DeeSpencer

I reckon we could grab him with a mid range 2nd round pick (this years or next). He could play most of the next 100 games at AFL level and give us the depth to keep the pressure for spots high and young players hungry. But it's also probably one of our best draft/trade assets and 400+k per year for 3 or so years gone without fixing our needs areas of outside run/skills and tall depth. I'm just leaning towards saying it's best to trade for needs and back yourself in the draft to find more talent, but if we got him I think I'd understand the logic that we need ready to get solid players to keep the momentum going.

Goodwin was also the forwards coach this year as they moved the previous guy - McPherson in to a ball movement/oversight with Casey role. They could hire a new forwards coach or McPherson could resume the forwards job and then they could add or not add someone in to the role he took this year. I would say we are well placed but probably not overflowing with coaches. There could be room for 1 more. We've got a large Roosy salary coming off the books!

Because he doesn't. Pick 70 odd who spends a lot of time injured, you aren't getting a pick for a player like that. Doesn't mean he isn't worth a spot on a list.

Yeah handy up forward and nearly took a screamer! Bit of a shame we didn't see him in his more suited spot down back or get him running in the ruck as the ball was just bombed forward a lot but he did look athletic and physical.

Oliver - a beast built for finals Salem - a class above until he fell victim to the North Port appealing cricket wickets Dunn - excellent ANB - effort is there but decision making bad Joel Smith - needs to work on his consistency but he does some great things and a willing tackler Garland - pretty solid, finished on the bench? Michie - decent enough, tackling and contested ball were good Mitch White - solid enough, especially before tweaking an ankle. Intercept marking very goo Newton - similar to Michie Matt Jones - the good and the bad, high work rate Trengove - some classy moments but very slow and unable to pressure up forward or escape from contests Weids - not his day, constantly in packs against 4 opponents and 3 team mates, couldn't impact defensively. Did bring the ball to ground though so there was a bit of positive Kennedy - rarely sighted and scrappy, didn't get in to any space Spencer - rubbish but did at least nullify Meese Terlich, Grimes and maybe Hulett to come in next week. Salem particularly would be in doubt. Then there might be someone unlucky. Keilty, Hutchins, Smith in particular were great from the Casey boys and others made contributions. McInerny is a prospect.

Hard to read too much in to the highlights video but he looks pretty rangy and can do a bit overhead although it's not exactly packed with strong physical play. What I like, and what we desperately need is a 3rd tall defender with the ability to run with the ball and hit targets. Not sure he's the greatest kick of all time either but he does look like he enjoys running with the ball and taking it on and using his foot skills. Long term I think Frost and Oscar Mc should be fighting for 1 spot (or Tom's 2nd spot) and that we need a 3rd tall who can run and kick. These are reasonable comments: Brisbane have McStay (194), Cutler (190), Gardiner (191), Harris Andrews (200cm), Sam Skinner (193) and Hammelman (197) cm by way of taller defenders on their list and they have to bring in 1 or 2 older guys to give some cover to those young guys. In other spots if they were throwing out young players you'd probably think they are no good, but tall defenders might be different.

Some people say the 2nd ruck/forward is an important spot as you both ruck and play forward. I say it's not because you can't be in 2 spots at once so you don't have to be great at either. But if you are taking Fitzy in to a final it's pretty clear you don't have a lot of forwards or a lot of ruck depth. You could win a final with him, but you'd want to have some very good tall forwards and a good number 1 ruck. The Hawks don't have either right now.

Already a thread for Hogan crap, keep it there yeah?

Essendon being Essendon will probably ask for the world. No point in going overboard if you're Goodwin. Given he was talking about being appointed the senior coach I thought it was more important to get the headlines on the club and current players instead of talking too much about a recruit.

I like Egan. The guy was going to be a superstar before injury. Maybe it's nothing but I feel that's a recipe for a coach determined to get redemption. Neale Daniher worked out pretty well for us with a similar story. To get Essendon VFL in to and leading the 2nd week of finals given 10 of their best players were suspended and replaced by top ups and the list had little depth was a great effort. I'd give Egan the backline and shuffle Rawlings to the forwards or give Egan the forwards. New voices for our forwards and backs would be nice I think.

Yze was 23, Bruce was in his first year. No surprise that the young players in that team didn't learn from sub optimal leaders. That doesn't mean they haven't learnt now as coaches. Yze led the league in kicks one year, he wasn't all that lazy! Bruce could tag and beat the games best, play half back or half forward. Let's not rubbish them too much.

Oh please. They are best mates. Sando is there because he needed a job back at the elite level and Bucks needs well credentialed people to help the team win and/or help justify his spot if they lose. Gubby Allan has been parachuted in by Eddie to either sack Buckley if it doesn't pan our or more likely give him cover for another year or so if it doesn't pan out. Sando isn't on that level.

He was originally, then moved to QLD. Turns out post show he's been playing for North Ballarat. His 1 kick, 1 mark, 1 handball, 5 hit out game against Casey probably didn't leave us scrambling to get him. Some of his other games look better but he isn't exactly dominating. http://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=201895974&client=1-118-10452-392693-6164200

Yep, he's one I'm keen on looking at a back up ruck with enough ability to be a reasonable forward option as well. Keen to see how he goes. Good, I'm still a fan.

In the last series they club recruiters voted to chose the winner. Then the clubs expressed interest in drafting that winner. GWS, GC and Port were the 3 clubs who did and the winner got to pick. Being a South Australian who had impressed Port's fitness coach it wasn't a surprise to see him pick Port. No idea who will want the winner of this series but if it's the QLD I'd expect both QLD clubs to bid and the AFL to help them out with the cash if needed.

The big fella seems to leap and move alright but who would know how he measures up to AFL talent. Plays local footy in QLD doesn't he?

I'm sure we heard last year that this years draft would be better than last years. It was a worry for me when we traded up but hasn't become reality. Seems like it happens most years. Unfortunately you can't trade during the draft because that would make it a lot easier. Wait until the pick you want is next in the draft order, make sure the kid you rate is still there and then do the swap.

Fair enough. I guess just being 195cm it's a fair effort to go against the 2nd rucks that are mostly 200cm plus these days. I'm sure he'd give it a go and probably be better than Pedda or Watts but I wouldn't recruit him for it unless he leaps like Nic Nat! Sounds like he's more of a power athlete so could be a full back a bit like Frost instead of a running CHB like one of the McDonald's. Might suit an Etihad team where he can camp back inside defensive 50 and then pick off contests. Could really suit North at FB whilst Tarrant does the running at CHB.

Yep I'd almost rather draft for need with 3 quick skillful kids in the late rounds/rookie draft than risk it going for one early. Seems very hard to get a measure on which of the kids taken for outside ability measure up to the AFL pressure.

No. I like both of them but Wagner and Vanders would be lucky to fetch mid 3rd round picks. Combining both of them would probably only add up to about an early 3rd, maybe a late 2nd if you found a club super desperate for depth which would be unusual. If we want a first round pick our best option might be to upgrade pick 26 this year combined with next years 2nd rounder to produce a pick around the 15 mark. I don't think we will do this due to the Hibberd trade. Or trade next years first rounder that I'd value at 7-13 for a pick around the 10 mark. I think we will consider this. GWS' pick 8 and Gold Coast (via us) pick 9 could be be swapped for our pick next year +/- a little extra on top. There's very few players on our list who I'd value at 2nd rounders and not any that I'd want to give up. We aren't giving up a guy worth a 1st rounder unless it's unexpected (Hogan, Salem etc). There's numerous players on our list worth 3rd or early 4th rounders who could be moved on to get late but usable picks in if we wanted to give up other picks but that doesn't help at the top end.

The majority of their quality young players have already come out of contract and been signed up. They might lose someone like Tom Campbell but more for opportunity than money. I'm sure the Boyd deal will test them,but I just don't think it will have any huge hurt on them. The cap space will rise and they have such depth of quality cheap young players up their sleeves that it will be mitigated. Don't pay Lin Jong 400k, trade him away, play Josh Dunkley who's still on his rookie deal. They can do that with several fringe players.

You want him to trade for an A grader or legend from another club? Good luck. Nathan Jones isn't Riewoldt or Hodge but he's not a scrub either. He's evolved in his leadership and has a crack every week. Vince did the same in the midfield. The half back line has been a bit of a challenge for him but he did well for half a year, not sure if it was injury or form that got him at the end. Daniel Cross did a role for us for 2 years and is still at the club. 1 of someone like a Barlow, Thompson or Dal Santo could be useful but it's unlikely we are going to get an on field general. More just a steady head and voice in the playing group. Viney and Gawn will take responsibility to lead this group like Ward and Davis have done at GWS. Jones, Vince, Trengove, Hibberd maybe if he got sorted out Lumumba, whomever else we have around will only be supporting Viney and Gawn once they take over more responsibility in due course ie. not too soon! Heath Shaw, Mumford, Patfull have done the same at GWS and none of them are super leaders, all have their own faults. Eventually Tyson, Brayshaw, Tommy Mc and so on can hopefully come through the ranks like Coniglio, Shiel whomever else the Giants have as emerging leaders.

Whom out of Jones, Tyson, Viney, Oliver and Brayshaw would you leave out for him? Not to mention Vince has to find a spot somewhere and is better on ball than on a wing or half back. I'd only see Barlow as depth and culture guy. Which is fine, we need some depth and leadership, but I'll be shocked and disappointed if he played 20 games, even more than an about 10 would have me concerned.

I'm assuming the punt is after a positive medical and that after evaluation our medical staff disagree with what Mach5 has attributed to Geelong's. Whilst he's got 2 arms, 2 legs and can still play at VFL level there's a chance that different experts give a different opinion. It's still going to be a punt even if he passes the medical based on his history. It would be a burning cash and list spot if he fails the medical.

Feel free to correct any/all of this as I go but from what I've seen and heard: He's not big enough or athletic enough to ruck at AFL level. Nor does he have the talent to play forward - very few do. So we are looking at a key defender. To be a key defender I think you need: - Endurance: ok for a young VFL player but not amazing from the running I saw in preseason where he was a fair way down the pack - Athleticism: think he's pretty good in that regard, moves nicely considering he'll fill out in to a pretty strong lad - Speed: pretty solid but not Frost level fast - Good mark: yep - Competitiveness: yep, is willing to spoil and use his body - Kicking skills: doesn't make many mistakes at VFL but probably isn't his strong suit at the next level I think with good AFL development he could play a few games but in the few times I've watched Casey I haven't seen anything that really blows me away like a big game of intercept marks or a game where he's rebounded, broke lines and kicked like an AFL flanker. If we move on one of Dunn or Garland we probably need to add another young key defender, I guess time will tell who that will be. I certainly wish him well. It will be a big tick for the Casey program and help both the Dees and Casey to have someone drafted. The more players drafted from your VFL club the more incentive for young players to go there and as that talent develops the stronger your VFL team and the more entrenched your AFL players get with winning and winning culture.