DeeSpencer

Corbett’s never looked remotely like a winger to me, that could last about as long as Tomlinson’s mfc wing career. But the point probably stands - you’re then adding a career VFL player to a new position, that’s even less exciting. I’m not expecting miracles, I’m ok with Grundy, a back up forward like Corbett and then a couple of possible pieces to the puzzle. Use the draft to add top 15 players, find a few more guys to fill out the 22-30 spots on the list, rely on our current role players to do the job of 15-22 as they did when winning a flag. That’s better than paying overs for the 16th best player who now costs money we don’t have.

A tall footballer who exists, often through the midfield, more than a midfielder.

I don’t mind him. He’s not great - always lacked a little speed or skills, but we could get him fitter and doing a job. He was one of the covid nightclub guys which would’ve put him off side at the eagles. If they sign Hunt looking for speed we could get Nelson for free, give up some speed but get back a little more skill. He might be the best half back I’ve seen available so far.

He’s either 90% of Spargo at half forward or a less upside version of Bowey as a half back

I wish salaries were public so I could confirm but I hope Smith, Melk and Hibbo are all in the 200k range, where Hunt as a free agent is probably getting 400k and a longer deal. It’s worth wondering if keeping any of the 3 we are supposedly keeping is worthwhile anyway but they might be in a different salary category to Hunt. Hopefully we see some action for at least one player in the tall forwards or outside run category so we can see the trade off in losing Hunt.

Whilst he’s not on the Jetta or Hibbo level you can see Hunt actually reads the play and makes decisive defensive actions. Smith is tentative and you can see him pause to think before acting. Add in his 4 month injury every year and he can’t be relied on. Losing Hunt will lose depth from the one part of the ground we actually had more than the bare minimum to fill a 22. Now it’s either a player not on the list, a big downgrade to Smith if available, moving Brayshaw again or relying on Judd McVee making a leap??? A JT special who’s ready to go would be nice, but maybe we actually do have a functioning pro scout department ready to find a delisted or state league option?

They’re some priorities but Brown and McDonald will only have 1 year left and might even be open to retiring if things don’t come good for them. Can get someone on a slightly backloaded deal knowing those 2 will both be either gone or on nothing in 2025

Would’ve liked Gunston. I think the combination of Gawn, Gunston, Fritsch and one pack smashing key forward (JVR/Brown/McDonald) could’ve worked pretty well. But we’d be looking at 3 over 30’s forwards on the list plus Gawn. As well as opening some space for JVR we save a nice wad of cash to go after a proper long term solution to the other key forward role. Just sounds like it won’t be next year.

And Gunston is way more consistent at the contest and with defensive work rate. Fritsch has a lot of work to do to catch Gunston’s career

yeah but they’ll start with a 6 goal handicap if they pick Daniher

They might be able to get the McStay compo then work out a trade with Hawthorn. After the Hawks attempted fire sale last year they probably can’t stand in the way of Gunston going and at nearly 31 his own compo shouldn’t rate highly

We’re losing the only player in the league who has the athletic ability and footy craft to become a Blicavs type player and I’m not a huge fan of it to be honest

Atkins and Blicavs as defensive on ballers were so valuable. That allowed them to rest rotate Dangerfield and Selwood. Those 2 have been good for 55 disposals a week whilst their opponents got 60+. With a proper defensive mix in the middle they stopped leaking easy possessions to the oppositions best players. The extra midfield depth and Stengle meant they stopped playing Higgins or Dalhouse or any of the other over the hill half forwards they had been rolling out too.

Gus doesn’t really drive much ball movement though. Most of the time if he’s kicking on the run the ball lands in the crowd

Rightly or wrongly Stengle was seen as a young man from a difficult upbringing who deserved a second chance after being booted from the afl system. De Goey comes from a privileged background, is older and hasn’t hit rock bottom. Combine that with the much greater risk in terms of dollars and it’s just not worth it I’m not convinced his recent behaviour has been as bad as the media makes out, but the fact he hasn’t stopped putting himself in dramatic situations is a concern.

Bummer, I really wanted to sign him

Pick 8 contains some great names like Serong, Bartel, Corey and the upside of Tarryn Thomas and Peter Wright. But it also has Mayes, Longer, Butcher, Vickery, Ah Chee. For the same salary we could have got Amon or McStay this year and I assume we’ll be hunting similar or better players next year. In our window of contending I’m taking the player(s) over the risk of the pick.

I'd imagine a team bring Bowes in signs him for 3 years 2 million. That's 666 per year. He gets his 825 for 2 years (1.65) and then a third year at 350k to smooth it over. Given he's probably worth about 333k you're paying 333k per year extra across the 3 years. My question is what would we prefer over the next 3 years: Option A) 2 solid 333k players. For instance Hunt and another player, both of whom might fit the best 22 better. Option B) bank that 666k to put towards 1 really important player coming in to the best 22 Option C) Bowes, who really might not fit the best 22, and pick 7* I can see the appeal of option C. But I've said all along I just don't think Bowes is that bad or that expensive that he'll demand pick 7 outright. I still think the Suns will ask for a future first or an early second in return for pick 7 and they won't have interest in our pick. Suddenly we've paid out the chance of signing 1 or 2 important players to improve the team and we've got a pick 8 (post Ashcroft bid) in a draft we're already working to secure a top 10 pick in and we might've given up a future first to do so. That's a dangerous part of the draft to have 2 nibbles, particularly when you're in a contending window and won't be prioritising game time or coaching towards young players. I'd want it to be pick 7 straight up and I'd want our coaches to be really keen on Bowes and have a spot for him. If neither of those things are true and we'd be stuck with Bowes and only shuffling a pick up the draft board from next year to this I'd be reluctant. I'd need JT to convince me the pick 7 and any Jackson picks are falling in a very tasty part of the draft in which 2 bites can be important.

If it’s true it means he’s more cooked that they’re let on. But his 1million a season will also hamper them for any/all of the next 5 years too, so it’s hardly like they’ve lost the incentive to move him on.

I can’t think of another coach that had a very healthy win percentage, was stiff to get sacked and then was never thought of as a good assistant yet alone in the mix to get another senior gig. Probably something to that

SHocking probably investigated his own handy work before setting the cats up with a dream fixture then driving back down the highway

I’d hope Collingwood and GWS hold out for better picks, threaten to send at least one of those guys to North. I doubt they’re getting pick 7 straight up regardless but somethings really fishy if the Cats find the room needed for Bowes. Might be the move that forces the AFL to finally dig in to that magical salary cap

I missed that, but also no proof it’s a done deal, and that came before the Rioli stuff. No reason we couldn’t table a similar offer and save him moving states.

Yes we would, but I think we’d also be letting a midfielder go. I get in trouble when I mention who I’d let it go if Cerra was coming in but it might rhyme with Bus Playflaw.

Whilst that isn’t really fair, frankly, yes. Most of the worst trades involve paying big prices for players who can’t get on the park or play to the best of their abilities due to injuries. There’s plenty of time for Lever to deliver a lot more good footy for us but apart from 2021 he hasn’t delivered. I’m not expecting to win the flag each year and Lever’s just about paid for himself getting us 1 flag, but dogs fans said that about Tom Boyd who played about 1 good game in his entire contract. It’s fairly true but also underwhelming. We paid a similar price for May as we did Lever, and after an awful first year he’s been All Aus level in 3 of 4 years. I’m sure Lever and the club both expect him to string some good years together to continue to get value from the deal. That’s not unreasonable.