Dappa Dan

Class act fence... my boy o-hizzle made me proud today.

Yeah. If you look at our midfield, Jones, Vince, Lewis are getting on. Oliver, Viney, Tracca are A grade. We definitely needed Brayshaw as much as Lever. In fact, in a couple of years, we'll need to have found 4-5 really good midfielders. Harmes, Melksham, ANB could carry some of that weight.

Yeah that's why I said I thought it was unlikely. But you never know... Funny things happen in trade weeks. What if someone wanted Kent, ANB etc... Suddenly there's room.

Most are going to say no. I would go for it for the right price tho. Trouble is, the right price is a third rounder, which they'd laugh at. That and we have forwards galore that need games. I reckon he would go well under a different coach, like Bevo. Also the Ablett thing might see Motlop moved on, not necessarily to Gold Coast, but in a three wayer like the Clark/Varcoe/Lamumba deal. So Motlop, could we reform him into a rebounding defender? I have a bit of a theory about the Cats that's rattling round my head. I reckon raiding them for players is a good idea. Why do they seem to have only two guys that anyone's scared of? Selwood is a star footballer... but I really think, given some of the smack talk that's come out of his mouth aimed at Viney and Jones, that he has a massive, massive ego. Leigh Matthews style. In an environment where Danger is such an immense talent, and Selwood is such an ego, I wonder if it's the place for a young player to feel like he can become a superstar. To take a game by the scruff of the neck and express himself. I think it's imperative that 22 guys are given the confidence to feel like they can go for the high mark, kick an impossible goal. In other words there should be 22 leaders... the Cats in the Bartel era were exactly that. The current Cats seem to have so many talented kids that don't do that, but pass off to Selwood and Danger and let them do it. I know with teams, so often, it's really not a team, but a team of blue collar types, and then a few guys that really do 80% of the work. That's one of the reasons I love the team currently as the leadership of Viney and Jones really does bring in their team mates, rather than demand the ball and attention themselves. It's usually about the team mate more than themselves. Take a Motlop and put him in a team where he's given the privilege of being able to play his own game? Yeah. He might work. I don't think it'll happen though. We're actually a tough team to get into at the moment and going forward. And we also have a few specific needs.

Well. No. That's not a fact. That's an opinion. We have a lot of improvement left in us in the midfield, that much is true. But we've been smashing clearances, contested ball and tackles all year. We're one of the best sides in that regard. When we lose, it's not because the midfield is't pulling its weight. Another opinion: Our inside fifties have been appalling. We get slaughtered on the rebound every week. Our wins were on days when we curtailed the influence of opposition HBs (Saints), or when we were against sides that made errors when slingshotting the ball (dons). If we can hit a target going inside fifty consistently, THEN our results are different. Hence why Jesse up and running is of so much importance.

That's what I'm thinking. The team has great depth throughout the whole list. Most times when we turn up our worst six are kids with great potential who can't play 4 quarters yet. Often they're not stars, but we sort of already have the talent at the pointy end. Hogan, Oliver, Trac, Viney, Gawn... I'd pit them against any teams best five in two years. That's I think why so many are in the Lever camp. We don't need to do a Salem/Tyson trade. We don't need to roll heaps of players into the team to get a list together. If we do go for a big time free agent or trade, make it a Lever type., but failing that... I really hope the club develops the players we already have. I have a bad feeling that if we did get May, we'd have to give up our first rounder... likely to be around pick 8-10... or even worse... We'd have to trade away, say, a couple of Kent, Harmes, Spencer, AVB or ANB... Each one of those guys could go on to play 100 games. ANB and Harmes possibly a lot more. That's just bad numbers for us. Giving up players with big AFL futures in terms of games played and potential, for just a few seasons of a good player.

In the couple of years before his ban, I had him in fantasy and he was an incredible ball winner. I hadn't watched him closely, and had imagined he wasn't much of a ball user. Anyone who got it that much and I didn't know who he was must slaughter it. When he was traded I couldn't believe we only gave up a second rounder. Still can't to be honest. Literally hasn't played anything but great games for us. The only negative is that if he played the first four rounds like he did these four, he'd be in everyone's All Australian side. As it stands though, I'm thinking he'll be ignored. Any excuse to squeeze players out.

To each their own. I don't have him rated that high. Plus I don't like the idea of going two years with only one pick in the first 2 rounds.

I'd be furious if we [censored] away a first rounder. If we're not gonna go for a seasoned pro and pay up for him, I want us to look further afield and take a punt. Someone like Sam Day who woulc come cheap possibly, given his injury history.

Yeah. In terms of quality, it's Lever all the way. A lot depends on what happens to the existing guys. You never know when they might make like the Brown boys and free agent themselves away. I'm for the May signing. Would get us very seriously considered for finals. But in terms of age profiles, I'd really love to see us stash a Talia type away and wait 3 years. The real red meat on the list is still 19-22. Speaking of Lever. What does the Hartigan signing do?

That's our big problem Dazzler. 3 rebounding KP defenders. No big gorilla killers. 3 of the same kind. My heart tells me unless Frost somehow morphs into a 2-metre-player killer, one of the three will have to go out. I would have nominated Frost, since he's not a skill player... But man he's been absolutely lethal on the rebound.

They're already complaining about a lack of tall forwards. lol

I think there were bites, but none significant enough... and before it got interesting and late in the piece, Watts stayed out of nowhere. I remember thinking at the time it had something to do with the collective bargaining mess. Bit like Hogan. I think given roles that players play, and flexibility, Watts could net a late first rounder, and that's not just a positive demons supporter carrying on. It would require him playing well the rest of the year. He's only had 2 bad games the last two weeks and has been great the rest of the year. He's very much a cream player. Put him in a side playing well and he'll really produce. My problem with him is he's just not tough, and can't mark without another 10 kilos. On the positive side he was awesome last year, has been super this year. The league is onto him now, and the media has watched him closely and seen his workrate get bigger. Has a huge engine now. And with his unbelievable kick and versatility, he'd be super attractive. Just look at what happened with Vickery.

It makes sense because it won't take a first rounder to get him. I'd prefer the next rance, but that would cost too much, or take too long to develop. Getting affordable solid defenders as the Hawks have done over the years with Gibson, Frawley and others is a good call as long as we're a destination club and we don't have to give up too much. We have a core of 12 or so guys who are very young that HAVE to be kept. I have a bad feeling we'll be shirting one of our best to get things going. lol at people suggesting trading Kent. No value to other clubs. Watts has value, as does Tyson. I'd prefer to keep Tyson. Having a crappy year, but has won games for us off his own boot in the past. Watts is the interesting one. If you was floated, clubs would come from far and wide, and we could get some really juicy stuff for him.

God damn. How good is he.

HA! Ex demon signs with my Eagles!!!!

He's out for Swans cos he's underdone. Been all over the media. Last year watching him play for them he was great. Intercept marks, spoils, always went to the right spots. And was a half decent rebounder too. Also wasn't error prone like you see defenders sometimes. Composed. He's awesome, you watch. Only debuted this time last year.

I like him, but we have a lot of what he brings. What we'd have to give up for him makes it probably not smart. Aliir Aliir would be amazing. Or Lever even better. Neither will be let go though.

He was unreal. And he was good going back the other way. When time is nigh for Bernie, he'll take over that role. Now we just need Oscar to come on, and find another tall and the defense will be tight for a while with Jetta, Hunt and Lewis.

For sure. I'll point out, by the way. I'm critical, but not down on him. I reckon he'll kick 4 a few times this year, perhaps against teams who have KPD problems, or young teams who tire. And that's really all I need to see. i'm a big believer in the goals kicked stat. 1-2 per game in debut year. 15-30 from 10-15 games second year. Then 40 in year 3... so on and so forth. Depending on role. I look at Adelaide Lynch as a good rule of thumb. Now there's a damn fine footballer. Not a superstar, but by gee he's important. He was drafted in 2008. Didn't play 2009. Played 1 game in 2010. 5 in 2011 for 5 goals and got traded (in a three way for basically a late second rounder). If you go by that rule, by end of next year Weed would have played more and kicked more goals than Lynch in the same period. So I'm more than happy to stick with him. I don't even mind if he stays limited in the way I just suggested. Noone's going to complain if he kicks 60 and averaged ten touches a game. Especially if it gets Jesse up the ground.

- Really? I don't reckon he's thin through the trunk like Watts. I see him more the Waite type. Very broad shoulders and rib cage. As long as he keeps the glutes/quad/core tidy, he'll get that bulk up nice and high. He's doing it already. But yes, he's not bulky in the way Jesse was when he was a teenager. - Oh man. Don't say it.... - That's true of all KP players taken early. I remember before his breakout year the same things being said of Buddy and Roughy. I think by year 3 the nay sayers shut up. Still time for Weed. - Did you mean last years draft? This year's we have all our picks still, at this stage.

Saw the game (who didn't?), and have seen plenty of his footy at Casey, and all his AFL games obviously. I've seen his work below his knees, and I don't think it's a strength. One game against Hawks, in which his feature was his leading and marking (not a handful of handballs) doesn't convince me he has that skill in spades. The 4 games early this year in which he's done nothing of the sort DOES lead me to be concerned. Small sample size, and not cause for massive concern just yet, but it is a factor when it comes to team selection in a year we're 2-2 and potentially going to play finals. I need more than one ok game with a few handballs. I stand by what I said. He looks AFL quality when leading at the ball, and kicking at goal. Otherwise he looks par or sub par in other areas. Over runs the ball, finds himself out of position, and then because of his lack of tank doesn't run the other way, pr hold the ball in. You can think he'll have a nicely rounded game if you like. I prefer to see it first. For example, Gawn and Hogan had traits from day 1 that were excellent and didn't need to be added by coaching. What it'll come down to is how coachable he is. He's nowhere near in the right places yet.

I'm more interested in the McCartin vs Weed comparison. We missed out on the big guy we thought we'd get, and a year later we do a trade to get a big time early pick and take Weed (who we may not have gone for had we had McCartin). Right now neither has done anything, and McCartin has 12 more months in the system. For what it's worth, I'd still pay a good price for Paddy. I think it comes down to having "types" of KP forwards, in the same way we have types of midfielders (fast outside vs in and under). To me, Hogan does everything. Gets up the ground, crashes packs, leads, always has a lighter handy... I'm not saying 2x Hogan wouldn't be Amazing. But realistically if we had two Hogans, that would be a huge chunk of our cap, and one would get poached. I think it's the right plan to have 3 contrasting players. That's why we went for the Adelaide Tom Lynch. Can do all roles but is best when he's using his engine and being the link man for Betts and Walker. How does this relate to Weed and McCartin? Both are lead up forwards. Weed is looking disastrous this last couple of weeks because it's all he does. Yes, he's light framed so we give him a pass... but what worries me is he's only got that lead up, mark, turn, goal skill. He doesn't bring anything else to the game. Is McCartin the same? But taller and heavier? Neither is doing well, but I'd be interested to see which one of the two people prefer going forward... taking parochialism out of it for a second. What if Saints offered us McCartin for Weed, hypothetically?

What about first rounder this year and next. That would be enough to get it done you'd think, even with us considered likely to be later in the first round this year and next. What do demonlanders think of that though?

lol