Team Mgmt. Makeup of our team II - Strengths & deficiencies, player development

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Is it just me or do we now have a pretty well balanced list?

Jury is out on some players who are too young to show where they're at. But we have added a big defender, two small defenders - one who is a great left foot kick, and extra running wing, a marking forward, a small forward, a back up ruck.

Pretty happy with at least what looks like good planning.
 

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fairbump_playon said:
Is it just me or do we now have a pretty well balanced list?

Jury is out on some players who are too young to show where they're at. But we have added a big defender, two small defenders - one who is a great left foot kick, and extra running wing, a marking forward, a small forward, a back up ruck.

Pretty happy with at least what looks like good planning.
Click to expand...
I think there's better balance but the jury is still well and truly out on the quality and culture/work ethic. A lot of that is going to take time before it becomes apparent though.
 
fairbump_playon said:
Is it just me or do we now have a pretty well balanced list?

Jury is out on some players who are too young to show where they're at. But we have added a big defender, two small defenders - one who is a great left foot kick, and extra running wing, a marking forward, a small forward, a back up ruck.

Pretty happy with at least what looks like good planning.
Click to expand...
Yeah I'm thinking the same. In terms of pure positional coverage we are much better balanced than we were previously. Of course we are going to need plenty of young players to step up and to develop successfully or it doesn't count for much.

On paper though we should have much more flexibility in future draft and trade periods. With the ever increasing ways trading draft capital in and out - flexibility becomes a resource almost in and of itself because there is always a club looking to move in or out of a certain draft position for their reasons and if you have some flexibility because you have a balanced list then you can be the other side of the deal that gets a bit of a bargain (eg Geelong picking up a free second rounder for a 1 pick downgrade to a player they were obviously happy to take)
 
fairbump_playon said:
Is it just me or do we now have a pretty well balanced list?

Jury is out on some players who are too young to show where they're at. But we have added a big defender, two small defenders - one who is a great left foot kick, and extra running wing, a marking forward, a small forward, a back up ruck.

Pretty happy with at least what looks like good planning.
Click to expand...
Still lacks a bit of marking power outside of the defense.
Would like a few more real contested ball winners across the lines.
Leadership depth still has to be added to.
But they have added players in the draft that have potential to fill a need and the free agents / trades where an upgrade.
 
blitzer said:
Yeah I'm thinking the same. In terms of pure positional coverage we are much better balanced than we were previously. Of course we are going to need plenty of young players to step up and to develop successfully or it doesn't count for much.

On paper though we should have much more flexibility in future draft and trade periods. With the ever increasing ways trading draft capital in and out - flexibility becomes a resource almost in and of itself because there is always a club looking to move in or out of a certain draft position for their reasons and if you have some flexibility because you have a balanced list then you can be the other side of the deal that gets a bit of a bargain (eg Geelong picking up a free second rounder for a 1 pick downgrade to a player they were obviously happy to take)
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The turnover across the next 3-4 years will mainly be because guys arenā€™t good enough, not because our list balance is wack.

Agree we need more leadership, marking, toughness, but hopefully some of that will come from the developing under 23 group. Eg Duursma and Tsatas can mark the footy between the arcs. Could Durham start holding a lot more etc.

The one spot I donā€™t think we have covered is key forward. A lot of pressure on Hunter and Jones to step up. Personally I think we need a star in there, someone who is the top dog. Wright would be so much better if he played alongside a massive competitor.

Caddy should be good in that hybrid tall forward role, post Stringer. I know we donā€™t like to imagine this anymore but there is probably some chance Caddy becomes a star big midfielder šŸ˜—. What a win that would be.
 
Where we're at in terms of an overall list build:

Defence (15):

Key Defenders: Sam Weideman (KF), Lewis Hayes, Kaine Baldwin (KF), Ben McKay, Zach Reid
Medium Defenders: Nik Cox (OM, MF), Jordan Ridley, Jayden Laverde, Dyson Heppell (OM), Jake Kelly
Small Defenders: Andrew McGrath, Nick Hind (SF), Mason Redman, Luamon Lual, Archie Roberts (OM)

Midfield (15):

Inside Midfield: Darcy Parish, Elijah Tsatas, Jye Caldwell, Zach Merrett, Ben Hobbs, Dylan Shiel, Will Setterfield
Outside Midfield: Xavier Duursma, Sam Durham, Alwyn Davey jr (SF), Nic Martin (MF)
Ruck: Sam Draper, Todd Goldstein, Nick Bryan, Vigo Visentini

Forward (12):

Key Forwards: Peter Wright (ruc), Harrison Jones, Nate Caddy, Jaiden Hunter
Medium Forwards: Kyle Langford (OM), Archie Perkins (IM), Jake Stringer
Small Forwards: Matt Guelfi, Jayden Davey, Tex Wanganeen (OM), Jade Gresham, Jye Menzie

Seniors:

FB: Andrew McGrath - Ben McKay - Jayden Laverde
HB: Mason Redman - Kaine Baldwin - Jordan Ridley
MF: Sam Durham - Dylan Shiel - Nic Martin
HF: Ben Hobbs - Kyle Langford - Jade Gresham
FF: Jye Menzie - Peter Wright - Jake Stringer
OB: Sam Draper - Darcy Parish - Zach Merrett
IC: Jye Caldwell - Xavier Duursma - Nik Cox - Nick Bryan
TS: Matt Guelfi

Reserves:

FB: Sam Weideman - Zach Reid - Jake Kelly
HB: Luamon Lual - Lewis Hayes - Archie Roberts
MF: Alwyn Davey jr - Will Setterfield - Dyson Heppell
HF: Tex Wanganeen - Harrison Jones - Nick Hind
FF: Jayden Davey - Nate Caddy - Jaiden Hunter
OB: Todd Goldstein - Elijah Tsatas - Archie Perkins
IC: Vigo Visentini
23P:

It was a tough decision to leave Setterfield and Perkins out in particular, but obviously we probably see Bryan and Goldstein start the year and Weideman as the back up to Visentini. I don't expect a large turnover this year honestly, we don't have the draft resources for it unless several players (most likely Shiel and Stringer) request trades. McGrath the only FA worth talking about with Heppell, Kelly and Goldstein hopefully playing mostly reserves. 21 OOC for next year, let's see where they land.
 
eth-dog said:
Where we're at in terms of an overall list build:

Defence (15):

Key Defenders: Sam Weideman (KF), Lewis Hayes, Kaine Baldwin (KF), Ben McKay, Zach Reid
Medium Defenders: Nik Cox (OM, MF), Jordan Ridley, Jayden Laverde, Dyson Heppell (OM), Jake Kelly
Small Defenders: Andrew McGrath, Nick Hind (SF), Mason Redman, Luamon Lual, Archie Roberts (OM)

Midfield (15):

Inside Midfield: Darcy Parish, Elijah Tsatas, Jye Caldwell, Zach Merrett, Ben Hobbs, Dylan Shiel, Will Setterfield
Outside Midfield: Xavier Duursma, Sam Durham, Alwyn Davey jr (SF), Nic Martin (MF)
Ruck: Sam Draper, Todd Goldstein, Nick Bryan, Vigo Visentini

Forward (12):

Key Forwards: Peter Wright (ruc), Harrison Jones, Nate Caddy, Jaiden Hunter
Medium Forwards: Kyle Langford (OM), Archie Perkins (IM), Jake Stringer
Small Forwards: Matt Guelfi, Jayden Davey, Tex Wanganeen (OM), Jade Gresham, Jye Menzie

Seniors:

FB: Andrew McGrath - Ben McKay - Jayden Laverde
HB: Mason Redman - Kaine Baldwin - Jordan Ridley
MF: Sam Durham - Dylan Shiel - Nic Martin
HF: Ben Hobbs - Kyle Langford - Jade Gresham
FF: Jye Menzie - Peter Wright - Jake Stringer
OB: Sam Draper - Darcy Parish - Zach Merrett
IC: Jye Caldwell - Xavier Duursma - Nik Cox - Nick Bryan
TS: Matt Guelfi

Reserves:

FB: Sam Weideman - Zach Reid - Jake Kelly
HB: Luamon Lual - Lewis Hayes - Archie Roberts
MF: Alwyn Davey jr - Will Setterfield - Dyson Heppell
HF: Tex Wanganeen - Harrison Jones - Nick Hind
FF: Jayden Davey - Nate Caddy - Jaiden Hunter
OB: Todd Goldstein - Elijah Tsatas - Archie Perkins
IC: Vigo Visentini
23P:

It was a tough decision to leave Setterfield and Perkins out in particular, but obviously we probably see Bryan and Goldstein start the year and Weideman as the back up to Visentini. I don't expect a large turnover this year honestly, we don't have the draft resources for it unless several players (most likely Shiel and Stringer) request trades. McGrath the only FA worth talking about with Heppell, Kelly and Goldstein hopefully playing mostly reserves. 21 OOC for next year, let's see where they land.
Click to expand...
More chance Dylan shiel starts in the 2s than archie Perkins imo
 
andleanback said:
More chance Dylan shiel starts in the 2s than archie Perkins imo
Click to expand...
I think Archie probably starts but that's due to injuries. I'd also like to see him get a run through the middle there to see if he has any midfield craft we can develop.
 
My podcast partner Jono has put together his depth chart for the current Essendon list on Twitter, you can read his thoughts here:

threadreaderapp.com

Thread by @JonathanJWalsh on Thread Reader App

@JonathanJWalsh: With Vigo Visentini joining the Essendon Rookie List, Essendon has a full list of 38 Primary Listed players and 4 Rookie Listed players. We have 2 Category B spots if we go that way, but...ā€¦
threadreaderapp.com threadreaderapp.com
 

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I'd still expect to see one of Weideman or Jones start up forward for us next year, we need a two tall set up for Wright to do his best work. Really a make or break season for both of them.
 
i canā€™t make much sense of it.

I think maybe 15 players are walk up starts

McKay, Ridley, Redman, Mcgrath
Dursma, Martin, Durham
Merrett, Parish
Draper
Wright, Langford, Gresham

Thatā€™s a decent top 13.

Edit:

Letā€™s have a crack at a healthy best 22

Fb McGrath McKay Ridley
HB Redman Cox Dursma
C Durham Merret Martin
HF Perkins Langford Caldwell
FF Gresham Wright Sheil
OB Draper Parish setterfield

IC Hobbs Tsatas stringer Bryan

VFL

FB Hayes reid Kelly
HB Hind Baldwin Loul
C Tex vfl mid edwards
HF Davey Hunter jones
FF Davey Weid guelfi
Ob Goldy heppell caddy
 
Last edited:
jdstorm said:
i canā€™t make much sense of it.

I think maybe 15 players are walk up starts

McKay, Ridley, Redman, Mcgrath
Dursma, Martin, Durham
Merrett, Parish
Draper
Wright, Langford, Gresham

Thatā€™s a decent top 13.

Edit:

Letā€™s have a crack at a healthy best 22

Fb McGrath McKay Ridley
HB Redman Cox Dursma
C Durham Merret Martin
HF Perkins Langford Caldwell
FF Gresham Wright Sheil
OB Draper Parish setterfield

IC Hobbs Tsatas stringer Bryan

VFL

FB Hayes reid Kelly
HB Hind Baldwin Loul
C Tex vfl mid edwards
HF Davey Hunter jones
FF Davey Weid guelfi
Ob Goldy heppell caddy
Click to expand...
You donā€™t have Laverde or Menzie in either AFL or VFL team. Iā€™d suggest they both belong in AFL squad at least initially
 
FlyingV said:
You donā€™t have Laverde or Menzie in either AFL or VFL team. Iā€™d suggest they both belong in AFL squad at least initially
Click to expand...

Yeah definitely overlooked them.

Probably because they both fit in that fringe AFL spot where theyā€™re clearly AFL level but not obviously in either the AFL or VFL lists based on team makeup.

Menzie is hard to read because heā€™s good but youā€™d be hard pressed to drop one of Sheil/Caldwell/Hobbs/stringer for him.

Lots of selection pressure and depth which is nice but also difficult to see the full picture without being at training ect
 
jdstorm said:
Yeah definitely overlooked them.

Probably because they both fit in that fringe AFL spot where theyā€™re clearly AFL level but not obviously in either the AFL or VFL lists based on team makeup.

Menzie is hard to read because heā€™s good but youā€™d be hard pressed to drop one of Sheil/Caldwell/Hobbs/stringer for him.

Lots of selection pressure and depth which is nice but also difficult to see the full picture without being at training ect
Click to expand...
I'd be pretty happy playing Menzie and Gresham as our smaller front half players, rather than asking Hobbs/Caldwell/Perkins to play in that half mid - half forward role of death. That's how we f#cked Parish for so long.

Not sure about Duursma as a walk up start either (especially as a backman?) but as you say, NFI what they're tinkering with atm.
 
They can't play Parish/Merrett/Shiel in the centre square together, we have seen that in previous years in big games they are too small and get bullied as a group. Like banging your head against a brick wall to think that combination will magically start working after all this time being mediocre. To be honest I would start Parish/Hobbs/Setterfield, Shiel rotates in off the bench, Merrett's frame and elite skills are better suited to outside mid or even HBF Daicos role. Keep developing Perkins midfield skill set as his frame fills out he will become even harder to tackle
 
download-2-jpg.1860659
 
We have drafted very well IMO.

Finally might be pressure for spots with the depth added.

Davey brothers, Jones, Cox & Reid are almost new recruits also.
 

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Team Mgmt. Makeup of our team II - Strengths & deficiencies, player development

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