I don't see any glaring mistakes in the players we have let go in the last five years.

Probably says a lot about the overall quality of the list.

It's not who we let go that was the problem. It was the how and why.

For example the McLean trade for an extra pick in a draft when we had pick 1, pick 2 and all the other picks. Ok on paper it looked great getting in Scully, Trengove and Gysberts to go with Moloney and co. But clearly after McDonald was let go we needed continuity with some clearance winning and running midfielders. The fact McLean had a lot of issues doesn't itself mean he was right to be let go of. He should never have felt like we weren't trying to win, nor she he have had such issues with his speed and groins, carrying too much muscle to run at AFL pace etc. Took two years for him to come good again.

Keeping some experienced players around even if they aren't ideal would've actually helped the development of the young guys.

It's not who we let go that was the problem. It was the how and why.

For example the McLean trade for an extra pick in a draft when we had pick 1, pick 2 and all the other picks. Ok on paper it looked great getting in Scully, Trengove and Gysberts to go with Moloney and co. But clearly after McDonald was let go we needed continuity with some clearance winning and running midfielders. The fact McLean had a lot of issues doesn't itself mean he was right to be let go of. He should never have felt like we weren't trying to win, nor she he have had such issues with his speed and groins, carrying too much muscle to run at AFL pace etc. Took two years for him to come good again.

Keeping some experienced players around even if they aren't ideal would've actually helped the development of the young guys.

Your first paragraph is correct. The example is not correct.

At the end of 2009, we had Junior, Beamer, Jones and McLean for midfield roles where there was a surplus of a lack of pace. McLeans form had been indifferent that year and he finished up doing second bit tagging roles. I don't mind that we took the opportunity to trade him for a 1st round pick. We just botched what we did with the pick. And FWIW it took McLean well into his 3rd year to obtain a regular spot in the side. Not a leadership loss.

Id have Petterd back. Is true he too had a disagreement with Neeld last year?

Martin im happy is gone.

Gysberts i thought was going to come back and bite us but glad im proved wrong.

Morton im not real fussed about.

Bennell been upgraded to the main list which i thought was weird considering they didnt have a coach to make that decision. Whats his WAFL form been like?

Happy Beamer is gone.

Rivers will be lucky to be given a go next year. He looked absolutely shot this year.

All in all not too bad at all. Like i said only Petterd i would have back.

Kyle Cheney has been getting a bit of a run with Hawthorn. Not sure why we delsited him the previous year as there were worse on our list?

Kyle Cheney has been getting a bit of a run with Hawthorn. Not sure why we delsited him the previous year as there were worse on our list?

He requested a trade because he wasn't getting a game. We upgraded pick 66 to 52 (which became 53 after a North compo pick) and picked Tom McDonald. Huge win for mine.

He requested a trade because he wasn't getting a game. We upgraded pick 66 to 52 (which became 53 after a North compo pick) and picked Tom McDonald. Huge win for mine.

Win-Win

Good luck to Kyle, may be a chance of playing in the Grand Final with the forecasted wet conditions.

Strange how we all think our lists is poor but we are so reluctant to delist under performing players, we seem to hold out the hope that they could come good in a couple more years, or a new coach, or a good pre-season or two, etc.... We need to get rid of players who are not making the grade, those delisted last year and again this year were all valid, problem is we still have a lot of other players that are probably not up to AFL standard but we will hang on to them in the hope that they can improve. If our midfield is crap then who from our midfield needs to go to make room for better or new players....