35 players used so far this year at least shows we are testing out all the dimensions /aspects of our list and testing out the depth of our list - a good move showing that many players senior football in a year where hopefully we make the finals - makes decisions at the end of the year easier in terms of list composition and dynamics - if you have seen this many players under the heat of the battle then at least you are in the position to take the list forward in 2010 - to be able to do this as well as get in the finals would set us up for a couple of halcyon years over the next couple

22 IN TOMORROWS SIDE -Plus Setanta Hadley stevens jacobs hartlett cloke waite gartlett jacobs browne army Robinson wiggins all have played senior footy

Hopefully we get to add a few more walker warnock and bentick before the seasons out

When I first read that Frank ... I thought you wrote Tanking the list forward.

I think there have been some very positive outcomes this year ... some young players have impressed ... some older players need to step up ...

We certainly have a better understanding of the team going forward.

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

I agree - If we make finals on top of the amount of list testing we have done this year, then it's a pretty successful year.

I've been quite happy with the results - even Bentley has shown a little bit.
And Jacobs - I never expected to see him in the firsts! Very pleased with our ruck depth now.
Playing Garlett and AJ early in the season was also a great decision and has really benefited us.

My only query is on Jake Edwards - No idea if his form has been anywhere close to senior call-up, but it's worrying that he has been overlooked for so long.
Might be the end of the journey for Jake.
Also Pfeiffer - not sure where he fits in, and with the GC period coming up rookies become much more important. Might be a potential list clogger.

And what to we do with Wiggins/Cloke/Hartlett? Does one or two of them need to go? Are they necessary as backup?
And what about Hadley/Bentick/Banno? Is one in line for the chop?

Make that 36 - forgot Banno got a couple of games as well

If we can get 4-5 games into player 37 and player 38 I'll be very happy

likewise, id love to see player 37 (walker) get 6/8 games in him.

The best upside is that yarran, garlett, robbo, joseph, jacobs, all played their first senior AFL games this year and all of them have shown some VERY positive signs.

Throw in the RAPID development of kreuzer and hampson who just murdered darren jolly, a ruckman i rate behind cox and maybe gardiner as the best in the competition shows that these two are getting so much better. Hampson getting more games into him can only bbring the club great rewards. He's an amazing athlete, and with jacobs, cloke, ohailpin, and warnock we've got great competiton for places for ruckman sized players!

We've gotten games into houlihan, hartlett, cloke, bannister, and ohailpin who at the start of the season were all playing for their careers and at least setanta and hoops have proven themselves (and hopefully a few others can too) and save their careers also!

2nd and 3rd year players like jamo, grigg, armfield, anderson, browne, and austin are now amongst our best 22 at any one time, and already have developed into good players. .

Who said Essendon* have the depth? Good thread this. . Positive talk!

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Cuck Follingwood