Q: Can you fix man coverage in your game? Oops wrong madden. Sorry. – Dan
A: If I was young enough and fit enough, I'd be working on it.
Q: Which former Essendon player on an AFL list do you wish we still had at the club? – Shaun
A: Actually, I'd like to have Fletch still.
Q: Hi champion, mate with all that has happened in the pass with the greatest club on earth, do you believe we (Essendon club) can still be very much a club to watch out for to making it to the finals again or is the last few years still lurking in everyone's minds? – Simon
A: We'll work hard to get through this year, but I expect to see us up the top again in the not too distant future.
Q: Who would you like to see lead as Essendon's next captain? – Jake
A: I'd love to see Goddard do a great job this year and then Jobe return next year. I think Heppell will be a great leader in the future.
Q: G'day Simon! Sorry if this has already been asked, but was there a stand-out game/final for you that stood above the rest? – Nathan
A: 1984 GF!
Q: Hi Simon. What do you do outside football and how much of your time is involved with the club? Thanks – Angus
A: I run my own consulting practice called Winning PTY LTD. Please look up simonmadden.com.au. (Thanks for the chance for the plug).
I am also on the Board at the Club and that takes up a bit of time, but not too much. I'm quite happy to do it.
Q: Hey Simon, What are your realistic ambitions for the next three seasons and what areas do you think the team should focus on improving? – Cameron
A: Firstly, to get through this season as strongly as possible. Secondly, to develop our younger players as best we can and then thirdly, to get back to being the strong Club we know we can be.
Q: Simon - Regarding the talls this week....Is Woosha looking to get in Grima down back with Hartley this week and move Brown to forward pocket and bring in Grimley to stretch Melbourne? Dees have a strong bodied midfield, who are we matching up in there? – Paul
A: Too hard of a question for a Board Member. Give that one to the coach.
Q: Which one Simon out of Benji and Joel Madden is the better singer? – Lucas
A: Which one out of Simon and Justin is the better singer?
Q: What's your thoughts on 2016 going on the Suns game I saw effort putting the scoreboard aside what positives are you looking for this year – Dean
A: I want to see the team gel really well together and be as competitive as they can be.
Q: With the likelihood of a lot of room in the salary cap coming up in the next 2 years do you think we will go hard at uncontracted young talent or just go heavy in the draft the next 2 years? – Daniel
A: Great question, that would need a really big discussion with our entire recruiting team.
Q: Simon, what young players are in line for selection this week? - Michael
A: Who do you think should get a run this week? I'll take your advice and pass it on.
Q: How can we make people to just give our club the chance to move on Simon , we are not drug treats .....? No proof never has been any so how come we are still being crucified ? Just breaks my heart ..... Do you think this will ever go away? – Ruby
A: The players are appealing in the appropriate manner, as they have the right to full justice. I'm happy to see them do that. Once we get through this year, both on and off the field, we can actually put it to rest.
Q: Kevin Sheedy has always maintained Leon Baker was the best kick he's ever seen.....do you think sheedy actually had a mancrush on baker ( and that you're actually a better kick ?) – Simon
A: I think I had a mancrush too! Leon was a very good footballer. If he had of started when he was 19, he would have been a household name outside of Essendon.
Q: Is the club trying to resign any of the suspended players beyond their existing contracts? – Paul
A: All the suspended players have been offered an extra year to their contracts and we want to see all of them back playing with us.
Q: How do you rate Matthew Leuenberger as a ruck man? – Campbell
A: He will be great asset to us.
Q: That's a lot of questions Simon has too answer lol – James
A: My brain is getting tired!!!
Q: Gday Simon, what are Gach's strengths, and what does he need to work on? – Michael
A: He's got a great leap, great timing in the ruck, speed and, like all young ruckman, he needs to put on weight.
Q: Can you make me a chicken kebab....and could you make it with the lot with bbq sauce and sour cream???? – Jake
A: I do a bit of cooking, but that's not on my menu. I'll have to go away and practice.
Q: Simon, do you agree with Sheeds that Shane Heard was/is the greatest 'Tagger' of all time? – Jodi
A: Shane Heard was the first true and probably best tagger. Pound for pound the strongest footballer I've played with or against.
Q: What do you think of how Darcy Parish did on the weekend? And how many upsets do you think we can cause? – Timothy
A: I think Darcy got off to a great start for a first year player. I won't put a number on it, but I do expect a couple of upsets this year. I'd love to win Anzac Day, but don't we always.
Q: Will you be at the walk on Saturday? If so, will you be bringing along any of your former team mates? – Lee
A: 'll definitely be there and I'm hoping to have some others confirmed this week. Anybody who would like to join us, please do. It's a great show of solidarity for the Club.
Q: Who was the toughest player you played against? – Jack
A: I played against a lot of great players. Gary Dempsey, Don Scott, Len Thompson and even my brother Justin. It's very hard to just pick one.
Q: When will Shaun Edwards be making an appearance for the team? – Andrew
A: When his form is good enough and there is a spot for him. He played well in the VFL over the weekend.
Q: Please blood our youngest baby bombers this year that are fit and mature enough to play, I want Essendon Football Club to rip up the comp in 3 or so years. I'm hoping the bannings are a blessing in disguise, your thoughts? – Ben
A: Don't like the suspensions, but we have to deal with it and yes, I want to see this as a great development year for our younger players.
Q: Hi Simon, since your retirement in 1992, many great players have played for Essendon, including players in the current squad. Which one of these footballers would you have loved to had played with and why? – Colin
A: There have been lots of great players. I would have liked to be part of the 2000 Premiership Side. I played with Tim Watson but would have loved to play with Jobe. Similarly, I played with the Danihers and would have loved to play with Joe.
Q: Hi Simon,
I'm a bit critical of the club's continual switching of key position players between forward and back. I realize the need for versatility but I just think sometimes it is to the detriment of the players careers. For example Hurley bring the only one that worked out but I really didn't see the merit in Hooker going forward Carlisle was continually swapped and Hardingham was another. Now with Mitch Brown who I think was an extraordinary forward for Sandringham last year we are playing him back.
Do you have any thoughts on this? – Bernard
A: In modern footy, you have to be versatile. You can't have one position and you have to be able to play a few. Players know this and are prepared to play multiple roles to help their team.
Q: Simon during the nab round against carlton the club had sam michael and joey working together...i havnt seen joey so comfortable like that in a long time they both worked really well together are we goin to see that combo again and more frequent?
Also i think i speak for a lot of ess fans when is mckernan gunna stop being used as ruck and just put as half forward instead? – Dave
A: I love seeing big forwards work together. I think that McKernan makes a good forward ruckman.
Q: Hi Simon. Who is the most promising young player on our list? – Adam
A: Always hard to pick early, but Parish has made an impressive start.
Q: How’s Aaron Francis doing, is he likely to get a game soon? also do you think the fact that he has been a bomber support growing up is helping him? – Tristan
A: He has showed some great signs in the VFL. Being a Bomber to start with is great, but once you put the jumper on, you should be just as strong a Bomber.
Q: Hi Simon I know you’re on the board to make a change now but does it hurt you to see how far our mighty club has fallen? – Jamie
A: I'm never happy to see our Club down the ladder, but I'm always prepared to work hard to get us up the top.
Q: Hello Simon, As a ruckman do you think there is any aspects that the modern day AFL ruckman need to improve on as a whole? – Dave
A: Good question.
Yes, again not enough time, but less wrestling and more proper body work. I always tell every young ruckman, if you just play in the ruck - you spend time on the bench. If you can go forward, take a mark and kick a goal, you spend more time on the ground and you enjoy your footy much more.
Q: Hey Simon I'm curious are we to keep some of our best top up players on our senior list next season? – Danny
A: We have the top up players for one year and then they are back on the open market for anyone who wants to pick them up.
Q: Hi Simon, is Michael Hartley likely to get a run against Melbourne this week after a good showing in the vfl?
A: I'd like to see him play, but I'd probably leave it up to the coaches.
Q: Who is the most valued player in all of the clubs history in your eyes? – Joshua
A: That's not fair, I'm not allowed to name myself!
I think if you look at the history, Dick Reynolds has had a profound impact.
Q: What is the mood like with the playing group at the moment? – Jesse
A: Very strong, but of course disappointed with the outcome of last week.
Q: Hey Simon,
Any big names lining themselves up for the walk to the MCG on Saturday? - Jack
A: I haven't got the full list, but I'm hoping so.
Q: As a former ruckman How do you think our ruck stocks look? – Jeffrey
A: Tom Bellchambers will be missed, but we've done well to cover for the year.
Q: What do you think of Darcy parish and how do you think he will go this year? – Elkie
A: I think he is a really balanced, good running player. He has slotted in really well.
Q: Hi Simon, what's the goal for 2016? – Jadon
A: To get the best out of our top up players, to develop our young players, to look after our suspended players and to have the Club, Members and Supporters stick close together.
Q: Hi Simon..Will we ever see James Hird back at the Club and if so, in what capacity? – Lyn
A: As a Premiership Player and Hall of Fame Member, James is always welcome back at the Club.
Q: Are Essendon as bad as they looked on Saturday? – David
A: Are Collingwood as bad as they looked on the weekend? Are Fremantle as bad as they looked on the weekend? There is a lot of water to go under the bridge.
