Dodoro has ruined us all
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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Team Mgmt. Makeup of our team II - Strengths & deficiencies, player development
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Donflicted
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Dodoros fart is still lingering at the football club its stench is to be cleaned up by Rosa
Best thing Matt Rosa said all month: “we would like to add players with better running capabilities, and Finn’s definitely one of those sorts of players,”
The biggest flaw with Dodo was his infatuation with talls, and lack of priority of players who can run and pressure (not strong aerobically). This is the first thing Rosa is trying to address at the helm.
Honestly some of us have been banging on about how this team cannot run out/ pressure/games/seasons for 10+ years. I think I start posting about it in 2013-14.
It to this day boggles my mind.
Geelong try for a premiership: bring in Isaac smith
Melbourne try for premiership: ed Langdon
Carlton start moving up the ladder: Blake Acres, Ollie Hollands.
Watch St kilda get going with Hill, Wilson, NWM, MacCrae running around.
For us players we’ve added recently with a strong tank: Durham, Martin, Duursma and Roberts…. All impact immediately.
Obviously it’s not that simple, but after watching the repeat sprint efforts of Richmond’s smalls, and Hawthorn win premierships with Hill, Smith, Birchall, Puop running all day. It’s pretty extraordinary how far we missed the boat by….
The biggest flaw with Dodo was his infatuation with talls, and lack of priority of players who can run and pressure (not strong aerobically). This is the first thing Rosa is trying to address at the helm.
Honestly some of us have been banging on about how this team cannot run out/ pressure/games/seasons for 10+ years. I think I start posting about it in 2013-14.
It to this day boggles my mind.
Geelong try for a premiership: bring in Isaac smith
Melbourne try for premiership: ed Langdon
Carlton start moving up the ladder: Blake Acres, Ollie Hollands.
Watch St kilda get going with Hill, Wilson, NWM, MacCrae running around.
For us players we’ve added recently with a strong tank: Durham, Martin, Duursma and Roberts…. All impact immediately.
Obviously it’s not that simple, but after watching the repeat sprint efforts of Richmond’s smalls, and Hawthorn win premierships with Hill, Smith, Birchall, Puop running all day. It’s pretty extraordinary how far we missed the boat by….
joey_jo_jo
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Based on what vozzo/Rosa have told the Age I really hope we don't go back to parish and/or shiel being one of our main midfield rotations.
Give caldwell/durham/hobbs as much opportunity as possible and if tsatas is physically ready him too.
When hobbs had to play as one of our main mids in mid 23 (due to injuries) he and Caldwell worked pretty well with merrett (the kings bday game a highlight). Give him a good run to see if he has it.
Parish should get the same treatment shiel got this season, start the season in 2s and work on your weaknesses (particularly how he covers the ground when its not a stoppage) before we consider you in the 1s.
Give caldwell/durham/hobbs as much opportunity as possible and if tsatas is physically ready him too.
When hobbs had to play as one of our main mids in mid 23 (due to injuries) he and Caldwell worked pretty well with merrett (the kings bday game a highlight). Give him a good run to see if he has it.
Parish should get the same treatment shiel got this season, start the season in 2s and work on your weaknesses (particularly how he covers the ground when its not a stoppage) before we consider you in the 1s.
ant555
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Shiel started in the VFL because he spent most of the pre season catching up on the injury front. Had nothing to do with him working on any weakness. If he bounced straight into form and did not also have a couple more minor injury issues he would have played earlier.
joey_jo_jo
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That's true but it still took a fair while for him to break in and when he did make it he seemed to have really focused on tackling/physicality in the contest.
I’m convinced Scott will play whoever gives us the best chance to win, until finals are out of reach. If that’s Shiel parish and setterfield I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s on Rosa to change the direction. Hence why I wanted us to cut list deeper.
Parish will play in any side he’s fit for. I just hope last season made him realise he isn’t on the same level as the stars of this comp and will be required to pair at stoppage, run two ways and tackle.
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Skills can probably over ride running power but we lack both which has shown.
When we win, it is easy to name the guys who are nearly always prevalent in the votes. The skilful guys who have an "on" game. Redman, Ridley, Caldwell, Durham, Martin etc. When the 50:50 (at best) guys go well, we looks a million bucks, see Shiel, see Parish etc.
When the skills are off, we suffer as a group and it shows. Our over reliance on the top few guys needs to improve.
When looking at best players under 23, under 22, under 21, we really do have very few. An indictment on development? perhaps but the opportunities need to be taken now by Hobbs, Tsatas, Davey Jnr etc. to make those spots there own.
When we win, it is easy to name the guys who are nearly always prevalent in the votes. The skilful guys who have an "on" game. Redman, Ridley, Caldwell, Durham, Martin etc. When the 50:50 (at best) guys go well, we looks a million bucks, see Shiel, see Parish etc.
When the skills are off, we suffer as a group and it shows. Our over reliance on the top few guys needs to improve.
When looking at best players under 23, under 22, under 21, we really do have very few. An indictment on development? perhaps but the opportunities need to be taken now by Hobbs, Tsatas, Davey Jnr etc. to make those spots there own.
Red Black and Blue
Brownlow Medallist
The problem with this is those other teams already had the stars. If Geelong adds Issac Smith and they don't have Cameron and Dangerfield, they ain't winning shit. Same with Oliver and Petracca. These runners can be added cheaply, like Roberts. These superstars cannot, so you don't use your high end draft picks on them when you are devoid of the superstar prospects. So keep adding runners, but the advocation from the majority of this board has been take Wilson over Caddy, take Tsatas over Humphrey. The runner isn't always the right answer to maximize your draft talent.
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I’m saying as an overall list approach, we have neglected aerobic runners. Whether that be first, second or third round. We’ve missed the boat. If you have a list that can comfortable runout a game, then your petraccas/camerons/dangerfields can focus on what they do best-impact the game. It’s a mix that we have not got right imo.
- Feb 14, 2023
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There’s a part a fair way in when he’s talking about anabolic speed reserve aka tank
Basically if player A has a top speed of 30km/h and player b has a top speed of 20km/h and they are going at 18km/h
Player B is working at 90% while player A is working at 60% and because of that player B is going to run out of petrol tickets faster.
This is the exact same issue we have in the mids with size and repeat strength efforts.
Absolutely.
ant555
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Think we best stay away from anabolic speed
Skinny weak talls who either don't make it or take eons to be physical and are gassed by half time.
You have to start somewhere and this is the right path.
Genuine speed has also been an issue but there is hope there.
eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Have time to do this with all list changes finalised:
Pick trades:
1. Pick 31 and F2 to GC for Pies F1 and 51
2. Pick 28 for Hawthorne F2 and F3 from WC
3. Trade Col F1 live to GWS for pick ~18 post bids.
Draft:
Pick 9: Isaac Kako: (Calder Cannons, 175 cm, Small Forward). Match 1175.2 points with 39 (446), 43 (378), 48 (302) and 50 (273) becomes 54.
Pick 18: Jobe Shanahan (Bendigo Pioneers, 194 cm, Key Forward).
Pick 50: Archer Day-Wicks (Bendigo Pioneers, 185 cm, Half Forward).
Pick 53: Sam Davidson (Richmond VFL, 190 cm, Outside Midfielder).
DFA: Jaxon Prior, Jai Culley
Rookie Draft:
Pick 9: Ned Bowman (Norwood, 185 cm, Half Forward).
SSP: Kaine Baldwin
Cat B: Jayden Nguyen (Calder Cannons, 177 cm, Half Back), Davey Colbert (Ireland, 190 cm, Medium Defender)
Which leaves our balance as such (my opinion on a couple who've moved around a bit):
Defenders:
Key Defenders: Lewis Hayes, Kaine Baldwin, Zach Reid, Ben McKay
Medium Defenders: Nik Cox, Jordan Ridley, Jayden Laverde, Davey Colbert, Jaxon Prior
Small Defenders: Andrew McGrath, Mason Redman, Luamon Lual (SF), Archie Roberts (OM), Jayden Nguyen
Midfield:
Inside Midfielders: Darcy Parish, Elijah Tsatas, Jye Caldwell (fwd), Zach Merrett, Ben Hobbs, Dylan Shiel, Will Setterfield, Sam Durham, Jai Culley (HF)
Outside Midfielders: Harrison Jones (KF), Xavier Duursma, Nic Martin (MF), Saad El-Hawli (SD), Sam Davidson
Rucks: Sam Draper, Todd Goldstein, Nick Bryan
Forwards:
Key Forwards: Peter Wright (ruc), Nate Caddy, Vigo Visentini (ruc), Jobe Shanahan
Medium Forwards: Kyle Langford, Archie Perkins, Ned Bowman, Archer Day-Wicks
Small Forwards: Jade Gresham, Alwyn Davey jr, Matt Guelfi (OM), Jye Menzie, Isaac Kako
Seniors:
FB: Andrew McGrath - Ben McKay - Jordan Ridley
HB: Mason Redman - Zach Reid - Archie Roberts
MF: Xavier Duursma - Jye Caldwell - Nic Martin
HF: Jade Gresham - Nate Caddy - Matt Guelfi
FF: Isaac Kako - Peter Wright - Kyle Langford
OB: Sam Draper - Zach Merrett - Sam Durham
IC: Darcy Parish - Nik Cox - Harrison Jones - Ben Hobbs
TS: Archie Perkins
Reserves:
FB: Jayden Laverde - Kaine Baldwin- Jayden Nguyen
HB: Luamon Lual - Lewis Hayes - Jaxon Prior
MF: Saad El-Hawli - Dylan Shiel - Sam Davidson
HF: Ned Bowman - Jobe Shanahan - Alwyn Davey jr
FF: Archer Day-Wicks - Vigo Visentini - Jye Menzie
OB: Nick Bryan - Elijah Tsatas - Will Setterfield
IC: Davey Colbert - Jai Culley - Todd Goldstein
I see Cox, Laverde and Prior competing for one spot; Jones and SEH competing for one spot; Draper, Wright and Bryan competing for two spots; and Gresham, Guelfi, Kako, Davey and Menzie competing for three spots. So that's 7 spots up for grabs in pre-season between 13 players, should be very competitive.
Pick trades:
1. Pick 31 and F2 to GC for Pies F1 and 51
2. Pick 28 for Hawthorne F2 and F3 from WC
3. Trade Col F1 live to GWS for pick ~18 post bids.
Draft:
Pick 9: Isaac Kako: (Calder Cannons, 175 cm, Small Forward). Match 1175.2 points with 39 (446), 43 (378), 48 (302) and 50 (273) becomes 54.
Pick 18: Jobe Shanahan (Bendigo Pioneers, 194 cm, Key Forward).
Pick 50: Archer Day-Wicks (Bendigo Pioneers, 185 cm, Half Forward).
Pick 53: Sam Davidson (Richmond VFL, 190 cm, Outside Midfielder).
DFA: Jaxon Prior, Jai Culley
Rookie Draft:
Pick 9: Ned Bowman (Norwood, 185 cm, Half Forward).
SSP: Kaine Baldwin
Cat B: Jayden Nguyen (Calder Cannons, 177 cm, Half Back), Davey Colbert (Ireland, 190 cm, Medium Defender)
Which leaves our balance as such (my opinion on a couple who've moved around a bit):
Defenders:
Key Defenders: Lewis Hayes, Kaine Baldwin, Zach Reid, Ben McKay
Medium Defenders: Nik Cox, Jordan Ridley, Jayden Laverde, Davey Colbert, Jaxon Prior
Small Defenders: Andrew McGrath, Mason Redman, Luamon Lual (SF), Archie Roberts (OM), Jayden Nguyen
Midfield:
Inside Midfielders: Darcy Parish, Elijah Tsatas, Jye Caldwell (fwd), Zach Merrett, Ben Hobbs, Dylan Shiel, Will Setterfield, Sam Durham, Jai Culley (HF)
Outside Midfielders: Harrison Jones (KF), Xavier Duursma, Nic Martin (MF), Saad El-Hawli (SD), Sam Davidson
Rucks: Sam Draper, Todd Goldstein, Nick Bryan
Forwards:
Key Forwards: Peter Wright (ruc), Nate Caddy, Vigo Visentini (ruc), Jobe Shanahan
Medium Forwards: Kyle Langford, Archie Perkins, Ned Bowman, Archer Day-Wicks
Small Forwards: Jade Gresham, Alwyn Davey jr, Matt Guelfi (OM), Jye Menzie, Isaac Kako
Seniors:
FB: Andrew McGrath - Ben McKay - Jordan Ridley
HB: Mason Redman - Zach Reid - Archie Roberts
MF: Xavier Duursma - Jye Caldwell - Nic Martin
HF: Jade Gresham - Nate Caddy - Matt Guelfi
FF: Isaac Kako - Peter Wright - Kyle Langford
OB: Sam Draper - Zach Merrett - Sam Durham
IC: Darcy Parish - Nik Cox - Harrison Jones - Ben Hobbs
TS: Archie Perkins
Reserves:
FB: Jayden Laverde - Kaine Baldwin- Jayden Nguyen
HB: Luamon Lual - Lewis Hayes - Jaxon Prior
MF: Saad El-Hawli - Dylan Shiel - Sam Davidson
HF: Ned Bowman - Jobe Shanahan - Alwyn Davey jr
FF: Archer Day-Wicks - Vigo Visentini - Jye Menzie
OB: Nick Bryan - Elijah Tsatas - Will Setterfield
IC: Davey Colbert - Jai Culley - Todd Goldstein
I see Cox, Laverde and Prior competing for one spot; Jones and SEH competing for one spot; Draper, Wright and Bryan competing for two spots; and Gresham, Guelfi, Kako, Davey and Menzie competing for three spots. So that's 7 spots up for grabs in pre-season between 13 players, should be very competitive.
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- Feb 14, 2023
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eth-dog didnt we sign Josh Rotham?
eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Not as far as I'm aware
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Good by you Ethan
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I like this team eth-dog - I'd probably just have SEH instead of Cox but I think that's very close to our starting 23 round 1 next year
The List Manager: Jon Ralph examines Essendon’s current list, its future and everything in between
Harsh judges say it’s Zach Merrett then daylight for quality at the Bombers, and who could blame them? Jon Ralph analyses who needs to step up to make Essendon a serious club once again.Say what you want about the decision to trade Jake Stringer, but at least Brad Scott is following through on his word.
You can debate whether Stringer’s loss will hurt the Dons but you can’t say Scott didn’t follow up his pre-season warning in the Herald Sun.
“If you are not committed to the lifestyle that is required of an elite AFL player you won’t last here long. If I reflect over time, I have been potentially too supportive for too long,” he said.
“You can support, support and support, but if you don’t uphold your end of the bargain, we will move on really quickly.”
Brad Scott will be hunting his first finals berth as Essendon coach in 2025. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
So Stringer is gone and Scott will see it as a club-wide shot across the bows.
As in “If you want to play for Essendon you do so fully committed, fully fit and fully prepared to tackle and chase like your life depends upon it”.
But when he made the huge judgement call to move on those Roos veterans including Brent Harvey and Drew Petrie it backfired.
Now can he use this hard-line call to turn Essendon into a serious football club.
Essendon isn’t trustworthy. Not over 20 years, not over the past two seasons of Scott’s tenure.
In 2022, they finished 11-12 and lost five of their last seven games to fall from fifth after round 18 to finish 12th.
In 2023 they finished 11-11 with an Anzac Day draw, but lost six of the last seven to fall from third in round 16 to 11th.
Deja vu.
Jake Stringer is now at GWS. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
So now Essendon fans want answers to the questions that will define the 2025 season.
Is Peter Wright a flash in the pan or about to bounce back?
Does Darcy Parish do enough damage?
Is Archie Perkins just a good ordinary player or a game-changer?
What happened to Jade Gresham, who kicked only 10 goals in his final 15 games after a bright start to his career?
Why can’t Ben McKay handball?
Can Sam Draper be a top five AFL ruckman or is he just a cult hero who is good for headlines?
What happened to 2023 Mason Redman?
Until those questions are answered Essendon will remain untrustworthy.
TRADE PERIOD RATING: 6/10
Essendon held its nerve, adamant that the club wasn’t handing Stringer a second season in a move that saw him traded for the lowly pick 53.Then they secured Melbourne’s future first-rounder and a range of 2024 picks for NGA selection Isaac Kako but had to give up pick nine.
Fans will wonder why the club didn’t do more as it pondered some interest in GWS pick 15 Conor Stone but didn’t get it done.
The internal Dons view is that bringing in list cloggers would only have denied the existing talent on their list chances.
But Essendon is also adamant that stocking up on 2025 draft picks isn’t a message it is copping out and accepting it cannot compete in the near future.
It is still open to trades and free agency acquisitions next year, it still has plenty of cap space.
It just didn’t believe throwing away good picks on speculative players in this year’s trade period after going so hard bringing in Ben McKay, Xavier Duursma, Jade Gresham and Todd Goldstein was the right policy.
The Bombers were quiet in the trade period compared to previous years. Picture: Michael Klein
LIST HOLES
Essendon has plenty of everything on every line.How many are the type of A-graders that will eventually take the Dons to a flag?
Case in point?
Only the brilliant Merrett made the AFL’s 44-man All Australian squad.
The club’s own analysis is that premiership teams have at least five elite players.
Right now harsh judges would say it’s Merrett and then daylight, with Durham and Martin at least possessing elite qualities.
What of that depth?
The midfield is overflowing, so much so that Elijah Tsatas, Ben Hobbs, Will Setterfield (when fit) and Dylan Shiel all struggled to get midfield time.
The forward line has enough talls and smalls to cobble together a winning score.
The backline has quality names – Ben McKay, Zach Reid, Jordan Ridley, Mason Redman, third tall Jayden Laverde.
Peter Wright found himself out the outer in 2024. Picture: Michael Klein
And yet ….
Apart from Kyle Langford (and the departed Stringer) no other Don reached 20 goals, as a collection of Gresham, Matt Guelfi, Caddy (nine goals), Archie Perkins, Jye Menzie played some time forward.
No Essendon small forward since the 2000 premiership has really been able to dominate games regularly as the likes of Alwyn Davey Sr, Orazio Fantasia, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Angus Monfries have been handy types without turning contests single-handedly.
For Essendon to finish top four next year Jordan Ridley must be a James Sicily-type presence, Mason Redman must beat Dan Houston for an All Australian spot and one of Peter Wright or Langford needs to kick 50 goals.
It is too much to ask that Kako will come in and be a Nick Watson-style presence, or that Nate Caddy will take games by the scruff of his neck, or that even Reid can be a defensive weapon after nine games in four seasons given his injury run.
With Heppell and Kelly gone, who are the half backs?
Archie Roberts will again get his chance after four impressive debut season games, as will Nik Cox and mid-season pick Saad El-Hawli.
DRAFT STRATEGY
Essendon believed Melbourne’s offer for its No. 9 draft pick was too good to pass up, securing the Dees future first-rounder plus this year’s 28, 40, 46, 54, 65 (also handing over its future third-rounder).It will give the club the points to match a bid for Kako and then if one of eight or nine players on the club’s draft board are available it could use that Dees first-rounder to get back into the draft.
But everyone wants those mid-teens picks so the price might be too high.
Ideally the Dons will take four national draft picks and leave two spots open for summer train-on players via the SSP.
Kako will be a Bomber after the draft. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos
WHO’S UNDER THE PUMP?
Not for the first time the top 10 draft trio of Zach Reid, Archie Perkins and Nik Cox are under pressure. Perkins played 18 games and Cox 20 but neither finished top ten in the best and fairest. Perkins will get more time as a forward while the retirements of Kelly and Heppell give Cox a full-time position at half back in 2025.Essendon tried to play Perkins as more of a mid-forward this year but he got lost so the Dons will back him in as a forward who can get more looks with Stringer GWS-bound.
Can Essendon’s 2020 draft class finally deliver? Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
AFL PLAYER RANKINGS
Zach Merrett (26th), Nic Martin (57th), Sam Durham (59th), Sam Draper (93rd), Jye Caldwell (100th). In 2025 Martin can be a top 30 player if he fixes up kicking that was rated by Champion Data as poor.PREMIERSHIP WINDOW
Can we pass on this question? Only joking.Essendon secured four senior players last year then went back to the draft this year.
Dons fans might be confused but Essendon believes it has a huge middle tier capable of much more and a band of kids who will get chances. So while Brad Scott says every decision has a long-term strategy in mind, this list is good enough.
SALARY CAP ROOM
Essendon still has ample cap space despite front-ending Ben McKay’s fat contract in its early years and extending players like Andy McGrath, Jordan Ridley and Mason Redman.Jake Stringer’s trade saves the club around $500,000 so there is money for free agents and trades next year. But given the long-term strategy, is there the will to give up draft capital?
TRADE TARGETS FOR 2025
What would Essendon give for an Oscar Allen-style key forward who would straighten them up and allow Nate Caddy and Kyle Langford inferior match-ups to shine.The club was also interested in the elite run of Hawthorn’s Finn Maginness in the trade period and while the Hawks shut down a trade he is out of contract in 2025.
Conor Stone, who they also considered, is contracted to 2026 at GWS.
Nate Caddy showed plenty of promise in his first season. Picture: Mark Stewart
TRADE BAIT
Sam Draper is a free agent who wants to stay at Essendon.But as clubs like Adelaide circle he is expected to want to prove his worth to the Dons but first having an exceptional pre-season and then hitting the ground running early in the year.
Still, having already knocked back St Kilda as a young Don he has shown his loyalty before and will likely do so again.
Rivals will watch the progress and midfield opportunities of Ben Hobbs and Elijah Tsatas but the Dons are keen to play them early and often.
eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
What a load of steaming bullshit.
boncer34
Formerly "Dos23"
Found most of it to be pretty accurate
jannissary
AAAAAAAAAAARGH!
honestly not a bad read. tad harsh but i think that's what the club needs.
The List Manager: Jon Ralph examines Essendon’s current list, its future and everything in between
Harsh judges say it’s Zach Merrett then daylight for quality at the Bombers, and who could blame them? Jon Ralph analyses who needs to step up to make Essendon a serious club once again.
Say what you want about the decision to trade Jake Stringer, but at least Brad Scott is following through on his word.
You can debate whether Stringer’s loss will hurt the Dons but you can’t say Scott didn’t follow up his pre-season warning in the Herald Sun.
“If you are not committed to the lifestyle that is required of an elite AFL player you won’t last here long. If I reflect over time, I have been potentially too supportive for too long,” he said.
“You can support, support and support, but if you don’t uphold your end of the bargain, we will move on really quickly.”
Brad Scott will be hunting his first finals berth as Essendon coach in 2025. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
So Stringer is gone and Scott will see it as a club-wide shot across the bows.
As in “If you want to play for Essendon you do so fully committed, fully fit and fully prepared to tackle and chase like your life depends upon it”.
But when he made the huge judgement call to move on those Roos veterans including Brent Harvey and Drew Petrie it backfired.
Now can he use this hard-line call to turn Essendon into a serious football club.
Essendon isn’t trustworthy. Not over 20 years, not over the past two seasons of Scott’s tenure.
In 2022, they finished 11-12 and lost five of their last seven games to fall from fifth after round 18 to finish 12th.
In 2023 they finished 11-11 with an Anzac Day draw, but lost six of the last seven to fall from third in round 16 to 11th.
Deja vu.
Jake Stringer is now at GWS. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
So now Essendon fans want answers to the questions that will define the 2025 season.
Is Peter Wright a flash in the pan or about to bounce back?
Does Darcy Parish do enough damage?
Is Archie Perkins just a good ordinary player or a game-changer?
What happened to Jade Gresham, who kicked only 10 goals in his final 15 games after a bright start to his career?
Why can’t Ben McKay handball?
Can Sam Draper be a top five AFL ruckman or is he just a cult hero who is good for headlines?
What happened to 2023 Mason Redman?
Until those questions are answered Essendon will remain untrustworthy.
TRADE PERIOD RATING: 6/10
Essendon held its nerve, adamant that the club wasn’t handing Stringer a second season in a move that saw him traded for the lowly pick 53.
Then they secured Melbourne’s future first-rounder and a range of 2024 picks for NGA selection Isaac Kako but had to give up pick nine.
Fans will wonder why the club didn’t do more as it pondered some interest in GWS pick 15 Conor Stone but didn’t get it done.
The internal Dons view is that bringing in list cloggers would only have denied the existing talent on their list chances.
But Essendon is also adamant that stocking up on 2025 draft picks isn’t a message it is copping out and accepting it cannot compete in the near future.
It is still open to trades and free agency acquisitions next year, it still has plenty of cap space.
It just didn’t believe throwing away good picks on speculative players in this year’s trade period after going so hard bringing in Ben McKay, Xavier Duursma, Jade Gresham and Todd Goldstein was the right policy.
The Bombers were quiet in the trade period compared to previous years. Picture: Michael Klein
LIST HOLES
Essendon has plenty of everything on every line.
How many are the type of A-graders that will eventually take the Dons to a flag?
Case in point?
Only the brilliant Merrett made the AFL’s 44-man All Australian squad.
The club’s own analysis is that premiership teams have at least five elite players.
Right now harsh judges would say it’s Merrett and then daylight, with Durham and Martin at least possessing elite qualities.
What of that depth?
The midfield is overflowing, so much so that Elijah Tsatas, Ben Hobbs, Will Setterfield (when fit) and Dylan Shiel all struggled to get midfield time.
The forward line has enough talls and smalls to cobble together a winning score.
The backline has quality names – Ben McKay, Zach Reid, Jordan Ridley, Mason Redman, third tall Jayden Laverde.
Peter Wright found himself out the outer in 2024. Picture: Michael Klein
And yet ….
Apart from Kyle Langford (and the departed Stringer) no other Don reached 20 goals, as a collection of Gresham, Matt Guelfi, Caddy (nine goals), Archie Perkins, Jye Menzie played some time forward.
No Essendon small forward since the 2000 premiership has really been able to dominate games regularly as the likes of Alwyn Davey Sr, Orazio Fantasia, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Angus Monfries have been handy types without turning contests single-handedly.
For Essendon to finish top four next year Jordan Ridley must be a James Sicily-type presence, Mason Redman must beat Dan Houston for an All Australian spot and one of Peter Wright or Langford needs to kick 50 goals.
It is too much to ask that Kako will come in and be a Nick Watson-style presence, or that Nate Caddy will take games by the scruff of his neck, or that even Reid can be a defensive weapon after nine games in four seasons given his injury run.
With Heppell and Kelly gone, who are the half backs?
Archie Roberts will again get his chance after four impressive debut season games, as will Nik Cox and mid-season pick Saad El-Hawli.
DRAFT STRATEGY
Essendon believed Melbourne’s offer for its No. 9 draft pick was too good to pass up, securing the Dees future first-rounder plus this year’s 28, 40, 46, 54, 65 (also handing over its future third-rounder).
It will give the club the points to match a bid for Kako and then if one of eight or nine players on the club’s draft board are available it could use that Dees first-rounder to get back into the draft.
But everyone wants those mid-teens picks so the price might be too high.
Ideally the Dons will take four national draft picks and leave two spots open for summer train-on players via the SSP.
Kako will be a Bomber after the draft. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos
WHO’S UNDER THE PUMP?
Not for the first time the top 10 draft trio of Zach Reid, Archie Perkins and Nik Cox are under pressure. Perkins played 18 games and Cox 20 but neither finished top ten in the best and fairest. Perkins will get more time as a forward while the retirements of Kelly and Heppell give Cox a full-time position at half back in 2025.
Essendon tried to play Perkins as more of a mid-forward this year but he got lost so the Dons will back him in as a forward who can get more looks with Stringer GWS-bound.
Can Essendon’s 2020 draft class finally deliver? Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
AFL PLAYER RANKINGS
Zach Merrett (26th), Nic Martin (57th), Sam Durham (59th), Sam Draper (93rd), Jye Caldwell (100th). In 2025 Martin can be a top 30 player if he fixes up kicking that was rated by Champion Data as poor.
PREMIERSHIP WINDOW
Can we pass on this question? Only joking.
Essendon secured four senior players last year then went back to the draft this year.
Dons fans might be confused but Essendon believes it has a huge middle tier capable of much more and a band of kids who will get chances. So while Brad Scott says every decision has a long-term strategy in mind, this list is good enough.
SALARY CAP ROOM
Essendon still has ample cap space despite front-ending Ben McKay’s fat contract in its early years and extending players like Andy McGrath, Jordan Ridley and Mason Redman.
Jake Stringer’s trade saves the club around $500,000 so there is money for free agents and trades next year. But given the long-term strategy, is there the will to give up draft capital?
TRADE TARGETS FOR 2025
What would Essendon give for an Oscar Allen-style key forward who would straighten them up and allow Nate Caddy and Kyle Langford inferior match-ups to shine.
The club was also interested in the elite run of Hawthorn’s Finn Maginness in the trade period and while the Hawks shut down a trade he is out of contract in 2025.
Conor Stone, who they also considered, is contracted to 2026 at GWS.
hone
Nate Caddy showed plenty of promise in his first season. Picture: Mark Stewart
TRADE BAIT
Sam Draper is a free agent who wants to stay at Essendon.
But as clubs like Adelaide circle he is expected to want to prove his worth to the Dons but first having an exceptional pre-season and then hitting the ground running early in the year.
Still, having already knocked back St Kilda as a young Don he has shown his loyalty before and will likely do so again.
Rivals will watch the progress and midfield opportunities of Ben Hobbs and Elijah Tsatas but the Dons are keen to play them early and often.
eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Bad boncer. Go and sit in the corner and think about what you've done
