Trade him for Sam Walsh.

if it comes down to $s then all we have to do is reduce the list by 1 or 2 of our marginal players and there's another $200k

we don't have to have a full list (fortunately) and we've got very good depth

1 hour ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

If he stays he stays, if he goes he goes. 

Are you sure about that?

44 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

if it comes down to $s then all we have to do is reduce the list by 1 or 2 of our marginal players and there's another $200k

we don't have to have a full list (fortunately) and we've got very good depth

Jake Melksham may be in his last year and will also free up some $$ at the end of 2022. We extended him to the end of 2022 after his excellent 2018 season where he was top 10 B&F and kicked 30+ goals. He would be on good money.

7 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

If he goes, he’ll cost a few bob for the other team. A valuable team-member for sure, but not irreplaceable. A side-effect of playing on the wing last year was that he built up his tank and has never been fitter.

Would much rather he stay. But understandably, at the minute he has more important things to concentrate on.

He is a good player, but not irreplaceable. There is the other issue about this that we have a number of extremely talented youngsters who in the current circumstances if everyone remains fit like last year will not get a game. We need some movement in the list to bring continuous improvement in our overall game. Gus is good, but not essential. If he can go to another club on extraordinary money, then good luck to him. I’m sure the Blues could find a spot, they seem to specialise in acquiring good players whose performance deteriorates rapidly upon their arrival. 

Presuming we stroll to another flag, and Gus found a suitor willing to stump up ~$2.4 million over four years, would that be enough to net us an end-of-first round compo, something like pick 22 after adjustments? While that boxes us in on recruiting  our own free agents, do people think that would be a fair price? Considering that's quite a draft sweet spot nowadays and our high calibre recruitment team? 

1 hour ago, daisycutter said:

if it comes down to $s then all we have to do is reduce the list by 1 or 2 of our marginal players and there's another $200k

we don't have to have a full list (fortunately) and we've got very good depth

Which players do you consider marginal

31 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Presuming we stroll to another flag, and Gus found a suitor willing to stump up ~$2.4 million over four years, would that be enough to net us an end-of-first round compo, something like pick 22 after adjustments? 

Not interested in bringing heaps more youth. Our window is wide open for multiple flags, we need to recruit for the now.

3 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Not interested in bringing heaps more youth. Our window is wide open for multiple flags, we need to recruit for the now.

If Geelong go poorly this year and their rebuild finally commences, we should have a crack at Isaac Smith for a year 🙊

2 minutes ago, adonski said:

If Geelong go poorly this year and their rebuild finally commences, we should have a crack at Isaac Smith for a year 🙊

Yeah, Nah, he had his chance.

Angus has another quality 6+ years in him. I honestly think his best footy is ahead of him. He is so smart and brave. Can play in multiple positions. 

I don’t think he is irreplaceable but we should everything we can to keep him. He is a core team member and so important to our culture

1 hour ago, 4_Kent_Watts said:

Which players do you consider marginal

ask me at the end of year, but i'd be looking at players who've been around 3-4 or more seasons and little to no chance of a permanent place in the 22

i only propose this if after all the normal shenanigans we are short $100k - $200k and look like losing out. we don't need a full complement of 44 on the list especially when we are now batting quite deep.

Edited February 19, 20223 yr by daisycutter

After finishing third in the Brownlow we were forced to pay Gus at the peak of his powers. A figure of 625k sounds about right.  Saving his best game of 2021 for the grand final distorts things a touch finishing 14th in the B&F and being no higher than eighth in the two years prior since his contract resigning.

We've no doubt offered him less this time around which must [censored] the ego a little. But as others have mentioned we can't be paying a defensive wingman top dollar when we have the contracts of Oliver, Jackson and Pickett coming up.

Let's hope that this doesn't distract the team throughout the year as there is no doubt he is a popular member of the squad.

Edited February 19, 20223 yr by dee-tox

2 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Not interested in bringing heaps more youth. Our window is wide open for multiple flags, we need to recruit for the now.

We've been drafting on credit for a few years now, and our talent pipeline seems reasonably promising. That said, you didn't remotely answer my question. I would try to keep Gus if I could, but what's he worth if he wants to walk? And would you really want the club to spend all its cookies on a short window of heightened success and then hit the ground hard like Hawthorn, or rather carefully manage our list for a longer spell at the top? Genuine question. 

34 minutes ago, Skuit said:

We've been drafting on credit for a few years now, and our talent pipeline seems reasonably promising. That said, you didn't remotely answer my question. I would try to keep Gus if I could, but what's he worth if he wants to walk? And would you really want the club to spend all its cookies on a short window of heightened success and then hit the ground hard like Hawthorn, or rather carefully manage our list for a longer spell at the top? Genuine question. 

He is impossible to truly value.

Headknocks and being shifted out of position have reduced his price 

I’d be surprised if clubs were offering him anything more than $500k per year x 3 to be honest 

Edited February 19, 20223 yr by adonski

12 minutes ago, adonski said:

He is impossible to truly value.

Headknocks and being shifted out of position have reduced his price 

I’d be surprised if clubs were offering him anything more than $500k per year x 3 to be honest 

But should he be offered $550,000 over three years, what do we get in compensation? That's all I really want to know. 

Happy to trade him to Freeo for picks 6 and 18 in this years draft and 1 and 10 in the '23 draft. 

18 minutes ago, Skuit said:

But should he be offered $550,000 over three years, what do we get in compensation? That's all I really want to know. 

The AFL consult this bloke for that formula 

1 hour ago, Skuit said:

And would you really want the club to spend all its cookies on a short window of heightened success and then hit the ground hard like Hawthorn, or rather carefully manage our list for a longer spell at the top? Genuine question. 

I’m of the belief that windows for a serious tilt at a premiership are only truly open for around 5 years (probably less). As such, I am more of the belief that shorter windows are realistically attainable.

The Hawks flag in 2008 was extremely premature and an outlier, their 2012-2015 years was their true window. Look at the Cats who are trying to perennially contest a premiership (might keep fans happy, but that cliff is only getting steeper).

Some have waited 57 years for a flag. They won’t be around in another 57. Go now and go hard.

Edited February 19, 20223 yr by Demon Disciple

54 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

I’m of the belief that windows for a serious tilt at a premiership are only truly open for around 5 years (probably less). As such, I am more of the belief that shorter windows are realistically attainable.

The Hawks flag in 2008 was extremely premature and an outlier, their 2012-2015 years was their true window. Look at the Cats who are trying to perennially contest a premiership (might keep fans happy, but that cliff is only getting steeper).

Some have waited 57 years for a flag. They won’t be around in another 57. Go now and go hard.

I tend to agree on the 5 year window opportunity but with a caveat ... if we continue to draft well when on top and were able to add 1 or 2 top youngsters per year,  we can extend that window

A potential embarrassment of riches means that the list can be managed to a point where the incoming talented youth keeps the senior team vibrant and on top

Topping up with older players can often make your list too old as a result ... finals are always on the radar but the premiership?

But it's a big ask to add 1 or 2 'Top' youngsters per year.  It's easier said than done

I'm talking about 18 year old's who are heading for B, B+ or A grade status upon arrival at the club

As an example... Jackson, Pickett & Rivers all came in the one draft.  A,  B+ & B? (With the crystal ball out!)

Edited February 19, 20223 yr by Macca

9 hours ago, DemonOX said:

Hunt would be ok on the wing imo. 

Not in the role Gus has been playing

This is his big contract year. I don't blame him for holding up till the e d of the year. He seems like such an important part of the players friendship both on and off field.

This will get done late in the year.

Hunt is the interesting one in my opinion. Free agent will have suitors. It may be that the club deliberately low balls Hunt to encourage him to move and get am end of second round draft pick in return. This would also free up the cash to keep Brayshaw. Just Mt thoughts. I understand if some find this topic unsavoury at this point of the year. Hopefully Hunt would get the premiership medallion this year after being very unlucky last year.

7 hours ago, BAMF said:

This is his big contract year. I don't blame him for holding up till the e d of the year. He seems like such an important part of the players friendship both on and off field.

This will get done late in the year.

Hunt is the interesting one in my opinion. Free agent will have suitors. It may be that the club deliberately low balls Hunt to encourage him to move and get am end of second round draft pick in return. This would also free up the cash to keep Brayshaw. Just Mt thoughts. I understand if some find this topic unsavoury at this point of the year. Hopefully Hunt would get the premiership medallion this year after being very unlucky last year.

I would be very surprised if Hunt left. His uncle played for Melbourne and Hunt has his locker. He is Melbourne through and through.

Makes sense for both parties to defer contract talks. Many variables that can impact the outcome. 

In another world this approach makes sense but in the footy world it becomes gossip in the the footy media cesspit with all its distractions. 

16 hours ago, adonski said:

If Geelong go poorly this year and their rebuild finally commences, we should have a crack at Isaac Smith for a year 🙊

Over the hill and far away.