Adam The God

I'd be all over this. This is a finals team. Jetta -- O McDonald -- Frost/Smith Hibberd -- Lever -- Hunt Gaff -- Oliver -- Vince Petracca -- Hogan -- Motlop Garlett -- T McDonald -- Watts Pedersen -- Viney -- Jones Salem, Lewis, Brayshaw, Tyson I know Gawn had an interrupted year, but we proved our game style held up without him and he really struggled in the second half of the year. My fear is he's the next Mark Jamar (ie. one-hit-wonder). If there's a chance we could cash in at his highest value (ex-AA), I'd do it, as long as club culture is strong enough to keep the younger guys together. Gawn is a superior leader to Jones IMO, so his leadership was missed when he went down. And most importantly, you have to make some tough decisions to win the ultimate sometimes and trading Gawn would be one of them (think marketing, face of the club etc). I'm not sure that's true. Ruckmen are replaceable. Defensive readers of the play that can fill key positions are a lot harder to find.

I'd say it's already a done deal, hence players talking about it. Particularly, as Viney was at the alleged meeting between Lever and MFC people.

Because that worked out so well for Adelaide. Pay what is fair and get the trade done (2017 first rounder and 2017 or 2018 second rounder), so we can move on to other trades that will continue to improve our list.

If the $300k offer is true, that really was playing with fire. That's an insanely low offer in the post 2017-CBA world. I wonder if they knew he was going? I dunno. It doesn't make a lot of sense. Surely, they'd look to pay him at least $400k, even $450k.

I don't think either work as permanent forward options.

2 out of 5 ain't bad. How many in Hawthorn's dynasty did they have in the midfield that could change things? 2? 3 maybe? I fail to see how Gaff being this sort of player is ultimately bad. Smith, Jetta and Hill have all won multiple premierships between them...

I love how we get so picky when we've been banging on all year about our lack of outside run and distribution. Here is a guy that offers precisely that. We were never going to get Kelly, so put that one in the bin. We know that Kelly would compliment any midfield perfectly and is just what we lack, blah, blah, blah. But he's not in the picture. So in turning our attention to a realistic alternative, Gaff really does fit the bill nicely (yes, I do believe Gaff is gettable now that the Eagles' ball winners are all retiring, they'll look to rebuild). Let's really think about this. Gaff is a nice kick, he runs all day, he gets to good positions as a result and would suit our game style to a tee. You only have to look at how integral Hibberd and Hunt's run became to our play this year to know Gaff's strengths are perfect for our team. He's also a far better wing option than the aging and much slower Lewis. And let me ask you this. Does Isaac Smith win his own ball? Does Lewis Jetta win his own ball? Does Brad Hill win his own ball? Gaff is in exactly the same category and would compliment Viney, Oliver, Tyson, Petracca and Salem beautifully.

Who? Lachie Neale the South Australian?

Haven't we already discussed Hall in the trade rumours thread? Anyway, as I said in that thread, he has the very odd game where he looks like a world beater, but he's a turnover merchant most of the time. He reminds me of another Harmes, which we don't need. Runs hard, gets into good positions, but usually bites off more than he can chew with his kicking.

This is a very poor post, but each to their own. Tyson is a ball magnet, who needs to improve his kicking/decision making and if he does he'll be A grade. Salem doesn't lack intensity. He goes when he needs to, is a beautiful kick and doesn't lack leg speed either (ie. he's not what I'd call "slow"). You have these guys and add the Hunt's, Hibberd's and another pacey outside mid (Whitfield or Kelly types) and you have just about the complete midfield. If you want to sit there and slash your wrists, fine, but to say only diehard Dees supporters are defending the trade is a load of rubbish.

Very meh on Lang (in the matches I've seen with the exception of Friday, he's a very limited player), but I'll back the pros on this one.

Given our good trading relationship with GWS, I wonder if we have approached them for anyone.

If the above is true, we must be targeting someone else this year with our 2018 pick.

And he would have got away with it too, if it weren't for you, mate.

This is it really. If they were both the same age, I'd err on the side of Watts, but given Stringer has a few years up his sleeve, I'd do this deal. If this was the deal though, I'd be pretty disappointed. I wouldn't give Watts up for Blicavs, but something must be cooking given we've delisted Spencer. Blicavs also seems like he'd fit our system and non-negotiables better than Watts. That said, this seems like a reasonably poor deal for the Dogs and the Cats get away by giving up little.

I'm not saying we're interested necessarily, but you know better than this, mate. Just because it hasn't been reported, doesn't mean we aren't heavily into him. We often play our cards incredibly close to our chest. My feeling with the Lever trade and the Hibberd trade last year, is that they were leaked by the opposite party, in order to pressure us into giving up more. Once again, I'm not saying we're into Stringer at all, but just because we're not mentioned, doesn't rule us out.

That was with the drug suspensions hanging over those trades. Let's hear how he is again this off season. I suspect he'll return to being a jackass.

I'd be all over Saad, though is he big enough to play down back when we already have the diminutive Jetts? If he is part of the Suns firesale, he might come relatively cheaply. Is a third round pick too hopeful?

Agreed. Gaff or Rockliff should be the other targets. Or at least players of their ilk.

Sounds like the only competition is Adelaide. I have no inside info, but my gut is telling me we'll eventually pay two first rounders, we're just playing hardball at the moment.

He's also got that flexibility to his game that Goodwin and the FD seem to like. Can go forward and snag a few, as well as ball magnet it up.

Haha, yep. I'm getting Riddler (without the riddles) vibes!

We might need a separate thread for questions (perhaps I'm missing it?), but surely we'd have to have a look at Rockliff. Have no idea what currency we'd have to get the deal done, but Rockliff would be perfect in the red and blue.

Exactly. So why wouldn't you sign long term with GWS? That tells me he's going to stick it out another two years and then head back to Victoria.

To me it reads as I want to win a flag in the next two years and then return to Melbourne. There's no CBA to wait for now. His currency is at its highest and is unlikely to get any higher than what North are offering.