List Mgmt. 2022 Trade and Free Agency Thread

[Jivlain]

 

[Tom14]

I wonder what his fitness is like now. Could he be an option for the wing perhaps given his running (speed) ability and his (you'd expect) defensive mindset, given that is where he has played previously.

Not sure he ever played wing for the bombers but did play as a high half-forward from time to time? I'd caution relying on his defensive mindset though, not sure he really was great defensively for the bombers at any point. Creatively he's excellent and can find the footy.

 

[lionshine]

Would be a great addition

 

[Royboy1961]

Not sure he ever played wing for the bombers but did play as a high half-forward from time to time? I'd caution relying on his defensive mindset though, not sure he really was great defensively for the bombers at any point. Creatively he's excellent and can find the footy.

If we do manage to recruit him I see him playing as a wingman. This would suit his game style and play to his strengths.

 

[Section 5]

I won't be disappointed if we either miss out or pass on Conor McKenna
By the time round 1 comes around it will be 2.5 years since he played an AFL game
I assume he has been playing gaelic football so would also need to adjust again
Age wise he will be 27 in March so that not so much of an issue

Conor McKenna 6th & last season with Essendon

Year	Team	GM	K	H	Disposals	M	G	B	T

2020​

Bombers​

6​

9.2​

4.2​

13.3​

3.0​

0.2​

0​

1.7​

Darcy Wilmot 1st year . Small sample

Year	Team	GM	K	H	Disposals	M	G	B	T

2022​

Lions​

3​

7.7​

5.0​

12.7​

2.0​

0.3​

0​

3.3​

Carter Michael showed promise in the VFL before his injury
James Madden still on our list ?
I also think the Club may have to find a spot for Zorko.

To take the next step towards a premiership i think finding a intercept marking defender would be a better investment
I am not convinced finding a line breaking half back will get us a premiership but Coleman is close enough to that type anyhow
Or they could do a Collingwood and introduce young Will to a half back position
After Daicos year it may be an easy sell for his 1st year at AFL level

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Have we got the list spots to fit him in?

Some might suspect the delistment of McFadyen was timely.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

I won't be disappointed if we either miss out or pass on Conor McKenna
By the time round 1 comes around it will be 2.5 years since he played an AFL game
I assume he has been playing gaelic football so would also need to adjust again
Age wise he will be 27 in March so that not so much of an issue

Conor McKenna 6th & last season with Essendon

Year	Team	GM	K	H	Disposals	M	G	B	T

2020​

Bombers​

6​

9.2​

4.2​

13.3​

3.0​

0.2​

0​

1.7​

Darcy Wilmot 1st year . Small sample

Year	Team	GM	K	H	Disposals	M	G	B	T

2022​

Lions​

3​

7.7​

5.0​

12.7​

2.0​

0.3​

0​

3.3​

Carter Michael showed promise in the VFL before his injury
James Madden still on our list ?
I also think the Club may have to find a spot for Zorko.

To take the next step towards a premiership i think finding a intercept marking defender would be a better investment
I am not convinced finding a line breaking half back will get us a premiership but Coleman is close enough to that type anyhow
Or they could do a Collingwood and introduce young Will to a half back position
After Daicos year it may be an easy sell for his 1st year at AFL level

Couple of points on this - firstly, 2020 was the season of shortened quarters, so a direct stat comparison isn't really helpful. Secondly, it was the year McKenna was struggling a great deal with homesickness and also had a couple of injury complaints to memory, playing just 6 games and moving back to Ireland at the end of that year, so it's not reflective of what you get out of him in a good mindset.

If you look at his 2019 averages, for example, he averaged 21 touches and 438 metres gained per game (top 25 in the comp on that stat). That was as a 23 year old convert to the game, with his best seemingly ahead of him.

McKenna would be an outstanding recruit, and somebody I would've been happy to part with a pick around 15 for if he was on another club's list. The prospect of getting him for free just feels like another stroke of luck for us. I'd play him on a wing and think his creativity and agility would be somewhat transformational for us there.

 

[Full Wingspan]

Couple of points on this - firstly, 2020 was the season of shortened quarters, so a direct stat comparison isn't really helpful. Secondly, it was the year McKenna was struggling a great deal with homesickness and also had a couple of injury complaints to memory, playing just 6 games and moving back to Ireland at the end of that year, so it's not reflective of what you get out of him in a good mindset.
If you look at his 2019 averages, for example, he averaged 21 touches and 438 metres gained per game (top 25 in the comp on that stat). That was as a 23 year old convert to the game, with his best seemingly ahead of him.

McKenna would be an outstanding recruit, and somebody I would've been happy to part with a pick around 15 for if he was on another club's list. The prospect of getting him for free just feels like another stroke of luck for us. I'd play him on a wing and think his creativity and agility would be somewhat transformational for us there.

He was also the first AFL player to contract Covid which would have had a significant physical and mental impact.

When comparing Conor's 2019 season to Adam Saad's 2022 season (2022 AA and probably considered the premier rebounding half-back). Their stats aren't too dissimilar. McKenna would be a great free pick-up and top off a remarkable trade/free agency period for the club with the addition of 4 best 22 players (Dunkley, Gunston, Ashcroft, McKenna) for the loss of one (important) role player.

Player Statistics Comparison​ Adam Saad​ Name​ Conor McKenna​ Carlton Blues​ Team​ Essendon Bombers​ Defender​ Position​ Defender​ 152​ Career Games​ 79​ Coburg​ Origin​ Eglish, Tyrone​ July 23, 1994​ Date of Birth​ March 28, 1996​ 28yr 3mth​ Age​ Turned 23 in 2019​ 178cm​ Height​ 184cm​ 76kg​ Weight​ 88kg​ 2014 Rookie Draft​ Last Drafted In​ 2014 Rookie Draft​ Round 2, Pick #25​ Last Draft Position​ Round 4, Pick #62​ Gold Coast Suns​ Last Drafted By​ Essendon Bombers​ 2022​ Stats for Season​ 2019​ 21​ Games​ 22​ 15.4​ Kicks​ 14.3​ 6.5​ Handballs​ 6.5​ 21.9​ Disposals​ 20.8​ 4.8​ Marks​ 2.6​ 0​ Goals​ 0.1​ 0​ Behinds​ 0.1​ 2.2​ Tackles​ 1.6​ 0​ Hitouts​ 0​ 2.7​ Inside 50s​ 2.4​ 0.3​ Goal Assists​ 0.3​ 0.7​ Frees For​ 0.6​ 0.4​ Frees Against​ 0.4​ 6.4​ Contested Possessions​ 4.5​ 12.9​ Uncontested Possessions​ 11.6​ 18.1​ Effective Disposals​ 15.8​ 82.6%​ Disposal Efficiency %​ 76%​ 2.4​ Clangers​ 2.2​ 0.6​ Contested Marks​ 0.2​ 0​ Marks Inside 50​ 0.1​ 0.8​ Clearances​ 0.9​ 4.7​ Rebound 50s​ 4.9​ 2.8​ One Percenters​ 1.9​ 5.4​ Bounces​ 3.6​ 81.0​ Time On Ground %​ 86.4​ 0.1​ Centre Clearances​ 0.4​ 0.7​ Stoppage Clearances​ 0.6​ 3.8​ Score Involvements​ 3.4​ 401.2​ Metres Gained​ 438.1​ 3.7​ Turnovers​ 3.6​ 7.5​ Intercepts​ 4.3​ 0.1​ Tackles Inside 50​ 0​ 81.9​ AFL Fantasy Score​ 70.1​ 103.1​ Supercoach Score​ 80.0​

 

[JasRulz63]

Have we got the list spots to fit him in?

Yeah we do.

Assuming we upgrade Madden to a primary list spot, we have three list spots across primary and rookie A lists. Two of these spots will likely be Ashcroft and Fletcher (Madden upgrade being our third draft pick), leaving one more spot for someone else (e.g. McKenna).

 

[Section 5]

Couple of points on this - firstly, 2020 was the season of shortened quarters, so a direct stat comparison isn't really helpful. Secondly, it was the year McKenna was struggling a great deal with homesickness and also had a couple of injury complaints to memory, playing just 6 games and moving back to Ireland at the end of that year, so it's not reflective of what you get out of him in a good mindset.

If you look at his 2019 averages, for example, he averaged 21 touches and 438 metres gained per game (top 25 in the comp on that stat). That was as a 23 year old convert to the game, with his best seemingly ahead of him.

McKenna would be an outstanding recruit, and somebody I would've been happy to part with a pick around 15 for if he was on another club's list. The prospect of getting him for free just feels like another stroke of luck for us. I'd play him on a wing and think his creativity and agility would be somewhat transformational for us there.

I get what you are saying about Conor's last year and I was aware it was a drop off from his career averages.
But i was also comparing him to a 3 game player who should have big improvement in his game
2019 was McKenna best year.
Was that his ceiling or does he have more improvement in his game
Either way he still has not played AFL for 2.5 years come Feb 2023

If the club see him as a good fit to our current list then they will try and get him
If they do i am fine with that. I am just not overkeen as some to get him
Maybe they have a wing spot in mind, as that is a need for us until someone makes that 2nd wing spot there own.

 

[Nuggo]

Yes please, always had a feeling this was still on.

 

[JasRulz63]

 

[Jivlain]

He was also the first AFL player to contract Covid which would have had a significant physical and mental impact.

When comparing Conor's 2019 season to Adam Saad's 2022 season (2022 AA and probably considered the premier rebounding half-back). Their stats aren't too dissimilar. McKenna would be a great free pick-up and top off a remarkable trade/free agency period for the club with the addition of 4 best 22 players (Dunkley, Gunston, Ashcroft, McKenna) for the loss of one (important) role player.

Iirc, he had a positive test, there was a massive and unfair media circus blaming him for getting it irresponsibly (he was within guidelines), and then it turned out the positive result was a false positive anyway.

 

[JasRulz63]

Iirc, he had a positive test, there was a massive and unfair media circus blaming him for getting it irresponsibly (he was within guidelines), and then it turned out the positive result was a false positive anyway.

Should play for a team in a state where the media won't be all over him.

 

[a mayes ing]

Hope it is Round 2 beating Port. First Dunkley, 2nd McKenna

 

[Dalions]

So much for wanting to be in Melbourne.

 

[Full Wingspan]

Iirc, he had a positive test, there was a massive and unfair media circus blaming him for getting it irresponsibly (he was within guidelines), and then it turned out the positive result was a false positive anyway.

I stand corrected. Significant interruption nonetheless missing games and being unfairly hounded etc. Was inspecting a home iirc.

 

[StevoJenkins]

Who would McKenna replace in our best 22?

Rich. Wilmott, Strace and Kiddy can replace him in terms of kicking and McKenna would add more speed to the backline.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Maybe Kiddy, Wilmot or McKenna could rotate onto the wing as well as playing down back

 

[Nunez]

Maybe Kiddy, Wilmot or McKenna could rotate onto the wing as well as playing down back

I expect McKenna would play wing if he comes.

 

[Eons]

McKenna would be a great addition. Anyone have any decent info about the possibility of him coming?

 

[Warwick]

McKenna would be a great addition. Anyone have any decent info about the possibility of him coming?

We're all eagerly waiting for Nunez to rule it out.

 

[Nunez]

We're all eagerly waiting for Nunez to rule it out.

Zero chance of McKenna I'm afraid.

 

[Warwick]

Zero chance of McKenna I'm afraid.

Welcome Conor.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

Zero chance of McKenna I'm afraid.

Does that mean Nunez that we all win premium memberships for 2023, if he does indeed sign for us

 

[dlanod]

Zero chance of McKenna I'm afraid.

This is in danger of becoming the new Operation thread ...