![](https://images.bigfootymedia.com/icons/mobile-bullets/essendon.png)
Beerfish
Unscripted Hot Takes
![](https://www.bigfootycontent.com/assets/ozzmodz_badges_badge/ess-24-essendon-22.png)
![](https://www.bigfootycontent.com/assets/ozzmodz_badges_badge/ess-23-essendon-22.png)
![](https://www.bigfootycontent.com/assets/ozzmodz_badges_badge/ess-22-essendon-22.png)
![](https://www.bigfootycontent.com/assets/ozzmodz_badges_badge/ess-21-essendon-22.png)
![](https://www.bigfootycontent.com/assets/ozzmodz_badges_badge/ess-20-essendon-22.png)
![](https://www.bigfootycontent.com/assets/ozzmodz_badges_badge/ess-19-essendon-22.png)
![](https://www.bigfootycontent.com/assets/ozzmodz_badges_badge/ess-18-essendon-22.png)
![](https://www.bigfootycontent.com/assets/ozzmodz_badges_badge/ess-17-essendon-22.png)
- Jan 20, 2008
- 62,132
- 104,710
- AFL Club
- Essendon
- Other Teams
- Nic Martin
- Moderator
- #3,457
![01 - mcgrath.jpg 01 - mcgrath.jpg](https://www.bigfootycontent.com/attachments/1786/1786358-12c4e2747ebb5cbbffa9a334e802cea4.jpg)
Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent 2030
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 13, Vindicater
Last edited by a moderator:
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
LIVE: GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions - 7:30PM Sat
Squiggle tips Lions at 65% chance -- What's your tip? -- Team line-ups »
AFLW 2024 - Round 3 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Lav is really underrated by most, may have physical limitations but shows a lot more fight and team ethos than some of the more naturally talented players in the team.You would expect them to but it is not . Anyone who gets the opportunity to go live will see that Laverde does most of the organizing along with Heppell.
Leaders are leaders. If it is not happening for Ridley now then it is not going to grow much more . It is like standing up and speaking in public. Some are naturals and some will do it but never be comfortable with it. Lets face it we have spent years wanting players to step up .Is it because they can't or because they've been so reliant on Heppell all this time. It's inexplicable that the VC would not be organising.
Maybe Heppell retiring and Laverde being delisted (if that happens) could give rise to Ridley and McGrath being more involved.
Doesn't surprise me that Laverde does, and I actually wouldn't mind if he stayed on. He's not the most skilled, but you'd be more comfortable in the trenches with him than some others. He's got a full heart.
Don’t think McGrath should be the VC but I’m not sure who should be: last year a lot called for Redman to be the VC. I’d be happy to hold off on rushing anything with Caldwell and even Durham. Let them worry about becoming superstarsI'd expect Ridley and McGrath to be organising the defence, but I agree, McGrath has a tendency to drop off in intensity or to drop his bundle. He has copped flak for his dump kicks - they can be infuriating but they also give the defenders time to set up when the heat is there. I'm more concerned that he's maybe a 70-30 field kick to a target and that his pressure drops. The latter is mainly why I prefer Caldwell as VC; his pressure seems to intensify. jdstorm would have him at HB, but I don't see him organising a backline.
One captain - and that's it!Don’t think McGrath should be the VC but I’m not sure who should be: last year a lot called for Redman to be the VC. I’d be happy to hold off on rushing anything with Caldwell and even Durham. Let them worry about becoming superstars
Yeah there's such a difference between a football club leader and a corporate/employment one.We often hear the club talk about leadership qualities as one of the strengths/reasons for the players we take with our high picks. Without making this thread about Dodoro something tells me he or whoever is making those assumptions don't actually know how to recognise true leadership qualities. Captain of a posh private school with good manners and speaks well is not a 'leader' in the way that a football team needs a leader. I don't really know anything about Luke Hodge but I can't picture him being captain of a posh private school and the guy can hardly talk, but he was one hell of a leader on footy field.
I'd expect Ridley and McGrath to be organising the defence, but I agree, McGrath has a tendency to drop off in intensity or to drop his bundle. He has copped flak for his dump kicks - they can be infuriating but they also give the defenders time to set up when the heat is there. I'm more concerned that he's maybe a 70-30 field kick to a target and that his pressure drops. The latter is mainly why I prefer Caldwell as VC; his pressure seems to intensify. jdstorm would have him at HB, but I don't see him organising a backline.
I'd expect Ridley and McGrath to be organising the defence, but I agree, McGrath has a tendency to drop off in intensity or to drop his bundle. He has copped flak for his dump kicks - they can be infuriating but they also give the defenders time to set up when the heat is there. I'm more concerned that he's maybe a 70-30 field kick to a target and that his pressure drops. The latter is mainly why I prefer Caldwell as VC; his pressure seems to intensify. jdstorm would have him at HB, but I don't see him organising a backline.
I feel like Redders has been quieter this season, otherwise I would have thought he had that hunger about him. Maybe he's feeling hamstrung by Martin playing back. He obviously hasn't had as many forays pushing forward as in previous seasons.Don’t think McGrath should be the VC but I’m not sure who should be: last year a lot called for Redman to be the VC. I’d be happy to hold off on rushing anything with Caldwell and even Durham. Let them worry about becoming superstars
I'm just letting you know the seed is planted. I'll reserve judgment.We’ll never know if we don’t try.
Up until 3 weeks ago the thought of Harry Jones as an AFL capable wing felt a bit silly.
It was mostly for this season/list optimisation reasons that I like Caldwell at HB. If the list changes and we no longer have a lot of small mids fighting for 2 spots i think Jye has shown that he’s a very capable on baller
Probably have to see both Parish and Sheil go for that to start to make sense though
i guess leaders maybe, but not captains. look at recent premiership captains, you've got darcy moore, trent cotchin, max gawn, luke shuey, joel selwood, all the way back to easton wood. all of them are very much of the educated, well-spoken class. that's just where footy is going now, for better or worse.I think Hird, Buckley, Judd, Harley all have the skills to do both, but most other footy club leaders are meat heads, putting it kindly.
Cotchin's the only one of that group doesn't speak fluent slack jaw.i guess leaders maybe, but not captains. look at recent premiership captains, you've got darcy moore, trent cotchin, max gawn, luke shuey, joel selwood, all the way back to easton wood. all of them are very much of the educated, well-spoken class. that's just where footy is going now, for better or worse.
darcy moore is nothing other than eloquent (his family are academics outside of football). easton wood is a geelong grammar captain. have you heard max gawn speak?Cotchin's the only one of that group doesn't speak fluent slack jaw.
Moore is clearly switched on, but he still sounds like he's fresh off the farm.
The others aren't exactly eloquent, well spoken and insightful, try as they might.
He is from NZ . Give him a breakdarcy moore is nothing other than eloquent (his family are academics outside of football). easton wood is a geelong grammar captain. have you heard max gawn speak?
Sorry, I missed Easton Wood in your original comment. I don't think I've heard him speak, to be fair.darcy moore is nothing other than eloquent (his family are academics outside of football). easton wood is a geelong grammar captain. have you heard max gawn speak?
Redman just looks angry all the time so supporters think he tries harder than the othersI feel like Redders has been quieter this season, otherwise I would have thought he had that hunger about him. Maybe he's feeling hamstrung by Martin playing back. He obviously hasn't had as many forays pushing forward as in previous seasons.
He's my boy. You can't say stuff like that about my boy...Redman just looks angry all the time so supporters think he tries harder than the others. But I can't think of a season where he hasn't had patches where he has been unsighted.
Even without the official vc title at his age and level of experience in role I would expect him (like ridley/mcgrath) to take control of backline when we are in situations like the crows game, but all three let us down.
Yeah that run down tackle was superb, but it inky happened because the opportunity to completely wrap up a flat-footed Sun's player on the wing and absolutely blew the tackleHe's a false economy with a brilliant manager.
Nice run down tackle at the end but I lost count of how many slipped tackles he attempted, his poor skills at ground level and generally below average defending.
VC needs to be stripped and given to Caldwell in the off season.
Good luck with a 6 year dealTrade him