DeeSpencer

Another bummer is tightening the academy bidding and lowering the value of lesser picks means we can’t send them 3 second rounders for another one of their firsts tho. Probably get one early pick and one later first with some junk the other way.

Very similar to Butters with the cat like changes of direction and creative disposals.

Pick 7 and 900k+ for Sam Flanders, we played our role as the underbidders! Go for the real prize (Humphrey) or let Jase Taylor do what he’s paid to do!

Are they trying to win the premiership or going all out for 7th? Because the latter isn’t all that admirable. They have 1 genuinely elite player. Some good veterans in Wilkie and Sinclair. And 4 guys who could really be something - Tauru, Max King, Phillipou and to a lesser extent Darcy Wilson. Bringing in more good players will help make life easier for the others so maybe they all take a leap. But to completely empty your salary cap all in one go without getting a true A grader or anyone that seems value for money seems a bit desperate and could really hurt if they don’t take a leap.

Purely in terms of kicking I think this guy might be equal if not better.

Nope, don’t think the Saints have a contract on the table for Heath. Alex Dodson will be their back up. And Max is finally old enough that a half decent back up is willing to join us. Especially when the alternative is to sit behind a guy on 1.7M

Worth trying right up until the trade deadline but if there’s no movement from the suns and a fair package of picks on the table I’d settle for the picks.

We’re pushing Oliver out for what is surely a mix of culture, game plan, contract concerns. There’s no expectation of replacing him with anything. Tracc seemed to bail somewhat unexpectedly. You can’t keep a guy who wants to leave 2 years in a row if you get a fair offer. If we can’t replace with quality that will suck but what’s the alternative?

Viney, Pickett, Langford, Windsor, Lindsay, Culley. Backs: Rivers, Bowey, Salem Forwards: Chandler, Langdon, Sparrow, Henderson, Depth: Tholstrup, Sharp, Laurie, ?Woey Development: Mentha One ready to go half back (so Rivers can play midfielder and Bowser/Salem can have some flexibility) and one ready to go midfielder would be wise I think. But ideally it’s younger guys with upside. I don’t think we’re Jack Steele desperate just yet.

Didn’t we reject Chappy going to Richmond? Why would we suddenly allow him to go to the Pies?

If by training conditions you mean Visy side gigs

Agreed. He’s found his ceiling at afl level and that is an ok player who’s about to be overtaken by of the suns 6 first round picks of the last 3 years.

I don’t think the Suns will be too worried. If he goes to the Saints they’ll be armed with picks 6, 7, 13 and don’t need any of them. All 3 will be traded for points picks with or without Tracc and teams will be lining up to deal with them. Meanwhile do we really hold Tracc hostage for Flanders? Losing 3 best 22 runners in one off season hurts so no doubt Flanders helps cover that. But it’s time to sell Tracc and reboot with committed players. If we have to pick up some delisted types or blood a few more kids for a year so be it.

So if we get the Suns pick 6 which becomes 7 with Eagles compo, take out all the academy and f/s. Duursma, CDT, Robey gone IMO. Sharp probably gone. We’re looking at a pool (with 2 more already gone) with the likes of Xavier Taylor, Schubert, Grlj, Marsh, Cumming. It’s probably pick 10/11 by the time it gets used and that’s about what you get in that range most years, a risk/reward roll of the dice on talent. Useful but far from our priority!

With Rowell and Anderson neither of them will be permanent mids. Have to get Touk Miller and at least one other defensively minded player in the guts. Then the same issue up forward

Thanks to the Collingwood journalist for this quality bit of reporting

My only reluctance is sometimes you get a top 5 pick who is a future captain, no nonsense, culture setter, sure thing 250 gamer. But we thought we had them in the Dean Bailey days and they still didn’t work out. In terms of talent I’d have no issues taking Humphrey straight up over anyone in next years draft even if we end up giving pick 2. And if that cost ends up being selling Tracc for a bunch of late stuff so be it.

I’d be happy to put Tracc and our future first on the table for some later stuff back.

Collingwood don’t have any cash and Carlton are as bad as us. Maybe we haven’t gone all in on Flanders because we have our eyes on the real prize!

The other things he mentioned was how they set up the ground and to take advantage of unpredictable entries. Ie. Get the players in the right positions to receive the ball and suddenly the kicking options and margin for error both increase. Intercept defenders also get caught out by free flowing ball movement. Gryan is the only brilliant kick in the cats mid/ half forward rotation. So they often use him for the tight space short precision kicks. Holmes, Smith, Mannagh, Close couldn’t hit the side of a barn under high pressure, but what they can do is run like crazy and kick low and fast to space with forwards hitting the drop of the ball.

Yep, I didn’t list his deal as an issue, his decline in play and seemingly lack of commitment and leadership when he probably should’ve been captain by 2024 are how he’s hurt us. That pales in comparison to Clarry’s regression and deal and general lack of vision and proactive action with our list management.

Repeat fitness might diminish if they reduce total game time but there’s the speed and skill requirements where Clarry and Tracc are lacking too. The only way to get the ball out the fatside and in to an open 50 is to have mids that outrun their opponents

Geelong committed to Worpel. Saints to Windhager. 3 clubs in on Flanders. Eagles to Dev Rob. A lot of moving parts with midfielders. It seems to me either something changed or they really wanted the coach committed to this decision. Have to think we potentially lost value. Yet at the same time I get why King wouldn’t have wanted this done when he was preparing for the grand final.

Viney doesn’t have the speed and tank to play defensive forward. He’s a mid until the end. Can’t make changes to the style without change the personnel. That’s a square peg in a round hole. The style King wants to play requires elite fitness and ideally skill in the midfield. Oliver and Tracc can’t outrun their shadows or kick.

You know he's my favourite of that bunch. But also doubt GWS move him. Gothard and McMullin both uncontracted after 2026 and down the pecking order even with Darcy Jones doing his knee. Daniels, Bedford and Thomas are the best 22 options.