Lil_red_fire_engine

Assuming Brown is secured I would be turning all my attention to Tom Phillips, including picking brother Ed up from the Saints on the way through who’s is OOC. If not and we can clear some space with Tmac any half decent offer for Polec should be next port of call. Narkle also interests me as a worthily OOC option as well as any potential way to get Jack Sinclair out of the saints. More run and outside polish is needed once we land the big fella.

I disagree. This is what 2020 was about, to give him a chance to get to 300 and hold his worth. He showed when out there he was barely hanging on and had multiple soft tissue injuries which are the mark of the ageing warrior. This is taking a spot in 2021 from someone who could develop or make a difference.

Would be good to get him but not the end of the world if we don't, particularly on a 3 year deal. Assume we will then turn our attention to further available options to fill the same like Philips and back to Polec. The good thing is there are gettable options out there.

Billing’s for Brayshaw does not really make sense to me. Yes he is more outside, a bit quicker and a bit better kick but he doesn’t really clearly solve something for us. His top level form is as inconsistent as Brayshaw and I am unclear on what role he would play. With Higgins as well what is he solving? He is not a pressure forward but he is smart half forward with reasonable speed but many tricks. Certainly an upgrade on our forward line and best 22 I guess but not one I would expect us to be looking at for what I would suggest he would cost. Are we looking to improve our quality and connection into 50 I get it but would not necessarily be where I would focus.

I cant see us playing even a semi permanent run with midfielder which is his jam. He clearly is not suited to a half back role and if you haven’t nailed a wing with MFC before 2020 I cant see someone suddenly becoming one now. Most likely and best opportunity would be to overtake Melksham’s half forward position with a defensive bent which I would already have a preference for him to do. If they dont see a role for him in our best 22 then he is more value as trade or list management than at Casey for injury relief.

A proven quality wingman from a successful club on I suggest a moderate wage but longer than preferred contract at no draft or player cost. To fill a significant gap in our list for year one, year two whilst unknown options compete for the position and I suggest develop our youth at Casey our provides good depth in year 3. This or a 2 year deal that he doesn’t take with us banking on Baker becoming an ok wingman in 2021 or us trading for a suitable player (cant think of any other OOC or FA) at a a higher cost.

Let’s look back at the swell of people upset at what we were paying contract wise for the three at the time it was done. The same I reckon at Lever. You have to take their exposed form on face value and a confidence it will continue. I suspect there was little concern at the time due to their output other than the Harmes 5 year deal length. With Tomlinson and Langdon I suggest we are not paying them in our top 5 but you clearly pay more to get them in than renew if you had them.

We have 3 of the top 10 players in the league (champion data) We paid overs to extract May and Lever and I assume Langdon and Tomlinson to a lesser extent. We unfortunately triggered contracts on TMac, Brayshaw and Harmes and peak form that we have not seen since. We have kept fringe players too long on deals too good (hence the clear out this year I anticipate).

Assuming his body checks out this could be a smart potential trade. Good age For us and would not cost alot. Fills a role we have a spot for in the back 7 and has speed, carry and a left footer.

Agree he has had an excellent career. However he’s out of contract and with Daniher on the way I would suggest it would be hard to hold the Big O out for the number 1 spot as there will be less room forward.

I know he is RFA next year but look at the rumoured requests from Dodorio for Saad who is out of contract. There is no way Essendon will accept anything with any form of reason to pry him out when contracted.

Add to this the lack of exposed form this year of players and you are better to load up and have 4-6 picks in the 30-60 range than have 2 picks 10-29 range.

We need more outside run options. We should be trying to attract both Smith and Phillips and even then there is room for a player like Baker if he is good enough. At worst he offers a back up under injury.

Has ridiculous straight line speed but struggles to find enough ball and I am unclear what role he would play. Would not be against it based on low price and attributes but would be disappointed if we picked him up and did not recontract Hunt and Bedford. I would hope if we were talking to Saints we would target Sinclair or the other Phillips.

Langdon is pinpoint in comparison, granted I think he also improved markedly over the season. I dont see the point of gaining territory if it just comes straight back over your head.

So we should hold someone to there contract with one more year even though he does not appear to be in our best 22 plans. Rather than let at his choice be traded to a club that say they want him there and for a longer commitment. Remind me which one is the right thing to do for a player your club respects? If this is what Jetta wants then this is a good outcome for player and club.

A big no from me. Is a massive gut runner but is possibly the biggest butcher by foot in the AFL. Particularly on the money he is on.

A 30 year old on his decline with one top 10 B&F finish in three years who finished the second half of the year out of our best side Vs A 24 year old coming into his prime with 2 top 6 finishes inn three year who lost his spot due to injury. I know they need to clear some space but surely it will cost us more than Jetta?

Get him to where he wants to go. I would not re-sign him. He will not suddenly become a consistent best 22 player. We have too many of similar type and he does not offer positional flexibility.

I will support Smith getting 3 years if that’s what it takes to get him across. I suggest money wont be high. He will clearly be in our best 18 next year. I would suggest unlikely being we don’t really have up and coming outside quality that it would be unlikely he is not in our best 22 year 2. With a smaller coaching fraternity having him on list at Casey even at year 3 and even back half of year two to develop our outside talent as the last player on your list would not be a bad spend still. He is of good character, a successful environment and as others have mentioned came to AFL late and is a type of player and body type that are durable to an older age.

He and Brown should be our top 2 targets. Need vs value for likely cost is the best match in my opinion.

He can run in 100m if it means he kicks it straight. In fact he can do whatever and look however he wants on field if he has his 4th 60+ Goal season. As an opposition player I have always found him annoying due to his quirks. I’ll embrace them if they are ours. As long as his knees (allegedly what was physically challenging him) face the test he should be our number 1 target based on a balance of need vs likely cost. Brown as the main man deep with Weid and LJ with room to roam. Petty can develop as a swing man with no pressure. Then we need to find us some more run and polish at the right price and let’s go.

Unsure if this will surprise others as much as it did myself but Browns contested mark % stacks up against most of the key power forwards. I have always thought of him primarily as a leading mark (which would straighten us up). He also averages the highest “frees for” of key forwards.

I suggest Savage we could pick up for a late pick or DFA as I think would likely be delisted and is out of contract. Witherden is in contract so would be subject to his want to move and Brisbane’s want to retain him.

I would argue Langdon had a bigger impact than Oliver this year and was not surprised by his higher B&F finish (Viney I am less confident though). Oliver seems to be at that age where he is impatient and frustrated but has not recognised he is coming into the years where he should not be following the pack but leading the way and dragging others along with him. We are coming into the year where this should be Oliver, Trac and Lever’s team, they should be setting not following the culture. They are not the kids anymore they should be showing what is the expected levels of training, focus, game day performance, not just theirs but those around them. The penny dropped for Trac (who seemed just as frustrated a year ago) and I suspect the penny will drop for Oliver in 2021. I would under no circumstances trade him this year whether he openly states he wants out or not.