Strategy Trade and List Management Thread Part 7 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)

[TiAn_]

Ridley isn’t and never has been a bulking KPD which is what we need

I keep seeing this sentiment but the more I look at the numbers on Wheelo the more it confirms to me what I saw this year which is that our key defenders are no more of a problem than our general and small defenders.

I can see why we’re in the hunt for mediums like Silvagni and Ridley. Maybe another key defender allows O’Donnell to play more as a general defender. But we just need an injection of quality defending in any shape or form.

 

[St 07]

Maybe they're off to bash rioli

 

[Foxman98]

I keep seeing this sentiment but the more I look at the numbers on Wheelo the more it confirms to me what I saw this year which is that our key defenders are no more of a problem than our general and small defenders.

I can see why we’re in the hunt for mediums like Silvagni and Ridley. Maybe another key defender allows O’Donnell to play more as a general defender. But we just need an injection of quality defending in any shape or form.

We dont need a star or a medium we just need the Frampton/Keane/Payne type to free up the rest to be able to do what Moore/Worrell/Andrews can

 

[Cudi]

Plays on all types.
But what would I know , so not trying to convince you.

Ridley isn't a one on one defender though. He is an interceptor, he's Rory Lobb with a much better kick.

There is a reason why Essendon went out and got McKay for a million bucks.

 

[Cudi]

I get the sentiment that we just need more quality defenders no matter what type, but Ridley would be a significant investment both money and picks wise. I just don't think he is worth that investment when you have Lobb, JOD and Buss who play a similar game to him. That investment needs to go to what we don't have, a quality one on one defender like we were chasing with Barrass. Once we get that Lobb and JOD then can play what suits them much better and you have your Ridley there.

 

[Foxman98]

I get the sentiment that we just need more quality defenders no matter what type, but Ridley would be a significant investment both money and picks wise. I just don't think he is worth that investment when you have Lobb, JOD and Buss who play a similar game to him. That investment needs to go to what we don't have, a quality one on one defender like we were chasing with Barrass. Once we get that Lobb and JOD then can play what suits them much better and you have your Ridley there.

Spot on,

Whether it be Butts/Young/Blanck or even 2/3 we are missing the "easier" defensive position to fill where you just need a solid competitor to take the #1 forward which frees up Lobb/JOD to play their more natural games as they aren't 1 on 1 hold down the fort kind of players,

Ridley is already contracted for 7 years which is a worry and if we are giving up our first for him this year I will spew up given he's played less then 20 games in 2 years and has massive concussion and hamstring issues

 

[Deadly Darcy]

Spot on,

Whether it be Butts/Young/Blanck or even 2/3 we are missing the "easier" defensive position to fill where you just need a solid competitor to take the #1 forward which frees up Lobb/JOD to play their more natural games as they aren't 1 on 1 hold down the fort kind of players,

Ridley is already contracted for 7 years which is a worry and if we are giving up our first for him this year I will spew up given he's played less then 20 games in 2 years and has massive concussion and hamstring issues

We do have an excellent medical team though. If we back ourselves to get Ridley or Silvani on the park more consistently they are both good aquisitions and we certainly have the cap space to make a move. I’m still more inclined to get Butts out of Adelaide. They are best in class at spotting tall defenders and developing them so it’s a good hunting ground to be targeting.

 

[Libbaaaa]

I get the sentiment that we just need more quality defenders no matter what type, but Ridley would be a significant investment both money and picks wise. I just don't think he is worth that investment when you have Lobb, JOD and Buss who play a similar game to him. That investment needs to go to what we don't have, a quality one on one defender like we were chasing with Barrass. Once we get that Lobb and JOD then can play what suits them much better and you have your Ridley there.

Also it isn't just the soft tissue stuff with Ridley, he has had 3 really bad concussions since 2021.

 

[Redders98]

I'm being reliably told that we have some recruitment staff heading to Adelaide today .

If/when I'm told more, you'll all be the first to know.

Surely this has to be about Butters?

Unless we’re interested in any other Port players, I don’t see us meeting with any Crows guys 2 days before their finals campaign?

 

[Libbaaaa]

Surely this has to be about Butters?

Unless we’re interested in any other Port players, I don’t see us meeting with any Crows guys 2 days before their finals campaign?

Butt(s)ers.

 

[geoffjennings79]

Recruiting team also has return flight seats allocated. I snuck a look, could only see the first 4 letters of the additional return seat: "B-u-t-t"...

 

[grassman75]

Yeah Ridley is a nice player when healthy, but that hasn't been too often of late. I believe he actually had a pretty good games played record before the last few years so hasn't always been injury prone, but would need to get his body right after the Bombers have wrecked him.

Saying that though, I think Essendon would ask a ton for him, so not a guy I would want to give up our 1st rounder for.

Ridley could be the new Coffield

 

[King Harold]

Ridley isn't a one on one defender though. He is an interceptor, he's Rory Lobb with a much better kick.

There is a reason why Essendon went out and got McKay for a million bucks.

Lobb is a brilliant kick , so he must be good !
Again won’t try to convince you of anything, you know more than me !

 

[Foxman98]

Lobb is a brilliant kick , so he must be good !
Again won’t try to convince you of anything, you know more than me !

No one is suggesting anyone "knows more then you" Ridley just isn't the kind of player we need we have plenty like him albeit not at his level when he is fit but given his long term deal and high trade price he doesn't move the needle to trade what is currently a top 10 pick

 

[Bald]

No one is suggesting anyone "knows more then you" Ridley just isn't the kind of player we need we have plenty like him albeit not at his level when he is fit but given his long term deal and high trade price he doesn't move the needle to trade what is currently a top 10 pick

I think there’s an argument that having an experienced defender down there is helpful regardless of what particular position they play.

When I go through our list of defenders, the experienced ones aren’t really the authoritative types, and the rest are inexperienced.

With that being said, I’d certainly not trade our first this year, though am open to trading a future first.

 

[King Harold]

No one is suggesting anyone "knows more then you" Ridley just isn't the kind of player we need we have plenty like him albeit not at his level when he is fit but given his long term deal and high trade price he doesn't move the needle to trade what is currently a top 10 pick

I would also be very reluctant to recruit him given the cost and injury history, that we agree on .
But his ability and my belief he makes us better is not worth the discussion.

There are plenty on here that know more than me , just ask them !

 

[Foxman98]

I think there’s an argument that having an experienced defender down there is helpful regardless of what particular position they play.

When I go through our list of defenders, the experienced ones aren’t really the authoritative types, and the rest are inexperienced.

With that being said, I’d certainly not trade our first this year, though am open to trading a future first.

Ridley isn't overly experienced though,

He's played 104 games in 8 years

 

[TiAn_]

We dont need a star or a medium we just need the Frampton/Keane/Payne type to free up the rest to be able to do what Moore/Worrell/Andrews can

Jack Payne is absolutely a star, he’s one of the top 3-4 interceptors in the comp while being elite 1v1.

Frampton is moving the needle for us as much Jones and Busslinger did this year. Keane’s essentially James O’Donnell.

Rory Lobb was free enough to only average 0.4 less intercept marks than Harris Andrews 0.2 less than Darcy Moore and 0.5 more than Josh Worrell. O’Donnell averaged more than Worrell as well.

What is happening around Lobb and O’Donnell is the bigger problem.

 

[Bald]

Ridley isn't overly experienced though,

He's played 104 games in 8 years

Yeah I think 8 pre-seasons working with defensive line coaches, understanding systems (how helpful that is being at Essendon is anyones guess I suppose) is sufficient enough though - he'd be viewed as a leader amongst his peers and can be quite the organiser. It's just an area I think we're lacking, not just specific types of defenders but also leaders/organisers/on field coaches down back, we used to have so many. Even Ed who has leadership qualities has been taken out of the backline. It's any wonder Bevo was trialing Liberatore down there.

Our most experienced defenders are Bailey Dale who Bevo said during the year "wouldn't agitate a milkshake", Johannisen who's possibly (?) retiring, Duryea who is retiring and Lobb who has been a defender for 18 months.

With that all being said, there's a level of trepidation with him given his body.

 

[King Harold]

Ridley isn't overly experienced though,

He's played 104 games in 8 years

when are you experienced ?

I would have thought no matter how long it took ,100 AFL. games makes you experienced ?

 

[maddog37]

Ridley could be the new Coffield

 

[BigFloppa]

Yeah I think 8 pre-seasons working with defensive line coaches, understanding systems (how helpful that is being at Essendon is anyones guess I suppose) is sufficient enough though - he'd be viewed as a leader amongst his peers and can be quite the organiser. It's just an area I think we're lacking, not just specific types of defenders but also leaders/organisers/on field coaches down back, we used to have so many. Even Ed who has leadership qualities has been taken out of the backline. It's any wonder Bevo was trialing Liberatore down there.

Our most experienced defenders are Bailey Dale who Bevo said during the year "wouldn't agitate a milkshake", Johannisen who's possibly (?) retiring, Duryea who is retiring and Lobb who has been a defender for 18 months.

With that all being said, there's a level of trepidation with him given his body.

Can we just stop for a minute and appreciate that "wouldn't agitate a milkshake" is one of the all time best sayings?

 

[Mofra]

Jack Payne is absolutely a star, he’s one of the top 3-4 interceptors in the comp while being elite 1v1.

Frampton is moving the needle for us as much Jones and Busslinger did this year. Keane’s essentially James O’Donnell.

Rory Lobb was free enough to only average 0.4 less intercept marks than Harris Andrews 0.2 less than Darcy Moore and 0.5 more than Josh Worrell. O’Donnell averaged more than Worrell as well.

What is happening around Lobb and O’Donnell is the bigger problem.

I remember suggesting Payne a couple of years ago and many posters laughed at the thought.

 

[manutd/dogs]

I'm being reliably told that we have some recruitment staff heading to Adelaide today .

If/when I'm told more, you'll all be the first to know.

 

[Mojorisin]

Former Bulldogs fitness boss Matt Inness is Essendon's main target this year with hopes of keeping those looking to leave due to perceived poor injury management.