I'm okay with turning over a large number of players this year, but only if we replace them with something better.

Losing a mature midfielder in West for presumably a mid-range draft prospect who requires years of physical development to play midfield at this level is hardly improving the list. I'd rather lose Mithen from that group.

I don't rate Sherriff, and Birch's football has fallen off a cliff in the past 12 months, so both are expendable. Birch should actually get us something decent in return as a 2x premiership player and All Australian.

We definitely need to make a play for Parker as the best midfielder currently on the market. Otherwise we need to be hunting draft picks in the top 5-6.

9 hours ago, BDA said:

Is Birch really only 25? She moved like a 30-year-old this year. She had a poor season but at that age we should get a good pick for her.

She'll be 26 by start of season next year. She might have been a bit injured, but I can't help but feel this would be a move that will work well for all parties (including Libby, who I think has leadership ambitions that she might feel better able to fulfill elsewhere - that's just my speculation though).

7 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Have a look at the size and shape of the mids for both sides playing this weekend in the GF.  They are all strong, muscular and solid.

Agree and not just stronger and more muscular but taller. Hanks (157cm), West (162) and Purcell (161) compared to players like Hatchard (175) and Garner (175) and so on, the likes of which we really don't have an equivalent in terms of true midfielders.

Even still, if Parker (164) is available, agree with @Craig T, we'd be crazy not to get her if possible despite not quite being the size we need. Big talent who would absolutely thrive with us.

3 hours ago, poita said:

I'm okay with turning over a large number of players this year, but only if we replace them with something better.

If only we had a crystal ball! I'd hope the recruiting team have a clear idea of our needs. They've brought in players successfully in the past to fill roles so I'm cautiously optimistic. It's an interesting task to balance between the experience of established players in the 23-26 age range and the ever-growing standard of (sometimes game-ready) 18 year olds coming through.

Jemma Rigoni highlights

 

On 01/12/2023 at 13:03, poita said:

I'm okay with turning over a large number of players this year, but only if we replace them with something better.

Losing a mature midfielder in West for presumably a mid-range draft prospect who requires years of physical development to play midfield at this level is hardly improving the list. I'd rather lose Mithen from that group.

I don't rate Sherriff, and Birch's football has fallen off a cliff in the past 12 months, so both are expendable. Birch should actually get us something decent in return as a 2x premiership player and All Australian.

We definitely need to make a play for Parker as the best midfielder currently on the market. Otherwise we need to be hunting draft picks in the top 5-6.

I agree with all your points, apart from your comment about Mithen.  What she brings to the team is absolute team spirit, which cannot be easily replaceable.  She's psychologically and culturally crucial to the team, and I'm always surprised she's not in the leadership group.  Her impact is immeasurable in terms of quantifying "Demon Spirit".  Plus she's a bloody good footballer. I'd hate to lose her from the team.

20 hours ago, Dees_In_October said:

Jemma Rigoni highlights

 

OMG, she's an exciting packet!

 

 

Maddy gay has still plenty to offer. Not sure what her contract situation is but if contracted I’d make her stay if it was my decision.

im all for some list turnover this trade period but I don’t want to see the list gutted. 

On 30/11/2023 at 15:12, Supermercado said:

Expected some player movement, but all of Birch, Sherriff and West would be a bit extreme. I don't hate it, assuming they can pick up some good picks and find a couple of experienced players, but our depth was already shallow this season without losing three regulars. 

Where does this come from?

Why are so many of our players keen to leave a club still in the premiership window? Are they chasing more money or is there some other reason? I'm not trying to stir, just genuinely curious.

What a blow. This is happening way too fast, so many leaving/wanting to leave at the same time and it’s very hard to process atm. 💔

On 04/12/2023 at 15:39, Dees_In_October said:

Jemma Rigoni highlights

 

Very ungainly kicking style but boy, love her run and carry. Great attack at the contest too. 

I really liked her Dad as a footballer and had the pleasure of meeting him. She's from good stock.

38 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

What a blow. This is happening way too fast, so many leaving/wanting to leave at the same time and it’s very hard to process atm. 💔

Thank the league for expanding the competition far too quickly for this. Not a big enough talent pool across the country to draw on.
New clubs coming in throwing cash around at the existing clubs to climb the ladder as quickly as they can.

Was always going to happen sadly. 

50 minutes ago, Dee-monic said:

Why are so many of our players keen to leave a club still in the premiership window? Are they chasing more money or is there some other reason? I'm not trying to stir, just genuinely curious.

I am wondering if the increasing salaries, which is a wonderful and deserved thing, might be a factor here.  Originally there wasn't much difference between say, Tier II and Tier III salaries, just a couple of thousand dollars.  But now it is creeping towards 10K (and soon will be and then more), so the difference is significant.  We would have a number of good players who would be on Tier III, so it is naturally becoming harder to turn down offers from clubs that don't have as much talent and can offer a Tier II contract.

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

I’m sad to see Maddi go and think it she Would have to be leaving for more midfield time right? Assuming Purcell has taken that midfield role from her??

Looks to me like players who would have left last year were convinced to keep the band together for another crack at a premiership. As we all know we flopped badly so these players have decided to take the coin elsewhere. Can't blame them. 

Brisbane lost some quality players but were able to regroup and win the flag. Maybe we can do the same. If we can add a high quality big bodied mid I'd still fancy our chances to win the flag next year.

2 hours ago, Dee-monic said:

Why are so many of our players keen to leave a club still in the premiership window? Are they chasing more money or is there some other reason? I'm not trying to stir, just genuinely curious.

This is the first time players can sign long term deals as well as a jump in salary. So not only can they make more money they can lock it in for longer.

Assuming we lose Sherriff, West, Gay, Wilson and Birch

Veterans: Watt, Colvin, Paxy, Goldrick

FB: Gillard Chaplin
HB: Heath *****  Lampard
C: B. Mackin Purcell McNamara
HF: A. Mackin Harris Bannan
FF: Zanker Hore
Foll: Pearce  *****  Hanks
Int: Mithen Campbell Fitzsimon **** *****
E: Gall, Taylor

CHB and a star on baller are both going to be major priorities. 

3 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Where does this come from?

OK, got it now...

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1474186/trade-preview-patterson-excited-by-opportunity

Hawthorn for Eliza and Casey? Does anyone have any gen on why?

Wow losing West and Gay, in a team that is not flushed with strong bodies wouldn’t have thought we could afford to lose either. A genuine shame to lose them both.
 On a side not Jemma Rigoni has some serious wheels. In that  Rookie Me clip in the stingrays game she torched one of my club players on the wing and Charlotte is not slow. Will be an exciting inclusion to the list. 

2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Assuming we lose Sherriff, West, Gay, Wilson and Birch

Veterans: Watt, Colvin, Paxy, Goldrick

FB: Gillard Chaplin
HB: Heath *****  Lampard
C: B. Mackin Purcell McNamara
HF: A. Mackin Harris Bannan
FF: Zanker Hore
Foll: Pearce  *****  Hanks
Int: Mithen Campbell Fitzsimon **** *****
E: Gall, Taylor

CHB and a star on baller are both going to be major priorities. 

Still a star studded line up. Not sure why Gay is leaving but do believe clubs are throwing higher $$ dollars around.
 

I think Dees can re-challenge.  Harris and Banno were cooked by years end. Not sure why but they both underperformed in both finals.  

24 minutes ago, Dee Viney Intervention said:

Wow losing West and Gay, in a team that is not flushed with strong bodies wouldn’t have thought we could afford to lose either. A genuine shame to lose them both.
 On a side not Jemma Rigoni has some serious wheels. In that  Rookie Me clip in the stingrays game she torched one of my club players on the wing and Charlotte is not slow. Will be an exciting inclusion to the list. 

Yes, Maddie Gay is a massive loss and will be missed. However Maddie had many soft tissue injuries at Melbourne which I believe was one of the factors the club let her go. If Birch does decide on Hawthorn including Sheriff and West have already committed. Melbourne will get pick 5 from Hawthorn. This will give us 2 first round picks. This will be the first time since 2020 we had 2 picks within the first round when we got Bannan pick 5 and McNamara pick 15. 

11 minutes ago, Storm Boy said:

Yes, Maddie Gay is a massive loss and will be missed. However Maddie had many soft tissue injuries at Melbourne which I believe was one of the factors the club let her go. If Birch does decide on Hawthorn including Sheriff and West have already committed. Melbourne will get pick 5 from Hawthorn. This will give us 2 first round picks. This will be the first time since 2020 we had 2 picks within the first round when we got Bannan pick 5 and McNamara pick 15. 

Hopefully our drafting has improved a lot since then

10 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Still a star studded line up. Not sure why Gay is leaving but do believe clubs are throwing higher $$ dollars around.
 

I think Dees can re-challenge.  Harris and Banno were cooked by years end. Not sure why but they both underperformed in both finals.  

Harris has been carrying injuries all season.  Banno I'm not sure.

With Maddi Gay linked to a move elsewhere, that makes 8 players already gone or likely out the door. Plus more to possibly come.

In isolation you can make a case for each of those players moving on but, without an idea of where replacements are coming from, it is a concern to be turning over more than a quarter of the list in a very short period of time.

I have a lot of faith in our AFLW list managers, but the combination of our late season collapse and the subsequent mass exodus gives off a bit of a stench.

The club would do well to get on the front foot and release some good news stories this week. Long term contract extensions for the (AFLW) captain and vice captain would be a good start.