Red and Blue realist

The other thing that will come into play here, is the amount of picks Gold Coast has this year, and the fact that they are trying to reduce their list size as it is (given previous list concessions being wound back). This year (2022 draft) they already have 2 extra 2nd round picks, 1 extra 3rd round and an extra 4th. Throw in the near guarantee of getting pick 5 for Rankine, trying to get deals done for Corbett/Sharp/Fiorini going out and Long coming in and Gold Coast shape to be one of the most active traders around. They'll be trying to move all those 2nds/3rds/4ths up the order - maybe with Brisbane so they only have 1st round picks this year, and set themselves up with a big haul for next year too.

Gold Coast are after a future 1st round - preferably not from a club likely to finish too high on the ladder, for Bowes and pick 7 this year. Failing to mention that they want that future 1st is lazy journalism and gets a lot of people in unnecessarily here interested! Gold Coast are not giving up Bowes and pick 7 for nothing in return. Maybe we could swing a future 1st from Freo their way, but we'd then have to sort out Bowes contract, and I doubt we'd be able to do that and get Grundy or other targets.

He did get stood on last week and came off briefly, I wonder if it's to do with that or a full re-injury?

Stevie J is the one for me, he's just finished at the Giants and is moving back to Vic. I always thought he was very intelligent as a player, so would make a good addition to our forward line group.

Yeah, the way I see if working with Max and Grundy is whoever's not in the ruck sits very deep forward with a TMac or JVR (maybe BBB) sent roaming, and told to get back quick when we turn the ball over or in offence. I'd like them to stay very deep most of the time and allow the likes of Fritta to have extra space to lead into, the main back will have no choice but to stand with them, they are too tall to be let free. They'd probably try and work it so late in quarters Grundy is the ruck, giving Max the license to head back if we need to stop a quick attack. Imagine the damage Max could do in the middle up against any other teams 2nd choice ruck?

I think he went to live with uncle Byron when he was in school (not sure the exact age), this was in South Aust. Both Cornes and Rucci are notorious for making up things that suit the SA clubs, and then sooking about the Vic media bias.

Of course having some of the younger guys like Spargo and Sparrow able to play more effective time would help as well, but Jackson wasn't really ever used as an on-baller compared to a ruck who also played forward. He'll get there no doubt but his playing time wouldn't have reflected that at all this year. The team balance certainly must play into the consideration of the list management team, which is why Goody pumped up Gawn's forward ability, so it'll never be a case of the old days where they just plonk a ruckman in the forward pocket, I'm sure they think that both Gawn and Grundy will be more than able contributors up forward (and maybe down back as well) when not in the ruck, I was just pointing out that compared to Jackson, Grundy will give the option of additional time on ground, so it'll allow other players more rest.

Another small thing picking up Grundy will help with is his ability to spend a lot more time on the ground than what Jackson did, that's understandable with a younger player mind you, but if Grundy can spend another 10% or so, time on ground, that's another 12-15 minutes bench time per game that can be used for our on-ballers. Both Max and Grundy have very high average time on ground stats for ruckmen, and if they were played/rested forward more then this might even increase. We could then refresh our explosive/impact players more.

I'm not a huge draft follower first hand but reading what some observers (Twomey and from BF) there seems to be a clear pick 1 then the next 5 or 6 could go anywhere between picks 2 - 8 and then the rest is pretty even to around 30. So I'm not sure that this year it's easy to say pick 2 will be significantly better than 5, and can see that West Coast would see him as a direct replacement for Nic Nat, so would be hugely valuable for them. I still think Freo will get it done, but could see that West Coast would really be interested as well.

I'd count pick 5 and Jackson as pretty high end talent? Plus they still get a first round pick next year - it'll just be ours rather than theirs. Depends on how highly they rate their list and think this year was just a one off. I agree that he's most likely to go to Freo, and it's handy that WC are involved, even if it is just to force Freo to cough up a high price.

Gold Coast have a heap of picks this year, and very few list spots. In fact I'd love to involve them in a 3 team trade, something like: Melb Give: Jackson, pick 41 '2023 1st, pick 2023 3rd Get: Pick 7, 2023WC 1st and Flanders (suns) WC Give: pick 2, 2023 1st, 2023 2nd Get: pick 5, 2023 Dees 2nd, J Sharp Gold Coast Give: Picks 5 & 7, Flanders & Sharp Get: pick 2, 41, 2023 WC 2nd, 2023 Dees 3rd Gold Coast already have additional 2nd round (2) and 3rd round (1) picks this year, but I'd say they'll bundle them up to Brissy for their first round pick (currently pick 15) and their 2nd. Brissy with the compo from McStay should have close to enough for their 2 father sons.

I can see that if West Coast get involved that they'll split their pick 2 (as other have mentioned) for potentially pick 5 and 7 from Gold Coast (assuming that's what Adelaide have to give for Rankine) and we'd then get pick 7 and their future 1st - with our future 1st also going back to them.

No, have a look at what the dogs lose/get, they lose Dunkely, and picks 11 & 29 and only get picks 14 and Lobb back. They can probably get Lobb on his own for pick 29 and might do a 14 to 11 downgrade, but in your scenario they'd be giving Dunkley up for nothing. Plus I doubt a 4 team trade would get anywhere near a starting point.

In not great news Liam Jurrah is back in jail https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/former-melbourne-demons-high-flyer-liam-jarrah-in-custody-after-alleged-machete-assault-c-8237970

No way both Meek and Grundy come, the salary outlay on 3 rucks would be incredible. Meek would want a bigger and longer contract, while Grundy is still going to cost even with the Pies paying a 3rd of his contract. We'd still need a young ruck or experienced one who costs nothing (like Daw).

Any dealings with Freo will take a very very long time, I'd say they have to have all their exiting players done first before they truly know what they can offer us. Like everyone I expect it to be 2 firsts from them and maybe a player - Henry would be more than handy, but that's only if we are getting Grundy, if not Meek can be the one who comes. If we deal with West Coast, I hope we're going straight for pick 2 - not letting them split it first. We could try and organise a 3 team swap with Adealide and Gold Coast, although I'm aware that Gold Coast might bundle up picks to move up the draft (Brissy need points and GC have heaps). But I'd be thinking we get pick 2 and trade it to Adelaide for pick 5 (2022) and a future 1st plus maybe Flanders from GC. GC get pick 2 and lose Rankine and Flanders, Rankine to Adelaide while we get two 1st and a young decent player (later picks would be involved too).

AA full forward - just to add to his legend!

I think Bowey has to play, while we have exceptional marking backs and great rebounders, Bowey is the cleanest when it hits the ground, which is an area that Brisbane can do some great work in, with Cameron, McCarthy and Bailey. To enable this to happen I'd do 1 of 2 things, either move Salem to the wing - Trac will play more forward and Harmes/Sparrow more midfield so it'll open up this spot or drop Rivers. We have 1 surplus mid/small back with Salem, Bowey, Hunt and Rivers in the team, so unless we move Salem to the wing, and then maybe ANB is the medi sub or Melk goes out with Trac forward we'll need to have someone come out of the team.

We've previously gotten Pig off the Bombers and he goes alright, I wonder if the footy department will think the cure is Ham?

I'd be guessing they might try and get Gold Coast involved if they get pick 5 for Rankine, they might give picks 2 and 20 (before all the F/S and academy picks), for picks 5, 7 & 43 from Gold Coast, and then West Coast could give us 5 & their 2023 1st. I think that would be more valuable than just pick 2 this year. However, these dealings will take a while because Gold Coast are involved and I think they'll be trying to consolidate some of their 2nd and 3rd round picks into 1st round swaps.

Gold Coast already have 2 extra second round picks and an extra in both the 3rd and 4th rounds. So they are flush with picks, so they'll be very actively in dealing this year. Brisbane are the ones who'll really need picks, so I'd imagine they'll talk to them first but I'm sure we'll be talking with them, it's a skill we've mastered like few others.

This has some merit, although for the interstate teams they really should face the other team in their state twice. So maybe there is an allowance there - but it wouldn't mean the team who finishes 3rd gets the wooden spooner!

If Yze does go to the Giants - and good luck to him if he does, he really does deserve it! Maybe we could trade for Stevie J, I think he's got the making of an excellent coach - super footy brain, plus like Dimma and Goody, still seems to have a bit of mischief about him that the players love and relate too. I think he could work well with our forwards and mid/forward connection.

The draw always is and always will be unfair and unbalanced - nothing can help that unless we all play each other twice. However, for this particular season I've put together the table below. In short we have the second toughest run - unless the Dogs make it into the top 8, then we have had the hardest. IMO this is the way it should be the grand finalists should have the toughest run the next year. I've only looked at the top 9 teams only, as they are still in it at this stage. Clearly the top 2 have done very well with their draw this year, and all the Melbourne based teams do very well with their home games. Team Games against top 8 Top at 8 @ home Top 8 away Games against bottom 9 Cats 7 3 4 (only 1 is interstate!) 13 Swans 7 4 3 13 Demons 10 7 3 10 Lions 8 3 5 13 Magpies 9 7 3 12 Dockers 8 4 4 13 Tigers 8 7 1 13 Blues* 10 8 2 11 Dogs 11 6 5 (2 interstate) 11

Are Bedford and Chandler injured or being rested - we've got the game next week on the Friday night so I'd think a few more might come out of this team.