mo64

How do we get WCE's future 1st?

Only heard a snippet on Twitter in respect of visit to WA to meet Tholstrup. JT said that he's got 15 potential players at pick 11, and Tholstrup was the only one whose parents he hadn't met. He said it's important to meet at least one of the parents of potential draftees, and it was just circumstances that his visit to meet Tholstrup's parents was so recent. My take is that Tholstrup is not a lock to be taken if available at pick 11.

Jimmy Toumpas?

Hopefully Harry Petty bucks that trend. With the Dees and not the Crows of course.

That's fine. Then use the list spot on addressing a need, such as a mature aged ruckman.

Sorry, you have no idea of the quality of the draft. We hear the same thing every year, and good players emerge from late picks and rookie picks.

Hunter didn't finish in the top 10 of the BnF despite only missing 1 game. He was average. And neither did Grundy or Schache.

We traded picks 14, 27, and 35 for pick 11, because we assumed that we wouldn't be using all the picks. Plenty of good midfielders have been drafted in the 27-35 region.

I'm not sure why we're interested in Curtin. He doesn't seem to suit our game style. - Curtin takes the game on from the backline, rather than stop and kick it long down the line. - Curtin seems to hit a target when under pressure. I'm sure we'll knock these traits out of him if we draft him.

Our list management has been bewildering in the past 2 years.

Yes, why not add another ageing key forward to either Casey or the rehab group? 😒

I've got no issue with McAdam and Fullarton because they address a need. My feelings on Billings is the same as I had for Hunter. Both are extremely talented at their peak, but both players were discarded by their former clubs for a reason.

I've got nothing against Marty Hore, but we rookie listed an unsung Judd McVee 2 years ago, and now he's best 22. It makes no sense bringing back a 28yo to bolster our Casey team. Why aren't we trying to unearth the next Judd McVee, are even better, Mitch Lewis or Nick Larkey, who were both drafted very late? So far we've traded for McAdam (28), Billings (27) and Fullarton (24). We don't need depth players like Hore in that age bracket. Where's the next crop of young talent coming from? The age profile of our list has gone from near perfect in 2021, to totally imbalanced in 2024. And that's on the List Management, with our constant topping up of NQR mature aged players over the past 2 years.

If he's taken as a rookie, it would add to the list of ridiculous recent acquisitions of mature aged players. Dunstan, Schache and maybe Hore. Dunstan and Schache were acquired as depth, but were never played when we had injuries. I thought we traded picks 14, 27, 35 for pick 11, because we didn't intend to use the latter picks. Surely there's top 40 youngsters with a higher ceiling than a 28yo Marty Hore. As DD said, if it was a mature aged ruck, I'd understand. But we are not lacking in mid sized backmen.

I don't have an issue with the players. They have every right to play out their contract. My issue is with the list management, and how we got to this stage. If we look at our best 22 next year, we'll have 4 key forwards at Casey (BBB, T Mac, Schache and Jefferson) plus a hybrid forward in Melksham on the sidelines. And we don't have a mature aged ruckman to back up Max if he gets injured. Is that a healthy position to be in? Some of us don't have blind faith, and are willing to challenge club decisions. Others will never say a bad word about the club. The whole point of a forum is to discuss the issues of the club on and off the field. And BTW, the club didn't see any "cultural aspects" in off-loading Grundy, who still had 4 years to go on his contract.

I'm sure they have reasons, but that doesn't mean that they'll be proven correct. Our list management has been baffling over the past 2 years. Starting with acquiring Grundy and ending with re-signing Schache. If anything, I think we're lacking in young midfield talent.

If the only reason we don't draft or rookie list him is due to lack of a list spot, then the spotlight needs to go onto Tim Lamb. After Trade Week, he was questioned about our forward line, and didn't mention T Mac, BBB, Schache or Melksham. All of them might be considered dead wood next season. The circumstances behind BBB, T Mac and Melksham I can partially understand, but Schache getting another year is mind boggling. If the club think that Kynan Brown has AFL potential, then they have to make the call on Melksham. Edit. They've made the call on Melksham to rookie list.

If the Eagles think Curtin will fall to pick 6, then both offers are equal. We've got nothing more to offer, so it's take it or leave it.

The reality is we are no chance of getting pick 1 without North providing us pick 2 or 3, and North want Reid as much as any club. The Harley Reid dream is over as far as I'm concerned. A deal between WCE and North will get done.

Assessing the trade period is folly at this stage. 2 years ago the Pies had a fire sale for Treloar, Stephenson and Phillips, and would have been given a F-. They subsequently went on to play in a prelim, then win a flag. Things like cap space are not factored into the ratings. One can only assess the players we've gained and lost, because the draft picks can still be traded, and can be a lottery anyway. McAdam - Really rate him, and provides X factor in our forward line that we badly need. Fullarton - I like this because it addresses a need for a Forward/Ruck. In hindsight, Brandon Ryan would have been a better option. Just wish we went down this path last year and pursued McLean instead of Grundy. Billings - Has talent, not but sold on him after 2 poor years. As a high half forward, which is how Tim Lamb described his role, he's an upgrade on Spargo, who's depth anyway. With Woey and Howes, just not sure that Billings addresses a need. Fair to say that losing Grundy, Harmes and JJ won't really impact our best 22 greatly, but does free up cap space. Sad to see Harmes and JJ go, but that's footy. My biggest concern is whether we have a list spot for a mature aged ruckman like Lycett, Hayes or a state league player. That's another reason why I question the Billings trade.

Hunter was serviceable this year, but had better seasons at the Dogs.

How can you define a 20yo as "unfulfilled talent", and use Wilson as a comparison with Billings? By your definition, every player needs to fulfill their potential by the time they're 20. Billings has been in the system 10 years, and is the true definition of unfulfilled talent. A high draft pick who's shown a lot of promise over the years, but never reached the heights of expectation. IRW's point is valid when it comes to our current football department. Dunstan, Grundy, Hunter and Schache were essentially unwanted by their previous club, and none of them have reached the heights at Melbourne as they did at their previous club. Langdon, Hibberd and Melksham were not unwanted by their previous clubs. They sort a trade to us just like McAdam. I hope that Billings can buck the trend of our recent acquisitions of unwanted players.

His brother Glenn was a gun mid. Not sure how good Robert was.

What's your point? I'm saying that when Wilson and White arrived they were in the infancy of their careers, so naturally they would blossom with experience. Billings is in the twilight of his career.

Stef Martin, Darren Jolly. Toby Bedford has made a pretty good start at GWS.