Coach Men's Senior Coach: Brad Scott

[bombreys]

I, for one, think he’s been excellent.

It’s horses for courses.

If we had Goldy and Kelly in the side, we win that game.

 

[Mercurial89]

We were playing very good footy earlier in the year and that wasn’t by accident.

Part of changing as a club is knowing where you are at. We can't criticise the club for not knowing it when supporters can't even see it either.

I don't think we were playing good football earlier in the year, do you honestly believe we were playing well?

 

[Kong]

It is certainly a judgment week for sure. Up until recently I could go along with him backing the senior guys and only having a small sample of young players because we where winning games and playing with effort for most of the games even if the execution has not been that flash. It is actually fork in the road time. He backed them again this week hoping to get a response and it ended up being a big pile of shit. Pressure is now on him.

I have been prepared to wait and see. For me it has always been about what he does at the end of this year now they have had a year to look at the football department and a year to start working on what they have seen as being wrong as a whole but the time is here . He has backed the old warriors . He has had the best part of a season to give the older blokes on the list a go and see where they are at. It is time to make a statement.

I know most think it is a load of crap that match sim is a big part of selection but when I have watched it you do learn a few things. When Wright or Caddy beat Hayes in match sim then you sort of get why he is not getting a run at it. When Bryan can not beat Goldstien in one on one contests or the tap work you see what they see. When Menzie has more impact around the footy than either Davey . That is what has been happening. Roberts being pulled aside to run through what he should be doing most match sims.

This is what happens behind the scenes. You could say that they should just bite the bullet and see at some stage but if you can not beat blokes on our list in a specific role then what can I say. The VFL has been a shit fight of errors most of the season as well so it is hard to see system.

The time has come. They have a number of players on long term deals who are not producing. They have several veterans who need to be put out to pasture and they need their shit together before we get to the Tasmanian drafts. It is now make or break for Scott / McPherson / Rosa and Vozzo . If they have a poor draft / fa / trade period this year we will be ****ed for another 8 years. Maye more.

Given that Scott is leaving some young players to develop outside of the senior team (be it through the VFL or through training without playing AFL), he presumably sees this as more beneficial for them as players.

So on that note, do you think it's fair to expect someone like Hayes to be good to go next year in the same way one of his peers with 2 full seasons of AFL games would be?

I'm not sure if that makes sense. I guess my question is, at what stage would you say you can label Scott's approach to developing young players a failure?

 

[Old Campaigner]

The thinking was a couple of FA would push us over the top yet here we are again with the ass falling out as the season progresses & little sign of who we can rely on to take us forward.

I think a few posters here might've convinced themselves that was the case but none of them were amazing players who were going to drag us into finals

 

[Old Campaigner]

• Every fan for the last 10 years could tell you Langford was natural fwd. Yet he's been *ed around his whole career & Brad chose to initially play him in the back half, before injuries forced us to move him forward. What the * was he and the coaching staff seeing in training?
• Any Essendon fan could tell you Massimo D'ambrosio is exactly the kind of player our backline needed, a beautiful ball user - who should be playing ahead of the likes of Kelly & Heppell. But Brad Scott insists on playing his favourite 2 experienced hacks for us to lose this talent & see him absolutely flourish at another club.
• Any Essendon fan can tell you we are going in far too tall & slow - but Brad keeps insisting on it for some ****ing reason when it is so evident and clear to see. We dont have good small forward, surely we could at least do with pace anywhere on the field? But no, Brad Scott insists on it.
• Any Essendon fan can see how atrociously bad our fwd 5 entries are every game - but no, because we win the fwd 50 entry count every game - it's a personnel and not a system issue? Get ****ed Brad - this is a system issue. These are just piss poor tactics - going long and deep with shit contested marking players & 0 quality small forward is an obviously atrocious game plan.
• Any Essendon fan can see that continuing to play a chip mark, boundary side style of play just is not the way to go when the pressure is put on by the opponent. Pressure builds mistakes, and this team is so clearly not skilled enough to be able to cope with that - yet we continue to insist on it. Regardless of talent, its hard enough to maintain quality when pressure is put on. But no Brad - you continue to insist.

This is not a personnel problem. We have enough quality players to be doing better than we are, to be beating the likes of Adelaide and St Kilda.

This is a Brad Scott problem. He is a shit coach. He is not tactically astute. He is clearly making atrocious decisions at the selection table. He is not tactically proactive. When is the last time he has made a tangible coaching move that has shifted a game? He is just a politician. A good manager of people maybe - but a football coach he is not.

We are going no where right now, and I don't see us going anywhere with his arrogant, head-strong ****stick of an AFL politician.

You'd have a point except it's been the same shit under every coach we've had since the early 2000s. If we got Clarkson or Hardwick or Longmire into the club they'd be battling against the same entrenched culture.

Brad might not be the one to take us to a flag but if he's able to beat down the shitty culture that's been infecting the club he's the right guy for the job right now.

 

[boncer34]

You'd have a point except it's been the same shit under every coach we've had since the early 2000s. If we got Clarkson or Hardwick or Longmire into the club they'd be battling against the same entrenched culture.

Brad might not be the one to take us to a flag but if he's able to beat down the shitty culture that's been infecting the club he's the right guy for the job right now.

That's the million dollar question.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

The pragmatic thing to do now is gut the list. This is looking like a deep draft and we have timed out draft runs ****ing horribly. None of our coaches have tried to do this and all of them have ended in failure to try and turn these guys around.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Sad to say but the performances in the 2020-2022 draft has probably forced us to play a more conservative style because we don't have the playmakers to move the ball any other way than switching between the wings until something opens up - against a team with a good structure this doesn't work. We've had what basically amounts to 5 top 10 picks and none of them are looking promising at the moment. I think if Cox, Perkins and Tsatas all turned out what we wanted them to be on draft night we perhaps wouldn't need to be over-using the ball like we do.

Need to make some tough calls at the end of the year. Our midfield is perennially unable to run out games and we're always going to be beaten on transition until it's fixed.

 

[Old Campaigner]

That's the million dollar question.

And one we won't know the answer to for years

 

[ant555]

Done a very good job getting near the end of his second year in charge and learning virtually nothing about the list that a semi-competent industry 'professional' didn't already know at the end of round 23 2022.

Done an even better job not adapting his new found cliched beliefs to the challenges before him. This is Zen Brad who is useless to Essendon. We only ever appointed Brad because we thought we were getting the uncompromising 32 yo hot head - not this empty suit from AFL house. Zen Chris works because he oversees an operation with 12 on field coaches who are hardened pros in every positive way and a system which appears to be able to recreate itself. It's like AFL Skynet. Chris, I suspect, is also just better at seeing things for what they are.

Zen Brad has burned the 2 years he had to make change by allowing all of the BS to fester instead of making a single tough call. You all know the BS, it's the usual cheating, not playing 2 way footy, coming up with ways around it, buying into the 'contested' delusion and ignoring the hardball reality, picking the shit trucks he loves despite blowing up team balance while doing it. He talks a big game but picks one of his favourites at the expense of our capacity to play front half footy when this guy was one of the biggest party culture problems. But I'm glad we made a statement moving on the likes of D'Ambrosio and Voss. We know that culture starts with the rookies. And elite kicking and punishing physicality is obviously not something Zen Brad needs as much as slow Joe the Goose specialists.

He also believes his own bullshit, that a hard edge can be transplanted onto a weak group of players, because it's written in a policy document.

The real problem now is that he's probably lost credibility. He's gone from a deluded post- Collingwood message to the players to throwing tantrums in a fortnight. The players have responded accordingly. So he cant even get a response in time to contine to chase another meaningless finals appearance.

What are we even trying to do? What platform is being laid for substantial football? Looking at it another way, what do you expect to see when this squad is challenging? We cant even point to a laundry list of mids who can dominate a game, hardball and looseball, in the way North can. We certainly don't have the foundation of a tactical system and culture that Hawthorn oozes. What about the 2-way, hardball, running machine at Freo?

I told you all this is what was happening. It was obvious. He hasn't had a consistent message. To the extent he says positive things they are not consistent with his actions.

There is no reason, whatsoever, to give this guy any more time. He has not done anything of value in 2 seasons. He's a 15 year veteran coach making errors rookies don't usually make.

Essendon will be too embarrassed to sack him because it's just the last time deciding on a candidate before even interviewing him has failed. So we'll need to stick with him for 'stability' and pray that a few players become superstars.

And I predicted we would be about the same this season and the list was stuffed before we kicked a ball in anger as well .

 

[boncer34]

And one we won't know the answer to for years

We'll know by the end of next year if he's made any inroads.

 

[BrunoV]

And I predicted we would be about the same this season and the list was stuffed before we kicked a ball in anger as well .

You're projecting a plan onto what you see absent justification. I'm analysing the situation based on what I see and hear.

You think there is some thought out strategy based on Zen Brad having a look at the list and other cliches. In reality they are just cliches and nothing more.

What reason is there to think there will be any real change in direction? What have you seen that vindicates your projection of a plan?

How do we even make change carrying monster contracts we now carry among key players who are liabilities or even just the continued re-signing of kids who are not getting the job done?

You know as well as I do just how deluded things were 21 days ago and now that's all fallen in a heap. Everyone has been extremely happy with themselves at Essedon. And now they're scrambling having been exposed for the pack of soft-c**ks they are.

For Zen Brad to start to turn in the direction you want is not an evolution of his plan, it is to turf everything he has done. This is why he is now throwing tantrums. He thought the leopard had changed its spots. It is also why he's done whether it's now or in 2 years. His starting point was allowing the players to continue cheating and now he's wondering why that doesn't work. This is also why Rutten and Worsfold failed.

 

[silk]

You're projecting a plan onto what you see absent justification. I'm analysing the situation based on what I see and hear.

You think there is some thought out strategy based on Zen Brad having a look at the list and other cliches. In reality they are just cliches and nothing more.

What reason is there to think there will be any real change in direction? What have you seen that vindicates your projection of a plan?

How do we even make change carrying monster contracts we now carry among key players who are liabilities or even just the continued re-signing of kids who are not getting the job done?

You know as well as I do just how deluded things were 21 days ago and now that's all fallen in a heap. Everyone has been extremely happy with themselves at Essedon. And now they're scrambling having been exposed for the pack of soft-c**ks they are.

For Zen Brad to start to turn in the direction you want is not an evolution of his plan, it is to turf everything he has done. This is why he is now throwing tantrums. He thought the leopard had changed its spots. It is also why he's done whether it's now or in 2 years. His starting point was allowing the players to continue cheating and now he's wondering why that doesn't work. This is also why Rutten and Worsfold failed.

I think we have a catch-22 here, and I'm on the fence still but waverying more and more each week when it comes to Scott, but I think this offseason will ultimately decide his future at the club.

Outside of Merrett, I don't think we have any other player who would rank in the top 5 for their position, except Maybe Langford as a medium forward, but he plays almost like a key forward, and he isn't not a top 5 key forward.

Is that coaching, developing or drafting? Probably a combination of all three, that starts with drafting. We have a list of AFL players, sure, but the vast majority would struggle to be in the top 10 of their role, with most being mid-tier or below.

I don't have the interest to work it out line by line, but let's pick the easiest one. Which number 1 ruckman that played AFL on the weekend is actually worse then Draper? Maybe West Coast and Richmond; no surprise where they are on the ladder.

 

[Mootsy]

Scott is not the problem, just like Rutten was not the problem.

People see a football club's nostalgia before the reality, yes its been a great club over 150 years, but its had its fair share of languishing in mediocrity throughout those 150 years and the last 24 years is no exception. It took someone like Sheedy to come in and to change things in the early 80s and some very good luck with the 90s being a golden period for player talent and recruitment. The reality is, this lagging and not being successful is probably just the normal eb and flow of most clubs when you look at the stats and the data(Except Geelong, who has owned the last 20 years, literally). Aside from Geelong, It's a lottery, meaning, player recruitment, this is what it often comes down to, now you could suggest that maybe Frank Costa and Brian Cook was a partnership that just got it all right at the right time!!!

Also Geelong haven't finished below 11th on the ladder since 1958. We actually had a good run as well for a while until 2004.

Firstly, people believe that because we are Essendon that means we are this big club that deserves respect, this mindset was relevant in 2002, maybe 2004. But it hasn't been relevant for some time. Especially when Mark Thompson came into the club around 2010 and realised how far behind EFC was compared to most other clubs, it was him and a few others whom instigated the new EFC Hangar facilities. Aside from that, There was clearly a sense of arrogance and expectation without the effort after 2004, planning and without keeping up with other clubs.

I'd also say, the AFL game has become so defensive now, that it's made the game a lot more complex and even, players just don't have space to move like they used to, so its very make or break. But if you don't have a club that is super focussed on success and drinks their own bath water, then it presents itself across all facets.

Reality seems to be, 1-2-3 out of this world people at one club isn't what makes premierships dynasties, it's literally having all the numbers aligning at the right time, not just recruiting 1-2-3 stars at the same time, but having a synthesis of list where a team can rise above the rest of the competition.

Thompson, Hardwick, Clarkson etc, had to endure 7-8+ years of pain and dissapointment before getting anywhere, and even then they needed some luck to align to assist them.

Dodoro is still there to assist with contracts, but it's Rosa and O'brien who are the list recruiters now, you would think with the assistance direction of the coaches. So this whole having a go at Dodoro isn't necessarily relevant as of this moment. To be fair.

The criticism i do have, is that i think from a supporters point of view, i would at the very least like to see, just the basics of the game being at a good standard. So, you want to see players make leads for the ball, you want to see players hold onto what seemingly looks like a simple uncontested grab, you want to see some logical play, and at AFL level, you expect to see the midfield, forward line etc, working together as a unit, at the very least.

Even if you don't win games, it's always nice to see rational, confident, skilled effort. That's it. You don't want to see players tripping over a ball uncontested or dropping a mark with zero pressure, i've had buddies who seemingly take better grabs in backyard footy, y'know, it shouldn't happen at AFL level unless a genuine defensive punch has knocked the ball out.

Conclusion: Look at the pattern since Sheedy left, Club hires new coach gets 1-2(maybe 3 years) and is always the first to get the blame, now we know Knights has become a great VFL coach, we know Rutten has been a great assistant coach at Richmond, we know Worsfold was great when he was coach, we know Thompson/Hird were good coaches, we know Caracalla has the greatest resume of assistant coach roles in the history of the game, we know Scott took an underdone North Melbourne to the finals.

There comes a point where you learn, it's probably not the coach that is the issue and that a football club is way more than just that and that also, 1-2(even 3 years) probably isn't enough with Essendon, people need to realise that Essendon is not this amazing club anymore, it needs to be re-built to that point over time and it needs that magic luck back that clubs like Geelong seemed to have aligned with instead.

Do hard calls need to be made on our list for next year. i'd say so, i think that's obvious. Did Scott make the wrong team selection this week, its hard to say unless we know his plans for the team and any niggling injuries that players have as well, its easy to assume without the context.

 

[ant555]

You're projecting a plan onto what you see absent justification. I'm analysing the situation based on what I see and hear.

You think there is some thought out strategy based on Zen Brad having a look at the list and other cliches. In reality they are just cliches and nothing more.

What reason is there to think there will be any real change in direction? What have you seen that vindicates your projection of a plan?

How do we even make change carrying monster contracts we now carry among key players who are liabilities or even just the continued re-signing of kids who are not getting the job done?

You know as well as I do just how deluded things were 21 days ago and now that's all fallen in a heap. Everyone has been extremely happy with themselves at Essedon. And now they're scrambling having been exposed for the pack of soft-c**ks they are.

For Zen Brad to start to turn in the direction you want is not an evolution of his plan, it is to turf everything he has done. This is why he is now throwing tantrums. He thought the leopard had changed its spots. It is also why he's done whether it's now or in 2 years. His starting point was allowing the players to continue cheating and now he's wondering why that doesn't work. This is also why Rutten and Worsfold failed.

No you are making your own truth as far as what I have said.

All I have ever done is point out there is a new group making the decisions. I have never made any suggestions they will get it right. The fact is Scott / McPherson / Rosa / Vozzo are making the calls. That is a change in direction . It is rare to see a club change coach , CEO , Head of football , List Manager , Chairman and also the boards football director within a 1 year period. There has been change. Of course there are no guarantees change will work. Have never said they would just get it right. Only thing I have ever said is it is year 1 of it this year. Despite what you think you know or see 2023 was written off as a year to look at the whole football department and review how it works . The ran a basic game plan and sat back to look at all the moving parts. So what if I point out actual changes as far as who does what rather than just listen to the usual line of this bloke is still doing this or that bloke is still running that. Positions have changed. That is a fact. Whatever they **** up now it is on the decisions they make.

So what have I seen ? not a lot as you do not take on a club that has had 20 years of various failings and turn it around in 1 season even if you are good. We are not Hawthorn . We do not have the club culture to turn things around in four yes I said four years and not your claim of two years. We are where Richmond or Melbourne where when they started again with Hardwicke and co or Melbourne with Roos / Goodwin / Taylor / Mahoney . It is the land of having continual disappointment and not really knowing if this lot can do anything.

Even at Hawthorn under Clarkson the supporters and even Brereton question the exact direction Clarkson was going in after 2 years and they had some decent stock for him to work with.

Now I have never said Scott is the answer either. Was not in his camp at the start . The only thing I have said is based on what I see and know about the training and preparation which was a lot better . Players where fitter . Training was more focused . This is real . I saw the change based on previous years.
At no stage have I said anything more other than understanding why Scott backed the old players in when we where winning and it is actually year 1 of what they want to start building. That is it. I have questioned selection in the past 4 weeks. I have not been on board with all their list changes.

I am analysing it based on my experience as far as talking to contacts from other clubs. The odd player manager . My own experience in the system and my own footy journey in playing and coaching. It is also based on looking what others are doing by going to non Essendon games .

I do not need to be projecting Zen Brad this and Zen Brad that. I said we would win 10 or 11 games this year and we would be the same side. I have consistently highlighted the holes in the list and the total lack of hard edge leadership on field. Have never said Brad will win us a flag or that he is any good tactically . I have been consistent in saying that it is what he does at the end of this season that will shed the most light on things. That is all.

 

[FootyGuru]

No you are making your own truth as far as what I have said.

All I have ever done is point out there is a new group making the decisions. I have never made any suggestions they will get it right. The fact is Scott / McPherson / Rosa / Vozzo are making the calls. That is a change in direction . It is rare to see a club change coach , CEO , Head of football , List Manager , Chairman and also the boards football director within a 1 year period. There has been change. Of course there are no guarantees change will work. Have never said they would just get it right. Only thing I have ever said is it is year 1 of it this year. Despite what you think you know or see 2023 was written off as a year to look at the whole football department and review how it works . The ran a basic game plan and sat back to look at all the moving parts. So what if I point out actual changes as far as who does what rather than just listen to the usual line of this bloke is still doing this or that bloke is still running that. Positions have changed. That is a fact. Whatever they **** up now it is on the decisions they make.

So what have I seen ? not a lot as you do not take on a club that has had 20 years of various failings and turn it around in 1 season even if you are good. We are not Hawthorn . We do not have the club culture to turn things around in four yes I said four years and not your claim of two years. We are where Richmond or Melbourne where when they started again with Hardwicke and co or Melbourne with Roos / Goodwin / Taylor / Mahoney . It is the land of having continual disappointment and not really knowing if this lot can do anything.

Even at Hawthorn under Clarkson the supporters and even Brereton question the exact direction Clarkson was going in after 2 years and they had some decent stock for him to work with.

Now I have never said Scott is the answer either. Was not in his camp at the start . The only thing I have said is based on what I see and know about the training and preparation which was a lot better . Players where fitter . Training was more focused . This is real . I saw the change based on previous years.
At no stage have I said anything more other than understanding why Scott backed the old players in when we where winning and it is actually year 1 of what they want to start building. That is it. I have questioned selection in the past 4 weeks. I have not been on board with all their list changes.

I am analysing it based on my experience as far as talking to contacts from other clubs. The odd player manager . My own experience in the system and my own footy journey in playing and coaching. It is also based on looking what others are doing by going to non Essendon games .

I do not need to be projecting Zen Brad this and Zen Brad that. I said we would win 10 or 11 games this year and we would be the same side. I have consistently highlighted the holes in the list and the total lack of hard edge leadership on field. Have never said Brad will win us a flag or that he is any good tactically . I have been consistent in saying that it is what he does at the end of this season that will shed the most light on things. That is all.

But but but st kilda beat us and we are higher than them on the ladder. Sack Scott sack the club

 

[Devington]

That's the million dollar question.

Apologies for the intrusion, but I don't like your odds. He came to North and immediately tried dismantling the idea of the Shinboner Spirit (the idea behind his decision had some merit, but there were other ways to go about it) and by half way through his tenure we had players in the leadership group justifying losses by saying winning wasn't everything. Seemingly the biggest cultural aspect he sought to create, was ensuring players were set up for life after football, whether that be by getting their degrees or investing in real estate. As much reason as I might have to troll you guys, I'm not lying on this.

Yeah, he could get the team up frequently enough to take scalps from top 4 teams or to come out firing after a particularly bad loss, but he never once managed to create a culture of consistent work ethic throughout a season, and a big aspect of that is something we are seeing now: his selection policies. On that note, whatever you do, don't let him get full control of list management. Cam Joyce was some no-named opposition scout or something, that eventually found himself as our list manager and number one Brad Brownnoser. Brad then managed to get that hack promoted to GM of football, his own boss, in their final three years at the club! That era was when we recruited mature hacks and did everything to try to hold onto making it into the 8, until his plan of topping up and never making top 4 failed, and he pitched a full blow rebuild to the board!

 

[Mercurial89]

No you are making your own truth as far as what I have said.

All I have ever done is point out there is a new group making the decisions. I have never made any suggestions they will get it right. The fact is Scott / McPherson / Rosa / Vozzo are making the calls. That is a change in direction . It is rare to see a club change coach , CEO , Head of football , List Manager , Chairman and also the boards football director within a 1 year period. There has been change. Of course there are no guarantees change will work. Have never said they would just get it right. Only thing I have ever said is it is year 1 of it this year. Despite what you think you know or see 2023 was written off as a year to look at the whole football department and review how it works . The ran a basic game plan and sat back to look at all the moving parts. So what if I point out actual changes as far as who does what rather than just listen to the usual line of this bloke is still doing this or that bloke is still running that. Positions have changed. That is a fact. Whatever they **** up now it is on the decisions they make.

So what have I seen ? not a lot as you do not take on a club that has had 20 years of various failings and turn it around in 1 season even if you are good. We are not Hawthorn . We do not have the club culture to turn things around in four yes I said four years and not your claim of two years. We are where Richmond or Melbourne where when they started again with Hardwicke and co or Melbourne with Roos / Goodwin / Taylor / Mahoney . It is the land of having continual disappointment and not really knowing if this lot can do anything.

Even at Hawthorn under Clarkson the supporters and even Brereton question the exact direction Clarkson was going in after 2 years and they had some decent stock for him to work with.

Now I have never said Scott is the answer either. Was not in his camp at the start . The only thing I have said is based on what I see and know about the training and preparation which was a lot better . Players where fitter . Training was more focused . This is real . I saw the change based on previous years.
At no stage have I said anything more other than understanding why Scott backed the old players in when we where winning and it is actually year 1 of what they want to start building. That is it. I have questioned selection in the past 4 weeks. I have not been on board with all their list changes.

I am analysing it based on my experience as far as talking to contacts from other clubs. The odd player manager . My own experience in the system and my own footy journey in playing and coaching. It is also based on looking what others are doing by going to non Essendon games .

I do not need to be projecting Zen Brad this and Zen Brad that. I said we would win 10 or 11 games this year and we would be the same side. I have consistently highlighted the holes in the list and the total lack of hard edge leadership on field. Have never said Brad will win us a flag or that he is any good tactically . I have been consistent in saying that it is what he does at the end of this season that will shed the most light on things. That is all.

I'm not sure how relentlessly defending every decision the club has made across player threads and coaching threads when it is questioned as possibly wrong by other posters and then going on a "I said", "I think", "I believe this" rant practically saying how much you aren't sold on those very same points that others keep pointing out works logically.

 

[WABomber]

As much as what Scott is doing at the moment is frustating the hell out of me, I honestly believe he has no intentions of bringing this team to a finals campaign at the expense of his gameplan and structures. When he said the 8 year plan I think he truly meant it, the guys being left to develop in the VFL will probably get a game before the end of the year and next year will be apart of the plans moving forward.

I am guessing the fitness base needed for his gameplan is still pretty far off as well, I think he is developing his players the way he wants and I don't think anything will change that, its probably pissing off a lot of the team but maybe its the shakeup they needed.

Either that or he is just a shit coach.

 

[Old Campaigner]

We'll know by the end of next year if he's made any inroads.

Maybe. If he cuts a bunch of players this offseason any effect might be masked by playing more inexperienced players

 

[boncer34]

Maybe. If he cuts a bunch of players this offseason any effect might be masked by playing more inexperienced players

Yeah that's a fair point. Though playing more inexperienced players instead of the "same olds" would be a change in tact itself.

 

[yodellinhank]

No you are making your own truth as far as what I have said.

All I have ever done is point out there is a new group making the decisions. I have never made any suggestions they will get it right. The fact is Scott / McPherson / Rosa / Vozzo are making the calls. That is a change in direction . It is rare to see a club change coach , CEO , Head of football , List Manager , Chairman and also the boards football director within a 1 year period. There has been change. Of course there are no guarantees change will work. Have never said they would just get it right. Only thing I have ever said is it is year 1 of it this year. Despite what you think you know or see 2023 was written off as a year to look at the whole football department and review how it works . The ran a basic game plan and sat back to look at all the moving parts. So what if I point out actual changes as far as who does what rather than just listen to the usual line of this bloke is still doing this or that bloke is still running that. Positions have changed. That is a fact. Whatever they **** up now it is on the decisions they make.

So what have I seen ? not a lot as you do not take on a club that has had 20 years of various failings and turn it around in 1 season even if you are good. We are not Hawthorn . We do not have the club culture to turn things around in four yes I said four years and not your claim of two years. We are where Richmond or Melbourne where when they started again with Hardwicke and co or Melbourne with Roos / Goodwin / Taylor / Mahoney . It is the land of having continual disappointment and not really knowing if this lot can do anything.

Even at Hawthorn under Clarkson the supporters and even Brereton question the exact direction Clarkson was going in after 2 years and they had some decent stock for him to work with.

Now I have never said Scott is the answer either. Was not in his camp at the start . The only thing I have said is based on what I see and know about the training and preparation which was a lot better . Players where fitter . Training was more focused . This is real . I saw the change based on previous years.
At no stage have I said anything more other than understanding why Scott backed the old players in when we where winning and it is actually year 1 of what they want to start building. That is it. I have questioned selection in the past 4 weeks. I have not been on board with all their list changes.

I am analysing it based on my experience as far as talking to contacts from other clubs. The odd player manager . My own experience in the system and my own footy journey in playing and coaching. It is also based on looking what others are doing by going to non Essendon games .

I do not need to be projecting Zen Brad this and Zen Brad that. I said we would win 10 or 11 games this year and we would be the same side. I have consistently highlighted the holes in the list and the total lack of hard edge leadership on field. Have never said Brad will win us a flag or that he is any good tactically . I have been consistent in saying that it is what he does at the end of this season that will shed the most light on things. That is all.

You gave him the Worsfold extension. Year 2 is basically year 1. Let's see if year three still counts as year 1.

I'd love for him to take me to the magic of the moment on a glory night. But his balalaika doesn't appear to be singing what my guitar wants to say.

McGarth kicks it blindly 40m down the line, signs a 6 year extension, and kicks it blindly down the line 40m... For the next 6 years?

 

[div12ressie]

Apologies for the intrusion, but I don't like your odds. He came to North and immediately tried dismantling the idea of the Shinboner Spirit (the idea behind his decision had some merit, but there were other ways to go about it) and by half way through his tenure we had players in the leadership group justifying losses by saying winning wasn't everything. Seemingly the biggest cultural aspect he sought to create, was ensuring players were set up for life after football, whether that be by getting their degrees or investing in real estate. As much reason as I might have to troll you guys, I'm not lying on this.

Yeah, he could get the team up frequently enough to take scalps from top 4 teams or to come out firing after a particularly bad loss, but he never once managed to create a culture of consistent work ethic throughout a season, and a big aspect of that is something we are seeing now: his selection policies. On that note, whatever you do, don't let him get full control of list management. Cam Joyce was some no-named opposition scout or something, that eventually found himself as our list manager and number one Brad Brownnoser. Brad then managed to get that hack promoted to GM of football, his own boss, in their final three years at the club! That era was when we recruited mature hacks and did everything to try to hold onto making it into the 8, until his plan of topping up and never making top 4 failed, and he pitched a full blow rebuild to the board!

Jesus christ I hope you're lying about everything you said in the first paragraph. That makes me want to vomit

 

[BrunoV]

I think we have a catch-22 here, and I'm on the fence still but waverying more and more each week when it comes to Scott, but I think this offseason will ultimately decide his future at the club.

Outside of Merrett, I don't think we have any other player who would rank in the top 5 for their position, except Maybe Langford as a medium forward, but he plays almost like a key forward, and he isn't not a top 5 key forward.

Is that coaching, developing or drafting? Probably a combination of all three, that starts with drafting. We have a list of AFL players, sure, but the vast majority would struggle to be in the top 10 of their role, with most being mid-tier or below.

I don't have the interest to work it out line by line, but let's pick the easiest one. Which number 1 ruckman that played AFL on the weekend is actually worse then Draper? Maybe West Coast and Richmond; no surprise where they are on the ladder.

Honestly development and drafting has become a distraction. It's distraction because Zen Brad has not faught against it.

Every decision made has been to build on the rotten foundation.

We're not really trying to excel in any of the fundamentals a decent brand is built on.

if drafting is a problem, why re-sign Cox and Perkins? Why give 6 year contracts to Parish and McGrath if there is a desire to really change the team and the system? DFAs to entrench problems.

This is purely an issue for the senior coach. He had the power to veto every football decision Essendon has made. Where was the tough call?

Zen Brad thinks we were going well. This is despite failing the eye test and most statistical metrics that measure finals credentials.

He should not be judged according to some big picture take on how things should be or how we hope things will be. That's all premised on this hard edge being added to the team at the expense of players who are going nowhere. Judge him on what he has allowed and how that binds us in the immediate future.

 

[Nicholas61]

Apologies for the intrusion, but I don't like your odds. He came to North and immediately tried dismantling the idea of the Shinboner Spirit (the idea behind his decision had some merit, but there were other ways to go about it) and by half way through his tenure we had players in the leadership group justifying losses by saying winning wasn't everything. Seemingly the biggest cultural aspect he sought to create, was ensuring players were set up for life after football, whether that be by getting their degrees or investing in real estate. As much reason as I might have to troll you guys, I'm not lying on this.

Yeah, he could get the team up frequently enough to take scalps from top 4 teams or to come out firing after a particularly bad loss, but he never once managed to create a culture of consistent work ethic throughout a season, and a big aspect of that is something we are seeing now: his selection policies. On that note, whatever you do, don't let him get full control of list management. Cam Joyce was some no-named opposition scout or something, that eventually found himself as our list manager and number one Brad Brownnoser. Brad then managed to get that hack promoted to GM of football, his own boss, in their final three years at the club! That era was when we recruited mature hacks and did everything to try to hold onto making it into the 8, until his plan of topping up and never making top 4 failed, and he pitched a full blow rebuild to the board!

Thanks for posting. That is my big concern - ie that he will be making the final calls on players to be drafted it sounds like he and Vozzo may have carte blanche. His selections have been the most concerning aspect and if they are reflective of what will happen in the next few drafts we are in real trouble. As you guys famously proved in 93 a good coach can come in and turn a club around fast if you have a decent list. An ordinary list and you will wait the better part of a decade to get back in contention IF you find a competent recruiting team to replace the hacks. Hence the 20 year plus ice age and counting for EFC. You guys are about to turn around quick at this point.