Grahaml wrote:Would be surprised if any of the older top ups like Kelly, Crowley, Grima etc played next year. If they were valuable enough as people you wanted to keep them around, there are plenty of positions these days for assistant and development coaches.
On another note, I have a feeling the second half of the year could get very ugly for Essendon. If that happens, the potential benefits get thinner and thinner. Game time into kids is one thing, but in a side that's getting belted it can sometimes send them backwards. It could also hinder the development of Daniher if he's in a forward line getting stuff all quality and quantity of entry. Probably the old timer in me, but is there still benefit in sending him to play defense? Might get a decent lesson in footy playing on some of the star fowards in the comp, as well as giving him an appreciation of his own defense and mids in the future. Or have we moved past that and just not any benefit?
Most of the top ups have no intention of playing more than 1 year. Kelly has a job with the AFL next year but his body is feeling really good and he is enjoying his footy. 300 games is well within reach so if he is still feeling how is now at the end of the season I think he may go around again.
Agree about the second half of the season, some big beltings on their way but Woosha is resting the kids when required and there are still a few to come in. Francis should make his debut soon and Laverde is ready to return from injury and we have Jake Long, Eades and Redman to get some more game time. Still got a heap of top ups to come in aswell