rpfc

I wouldn't be surprised - he looks like the best option available. And I would wish him well but his replacement would be difficult.

$400k will be near average salary by the time the contract is up. The question, besides whether it is true, is how much he will cost in a trade. Really don't understand the handwringing...

h_h is going the right way for a holiday over October.

Essendon are notorious for dealing with in October... Hope he is comfortable going through the draft.

Very unlikely - he has to agree. Why would he agree if he can simply go wherever he wants as a RFA? We can threaten to match the salary, but if we are trying to trade him - that doesn't make it seem like we are really going to match the salary... Technically possible, but undeniably implausible.

What does that trade scenario look like if he is a Restricted FA?

Double negative, HT...

Knowing full well that Sydney would take him at ND18. We were making a point. Unless you think that Sydney were a chance not to take him at ND18?

Some also said we shouldn't take him at ND3 if we were forced to...

So impressive. I could give in to some MFCSS if I wanted to but this kid is already good and will be a star.

He can stay on our terms. Let's play out the 'just get rid of him' scenario - no-one wants to trade anything for him of value, we baulk at the ND56 we have been offered by the only club that is the race for him. He goes into the draft with his terms on his head and that club takes him at ND75 or PSD5. We are left with the equivalent of a delisted player and the player we pick at the end of the draft is delisted a year or two years down the track. Suddenly, you have turned a third tall forward on the fringes (at worst) into nothing. Do that enough times, and you are left with a little bit of (2008-2013) history repeatin...

Happy to keep Howe for what he is worth. Same with Garland.

Destined for the midfield but that left leg has to stay in the backline next year unless we get a couple of HBs with some kicking ability.

You misread what one poster wrote to argue against a non-existent point that no-one made. Your cap is firmly on there...

Amend thread title please mods.

Look, I was going to just write 'No' but that isn't fair - I don't see him with a role in this team. Far too slight to be back up ruck and Watts or Howe would be a better option as a third tall in the forward line. I really cannot understand how he played on Sat Night with Stringer, Crameri, and Dickson in that forward line. He is also not a great footy player, soft, and with adequate to sub par skills. So... No.

Then respond to that post if you can find it.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of Demon fans that think like this excitable Neanderthal. Honestly, we can't do things for the game? 'Just concentrate on winning' isn't an argument against being involved in a growing area of the game, it's an argument for good time management. And this will be good for the club in the short term, medium term, and long term. I am glad that we are still heavily involved in the Women's game and look forward to it continuing.

This is a game - we are trying to dangle a player to get something while also not making it as if he has to go should we not get anything worthwhile. You don't build lists by taking offence at contract posturing and cutting ties. Nathan Jones was very nearly an Essendon player. That would have involved a great deal of posturing and negotiation...

Keep in mind that a back up ruck spends 20 mins in the ruck a game, most of it against a similarly skilled back up ruck. The 'role' is a priority - but the rucking ability of this hypothetical player is not.

Football is football. There are role players at AFL level playing in good teams that are not there for their hardness at the footy - they provide other attributes that a team needs. Mate, I don't care whether you are coaching Eltham U/19s or AFL - the best teams are going to have a hard edge, but they also going to be balanced.

Well, I am in that mob but yeah, chewing gum and walking at the same time is possible...

Oh, it wasn't sugar... I was being facetious. My own team has a couple of softies that do their thing on a flank and wing and we keep them in there because they provide pace and skills that a couple of harder fringe players do not have. We prefer to win games with a balanced side than lose on a principle. And that's my view if Watts stays in 2016.