2 hours ago, DominatrixTyson said:

I don't think anyone was suggesting it flippantly like a "get anything deal" like the Toumpas trade. It was more a "How do we lure an established A GRADER" topic. He and Tyson were brought in instead of Josh Kelly. It's not absurd to declare that we haven't come out on top in that regard. We of course might.

Two potential A graders for one potential A grader. Yeah, we came out on top of that. 

Tyson is maligned, but he'll get there and Salem just needs a run at it with his injuries.

Tyson needs to lift his DE (61% at the moment), but after an interrupted pre-season is finding the ball, averaging 25 touches from midfield.

All our youngsters (except Brayshaw) are finding the ball, which is what is so exciting and promising. Tyson, Salem, Oliver, Petracca, Stretch, Hunt and Viney are all averaging 20+ disposals this year. I'm not a fan, but even ANB is averaging 21.8 disposals - like Tyson, he needs to lift his efficiency as he's going at 62% DE.

These stats show to me that we're dominating possession and almost playing keepings off the opposition at times. They're waiting for our turnovers, so guys like Tyson and ANB need to lift their DE.

Yep he played a big role in the last quarter going in to the middle and then forward.

Still happy to base at half back until the backline gets a regular run at it with some additions who can kick -Lewis and Hibberd at least, ideally probably Wagner as well. 

Then in time he'll start games in the middle and finish them forward or back. 

Of our youngsters, Salem and Oliver looked the most likely in the JLT series to have big years, and that's certainly been the case.

Once Lewis is back at half back, Salem will hopefully spend more time on the ball.

He is such a neat kick and executes so quickly and efficiently under pressure. Ball is on the boot in the blink of an eye.

Edited April 19, 20178 yr by Forest Demon

1 hour ago, A F said:

Two potential A graders for one potential A grader. Yeah, we came out on top of that. 

Tyson is maligned, but he'll get there and Salem just needs a run at it with his injuries.

Tyson needs to lift his DE (61% at the moment), but after an interrupted pre-season is finding the ball, averaging 25 touches from midfield.

All our youngsters (except Brayshaw) are finding the ball, which is what is so exciting and promising. Tyson, Salem, Oliver, Petracca, Stretch, Hunt and Viney are all averaging 20+ disposals this year. I'm not a fan, but even ANB is averaging 21.8 disposals - like Tyson, he needs to lift his efficiency as he's going at 62% DE.

These stats show to me that we're dominating possession and almost playing keepings off the opposition at times. They're waiting for our turnovers, so guys like Tyson and ANB need to lift their DE.

Josh Kelly is widely considered to be a better player than Salem & Tyson, with a ceiling that could be Chris Judd Level, ie A+. It's the kind of trade you make if you have faith that that kind of player will lift your other team mates up higher than two players who may never reach those heights and are comparably easier to find. It wouldn't be that inaccurate to suggest we made a similar move with Clayton Oliver compared with Essendon's Darcy Parish and Aaron Francis. Have they come out on top? Nah. Not so far. I know we didn't trade one for the other, but we manouvered so much to get Oliver so that Essendon didn't.

Edited April 19, 20178 yr by DominatrixTyson

2 hours ago, DominatrixTyson said:

Josh Kelly is widely considered to be a better player than Salem & Tyson, with a ceiling that could be Chris Judd Level, ie A+. It's the kind of trade you make if you have faith that that kind of player will lift your other team mates up higher than two players who may never reach those heights and are comparably easier to find. It wouldn't be that inaccurate to suggest we made a similar move with Clayton Oliver compared with Essendon's Darcy Parish and Aaron Francis. Have they come out on top? Nah. Not so far. I know we didn't trade one for the other, but we manouvered so much to get Oliver so that Essendon didn't.

Haha, you lost me with your first sentence. No one compares Kelly to Judd and if they do they're an idiot. Kelly is a silky outside mid with terrific skills. About the only similarity between he and Judd is pace.

Edited April 19, 20178 yr by A F

Further, pretty much every AFL media commentator has said Kelly isn't the guy they'd pay a mill for because although a great talent and a potential A grader, he's won't be an A+ grader, which is who you pay a million a year for.

That you, Barrett?

1 hour ago, A F said:

Two potential A graders for one potential A grader. Yeah, we came out on top of that. 

Tyson is maligned, but he'll get there and Salem just needs a run at it with his injuries.

Tyson needs to lift his DE (61% at the moment), but after an interrupted pre-season is finding the ball, averaging 25 touches from midfield.

All our youngsters (except Brayshaw) are finding the ball, which is what is so exciting and promising. Tyson, Salem, Oliver, Petracca, Stretch, Hunt and Viney are all averaging 20+ disposals this year. I'm not a fan, but even ANB is averaging 21.8 disposals - like Tyson, he needs to lift his efficiency as he's going at 62% DE.

These stats show to me that we're dominating possession and almost playing keepings off the opposition at times. They're waiting for our turnovers, so guys like Tyson and ANB need to lift their DE.

I think so far GWS have won that trade handsomely. Kelly is now an A grader, the A grader we desperately need IMO.

Tyson's disposal is sloppy and I think his decision making is slow and can sometimes let him down. I don't believe he'll ever come close to an A grader. Salem looks very classy with excellent disposal and good football brain. His marking has improved this year as well. If their bodies hold up they will both be very handy players, but I think Kelly is not far off being an out and out star.

I'd certainly be very happy to be proven wrong though.

Edited April 19, 20178 yr by Moonshadow

Salem could play anywhere back , mid, wing and forward, but I see him taking on the Vince role when he retires, marshaling across half back with a licence to go up the ground and take it on.