AFL 2025 Silly Season

[Jim05]

Long way back if you trade out Merret, Draper and Ridley
Who will mentor the high draft picks coming in?

Draper and Ridley are never on the park anyway.
Merrett has been talking to other clubs so his captaincy is untenable IMO
Probably means we would look at some cheap FA’s like Brisbane did with Hodge. I also think our senior players are a massive issue and currently don’t provide much leadership or direction

[wenchbarwer]

I just hope they don't elevate McGrath to the captaincy if Merrett leaves, it'd be more of the same, just a Temu version.

Go out and be bold, give it to Durham.

[dedja]

Congrats to Jim for his appointment as Chief Optimism Officer at Essendon.

Daniel Ricciardo says it’s a great appointment and in line with his former role at Optus.

“It’s a great appointment; he’s a great fit!

The role has an initial term of 35 years, the estimated time it will take the Bombers to become competitive in the competition.

[Booney]

Draper has chosen Brisbane.
Good move for both parties.
If we can manage to move on Ridley and Merrett plus another couple we can finally start a proper rebuild. Only 20 years too late of course

SAM DRAPER has told Essendon he will leave the club, although he is yet to confirm whether he will join Brisbane or Adelaide as a free agent.
Draper told Essendon on Tuesday morning that he will leave ahead of the 2026 season, but did not confirm his new home.
The Bombers will now wait to see what level of compensation pick they will receive, once Draper's future becomes clearer.

So Brisbane will get Oscar Allen from West Coast to help Hipwood out up front, Sam Draper from Essendon to replace McInerney who at 31 has a back that barely allows him to train, basically they've picked up a ruck / fwd and a fwd / ruck for nothing and they'll get Daniel Annable, touted as a top 5 pick as part of their academy.

Good work if you can get it.

[Lightning McQueen]

Draper has chosen Brisbane.
Good move for both parties.
If we can manage to move on Ridley and Merrett plus another couple we can finally start a proper rebuild. Only 20 years too late of course

SAM DRAPER has told Essendon he will leave the club, although he is yet to confirm whether he will join Brisbane or Adelaide as a free agent.
Draper told Essendon on Tuesday morning that he will leave ahead of the 2026 season, but did not confirm his new home.
The Bombers will now wait to see what level of compensation pick they will receive, once Draper's future becomes clearer.

So Brisbane will get Oscar Allen from West Coast to help Hipwood out up front, Sam Draper from Essendon to replace McInerney who at 31 has a back that barely allows him to train, basically they've picked up a ruck / fwd and a fwd / ruck for nothing and they'll get Daniel Annable, touted as a top 5 pick as part of their academy.

Good work if you can get it.

Getting Ridley too aren't they?

[Jim05]

Draper has chosen Brisbane.
Good move for both parties.
If we can manage to move on Ridley and Merrett plus another couple we can finally start a proper rebuild. Only 20 years too late of course

SAM DRAPER has told Essendon he will leave the club, although he is yet to confirm whether he will join Brisbane or Adelaide as a free agent.
Draper told Essendon on Tuesday morning that he will leave ahead of the 2026 season, but did not confirm his new home.
The Bombers will now wait to see what level of compensation pick they will receive, once Draper's future becomes clearer.

So Brisbane will get Oscar Allen from West Coast to help Hipwood out up front, Sam Draper from Essendon to replace McInerney who at 31 has a back that barely allows him to train, basically they've picked up a ruck / fwd and a fwd / ruck for nothing and they'll get Daniel Annable, touted as a top 5 pick as part of their academy.

Good work if you can get it.

Getting Ridley too aren't they?

Possibly

[amber_fluid]

I just hope they don't elevate McGrath to the captaincy if Merrett leaves, it'd be more of the same, just a Temu version.

Go out and be bold, give it to Durham.

Judith would be getting a bit old wouldn’t she?

[wenchbarwer]

I just hope they don't elevate McGrath to the captaincy if Merrett leaves, it'd be more of the same, just a Temu version.

Go out and be bold, give it to Durham.

Judith would be getting a bit cold wouldn’t she?

FTFY

[amber_fluid]

I just hope they don't elevate McGrath to the captaincy if Merrett leaves, it'd be more of the same, just a Temu version.

Go out and be bold, give it to Durham.

Judith would be getting a bit cold wouldn’t she?

FTFY

That does make the appointment that little bit harder

[stan]

Chesser headed to the Blues

He has the tools there to be a good player, just body let him down early and seemed to be a long way back for him.

He was always one that was worth waiting for but that waiting just kept on happening. This season was probably his best in terms of game and output.

Sad to see him go but a change maybe good for him.

[gadj1976]

Draper has chosen Brisbane.
Good move for both parties.
If we can manage to move on Ridley and Merrett plus another couple we can finally start a proper rebuild. Only 20 years too late of course

SAM DRAPER has told Essendon he will leave the club, although he is yet to confirm whether he will join Brisbane or Adelaide as a free agent.
Draper told Essendon on Tuesday morning that he will leave ahead of the 2026 season, but did not confirm his new home.
The Bombers will now wait to see what level of compensation pick they will receive, once Draper's future becomes clearer.

"Free agency, making the strong stronger since 2015*"

(*insert correct date)

[MW]

In other words, both Brisbane and Adelaide are offering more than Essendon, and he will now play each against each other to get the best deal.

[Jim05]

In other words, both Brisbane and Adelaide are offering more than Essendon, and he will now play each against each other to get the best deal.

Nope, I don’t believe that to be so.
He just wants a fresh start and our deal is higher than the Crows in dollars and years. Brisbane has the largest offer and his partner wants to move to QLD

[Brodlach]

Rumours circulating that Nate Caddy wants out of the Bombers due to some internal issues amongst players, himself and family.

Wasn’t injured at seasons end, didn’t want to play.

How much truth, who knows

[amber_fluid]

Rumours circulating that Nate Caddy wants out of the Bombers due to some internal issues amongst players, himself and family.

Wasn’t injured at seasons end, didn’t want to play.

How much truth, who knows

Last one out turn the lights off and shut the door

[Jim05]

Rumours circulating that Nate Caddy wants out of the Bombers due to some internal issues amongst players, himself and family.

Wasn’t injured at seasons end, didn’t want to play.

How much truth, who knows

Last one out turn the lights off and shut the door

Well Merrett wants to go to the Hawks.
I’d be happy to let him go and then move on Ridley too.
I do think the Caddy situation is just a rumour though but guess we will see.

[Brodlach]

Rumours circulating that Nate Caddy wants out of the Bombers due to some internal issues amongst players, himself and family.

Wasn’t injured at seasons end, didn’t want to play.

How much truth, who knows

Last one out turn the lights off and shut the door

At least McMahon, Blakiston and Prior just re-signed.


Merritt met with the Hawks last night

[MW]

What a mess. Seems like some gross mismanagement across the entire club

[Jim05]

What a mess. Seems like some gross mismanagement across the entire club

Yes to some degree but Merrett I can understand. He has maybe 4-5 years of footy left and wants to play finals now. Met with our club and was told we are entering a full rebuild and won’t be competing for years, he is understandably not enthused at the idea of never playing finals.
I think it will be an amicable trade

[Brodlach]

What would you get for him?

If Oscar Allen is worth pick 2 then…….?