AFL Player #26: Kaine Baldwin - Not offered a contract for 2025, thanks Kaine! 26/8

[Lore]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2024
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 33, Zach Package

 

[andleanback]

The SEN experts had essendon most likely delisting Baldwin at the end of the year, but they also said Flip should sign on for two more years so who knows what they were smoking.

That expert was some nuffie carlton fan. Bloke has no clue

 

[Duckworth]

Get him in.

 

[Nicholas61]

Could this be the week?

 

[Keystone agony]

North rocking a pretty small side these days

And if you want him in, its hard to see Lav being dropped it would mean your probably supporting Cox on a wing

 

[faible]

North rocking a pretty small side these days

And if you want him in, its hard to see Lav being dropped it would mean your probably supporting Cox on a wing

Unfortunately the player most obvious to make way for Cox down back is Heppell, allowing Baldwin to play in a KPP role and pushing Laverde to a medium sized player.

This would allow a backline group with Baldwin, BZT, Laverde, Kelly, Redman, McGrath / Hind and Cox all likely to play for 2-3 years together (with Ridley).

 

[bombadeer]

Just the mere mention of delisting has me opening up the microwave.

 

[P Money]

Really wanna see this guy in ASAP. Seems solid defensively and a significant upgrade on a lot of our 'key' defenders offensively. Add to that the he is by all reports just smashing the door down and I want to see that rewarded from a club culture perspective

 

[Keystone agony]

Unfortunately the player most obvious to make way for Cox down back is Heppell, allowing Baldwin to play in a KPP role and pushing Laverde to a medium sized player.

This would allow a backline group with Baldwin, BZT, Laverde, Kelly, Redman, McGrath / Hind and Cox all likely to play for 2-3 years together (with Ridley).

I dont think theyd be too keen to have all of Baldwin, Lav, Kelly and BZT in the same team

For me our back 7 should be
Mcgrath - Mckay - Ridley
Redmam - Reid - N.Cox (Hind)

Laverde to replace Reid if injured/not ready

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Really wanna see this guy in ASAP. Seems solid defensively and a significant upgrade on a lot of our 'key' defenders offensively. Add to that the he is by all reports just smashing the door down and I want to see that rewarded from a club culture perspective

Also apparently shown really good leadership in the VFL team.

 

[faible]

I dont think theyd be too keen to have all of Baldwin, Lav, Kelly and BZT in the same team

For me our back 7 should be
Mcgrath - Mckay - Ridley
Redmam - Reid - N.Cox (Hind)

Laverde to replace Reid if injured/not ready

I'm not bothering to pencil in Reid at all until he gets some continuity and he's injured right now, Ridley is injured, and McKay isn't on our list right now.

So it's Baldwin / BZT / Weideman / Stewart / Laverde that could fill the key posts right now, with Laverde / Kelly / Cox available to fill an in-between role, and Redman / McGrath / Hind to play on the smalls.

Of that group I think Baldwin & BZT playing tall, Laverde & Kelly playing medium, two of Redman / McGrath / Hind playing small (I'd genuinely look at dropping McGrath given his recent form defensively and offensively isn't blowing me away) with Cox as your 7th.

Longer term you'd be unlikely to have Kelly, Laverde & Ridley all in the same side with Cox and two taller defenders (e.g. BZT / Baldwin / McKay) also playing, which is good from a selection pressure perspective.

 

[Keystone agony]

I'm not bothering to pencil in Reid at all until he gets some continuity and he's injured right now, Ridley is injured, and McKay isn't on our list right now.

So it's Baldwin / BZT / Weideman / Stewart / Laverde that could fill the key posts right now, with Laverde / Kelly / Cox available to fill an in-between role, and Redman / McGrath / Hind to play on the smalls.

Of that group I think Baldwin & BZT playing tall, Laverde & Kelly playing medium, two of Redman / McGrath / Hind playing small (I'd genuinely look at dropping McGrath given his recent form defensively and offensively isn't blowing me away) with Cox as your 7th.

Longer term you'd be unlikely to have Kelly, Laverde & Ridley all in the same side with Cox and two taller defenders (e.g. BZT / Baldwin / McKay) also playing, which is good from a selection pressure perspective.

Im talking about next year

This year is far different

Id be fine playing whoever now even if the mix doesnt work. Seasons done.

Time to get games into Cox no matter what though and has to be backline

The reasons he doesnt get picked
1) Hes told the clubs hes off
2) Scott think there is no point playing Baldwin, Zerk, Lav, Kelly and Cox in the same backline in the future so why do it now
3) 2 of Zerk, Lav, Kelly, Heppell, Cox, Mcgrath, Redman, Hind have to play somewhere else which Scott doesnt really want to do

 

[Lore]

Kaine Baldwin​

28 disposals, 12 marks

Kaine had a really balanced effort, 28 disposals for a key defender is quite amazing really. It’s all off the back of his defensive work, whether he’s cutting across to intercept, backing himself to start our attack, or getting in the right spots to beat his man. He’s playing excellent footy at the moment.

VFL player review: Rd 20 v Southport

10 AFL-listed Dons suited up against the Sharks.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Surely you're giving him a go at this point.

 

[Lore]

Surely you're giving him a go at this point.

Pretty sure he got #26 after Hooker retired didn't he? Was drafted before that, so early faith in him for a jumper upgrade before he'd played a game at AFL level

 

[Happyskeret]

I’ve been super impressed with his consistency for a young key position player.

 

[citizen-erased]

I’ve been super impressed with his consistency for a young key position player.

He seems to be ticking every box you'd want for a key defender at vfl level.

 

[Gabe251]

Maybe wants out? So weird we aren't playing him

 

[FlyingV]

needs to come in, whether it’s resting Laverde, going a bit too tall in the backline for a week, or moving Cox again, I don’t care. The reality is he’s the same age as Cox and Cox has never produced the output Baldwin has at VFL level in the backline.

 

[carloss]

Very unlucky not to be getting a game, thought he showed more in the VFL than Cox.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Very unlucky not to be getting a game, thought he showed more in the VFL than Cox.

Cox was a top ten pick but so comparisons aren't really relevant.

 

[Ambrosia]

Cox was a top ten pick but so comparisons aren't really relevant.

Still don’t understand why we didn’t just wait for Cox to find form in the VFL before bringing him in

 

[VelvetSledge]

For gods sake just get him in

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

I really hope he is picked this week.

 

[Vindicater]

Hope he gets a gig somewhere else next season.

Brad Scott clearly does not rate him.

 

[andleanback]

Hope he gets a gig somewhere else next season.

Brad Scott clearly does not rate him.

Don’t think it’s whether he rates him, it’s that he just backs in his defenders ( his guys) and unless he’s going to drop laverde- baldwin doesn’t have a stop.