On 29/07/2011 at 08:50, Darkhorse72 said:

While Dawes is still developing, the current pies side makes him look better than he is.

That's how I see it.

  On 29/07/2011 at 06:10, e25 said:

Never understood some of the fuss on here over Jesse White.

Decidedly average, in my view.

Sam Reid looks great... until he kicks it.

Don't anoint him a superstar just yet.................

He's such a natural CHF though. Mooney had a very successful career (that's about to reboot against us) without being able to kick for goal. And it's more his goal kicking which is a problem than field kicking. Playing at the MCG he wouldn't have to have as many shots on goal, he'd just have to lead up and take marks, the difference between him and someone like Miller though is he can take a strong contested mark and he leads straight. The SCG isn't a great ground for him unless he fixes his kicking.

White on the other hand isn't much chop. Not good enough as a ruck or a forward and doens't have the tricks of a Martin. I'd much rather McKernan.

Back on to Dawes. We won't get him. Daisy, Pendles and Swan I believe have/will all signed on for reasonable (not stupid) amounts and without a whole host of other expensive players (Jolly, Didak and Cloke probably are, but Tarrant signed on for not a lot I believe, Ball is cheap now, Maxwell wouldn't cost an arm and a leg, Shaw can't claim big $ with his behaviour) combined with the fact their list is still pretty young the pies have cleverly left room for someone like Dawes to get a good pay rise.

Yeah, I'd agree, Reid will do a lot for your structure going forward, much like Cloke at Collingwood.

And if he learns to kick - look out.

It's not out of the realms of possibility - I said the exact same of Jack Riewoldt at the end of 2009 (the "if he learns to kick" comment).

This is a pointless thread because none of those mentioned will ever be at Melbourne.

The money it would take to prize away a Dawes from Collingwood would be ridiculous and quite frankly, if you think it would fracture the club Tom getting a huge pay rise, what about tearing the heart out by throwing an open cheque book at a big bloke when we have so many on our list we are grooming.

Quite simply Dawes to Melbourne will not happen.

Neither will Reid.

I would back our young blokes in over White.

Stop being so impatient people. It's always now, now, now round here with little foresight for the FUTURE.

What we need is games and continuity of our young list.

When we are in a premiership window is when we actually trade for needs. Until then (and unfortunately for many round here) we continue to grow and develop our youngsters and continue to draft in young blokes.

  On 29/07/2011 at 08:50, Darkhorse72 said:

While Dawes is still developing, the current pies side makes him look better than he is.

Yep I agree, atmo he strikes me as like a Mooney or Mark Maclure type forward... Good footballer but not elite.

  On 29/07/2011 at 04:34, maurie said:

So we're too impatient to wait for Cook, McDonald, Fitzpatrick, Howe et al?

The chances of prising Dawes out of Collingwood are "Buckley's".

Buckley's - Is that Nathan's or Simon's??

I actually am getting a bit impatient about Cook and McDonald in particular - I would love to see both of them in the R&B in the next few weeks, regardless of our finals chances + or - !!

Howe I have seen and am excited.

Fitzpartick I believe has just resumed at Casey after another injury - saw him once in a pre-season a couple of years ago - looked very raw but a prospect. Hope to see him too.

And here's some food for thought for those impatient morons.....

Dawes is 23 years old and has played a whopping 43 games. He only broke into/cemented a place in the Collingwood team last year as a 22 year old. Yet now people round here are talking about trading for him.

And already people are becoming impatient about Cook and McDonald- are you f(.*#en serious????

Cook, McDonald, Davis and Fitzpatrick are all 19 or 20. Get a grip and give them time. Not to mention young Jack who 10 rounds ago was being lambasted round here.

Trade for nothing.

Develop these young talls.

Be patient.

Reap the rewards in our premiership window....

And get a bloody grip people!

  On 29/07/2011 at 10:36, monoccular said:

Buckley's - Is that Nathan's or Simon's??

I actually am getting a bit impatient about Cook and McDonald in particular - I would love to see both of them in the R&B in the next few weeks, regardless of our finals chances + or - !!

Howe I have seen and am excited.

Fitzpartick I believe has just resumed at Casey after another injury - saw him once in a pre-season a couple of years ago - looked very raw but a prospect. Hope to see him too.

This is why a mature Key Forward around the 29 - 30 mark could be handy. Someone who could be a Bit player, but a genuine tall forward.

Cook will be a beauty, but I'm not sure myself, whether he'll eventually be our CHF/FF or our CHB... My prefererence would be as a Back, because of his great vision and composure, with his Fantastic ball use... I wonder If he'll be a bit slow as an AFL key Forward, but time will tell.

But he can play either or. For what it's worth, I think we'll try to fasttrack him next year.

Which means we'll have to workout a plan with our Talls & Rucks. We could end up being in a similar Ruck situation as Carlton where last year with all theirs.