How would the Dees go in 2008 if we had kept the following - Farmer, Thompson, Jolly, Armstrong, Johnstone...not to mention others we had at the club, such as, Davey, Peverill, Bassett...

well this is what we wouldn't have if we still had those players...

Farmer - We got pick 17 from Freo. Traded to Geelong with pick 41 (Henry Playfair) for Clint Bizzell.

Thompson - Traded for Pick 12, which we traded to get Brent Moloney from Geelong.

Jolly - Traded to Sydney for Pick 15 (Lynden Dunn).

Armstrong - Delisted. Still wouldn't get a game with us I wouldn't think.

Johnstone - Traded for pick 14 (Jack Grimes). Obviously a disadvantage this year, but a trade for the future.

so effectively:

Out: Farmer, Thompson, Jolly, Armstrong, Johnstone & Pick 41 (Henry Playfair).

In: Moloney, Dunn, Grimes, Bizzell (retired).

Dont forget troy simmonds.

We didn't want Thompson to go, but looking back the one I wish we'd been able to keep was Matthew Bishop. Unfortunately it was similar to Thompson with the go-home factor, but he turned into a solid key defender who still had some run.

Naturally it's hard to take into account the timing, like comparing Johnstone and Grimes now and comparing them after Johnstone has won a Brownlow or Grimes has captained us to a flag or whatever.

Moloney as a replacement for Thompson was a pretty good deal, maybe a high pick to deal but the Cats were pretty cut up about losing him. We've lost on that one at this stage, but we know Thompson was going to be good the way he played in the first 10 weeks of 04.

Jolly for Dunn was a win-win. He wasn't going to get ahead of White and they needed a backup for Ball. Dunn will be good for us.

Farmer for Bizzell, not like for like and there's a go home factor. Defy anyone to say Clint gave us bad service.

Armstrong works at half forward for WC because of their open forward line, due to a style of footy we don't play (despite our 07 efforts). It's good to see him do well but I wonder what sort of player he could have been if not for Bali. If you get a chance look at him in the 02 SF vs Adelaide. 20 odd touches floating half forward to wing, lots of running, pretty good skill. Would have been an interesting player.

Every club has the Peverill/Davey/Bassett players, for the ones we don't have how great has the rookie list/supp list been for us? Junior, Robbo, Davey...

How would the Dees go in 2008 if we had kept the following - Farmer, Thompson, Jolly, Armstrong, Johnstone...not to mention others we had at the club, such as, Davey, Peverill, Bassett...

Farmer - Ditched us for his family, not much we could do

Thompson - Ditto

Jolly - Could've kept him but no big loss

Armstrong - Yawn

Johnstone - Would've like to still have him but he has under-achieved at our club, but there has been a total of two games (NAB games!) so still very early

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Alwyn Davey - Perhaps we should've taken him but from what i gather he wasn't good enough when we gave him a go, Essendon had an earlier pick last year and took him

Peverill & Bassett, couldn't tell you anything i didn't know we could've had them.

Farmer - Ditched us for his family, not much we could do

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