List Mgmt. 2024 Draft & Trade Hypotheticals

What should we get with our first two picks as they stand

  • Best Available for both

    Votes: 25 29.4%
  • Small forward/Small Defender

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • KPD/Small Forward

    Votes: 9 10.6%
  • Mid/KPD

    Votes: 2 2.4%
  • KPD/Defender

    Votes: 19 22.4%
  • KPF/Small Forward

    Votes: 7 8.2%
  • KPF/Mid

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • KPF/Defender

    Votes: 23 27.1%

  • Total voters
    85

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I agree that it's reasonable to expect most or all of those players can improve on this year, I just think there are some areas on our list that we're still quite shallow in and that then sort of bleeds into the best 22 & the game plan.

ie. Our lack of quality smalls meant Horse & co went with a very slow forward line lacking pressure almost through lack of alternatives. Our lack of genuine midfield options meant Horse & co gave more inside time to Warner & Gulden when they're probably better suited to other roles.

And one could say 'ok well that problem is fixed by Cleary, Mills, Sheldrick, done.' But then what if there's injuries? Our structures can't just go to shit the minute two or three players in those roles go down. So I think we need more AFL-ready options on the list.

I realise of course that fixing some of the above issues also relies on the coaches recognising those issues and actively wanting to fix them and not just sticking to what they did this year.
I can't think of a club with more good options than Rowbottom, Sheldrick, Cleary, Adams, Mills, Jordon, Warner & Heeney, maybe Campbell & Roberts. Literally the least of our worries IMHO.

Where we lack is in wingers of size, marking forwards quick off a standing start and some athletic tall options. I hear we have depth building there in KPDs - I wonder if Horse plays any of them at all through the year to help get them ready, or we just run the same 3 into the ground all year. (Actually I know the answer to that looking at Horse's career.)

Big athletic tough players - around the ground as an option is what we need IMO
 

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Bugger thats disappointing :(

Well hopefully with Macca coaching the VFL they can improve, about time the club addressed wtf was there such a lack of development in our VFL side.
He was basically playing as a key forward all year to slowly blood him in. Played a couple of games as solo ruck including this stunner.
19 touches, 35 hitouts, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 78% DE, 0 turnovers and 2 contested marks


Anyone that has watched a couple of games of the VFL would have known it was a slow burn with Greeny purposely done by the Swans coaching staff
 
Guy looked completely lost at VFL level IMO.
If he plays any games for us next year we are in BIG trouble.
I watched a fair bit of his game.

He was virtually exactly what I expected of a first yea ruck prospect. He has better foot skills and hand balling than other rucks, but got muscled out of most contests due to 30kg difference. His tank and running ability looked good too.

Basically he showed decent skills but needs to eat some dumbbells.
 
I watched a fair bit of his game.

He was virtually exactly what I expected of a first yea ruck prospect. He has better foot skills and hand balling than other rucks, but got muscled out of most contests due to 30kg difference. His tank and running ability looked good too.

Basically he showed decent skills but needs to eat some dumbbells.
He was also a solo ruck throughout his juniors now playing majority key forward. When he solo rucked he actually looked class. Will get more ruck time next year and will have more gym time to put on 5-10kgs in the next 12-18 months
 
Guy looked completely lost at VFL level IMO.
If he plays any games for us next year we are in BIG trouble.
Was largely developed up forward for the year which is more unfamiliar.

In his one game as the number 1 ruck in round 8 vs Frankston he had 35ho, 17 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles.

His other notable games were when he played 2nd ruck.
Bullants 20ho, 12 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles
GWS 15ho, 14 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles

Most of the year he was at best the 3rd in line ruck.

Alright for a first year ruck draftee with limited ruck exposure imo
 
Why aren’t we playing Green more in the ruck if he can already perform okay there?

I don’t follow reserves, but from what I hear on here, it appears our reserves players are played out of their natural position, the game plan doesn’t match the seniors, and we still get flogged most weeks.

If we are going to get flogged regardless, doesn’t it at least make sense to play the players in their natural positions and align with the senior’s game plan?
 
Why aren’t we playing Green more in the ruck if he can already perform okay there?

I don’t follow reserves, but from what I hear on here, it appears our reserves players are played out of their natural position, the game plan doesn’t match the seniors, and we still get flogged most weeks.

If we are going to get flogged regardless, doesn’t it at least make sense to play the players in their natural positions and align with the senior’s game plan?

He is playing in a team with two other ruckman. That appears to be the main issue.

Our reserves team has been a complete mess the last couple of years.

Hopefully McVeigh has more of a focus on developing our draftees as I don't think the last guy had a clue what he was doing.
 
Why aren’t we playing Green more in the ruck if he can already perform okay there?

I don’t follow reserves, but from what I hear on here, it appears our reserves players are played out of their natural position, the game plan doesn’t match the seniors, and we still get flogged most weeks.

If we are going to get flogged regardless, doesn’t it at least make sense to play the players in their natural positions and align with the senior’s game plan?
He's further down the pecking order. Ladhams and McAndrews are closer to AFL selection so it's more important we keep them primed.

This season may be different
 
Stringer is a better fit for us than the Giants. Only query is his fitness. Off field stuff seems in the past. For a pick in the 50’s it’s worth the risk for 2 years.
I suspect it is the off field stuff that is resulting in essendon shopping him around.

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Why aren’t we playing Green more in the ruck if he can already perform okay there?

I don’t follow reserves, but from what I hear on here, it appears our reserves players are played out of their natural position, the game plan doesn’t match the seniors, and we still get flogged most weeks.

If we are going to get flogged regardless, doesn’t it at least make sense to play the players in their natural positions and align with the senior’s game plan?
At his age and body development, if we played him too much in the ruck then he would probably spend too many weeks in rehab. It is a slow burn for someone that big and that young so we need to give him game time to learn more without being subjected to the physical hammering he would take as full-time ruck.

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Statistically speaking they are the best ruck duo in the comp. Just because they are a big name doesn't mean they are the "best". I think if anything your comment comes across as ignorant given what the stats say, i was shocked when i first saw it but it makes sense given that McLean is the perfect ruck foil to Grundy.
Stats don't win you grand finals.
He is a decent player, I actually like how he goes about it. Honest player gives us what he's got every week.
Not a lot btwn he and Amartey, both can get games over the season replacing each other, but having all three of the same again...simply won't get it done.
We need to change things up to take another step forward IMO. Got to risk it for the biscuit.

Taking the slowest player out of the forward line and inserting a fast marking forward is hardly me preaching something radical in this day and age. Blakey is a good running HB. We can find others when/if he is used forward. Fox, Tauru whoever the kids are in the academy...
 
He is playing in a team with two other ruckman. That appears to be the main issue.

Our reserves team has been a complete mess the last couple of years.

Hopefully McVeigh has more of a focus on developing our draftees as I don't think the last guy had a clue what he was doing.

He's further down the pecking order. Ladhams and McAndrews are closer to AFL selection so it's more important we keep them primed.

This season may be different

At his age and body development, if we played him too much in the ruck then he would probably spend too many weeks in rehab. It is a slow burn for someone that big and that young so we need to give him game time to learn more without being subjected to the physical hammering he would take as full-time ruck.

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Thanks for responses.

To add to your views, I hope McVeigh can give Green 1-2 quarters per game as ruck, even if this means that Ladhams and MacAndrew get less than ideal time. Also, if we rest Grundy appropriately (I’d go once every 3-4 games), this should help provide more opportunities.

Given McVeigh’s experience with seniors (as both player and assistant coach), I am confident he will get the priorities right, in order:
  1. Ensure the players play with senior level competitive mindsets and professionalism every game, no matter who they are and where they are played on the day
  2. Develop players to be ready and useful for the seniors team as soon and well as possible
  3. Stick to seniors style game plan, especially for players who may one day play seniors
  4. Try to win reserve games, subject to priorities above
 
This is really poor reporting.

At the risk of being overly-sensitive - and certainly not to appear as though I am defending Stringer or Hind, both of whom are flogs - but without actually explaining who the so-called "undesirable" individuals are and why they are considered "undesirable", this kinda screams 'racial profiling'?

Because without that relevant information, all we have to go on are that non-Caucasian men were invited into the rooms after a game and the AFL considered it "undesirable." That honestly makes the AFL look bad, not the Essendon players in question.

Hind and Stringer hang out with a convicted killer & invite him into the rooms.

I think you were overly sensitive on this occasion caesar88.

I’m so so thankful we’ve ruled out Stringer (haven’t we?).
 
1. We need more defensive pressure in our forward half.
2. We should trade for Stringer.

These are mutually exclusive statements.

edit: for clarity - I don't want us to bring in Stringer.
Don’t think we had a bloke in the top 50 for in50 for tackles this season. Actually Hayward 30th

Not good enough
 
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Thanks for responses.

To add to your views, I hope McVeigh can give Green 1-2 quarters per game as ruck, even if this means that Ladhams and MacAndrew get less than ideal time. Also, if we rest Grundy appropriately (I’d go once every 3-4 games), this should help provide more opportunities.

Given McVeigh’s experience with seniors (as both player and assistant coach), I am confident he will get the priorities right, in order:
  1. Ensure the players play with senior level competitive mindsets and professionalism every game, no matter who they are and where they are played on the day
  2. Develop players to be ready and useful for the seniors team as soon and well as possible
  3. Stick to seniors style game plan, especially for players who may one day play seniors
  4. Try to win reserve games, subject to priorities above
I think it may be unlikely McAndrew's on the list next year, so would love to see a Green/Ladhams duo in the ressies ruck with Pete playing more of the forward-ruck role which he's suited to, arguably more than McLean.
 

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List Mgmt. 2024 Draft & Trade Hypotheticals

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