DeeSpencer

We won 2 finals and fixed our biggest weakness with a gun key defender. Getting blown out by the premiers should’ve been humbling but there was 25 weeks to review not 1. Much of the 2018 team has fallen away since but we weren’t and probably still aren’t too far off. It’s not about individuals or even groups, it’s making sure the place feels like a team. Cut 10 guys a year bad you’ve turned over a lists worth of players in 4 years. You’ll draft 6-8 guys a year and within 3 years there will only be 2 or 3 left. I’m still bewildered that we only took 3 players in last years draft and no rookies but we shouldn’t go too hard the other way

We’ve kept a lot of shoddy depth around for a few reasons: 1. the list has never been deep, we had to trade a lot of picks just to get out of the hole we were in. 2. We’ve thought we were in the window to win, so it’s better to have some mature depth who know the system 3. Culture - Apart from a winning culture at VFL level these guys are good team mates and friends. If you cut 12 guys a year you’re losing that continuity at the club Its hard to fix reason 1 without a fluke run of late picks. But it’s time to reconsider 2 and 3

Would add a couple of names from the list of guys without contracts who I think we should look at: 1. Brett Bewley - a cheaper, younger running wing option to Polec and Smith 2. Oscar Clavarino - key defender who trained at the club in the afl academy days, could swap one Oscar key defender out for another

The Doggies are incredibly light on for pressure forwards so that makes sense.

Other clubs been keen on Bedford is interesting. I've seen very little to suggest he's an AFL player.

Yep I proposed this in another thread. The Pies have to pay big money to Moore, De Goey and Mihocek. Someone has to make them pay up big time on Daicos or let him walk. Offer him 5 years at 700k, let's see how loyal he is then.

Hately’s a younger, smaller Tomlinson. Caldwell could be good, he has some class, but he’s an inside mid that we probably shouldn’t chase. O’Halloran is the one for us to look at. Good size and good runner, could play wing or half forward. But other clubs seem more interested

I thought the forward line was eons better than last year and did a lot right. The midfield is my biggest concern. It’s where we are stacked for talent and can’t get consistent results. As I’ve said in other threads I’m happy for Mahoney and Goodwin to have one last year and win or lose together.

The reasons for Jones are whether he actually does a selfless role and whether he is a good influence and has anything of value to add. I think in the games Jones did play this year he finally started to tackle and accept a more defensive role the he hadn't previously. And he seemed to be more interested in coaching when he got injured. Not that he was selfish before but I think the penny started to drop this year that he couldn't just move to a wing or flank but he has to change his game and outlook. The cost is a spot on the list, but we've still got plenty of spots free at the moment. It's hard to judge that worth until we see how many players we have coming in and going out. Just too early to tell.

Not sure anyone will take a chance on Brayshaw with a dodgy foot and Harmes is the kind of solid clubman who rarely moves teams. Sparrow looked to have more composure than Harmes and far better speed and defensive pressure than Gus. There’s room for him in the midfield. There’s room for all of them if the balance is right I think we’re judging his accumulation skills off a few quiet vfl games where they asked him to tag afl level players and afl games where he’s played half forward a fair bit. His first 3 games this year playing limited minutes he averaged 14 touches. That could easily bump to 18 with normal game time next year

Smith’s listed as a cm taller but his reach and leap gives him a lot more range, plus the speed to go with quick talls.

Better coaching and some consistent VFL footy could unlock Smith. He’s not nearly as far off making it as people think. What are the alternatives? Hibberd in his final year, Hore who’s too short and slow to switch on to talls, Tomlinson who’s too slow for quick guys? Got to give him one last chance to see if he can make it

I’m very surprised that the added weight story is true. Still don’t think it’s anything close to 10kg. Half of that at most. But it’s baffling he’d change anything from 2018, especially with the game only getting faster. I have my doubts that it will make him any better. Gone are the days of Nick Riewoldt burning opponents at CHF. But any improvements in mobility have to help

I’m not saying he’s not a good player but his first half of the year was bog ordinary and have 3 if not 4 mids better. And the point is he finished second in the b+f despite being half the player he was in 2018. So Frost finishing 7th doesn’t mean much

We can add a superstar or a mobile player who tackles and defends to complement what we have. I don’t think Brown is either of those options

Not in the first half of this year, a shadow of the player he was in his brownlow. Completely ineffectual and can only play on ball. Probably battle through on a flank like Harmes or Gus.

You aren’t watching close enough. He does 5 silly things defensively. Can’t mark, can’t spoil, can’t catch anyone at ground level, gets caught boundary side.

Oscar yes, Frost no. The contract we gave Tomlinson was worthy of a best 22 player who impacts games. Tall bloke who paddles around the backline and can’t defend or intercept isn’t that. A summer training with the defenders might help, he can run and he’s not the worst kick but he wouldn’t get a game in any of the finals sides.

Tomlinson was a mistake many of us saw coming. The Saints bought in 4 nice additions. 3 of which they paid a pretty hefty price for and a bargain in Butler. Plus 32 year old Ryder who’s a nice short term sugar hit. We added Langdon and 3 nice draft picks. Apart from the Tomlinson mishap we’ve done well adding guys who will improve the list for a long time. Isaac Smith could be our version of a Ryder. If we find just a couple of capable role players whilst maintaining draft picks the list we’ll be in decent shape.

Not comparing Petty to those guys but I’m predicting if Brown comes in and takes the full forward spot then Jackson will be the CHF over Weid. Petty also has a strong chance to be preferred over Weid. He has more mobility and versatility.

5 spots below Mitchell who wouldn’t get a game for us. I’d still prefer Frosty over Tomlinson, but not crying over split milk

Smith's likely too old to draw compensation unless the money is a crazy amount. If Viney goes there's still a chance we match and trade. If not and we are keen to sign Smith and it won't draw any compensation due to his age we could always trade for him instead. Give Hawthorn a token late pick upgrade. We can protect ourselves by making the second year conditional on a number of games in the first year. Or add other incentives. The most important questions are whether Smith has anything left and if he makes us noticeably better and helps us become a contender. Most things after that can be worked around.

Absolutely Jackson and if he returns well from injury then Petty as well would make more sense in that CHF role. Brown has a big tank too and comes up the ground to contest, he's an excellent endurance runner, but he averages 1.1 tackles a game and Weid's not much better at 1.3. We've seen Weid play in a 3 tall set up or Weid with Preuss and none of it's worked. He needs to be one of the main men crashing packs and complimented by a player who has different skills. I can't think of a team that plays 2 big key forwards that don't get involved at ground level. The Saints are tall but both their ruckmen and even more so Max King are great on the ground as is Membrey. Riewoldt was struggling for a while earlier this year but he's got an all round game. Kennedy teams up with Oscar Allen and Darling because they move like midfielders. The Cats don't even play a second key forward, they rotate Stanley or Esava down there for a contest and otherwise use Danger and Rohan. Jackson is that kind of Oscar Allen/King brothers type athlete that you pair with a less mobile marking forward. I don't think Brown and Weid go well together at all.

We weren't 13th at stoppages, but anyway. There's an argument to be made ANB could've helped the midfield balance providing two way run but how was he going to help at the clearances? He fumbles, he doesn't commit his body down over the ball and he always attempts to kick even if there's traffic right infront of him. He has no step, no left side and often even struggles to handball because he doesn't even gather and hold the ball properly. He's a good midfielder down a level because you get away with all those things and he can accumulate. Unless he makes big improvements I can't see him mixing it at centre clearances with stronger, faster and smarter players.

If we signed Brown then Weid would play in the 2's. Can't have 2 big forwards who don't get a lot of the ball, don't particularly excel in the ruck, don't move well up the ground and can't defend.