DeeSpencer

Hope we can get Sharp and 32 for our combo of late stuff (whilst also keeping flexibility to get a future 1 and a late throw at the stumps for the Derka)

18, 13 (both wing), 12 (half forward) in his 3 full games this year, averages about 20 touches in his VFL games. It’s not his strength but I don’t think he’ll struggle to get the ball.

Brown, Brayshaw, Hunter, ANB, Schache out so far. Likely: J Smith? Tomlinson? Possible: Hore? Oliver? At least 7, could be 9 out. Plus Cat B rookie KFW. 3 ins: Kentfield (r), Campbell, Sharp Still 4-6 spots plus cat B. Mentha is cat B at best IMO. 4 good picks in the national draft, Yze or another rookie maybe, Derksen or some other mature player (perhaps Hore).

Please explain the moneyball aspect to this recruitment?

Not bidding on Sam Marshall with either 5 or a second first round pick will be part of the trade value for Brisbane. I really like him and would love to bid with a pick in the 9-11 range. I doubt this deal will happen quickly. We need to secure that extra first rounder if we can. Brisbane need to do a deal with Richmond for pick 20 out and a stack of picks worth points in. Then we'll probably look to do some kind of trade where we give them 40, 49, 54, 65 in return for 32 and Sharp.

I think he fits 6-12 but we are telling Essendon we are taking them until they trade us pick 9.

His VFL highlights has some really nice kicks on both sides but it’s not a strength from what I’ve seen of him at afl level. Not a lot of power in his game, great endurance but not the fastest. He’d be wing/high half forward depth and good players who excel defensively in those roles aren’t easy to find. I suggested Ned McHenry because that’s how hard it is to find super hard runners with any talent at all. Nibbler wasn’t Nibbler for a very long time in his career either remember. Contracted, you’d want Brisbane to do the right thing and let him go for a bag of chips.

It might’ve been a 2 year deal with a trigger that he reached in year 1, but yep, welcome to Melbourne list management. Everyone gets at least a year they don’t deserve

Please google Isaac Kako and get back to me

Started the year very well but had a poor champs and trailed off as the season went. Statistically ended up having a worse year at both Coates league and champs last year which are big red flags. Was linked to Box Hill who have a strong side but never got a VFL game which honestly is AFL draft system malpractice. Work rate is iffy, ball use is iffy, doesn’t mark the ball like a 194cm player should. Cripps is a beast but he’s had to do a power of work to keep up with afl speed and skills. A Cripps close without the two way running and with lesser skills is a liability. Maybe Smillie just wasn’t challenged enough and got complacent after being the number 1 pick in May but I’m not sure I’m risking a top 6 pick to find out.

BJ Wigglesworth reporting Kangas are smitten with Tauru and the Eagles are linked to Draper. No update on Richmond but not dispelling the Lalor links. The Eagles could potentially risk a trade down, I don’t think North could, the risk of a team picking Tauru or coming up to snag him would terrify them. Crows would have their choice of FOS, Langford and perhaps Jagga or even Armstrong and we’d go next. One of FOS or Langford would be a nice result.

Kozzie’s the only high quality forward on that list and he’s pretty keen to get out of Melbourne. We need to add a mature mid and draft another one with a decent pick at least, but forward talent is just as important.

The age report the other day seems to think so. I'm not as high on a few of the top mids as soon people are. We are desperate for forward talent no matter the size and shape and Kako has power, aggression, class and is a good ball winner up the ground. I think he'd be in the frame

Trading up will be their priority but if we are a serious threat it gets very hard for them. Richmond aren’t going to 9. North, I suspect they want the best tall and aren’t going that far down. Eagles tried the trade back thing a couple of years ago, I bet they want another gun mid. Crows tried it with Fish McAsey, doubt they do it again, maybe if they are certain Draper is available, otherwise unlikely.

Oliver’s opinion is largely irrelevant. All that matter is whether Geelong are serious or totally taking the [censored] as usual. If they make us a reasonable deal then we can have a conversation.

If we’re the team to bid on Kako and Essendon can’t get ahead of us (hard to see anyone from 1-4 willing to go down to 9) we might have them panicking. The bonus for them is if they deal us pick 9 obviously we don’t bid on Kako

I think they’re trying to compensate bad teams because they know how much free agency screws them, even if the net result is it encourages players to cut and run. The league had no choice but to agree to free agency. But I’m sure they hoped the cap space would be used by bad teams to bring in good players not the other way.

Not just one! They have Jayden Nguyen too who I think is very draftable late

Agree on the 2km time. If you don't have speed or endurance you're probably just a poor athlete, unless there's a reason that you're underdone. To grind out a quality 2km time after a long season is impressive and probably indicates there's scope to work on speed as a pro. Send him over to Judd McVee's grandpa. There's a lot of pace put in the game at centre bounces these days that makes me a touch nervous but it's all about balance in there. He'll be the big bodied contested player and you'll surround him with speed. The bigger concern I have with Langford's speed might be whether it impacts him up forward. There's not much room for slow forwards these days, but with his height and overhead marking you'd be hoping he's more of a 3rd tall when forward than having to purely chase, pressure and run hard to create separation from defenders. Being a left footer and the way he moves makes me less concerned speed will be an issue when he has the ball especially in congestion. As for the testing: Smart US Sports scouts talk about using testing for benchmarking. To play certain positions in the NFL or NBA you generally have to tick off certain boxes and if you're an outlier then they take a big look to see if it's something that's a real concern or not.

Not so much falls over but rolls over to Richmond, who might have 6 picks inside 23 and should be just as keen to move one back a year. But I can also see us making a move on 11 if the Bolton deal stalls and then Freo offering Richmond 10 and perhaps a Freo future first. Richmond death ride Freo to get Bolton value. Freo death ride us to come out of the Bolton deal looking sharper.

I hate the way in some leagues you can top up late in seasons, at most a mid year deadline. And even then I’d prefer if mid year is only for fringe players somehow. But if they had trade deadlines in late November (summer trade window), March (pre season) and a mid year window they’d have 3 periods of movement and a bumper free agency period in October. Plus more movement around the draft.

Me neither, but I’d also like to find it. Or at least coach it.

I wouldn’t be upset if Lamby have an unmeasured answer and cooked a few

If we get no one we get no one, draft is always more important to small clubs. But I disagree with the idea a high quality player is suddenly going to come to us. Our main target was Houston. Our second target with Derksen. I’d be shocked if we get anyone of quality. But some times the best pick ups are the bargain buys, they just haven’t been for us in a long time.

You’re a little out there, should run for 3-4 months, if not longer. The trade window should be from mid October until March with a summer break. Proper free agency should occur with a busy rush in mid October.