Tom Bell

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,820]

Did other Demonlanders notice his form for the Northern Blues on Saturday?

I was pretty impressed with his strength and skill. He seems to exemplify the size and shape of the modern inside midfielder.

Is there any way we could lure him from Carlton, who seem to have a surfeit of mids, admittedly ageing?

[jazza 1,323]

Malthouse has a record of not making any list changes until the first year is up. I have seen Bell play seniors and liked the rawness, height and pace.

I also think MM will trade for a premiership while he is at CFC so our chances are fair.

[rjay 25,307]

Yeah, a lot of Kennedy about him. This is the type of player to target.

[Go the Biff 3,457]

Thought he was very impressive. Contracted next year though so might be tough to prise him outta there

Tom Bell

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

I think he did one or two good things, but he also butchered the pill. The the fact the commentators were all over him made his game appear better than it actually was.

[Redleg 41,952]

Yes but MM will want Watts. You could probably get Yarran and Bell for Sylvia and Jamar. Bell is clearly nowhere near their best 22.

They will probably try and trade out Warnock who was hopeless against Casey.

[rjay 25,307]

Yes but MM will want Watts. You could probably get Yarran and Bell for Sylvia and Jamar. Bell is clearly nowhere near their best 22.

They will probably try and trade out Warnock who was hopeless against Casey.

He's a pure tap ruckman not a forward. They seem to be lessening his value showing everyone he is a one trick pony. We were a bit lucky they didn't play him on ball or the result might have been different.

[Josh 1,420]

Was waiting for this thread. Could be a good pick up, could be a waste but worth a crack. He has a good build

[old dee 24,003]

Yes but MM will want Watts. You could probably get Yarran and Bell for Sylvia and Jamar. Bell is clearly nowhere near their best 22.

They will probably try and trade out Warnock who was hopeless against Casey.

They can have him for Murphy, fat chance!

Sylvia cannot be traded Redleg he is a free agent.

[Redleg 41,952]

They can have him for Murphy, fat chance!

Sylvia cannot be traded Redleg he is a free agent.

I think Sylvia can be traded if he insists on trading and not free agency. Might be wrong on that.

Anyway your point is valid. He will either stay, or just walk to the highest bidder.

[DeeSpencer 26,301]

Big rumours around about Strauss to Carlton at the end of the year. Could be a straight swap with Bell? Both seem to be out of favour at their current clubs.

[Little Richard 6,265]

Big rumours around about Strauss to Carlton at the end of the year. Could be a straight swap with Bell? Both seem to be out of favour at their current clubs.

I'd take most blokes for Strauss, really didn't think he'd have any value at the trade table. Where do these 'big rumours' stem from?

[titan_uranus 25,176]

Big rumours around about Strauss to Carlton at the end of the year. Could be a straight swap with Bell? Both seem to be out of favour at their current clubs.

Really? I wouldn't have thought Malthouse would be interested in a soft half-back flanker when he's already got Gibbs?

In all seriousness though, I don't see how Strauss solves any of Carlton's problems, which are numerous but don't include running players. They need key forwards and key defenders and a decent ruckman, not a half-back.

[Slartibartfast 18,009]

I liked Nick Graham better.

[jacey 333]

Wondering where Duigan's at as well?

As for other VFL players:

We desperately need a small forward and saints has a pletora of smalls. A Saad from the saints has been squeezed out and is worth chasing. He can play.

Not sure where Kangas hold Kieran Harper in their ratings, Shane Savage at the Hawks, Sipposs at the Saints.

Last one is Daniel Cross. Haven't seen him play at all this year so he could be past his use-by-date but could be an option for a midfield experience starved Demons.

[DeeSpencer 26,301]

Really? I wouldn't have thought Malthouse would be interested in a soft half-back flanker when he's already got Gibbs?

In all seriousness though, I don't see how Strauss solves any of Carlton's problems, which are numerous but don't include running players. They need key forwards and key defenders and a decent ruckman, not a half-back.

It's just what I've heard. Strauss to half back could replace Scotland or could move Simpson back to the wing so they could dump that squib Lucas.

Maybe they value someone with some pace and quality disposal. If Malthouse could make Leon Davis a defender he could probably make one out of Strauss.

[Little Richard 6,265]

It's just what I've heard. Strauss to half back could replace Scotland or could move Simpson back to the wing so they could dump that squib Lucas.

Maybe they value someone with some pace and quality disposal. If Malthouse could make Leon Davis a defender he could probably make one out of Strauss.

That doesn't really make sense... Davis was a good player before that. Strauss has shown virtually nothing.

If they think Lucas is a squib, I'd happily trade Strauss for him. But this probably won't happen because there is no reason as to why Strauss would have any kind of trade value.

[Maldonboy38 6,406]

I have seen Bell a few times and is definitely worth a look at him. The only thing that concerns me is that he looks the perfect prototype of the modern footballer but never quite produces to his potential. I have never really seen him destroy a game.

I still don't get the Strauss hate on here. He might not be the hardest at it, but there are many on our list we should delist/trade before him. e.g. Dunn, Pedersen, Davis, etc...

[DemonDave 1,096]

Bell butchered the ball horribly in the first half, improved it a bit in the second half but I think people become too seduced by his physique rather than the actual effectiveness of his game (see also: Tapscott, L).

When he can't get a game while the likes of Lucas, Armfield, White et al get games in front of him I don't think he'd be that desirable for us.

[Whispering_Jack 31,144]

I haven't seen much of Bell but we already suffer from having too many players who can't dispose of the ball properly and, based solely on Saturday, I thought he gave up the ball at times with some poor decision making and by holding onto it for too long. Perhaps, that wasn't his norm but he really doesn't stand out to me on that performance other than that he picked up slightly fewer possessions than Couch and Magner whose careers are being written off by many of the pundits.

[MadAsHell 4,217]

Wondering where Duigan's at as well?

As for other VFL players:

We desperately need a small forward and saints has a pletora of smalls. A Saad from the saints has been squeezed out and is worth chasing. He can play.

Not sure where Kangas hold Kieran Harper in their ratings, Shane Savage at the Hawks, Sipposs at the Saints.

Last one is Daniel Cross. Haven't seen him play at all this year so he could be past his use-by-date but could be an option for a midfield experience starved Demons.

Don't think we'll look at Duigan, we've got Grimes, Terlich, Clisby as running backmen along with the likes of Dunn (contracted next year), Nicholson and Tynan for depth.

Saints do have a heap of small forwards but Saad may be tough to get especially with Milne likely not to play beyond this year and Schneider seemingly gone with injury Saad & Dennis-Lane look to be their 2 new small forwards going forward. We may be able to get Terry Milera off them though who I rate.

Shane Savage is another who could be worth looking at, as for Siposs, my wife who's a Saints fan says they wont trade him.

Daniel Cross is someone who may be worth looking at. Not getting a game at the Bulldogs more due to the fact that their midfield is so old and they're trying to get some youth and pace into it rather then Cross's lack of ability, he'd be playing every week if he was with us. Can play a tight tag and still get plenty of the pill and knows his limitations. Only issue is that you couldn't carry both Cross & McKenzie in your midfield, it'd be one or the other in your 22, the other would become depth at Casey.

[Lord Travis 10,793]

As for other VFL players:

We desperately need a small forward and saints has a pletora of smalls. A Saad from the saints has been squeezed out and is worth chasing. He can play.

Not sure where Kangas hold Kieran Harper in their ratings, Shane Savage at the Hawks, Sipposs at the Saints.

Last one is Daniel Cross. Haven't seen him play at all this year so he could be past his use-by-date but could be an option for a midfield experience starved Demons.

We do need a reliable small forward. With Davey close to retirement, Byrnes close to retirement, and Blease not producing due to injury, form, positional changes, this is a need for us now that we have the tall forwards sorted.

Saints have Milne, Schneider, Saad, Milera, Dennis-Lane. Milne and Schneider are both done. That leaves the remaining 3. Saad is average, Milera is inconsistent and plays better as a half forward delivering the ball, and Dennis-Lane plays as a lead up forward more than a crumber. Not sure we'll find what we're looking for here.

Keiran Harper is developing as a midfielder at North and they really rate him. Was talked up by the club big time early in the season and is still developing. Doubt they will trade him, and though he was drafted as a forward he is developing as a midfielder.

Shane Savage is definitely worth a look. He is in and out of the Hawks team due to talent and competition for similar position. He's a good footballer and we should chase him if we can. He would add goal scoring potential as a small forward, and dash with stints in the midfield.

Siposs is not what we are looking for. He's bigger, at about 90kgs and is a marking option who doesn't score many goals and is still being shuffled around trying to find his best position. The Saints won't trade him and we don't need him.

Daniel Cross will retire at the end of the year. He'll be 31 next year and his output has declined considerably the last 2 years. He would be a good role model for our kids, as he is a very hard worker who has got the best out of himself. He plays hard football and just goes about his business without complaining when he gets rough treatment from a tagger. With his current output and age though, I believe he'll retire at the end of the year, and if we did get him across he would only give us one year of service I'd wager.

As for Tom Bell, he'd be worth a look if it only costs us a late pick. He's certainly got the right body for an AFL midfielder, and he's shown he's capable in patches, but he hasn't put it together yet. If we got him cheap, I'd be all for it as he definitely has potential in a position we are light in. We need more midfielders, ball winners especially. I'd rather Bell over a Magner or Couch because potentially Bell could win lots of ball inside, but has a booming kick too so could bang through a goal or two also.

[Tony Tea 2,814]

Well, that's confusing:

[Swampfox 190]

If Carlton have a strong bodied midfielder on their list that ISNT getting a game then i can only come to the conclusion he is behind Brock McLean in the pecking order

This would also confirm to me that Bell is either very slow, cant kick or both

[Redleg 41,952]

Carlton CEO said today they will make major list changes at the end of the year. Bell may be one that leaves Carlton as a result. He is clearly not in MM's best team.