One of the most critical areas in Essendon becoming a finals threat is the oft-vented issue surrounding our lack of elite talent on our list.
Have a look through our lists over the years since Hird and Lloyd have retired and there’s not a player who has been close to that level of elite game-changing ability. Zach and Jobe have undoubtedly been elite players but not in the class of the aforementioned. Ryder, Joe, and Stringer all had the talent and demonstrated it inconsistently but generally underwhelmed.
So, looking at our current list, who are the players most likely and why? And what would possibly hinder them reaching that level.
A top twelve (excluding Zach who is our only elite player);
1/ Caddy - has the all-round game and the look in his eye of a champion. Is he too short? Will expectation hinder him?
2/ Durham - Inside and outside game has everything, and is a professional athlete. Does he himself believe he belongs in elite company to help him take the next step?
3/ Nick Martin - He’s a game-changer in that he gets plenty of the ball, breaks lines, and kicks goals. The upside for him, once he’s filled out his frame and settled into a role, is very high. Like Duz, he just needs to believe that he’s a top 10 AFL player.
4/ Elijah Tsatas - I’m bullish about him getting there. He just has an instinct to win the ball and take the game on. Will he refine his kicking within limitations? He needs to emulate what Robert Harvey did with his kicking.
5/ Harry Jones - I just keep coming back this guy as someone with all the tools to become a star. Does he have enough mongrel? Will he settle into a forward role in tandem with Caddy? Does he want ‘It’ enough.
6/ Sam Draper - I don’t think there is any player capable of doing what he does in our game right now. At his best he is explosive, inspiring, and a match-changer. But his bad is really bad. Will the penny drop? If it does, he still has time to be our most lethal weapon.
7/ Jye Caldwell - He’s an instinctive ball-winner who’s found the self-belief and continuity. Plus, you can see a determined will to be a winner. Will wear and tear cut him down? He will be a better player than most on this list but I wonder if he is too limited to ever be ‘elite’.
8/ Isaac Kako - From the footage Ive seen, he has elite attributes - low centre of gravity, reads the play well, instinctive goal sense, evasiveness. At this stage it’s too early to tell. Will he find enough of the footy. Can he take his game beyond the forward half like Ablett Jr did?
9/ Jordan Ridley - As an intercept marking, rebounding tall defender he has all the attributes and he’s been on the cusp before. Can he have a clear, injury-free run at it? Is it getting too late for him to reach his potential? I’m thinking he’ll never be a superstar.
10/ Archie Perkins - He has composure and goal sense. He oozes class as a small/tall. But has he got the capacity to stay in the game, stay focused, and be fully committed? He seems to drift and you wonder if that’s something that will always be there with him.
11/ Zach Reid - When I think of what level of elite he could be I am thinking of Harris Andrews. You can see it in his game where he reads the play well, is good overhead and a nice kick for his size. Is he too broken? And has he lost too many development years (especially taking into account the COVID-affected lead-in to his draft)?
12/ Saad El Hawli - My outsider or long-shot prediction. Looks to have all the attributes an elite footballer requires and he knows where the goals are. He’s direct and good overhead and has defensive grounding at VFL level. There’s something about him. Will he be found out at the next level? There must be deficiencies in his game to see him overlooked so often so it will be interesting to watch his pre-season unfold.
Who else on our list might have the attributes to give us another superstar of the game?
Have a look through our lists over the years since Hird and Lloyd have retired and there’s not a player who has been close to that level of elite game-changing ability. Zach and Jobe have undoubtedly been elite players but not in the class of the aforementioned. Ryder, Joe, and Stringer all had the talent and demonstrated it inconsistently but generally underwhelmed.
So, looking at our current list, who are the players most likely and why? And what would possibly hinder them reaching that level.
A top twelve (excluding Zach who is our only elite player);
1/ Caddy - has the all-round game and the look in his eye of a champion. Is he too short? Will expectation hinder him?
2/ Durham - Inside and outside game has everything, and is a professional athlete. Does he himself believe he belongs in elite company to help him take the next step?
3/ Nick Martin - He’s a game-changer in that he gets plenty of the ball, breaks lines, and kicks goals. The upside for him, once he’s filled out his frame and settled into a role, is very high. Like Duz, he just needs to believe that he’s a top 10 AFL player.
4/ Elijah Tsatas - I’m bullish about him getting there. He just has an instinct to win the ball and take the game on. Will he refine his kicking within limitations? He needs to emulate what Robert Harvey did with his kicking.
5/ Harry Jones - I just keep coming back this guy as someone with all the tools to become a star. Does he have enough mongrel? Will he settle into a forward role in tandem with Caddy? Does he want ‘It’ enough.
6/ Sam Draper - I don’t think there is any player capable of doing what he does in our game right now. At his best he is explosive, inspiring, and a match-changer. But his bad is really bad. Will the penny drop? If it does, he still has time to be our most lethal weapon.
7/ Jye Caldwell - He’s an instinctive ball-winner who’s found the self-belief and continuity. Plus, you can see a determined will to be a winner. Will wear and tear cut him down? He will be a better player than most on this list but I wonder if he is too limited to ever be ‘elite’.
8/ Isaac Kako - From the footage Ive seen, he has elite attributes - low centre of gravity, reads the play well, instinctive goal sense, evasiveness. At this stage it’s too early to tell. Will he find enough of the footy. Can he take his game beyond the forward half like Ablett Jr did?
9/ Jordan Ridley - As an intercept marking, rebounding tall defender he has all the attributes and he’s been on the cusp before. Can he have a clear, injury-free run at it? Is it getting too late for him to reach his potential? I’m thinking he’ll never be a superstar.
10/ Archie Perkins - He has composure and goal sense. He oozes class as a small/tall. But has he got the capacity to stay in the game, stay focused, and be fully committed? He seems to drift and you wonder if that’s something that will always be there with him.
11/ Zach Reid - When I think of what level of elite he could be I am thinking of Harris Andrews. You can see it in his game where he reads the play well, is good overhead and a nice kick for his size. Is he too broken? And has he lost too many development years (especially taking into account the COVID-affected lead-in to his draft)?
12/ Saad El Hawli - My outsider or long-shot prediction. Looks to have all the attributes an elite footballer requires and he knows where the goals are. He’s direct and good overhead and has defensive grounding at VFL level. There’s something about him. Will he be found out at the next level? There must be deficiencies in his game to see him overlooked so often so it will be interesting to watch his pre-season unfold.
Who else on our list might have the attributes to give us another superstar of the game?
