Early in the season I know, but I think we should have a crack at him. Free Agent at the end of the year. 

Same age bracket as Trac, Clarry, Gus, Salo, Lever etc. (Core). 

Won't cost draft capital, he's not going to command crazy money and whilst he's been a little inconsistent over the journey, he has all the attributes we need as that key post plus he's 100 x better at ground level when compared to T Mac and Brown. 

It still allows Jefferson to develop his body and game at VFL level and he'll help us stay within contention whilst we still have Gawn and May. 

I think it's a no brainer for us. We can't afford the million dollar catch and I believe he'd thrive in a fresh environment, at a Melbourne club and at a club that is still in the window. 

If we landed Nate Caddy from the draft who displays very similar traits to Curnow, it'd go a long way to solving our forwardline woes. 

Himmelberg, Caddy and Roo is a much better sounding front line than any combination we currently have. Unfortunately for us, nothing has changed regarding our entries going forward which just doesn't help an ageing Brown or T Mac. Himmelberg is a cat on the ground, Caddy is unbelievabley agile and athletic at ground level and we know the pressure Roo brings. 

Means Petty can go back, (where he should be). He is sorely missed in defence imo and I'd say Lever and May would feel similar. 

I don't care that we're halfway through the season. This list won't stay young forever and our forward line has struggled far more often than it has thrived. (regardless of the out of whack stats some posters will no doubt throw up). We've struggled when facing any contending side and our forwards just don't instill fear in the oppo. 

Another aggressive trade and Free Agency post season is needed. Operation Himmelberg is on the agenda. 

Show us something this Friday night Melbourne. 

Definitely worth a crack. Would we have the cap space to pay him the rumoured 800k+ needed at 5 or 6 years? Would he have to take slight unders compared to what Richmond and another club are going to offer? Tigers also have Taranto/Hopper there from last year that he may want to join. The Dimma resignation has come at a good time in regards to their lack of a clear future direction.

Which players would we have to cut or trade? Harmes and Jordon seem a given. Retire Melksham, and Hibberd? Would we need to somehow get Tmac or BBB's contract off our books for next year? Or is there another player we would need to lose?

https://www.zerohanger.com/richmond-believed-to-be-in-a-decent-position-amid-pursuit-of-gws-free-agent-harry-himmelberg-136471/

Edited May 29, 20231 yr by John Demonic

Makes sense. Averages a goal a game which is decent. Still could have a few years left. Even better if we could offload Tomlinson. Might free up some cap space.

Of course, he is relatively local hailing from the most magnificently named Mangoplah Kookardinia United. He may wish to be a one club player or head up to the Swans?

Would be silly not to ask the question. 

Problem is, he'll be demanding a fair bit and I'm not sure whether we can fit him in.

The thing I like about this is he’s a genuine swingman, can play either end well

YES 

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Would be silly not to ask the question. 

Problem is, he'll be demanding a fair bit and I'm not sure whether we can fit him in.

Surely our cap is not in that much of a mess?

I wonder how much is tied up with Tommy, BBB & Tommo?

I wouldn't think a lot with Melk & Hibbo.

4 hours ago, JimmyGadson said:

I don't care that we're halfway through the season.

The club usually look at these things a few years ahead.

I wonder if we have interest in him.

Well worth a look I would have thought.

Definitely needed! 

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Would be silly not to ask the question. 

Problem is, he'll be demanding a fair bit and I'm not sure whether we can fit him in.

It could work out if Harmes requests a trade and Melksham and Hibbo retire (which I suspect they both will, although I would give Hibbo another year IF his body is up to it, he's aging like fine wine). 

You could also sell him the success angle.... 

Makes sense, would need to clear two of Tommo, BBB, McDonald, Harmes salary you'd suspect

Provides a bit of insurance longer term post May too

This makes more sense to me than a Mckay or Ben King suggestion. 

Himmelberg has proven to be a really handy swingman and we are crying out for another Petty type. Two have those two and even possibly alternate them back and forward would keep teams guessing. 

It would depend on how much he's asking and our backline system takes time to learn but I think he'd be one of the better fit free agents out there. 

4 hours ago, dee-tox said:

Makes sense. Averages a goal a game which is decent. Still could have a few years left. Even better if we could offload Tomlinson. Might free up some cap space.

Of course, he is relatively local hailing from the most magnificently named Mangoplah Kookardinia United. He may wish to be a one club player or head up to the Swans?

Michael Juice Newton averaged a goal a game as well, but!!

I reckon our salary cap is already chockers. 

We clearly need to turnover some players in our list. At the end of this year:

Tommo - 30 (contracted until 2024)

TMac - 31 (contracted until 2024)

BBB - 31 (contracted until 2024)

Hibberd - 34

Melksham - 33

Harmes - 28 (contracted until 2024)

Jordan - 23

There is easily a minimum of 2.0M there (assuming avg AFL salaries) possibly more. There is plenty there to attract Himmelberg and possibly another player then take our 3 picks from the draft and promote some rookies. 

 

47 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

We clearly need to turnover some players in our list. At the end of this year:

Tommo - 30 (contracted until 2024)

TMac - 31 (contracted until 2024)

BBB - 31 (contracted until 2024)

Hibberd - 34

Melksham - 33

Harmes - 28 (contracted until 2024)

Jordan - 23

There is easily a minimum of 2.0M there (assuming avg AFL salaries) possibly more. There is plenty there to attract Himmelberg and possibly another player then take our 3 picks from the draft and promote some rookies. 

 

you know those are all end of 2024 right? As that's when the BBB, Tomo and TMAC contracts end. So that takes approx 1.5mil off the table of the 1st year of any offer to Himmelberg

Edit: And with a view to all players contracts ending, the club may have allocated any/all cap space to kozi, Grundy, Brayshaw, Trac, Clarry etc for next year, 2025 and beyond already.

Edit 2 And Harmes end of 24. So another 500k gone

 

 

Edited May 30, 20231 yr by John Demonic

1 hour ago, layzie said:

This makes more sense to me than a Mckay or Ben King suggestion. 

Himmelberg has proven to be a really handy swingman and we are crying out for another Petty type. Two have those two and even possibly alternate them back and forward would keep teams guessing. 

It would depend on how much he's asking and our backline system takes time to learn but I think he'd be one of the better fit free agents out there. 

Probably a more cost effective solution and a good age bracket. 

Gives time for Jefferson to develop properly as well.

Not entirely sure how he's tracking but if we can get Riak Andrew as well we'd be improving our key position stocks even if he'd be a few years off. 

1 hour ago, layzie said:

This makes more sense to me than a Mckay or Ben King suggestion. 

Himmelberg has proven to be a really handy swingman and we are crying out for another Petty type. Two have those two and even possibly alternate them back and forward would keep teams guessing. 

It would depend on how much he's asking and our backline system takes time to learn but I think he'd be one of the better fit free agents out there. 

Petty and Himmelberg would be the deadliest swingman combo in the league. I’m all for it.

Himmelberg is a much better option than Riccardi or Georgiades, who are the other two that get spoken about

Edited May 30, 20231 yr by BW511

Tmac and BBB still contracted for next year is not A great situation 

1 hour ago, Fat Tony said:

I reckon our salary cap is already chockers. 

What you reckon and what is factual could be entirely different.

10 minutes ago, Pipefitter said:

Tmac and BBB still contracted for next year is not A great situation 

Doesn't mean they will both be on the list next year though.

Like this @JimmyGadson. Like the call on Caddy as well, he looked very good swinging between mid and up forward. Another one of that group in the first 6 or so in this draft that I could see us climbing up the draft order for. 
 

On Himmelberg, I thought this was a very good read on Harry (and high marking in general)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-25/marking-out-history-how-to-take-a-speccie-with-harry-himmelberg/102385180

 

43 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

you know those are all end of 2024 right? As that's when the BBB, Tomo and TMAC contracts end. So that takes approx 1.5mil off the table of the 1st year of any offer to Himmelberg

Edit: And with a view to all players contracts ending, the club may have allocated any/all cap space to kozi, Grundy, Brayshaw, Trac, Clarry etc for next year, 2025 and beyond already.

Edit 2 And Harmes end of 24. So another 500k gone

 

 

Yes im well aware. The salary cap position is always a challenge and we dont know whats actually been contracted with our players in future years, which may force us into doing silly trades like GC to manage salary cap. If we traded Harmes, retired Hibbo, Melksham and Jordan left, without doing anything else, we probably have enough for Himmelberg assuming no other cap mismanagement.

There would be other players on the market no doubt that we'd be into but he would be at the top of a lot suitors. I reckon if we are not mentioned with any links to him in the next 8-10 weeks then its not happening. These things tend to leak.

2 hours ago, picket fence said:

Michael Juice Newton averaged a goal a game as well, but!!

2007 called. They want you to return home

44 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Yes im well aware. The salary cap position is always a challenge and we dont know whats actually been contracted with our players in future years, which may force us into doing silly trades like GC to manage salary cap. If we traded Harmes, retired Hibbo, Melksham and Jordan left, without doing anything else, we probably have enough for Himmelberg assuming no other cap mismanagement.

There would be other players on the market no doubt that we'd be into but he would be at the top of a lot suitors. I reckon if we are not mentioned with any links to him in the next 8-10 weeks then its not happening. These things tend to leak.

Agree with these changes. Also we will have to draft 3 kids, so that's another 3x100k and 3 list spots for each season of two.

I'm pretty much assuming we are chockers based on the language and feeling from last years interviews, when it seemed Grundy would only get done if Jackson left - And that wasn't just for positional reasons, but the money we offered LJ simply was transferred to Grundy. With maybe 100k saved, with what the Pies chipped in.

Not sure if I remember correctly, but Hogan/May might've been dependent on not only the pick, but also the cap space? 

The club seems transparent about everything

 

As for other players, Darcy Parish as a free agent could bolster our midfield. And on the Gettable podcast they had a segment on pre-agents 1 year out from Free Agency - I think Andy McGrath would suit what we are looking for. Skilful and quick player with high footy iq that can run through the midfield and play anywhere. Might require one of of first rounders and Harmes.

 

 

 

Edited May 30, 20231 yr by John Demonic