The Plight of Essendon, Its List Management, and Its Scope to Improve Despite the WADA Case

[Halftimehero]

This is exactly the kind of overrating of their players that has gotten Essendon nowhere on the trade table and on the field. Long may this continue

Which of Hurley, Hooker, Hibberd, Heppell, Zaharakis, Z Merrett, Daniher, Colyer, Carlisle, Myers, Gleeson, Langford, Laverde, Edwards and Ashby should we trade then? They are all either top class already, established seniors players or young developing types, they are all going to be around for 6 years +, it is a good base, it just needs certain areas fixed up, there is no way a full rebuild is needed, none whatsoever.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Both

Especially when the coach is going out getting every old hack in the boot. You wasted a 2nd rounder on a washed up Cooney. Then a list spot on Gwilt...you resign Sternberg somehow...I mean when does the buck NOT stop with the coach.

 

[SherbertLemon]

Especially when the coach is going out getting every old hack in the boot. You wasted a 2nd rounder on a washed up Cooney. Then a list spot on Gwilt...you resign Sternberg somehow...I mean when does the buck NOT stop with the coach.

Maybe we should sign the whole Sydney list, change our name and relocate.

 

[Halftimehero]

Especially when the coach is going out getting every old hack in the boot. You wasted a 2nd rounder on a washed up Cooney. Then a list spot on Gwilt...you resign Sternberg somehow...I mean when does the buck NOT stop with the coach.

Steinberg has a rookie contract, he won the VFL best and fairest last year, it is not that hard to see why he got another go. Let me guess though Bomber was not in the wrong giving his mate from Geelong a lifeline was he? That Hird's fault too?

 

[CountryRace]

Merge with gws

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Maybe we should sign the whole Sydney list, change our name and relocate.

Maybe, at least Sydney's list is looking healthy, bag our side that is fine, but our list going forward is healthy.

 

[CountryRace]

Which of Hurley, Hooker, Hibberd, Heppell, Zaharakis, Z Merrett, Daniher, Colyer, Carlisle, Myers, Gleeson, Langford, Laverde, Edwards and Ashby should we trade then? They are all either top class already, established seniors players or young developing types, they are all going to be around for 6 years +, it is a good base, it just needs certain areas fixed up, there is no way a full rebuild is needed, none whatsoever.

More ass than class some of them lot...

 

[SherbertLemon]

Maybe, at least Sydney's list is looking healthy, bag our side that is fine, but our list going forward is healthy.

I'm bagging you, you turncoat LOL

 

[Halftimehero]

Maybe, at least Sydney's list is looking healthy, bag our side that is fine, but our list going forward is healthy.

He wasn't bagging your newly adopted side, he was bagging you for being a turn coat and displaying the fact you have very little spine.

 

[Halftimehero]

More ass than class some of them lot...

Oh wow, great post

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Steinberg has a rookie contract, he won the VFL best and fairest last year, it is not that hard to see why he got another go. Let me guess though Bomber was not in the wrong giving his mate from Geelong a lifeline was he? That Hird's fault too?

At least Chapman had form and was decent first season. Lets go through the hacks left...Tayte Pears (um why), Sternberg (dumb! Draft another rookie, can't be any worse and you may find a diamond), Gwilt (laughable, play the kids if you are going to play Gwilt). You can pull the excuse that they didn't know what would happen off field, but you were always going to be able to top up. All of these players should be gone, some haven't played well in 3 years so why are you resigning/wasting list spots (rookie or normal) or them.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

He wasn't bagging your newly adopted side, he was bagging you for being a turn coat and displaying the fact you have very little spine.

As I have mentioned a million times, you don't know the full story, and only a select few know. I have my reasons and they are valid. This season has been the first stress free season in years!

 

[Dogsman16]

Bombers caught between a rock and a very hard place. No doubt that Essendon won't try an go into a rebuild rather they will try and plug the gaps. Attracting big name players is going to be a huge issue because the WADA/ASASA stuff will still be hanging over their heads come 2015 offseason. They will have to wait till all of this is wrapped up (depending on whether they are found guilty (may delay that) or not guilty (then they should be right to trade some big names in come 2016. A lot of Essendon posters believe they can contend for a premiership in 2018 and beyond. Issue is that clubs like GWS, Collingwood, GC, St Kilda, WB, Melbourne will be hitting the prime. Not to mention Freo, Hawthorn, Sydney and probably several others will be floating about.

At best if all goes well for Essendon I still can't see them being in the top 4 in the next 5 years or so. Finals competitve yes but premiership fancies no chance !!!

 

[Ambrosia]

Bombers caught between a rock and a very hard place. No doubt that Essendon won't try an go into a rebuild rather they will try and plug the gaps. Attracting big name players is going to be a huge issue because the WADA/ASASA stuff will still be hanging over their heads come 2015 offseason. They will have to wait till all of this is wrapped up (depending on whether they are found guilty (may delay that) or not guilty (then they should be right to trade some big names in come 2016. A lot of Essendon posters believe they can contend for a premiership in 2018 and beyond. Issue is that clubs like GWS, Collingwood, GC, St Kilda, WB, Melbourne will be hitting the prime. Not to mention Freo, Hawthorn, Sydney and probably several others will be floating about.

At best if all goes well for Essendon I still can't see them being in the top 4 in the next 5 years or so. Finals competitve yes but premiership fancies no chance !!!

'

Only way I see Melbourne going anywhere with their current list is if Hogan gets to Franklin/Ablett levels of dominance there is still massive holes in that list being taped together by old blokes and still have one of the worst drafting/developing records in the entire comp.

Cross, Vince, Mckenzie, Jamar, Spencer, M.Jones, Pederson, Lumumba, Dunn, Bail and Terlich. That's a long list of old blokes and list cloggers that are taking Melbourne no where any time soon

 

[Wild Bill]

Bullshit.
A financially struggling club would have probably folded. It's not a question of how special the club is.

Money doesn't buy intelligence. Most struggling clubs would have had this done and dusted a very long time ago.

1.5 billion dollar tv rights coming up and some people still think clubs can fold. Amazing.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Especially when the coach is going out getting every old hack in the boot. You wasted a 2nd rounder on a washed up Cooney. Then a list spot on Gwilt...you resign Sternberg somehow...I mean when does the buck NOT stop with the coach.

That's it, I'm chucking in the Bombers and changing to..

who's flag favourite at the moment?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

At least Chapman had form and was decent first season. Lets go through the hacks left...Tayte Pears (um why), Sternberg (dumb! Draft another rookie, can't be any worse and you may find a diamond), Gwilt (laughable, play the kids if you are going to play Gwilt). You can pull the excuse that they didn't know what would happen off field, but you were always going to be able to top up. All of these players should be gone, some haven't played well in 3 years so why are you resigning/wasting list spots (rookie or normal) or them.

Well we did get rid of one dud.

 

[joy division]

Which of Hurley, Hooker, Hibberd, Heppell, Zaharakis, Z Merrett, Daniher, Colyer, Carlisle, Myers, Gleeson, Langford, Laverde, Edwards and Ashby should we trade then? They are all either top class already, established seniors players or young developing types, they are all going to be around for 6 years +, it is a good base, it just needs certain areas fixed up, there is no way a full rebuild is needed, none whatsoever.

Throw Long in there too. No problems with the list they're just a combination of either a year too young or a year too old. More concerned about the coaching tbh.

 

[Gavin Excell]

they cant move on under Hird

 

[Blind Turn]

Every club would have stayed this strong. I don't see you as any more special than any other club.

'Every' club? Really? Sorry mate, but even removing my Bomber goggles I can admire the resilience shown and subsequent ability to move forward unfrayed.

Certain other club's members would be microwaving memberships, sponsors would've abandoned ship, club legends ditched to save a blundering board thus causing unhealing fractures to club culture, and, depending on leadership (kudos to Jobe), players would probably have sought quick fix guilty pleas against their better judgment.

Even the media 'pundits' who have criticised us throughout have generally admitted that our resilience has been something to marvel at.

I do worry that it has taken its toll of late but I back these boys to rise again because of the exemplary character they have shown thus far.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

^^^^
Unless you barrack for Essendon opposition fans wont understand.

 

[fishardansin]

That's it, I'm chucking in the Bombers and changing to..

who's flag favourite at the moment?

Go GWS. Will probably fade this year but you can probably expect 3+ flags in the next decade. Sydney wont win one as they wont pass Hawks before they start to fade and GWS starts crapping all over them. While Buddy and Tippet are there they'll struggle to trade in enough top ups. In fact I would love the bombers to offer Rohan a nice deal.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I have to admit, for the most part I was shocked how well Essendon were playing (relatively speaking) for the vast majority of the ASADA saga, they showed some very strong signs of becoming a good side.

What ended up breaking the camel's back? I thought the club would have endured the worst part of it the last 2 years and were in the home stretch (i.e. light at the end of the tunnel).

The realisation that the AFL and AFLPA no longer had a grasp of the steering wheel.

The AFL, AFLPA and EFC put a power of work into the players and their psyche, continuously telling them that they'd be fine and that they had nothing to worry about.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

The realisation that the AFL and AFLPA no longer had a grasp of the steering wheel.

The AFL, AFLPA and EFC put a power of work into the players and their psyche, continuously telling them that they'd be fine and that they had nothing to worry about.

What else were they supposed to say? "You blokes are ****d" or something.

 

[DrEvil_]

'Every' club? Really? Sorry mate, but even removing my Bomber goggles I can admire the resilience shown and subsequent ability to move forward unfrayed.

Certain other club's members would be microwaving memberships, sponsors would've abandoned ship, club legends ditched to save a blundering board thus causing unhealing fractures to club culture, and, depending on leadership (kudos to Jobe), players would probably have sought quick fix guilty pleas against their better judgment.

Even the media 'pundits' who have criticised us throughout have generally admitted that our resilience has been something to marvel at.

I do worry that it has taken its toll of late but I back these boys to rise again because of the exemplary character they have shown thus far.

LOL, Mark Thompson likes this as he tries to get an invite to the premiership reunion.