whatwhat say what

Bugg and Plowman were talked about last year. Melksham and Bugg should be worth about the same - third rounder or straight swap for the likes of Toumpas, Watts, Grimes (potentially plus a sweetener). Both would be in our best 22, but both have got massive spots on them. neither are big possession winners or inside mids, and both have shown to have horrible decision making at times. If we can do Toumpas for Melksham and Bugg for a third rounder I'd be pleased.

Would take it, probably. Would prefer a second rounder on the way back too, but we simply need to recruit some class into the club, and Prestia is that in spades.

Straight swap for Toumpas.

Crows have reportedly confirmed they'll match, First big test of this fallacy of a system.

That ain't gonna do his inability to hit a target by hand or foot any favours... Morton showed far, far more than Toumpas in his first three years. We've dangled him as trade bait for two years in a row and got nothing cos he's worth nothing. A bigger bust than Morton or Gysberts, and only just ahead of Cook and Molan.

at least 17. the only one who maybe, probably wouldn't have picked him was gws. and that's cos their preference was to always draft victorians other sa, wa boys.

If Howe and Garland both left it would make some sense to target him, but we have a plethora of mid-sized defenders which I think Plowman fits into, and I can't see the need for his services.

old man wasn't quick, but he was tough as old boots, bled red and blue, and could find the football. if jake ticks all those boxes, i'd like to add him as a rookie pick over some other anonymous player. there's still got to be room for romance in footy, and the idea of viney, stretch and lovett being in our side makes me a happy camper. i just wish dollars boys had shown some aptitude for the sport. any idea of how jimmy's lad is progressing?

Really hope it's true. We need to land one of Bennell / Hartlett / Prestia / O'Meara this coming trade period.

as i think i said in another thread, the story goes that he was proffered as an option and there were no takers.

Solid player, I'd argue more upside than Melksham. Is a real first dibs mid who then feeds it out by hand; in other words, his kicking is iffy. His defensive workrate - or lack thereof - is part of what's held him back at afl level. Would take him over Melksham.

anyone who thinks hammer is 'not a good bloke' needs their info corrected. he's a genuinely good bloke. i personally find it hard to see him leaving sa, as he's adelaide born-and-bred. he's also a gem of a footballer; his best is ahead of vince at his best in my opinion. he can play half-back but he can also play through the guts - he's started as part of the midfield rotation consistently for port over the last three to four seasons. i don't know why they've got such a boner for dixon; mitch clark mk 2 (in that he only gets on the field about 12-16 times a season in good years). but if someone like hartlett falls to a club such as ours as a result then bring it on.

Ironically in the Hawks-Crows game the other night, the latter had more Vic boys playing for them than the former.

He's a jet. I can't believe the Power would be turfing him to create salary space for Dixon. He's two to three times the player that Dixon is. Classic SA boy who never wanted to leave his home state, so hard to believe he'd pick us over the Crows. Nevertheless... Get. It. DONE.

There's actually a pretty solid history of players, coaching and administrative staff switching btw the crows and the power. Hammer would be our best mid. Seeing as we are apparently not in the race for Bennell this becomes my next Get. It. DONE.

Can't believe Port would trade Hammer. He's a jet. If we can pinch him I'd be ecstatic but the Crows will go hammer and tongs to secure him.

Interesting listening to ABC and SEN yesterday. ABC with one of the journos from the Age and one from AFL Media are pretty adamant that Melksham to Dees for our second rounder will happen early on once trade period opens up, and that it's probably a good deal for both parties. The Age journo's brother is Howe's manager, and he was reluctant to comment on him, but it seems his asking price has fallen by some $2-300k, and he's happy to stay with us - primarily because no one is all that interested in him at his asking price. Listening to SEN, it seems that the story is the same for both Garland and Watts - with the former, there seems to a general feeling that he's explored his options and his contract offer will be higher at Melbourne than anywhere else. With the latter it was really interesting - slobbo said that he's been shopped and there's been absolutely zero interest in him, especially as he has a year to go on his contract, and the vibe is that any club recruiting him would only want to pay him a bare minimum contract not what he's on at melbourne. it seems that, like us, other clubs have no idea what to make of him; they can all see his upside but think he lacks the basic fundamentals to be a regular AFL player. the general acceptance seemed to be that he'd stay with us for at least the next year, if not beyond, as no one has any idea as to where he fits into a side's make-up as he's lacks a true position and seeminly lacks the desire to become an AFL-level player.

Would happily have Moore at the club but would've thought Grimes was rated a little bit higher than him. Maybe grimes and our fourth rounder moving in one direction for Moore and a third rounder.

Gotta say, I'm on the fence re Goodwin too. Anything involved in the never ending scandal at the bombers bothers me. Plus I hated him when he was at the Crows. Prove me wrong with six premierships in a row, please!

Very surprising he was delisted. I know he was rated quite highly internally. I guess sometimes things don't work out for players / clubs.

His stats for the next couple of years could be far far worse...

Viney.

ultimately if he doesn't go in a trade in this time period then he is an rfa at the end of next season - no doubt he'll explore his options. compensation may not exist in any form.

it's a hope and dream with trenners unfortunately. it seems feet are the new knees, and coming back from them is a super tough ask. to be honest, if he can get back on the field this year i am expecting a lot of soft tissue injuries (hamstrings, calf etc.) as that seems to be the standard injury following feet injuries. i basically don't even consider him when contemplating the future direction of the side. he's a pipedream rather than a reality.

first time since we had scully and trengove debut in 2011 that i've thought 'yep, here's a genuine mid who could become a star'. the favourite piece of play that i saw from him this season was the intercept of a cats forward thrust late in the win down at kardinia park, then some run and carry and then my memory wants to tell me that he hit the target with the kick...but i can't actually remember whether he did or not. if he has one weakness it's that he needs to tidy up his disposal.