam Ramanauskas
Still can't move his neck properly, but the club is optimistic that he'll
be better in 2005 after his performance against Geelong in the finals.
Brent Stanton
Will be a gun and the club will work hard to help him improve his kicking.
Ricky Dyson has also impressed.
Kepler Bradley
My source said "he better turn out to be a gun CHB for what we've given up
for him". I assume he wasn't talking about Danny Jacobs, but rather, Kane
Tenace.
Jay Nash
Had some trade interest shown in him, but Sheedy reckons he'll be a good
midfielder.
Mark Alvey
Although Essendon think he can play, the main reason we recruited him was
to give Solomon another reason to stay at Windy Hill.
Jobe Watson
Is set to explode in 2005. His endurance and overall fitness are expected
improve greatly over the summer. Expect him to play more in the midfield.
Mark him down as the rising star of 2005!
Dean Rioli
Has had post-season hip and knee surgery. Both injuries were considered the
main reason for his continual hamstring problems in 2004.
Matthew Lloyd
Played out 2004 with a broken bone his lower back and a stress fracture in
his leg. Kicking 98 goals was a damn good effort.
Jason Laycock
The big hope is that he and David Hille will rotate between ruck and CHF,
with Matthew Allan considered a back up ruckman. Time will tell.
Courtney Johns
Not expected to play before June, but his rehab is progressing very
encouragingly. Similar things were said last season though.
Mark Bolton
As Kerr was our main incoming trading target, Bolts was the one we most
wanted to offload. Opposition clubs showed minimal interest.
Tristan Cartledge
Said to be a little bit "chicken". Is still spooked by the bigger, stronger
AFL bodies and needs to toughen up.
Ben Haynes
Really struggled to cope with the death of his father during the year and
his footy suffered as a result.
Bendigo Bombers
Essendon listed players hate going to Bendigo. Traveling to and from
Bendigo really takes it out of them and QEO makes the venture even less
appealing.
