I've shuddered in horror every time I've seen the 'Taylor Walker possible recruit' thread on the main page, so I'm looking for reassurance that there are better options out there.

I'm keen to hear people's opinions on possible next key forward options for the Demons. It is clearly the next item on the list management, erm, management list. Respectable veterans slightly younger than our current ones to cover the impending hole? Mid-career club-switch prospects? Young key forwards who aren't getting games but could provide an honest contest?

If I can figure out how to add a poll to the post later, I'll take in people's nominations and create a poll.

So, who have people got an eye on for this essential part of any 'dynasty creation'?

Seems pretty slim pickings this year as far as out of contract key forwards go. McStay is the obvious stand out, especially given he's a (restricted?) free agent.

Don't reckon we need depth key forwards as such, we have Weid, M.Brown (if he's kept on), JVR coming through gradually, and BBB and TMac as they reach their twilights. Personally, I'd rather try and target a definite best 22 key forward if possible.

Given the situation at North I'd love to have a crack at Larkey, but would be a long shot given he re-signed early last year.

Not sure what else is out there for now until we get closer to the rumour season.

Theres no Tom Lynch or Jeremy Camerons going around by the look of it. Walker is a much better option over the next two years than continual Weid frustration. As it stands here today, with no other options open, this is fairly straight forward to me. Walker IN (to Matty Whelan first however)

53 minutes ago, Wizard of Koz said:

Walker IN (to Matty Whelan first however)

And if the leadership group and all our indigenous players give it the thumbs up.

1 hour ago, Wizard of Koz said:

Theres no Tom Lynch or Jeremy Camerons going around by the look of it. Walker is a much better option over the next two years than continual Weid frustration. As it stands here today, with no other options open, this is fairly straight forward to me. Walker IN (to Matty Whelan first however)

Possibly the silliest suggestion I've ever read on Demonland.  And I have seen plenty of absurd ones over the years.

 

My opinion is that I don't have one. AKA Option C) The Footy Department can do whatever they see fit to improve the list and I'll trust their wisdom.

lobb will probably be on the market again if he's still eager to get to the eastern flank but probably isn't what we're after being in my opinion still a better ruckman than forward. and he's on close to 800k a year still for the next 3. if he returns to the giants for example, does that make hogan (unlikely), himmelberg or riccardi expendable and at that point are they actually worth targetting and the answer to that is probably no. the McKays are both FA's next year so could move for a good draft hall as pre agents as we've seen done before. then you could say maybe Sav would look to leave geelong given although he's been injured he's quite out of favour and they've targetted local rucks in the last 2 drafts so they mustn't see a long term future for him really. but again - is he an upgrade? on our depth if we got a good draft pick for weid, maybe and he'd ask for less coin too but that doesn't improve our best 22. ben king is still OOC ;) if anyone has a spare mil a year lying about...

and if buddy stays on does one of mclean or amartey try and move - probably not as sam reid and hickey are getting on and again don't improve our 22 only our depth

Dismissing Walker out of hand is silly in my view.  The reality is that Tmac, Brown, Brown and Weid are all mediocre talls and with Tmac's supposed foot injury our barrel is pretty empty.  BBB is either terribly out of form or injured.  Worse still he could be past it.  Weid doesn't look like it and MBrown is no better as a long term solution. That leaves an injured Tmac.  It's a fraught situation.

JVR is the future but that future is years away until he'll be an effective key forward so for the next two years he's development.  Then we just hope he makes it.  For those that think otherwise just look at JUH, Thilthorpe, McDonald and Reid who were all taken in the top ten, all with more development than JVR and none playing consistent AFL footy.

Our tall forwards, with a few exceptions, have been very poor this year.  We need some class while we develop alternative strategies.  And there's no use getting fringe players like Riccardi, if they are fringe elsewhere they'll be fringe at MFC.  Walker has played great footy last year and this.  He's showing no sign of slowing down.  He'd be our best forward if he played for us now.  I'd be looking at him as we need to sort out our tall forward situation.  Jack Darling is another possibility and as mentioned before Rory Lobb perhaps but his contract is an issue.

14 minutes ago, Baghdad Bob said:

Dismissing Walker out of hand is silly in my view.

Your profile picture is Oscar McDonald. Easy to see who the silly one is. 

21 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

Seems pretty slim pickings this year as far as out of contract key forwards go. McStay is the obvious stand out, especially given he's a (restricted?) free agent.

Don't reckon we need depth key forwards as such, we have Weid, M.Brown (if he's kept on), JVR coming through gradually, and BBB and TMac as they reach their twilights. Personally, I'd rather try and target a definite best 22 key forward if possible.

Given the situation at North I'd love to have a crack at Larkey, but would be a long shot given he re-signed early last year.

Not sure what else is out there for now until we get closer to the rumour season.

If you could get McStay, you could release M. Brown and try and trade Weid, who has just about eroded any optimism I have retained for him. Weid must grab his next chance, which will possibly be his last.

This is our window. It’s here and now for the dees. We need a mature forward. The only thing stopping us from winning another flag or 2 or 3 over the next 3-4 years is a power forward.

We can’t start next year with Brown, Brown, Weid and Tmac and expect it will all work out. 

On 6/4/2022 at 3:55 PM, Wizard of Koz said:

Theres no Tom Lynch or Jeremy Camerons going around by the look of it. Walker is a much better option over the next two years than continual Weid frustration. As it stands here today, with no other options open, this is fairly straight forward to me. Walker IN (to Matty Whelan first however)

Doesn't need it.

Made his apology which was accepted. Absolutely zero need to keep dragging it up. Pointless and counterproductive.

If Tex was available I'd be bloody stoked. Get him in I say.

 

 

 

On 6/4/2022 at 3:25 PM, Little Goffy said:

I've shuddered in horror every time I've seen the 'Taylor Walker possible recruit' thread on the main page, so I'm looking for reassurance that there are better options out there.

I'm keen to hear people's opinions on possible next key forward options for the Demons. It is clearly the next item on the list management, erm, management list. Respectable veterans slightly younger than our current ones to cover the impending hole? Mid-career club-switch prospects? Young key forwards who aren't getting games but could provide an honest contest?

If I can figure out how to add a poll to the post later, I'll take in people's nominations and create a poll.

So, who have people got an eye on for this essential part of any 'dynasty creation'?

Haha, jesus.

The horror...........

I think we need a poll for this thread.

I don't necessarily think Walker to Melbourne is such a bad idea. Provided Lever approves the move.

Logan McDonald - throw the kitchen sink at him

3 hours ago, faultydet said:

Doesn't need it.

Made his apology which was accepted. Absolutely zero need to keep dragging it up. Pointless and counterproductive.

If Tex was available I'd be bloody stoked. Get him in I say.

 

 

 

If we can’t get McStay, then Tex for 2 years could be huge. A long and accurate kick, would put him in rare air at Melbourne.

He is a free agent and given a chance at a flag, would hopefully modify his salary demands.

If we got him, a couple of other players could be moved on and he would be great for JVR to help develop his game.

Would take the opposition best back man, which would help whoever is the other key forward.

Tex is just better than anyone we have atm and he would plug a gap for a couple of years.

9 hours ago, Ham said:

Your profile picture is Oscar McDonald. Easy to see who the silly one is. 

thankyou ham for your insightful and meaningful contribution to this thread

 

59 minutes ago, Redleg said:

If we can’t get McStay, then Tex for 2 years could be huge. A long and accurate kick, would put him in rare air at Melbourne.

He is a free agent and given a chance at a flag, would hopefully modify his salary demands.

If we got him, a couple of other players could be moved on and he would be great for JVR to help develop his game.

Would take the opposition best back man, which would help whoever is the other key forward.

Tex is just better than anyone we have atm and he would plug a gap for a couple of years.

also am i the only one who doesn't see mcstay as like a reliable game changing key forward. he's a third banana, always has been always will be. theres a reason the lions went after daniher to compliment hipwood and continue to play fort and mcinerney together. if mcstay could really be game changing as the second tall, they'd play one less tall im sure of it. fritsch/our resting ruck (could get more out of jacko as a forward and around the ground in the air atm too if im being honest) means mcstay doesn't really add anything of value to our side

On 6/4/2022 at 6:14 PM, John Demonic said:

My opinion is that I don't have one. AKA Option C) The Footy Department can do whatever they see fit to improve the list and I'll trust their wisdom.

Such luxury! I have some feeling that way but would like to keep my hopes up that there actually IS a good option out there for the recruiters to pick out.

 

9 hours ago, adonski said:

I'm glad someone else went there so I wasn't tempted. We are basically looking for exactly Jesse Hogan but not Jesse Hogan!

 

5 hours ago, faultydet said:

Haha, jesus.

The horror...........

I've been irritated by Walker for ten years. He's in the 'punchable face' basket for me! Talk of recruiting him just sends my mind to the Fevola to Brisbane zone. That is really well gone up the river for me!

 

4 hours ago, ElDiablo14 said:

I think we need a poll for this thread.

I don't necessarily think Walker to Melbourne is such a bad idea. Provided Lever approves the move.

Need to assemble a set of options first, but yes, a poll should be added.

On 6/4/2022 at 6:14 PM, John Demonic said:

My opinion is that I don't have one. AKA Option C) The Footy Department can do whatever they see fit to improve the list and I'll trust their wisdom.

I’m with you.  I’m amazed how my moral compass gets put in my back pocket when it comes to who we recruit 

Funny how BBB’s world record run up for kicking for goals now doesn’t phase me one bit. I reckon if Walker came across I could easily handle it.  

I reckon I could even handle Toby Greene! 
Ginnivan? Nah, you have to draw the line somewhere.
 

He and Lever will learn to co-exist

I'd honestly look at bringing Hogan back next year if our forward line worries continue. I'm not sure he's contracted next year, and surely would be open to returning on a short-term contract (initially) for relatively limited coin now. This would be worth the risk.

You could have Tony Lockett or Wayne Carey sitting at full forward and it make no difference. 

The elephant in the room is the fact that our efficiency going inside 50 is truly horrible. Like on par with 2019 where we would win more inside 50's then most teams but struggle to buy a goal.

Until we fix this mess, then our forwards have no hope of generating scores.

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

You could have Tony Lockett or Wayne Carey sitting at full forward and it make no difference. 

The elephant in the room is the fact that our efficiency going inside 50 is truly horrible. Like on par with 2019 where we would win more inside 50's then most teams but struggle to buy a goal.

Until we fix this mess, then our forwards have no hope of generating scores.

Well I will give you a couple of things we can do for starters.

Stop playing down the left side at every opportunity and look for options in the corridor and on the right side. That will help with avoiding the pack and allow quick entry into our forward line and then hopefully loose forwards, or at worst one on one contests.

Play Weid or JVR instead of M.Brown. Even Tomlinson forward might be an option.

Play Bedford, to have more pace and therefore create more breakaway footy and increased scoring opportunities.

Drum into the team to not kick to packs, especially on entry into the forward 50 and for forwards to lead and create space and then demand the ball. We are playing dumb footy and have been worked out by the opposition and to the coaches discredit, nothing has been done about it.

Its not a major game plan change, but rather a bit of adjustment, which we seem totally resistant to do.

For those who think I am jumping after losses, I was banging on about this for several weeks while we were winning.

On 6/5/2022 at 5:59 PM, faultydet said:

Doesn't need it.

Made his apology which was accepted. Absolutely zero need to keep dragging it up. Pointless and counterproductive.

If Tex was available I'd be bloody stoked. Get him in I say.

 

 

 

I agree He ( Walker) is in the Tmac  mould/style that competes and brings the ball to ground or marks it.  We need the ball retained in the forward zone for the smalls to feed off. 

That's why Weid is not a success as he is pushed about and doesn't assist other forwards, and goes missing more often than not.

Send him to the backline at Casey next week and before the end of the year he may be good enough in defence and Petty can do some cameos up forward.