I love how they are talking up the bombers again. their fans will fall it again. coming up to the 20 year anniversary of not winning a final 

Goldstein didn’t even get selected sound 1 for North

Zerk or McKay is sorta like for like 

and Greshem plays well 4-5 times a year

carn the farkin sash 

On 19/10/2023 at 08:52, Demonland said:

MELBOURNE

Who left: James Jordon (free agent, Sydney), James Harmes (trade, Western Bulldogs), Brodie Grundy (trade, Sydney)

Who arrived: Tom Fullarton (trade, Brisbane Lions), Shane McAdam (trade, Adelaide), Jack Billings (trade, St Kilda)

Draft picks owned: 6, 11, 42

Jon Ralph: “The Dees’ Grundy experiment goes kaput. So it’s Grundy to Tom Fullarton, who didn’t play a lot of ruck last year for Brisbane. Harmes and James Jordon go, which strips depth. Harry Pretty, it’s probably 12 months and then he moves on, even though he couldn’t get a deal done to Adelaide. But Billings lands – Lachie Hunter 2.0, unwanted at his previous club, high talent. So they’d feel like they maybe rescued this trade period, but it does mean Max Gawn is going to have to play a heck of a lot of ruck time in those first 24 weeks until finals.”

Leigh Montagna says: “I like what they’ve done. I think McAdam can seriously play and add a point of difference. Jack Billings is an interesting one, but I do think he’s got some good footy – he had some really high rating years from 2017 to 2019 – and has got that point of difference and composure and nice kick that can help them in the front third, which has been a big issue for them. I wasn’t necessarily a buyer they needed a key forward who’s going to be the difference. They’re not far away. They’ve just got to tidy up a few issues. I think they’re in a pretty good space.”

Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C+

I think we've had a very shrewd trade period where we've managed to get back what we paid in picks for Grundy, brought in a maturing Forward/Ruck in Fullarton, traded out some midfield depth (Harmes, Jordan) in exchange for some forward half class (McAdams, Billings), have picks 6, 11 and 42 to bring in either Reid or a couple of elite youngsters and freed up probably $1.5m over the next 3 years with the ins and outs. This puts us in good stead to offer a long term deal to Petty or attract a key position player via free agency next year.

You really can't judge until after all the draft are done.

 

However, I think Sydney did well I improving their team.

 

 

  Forget all those ordinary trades of very ordinary players .We kept Clarry and Petty so that's an A+ .

B/B+ is right for us. We landed three money ball players for various needs that at worst offer positional depth at best have upside to make our 23 better. We cleared 3 non top 23 players requiring top 23 wages off the books. We protected our first current and future pick and moved up into the range we think has most quality. I look at all of the deals done for our needs and cost and the only ones I would have liked for us is Flynn (who chose WC to be number 1 ruck) or Sweet (who chose going to his home state). The other deals for cost (McKay) or contract length (Schultz) for the player value for need for us were not for us.   

Edited October 20, 20231 yr by Lil_red_fire_engine

23 hours ago, DubDee said:

I love how they are talking up the bombers again. their fans will fall it again. coming up to the 20 year anniversary of not winning a final 

Goldstein didn’t even get selected sound 1 for North

Zerk or McKay is sorta like for like 

and Greshem plays well 4-5 times a year

carn the farkin sash 

Not really. McKay adds physical size which Zerk-Thatcher doesn't have. Nor does any other Essendon defender. It's a significant upgrade.

I can't understand the Gresham pick, though. Doesn't seem to fill a need. Essendon already has plenty of smaller midfielders and small forwards.

Must admit don't know much about McAdam or Fullarton and have only seen the out takes, but but both seem to be one grab players which is a plus, Fullarton might be a better option for Max to work with and as for Billings if fit will be a bonus would imagine Chandler or Spargo will miss out for him.

Did MFC also get a  2nd round pick from Freo in the 2024 Draft via the Jacko trade ?

I reckon Freo could be in trouble next year. All good for us.

I’d give us an A for moving cap space off of the books. BBB and TMac off after this year. We have a war chest next trade period. If Petty don’t work out as a forward, then we have the luxury of paying for one.

23 minutes ago, demon3165 said:

Must admit don't know much about McAdam or Fullarton and have only seen the out takes, but but both seem to be one grab players which is a plus, Fullarton might be a better option for Max to work with and as for Billings if fit will be a bonus would imagine Chandler or Spargo will miss out for him.

Well the combined talent of McAdam and Billing’s is a giant statement to all ( including the players ) that no longer are forwards going to be judged on tackles but goals instead. If that’s so then a general up tempo forward line and game plan may be the product of Mini (McQualter) and our existing coaches. 

I am hoping that Fullarton is a surprise as at 24/25 years he is right in the window to assume senior ruck support duties to Max and hopefully add to the forward line high marking and goal  totals when he plays in the AFL. 

Three new forwards gives as some hopes as the skills of all three are adding quite a bit to the total sum of our forward line parts. Just the same as JVR will develop again this year to have more influence and impact on our results. 

 

 

1 minute ago, 58er said:

Well the combined talent of McAdam and Billing’s is a giant statement to all ( including the players ) that no longer are forwards going to be judged on tackles but goals instead. If that’s so then a general up tempo forward line and game plan may be the product of Mini (McQualter) and our existing coaches. 

I am hoping that Fullarton is a surprise as at 24/25 years he is right in the window to assume senior ruck support duties to Max and hopefully add to the forward line high marking and goal  totals when he plays in the AFL. 

Three new forwards gives as some hopes as the skills of all three are adding quite a bit to the total sum of our forward line parts. Just the same as JVR will develop again this year to have more influence and impact on our results. 

 

 

All reports on McAdam is he has a very good defensive game. Fullerton is an agile tall who can provide good defensive pressure as well. 
 

Not sure much will change defensively, it’s what the game plan is built on. McAdam in particular gives the team a more attacking option and X factor.. 

3 hours ago, 58er said:

Well the combined talent of McAdam and Billing’s is a giant statement to all ( including the players ) that no longer are forwards going to be judged on tackles but goals instead. If that’s so then a general up tempo forward line and game plan may be the product of Mini (McQualter) and our existing coaches. 

I am hoping that Fullarton is a surprise as at 24/25 years he is right in the window to assume senior ruck support duties to Max and hopefully add to the forward line high marking and goal  totals when he plays in the AFL. 

Three new forwards gives as some hopes as the skills of all three are adding quite a bit to the total sum of our forward line parts. Just the same as JVR will develop again this year to have more influence and impact on our results. 

 

 

I think going after these three players the club might believe it's no use picking another forward line player or they believe by the time they have their pick none will be available, we also need a quick sized midfielder as we are one paced and need that quickness around the ground.

I will interested to see how Langdon and Hunter play their role, both players played boundary side more often than not, which made it hard to become that link type player around the ground for using the corridor for players through the corridor.

Regarding you are right about JVR at his age he just needs help not being the main object he just needs to have the 2nd or 3rd defender and stop the 2 on 1 scenarios on him to allow him some more freedom to develop.

Next year is Petty's last season for Melbourne.  That's a real shame

 

On 19/10/2023 at 08:59, BDA said:

Ralphy is a dingbat.

Why did Essendon get an A. Ben McKay? Ok then

Grundy will make a big difference for the swans. They’ve improved. No question. 

Just saw that Ben McKay is on $1.4 - 1.5M p.a. Hilarious.   They do it to themselves.

12 minutes ago, redandbluemakepurple said:

Just saw that Ben McKay is on $1.4 - 1.5M p.a. Hilarious.   They do it to themselves.

Ben McKay and Nick Haynes will be the two highest paid AFL players next season.

I doubt either would crack most peoples top 100 players.

1 hour ago, redandbluemakepurple said:

Just saw that Ben McKay is on $1.4 - 1.5M p.a. Hilarious.   They do it to themselves.

Can't be true surely...

Probably double what we are paying May.

27 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

Can't be true surely...

Probably double what we are paying May.

The premium they paid to ensure North got pick 3 and chose to not match the bid, saving Essendon whatever trade value it would have cost them.

Wildly foolish stuff. North performed a masterclass of sulking to make everyone forget basic rationality for just long enough.

4 hours ago, dee-tox said:

Can't be true surely...

Probably double what we are paying May.

I think that’s wrong it’s about $800,000 p.a. And the first year is front loaded from then.

But I could be wrong! . 

On 28/10/2023 at 02:47, 58er said:

I think that’s wrong it’s about $800,000 p.a. And the first year is front loaded from then.

But I could be wrong! . 

Seems likely. Similarly, Gresham is said to be on $800,000 in his first two years. It's all because of the AFL's herbs and spices compensation formula. Apparently, only the pay for the first two years of the contract, rather than the average of the contract, is used by the AFL to calculate the compensation picks. Hence, restricted free agents who move get ridiculously high payments in their first two years to "help satisfy" the club who loses the player, thereby encouraging that club not to match the bid.

On 27/10/2023 at 20:44, redandbluemakepurple said:

Just saw that Ben McKay is on $1.4 - 1.5M p.a. Hilarious.   They do it to themselves.

His contract over the period is close to $800k/yr but Essendon have massively front-loaded it to use current salary cap and keep future cap free.

8 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Seems likely. Similarly, Gresham is said to be on $800,000 in his first two years. It's all because of the AFL's herbs and spices compensation formula. Apparently, only the pay for the first two years of the contract, rather than the average of the contract, is used by the AFL to calculate the compensation picks. Hence, restricted free agents who move get ridiculously high payments in their first two years to "help satisfy" the club who loses the player, thereby encouraging that club not to match the bid.

I don't believe that is correct - it used to be but when Joe Daniher moved on a massive short contract which was quickly re-negotiated at a lower value and extended, the AFL put a stop to that practice.

On 23/10/2023 at 19:09, 58er said:

Well the combined talent of McAdam and Billing’s is a giant statement to all ( including the players ) that no longer are forwards going to be judged on tackles but goals instead. If that’s so then a general up tempo forward line and game plan may be the product of Mini (McQualter) and our existing coaches. 

I am hoping that Fullarton is a surprise as at 24/25 years he is right in the window to assume senior ruck support duties to Max and hopefully add to the forward line high marking and goal  totals when he plays in the AFL. 

Three new forwards gives as some hopes as the skills of all three are adding quite a bit to the total sum of our forward line parts. Just the same as JVR will develop again this year to have more influence and impact on our results. 

 

 

Chandler and Spargo should be concerned with the arrivals of Billings and Mc Adam!