I reckon Kent, Salem, Bail, Kennedy-harris, Watts can all play forward/ rotate through the midfield,

a key defender would be handy

of course, Cross 31.2, Byrnes 30.1, Vince 28.8; we must continue to add more talent pushing up from their youth.

Jamar 30.9, Clark ?,

I'd take putin as jack watt's personal trainer any day

but i don't think the seats in the mfc super box would be up to carr's requirements

Nor the F..g Food !!! (Bob Carr)

Whosa,

Please enlighten me re the Bob Carr reference (mustn't have been paying attention to the news of the time).

As an act of good faith, I'll offer in return a possible answer to your avatar's question...Karmichael.

Back onto the thread topic. I think we need some distributors off half-back and more pace.

Perhaps Dean Kent could fill this role for us in the future and then there's the prospect of picking Billy Stretch up as a potential wing/half back flanker. If so then maybe we'd only need to target one out-of-contract mature player to bolster the stocks while the others develop (keeping in mind that Casey seems to be rotating a lot of MFC players through HBF already).

Which player out-of-contract mature player would Demonlanders suggest best meet this need?

Back onto the thread topic. I think we need some distributors off half-back and more pace.

Perhaps Dean Kent could fill this role for us in the future and then there's the prospect of picking Billy Stretch up as a potential wing/half back flanker. If so then maybe we'd only need to target one out-of-contract mature player to bolster the stocks while the others develop (keeping in mind that Casey seems to be rotating a lot of MFC players through HBF already).

Which player out-of-contract mature player would Demonlanders suggest best meet this need?

Matt Rosa is a hard running player, David Mackay is a good player with some pace, Mathew Buntine is a previous top 5 pick who I still think has serious upside.

i think we actually need a goal square monster. Obviously he has to move around abit, but when you go long and deep into the forward line, some like Patton is useful. He is actually a real good chance at taking those marks.

I think we've got him already. His name's Hogan and he is currently more mobile and versitile than Patton. But I wouldn't say no to Patton though. I reckon he just needs to be given a role. Have guys like he Pederson, Dawes and Hogan hitting the centre square hard, as Saty mentioned in another thread. That'd scared the living [censored] out of opposition midfielders. Riccuito mentioned how intimidating it was having big blokes hit that area of the ground off the centre bounce and he was no softie. It just gives the opposition something more to think about. I genuinely believe Patton could play along side Hogan and Dawes, leaving Pederson as the swing man when required/depth/putting pressure on those guys to keep a minimum work rate.

I agree, in that think Patton is more gettable.

But I'm not terribly worried about our forward-line for now.

We have time to develop our own, have done ok in this regard so far in 2014 and haven't had Hogan all season.

Personally, I think the more pressing need is our midfield, specifically to inject a young rangey running-type into our midfield group.

Someone with a bit of pace and great skill, a receiver who can win his own ball.

Someone like Jack Macrae in particular.

Now obviously he's not available, but I think that's the prototype we should be looking for.

A guy that when the ball gets to him in congestion, he can just take off.

What we may have all once hoped would become of Blease.

So I think we should be targetting guys like O'Rourke (if he's any good), Macrae (if for some freak reason he's gettable), Isaac Smith (same again), Stephen Hill (and again), Whitfield (again) or any others we can find that fit the type.

Jayden Hunt seems like he may one day has the physical attributes, but I'm thinking a pure mid with footy smarts.

Hard to find, harder to get, but would round out our midfield brilliantly and worth paying a lot for, in my opinion.

We have a good young outfit of contested ball winners (which still needs to grow), but I think we need some polish and topline pace.

We could also do with some more pure size in the midfield.

It's why I'm a fan of getting Plowman and turning him into a Mundy-like mid.

I think he has the ability.

This is an interesting post, M, but when I think of how quickly Port built their midfield and how quickly we've turned things around in that department (okay, it's not A grade but is certainly on the cusp of B grade and will only get better), I wonder if the forwardline is actually the more pressing area. If a Patton or (dream world and unlikely) Cameron is available, we should push really hard for this type of player. We can always add that tall mid with break away pace down the track, when we're pushing for top 4, like Hawthorn did with Burgoyne. If we get to a stage of pushing for the top 4, we'll then be able to attract FA's of Burgoyne quality anyway.

I'd probably be going with something like this as our shopping list:

1st rounder - KPF, if no luck, a 20-22 year old mid Treloar or Shiel's quality, or go to the draft.

2nd rounder - probably going to have to use on this pick on Stretch, otherwise I'd be going for a good ball user off half back from an opposition club.

3rd rounder - a fringe mid from a top 8 club.

4th rounder - another mid who has good disposal and could/can play at either end of the ground.

And so on. That's the way I'd go anyway.

I'd say the key to Port's rapid further improvement this season has been the inclusions of topline midfield pace, in Polec and White, especially the former.

It's what we should be looking for.

As should most clubs.

This is somewhat of a myth that Port turned their midfield around quickly, I would argue it has been a work in progress for some years in 2007 that made the GF on the back of some older boys left over from the 2004 flag and since then they have drafted very well and the likes of Kane Cornes have grown from young understudies to seasoned veterans

2006 - they had drafted Grey & Boak (pretty sure Boak played in 07 GF),

2007 Lobbe was drafted and took some time to mature into the version we have had since late 2012 to current

2008 Hartlett was drafted

2009 Andrew Moore no world beater but decent depth

2010 - Nothing

2011 - Chad Wingard & Ebert was traded in at the end of the season Meth Coast

2012 - Ollie Wines

So I would think this is a steady building of the list and is they continue with this formula with constant turnover they will continue to have a decent midfield

Boak did play in the '07 GF.

Had 11 disposals, 2 marks and 2 tackles.

Sorry, I should have clarified. Port turned their midfield around quickly in terms of output, not necessarily drafting them all at once. I know injuries played a part for some of them, but their midfield was a joke in 2012. As was ours in 2013. IMO, the comparison is apt, but each to their own, I guess, PSD. : )

And I agree, M, pace should be on the shopping list. I think pace generally, not even just natural midfielders. It'd be great to have line breakers in the back half too. But, IMO, there are more pressing issues.

I'd love to see us go for Nick Malceski. 30 y/o this year but still provides Swans with a heap of run and has an elite kick on him, also out of contract this year and hasn't yet signed on.

Treloar stated he wants to be a one club player, I'm assuming this means he Is one foot out the door already?

Treloar stated he wants to be a one club player, I'm assuming this means he Is one foot out the door already?

It's a sure sign 'Mike'; must have got the line from Scully.

This is somewhat of a myth that Port turned their midfield around quickly, I would argue it has been a work in progress for some years in 2007 that made the GF on the back of some older boys left over from the 2004 flag and since then they have drafted very well and the likes of Kane Cornes have grown from young understudies to seasoned veterans

2006 - they had drafted Grey & Boak (pretty sure Boak played in 07 GF),

2007 Lobbe was drafted and took some time to mature into the version we have had since late 2012 to current

2008 Hartlett was drafted

2009 Andrew Moore no world beater but decent depth

2010 - Nothing

2011 - Chad Wingard & Ebert was traded in at the end of the season Meth Coast

2012 - Ollie Wines

So I would think this is a steady building of the list and is they continue with this formula with constant turnover they will continue to have a decent midfield

Nice post PStD.

I wouldn't mind betting that during that time when they were struggling, they were actually under performing, unhappy inside the club, or list building? or a bit of both.

its turned around, around the time of Kochy going there? and the players had personal talks amongst themselves, when Boak was getting offers from the Cats. he stayed, & others followed & committed.

Malceski a terrific two time premiership player, but umpteen really serious knee injuries, closer to the end than the beginning and thus in the 'high risk' bracket. Happy to go for him as a bit of a gamble perhaps, but not for much dough.

Nice post PStD.

I wouldn't mind betting that during that time when they were struggling, they were actually under performing, unhappy inside the club, or list building? or a bit of both.

its turned around, around the time of Kochy going there? and the players had personal talks amongst themselves, when Boak was getting offers from the Cats. he stayed, & others followed & committed.

A lot of teh talk about Port being a basket case related to their off field performance, the empty stands covered with sponsors tarp, the debt. They were competative on the field and despite losing to the young Suns and Gws in the Primus years they never really fell to the depth we were in at our worst

I'd love to see us go for Nick Malceski. 30 y/o this year but still provides Swans with a heap of run and has an elite kick on him, also out of contract this year and hasn't yet signed on.

Malceski a terrific two time premiership player, but umpteen really serious knee injuries, closer to the end than the beginning and thus in the 'high risk' bracket. Happy to go for him as a bit of a gamble perhaps, but not for much dough.

Yeah, what is the point in getting Malceski for two or three seasons? We need to develop the blokes already on the list to play this role or trade in a younger bloke, or at least a guy in his mid 20s. We want them around for the premiership push.

Edited June 4, 201411 yr by AdamFarr

Yeah, what is the point in getting Malceski for two or three seasons? We need to develop the blokes already on the list to play this role or trade in a younger bloke or at least a guy in his mid 20s that'll be there for the premiership push.

Spot on 'Adam' we need to find our own Malceski, he's either on the list already or Roos and the crew are looking.

Buntine?

Forget Lachie Plowman... signed on for 2 more years at Giants.

For me, Sam Grimley at Hawthorn is gettable. Big key forward. Behind a few rucks and big fwds at Hawthorn. But be assured, Grimley is AFL quality.

Also Ben Jacobs from NTH. Not getting a go with Kangas. He us a quality half back quarterback that we need.

Forget Lachie Plowman... signed on for 2 more years at Giants.

For me, Sam Grimley at Hawthorn is gettable. Big key forward. Behind a few rucks and big fwds at Hawthorn. But be assured, Grimley is AFL quality.

Also Ben Jacobs from NTH. Not getting a go with Kangas. He us a quality half back quarterback that we need.

How do you base that. Both Lowden (as a ruck) and O'Brien (as a young key forward) have got games ahead of him. Good athlete, but a bit soft and not that skilled. Another in the Fitzpatrick and Stefan Martin mold that do a heap of teasing but not enough performance.

Ben Jacobs is.....well he's Ben Jacobs, no thanks.

2006 - they had drafted Grey & Boak (pretty sure Boak played in 07 GF), Injured and performing

2007 Lobbe was drafted and took some time to mature into the version we have had since late 2012 to current

2008 Hartlett was drafted Injuries

2009 Andrew Moore no world beater but decent depth

2010 - Nothing

2011 - Chad Wingard & Ebert was traded in at the end of the season Meth Coast First year player and performing decently in a bad side

2012 - Ollie Wines

I'll add

2013 - Polec

I suppose N. Jones, Tyson and Vince are a bit like our versions of Boak, Ebert and Wines. Gawn might be like Lobbe if he can take on the number 1 ruck role next year, he has the skills just needs the time and body. Vince and Cross are like Cassisi and Cornes, the veterans who play roles depending on what is needed.

We need to find 2 or 3 more really promising midfielders to provide support for Viney and Tyson. Salem with a preseason, the hope is he could be one and whilst no one is expecting Grey or Wingard like tricks he should be a forward/midfielder combination. Trengove over all his injury issues, might not be Hamish Hartlett level good but could be in the mix. Plus there's always Toumpas and Watts. In light of no Polec landing on our doorstep it might have to be the draft. Our picks this year are so important to keep the momentum going.

At least this year we have some reasonable depth to the midfield as well so we aren't all reliant on the top class players. That's another secret from Port. Spread the load and get an even contribution even from lesser names. Port do it so well that everyone is catching on to Broadbent, Hombsch, Jonas, Monfries etc as decent players.

I suppose N. Jones, Tyson and Vince are a bit like our versions of Boak, Ebert and Wines. Gawn might be like Lobbe if he can take on the number 1 ruck role next year, he has the skills just needs the time and body. Vince and Cross are like Cassisi and Cornes, the veterans who play roles depending on what is needed.

We need to find 2 or 3 more really promising midfielders to provide support for Viney and Tyson. Salem with a preseason, the hope is he could be one and whilst no one is expecting Grey or Wingard like tricks he should be a forward/midfielder combination. Trengove over all his injury issues, might not be Hamish Hartlett level good but could be in the mix. Plus there's always Toumpas and Watts. In light of no Polec landing on our doorstep it might have to be the draft. Our picks this year are so important to keep the momentum going.

At least this year we have some reasonable depth to the midfield as well so we aren't all reliant on the top class players. That's another secret from Port. Spread the load and get an even contribution even from lesser names. Port do it so well that everyone is catching on to Broadbent, Hombsch, Jonas, Monfries etc as decent players.

Next to Lobbe Broadbent is just about their most important player. He's the one that sets the game up with his kicking game.

Sam Butler from Westcoast ? Good player, very injury prone but he would provide experience in the back half and is an upgrade on our other medium defenders ? 29 years old, 100 something games plus a premiership.

Sam Butler from Westcoast ? Good player, very injury prone but he would provide experience in the back half and is an upgrade on our other medium defenders ? 29 years old, 100 something games plus a premiership.

No really nice guy but will stay in Perth, you can put a fork in him now