DeeSpencer

Assume it means our 5th round pick that isn't listed. Right now it sits at 83 but there's likely a few teams will pass by then and Brisbane will chew up most if not all of 7 picks to get 2 players in. Carlton, Ess and Gold Coast will all chew up more picks than players. The 5th pick of round 5 last year was 64, this year is deeper but that pick might be around 70. Alternatives: 1. Lamb's an [censored] and has forgotten a pick somewhere that we dealt out 2. We have a deal in place to tidy up trade week that's been kept in limbo for some reason (exchange of future 2nd rounders with Essendon for a pick in the 50's?) 3. They have a player they feel great about picking with whatever pick is available, so when he says 'we've got one late' he means a player

By adding 3 ready made mids Adelaide will improve towards the middle of the ladder if not higher. He’s worth a F2 that should be 28+ alone. Add in the compromise of the draft next year it’s likely 32+. GWS picks aren’t great but they’re something. We gave up a second in a mostly unblemished draft when we were due to towards the middle of the ladder. But more than that McAdam was always a gamble. Peatling is rock solid. The ages and contract difference between McAdam - 3 years surely on steady money and Peatling 4+ on some solid coin says it all.

Have to agree to disagree on Harry, but I recall at the time Ben looked the more physical and aggressive player. Harry took some great grabs but was hit or miss at the contest to me. The Weid was well known for crashing packs. Turns out that’s about all he did. Hogan (had many other strengths), Weid, Liam Hulett!, Kentfield, Tim ‘Bull’ Smith, JVR have been a few of the allegedly physical key forwards we’ve drafted in JT’s time. Schache and Fullarton have been desperate throws at the stumps looking for guys with athleticism. Jackson had both but without forward craft. I think Armstrong has a bigger frame and slightly more athleticism than Jeffo. Plus the left foot. But I agree it’s not all there. If he was the real deal he’d have kicked 4+ a week at Sandy with their quality midfield supply. I’d still be happy to take him with a late first for a team that hadn’t used 2 firsts for young talls recently.

Adelaide absolutely sweated the Giants for an uncontracted player, even after paying him a fortune. I’m still filthy we gave up a second rounder for McAdam. Take note Tim Lamb - when you get a guy who’s out of contract you pay the bare minimum and enjoy the win.

So did Harry McKay. So did Aaron Cadman more weeks than not. Meanwhile Weid crashed packs as a junior but never moved like an AFL athlete. Our recruiters have focussed on physical competitiveness too much with young key forwards IMO. I’d prefer a guy who can run, jump, has skills and flair and as long as they’ve got some courage and ability to read the play let them develop their crash and bash once they get the bodies for it. I have doubts on Jeffo because he seems a fairly plain athlete as well as the lack of grunt. But if he can build his strength, repeat speed and endurance at least he has the skills and smarts to capitalise on it.

And Adams what? I don’t think he’s any good. Although with a preseason you never know and he has the body to mix it with men now.

Yeah Chandler and Spargo are probably a bit inbetween. In an ideal world McAdam provides that danger as well as medium forward ability but that requires him to be both fit and good, and requires Fritsch doing something useful up the ground. Age of Viney, doubts on Tracc and Clarry, Sparrow not coming on. In an idea world we’d add speedy, skilful, fit guys at 5 and 9 who can play forward and midfield but that seems unlikely, not many of them around!

List management is evolving the list though. Jeffo was a first round pick who’s drastically improved in the vfl, it’s reasonable to expect he’ll be ready to play afl next year. Doesn’t have to be great, just has to cover what Petty did (or slide JvR to Petty’s role) and then Petty goes back to cover Tomlinson. Similar for Fullarton. We wouldn’t be asking him to step in to big shoes up forward. May, McDonald and Petty gives us 3 full backs, we can use others at CHB if we have one of those 3 in the side. Hore adds more value by being able to play as a back flanker (as depth). Injuries are a worry. I wouldn’t be adverse to moving him on for a mature pick up. Either way, we don’t need to keep carrying Tomlinson.

Based on his VFL form last year Jefferson should be ready for games after one more summer. Fullarton, despite the knocks on certain aspects of his game, can contribute it played as a leading forward. Melksham is key forward depth. Hore probably stays as 3rd tall back depth. Bad list management would he holding on to a 3rd key defender over 30 and playing him ahead of Turner and Jeffo.

What was our record in those years without him?

Mids: Viney, Oliver, Tracc, Rivers, Sparrow Wings: Langdon, Windsor, Billings HHFs: Kolt, Sharp, Laurie Smalls: Pickett, Chandler, Spargo Developmental: Brown, Sestan, Woey?, AMW? There’s certainly room for one more midfielder, ideally someone with some forward attributes. But I wouldn’t be in a rush. If 5 and 9 go on mids or half forwards we can probably hope at least one of them is ready to contribute

The teams needing points were Brisbane (dealt 20 to Richmond, best they had was 32), GC (in big deals with Pies and Richmond that they wouldn’t want to have jeopardised) and Essendon, who we dealt with! F1 and 40, 65 for 13 28 and 54 for 24 The other option was keep 28 and bundle to 32 but then we aren’t getting a pick inside 13 for our first rounder. There’s nothing wrong with folding 9 back down a bit if that’s how the draft falls. The eagles just split 3 for 12, it’s reasonable to move 9 somewhere towards 15.

I don’t see their current numbers lining up but Port’s 13 is apparently on the market for either Sydney’s 19 and 22 or Richmond’s 18/20 and 23/24 9 for 13 and 24 is a deal I’d do. Richmond would be effectively amalgamating 18,23 and 24 in to 9 though which might be too much.

Geelong have done very well with Holmes at half back just sprinting to space, it’s a valid use of speed to break forward presses and zones. But I’d rather get form and fitness in to the 2 you named and Juddy. Maybe Howes and AMW too. Speed from the stoppage is the dream, might be a couple of years before Caleb has the body for that though. I like trialling some of the half forward option to begin with and breaking zones open there. Either way I hope there’s more than the wing for him. The wing is a great start but it means he’s getting the ball on the boundary half the time and there’s only so much value to that.

Harmes now has an injury history that they need to cover, not to mention upgrade. Kennedy can play on all 3 lines. Neither of them are best 22 if Sanders and the other speedier young kids kick on. Will be interesting to see if they accept Caleb Daniel’s North deal if they land Kennedy. Getting off Macrae and Daniel’s salaries should help them if they can land someone next year (big if though, small clubs keep struggling to attract quality). It’s a bit like Billings in to cover Hunter. None of it is sexy but you got to try to make the best out of what you’ve got when you’re in a window, which the Dogs still are if Libba, Treloar and peak Bont exist.

JT took Bowey on the back of some quality ball use from half back in his corresponding version of this game. Some stuff to iron out but Lindsay’s kicking from half back looks very good on the MCG

Played half forward against Carlton and a few other teams about 1/3rd of the way in to the year. Played wing in the second half of the year when Nibbler was often needed on ball. I hope we have more freedom and flexibility through games and week to week based on match ups. And can see Sharp, Kolt, Chandler and maybe others on the wing. In addition to Langdon and Windsor of course.

Hopefully Wade did some kind of -ism at Mad Monday and GWS trade him to us for a 5th round pick

Mentha - KFW (cat B) Sharp - ANB Campbell - Schache Kentfield - BBB 5 - Gus 9 - Hunter Tomlinson?, J Smith?, maybe Hore? You’re right to say Derk would’ve been a good fit to cover one of the tall spots. But we might be seeing now why GWS had no desire to give any depth up! Hore probably stays now. Delisted players, a late or rookie pick or a train on play for the last 2 spots.

He’s an unusual looking player, somewhat a throw back style with a big strong frame, footy smarts but perhaps seems raw at the same time? The wafl seniors stats in particular are hard to ignore. He reminds me of James Leake last year who was another mid/forward bolter type. I can see him going early if a side thinks he fills a specific role.

Well, as usual we overpay at the trade table - that 3rd pick upgrade is generous - but at least it’s for a young player with upside.

Langford is the standout ball winner. (Smillie was but had a quiet national champs, was he the gifted kid who got distracted or did he peak last year?) Lalor hasn’t proven it due to injury and cricket summers but he has the explosive body to do it. Draper has good stoppage craft and won the ball pretty well after a slow start at SANFL level. FOS - you’re picking him for his outside game but it’s not like he can’t win it. He’d be more of a Kossie pick than an Oliver style JT pick. But if we liked Kako we probably like FOS. Jagga racks the footy up for fun including at VFL level. You can’t question his work rate and reading of the ball at stoppages, but I have doubts on the value of what he does and the way he wins the footy. Langford and Lalor are the 2 who scream JT guys

And got Essendon’s back, which is of similar value. Brisbane would back themselves to be 6-10 spots above Essendon next year, that’s a nice pick upgrade if we need to do it

Might’ve happened at other times too but in 2015 the Russian played rounds 1-5, Spencer was the main ruck at Casey and got next crack at first ruck after Jamar got injured from from rounds 6-9. Roosy was putting the foot down at Max and not letting him ruck at Casey until he got his fitness up. The moment he got his chance in 2015 he was a star.

I disagree, Max was in need of an attitude adjustment. Some tough love from Roosy was the making of him.