intresting jay clark said melbourne are circling scott gumbleton.. thoughts?

My feeling is that Gumby will want to repay Essendon's faith in him, but I'd flip Moloney their way for Gumbleton.

They need a mid, Moloney is very borderline to stay (eligible to be traded as an RFA), and Gumby finally had the cause of his injury woes rectified earlier in the year. Could offer some value, but I'd be reluctant to part with any picks for him.

essendon would want our mid first rounder for gumbleton. Not worth it imo, better off with a stringer/garlett/simpson

this is a superdraft.....

On what basis would they want a first round pick? Pick number 2 in 2006 Has played 28 games. Not worth a cold pie.

Tell you what they can have James Sellar. Has produced more than Gumbleton.

Is Jack Riewoldt RFA next year? If so then lets wait for him

They need a mid, Moloney is very borderline to stay (eligible to be traded as an RFA),

So Essendon could trade Gumby to us for Moloney or just offer Moloney a contract which we wouldn't match ... hmmmm

So Essendon could trade Gumby to us for Moloney or just offer Moloney a contract which we wouldn't match ... hmmmm

yeah, fair enough...let me just back the truck up.

yeah, fair enough...let me just back the truck up.

But we can match it so we can trade him. Or he will have to go through the draft. As opposed to the pies who won't be able to match what ever offer Cloke gets so they will have to settle for compo.

Gumbleton is behind Hurley, Ryder and Crameri in their plans and that is without considering Daniher coming in next year. If he is out of contract would not cost the earth and can play if he can stay on the park. Would be a gamble I would understand at the right price. The out of contract mature we should have as a priority is Dal Santo. Our focus should be fringe mature ball carriers that can kick Xavier Ellis, Clinton Young, Jordan Russell, Nick Suban. If we look at more fringe inside mids then I would look at Greenwood, Ellard and Stevens.

As long as we dont get Gumbleton I'm quite happy.

Nicky dal would be good.

I just think that we can get quite good players with our picks from this year's draft

Jones, Trengove, Sylvia are able to get the ball and we have Gysberts (potentially) Magner and Couch as fill-ins. Getting the pill doesn't seem to be our major deficiency. Every player has to go and get it and our contested possession stats are improving well. It is the players 5 - 7 metres off the contest who receive the 2nd handball who are supposed to run, carry and deliver with class. We are horrible in this area. I agree with Big Red Fire Engine: have a look at Ellis, Young, Suban or even Dal Santo.

Think of Hawthorn: Sewell, Lewis, Guerra going in hard and feeding it out to Mitchell, Burgoyne, Isaac Smith.

Think if the Swans: Kennedy, Bolton and Jack feeding it out to Goodes, Hannebury, Jetta.

We need a midfield that is able to look something like these examples.

As for Gumbleton, he could be a smokey for us because apart from Clark and Howe we don't have many players who are genuine good marks. Aside from Gumbleton's injuries and strange kicking action his marking is a feature. Possible as a ready-made lead up forward and then we are not totally reliant on Lucas Cook developing.

Small back pocket in case Bartram doesn't return? Nev Jetta looks a beauty but might be used in the midfield. Any trade prospects or mature age SANFL / WAFL / VFL men who could fill this role?

Well, I'm sorry but you're actually wrong. Getting the ball has been one of the major issues.

There is not one player right now this year that has been good enough to rack up 28+ disposals a match. Every team needs one.

Is Jack Riewoldt RFA next year? If so then lets wait for him

You will be waiting a long, long time. Jacks a Tiger for life.

Well, I'm sorry but you're actually wrong. Getting the ball has been one of the major issues.

There is not one player right now this year that has been good enough to rack up 28+ disposals a match. Every team needs one.

13 teams do not have a player that has averaged 28+ possessions this year.

If we're interested in Gumbleton we might be able to help Essendon land Caddy with our pick 13

yeah sure, 13 teams dont?

i want to win a premiership

Collingwood do, Hwks do, Geelong have Selwood, Adelaide have thompson

yeah sure, 13 teams dont?

i want to win a premiership

Collingwood do, Hwks do, Geelong have Selwood, Adelaide have thompson

Its not about having a player that does 28+ its about having 4-5 players that do 23+. Thats what Collingwood, Adelaide, Hawthorn and Geelong do.

plus each of those team has at least 1 STAR who averages a high amount of possies.

Gumbleton is the worst player on the essendon list, I would go as far as saying that he would be lucky to be on the list of any club - essendon just cant cu him because of where he was taken in the draft

essendon just cant cu him because of where he was taken in the draft

Just like Collingwood were forced to keep Josh Fraser, Brisbane fought tooth and nail to keep Jared Brennan, and we couldn't bear to part with Travis Johnstone.

Why isn't anyone talking about Goddard? He is the only free agent I would be chasing.

Goddard to Freo - Karl Langdorn has reported that Fremantle and Brendan Goddard have "come to an agreement" for Goddard to play with Fremantle next year.

Goddard to Freo - Karl Langdorn has reported that Fremantle and Brendan Goddard have "come to an agreement" for Goddard to play with Fremantle next year.

Are there any good free agents out there if is Goddard is gone? I'm not a huge fan of Goddard but it would be nice to have some excitement in the pre season.

Goddard is likely going to Freo, but even if he wasn't I wouldn't touch him with a 50 foot pole. He has a poor attitude, gets frustrated with the attention he receives and lashes out at taggers, just like Aaron Davey does. He hasn't played good football since 2010 and I wouldn't rate him in the top 50players in the league based on form the last 2 years. We want someone to lead with a good attitude, not someone who cracks the shits and struggles to get a kick if he isn't played as a loose man. Plus he might be suspended to open next season due to surprise surprise lashing out at a tagger and grabbing their face repeatedly.

Massive No Thanks to Goddard.

Are there any good free agents out there if is Goddard is gone? I'm not a huge fan of Goddard but it would be nice to have some excitement in the pre season.

Moloney, Rivers or Bate ???? All quality free agents.

What we need right now is some 'Ready to go' A grade talent . To me it doesn't matter if these free agents have only got 2 or 3 years left . Free agency is an 'Every year' thing so we can dip our toes in anytime . Obviously we need midfielders but 'Best avalable' A graders might have to do for now . Just get 'em .

We will be spending approx 9.14 million in salaries yet we haven't had a player have a 'A' grade year in quite some time . Jones has been great this year and Frawley's AA 2010 year was terrific but our club needs a serious injection of class . If we can't get enough or any A graders then the B+ types would still be a step up .

North Melbourne picked up two 29yo's and a 31yo at the end of 1972 under the 10 year rule (a kind of free agency) . Those 3 players (Barry Davis , John Rantall and Doug Wade) helped turn that club around in a very short space of time . They went from a basket case in 1972 to playing in 5 consecutive grand finals from 1974 onwards . They also brought in a lot of talent from interstate which helped their cause . And .....RDB helped , of course !

We should go hard at the available free agents this year with a view to doing the same next year and beyond .

Better to spend the 9.14 million on some real talent rather than some...................not so great talent . The Hawks , Pies , Cats and Swans all spend around about the same 9.14 million dollars in their salary cap's . And look at the talent on those lists . A fair whack of A graders (20?) and at least as many B+ types .

We haven't drafted or developed enough A grade or B+ players . Nowhere near enough . Free agency gives us a 2nd chance . We should also look to trade with the GCS .

May be the best post I've read on this site. Macca, can you become our recruiter please?

May be the best post I've read on this site. Macca, can you become our recruiter please?

I'll have to consult my 'Ghost writer' Damon

Seriously , the club could employ a team of 'recruiters' from 'land and not do any worse . We would bring a 'No more spuds' policy to the table ! Kicking skills a priority and any given recruit needs to have a semblance of pace . That'll do for starters !