Hot Topic The Rebuild, est. 2023 and/or 2025

[Call Me Cake]

I put up facts that back this up but a lot of premiership and grand final sides have 3x150 game players from the same draft in a team that plays off about 8 years after being drafted.

Fremantle 2019 had Serong, Brayshaw and Fredrick on track to do it in 2027. They’re hitting the timeline perfectly

The whole 8 year thing makes much more sense now

You're taking the "8 year" thing out of context and even Vozzo elaborated on that earlier in the year.

 

[Old man fletch]

One advantage of the club realising we’re utterly shite is they might be investing a bit more in scouting and talent identification compared to when the hierarchy assumed it was all the coaches fault

Agreed.

In addition, I don't understand why the club doesn't pay the soft cap tax and get an extra development coach and a goal kicking coach in. With the amount of young players we have, this seems like a smart investment.

If you're looking at it from a purely fiscal POV, surely they could get some cotterie members to kick in short term if the club was coming up short, and long term we move up the ladder quicker, so sell more memberships and merch

 

[King Patty]

Lets look at our footy expenses compared to Collingwood in 2024.

EFC



Collingwood

 

[Lore]

Lets look at our footy expenses compared to Collingwood in 2024.

EFC

View attachment 2413634

Collingwood
View attachment 2413637

Don’t know what I’m supposed to be looking at here. Essendon clearly says football expenses and I suppose Collingwood calls it “teams expenses”? But that’s all football. AFL, VFL, women’s, wheelchair, blind. Collingwood also has or had a netball team..?

 

[FlyingV]

I’ve become so desensitised by the club now I honestly hardly have a reaction to these rumours of people departing the club.

I remember riding the wave of desperately wanting Stringer, Saad and Shiel and being devo when we lost Daniher.

Now I honestly DGAF we are so far off it. I honestly think I’m now dead inside. I think the feeling I have is sadness… but becuase I’m dead inside so I actually don’t know. I guess that’s the perk of being dead inside.

 

[Call Me Cake]

I’ve become so desensitised by the club now I honestly hardly have a reaction to these rumours of people departing the club.

I remember riding the wave of desperately wanting Stringer, Saad and Shiel and being devo when we lost Daniher.

Now I honestly DGAF we are so far off it. I honestly think I’m now dead inside. I think the feeling I have is sadness… but becuase I’m dead inside so I actually don’t know. I guess that’s the perk of being dead inside.

I'm actually the opposite. I'm buoyed by the sequence of decisions we've made (top to bottom) in the last 2 or so years that I've recognised it for the long overdue circuit breaker that it is.

Of course not all progress is linear, it never is. However the exponential changes directing us in a positive direction has far outweighed said bumps and it begins to feel like it's inevitable.

 

[FlyingV]

I'm actually the opposite. I'm buoyed by the sequence of decisions we've made (top to bottom) in the last 2 or so years that I've recognised it for the long overdue circuit breaker that it is. I'm not alone in it either, for the first time in a long time I see neutral people outside of the club looking at what we're building and finding it difficult not to laud it.

Of course not all progress is linear, it never is, and it's during the bumps that your trust in it is most tested. However the exponential changes that are directing us in the positive direction has far outweighed said bumps to the point that there's an element manifest destiny about it.

I’m with you that better decisions are being made. At the same time I’m grieving the incompetence that the Ridleys, Hurleys, Heppells and Merretts have had to endure for us to be where we are today.

 

[Call Me Cake]

I’m with you that better decisions are being made. At the same time I’m grieving the incompetence that the Ridleys, Hurleys, Heppells and Merretts have had to endure for us to be where we are today.

Better late than never*

 

[Nifft]

I’m with you that better decisions are being made. At the same time I’m grieving the incompetence that the Ridleys, Hurleys, Heppells and Merretts have had to endure for us to be where we are today.

I have mixed feelings as well. I like the the changes they're making behind the scenes, and the types of players we're bringing in, but I feel that the club is still being haunted by the ghosts of our past. It's not the fault of the people currently running the club, but until we start to see some turn around on the field the pressure on them is going to keep building, and the media will keep dogpiling because it gets clicks.

 

[Squeaky]

I'm actually the opposite. I'm buoyed by the sequence of decisions we've made (top to bottom) in the last 2 or so years that I've recognised it for the long overdue circuit breaker that it is.

Of course not all progress is linear, it never is. However the exponential changes directing us in a positive direction has far outweighed said bumps and it begins to feel like it's inevitable.

Not all regress is linear either - the general direction of this place has been regressive rather than progressive.
I hope we are on the right track with this collection of people trying to right the wrongs of the past. But...
Name me anything in the last 12 years that would buck that strong trend?
For example - Can't wait to see how we **** this draft hand - and what will be the excuse this time?
(the suspense is genuinely killing me)

 

[Squeaky]

I’m with you that better decisions are being made. At the same time I’m grieving the incompetence that the Ridleys, Hurleys, Heppells and Merretts have had to endure for us to be where we are today.

I have spoken about this too - the career scrap heap is piling up and are starting to dwarf the Hangar.
I weep for the annual recruits...
FFS - someone needs to grab the wheel!

 

[windyhill]

I’ve become so desensitised by the club now I honestly hardly have a reaction to these rumours of people departing the club.

I remember riding the wave of desperately wanting Stringer, Saad and Shiel and being devo when we lost Daniher.

Now I honestly DGAF we are so far off it. I honestly think I’m now dead inside. I think the feeling I have is sadness… but becuase I’m dead inside so I actually don’t know. I guess that’s the perk of being dead inside.

Ditto. It ****ing kills me.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

I'm actually the opposite. I'm buoyed by the sequence of decisions we've made (top to bottom) in the last 2 or so years that I've recognised it for the long overdue circuit breaker that it is.

Of course not all progress is linear, it never is. However the exponential changes directing us in a positive direction has far outweighed said bumps and it begins to feel like it's inevitable.

I’m glad you have found something positive, I’m just not entirely sure what you think that actually is.

 

[BomberManU]

I’m glad you have found something positive, I’m just not entirely sure what you think that actually is.

That established, contracted, best 22 players, want out is a bad, bad sign. Casts a shadow over any 'progress', for now.

 

[Lore]

Putting this here as I think it's more about the club and the rebuild than it is about Draper specifically:

Draper’s unrestricted free agency status is an unintended consequence of the Bombers shuffling money around for his teammates.

When Draper signed his existing deal in late 2022, the ruckman was clearly among the top earners at Essendon. Club and player were early last year in talks to extend that deal and both parties were confident the commitment would continue.

But in the time since, the Bombers overhauled their list management structure, the Draper talks fizzled out and a series of other contracts were signed or adjusted.

Kyle Langford

4

Kyle Langford

Age

29

Ht

192cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.7

4star

K

8.3

3star

HB

7.3

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

3.3

5star

G

0.7

4star

D

17.4

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.4

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.6

3star

G

0.7

4star

D

8.2

2star

K

3.2

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

2.6

4star

G

0.6

3star

, Darcy Parish

3

Darcy Parish

Age

28

Ht

180cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.4

5star

K

9.2

4star

HB

11.2

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

3.3

5star

CL

3.2

5star

D

16.6

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

9.1

5star

M

1.4

2star

T

2.0

3star

CL

3.1

4star

D

22.2

5star

K

7.6

3star

HB

14.6

5star

M

3.2

4star

T

4.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

, Sam Durham were among those to pen new deals, shunting Draper down the table of earners.

In a bungle they could yet pay dearly for, by the time Essendon lodged its player payment estimates with the AFL Draper was an unrestricted free agent.

Draper: The unintended consequence of an Essendon admin error

The ruckman is still to make a call on his future.

www.sen.com.au

So this would specifically be the payment estimates that are part of the last list lodgement each year, after the draft. Unclear who was responsible for doing that bit of paperwork last year though?

 

[faible]

Putting this here as I think it's more about the club and the rebuild than it is about Draper specifically:

Draper: The unintended consequence of an Essendon admin error

The ruckman is still to make a call on his future.

www.sen.com.au

So this would specifically be the payment estimates that are part of the last list lodgement each year, after the draft. Unclear who was responsible for doing that bit of paperwork last year though?

It doesn't sound like there was any error with list lodgement.

Just that he's not in the top-10 earning contracts because he hadn't signed a new deal yet.

It's a bit of a nothing-burger. Were we supposed to sign a contract unilaterally? Not sign other players?

 

[Lore]

It doesn't sound like there was any error with list lodgement.

Just that he's not in the top-10 earning contracts because he hadn't signed a new deal yet.

It's a bit of a nothing-burger. Were we supposed to sign a contract unilaterally? Not sign other players?

The way FA works is based on everyone's estimated salaries in the 2025 football year (which runs nov 1 to oct 31), so all they'd need to do is make sure his salary was top 10 in this particular year of his contract. others could move their dollars into 2024 or 2026.

We manipulate plenty of things with front and back loading all the time, the top 10 is never really the top 10.

Now we're looking at a situation where the prospect of him leaving is having a destabilising effect on other senior players. Where does that leave our rebuild?

 

[Old Campaigner]

The way FA works is based on everyone's estimated salaries in the 2025 football year (which runs nov 1 to oct 31), so all they'd need to do is make sure his salary was top 10 in this particular year of his contract. others could move their dollars into 2024 or 2026.

We manipulate plenty of things with front and back loading all the time, the top 10 is never really the top 10.

Now we're looking at a situation where the prospect of him leaving is having a destabilising effect on other senior players. Where does that leave our rebuild?

If it’s the final year of his contract there aren’t many options for moving his salary around other than simply handing him extra cash

 

[Lore]

If it’s the final year of his contract there aren’t many options for moving his salary around other than simply handing him extra cash

Which means something in the medium term plan went awry. That's why it's not specifically about Draper imo.

 

[boncer34]

The way FA works is based on everyone's estimated salaries in the 2025 football year (which runs nov 1 to oct 31), so all they'd need to do is make sure his salary was top 10 in this particular year of his contract. others could move their dollars into 2024 or 2026.

We manipulate plenty of things with front and back loading all the time, the top 10 is never really the top 10.

Now we're looking at a situation where the prospect of him leaving is having a destabilising effect on other senior players. Where does that leave our rebuild?

Is it? Has it been reported thats partly why they (supposedly) want out?

 

[faible]

The way FA works is based on everyone's estimated salaries in the 2025 football year (which runs nov 1 to oct 31), so all they'd need to do is make sure his salary was top 10 in this particular year of his contract. others could move their dollars into 2024 or 2026.

We manipulate plenty of things with front and back loading all the time, the top 10 is never really the top 10.

Now we're looking at a situation where the prospect of him leaving is having a destabilising effect on other senior players. Where does that leave our rebuild?

He could leave irrespective though. He’s out of contract.

 

[Lore]

He could leave irrespective though. He’s out of contract.

Sure. But from the clubs perspective you want to be maximising your leverage regardless of the players' ultimate decision.

 

[Lore]

Is it? Has it been reported thats partly why they (supposedly) want out?

From here:

AFL Player - 7: Indefatigable Zach Merrett (c) has won his seventh Essendon BigFooty Board POTY award

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent 2027 My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 10, I Remember Bluey

www.bigfooty.com

 

[Jobe Watson]

Really need to nail these upcoming drafts before Tassie come in. Our outlook for the next 5-8 years is almost dependant on it. We'll likely have 4/5 top 10 picks over the next two years, we need at least one elite talent and a couple of other A-graders from those picks, and then hope to find a nice handful of best 22 talent from the later picks. Try to land a big fish in 2027 and then hopefully push for a premiership from 2028 onwards as guys like Durham, Caldwell, Martin, Caddy, Kako etc are in their prime.

But this is like our 4th attempt at trying to build a premiership list in the last 10 years so who knows what will happen.

 

[jdstorm]

The way FA works is based on everyone's estimated salaries in the 2025 football year (which runs nov 1 to oct 31), so all they'd need to do is make sure his salary was top 10 in this particular year of his contract. others could move their dollars into 2024 or 2026.

We manipulate plenty of things with front and back loading all the time, the top 10 is never really the top 10.

Now we're looking at a situation where the prospect of him leaving is having a destabilising effect on other senior players. Where does that leave our rebuild?

In a better place.
Even band 2 compo is good value for Draper.

If it happens to make some other underperforming senior players feel like they have to earn playing time that can only be a good thing