Red and Blue realist

While I'm not at all advocating getting him, if Frost was traded (only bringing that up because he hasn't signed yet and there's been no talk of it) Carlisle could be a cheap trade option. I've read that he's trigger with the saints was for 1 year on $600k, so they might be looking to move him for salary cap space (given they are chasing everyone under the sun). If we could getting him for a future 3rd or 4th, and get a 2nd for Frost (or have him part of a bigger deal), then stretch out Carlisle's deal over 2 seasons (maybe increase this to $350k per year), which isn't huge money then I reckon it might work. He's had a back injury but played the last 10 games straight so clearly it's manageable. he has also played a lot of games with Hibberd and Melksham who both came with somewhat of a party boy image but haven't put a foot wrong for us.

Trying to clear some cap space is the word. There going to be paying Hill a heap, plus they've got hannebury on big coin last year, then re-signed billings and gresh. Might be a cheap trade to clear him off their books. Not really a need of ours though

Yeah, I too would love this to be expanded out to each clubs best 30. With the thought that there needs to be at least 30 ready to go AFL players to have a decent crack at finals. There was another discussion around the position of the injuries as well, we seemed to have a very good run in the mids - Gawn, Oliver, Harmes, Brayshaw, Viney and Petracca only missed 2 games between them. While the backs missed a lot early in the season then the forwards were all gone late.

Seems to be the way on here at the moment, either the criticism or the love for a player is way over the top. Not much rational thought put into any discussions.

Don't understand the interest in Schoenmakers at all, he'll be 29 by next season, has never managed to average more than 1 goal per game and hasn't played more than 11 games in the last 4 seasons. I also very much doubt that Freo would entertain a swap of first round picks next year (or are you talking about spending our 2020 1st on Langdon? Because we're likely to be able to get him for our second this year).

Not sure either of those stats are anything to celebrate this year, his tackle and goal averages were well down on his god years with the club (2015-17). He's only managed 7 & 11 games in the last 2 seasons, this year mainly because of injury, and he's just turned 30. Not many smaller forwards have gotten any better once they pass the 30 mark, Eddie Betts who's been he best small forward of the last 10 years saw his numbers drop off a fair bit when he past 30 (to the point where he was dropped and is talked about as trade bait). So I think you're on the money with the feeling he'll retire, but if not I think the club might take that decision out of his hands.

Haven't heard anything to this effect, but wondering if we'll be now looking at Jack Newnes from St Kilda. He's always been described as a Richo favorite with many of their fans arguing he's got games when he should have there. He's been a bit off the last 2 years but was pretty good between 2014-17, and started this year ok. No superstar at all but could be another wing we might look at, that won't cost us anything on the trade table.

They worked together in 2013 at Port, in 2012 Port won 5 games, in 2013 they increased this to 12 which is why Richo got the Saints gig.

Be good to have him on board for the end of season review, no point it being done with just the old coaches. Come Sunday it should be thanks McCartney, Jennings and MIssion (plus whoever else is going), then Monday welcome Richo, Burgess and whoever else is coming on board (provided they aren't still involved in finals).

His old man is rumored to be in the running for the CEO job at Freo, while it looks like Bellend will get it, I'd wonder if Mark did make the move if Gus would then want to move to be closer to family? If that was the case then I'd be asking for Cerra and Langdon in a trade, I don't think Freo will have much in the way of draft picks if they get Kelly, even if Hill does go.

I think we might have chased him previously. He'd be a cheap get, I'm sure Brissy will have to offload some fringe players, because they'll have to play their young guns in the comings. Even if he wasn't immediate best 22, he'd be in our best 30 and good depth in a position we lack.

While agreeing there seems to be potentially more at play than just injuries, it surely has to be the major factor in what has happened this season. There are a couple of reasons: - The pre-season surgeries naturally put teams behind, but we also had our shortest pre-season ever. With the majority of the core of the team sitting with between 50-120 games (Gawn, Viney, Trac, Harmes, Brayshaw, Salem, Oliver, Lever, Weid and with the majority of the fringe players also in the same boat) means they don't have the 'miles in the legs' as some of the teams that have competed regularly in finals. We've seen in the past Geelong, Hawks, Richmond, the Eagles and the dogs have a down year/s when they've gone deep into finals with younger squads, those mentioned (with the exception of the dogs (yet)) have all come back again and been successful. - Add on the in-season injuries, it was in another thread - and don't quote me on exact figures - but up until the Richmond game we'd lost something like 120 games to our best 22 players, the tigers had lost 90 and the Pies 60. Those teams were used as examples as they were discussed at the time as teams with large injury lists. On top of that the injuries seemed to be very concentrated at one end each week, early in the season we'd be missing 4 or 5 of our best defenders then as the season progressed it transferred to the forward half. Very hard to build anything in season when we've got such deficiencies. I'm not saying there aren't other factors but a limited pre-season and in-season injuries are certainly big factors. I'm very happy there'll be limited off-season hold ups and we've got Burgess to hopefully get them super fit. Only then will we be able to reliable assess if some of the issues are (as discussed on the many forums here) - the coach, game plan, the captains, selection, Pert, selling games to the NT etc.

The AFL is looking at giving Gold Coast access to the NT as the NGA zone, maybe they want to see if we're happy now to give up the games we play there? It might well be to see if we are financially stable enough to exist without those extra funds?

You'd kill the morale of the club for years if you did that, the players, staff and supporters would be devastated. Your journey would have us on the quest to be relocated to Tassie!

All clubs meet with the commission, so it's not unusual, but gets readers sucked in when it can be isolated to the clubs that have struggled. I assume we'll be asking about some help with the training ground and facilities, or at least be providing an update as to how that is all going.

I agree, lets also get rid of Oliver, Melksham, Trac, Harmes, May and Lever May as well get as many draft picks as possible while we can, going to the draft has always been what this club is about. Last year was truly shocking and I for one never want to make finals again. I miss the 2009 to 2014 period where we had nothing but top end talent, the golden years of the club!

Was mentioned in one of the other topics. Surely there'd be no surprise there, the guy tries hard but gets injured a lot. If he wasn't retiring then I doubt he'd get another look at AFL level next year.

Weid has just had operations on his hips, so you'd think there's a chance he'll take a while to get going, so 1 mature aged player could be a great stop gap. McBean would be my pick of those 2 because the NEAFL is very weak this year, I was hoping we'd be looking for a crumber who can come in and make an instant impact as well, maybe someone with a bit of flair who's been overlooked.

I'm of the opinion that we'll rebound strongly next year, but Jones might be pushed out along the way. Nothing wrong with that, but I hope the club makes sure that even if he does get a bigger/better offer from GC that they are seen as fully supporting him if he did take it. We can't have the JMac scenario again (even just the optics of that).

Doubt any other club will look at him, they've got no real history to go off. Hopefully he'll back himself in with the new high performance staff to get it right.

Best idea, I reckon we strike up a deal with Gold Coast where would could trade slight overs with them so they ignore him in the PSD. My idea was pick 2 plus Frost for King, pick 18 (brissy's pick) and Jack Martin while not participating in the PSD.

He's a defender, and we've already got May, Lever, Hore, OMac, Petty and Frost. It's probably the 1 area we have covered. There was talk around draft time that he could play both ends but he's played back all year in the VFL (no goals). Plus with Thompson retiring he'd be better staying at North cause he's likely to get a better shot.

There's not many others in the comp in the same position as Frost - out of contract, still in their mid 20s and have played nearly every game. However nearly all those others are being talked about as trade targets (Jake Kelly; Tippa; Francis; Langdon; Kelly; Martin; Tomlinson; Amon; Ellis etc.) Why is Frost not getting any attention from anywhere else??? He has improved a lot this year, but if he was traded I wouldn't be surprised as well. He can do things not many others can in the comp, his speed and athleticism are nearly second to none. It's his footy IQ that lets him down so badly, I get the impression other teams are now happy when the ball goes near him, because he'll either hand them a goal or turn it over if he does win the ball. I also don't think May and Lever like having him in the team, in the Collingwood game May was constantly trying to get across and cover Frost as well, then Frost tunneled him leading to a goal. I get the impression that if we do re-sign him it'll come after the close of the trade period, not before, and that he could be used as a add-on to any deals we are trying to do.

If Gold Coast don't get an early priority pick (2) and get a middle of end of first, then I reckon we could look at trading with GC but get a little creative. I'd be happy to give pick 2 plus Frost/OMac and also maybe a 3rd next year for King, pick 16/17, (Brissy's first this year) J Martin plus also have an agreement with GC that they don't bid on Landgon and we convince him to go into the pre-season draft. We'd end up with the first round pick we have to use this year, King, Martin and Langdon while holding onto our 2nd round pick.

Every chance we asked the question last year and got told no. He was in contract then, and apparently was the one who was loyal. Given he is out of contract this year gives a little more bargaining power, but he would be valued at our second pick so if that goes well I'd say we've paid his fair value, unless we can convince him to go to the pre-season draft and ensure the Suns don't take him (not going to happen!). Freo don't have a 3rd rounder, plus this would value him as a mid first round, which he isn't. Our second will get it done, I'd hope they try for next years second but doubt Freo would take that.