mo64

For whatever it's worth, mentioned on BF by a GWS supporter that Tom Bugg is a lock to come to us.

Yeah, so we listen for 2 weeks of hypothetical trades and inaction, then in the last 2 days, everything gets sorted.

Newton kicked 11 goals from 11 games, which is pretty good for predominantly a half forward in our team. I'd like to see him play half forward or half back, with the very occasional spell as a midfielder. I actually think that both Newton and Michie are good depth players, and Newton is borderline best 22.

Wrong one. I'm thinking Watergate.

GNF, do you have the power to bring down the whole board "Deep Throat" style?

I'm talking about the club, not the players. They went out and got 2 free agents for nothing, both of whom made an impact in the finals. Richmond on the other hand, hardly changed their list, and learnt nothing from the previous year.

The problem is the 6-10 players that you're considering as best 22, are either performing poorly or make little impact. Watts, Garland, Lumumba, Howe, Dawes, Grimes and Jetta are all in that age bracket where you expect them to make an impact on the result of the game. Rarely did any of these players make an impact this year. Vanders was far more impactful, and is nowhere near "bottom depth" as you say.

What about Harmes? I'd be staggered if at least 2/3 out of Howe, Garland, Grimes, Toumpas, Jones and Terlich aren't moved on.

That's totally illogical, and every AFL coach would tell you how hard it is to win a final. They'd also tell you that you need to be consistently playing in finals to eventually achieve your goal of ultimate success. North learnt from last year, and played at a higher level in the finals this year.

As Port found out this year, a place in the finals isn't guaranteed. How many games against top 8 sides did the Dogs win? They'll have a harder draw next year. Fantastic effort by North to make back to back prelims.

Spot on. The football landscape has totally changed from the Daniher era. Not only with free agency, but out of contract players nominating a preferred destination. Successful clubs will top up year after year. Any club that thinks about bottoming out as some are suggesting, will spend a long time out of the finals like us. Only morons like Hutchie think that North are going about it the wrong way. Lol. They would be taken by picks 60+. The only player of note that they've lost was Greenwood, and they've got plenty of his type to cover the loss.

Rubbish. NDS, Waite and Higgins as free agents cost them nothing, and without them they wouldn't have made the finals. A fit Wells would have made a huge difference. All their 1st year recruits this year suffered injuries, so you can't judge how they'll turn out. Kids like McDonald and Dumont would be regulars in our side.

Craig Bird?

I agree that Lawler did some nice things. The 2 Willi players that impressed me were Conway and Charleston. I reckon Conway has got some X factor, and I loved how assured Charleston was in the backline.

Bird's salary plus cola wouldn't be far short of Watts' salary at the moment, so you're hardly freeing up cap space.

Bird turns 27 at the start of next year, after spending most of this year in the NEAFL. Jack and Parker were missing for the finals, and he still couldn't crack a game. If Watts gets traded, I'd want it to be part of a bigger trade that brings in a player that would be in our top 10.

No thanks. I'd take Bird as a delisted free agent, nothing more, and know nothing about Robinson.

Mike Pyke?

I agree. If we lost Watts, Howe and Toumpas for Melksham and some middling draft picks, we've had a poor trade period. They all have their weaknesses, but there is still something to work with. If we don't get a high profile recruit, would it be worthwhile paying out Terlich and M. Jones?

I thought that Roos said the opposite. And an improved performance that netted him 18th in the B&F is not saying much. The only solace I take is that the media won't make such a big deal if Watts is playing at Casey. If he stands up, he could be the forward to assist Hogan. I somehow doubt it though.

Read that as, the club was happy for Watts' manager to look at other offers, but none were forthcoming.

I would have thought that the Tiges would rate Ben Lennon as highly as Matt Crouch, so I'd be surprised if they'd offered Crouch big bucks and let Lennon go. Who said that the Saints aren't offering the big money? Just read the Adelaide BF forum, and a thread was started a month ago saying that the Saints had offered Crouch $400k.

Varcoe had a career best year. Lumumba had a career worst year. Clark rarely got on the park, which was par for the course.

Who are the industry insiders? I immediately equate our 2nd rounder as being around pick 20/21. This year, once FA compensation is allocated, it may be around pick 25. Admittedly it's supposedly a shallow draft, but I still think it's overs.

Hardly. Was an athlete with a poor football IQ. Only possible position for him was as a fwd/2nd ruck, but he couldn't ruck and was a useless forward.