Redleg

Well a forward pocket kicking 14 points against the Lions, puts us into the PF for starters.

Who won last year? This game has been won by 22 blokes playing for each other, with relentless pressure and hardness at the ball, against a soft bunch of fumbly nervous boys. That said I am sure we are looking for a key forward.

Whatever else we do in trade week, I hope we do this deal. It will add an experienced, high draft pick, utility player to our list and give us a crack at one of the best 7 kids in the draft, maybe a key forward, who could play with JVR for the next dozen years. Then, even if we trade our LJ picks for a proven player or two, we have still gotten a top end youngster.

Well let's analyse that. We had 12 players playing injured in the finals. Our Captain was nearly crippled with groin, back and knee issues and probably shouldn't have played. We had both opponents under control in the first half. Our kicking for goal was as bad as it could be, missing some absolute sitters, while our opponents kicked goals out of their behinds, yet if we had kicked straight in only one of the games, we would have played in a PF. We gave away about 6-7 undisciplined 50 metre penalties, that cost us goals and probably were unlucky with frees both for and against, that cost goals. We clearly couldn't run out either game and with half the side playing injured that is not a shock. No surprise that both clubs today have just about their best side playing. We lost the games by 22 points to a GF team and 13 points to the Lions, both teams posting about their highest pressure for a half in their history. While I am not a great fan of our game plan, we are clearly not far off the best and with last year's injury run, or even a better run than we had late in this season, we would probably be playing for back to back today. IMO we are a very good team, that needs a good run with injury, like every other team and maybe with a couple of new players in and a bit of tinkering with the game plan and we are back.

No, just trying to add some excitement to your day, on a rumour that may or may not eventuate. TBH I haven’t seen much of Henry, but just looking at what he might add to our situation.

That is probably coming from a Pies source.

Agree, but he could be the catalyst for Kozzie signing on long term for us and that would be exciting. If Toby leaves he could be the replacement and that is exciting, but less so of course. He could add an extra bit of pace and goal scoring to our game and that is somewhat exciting.

I was on that bandwagon but maybe the ride has stopped for me. I now think it’s the nett result that really matters. For example if we get the boy we want with a later pick, but would have used our earlier one to get him anyway, same result for us. So I think success in trading has to be assessed on the final result and with draftees, we know that will usually take a while in the analysis and with hindsight as the major measurement tool.

They may be trying to include him in a trade.

Sadly only 2.5 weeks of this left at most.

Well he is apparently good friends with Henry. Who was Clarry hugging in his Insta photo? Which club does he come from? Do they want anyone from us? There is room in Kozzies home now as one roommate is leaving. If your mate comes to your club, it’s another reason to stay with the club you love.

I was one who wanted us to look at Brander last year, I was wrong.

I hope not.

Understandable. An interstate side against a privileged country side.

Harley Reid 2023 number 1 pick.

If Jayden leaves, Bowes is 3 years younger, slightly taller and a better user of the ball. He also comes with pick 7. We could lengthen his contract and amortise it. That means we could get our next key forward as well, with JVR coming in and Tom and BBB probably on their last legs. This is a golden opportunity.

I didn’t want 5 players delisted, as 2 are contracted or FA, Tomo and Hunt. I would not be unhappy to move on the other 3 and as I said, one or both of the other 2 could leave for better money or opportunities. If that happened and Bowes came, we add a hbf with him, get pick 7 and have a large amount of salary cap room for use. We would also have a pick for Tomo if he left and a compo pick for Hunt if he left. These picks can then be bundled to get one better one. I however don’t expect that to happen. Personally I would rather bring in high end young talent, than keep a 33 year old Hibbo and 32 year old Melk for one year. Even moving on Baker, Melk and Hibbo would be more than Bowes contract. We still would have Salem, Bowey, Smith, Turner, Rivers, Brayshaw, JJ and Bowes as back flankers with maybe Taj as another to come, if they all went, which is highly unlikely and Melk and Tomo aren’t half backs anyway. For example Matthew Jefferson, the Vic Metro FF would likely be there at 7. Would you rather have him, or Hibbo and Melk for one year. There are plenty of other young players if not him. This is a great opportunity with the Jacko trade as well, to get a few high end talented players. We might not get this type of opportunity again in the next few years.

Spargo was in hospital with a damaged larynx. Viney has just had eye surgery. I supect Clarry may have had a fractured cheekbone from the Swans game and certainly was hampered by a recent broken thumb. That is 12 players not at their peak fitness. Despite that only poor kicking cost us a PF, so we are still thereabouts.

I think we all know who they are.

You add Baker and one of or both of Melk and Hibbo and you are well ahead on salary cap room.

We must attempt to continually upgrade and improve our side, to achieve the best chance of long term success. That could among other things, involve letting DL favourites go.

Read the post I answered. I was answering who would play Hibbo’s role if he left.

I would love to have seen Toby tried on a hbf, with his pace and line breaking, like the highly successful Daniel Rioli move.

He plays mainly half back.

Perhaps the same bloke we use if he is injured and in the years to follow.