They haven't given up much to have a shot at the title, so their strategy is perfectly understandable,  but I think they will crash hard after the next year or two.

Boak, Ryder, Gray and Westhoff are all 30+ next season, and Ebert, Broadbent, Hartlett. Dixon and Jonas are all around 28.

So who is left to lead the club, besides Wines, after that/ Watts, Motlop and Rockliff?

Probably not a good sample, but gee their backline looked poor to me when we played them at the MCG. Nothing has improved in regard to their defensive pressure from this year's recruits.

3 hours ago, Die Hard Demon said:

Port Adelaide failed to beat a top 8 side in 2017. 

They did beat Sydney and West Coast.

Mr Watts performs 30% of the time.  Mr Motlop performs 30% of the time.  That means in 9% of the time both Mr Watts and Mr Motlop will perform. (I made those numbers up, so don't hate me for them!).

Port have gone 'all in'.  It will be interesting to see if fresh starts help these two.  As for Mr Rockliff, who dies he replace?  Where does he actually fit into this team (I think Wines and Grey are ahead of him).

If Paddy Rider is injured (or doing time, just saying..) no Lobbe.  JW to ruck for Port?

It is a big gamble, and I am not convinced on Port.  Weren't as good as their ladder possie suggested this year, and failed to beat the Weagles on their own deck when it counted.

Who won the trade period?   Probably all the media hacks that get paid for an unsubstantiated opinion.  This is hay-cutting season for them! (Plough, take a bow you opinionated [censored])

2 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

Who won the trade period?   Probably all the media hacks that get paid for an unsubstantiated opinion.  This is hay-cutting season for them! (Plough, take a bow you opinionated [censored])

Essendon can still come out pretty well in terms of the players they bring in if they end up with Stringer.

Brisbane and Gold Coast might come out ok in terms of players and picks, but they are losing a bit.

Think we got the best player to be traded in Lever

Port have done well in terms of only giving up pick 31 in terms of their trade position I guess... 

when neither were actually in the top 8....

19 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

Mr Watts performs 30% of the time.  Mr Motlop performs 30% of the time.  That means in 9% of the time both Mr Watts and Mr Motlop will perform. (I made those numbers up, so don't hate me for them!).

 

it's ok 6 out of 5 people dont understand fractions....

2 hours ago, DemonAndrew said:

Hinkley has maxed the cap to ensure a premiership chance over his next three years

It makes sense and the pressure will be on if they continue to be incapable of challenging top 8 sides 

Appears to be a cool,calm,collected,considered,presidential Koch up to me !

There's 3 controversial inclusions to help " Never Tear Us Apart " !

Rockcliff, Watts and Motlop for Pick 31..........People are kidding them selves if they think they haven't done very well. 

15 minutes ago, Brenno said:

Rockcliff, Watts and Motlop for Pick 31..........People are kidding them selves if they think they haven't done very well. 

fair bit of salary to go with that. Meaning they had to move on Trengove, Impey and Ah Chee.

Still the 'net' players they bought in exceeds that which has gone out. Although I rated Trengove as a good tall utility.

10 minutes ago, Ouch! said:

fair bit of salary to go with that. Meaning they had to move on Trengove, Impey and Ah Chee.

Still the 'net' players they bought in exceeds that which has gone out. Although I rated Trengove as a good tall utility.

Yeah the Cap will be stretched. But as others have said there are a few big names will be finishing up soon and free space. 

My point is If we had landed those 3 players Demonland would be going off right now. 

I also rate Trengove, thought he would have been good for us to go for. 

 

Port supporters reckon we sold the farm for a back pocket player.

1 hour ago, Brenno said:

Rockcliff, Watts and Motlop for Pick 31..........People are kidding them selves if they think they haven't done very well. 

And theyre not even paying top dollar for it all 

Port have done pretty okay I'd say

Three players in on pretty good money and all three of them not really wanted by their original clubs.

Rest of Port list may not embrace that as much as the Port fans.

I would not be shocked to see Port drop a few places next year.

 

It looks like a huge win for PA, but it looks too much like the high risk outweighs the high reward. It appears they feel like they only have to top up their list with outside skilfull talent, to give them a tilt at the flag. 

                        RISK                                                    REWARD

Rockliff          Toxic personality                              Brilliant at possesskom bame footy and runs both ways

Motlop           Goes missing/often soft                 Outside run, line breaker,  with amazing vision skills

Watts             Lacks intensity/goes missing        Elite kick, endurance athlete, precision

I can't see Motlop or Watts improving, and will do at PA exactly the same as at their old clubs. Rockliff will be a valuable addition as long as he is given no leadership duties. It all comes down to a wait and see game.

5 hours ago, mo64 said:

Rockliff is an absolute stat padder. He racks up possessions that don't hurt the opposition. Fagan had the courage to move him on

Good call, Mo. Rockliff is king of the running around the back of the bloke with the ball for cheap touches.

You hurt the opposition by getting down the ground to provide extra numbers, not by dagging around the ball looking for easy an give-and-go.

He wastes energy giving his numbers a kickalong.

54 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Port supporters reckon we sold the farm for a back pocket player.

They must have the internet in SA jails.

I still reckon we could have moved for Devon Smith exactly what we needed goalkicking small forward/ mid or are we approaching the cap limit with our future stars going to require top dollar?

Richmond finished in the bottom six in 2016 which gave them a dream draw in 2017 and then they had a relatively injury free season leaving them with a stable side - their strongest possible for the finals. Yes, they were good in that finals series but the stars were all aligned in their favour. 

Port would have to have everything running their way in 2018 to emulate that and knowing their "prized" recruits have all been out of favour with the clubs they are leaving and, being mindful of the roles they play, doesn't really inspire me.

Port improved their list, that is all. There is no "winning" the trade period.

When they start handing out premiership cups for trade periods I will give a damn about other clubs trades. I just want our list to get better.

10 hours ago, spalding said:

They haven't given up much to have a shot at the title, so their strategy is perfectly understandable,  but I think they will crash hard after the next year or two.

Boak, Ryder, Gray and Westhoff are all 30+ next season, and Ebert, Broadbent, Hartlett. Dixon and Jonas are all around 28.

So who is left to lead the club, besides Wines, after that/ Watts, Motlop and Rockliff?

Probably not a good sample, but gee their backline looked poor to me when we played them at the MCG. Nothing has improved in regard to their defensive pressure from this year's recruits.

It's not what you paid, it's what you will pay.  I actually think Rockliff is the biggest risk for Port.

Fagan didn't fight to keep Rocky, just like we didn't fight to keep Col.  Rockliff has knifed every coach he's ever played under and has a dubious off field attitude.  He will need a strong leadership group and culture to keep him in line.  How strong is Port's 'never tear us apart culture'?  They were pretty tepid against really competitive sides last year and there are serious question marks about Boak's leadership.  Some of their other senior players previous off field endeavours (Dixon) might well  resurface if Rockliff is allowed to run his own race. 

Those spruiking the 'success' of Port's recruiting this year need to consider whether their predictions about what all three bring to Port's performance next year is  a realistic appraisal based on their outputs at their previous clubs as opposed to heroic assumptions about them actually improving on what they've demonstrated as relatively senior players (unlikely in my view that Motlop becomes a more consistent player because he's settled with family, unlikely that Jack fulfils his potential released from the crippling burden of Melbourne supporters expectations now he's only worth pick 31 rather than Pick 1 and unlikely that Rockliff becomes a real leader rather than just a cultural turd).

10 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

They did beat Sydney and West Coast.

Not when they were in the 8 though

Big winners in my opinion.

I am envious of Port's list on paper for the upcoming season (including Watts). Absolutely chock-full with potentially damaging players. They're out to snatch a flag to keep the Le Fevre ferals at bay. And they may well slip one in considering this past year and the current crap-shoot premiership climate.

But they are on a course toward long-term hurt. I am far happier with the list at Melbourne as a recipe for sustained success. A mansion with double-bays overlooking an inspiring vista,  rather than brief peek through a narrow window.

Would suck to be a Bulldogs supporter right now - despite overcoming their drought. I wouldn't give up what we have for that sweet sweet sip of relief if it meant another 40 years in the desert. Content enough that I'm even  willing to mix my metaphors into a big, over-excited jumble.

Only time will tell if they are big winners

No dout they have been very active

On Paper IMO they have improved their list on a needs basis

Be interesting to see if Hinkley can get out of Watts what we couldnt

Still be handy player near goals which cost them in 2017

 

 

15 hours ago, Socrates said:

Easily top 4 next year.............. There is every chance Jack Watts will be a premiership player within 2 years and Goody and Macca will no longer be at Melbourne.

This is a very unsocratic thing to say, at best

 

Edit: And, perhaps more correctly, a very unsocratic way of saying it

Let's do this.

Me: I have very little understanding of what makes a top 4 team. Can you elaborate?

 

You: