Given Harmes, JJ and Dunstan leaving as the midfield depth, the quote from the club to the journos, on our trading this year,  probably sums it up for this off season.

We will get McAdam and maybe Flynn or another ruckman. We may have a pick in the pre season or mid season draft, if they are still happening.

We will try and get as high as we can in the draft and take 4-5 of the best players we can get. These draftees will be on base salaries.

There may be a mid or two in that group.

However, we also have to try out our current talent in Woey, Laurie, Howes and maybe AMW to see if they are up to it and they could all possibly play midfield minutes.

We also can try the likes of Kozzie, Rivers, McVee and Bowey in the midfield, to see how they go, with Kozzie already demonstrating his ability, in the few times he was there. Even Spargo played midfield as a junior.

Then next year, with cap space freed up this year from the names we all know leaving and next year with at least BBB and Tom Mac retired and another $1m freed up with just those two, we could be in a position to really launch at a couple of FA's.

I would be surprised if on the current info, the above is far off expected our position.

Edited October 2, 20231 yr by Redleg

44 minutes ago, DubDee said:

A reasonable assumption

However, losing Brown, Melksham, Hibberd, Jordon, Harmes and bringing in draft picks you would imagine we have at least some money in the kitty.  Not saying they are on big coin but they would be around double what kids would be on.  And this is assuming long term contracts could be back ended

We haven’t lost Brown (or T Mc) yet and even if we do their money probably stays in the 2024 cap. Melksham, at a minimum will be owed match payments for 2024, so no real saving there.

Probably have to pay a chunk of Harmes’ deal to play elsewhere too. 

JJ and Hibberd, not big money there. At least half, if not 80% of Grundy’s money probably goes to finding a replacement. 

Im guessing we don’t have the space to bring in a big deal and there’s no point trying when it costs a stack of quality picks that we need to refresh the list. Wait a year and we can target someone and pay for it with junk picks!

I really don't think our window is tied to Max or even May for that matter.

At the moment, IMO, our success hinges on Oliver, Petracca, Lever and Petty. May is important for 2024, but beyond that, I hope we can draft O'Sullivan this year and make do defensively, while improving our forward half.

 

1 minute ago, Binmans PA said:

I really don't think our window is tied to Max or even May for that matter.

At the moment, IMO, our success hinges on Oliver, Petracca, Lever and Petty. May is important for 2024, but beyond that, I hope we can draft O'Sullivan this year and make do defensively, while improving our forward half.

I tend to agree re: Max though I think we need to find a decent forward / ruck foil or else we'll burn him ou sooner than we'd like. 

May on the other hand, he's worth 5 - 6 goals every week. Rarely, if ever, get's beaten even against the absolute best forwards and he captains the backline equal to anyone else I've seen. Maybe Glen Jakovich was the last one to do it as well as he does?  

37 minutes ago, Binmans PA said:

I really don't think our window is tied to Max or even May for that matter.

At the moment, IMO, our success hinges on Oliver, Petracca, Lever and Petty. May is important for 2024, but beyond that, I hope we can draft O'Sullivan this year and make do defensively, while improving our forward half.

Max is so much more than just a great ruckman tho. I think he will leave a big hole on and off the field. 

2 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Max is so much more than just a great ruckman tho. I think he will leave a big hole on and off the field. 

Sure, but we can cover him. Particularly, if he's no longer the Max of old.

3 hours ago, MoeSyzlak said:

I think Binman was referring to John Fogerty from Credence Clearwater Revival (CCR)

Poor old Tom always gets pushed into the shadows.

Chol to Hawks?
Grundy to Sydney? 
Jordon to Sydney? 
Gresham to Bombers? 
Mckay to Bombers? 
Henry to Hawks? 
Shiel to Saints? 
Wines to Cats? 
McAdam to Dees? 
Flynn to Eagles? 
E Himmelberg to Giants? 
E Hollands to Blues? 
Dow to Swans? 
Goldstein to Bombers? 
Sweet to Power? 
Zerk-Thatcher to Power? 
Ratugolea to Power? 
Billings to ?????

12 minutes ago, hardtack said:

Poor old Tom always gets pushed into the shadows.

Tom is the Oscar of the Fogarty family 

Not sure if this has already been posted:

 

https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/afl-trade-2023-melbourne-look-to-swoop-on-gws-ruckman-matt-flynn-from-under-west-coasts-noses-c-12079834

1 hour ago, Binmans PA said:

I really don't think our window is tied to Max or even May for that matter.

At the moment, IMO, our success hinges on Oliver, Petracca, Lever and Petty. May is important for 2024, but beyond that, I hope we can draft O'Sullivan this year and make do defensively, while improving our forward half.

 

47 minutes ago, Binmans PA said:

Sure, but we can cover him. Particularly, if he's no longer the Max of old.

Max can take over games and was that in the QF that we should have won. 

He is not just a ruckman and nor is he any old leader. 

The FD tried to do him (and our window) a favour and evolve him into a backup for 3-4 more years but Max can’t do it. 

He’ll most likely be out of the game by 2025. And with May being one of the top 5 FBs in the game also being out around then - our window will not be letting much of a breeze in.

We need to replace that elite talent - it doesn’t have to necessarily be in the same positions but a couple of a stars will soon be white dwarves and that’s a problem.

5 minutes ago, bush demon said:

Not sure if this has already been posted:

 

https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/afl-trade-2023-melbourne-look-to-swoop-on-gws-ruckman-matt-flynn-from-under-west-coasts-noses-c-12079834

Summary please

Can someone provide summary of this article?

 

Melbourne could swoop in and steal ruckman Matt Flynn from under West Coast’s noses.

 

Flynn played well in the opening nine games of the season for the Giants when he averaged 12 disposals and 29 hit-outs. He fell behind Kieran Briggs and played the rest of the season in the VFL.

 

Eagles coach Adam Simpson has publicly said that he eyes Bailey Williams as a forward-ruck in the long-term rather than the No.1 man in the middle.

 

Greater Western Sydney football boss Jason McCartney said Flynn had yet to decide what he wanted to do before the free agency period opens on Friday.

 

“We haven’t been in the position to offer Matt a contract, so him and (his manager) Scott Lucas have done the right thing and explored options,” McCartney told Trade Radio.

 

“He’s looking for that opportunity to play more regular football. He did it earlier in the year with us but obviously, Kieran Briggs really stood up and shone through in the second half of the year."

 

“It’s fair to say he’s probably weighing up options now between West Coast and Melbourne of what it looks like, but I don’t think he’s come to a final decision on what that looks like yet."

 

“Those clubs will hear more soon as we will.”

6 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

Melbourne could swoop in and steal ruckman Matt Flynn from under West Coast’s noses.

 

Flynn played well in the opening nine games of the season for the Giants when he averaged 12 disposals and 29 hit-outs. He fell behind Kieran Briggs and played the rest of the season in the VFL.

 

Eagles coach Adam Simpson has publicly said that he eyes Bailey Williams as a forward-ruck in the long-term rather than the No.1 man in the middle.

 

Greater Western Sydney football boss Jason McCartney said Flynn had yet to decide what he wanted to do before the free agency period opens on Friday.

 

“We haven’t been in the position to offer Matt a contract, so him and (his manager) Scott Lucas have done the right thing and explored options,” McCartney told Trade Radio.

 

“He’s looking for that opportunity to play more regular football. He did it earlier in the year with us but obviously, Kieran Briggs really stood up and shone through in the second half of the year."

 

“It’s fair to say he’s probably weighing up options now between West Coast and Melbourne of what it looks like, but I don’t think he’s come to a final decision on what that looks like yet."

 

“Those clubs will hear more soon as we will.”

Thanks for that. Does anyone have the Herald Sun article?

12 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Can someone provide summary of this article?

 

Jay Clark suggesting we should trade in Lobb because the Dogs don’t want/need him and we need a forward. 

7 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

Jay Clark suggesting we should trade in Lobb because the Dogs don’t want/need him and we need a forward. 

Not terrible but no actual news.

26 minutes ago, rpfc said:

 

Max can take over games and was that in the QF that we should have won. 

He is not just a ruckman and nor is he any old leader. 

The FD tried to do him (and our window) a favour and evolve him into a backup for 3-4 more years but Max can’t do it. 

He’ll most likely be out of the game by 2025. And with May being one of the top 5 FBs in the game also being out around then - our window will not be letting much of a breeze in.

We need to replace that elite talent - it doesn’t have to necessarily be in the same positions but a couple of a stars will soon be white dwarves and that’s a problem.

I agree we need to keep replenishing our elite talent, and I also agree thst Max isn't just any old ruckman.

But you take Max out of the game and it means we have to play differently. Perhaps it means less long bombs to the wing? Sometimes being without makes you better and more unpredictable.

I love that the sun’s ‘journalists’ just make up trades and it gets called ‘news’

4 minutes ago, Cheap Seats said:

Not terrible but no actual news.

You’re right. It’s not terrible, but horrendous. 

Bulldogs have young Darcy to return. In the first round or two they played Darcy as well as Naughton, JUH and Lobb forward. It didn't work.

Darcy went down back and then to VFL and then was cruelled by injury. He should be right for 2024.

Lobb was played on the wing and was dropped towards the end of the season.

Dogs would be open to a low cost transfer and might be prepared to throw in some money to assist.

Do we want him? He rucked occasionally at Freo as I recall

36 minutes ago, Megatron said:

You’re right. It’s not terrible, but horrendous. 

Why?

2 minutes ago, Cheap Seats said:

Why?

Spud.

The only issue with Lobb is if Max gets injured, Lobb can't or won't want to assume the no. 1 ruck. He's a better forward/ruck than Flynn, but Flynn can step up as a no.1 ruck.

 

Just a reminder that this year's Norm Smith medal went to a guy that was traded for what amounted to a future second-rounder.

You don't always have to take big name players to do well out of the draft.