38 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Fritta is a problem in a forward half territory game. Which wasn’t really a problem in the past. 

We generate enough turnovers , what we lack is the ability to chain together and spread in order to consistently turn turnover to score.  This is part fitness, part trust, part learning/understanding but the biggest part is skill and execution. 
 

Id put Fritt in a HF next year, see how he goes as a link up player. He has great vision and skill. 

 

Yes a move to half forward would see us have a more dangerous inside 50 kick.

But what he'd give up due to his lack of accountability and poor defensive efforts would murder us. 

We'll never see him at half-forward unless he drastically changes his defensive game. Which won't happen either. 

12 minutes ago, middleagedemon said:

Yes a move to half forward would see us have a more dangerous inside 50 kick.

But what he'd give up due to his lack of accountability and poor defensive efforts would murder us. 

We'll never see him at half-forward unless he drastically changes his defensive game. Which won't happen either. 

I actually think he's much better deeper anyway.

Whenever he plays higher and when he played at half back in 2018, he'd consistently have his kicks intercepted, which is a strange one given he's a beautiful kick.

On 04/08/2024 at 15:35, dazzledavey36 said:

Houston is not in the same calibre of talent of what Cameron was when he was traded, not even remotely close.

Cameron had already achieved far great then what Houstan as and Cameron is a key forward so of course clubs are going to pay premium for them instead of a half back flanker.

Who's knows if they'll dangle Oliver. But based on his current contract, no club will take that on board.

Essendon would.

16 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

i don't think we need to plug 'a lot of holes' at all

the margins between success (finals) and failure (not) are so slim in the 2024 afl season

i'm very confident that we can 'bounce' in 2025, and i imagine the supposed desire from houston by the footy dept is a huge part of their confidence in doing the same

You may well be right. I generally lean a bit pessimistic and have been way off in my predictions about the Demons many times before. 

But...

...I think coming 12th or 13th and having a percentage at least 10 points away from every team in the eight points to something more than being unlucky in a close season. 

I also think football supporters are generally good at pointing to bad luck and how blights their teams but completely overlooking bad luck that affects - and, more importantly, is overcome, by - opposition teams. 

I can absolutely see why our football department would be keen on Houston. But I think we also need:

* A ruck we can confidently bring in when Max is unavailable. 
* A dependable, ready-made tall forward in the Ben Brown mould (I think the Petty experiment was well worth a try, but it hasn't worked and he is the clear Steven May replacement; van Rooyen is going nicely but needs help)
* At least one, but preferably two or three, players who can in the next two years make a difference at centre bounces and in winning clearances generally - if this is McVee and Pickett, excellent, but they then leave holes
* Any predominantly outside player with really good foot skills (Hunter and Billings haven't worked) 
* A player who does a similar job at a similar level to Tomlinson and McDonald

Again, I'm erring on the side of pessimism, but I think a bounce (at least a big one) next year is unlikely. I'd prefer that we put plenty of eggs in the draft basket and aimed to fill these gaps over two or three years than go all in on 2025, a la 2007. 

11 hours ago, Binmans PA said:

I actually think he's much better deeper anyway.

Whenever he plays higher and when he played at half back in 2018, he'd consistently have his kicks intercepted, which is a strange one given he's a beautiful kick.

2021 GF is case in point! Also is best way to mitigate his lack of pressure.

20 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

We won a flag after trading Watts and Hogan. You got evolve the list and give talent to get talent. 

Well said!

18 hours ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

I think I would rather we keep our powder dry so to speak and work on offering a monster offer to Finn Callaghan next year.

Get Isaac Cumming as a free agent. Get a genuine back up ruck. If we can find a decent key forward/ruck that would also be great. Then try trade our 2025 first rounder to get a 2nd first round this year and try take 3 picks within 30 or something along those lines.

Cumming for free would be an absolutely fantastic get, I’d forgotten that element of it this week — Callaghan is the one player I’d kill to have on our side in terms of what we need!!!

Edited August 6, 2024Aug 6 by Tolstoys Nudge

52 minutes ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

You may well be right. I generally lean a bit pessimistic and have been way off in my predictions about the Demons many times before. 

But...

...I think coming 12th or 13th and having a percentage at least 10 points away from every team in the eight points to something more than being unlucky in a close season. 

I also think football supporters are generally good at pointing to bad luck and how blights their teams but completely overlooking bad luck that affects - and, more importantly, is overcome, by - opposition teams. 

I can absolutely see why our football department would be keen on Houston. But I think we also need:

* A ruck we can confidently bring in when Max is unavailable. 
* A dependable, ready-made tall forward in the Ben Brown mould (I think the Petty experiment was well worth a try, but it hasn't worked and he is the clear Steven May replacement; van Rooyen is going nicely but needs help)
* At least one, but preferably two or three, players who can in the next two years make a difference at centre bounces and in winning clearances generally - if this is McVee and Pickett, excellent, but they then leave holes
* Any predominantly outside player with really good foot skills (Hunter and Billings haven't worked) 
* A player who does a similar job at a similar level to Tomlinson and McDonald

Again, I'm erring on the side of pessimism, but I think a bounce (at least a big one) next year is unlikely. I'd prefer that we put plenty of eggs in the draft basket and aimed to fill these gaps over two or three years than go all in on 2025, a la 2007. 

our percentage was decimated by two beltings from flagmantle, and now the dogs one too

i don't disagree with yr requirements tho

big difference between the jobs done by tomlinson and tommy mac imo - the latter is a very, very good afl player and the former is a very good vfl player

with gawn, may, viney in the team, it hink we're in 'win now' mode, and that's why i expect us to bounce too

Jay Clark on Fox Footy’s “The Tackle” made another mention tonight that he thinks we’ll get Houston.

He’d CLEARLY be our best acquisition since May in late 2018.

10 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Jay Clark on Fox Footy’s “The Tackle” made another mention tonight that he thinks we’ll get Houston.

He’d CLEARLY be our best acquisition since May in late 2018.

I wonder if the power going after Perryman or Cumming means they will be ok to let him go?

17 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Jay Clark on Fox Footy’s “The Tackle” made another mention tonight that he thinks we’ll get Houston.

He’d CLEARLY be our best acquisition since May in late 2018.

spoke to someone today whose mail is normally very good and said we are a better chance than not to have him with us in 2024

doesn't think it'll be two first rounders

also thinks we'd be mad to trade out of 2024

2 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

spoke to someone today whose mail is normally very good and said we are a better chance than not to have him with us in 2024

doesn't think it'll be two first rounders

also thinks we'd be mad to trade out of 2024

I can see one of two options:

- we trade next years first plus probably a 2nd rounder for Houston (probably other pick swaps involved)

- We trade our likely pick 6/7 plus a later pick for two first rounders (Freo most likely) and use one towards Houston plus other pick swaps.

If Port have a Cumming or Perryman already coming via free agency they may then do the deal as they replace Houston and get picks. I can’t see us offering 2 first rounders due to his age. I would be pumped to get him though and he would instantly improve our kicking skills and make us more dynamic.

 

1 hour ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

I can see one of two options:

- we trade next years first plus probably a 2nd rounder for Houston (probably other pick swaps involved)

- We trade our likely pick 6/7 plus a later pick for two first rounders (Freo most likely) and use one towards Houston plus other pick swaps.

If Port have a Cumming or Perryman already coming via free agency they may then do the deal as they replace Houston and get picks. I can’t see us offering 2 first rounders due to his age. I would be pumped to get him though and he would instantly improve our kicking skills and make us more dynamic.

 

I did say earlier that I’d like us to keep our powder dry, but as long as it isn’t two first rounders I would be happy as he would make us instantly better. Who knows, maybe we can still go after Callaghan next year or get someone just as good in the top 10 of the draft This year

1 hour ago, whatwhat say what said:

spoke to someone today whose mail is normally very good and said we are a better chance than not to have him with us in 2024

doesn't think it'll be two first rounders

also thinks we'd be mad to trade out of 2024

Thanks @whatwhat say what - did your mate seem to think we would trade out of the first round this year to get Houston? A big price to pay if we’re not splitting the pick or trading back in somehow 

1 hour ago, demoncat said:

Thanks @whatwhat say what - did your mate seem to think we would trade out of the first round this year to get Houston? A big price to pay if we’re not splitting the pick or trading back in somehow 

didn't know but they're vehemently anti-future trading for teams like ours and the filth - fraught with danger, as per the lachie schulz trade

Giving up 2 first round picks in a draft that bats deep in midfielders……

3 hours ago, Dee Viney Intervention said:

Giving up 2 first round picks in a draft that bats deep in midfielders……

Yup, I rate Houston as a player but this sounds like poor list management. Take our top 10 pick to the draft. 

I think Port will 100% ask for 2 first round picks for him, but Pick 6 or whatever we have for Houston seems like a fair enough deal for both sides. 

 

Is it possible there is a potential salary dump at play here? 

Think about it - Butters, Rozee, JHF are all entering prime and will demand big $$$. They probably paid overs for Thatcher and Ratugalea. Wines probably still on a large backended deal following brownlow year.

I have no way of knowing but its possible. It is why perhaps we havent heard Port come out and blatantly refuse it. The 2 picks is all media speculation, so it has no merit. 

43 minutes ago, Ted Lasso said:

I think Port will 100% ask for 2 first round picks for him, but Pick 6 or whatever we have for Houston seems like a fair enough deal for both sides. 

 

Send a future first.

Definitely out if it's two first rounders. 

3 minutes ago, CatFishPig said:

Send a future first.

He's contracted so i think they'd just say no. 

maybe a future first and Tom Sparrow?

22 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Is it possible there is a potential salary dump at play here? 

Think about it - Butters, Rozee, JHF are all entering prime and will demand big $$$. They probably paid overs for Thatcher and Ratugalea. Wines probably still on a large backended deal following brownlow year.

I have no way of knowing but its possible. It is why perhaps we havent heard Port come out and blatantly refuse it. The 2 picks is all media speculation, so it has no merit. 

I think their plan is to move Houston's salary in to Perryman as a free agent. Get 80% of the player on the same $$ and bank some really nice draft picks. Especially because their half back depth is huge - behind Houston they have Farrell, Bergman, Logan Evans, Burton, Jones, Burgoyne, Sinn, Dyl Williams

Meanwhile they need high draft picks to replace Boak, Wines and find genuine quality talls at both ends of the ground.

It's a tactic I think more teams should try to pull off when they can land a quality free agent.

35 minutes ago, Ted Lasso said:

He's contracted so i think they'd just say no. 

maybe a future first and Tom Sparrow?

or Chandler? Sparrow could be lured on the basis of replacement prospect for Wines. 

Edited August 7, 2024Aug 7 by Gawndy the Great

If we are able to land Cumming and Houston for essentially Pick 7 and some swaps then provides has some merit.