ChaserJ

Have you seen much of Luke Urquhart @Pennant St Dee? Has caught the eye for WA in their first couple of games at the Champs.

While I'm on the topic of changes to DVI: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/afl-2024-draft-watch-column-changes-to-draft-points-bidding-system-clubs-like-carlton-angry-fatherson-and-academy-bids-explained-prospects-latest-news/news-story/7d5850311bce18851bf81dac321f6d7c

Yep, depth looks stronger. Smillie is currently in pole position for pick one, but there are 2 or 3 others that could challenge. There isn't the standout talent this year at no.1. Beyond that, throw a blanket over 15-20 at this stage. I've really liked what I've seen at the Champs so far and there's a weighting toward midfield talent this year. That's accounting for the father son and academy tied players, of which there are a few. It makes the conversation around potential changes to bid matching and DVI very interesting. Makes sense that clubs that were poised to capitalise on free (or at least heavily discounted) hits are outraged. For the rest of us, opportunities abound.

Not much by way of midfielders in this years FA pool though. Think the draft will be where we can add mf quality. Adding Stengle would allow us to release Koz for longer stints there, so maybe he’d help us in 2 areas of the ground. He’s certainly got Chin & Spargs covered for goal scoring.

@whatwhat say what the wording makes me think that 2025 onward for Brayshaw (with 2024 being the year of his retirement where I’m guessing the full 100% is outside of TPP). Every club on notice as far as the risk of long terms deals for players with any concussion history goes.

Inevitable that Hotton slips down a bit as others get the chance to show their wares. It’s looking like a really even talent pool so he could drop lower than he otherwise should.

He’d be an outstanding get. Can’t see it happening this year, but maybe down the track… Sticking with GWS, I wonder how long Max Gruzewski is prepared to hang around for one of Hogan or Riccardi to fall over. Not seeing an immediate pathway to first team footy for him and another we were linked to in their draft year.

Agree that he likely doesn't get to our natural pick, but there'll be a race to get Brisbane's pick amid Ashcroft bid shenanigans. We like to climb up the draft ladder, so maybe an opening there.

Loved Sid Draper's game on Sunday. He's the guy in that top 10 that has the traits our midfield is sorely lacking. Pace, polish and keeps on running.

Andrew’s analysis is usually pretty good, this one’s no exception. * disclosure: our kids are in the same class!

I’d be very hesitant about burning capital to go ‘chips in’ now. Too many gaps to plug. It’s not ‘just a key forward’ now. I’d say we need a goalsneak to support Koz, some midfield class (if not grunt as well), speed and ball use off half back and a successor for May. That’s a project. I’m not even sure what our timeline is now. Maybe, with some luck we can extend a bit longer, like Geelong, but we need a lot to go right.

Ironically, there’s a bit of scuttlebutt from WA radio pushing Curtin wanting a trade to Freo. Wonder what the flow on impact would be re:Petty if that plays out. Also some speculation about Rachele’s happiness at Adelaide from Foxfooty as well.

To be fair Deelectable’s probably not been on Land long enough to be familiar with GoodwinDees track record.

Who’s ‘Purley’?

Would have played together at Subiaco as well.

Welcome Luker! Got your boy @Pennant St Dee!

Well, all three we’ve been linked to are still there…

Thoughts on Kentfield @Pennant St Dee? “HE’S READY TO GO”: AFL TALENT GURU PROVIDES MID-SEASON DRAFT LOWDOWN

Apparently has decent pace and turns in some pretty good 2km times for Sandy.

Also looks like Jefferson still needs to get his running levels up to the mark. He’s had quarters or halves of footy where you see the talent that made him a first round prospect, but then goes missing. A lot of it looks like he doesn’t quite have the tank to run and present repeatedly for an extended period of time. That’s going to be a problem at AFL level if he gets promoted now. Maybe a late season game or two if we can afford to give him a taste, but I reckon he needs at least one more preseason to get ready. I also get that the Giants have gone a different route with Cadman in playing him regularly and early, but he was more developed physically than Jefferson when drafted and their forward line can better accommodate him (as Cadman develops) at the moment as well.

Hayden Young would be the one I’d love to pinch back, but he looks pretty settled at Freo.

Will be indexed for this Trade/FA period, last period was exempt because CBA & new conditions & cap were (deemed by the AFL) agreed too close to last year’s trade period for clubs to factor in to deals. Never mind that indexing to the Agreement would have lowered the McKay compensation below band 1 based on the current CBA salary structure.

Very good mates apparently. Have been really impressed with Windsor’s composure in traffic and ability to use his agility to weave out of stoppage. His inside game and ability in the contest is much further along than I saw from him last year and think he’ll eventually get some CBA’s as the season goes on. It’s a massive bonus (and weapon) for us going forward. I know our recruitment team loved Watson, but they were pretty bullish on Windsor. 4 games in and we can already see why.

Marty Hore?

Love RoCo!