Bring-Back-Powell

It reads as if Collingwood actually want to go up there in round 1.

Proposed week 1 scenario according to Sam McClure who seemed very confident: Gold Coast V Richmond Brisbane V Carlton Sydney V Collingwood GWS v Essendon

McClure suggesting Melbourne won’t be involved in the weekend. And a couple of games will be in QLD on the same weekend.

If this comes to fruition, it would be our first ever round 1 game interstate that wasn't in Perth. Strangely, we wouldn't have the following week off. Hopefully it will be the week before gather round as we look gassed in Adelaide last year.

We will definitely be going to Alice next year, though it's unknown what round. I used round 16 as an example of when he could potentially return in 2024.

Given Melksham's in the twilight of his career, they may be inclined to rush him back a bit quicker than if a kid has done his ACL. Hopefully he's fit and available by round 16-18 and he can replicate his 2023 season - i.e. - return for the round 16 Alice Game and then make an extremely large contribution from that point onwards. We missed him dearly in the finals. Even in the round 24 Sydney game before he did his knee, he had 2 goals to his name and was causing havoc to Sydney's defence.

Fair point but I’m still bitterly disappointed that players such as Max Gawn can’t nail a seat shot as far out as the point post that cost us a trip to Brisbane while I have to then see Sidebottom and De Goey nail the tough shots under extreme pressure. Hopefully McAdam can address our inaccuracy woes, and he can, as I’ve seen him nail low percentage shots on the boundary, including one at Geelong. If you go through our list, there wouldn’t be too many players batting at 68% from a G.B perspective.

He’s gone at 68% in front of goal since 2021. Given inaccuracy was the number 1 reason Melbourne went out in straight sets, then yes, I’d say he is worth pursuing at the appropriate price.

He didn’t lose his spot. He copped a medium term injury in round 6. He returned to the side in round 17-23 when the Crows were in the thick of a finals spot. He missed round 24 due to a cheekbone injury.

Hopefully he’ll be a Luke Jackson brand at a KMart price.

I’m all for bringing in established forward talent to rectify our forward line issues but Darling only managed 26.19 in 20 games in 2023. That is quite frankly a terrible return for a bloke of his stature and presumably expensive contract. T Mac would easily manage 26 goals in 20 games.

Carlton yes. Collingwood no.

Unfortunately the highlighted won't be in our round 1 side.

Brisbane probably couldn't guarantee Gunstan a game next year in his exit interview. I didn't think they missed him in the finals, and didn't have a great year overall.

Seems fair. The potential upside is we trade in a player who could potentially kick 35-40 goals if he can stay injury/suspension free next year and has kicked 60.28 the last 3 years which puts our atrociously inaccurate 2023 squad to absolute shame. The difference between a future second rounder and third rounder isn't the difference between winning a premiership and handing back the keys to the AFL and closing down for business. I'm sure Adelaide won't be doing us any favours after the Petty affair.

Yeah I'd take him, but if he's specifically requested a trade to Hawthorn, then he'll get to Hawthorn.

I think at least one of the two should retire from the game. One looked completely out of his depth in the finals and the other's been nursed for much of his tenure at the MFC. However, they are both contracted and are legally/financially obliged to play on next year so we can't hold it against them for continuing. It's a long 24 round season, Petty can't be relied upon to play a full season, JVR is still young and Melksham won't be available until August. T Mac and BBB will be called upon at different stages of the season and will be useful depth provided they can spend the majority of the year outside of the casualty ward.

I'd say he has a lot less than a few years left. Otherwise, you make a good selling point about picking up Caddy.

I wonder if he gets booed if/when we play Sydney at the MCG next year? Surely not.

Great deal for West Coast assuming they get the player they wanted with their first pick regardless of pick 1 or pick 4.

Not paying a cent of his salary probably explains the mediocre set of draft picks we got in return from Sydney.

They'd probably ask for a Rivers, JVR or McVee in the package.

On the assumption we're chips in on next year's flag rather than taking a potential step back: Petty should only be traded if Harry McKay or an equivalent proven key forward is coming through the doors. And even McKay won't solve our atrocious conversion for goal under pressure (although he once kicked 58.33 in a season) I cannot fathom how the list management and coaching team will be confident of winning next year's flag with T Mac, BBB and JVR as our 3 best key forwards, while losing Petty and not recruiting another established KPF. The fact that they (probably) called T Hawkins shows you how the club feels about their tall forward depth chart, and how life would look like without Petty. Unless we get a proven 35-40 goal a year tall forward which is what Petty is highly likely to kick next year off a 20+ game season, then we'll hold Petty to his contract.

Round 23 2018 V GWS and then week 1 2018 elimination final was peak James Harmes. I think he polled 8-10 coaches votes in both games. Not surprising he signed a long term contract in 2019 given he was at the peak of his form.