Fat Tony

How does this change things in terms of having additional leverage over GWS WJ?

They ignored the draft but they have also nailed some late picks in Worley, Lewis and Sicily.

Great post. Our forward line could be enhanced by either adding a Ben Brown or a Tom Papely. It’s about class not type. One player I think is probably attainable is Brody Mihocek. He’d be on low money and the pies cap is tight.

Agree on KK. We should avoid drafting outside midfielders though. Better to have too many inside midfielders than miss on our picks IMO.

The Langdon and Frost trades should be viewed independently and the only real link was our salary cap. We already had picks, so we could have easily used them to get Langdon. And we hardly got that much for Frost anyway (sum of value worth roughly #50). From a salary cap perspective, Spargo, Oscar McDonald, Preuss and Baker are all examples of our poor list mismanagement, as they are over paid/won’t make it. So I would have pushed one of them out. Anyway, getting Langdon is by far the highlight of our trade period.

Or maybe you could be happy to pick up Langdon but would have preferred to sacrifice someone other than Frost.

Sure Frost lacks smarts and made poor decisions at times but he has elite athleticism and intensity. This trade will be a real failure for our coaching staff if Hawthorn can harness his ability IMO.

Yes, that could work, but I heard on Trade Radio that Bonar is on a very large contract for two years. Bonar also doesn't really fit from a needs perspective. The point is I don't know if GWS would do the Adelaide deal unless there was another deal with us (at least in principal). We may have said we want to be in the top 5 in the draft (including Thomas Greene). I think this deal could also tie in with Fremantle to see us go from 3 to 6/7 to get Langdon.

This may be a two stage deal for GWS and we will slide to pick 4.

I had a bet on Dusty for the Norm Smith this year and so I watched him pretty closely in the Grand Final. Without having the stats, he appears to run less than any midfielder in the competition. He starts in the centre bounce and only ever really runs forward. Obviously he is full throttle when the ball in nearby. The best thing about how the Tigers use him is that he plays as the deepest forward, almost like a traditional full forward. As much as Petracca needs to improve his tank, I would actually like to see him cover less distance in a game and conserve his energy a bit more so he can have greater intensity at the contest.

Varcoe would add pace and class to a side that lacks decent small forwards and wingers. He would come at zero cost in terms of draft picks and modest salary. He would also come with the benefit of a one year deal, whereas pick 88 gets two years. I would be less inclined to go for Varcoe if we land Elliott.

Varcoe and McIntosh are the two I would go after. I’m sure our salary cap is tight. Both would come cheaply and be best 22.

I think Tomlinson is a downgrade on Jones on the wing. He’s slow and can’t chase or tackle and doesn’t get enough of the ball.

It would be pick 11 more likely if they go this way (after the 10 non-finalists).

My guess is the AFL have been testing the waters on what to give GCS and leaking to the media.

Good summary 55. I don’t see Viney anywhere other than the midfield. I think he was ok this year and he will be much better for a preseason. And i fear Jetta is finished. I’m also not sure if Weideman has the agility required, but we really need to persist. I feel Joel Smith could be a solution on a wing or forward.

Of the list you provided, Betts, Cyril, Elliot, Ryan and Cameron all have/had the ability to get off the ground and take a hanger. Breust is also good in the air. McDonald Tipungwuti, Papley and Willie Rioli are all very good/good players, but my point is that recruiting small forwards without the ability to take a high mark rarely pays off at AFL level.

I think we could do with a small forward but on the proviso that we don't draft anymore midgets. All AFL players need to be able to compete in the air these days, so I would look very sceptically on anyone sub-180cm. And even then they need a leap. Players like Petracca, Hannan and Hunt are small forwards in the AFL and all are 186cm+.

Crows will want Petty in return, who I wouldn't want to see go.

The difference between McIntosh and Stretch, Kennedy Harris, Spargo etc is that he is actually big enough to compete and win one-on-one contests, which is vital on the wing.

His goal kicking was much improved this year. Levi could be Earl Spalding in reverse. Is he a free agent?

I agree with all of this but he should have played on Friday night to give us a target. It was the stupidest decision Goodwin has made all season.

Always

I would love to know the reason why we dropped Hunt, our second highest goal kicker, and picked two midget forward pockets. Particularly when we have no key forward/relief ruckman.

Good analysis 55. What are your thoughts on targeting Ellis instead as a FA?