Stiff Arm

So if we select Watson, our small to small/med forwards will be Watson, Kossie, McAdam, Chandler, Spagonicus, ANB. All with differing rolls, of course, but that's a crowded grouping Unless Watson has potential to eventually play midfield, I'm not sure what the strategy is. It's usually best available at the pointy end of the dtaft, which might be him. I'm hoping for a classy mid at 6 (7). We need to develop the next A grade mid

I think North will either give up 2+3 for 1, or far more likely, use 2 and 3 on Duursma and McKercher On top of their current crop, those two will help set them up for success over the next 10 years; that is, if North can maintain stability and not implode again

Do you know him personally?

Can't see us picking a key forward with our first pick 3 years in a row. We've got JVR, Petty, Jefferson as our tall forward mix, with Schache as support. However, I can see us going after a key forward FA in 2024 Hopefully Sanders with 6, and we trade 11 and F1st for 7 or 8 (O'Sullivan)

Dunstan, Hunter, and now Billings?

Agreed, but I find it hard to see how we can match Norf's bounty. Otherwise, I'd be keen to go for pick 2 or 3 from Norf. McKercher or Duursma would be grand, but not for 6, 11 and F1st. That's a bridge too far

Reckon it might be 11 and F1st for 7 or 8. I'm hoping Lamby and Taylor are targeting O'Sullivan Imagine Sanders/Curtain and O'Sullivan...

True. But if Sanders is available at 6, I think he may become a Dee. Wouldn't it be good to get a classy mid AND a key back in this draft? I think adding midfield class is a high priority in this draft

I can see us enquiring about what 11 and F1st would get. Maybe 8 or 7? 11 will become 15 or 16 after academy bids. If Lamb, Taylor and Goody are set on O'Sullivan, they'll need to get higher than that

But also worth remembering that Petty is contracted for 2 more years, '24 and '25. No one forced him to sign the contract. Adelaide will be asked to cough up next year if they want a contracted player that we've invested heavily in

42 will end up being around 33 by the end of bid matching We can still use it to trade up higher right up to draft night

Indeed. We used a 2nd and two 3rds to bring in Fullerton, Billings and McAdam. Lost Jordan, Harmes and Grundy: depth or surplus to needs. Hibberd, Dunstan retired. And we have 6 and 11 to use in the draft I think that's a good outcome

Paul Roos will be relieved we finally landed Billings

Yet no one knows if Reid or Curtain will be flight risks. Both have come out and poured water over such claims. In fact Curtain seemed to look forward to potentially living interstate, according to the interview I heard. Not all draftees want to live where they grew up. I reckon the Reid/Curtain flight risk thing is a myth

Might've been mini golf 🤣

No, best to use our picks now. Have we ever traded our current 1st for a future 1st?

Good god, NO!

Have WCE categorically stated that their goal is to land Curtain above all else? I know from his interviews that Curtain has said he looks forward to the opportunity of moving interstate and starting a new life, if that eventuates. He did not at all sound like a homesick puppy (or dogga), quite the opposite I'm wondering if this WCE/Curtain arranged marriage is a myth after all

Bomber would need to pay some of his remaining contract, which has as much chance of happening as me wining tatts. And I don't buy tatts tickets

Heck, I'd even throw in the jousting sticks as a sweetener

@Mach5 strikes again!

Neither you nor I know the answer to this. Maybe there is no huge cap space Perhaps the recent long term re-signings are back loaded to 2024 and beyond. Perhaps we have another re-signing to do over summer that involves more money (eg JVR, Petty, Bowey?). Perhaps Harmes was not on that much for 2024. It's all guess work and assumptions from us, KITP!

Did anyone from the club state this, or is it a media and Demonland myth? That we have been moving up the draft board indicates we plan to focus our resources on draft night

We have not been a destination club for good forwards since BBB came across (surely no one would deny he was not important to our flag season?). But we have been a destination club for backs, rucks and wings over the last 5 years or so: May, Lever, Langdon and Grundy

Should all of those guys be uninjured, fit and in some sort of form, sure, we have a reasonable forward line. Some you list I personally do not rate, but that's by the by. Yet, Petty has had a horror run with injuries and JVR is still very much learning his trade. BBB and Tmac are struggling and appear to be cooked. We can only judge on what we've seen across the last season or two I think Collingwood's front half, with the addition of Schultz is the better by some margin, but its almost a moot point, because of the way the two teams play and connect with their forwards. Our midfield/foward connection is more important to fix than changing the personnel. Do this and we can succeed with Petty, JVR, Fritter and some of the others, assuming they are on the park Having said that, if a FA key forward like King chose us next year, I'd be wrapped. Petty as 2nd tall and JVR as 3rd would be awsome. Would lift us from average forward line to top 3 in the comp