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Don't people get sick of bagging Oscar? It's such a bore. Last time I looked he played for us and hence we should support him.

The only one who is Deludio here is you.

They're paying overs to get guys in at the moment, 900k for Brad Hill is just one example of the insanity.

Second year blues. Kids still 19 and showed potential in his first year. Seems a lot of us really forget that we have teenagers or early 20 yr olds who need time to develop. We're still a young side. Its just a fact.

Do remember this is one of their top 5 players. Probably the equivalent of Harmes in value. Not elite but much valued. What would you accept for Harmes? Imo if we give up just a second rounder for a top 5 player who is only 23 years old, we are laughing.

He was in their best 22.

No worries. Watching this positioning over 3 GWS games helped me see value to us too. We have struggled on the wings, and I think it's because of lack ofstructure and smart positioning, not because of lack of foot speed (which I think is overrated compared to fast ball movement). This is why we tried "old heads" like Lewis and Jones out there. 2 way endurance running is one of the most important attributes in the modern game but it means nothing if you run mindlessly.

I watching the AFL player tracker (live player GPS position during matches) during the finals to see where players from top clubs were moving. It was interesting to watch Tomlinson constantly take the "fat side" wing, dropping just behind the play in the hole. His role seemed to be a defensive winger, whose fast movement to position and aerial ability prevented the opposition from switching play, stopped a loose man getting space out the back. He found his way forward, trying to slip behind defense when GWS attacked: as he was on the far wing, he wasn't making the play but he was forcing opponents to match up on him and defend, so they couldn't be elsewhere. He isn't a high possession winner but his positioning seemed critical to defending and to providing options in attack. I also watched him compete against Grundy. Not fantastic but held his own, better than our pinch hitters do.

Only if you can do it all lower case.

I disagree with this. He definitely has some weaknesses to overcome (kicking penetration is certainly one) but in 2018 he was one of the few players who could read the ball off a pack and be a genuine crumber, hence why he played in the finals team. His decision making is actually pretty good (have a look at his 1st quarter in the EF vs Geelong as an example). He didn't really improve this year and has some work to do but as outlined above, he's still a kid and I think he can still add some value for us without necessarily being a world beater.

Foot speed is important in so far as a team needs one or two really quick players, but more as an attacking option. And as has been noted by some posters there is different types of speed - burst, 100 metre sprints and speed over say 300 metres. But agree the need is over played a bit, particularly for the wing role Tomlinson will play. Agree that we struggled badly on that wing position to cover opposition switches etc last season but whilst poor positioning and structure might have contributed I think the key issue was our lack of fitness and elite endurance runners. Funnily enough (Given he is a key forward) i think this was really exacerbated by the loss of hogan who ran hard up and down the wing. ANB gets a game because he is one of few players who has the endurance to cover that outside lane and the area between rhe arcs offensively and defensively. Conversely gus's lack of fitness was exposed in that position (on that i suspect rumours of him carrying an injury last year and that being the reason he did not play as a pure mid are true). Also agree that Tomlinson represents terrific value for us. Good pick up. The fact we have not had to give up any picks or players is more than just icing on the cake. It is huge as it helps us in this trade period and potentially means we can draft a higher pick than if we had to haggle for him. Great posts on this topic deanox by the way.

Hay reporters GUS, is a much loved player for our club so, go and report on somthing else. Lets turn this around, and say, we are going after Andrew Brayshaw for our club, so both bothers can play togther.

“Insert angry post about us getting bent over and taking pick 97 for Frost and Clarkson turning him into the best wingman in the comp here” And then mention O-Mac.

Demonland: "Is it Josh Bruce?" Yoko: "O no!"

How dare you accuse someone on the site of making up stuff ?. I will ease your minds and say it isn’t Cox or anyone from that club! However, I do have a very good source and I am glad some people remember my team announcements in previous years!! I just haven’t been on the site much this year, as I honestly couldn’t sit through most of the rubbishy being written on here! it was bad enough watching us play, but rewind stuff on here just made it worse!! As I said, I promised my source I wouldn’t name the player, but he is from a club that are possibly needing to shed some players or $$ this trade period.

If you understand footy you understand the ball moves quicker than any player ever will. There's a reason why clubs don't recruit 100m athletes

I think we bid for Tom Green and make no secret about it. If GWS want Green and a top pick, they'll try to trade to get ahead of us. If they don't, they can either lose a pick or lose Green.

Watched that quarter myself last week (it’s a sad life in search of Demon joy!); has shown good decision-making, including when to go into the tackle and when to move to where the next phase is if we win ball; went when it was his turn and worked hard (if you can stand it, see esp the piece of play where it goes end to end quickly in the last play at the Cattery - he’s in the play at both ends!) Hoping that a good pre can bring him back to showing his hard working smarts again, even if does have weaknesses.

He has a very tailored program - suspect Burgess' hand at work. Hope they can make it 23-26 games instead of 22!

It's not just risky, it's a flat out bad deal. We'd be basically giving away a pick somewhere between pick 7 and pick 30, depending on where we finish. If we do have another poor year, not only will we lose players, but we will also have sacrificed a much needed top pick. Crazy.

I agree WB. Media saying the Cats are the winners of the Kelly trade due to two first rounders and 24. but to me getting Kelly and not giving up a pick in top 13 is a steal. Assuming WC finish top 4 it will be 14, 16, 24 for Kelly. I would do that for sure. chance are one of those 3 picks will be a good player and most likely not nearly as good as Kelly Pointy end draft picks are more likely to provide the gun players or at least top 10. I would certainly not swap pick 3 for 14 and 17

To answer the question - yes, I would and no, they won't.

Nope they would have to use pick 4 for the points to match our pick 3 and they'd get a later pick as change. That would be an incredibly risky move. They'd have to give us some incentive not to bid on Green.

It would be risky for GWS to take pick 4 if they wanted to stave off the necessity for giving too much away for Tom Green. We could nominate him with pick 3 and then they would have to use 4 if they want him. If they deal with us for pick 3 then they can use it for someone else and then take Green with later picks. That way they get two top 10s. However, 14 plus a second rounder and next year’s first rounder wouldn’t be all that attractive to us, I imagine.

$$$

I rate him. If fit, he improves our forward line a lot.

Exactly as long as Adelaide pay the contract they signed off on. We need goals. It doesn’t have to look pretty. Goodwin is mad if he doesn’t take this guy if no one else is interested

Don’t trust a Detective, they’re all bloody dodgy. That aside, he was our national recruiting officer for some time and you’re saying he’s now our list manager? Running on little sleep and trying to make sense of the OP.

Stephens is pretty close to the mark in terms of what our midfield needs. if we split the pick, he'd be target no 1. I'd almost take him at 3 (would take him before Serong). Maginess has had an excellent season and has slipped under the radar. I reckon he's borderline top 10 right now and he may develop into one of the best mids in the draft. Would bid for him at pick 7 onward, but pick 3 feels to high. His combine performances were eye opening. Has the potential to be more than just an inside accumulator. Hawks are laughing if no bid comes in before pick 11. North should be all over him.

Agree with you 'Wise'. I think we keep pick 3 unless we can deal 2 picks in the top 10. On average this is where most talent comes, yep you get some exceptional players in the teens but for every Lynch you get a Cook. ...and as for those quoting points. Points don't play footy for you, it's a nice little side line to keep people with too much time on their hands busy. The only time they are of value is if you can trade into a good deal (player).

This is the stumbling block for me. I know others might feel it is fair, but swapping 3 for 14 and 17 just doesn't feel right. A top 3 pick is a valuable commodity and if we're going to deal it then you expect a pretty darn good return for it, and 14 and 17 isn't it for me.

Joel Smith is a player who has benefited from always being injured. A couple of goals in a practice match one year, a few VFL games the next year and half the supporter base sees him as the second coming of Ablett snr. The reality is that he has been around for five years without actually doing anything of significance. He is an awkward size and I don't think he has the football nous or skills to compensate for that - he is certainly not a better prospect than Fritsch, Melksham or Petracca in the forward line and he is not taking one of the key forward posts.

All he needs to do is grow 10cm, improve his speed, endurance, kicking accuracy, kicking penetration, marking, handballing, tackling, strength and decision making and we will have bona fide star on our hands.

Here, Here.

Personally, I think we paid overs for Tomlinson... Oh, sorry... I thought this was the pessimists thread. My bad.

Suddenly I have absolute belief that he is a player we will get value out of. Nothing will help our defence more than a bit of extra cover making oppositino entries a bit more predictable. I mean, Lever, May and Hore all lean towards the 'reading the play' style rather than a pure one-on-one match. Golly gosh and gee whizz, I'm getting this odd inexplicable feeling that the club knows what it is doing here. Thanks for sharing the observations Deanox.

Rare athleticism has to be given a little more leeway. We lack X factor so I hope he can get fit and create some excitement.

Yeah and he clearly doesn't. Anyone who's been within an inch of the club would know how much Angus enjoys playing with this group. He has many close mates and is part of a young midfield with loads of potential. I don't understand why these rumours pop up and linger even after Freo have said theirs no interested (you assume they mean currently or aren't willing to give up whats required for him). But also the club displayed any desire to trade him either. Viney, Brayshaw, Oliver and Harmes are our midfield group all 25 or under yet to hit their prime. You would be stupid to make a rash supposed "bold" or "ruthless" trade to break up a group that has developed with loads of potential just because they had one off season overall.

Garlett was the only true small forward we had (Not counting players like Chandler or others who haven't played AFL). Others like ANB and JKH are playing half forward and racking up km's, and also playing forward. Spargo's best footy in 2018 wasn't as a goal kicker but as a play maker, someone who would create space or opportunity when they found the ball at half forward or running: he was rarely crumbing. Hannan and others are more medium forwards. I think we need to add at least one experienced player who can play this role to the list.

Yet Deledio played 7 games this year and Tomlinson played in every game.

No. They've had 8 years of injuries. Tomlinson is terrible and only ever played a single game for GWS because of injuries.

The fact he’s played every game in the last three years tells me he is. You’re attempting to find a negative in something that doesn’t exist.

Not for that long. It's true to say he's a utility, but not that he's a depth player.

We're in a lot of trouble. Not only are we paying overs for Tomlinson, but we're losing our AA, Brownlow medalist utility God in Sam Frost.

Y'know, Tomlinson might also be Dutch. Tall. Blonde. Wore orange. Always plugging holes. Open to trade. Nowhere even close to any tigers.

The whole concept of trading a player of Brayshaws quality is insane. The only time would be 1 year before his contract runs out and you know he will leave as a free agent.

And that was the key factor in our early losses that had us 1-4 and backs against the wall. Unclear whether work rate and structural issues contributed, but there was no doubt we were run off our feet and struggled to cope physically with the load in those losses to Port, Geelong, Essendon and St Kilda. We actually did improve a fair bit after that point and lost two games (WCE and Crows) that we should have easily won. I've got no doubt those two losses, in particular the Crows one (which was perhaps the most I've seen a team dominate a game without winning), just shattered our belief and confidence and we never recovered. Had we won those two games it would've been 4 wins from the past 5 and, while we were not at the level of 2018, we may have gone on to win 2-3 more games and finish with 10 or so wins.

I’m pinning my hopes to a fully fit Mitch Hannan 2020 or even seeing how Lockhart develops with an afl preseason under his belt. If Butler came cheap, yes- but I’m not really seeing him as the player many on here see.