MadAsHell

Doesn't excite me to be honest. Think there's better and just as gettable options out there.

Free agent at the end of 2016. Provides ruck depth, but depending on what other ruckmen we bring in this off season he may seek more opportunities elsewhere from 2017 onwards.

Reckon we've found a gem here! Think he'll be close to regular 22 by the end of 2016.

Jackson Ramsay for me!

We've already got a good young core of mids. I say any trade for Howe should be for a player who can help us straight away. I'd be very keen on Jackson Ramsay from the Filth. Tough as nails Half Back Flanker with scope to become a midfielder. Great kick of the ball and good pace. The filth wont want to trade him and he's contracted, but I'd be saying if you want Howe you need to cough up! Played the first 5 games this year and was going along great until he got struck down with injury. Fits our needs nicely, although if we got him our needs for Tom Bugg wouldn't be as great.

Wonder who the club would look to get as a replacement for Macca should he be succesful over at Essendon? Funnily enough Neil Craig would have to be a candidate wouldn't he, dependent on Goodwin's relationship with him?

Reckon he'll get picked up as a delisted free agent by the Cats as ruck insurance.

Still our best small defender by some margin. Recruiting Bugg would be important to help give Nev some support.

They'll be saving those picks for Cam McCarthy & Harley Bennell.If Howe were to request a trade to Freo, our best return would be something like Crozier & their third round pick.

Ok I'll play, although it's difficult to predict. FB: Dunn, T. McDonald, Jetta HB: White, Frost, Salem C: Prestia*, N. Jones, Tyson HF: Vandenberg, Hogan, Kent FF: Charlie Curnow*, King, Garlett FOLL: Gawn, Brayshaw, Viney INT: Petracca, Stretch, Trengove, Vince EMERG: Harmes, O. McDonald, Neal-Bullen * Marks potential recruit/draftee. Also worth noting all of Jones, Vince & Dunn would be on their last legs or getting close to it at that point.

Yep, how Motlop polled votes in that game is a joke!

Just realised Jordan Lewis would be a really big smokey seeing as he was suspended this year!David Armitage as the smokey!

Nope. I think there's a decent chance of Curnow slipping to us at 6 depending on what St Kilda do. Not so at 8.

Kennedy from the Swans to over run Fyfe. Jordan Lewis my smokey. Hoges to get most votes for the Dees.

On ability alone Melksham probably is better then Bugg. But Bugg doesn't have a 2 year suspension hanging over his head, so for that reason i'd rather Bugg if i had to choose between the two.

No objections to Bugg here. Has decent pace and spreads well, so he ticks the boxes.

Decided to amend my prediction of above. Pick 6 in this years draft for Tippett from the Swans. Reason being Swans need early draft picks to have enough points to pick up Mills i think it is and Dunkley in the draft through Academy selection and father/son. The Tippett/Franklin experiment hasn't been working for them and they'll stick with Buddy all the way. Been some rumblings Tippett not entirely happy, so we could swoop which also frees up Sydney's cap whcih they need. We'll also trade Howe, Grimes and our first & second round pick of next year for O'Meara, Gorringe & Gold Coast third round pick next year and fourth round pick this year. Reason being Suns will know O'Meara's out the door end of 2016 and they wont want to risk another injury effected year lowering his trade value. So they'll take a 1st & 2nd round picks in next years strong draft, a promoters dream in Howe plus an experienced Grimes to help with their leadership.

Even the very best ruckmen going around in Goldstein, Nik Nat, Jacobs etc have someone in their forward line give them a chop out in the ruck (Brown, Sinclair, Jenkins). I think we should be looking for a forward who's capable of spending minutes in the ruck rather then a ruck who can play forward. But to just hope Gawn can run out 120min every week is a dangerous game. What would we do if he does a hamstring in the opening quarter of a game? We have Pedersen for the minute and King who will hopefully develop over the next few years, but finding someone else to help out for now that's an upgrade on Pedersen certainly wouldn't hurt. Have a sneaky suspicion we may be having a go at Kurt Tippett. But that's just my hunch, not really based on anything.

Looks a slightly stronger version of Jack Fitzpatrick. More of a runner then pack crasher which is probably what we're more after.

James Sicily would be a good get to play the 3rd tall forward role who pushes up into the midfield. Also Jed Anderson as a line breaking midfielder. Either would be good.

Any key forward that we look to recruit needs to meet one major section of criteria. Are they able to provide ruck relief for Gawn while their primary role is to play key forward. If any potential recruit doesn't meet this criteria, then it's a no for me. And Schoenmakers doesn't meet it. I'd prefer us to go with Pedersen.

Banter IMO. Little piece in the PSST sports section of The Age today mentioned the club being very confident of Col staying, just fixing up financials. No such comment was given re: Howe though.

I have nothing against Grimey, but from what I've heard I'll be very suprised if he's still a demon in 2016.

If he'd been injury free for the two years i'd say delist. But given the injuries he has had and the little glimpses he has got to show. Throw in his speed that we lack, i say he's worth re-rookie listing.

Who's playing in the Rugby World Cup tonight?