DeeSpencer

Would've thought ball winning was more of a concern than ball use. Seems to use it pretty well from what I've seen, good disposal efficiency, low clanger rate and career 31 goals 12 behinds. Elite runner in his absolute physical prime. With Lewis and Jones not having long left and Pedersen, Tyson, Bugg and Vince going this year it's not a bad idea to bring in a 25 year old on to the list for some maturity either. Obviously you check if he is the right fit there but looking a bit like a pretty boy and being an outside player doesn't necessarily mean you aren't a super hard worker and good bloke. He'll never be more than a role player but he'd give us depth on the wings if we need it. KK and Fritsch might hold down the wings all year - maybe with Vanders and Jones rotating through - and we'd never use him. But there's also a chance KK is better or is needed as a defender, Fritsch a flanker at one end or the other, Baker doesn't come on just yet and Stretch is only ever a depth player. He reminds me a bit of the way Hawthorn have used Ricky Henderson - another player no one wanted - as an experienced outside runner to sit on a wing and open or close space as needed and use the ball safely and reliably. I wouldn't be in a rush to sign him but if we don't pick an outside runner with any of our likely 4-5 national draft picks then I'd consider him with one of the remaining 2-3 list spots.

I don't see much that looks like Oliver in that highlights video. Actually reminds me of Harmes - good size and athleticism but skills need some polishing. The handballs in to the ground are worrying. There's actually a few nice Bedford highlights in that video where he's moving smoothly through traffic.

The biggest change in that time was playing Gawn a kick behind the play. Having one of the games tallest and strongest aerial players situated under the ball made a huge difference...Up until when the Eagles smashed us at the contest and kicked to the open wide flank and used 2 rucks to draw Gawn in to bad positions. I don't think it was sustainable use of Gawn. We need him around the contest as the extra mid, as a link man around the ground an pushing forward to goal. The kick behind the play should only be an occasional tactic.

Everyone's so against him I'd probably take him. Defensive pressure can't be much worse than Melksham's and more likely to get on the end of a few than Hannan who chases hard but rarely lays a tackle anyway. Was a gun back flanker in his early days, maybe he can have Lewis' spot. Would be nice to have a gun goal kicker at Casey. A throw back to the days of Fevola! To be serious I'm not sure he's a list fit but at what stage do you take a talented has been over a never was? 47th spot on the list at 150k plus incentives?

Pats, Rams, Vikings

Highly unlikely Coniglio - will cost megabucks and in a position we should have covered Swallow - the same issues as Coniglio but not as good Sheppard - unlikely to leave Perth Haynes - big money and we have Lever (and May etc) Tomlinson - not sure if he's a wingmen, CHB, flanker or all of the above but I can't see him being a value buy for us Shiels - probably stays at Hawks and isn't a position upgrade Worth asking Stratton - even aged 30 he'd combine so well with Lever and May, could Hawks go full rebuild? Hill - if Freo have a down year and he's keen for a change up Edwards - almost no chance he leaves the Tigers but what I'd give to have him on a forward flank Free can = cheap? Ellis - if he's out of favour and cheap he'd take Lewis' spot on the list/team Newnes - if we're still searching for outside runners in 12 months Casboult - if we need a cheap back up to the key forwards/ruck

McGovern made the match saving play and Barrass was great. Darling played 1 good quarter and Kennedy played well but his most important stuff was largely getting on the end of smart up field work. A midfielder kicked the game winning goal. We need to replace Garlett but big goal kicker Dean Kent is a good laugh

Players motivated by playing in flags is terrible for the league. Dogs, Tigers and Pies have shown every team should be a chance to win a flag within 3 years. Melbourne are more equipped than Freo now but not necessarily in 3 years if they do things right. If Fyfe, Hogan, Cerra and Pearce can be Dusty, Riewoldt, Cotchin and Rance then why not? Hogan didn’t leave purely because he was unhappy here. In fact I think he had a good off field life here. He said he wanted to leave because his Footy was suffering in Melbourne due to his mental demons. He was going to struggle to win a premiership for us (and therefore with us) playing at 70% of his potential. Playing at 100% for Freo gives him a far better chance of personal success and to drive team success. Moving because you know you aren’t comfortable and aren’t performing to your best isn’t a non winner move to me. It’s taking ownership

Give Jake Long a year this year and sign Ben Long next year? Tom Sheridan - cheap depth wing option if we still aren't satisfied on outside runners? Have often thought Jack Leslie offered a bit as a key defender, but keeping Keilty means we've got heaps of numbers there. Dom Barry? ? Surely Richmond will lock up Derek Eggmolesse-Smith

That post was from Nov last year and with a good run of games Gus got right back to being a star. Was I wrong?

Bugg is hopeless and doesn’t suit any positional needs. Mainly because he couldn’t settle in a position the last couple of years I think we’ll take 4 draft picks and then look for 2-3 mature age players who fill depth needs, depending on the draft those being: Forward/3rd ruck - ie. younger Pedersen Outside kicking/run - a new Bernie Vince/Lewis type Depth inside mid - a cut price Dom Tyson/Nath Jones Crumbing/pressure forward - a new Garlett We need to replace the guys who actually got games over the last 2 years. Not find replacements for guys like Bugg who was hardly picked all year

He was around that mark and started coming in as more draft expert types looked at his skill set. Fritsch was pretty much an older version of an 18 year old draftee, very raw and with a lot of upside and skills. Instead of having a strong under 18 season it took him until his body was right to produce a strong VFL season. Lockhart is more experienced in state leagues having come over from Tassie, that kind of player who's improved steadily usually goes later in the draft. We'd also have made a pretty decent mistake if we pick Lockhart with 28 given Geelong picked up a player by sending 42 to Carlton early in the trade week. If we rated Lockhart with a pick clearly above then we should've dealt 36 to Carlton a week ago.

3 good players. Not sure about the other 3. Good club men, good guys, but they have 2 years to fix their faults and improve on their strengths.

Bear with me a bit on this but I wanted to look at the academy impacts on this draft pick: 28 will be pushed out by Blakely, Tarran Thomas, Quaynor and maybe Rhylee West and Bailey Scott. So pick 28 will become at least 31 and maybe even 33. Where as pick 36 will be pushed out 3-5 spots but move back at least 1 for Blakely and possibly one for West. If it's just the 3 picks my guess is we pick with 31 and the pick we gave up becomes 38. Harder to work out what happens with 46 but it probably stays about the same. Value wise that's not good for us but I'm sure it's about getting ahead of a bid for Bedford as well as the recruiters being more confident of landing a player in the early 30's than late 30's.

Yes, but I believe it was with the MFC's permission/knowledge. The Watts drama last year overshadowed the fact there was a fair bit of smoke around a Hogan trade. Freo had pick 2 and 5. Not sure what if anything they offered or if Hogan would even have agreed to a trade then but I'm sure both parties discussed it. My guess is Freo would've put pick 5 and some later picks on the table last year and MFC said no thanks we'll see if we can win the flag with Hogan and Lever this year and that worked for Freo who needed to get some games in to kids. Hence Hogan's comment about the 5 year plan. Hogan stuck it out in Melbourne for one last go around. I think all the media posturing and Peter Bell's carry on this year might've been because a deal was in place from a long way out.

I wonder if we pushed to include him in the trades, there was certainly a lag between the Suns first 2 mature age pick ups and their 3rd which occurred once the mega deal got traction. We've got lots of options for the 3 talls. Jetta and Hibberd the deep playing small/medium types. Salem on one flank. If KK is set for a wing then we still could do with a run and kick player on the other flank.

Oh yeah, he's not even close to someone like Jeffy yet alone a champ like Betts. I get the feeling Knigthmare watched a game or games where he had a few nice crumbs and went with it. Still apart from that line I think it's an accurate profile. KM might not be the best judge but I think he does get the vibe of a player pretty well.

The Salem description is near on perfect, especially the positives for his tackling, the little blocks and bumps off the ball and courage at a contest. JKH has moments where he'll look like a star crumber. Anyone who saw the Casey game in the wet where he was the best player by a street will agree with that. But has never looked strong or quick enough to be a deep forward. Still has the good movement in traffic and ability to make quick decisions on his day. Hopefully KK can start to fulfil his potential.

Sorry meant might not be able to be taught. That said, I look at Hawthorn, they had Cyril, just line him up and he'll go out there and get to the right spots and make an impact. But they also had Breust and Puopolo as pressure forwards. Puopolo was a state league defender. Breust played rugby growing up. Somehow the Hawks got those guys in positions to maximise their talents. Bedford might not ever get more than 10 touches a game but if he's in the right spots and it's 10 good touches and 5 big tackles that's a very handy player

Delisted players I have the absolute smallest of interest in: Cory Gregson - has the talent but terrible injury run Jed Lamb - would be his 4th team, he's mostly crap but maybe he's the latest of late maturers? There's something about him that could work in a good team, not sure if I'm crazy or not Darren meatball Michington - pressure forward type who has a crack Declan Mountford - tagger who's got just a little class and toe Jon O'Rourke - not sure he's hearts in it but his athleticism is still there Nathan Mullenger-McHugh - great name! Also he's super raw and athletic

12 touches a game doesn't impress me, nor does 1 goal a game. But 8 tackles and 3 clearances are more impressive numbers. That's a guy who can win it in tight and be a really aggressive tackler. I'd want to know why he's not finding the ball in space more. Is it work rate, is it the position the team puts him in or is it a feel for the game thing that might be able to be taught.

When Mahoney said midfield rotation it was very much implying wing not in the centre square and it looks to me like Tyson out KK in is exactly what the footy department were targeting. Correct an oversupply of inside mids for an outside mid. Wing will be an interesting position this year given the 6-6-6 rules. It won't change much in general play but from a centre bounce there might be some different tactics. If he settles on the wing KK might be required to start right towards the back of the square and be a loose defender or play half back flank which he's well qualified to do. And without the extra running off the back of the square he might have sprint to cover a midfielder bursting from the middle. Wing's are vital defensive sweepers and outlets at around the ground clearances so he'll have to do some work there but it's not impossible to improve on.

I probably should've pencilled them in but not bolded. They'll be competing with the likes of Fritsch, KKolo, ANB, Spargo, Hunt, Baker, Stretch and draft picks or delisted free agents/state league pick ups so it's an even field of flanker/runner types. I can't see Lewis improving at 33, so we've had a bad year if he's still in the side but at 31 and finally out of the midfield I'm actually excited to see where they use Jones and what he can do.

Freo might have a new coach which could change his tune on going there and the Eagles could put a first and a future first on the table which is the going rate for a gun player. That might be much better than 19 and 20 or whatever it was this year.

Exactly. You can see why clubs traded their pre agent (guys 1 year removed from free agency) players. The uncertainty benefits no one. Geelong are willing to wait it out because he's young and healthy and whilst they lose leverage he can increase his value with another amazing season. Plus they want to win games! Does Kelly give his absolute all or does he get through to about mid year and start counting down the days until he's back to Perth?