Red and Blue realist

Did something similar against the Suns as well, maybe it's a set play? Not sure if it's to throw off the defenders or the structures in the middle of the ground - maybe it's just happen to work out that way???? I'm nearly in favor of waiting until Gawn is 100% ready then bringing him back in (hopefully this week) and not making a change until then. The Dogs don;t have a ruck who can dominate like Grundy did, so might be better using the extra legs the current set up gives us?

No-one's said it yet, but in our last 2 games our worst players have been both Lewis and Vince. Both stepped up in the second half against the Suns, but were horrible before that, and both reasonably ineffective yesterday. I know they offer more (in particular from Lewis) than just their playing ability but eventually we have to move beyond their leadership (younger guys providing this) and guidance. The usual names ANB, Harmes, Melksham, Bugg and OMac all played their roles very well yesterday and would be stiff to be dropped,but I wouldn't be surprised to see either Vince or Lewis managed for a game each over the next 3 weeks.

I'd say the wording will change to "he's been ready to go for a few weeks but we've held him back, so he's got the training load right to come straight back in!". As much as they say all players at the start of the season start at zero again, we know some start at zero* (the axtrix being, if your name is Jones, Lewis, TMac, Viney, Hogan, Watts, Gawn, Jetta or Tracc you'll get in no matter the circumstances) - probably a few I've forgotten. Some like Watts and even Jetta will be excluded in the pre-season but come season proper the rules change - and so they should.

I'd say they'll arrange some sort of payout for the final year. As some have said, it would be like the equivalent of a golden handshake and still captured under our TPP but at a reduced amount compared to his full final salary. Having said that, it'll be his decision to play on (or attempt too), turning 30 next year he might see the writing on the wall and know he's a long way down the list for spots so may retire and focus on coaching. Either way I love how the club has got him involved while out for the year, he's always come across as pretty knowledgeable and level-headed.

We have done well without a ruckman. I'd be interested, to see if these figures were available quarter by quarter - I've had a bit of a look but not been able to find them. I'm just wondering if we burst of of the blocks then as we tire a little, a ruckman could come in very handy in the last to nullify easy clearances? Collingwood seemed to take it very easy out of the middle in the last quarter against Freo, and I think their mids have a bit better stamina than ours (not saying their better, but they have more experience, so more miles in the legs).

It's still a position we're pretty stacked in, and I don't really see Motlop as being anything other than a high-half forward. For the amount we'd have to pay him, I think we've got more pressing needs. I'd only say yes, if we knew for sure Kent wanted a trade, Motlop only wanted say $400k and the coaching staff see - Tracc, Bugg or ANB playing more midfield or Harmes more defense.

Rohan signed a 3 year deal at the end of last year running out in 2020, I'd say he's the least likely to be moved. He is the 1 of the 3 who I'd like the most though, but every-time it looks like he's about to go to an elite or at leave very good level he gets some sort of injury again. He is very quick (we know that), but also is very good overhead, as a high half forward he could add an extra element we don't really have at the moment, ANB, AVB, Kent, Harmes and Hannan all have some qualities (good mark, pressure or speed) but none really have all 3, that's where a fully fit Rohan could be good. But he'd have to improve his work ethic and stay injury free - there's his 2 biggest downsides. If the Swans wanted to get rid of Rohan and Tippet there going to have to pay some of their salaries, which could be handy, but unless they go into Hawthorn mode (with Lewis and Mitchell), I'd think the asking price will be too much. Reid they'll only want to get rid of if they think a bidding war will get them a 1st round pick, which at the moment would be worth pick 4, that'd be much better than they'd get on the open market.

Given it was a shoulder injury he should have been able to do the majority of the 'leg' work so fitness shouldn't be an issue, it'll be if the shoulder is strong enough and I'm sure he won't be picked without a massive fitness test (where's Bryon Pickett when you need him). If they don't bring him in, I don't think it'll be a big problem and we might wait until Gawn is ready before playing a ruck again.

Motlop is a free agent, so no need for any of the trades you've mentioned above. While his best is very good and could work well, I think he's best suited to a position that we seem to have plenty of at the moment, the high half-forward role. We've got ANB, Harmes, Hannan, Tracc, Bugg and to a lesser extent Garlett in the team (from last round) in that role. Plus Kent, JHK, T.Smith at Casey and VDB and Brayshaw (although he's a pure mid long term I think) injured at the moment. We've got more pressing needs going forward I would think.

There's been some talk that the swans would be happy with a 3rd/4th plus paying some salary, which would then help them keep Jones and Reid. But originally he wanted to go home (he's from Qld) then turned up to Sydney for the money. We've been burnt by a similar situation before, so would stay clear.

I've said before that I think he'd fit in really well with the way we play our defense, giving he's quiet mobile and probably a bit quicker than a first glace would suggest. He also has the advantage of being a genuine option in the ruck. One of the bigger advantages is that he wouldn't cost us any draft picks or trades. There was some talk that while he has been loyal to Port in the past, they might actually encourage him to take up free agency as they have traded away their first pick in this years draft and the size and length of the contract would get them back in the first round.

Hard to make a realistic judgement of how well we'll do out of the increase to the cap, without knowing finer details. Obviously the Saints and North have made it clear they are currently paying under 100% to bank funds to go even harder at trade targets. I don't know if it's been stated or even if there's an article, saying if we've done the same, paid 100% or even up to 105% over the last few years. Even if we did pay 100% (or more) then that might actually give us more to spend, if we were heavily front loading contracts in anticipation. I'm hoping that the likes of Viney who's got a longer contract and Jones and Lewis are all front ended, meaning that with Lumumba's contract as well we're in a very good position to either go after someone they think we need, or help retain Tracc, Oliver, Hogan, Salem, Hunt and Gawn etc who I anticipate might be on the receiving end of big offers when they come out of contract over the next few years.

He just re-signed last year, I think we had a fair crack and he decided to stay. Plus dealing with Essendon would cost at least our first this year and next, Brayshaw, Tracc, Oliver, Gawn, Hogan and Viney.

Don't get me wrong, I think he's a very high quality player in particular in his primary role. However, I think with the way we play he'd be asked to be part of the zone more often than not, and he got caught out a couple of times having to double back or zone off (as someone mentioned earlier he got done over by Garlett). So I think he might not work fully with our game plan. Plus the cost would be high - both $ and acquisition (draft picks/players).

I thought this before the weekend, and given our set up this has confirmed it more so for me, but May while a very good player, is more a stand next to a gorilla and nullify them, rather than fit into a zone and be able to play on bigs and smalls. He is a very good full back, but I don't necessarily see him as also potentially a CHB or 3rd tall. Given we're very much into the zone structure we need guys with a bit more flexibility, Frost, TMac and even OMac can play all of FB, CHB and 3rd tall. I still think Trengove from Port might be a better fit to the way we play, plus as a free agent won't cost us as much in what we have to give up. Might be the same $ but no draft picks or loss of players.

Salem has been fantastic this year, and is a clear best 22 now. He's the perfect guy to have in next to Lewis, his skills are now much better than Lewis's but learning the leadership Lewis showed in the second half would be brilliant for the next 5+ years. We'll have Gawn and Hoges come back as well (hopefully very soon) which will mean from the guys who played the suns on the weekend there'll be 3 who play at Casey until an opportunity opens up. That's what we need to push into the finals this year, quality depth. Pencil being ready will only help as well. Pre-season everyone on here was excited about our depth and struggling to find a true best 22, that means there'll be unlucky guys, who hopefully put enough pressure on those just above them so who ever is in the team performs every week.

With Salem coming back in, and with Lewis and Hibberd down back, I think it's time to have Vince back in the midfield, either as a permanent tagger (he could go with Pendles) or on the wing pushing forward. I think he's been a little shaky down back, which wasn't his preferred position anyway. I'd want him to be an aggressive tagger as well, don't just limit your man but try and win your own ball and score on him as well. I think he could be one of the most effective at this in the comp.

Yeah 4:35pm AEST time.

Exactly right, unless the recruiting managers come out and say we rated player xyz at position 1,2,3....right through to the end of the draft - You can never really compare how well trades have done. In this deal we gave up 2, 20 and 72, which (including the draft movements due to free agency etc.) became Kelly, Impey and was passed. We don't know if we would have taken Kelly, Billings, Bont, Aish, Scharenberg etc at 2 and Impey, Gardener, Crouch, Lobb etc at 21. We also might have kept and used 72 which I acknowledge would have been for a rookie upgrade, but then might have afforded us an additional rookie pick. Comparing who won/lost a trade deal is no where near as black and white as some make it out to be. For mine, I'm happy with Tyson, Salem and Hunt and see them as best 22 for us for years to come, so I take that as a bit of a win.

This, plus Gold Coast's last game was putrid, I know ours was bad but their's was significantly worse. Will be interesting to see if their rest makes any difference, normally you'd think that might help them with a bit of early energy, but it'll be hard to tell because we've started so badly in the last few games.

Don't quote me on this, it's the impression I get, but in the VFL I imagine that overall as the speed of the game is down then there are less possessions had. It would then be more likely that in and under players will get more of the ball as well, plus outside movers will find it harder to get clear/clean space to be effective in. So he might not be getting 'heaps' of it, but may not also be playing badly, just the drop down in standard might not suit Stretch as much as some others. I still think he's going to be very good for us long term, but still is a 3rd year player so where he is isn't a surprise, given there's probably specific things the coaches will want him working on.

He'd be great but I don't think he'll actually leave, plus I think the price might be very high which some have pointed out could cost us in terms of either planning to replenish the older guys or cost us one of the younger guns. What about a free agent hit with Jackson Trengrove from Port? As far as I know he hasn't re-signed and would cover not only the key back spot but also offer ruck support if needed. I also think he'd play much better with the zone defense we're using, compared to May who's better just staying on the bigger guys.

I think he's being played slightly out of position at the moment. He's trying to be a second crumber, meaning he is trying to stay within 60/70 meters of goal at all times. I think he's better of playing the role that Bugg's doing at the moment, with a bit more freedom to move up to a true high half forward then back deep, hoping to get a mismatch. I think we'd be much better if ANB came in took the role Kent has played for the last couple of weeks, plus I think ANB has added some real pressure instincts to his game this year which also suits that role (nearly half crumber/half defensive forward). Kent can then take Bugg's role, and be given a little bit a licence to use his speed both to get up the ground a little but also get back and hunt some goals. Not sure what to do with Bugg, he's a real defensive type winger rather than an expansive one, he might be worth sitting on GAJ for this week, sending Vince back to Salem's half back role or he goes out and we bring in Stretch to provide some run. Either way, I'd like (at least for a week) to see Kent come back up to a true high half forward position to see if that gets him back involved.

Salem gone for a week. Think Melksham will come back and take his spot. I'd also swap Bugg for ANB.

I think the idea of a 'destination club' is a myth, if you look at the seriously good players who move clubs they are rarely drawn to so called destination clubs, they either go for (1) money - they might give another reason though; (2) family or (3) to leave a bottom club to be closer to a premiership. What I like the idea of is being a club that's good enough to attract decent talent, not those clinging to life as an AFL player. You can debate the circumstances but our latest acquisitions - Lewis and Hibberd - are decent talents who I'm sure wouldn't have given us a second look 2 or 3 years ago.