At the risk of being told I should be writing in some other thread - in case some administrator channels that fool umpire from Saturday with his pernickety application of the OOB rule - I want to look at the whole delisting thing from a more positive perspective. Who are the absolute keepers, and who are the good enoughs who could contribute something to a stronger side? An example of a good enough is Lynden Dunn, under appreciated on this site because he sacrifices his game to do a job and, and this is rare on our list, he has a mongrel streak, something all teams need.

Absolute Keeper Defenders are Frawley, Rivers, Tom McDonald, Grimes, Nicholson (rare dash and developing), Garland. Surely no arguments here...

Good Enough Defenders are Joel Mac (brings a strong body and if he looks bad at times, well so would anyone the pressure we get back there), Sellar (body and height and reads it reasonably well).

Developing Defenders: Troy Davis, Tapscott

Total 10

Absolute Keeper Forwards are Clark, Howe, Watts (I figure that's his ultimate destination once he learns from his time down back), Jurrah (X-Factor).

Good Enough Forwards are Sylvia, Petterd and Davey (subject to fitness).

Developing Forwards are Cook, Petterd.

Total 9

Absolute Keeper Mids are Jones, Trengove, McKenzie

Developing Mids are Blease (rare pace), Gysberts, Taggert (gotta see what he's got), Tynan (ditto Taggert), Strauss

Total 8

Absolute Keeper Rucks are Jamar and Martin

Developing Rucks can really only nominate Spencer who is improving

Total 3

Might Have Something to Offer Still: I dunno, there's only 30 above so those who might be Good Enoughs: BAIL (have to improve disposal), MORTON (if given specific outside role), MAGNER (should be kept on since another pre-season might bring him up to Good Enough), and GREEN (subject to him wanting to go on and pulling up OK at season's end - his courage is an inspiration).

So I've got to 34; Not mentioned are Moloney, Bate, Couch, Gawn, Fitzpatrick, Jetta, Bennell.

That makes 41. I am not accounting for rookies other than Couch since I don't know enough about them. But really, when you allow for possible development, injury interruptions and increasing maturity, it's not that easy to cast off players.

But I do think Jetta and Bennell have had enough chances as has Bate. Couch is stiff. So is Gawn. Moloney might yet stay and on Saturday's form it would not be a tragedy if he did. Morton might have had his cards marked - of those I have listed above the line, he is the most vulnerable.

WHAT THIS EXERCISE SHOWS is our paucity of mids.

Edited July 30, 201212 yr by pitmaster

Petterd is good enough if we want to be a terrible team. Davey the same - he is shot.

Sure most of our players are "keepers" but are any of them actually any good?

Edited July 30, 201212 yr by Harcourt

I think Jetta has shown enough to keep going, and he has been injured quite a bit. Also considering our lack of small forwards, I'd say they will hold on to him.

No....hum. How about another list management thread, maybe...tomorrow??

I will wait with baited breath.

Appreciate the work pitmaster, but this type of thread has been done to death...

Every man and his dog has given their opinion on the list now but the one man that matters.

Might as well wait til that happens IMO, save ourselves at least a little heartache.