DeeSpencer

JT’s philosophy has almost always been to get as high in the draft as he can. Every year he’s trading up or attempting to. The 2021 flag was almost all first and second round picks or players traded for them. So whilst he has found a couple of rookies in the best team now (McVee, Chandler) overwhelmingly he’s favoured nailing early picks. I remember thinking we overpaid massively for Pickett (until we did the second part of that deal getting the Riv pick). North fans were celebrating the home run. Now it looks a great deal. Unless it’s a team that’s guaranteed bottom 6 next year (North, WC) I wouldn’t trade pick 5 just to get a haul of lesser picks and wait a year. The time to add high level talent is now so they’re ready to make a big impact sooner than later. And a tall is less likely than a mid/small. I just wouldn’t rule it out because best available is always smart and the good ones can impact early (Ie. JVR, LJ). May and Gawn are our best big impact talls and a replacement for one of them would really help us from 2025 on.

The Jackson deal put most of our picks in to 2023. 2022 picks - Jefferson, Adams both long term projects 2021 we took JVR and thank the lord we did because we’d be stuffed without him. We need to take at least 1 high quality player now and get them in to the 22 as soon as possible. Either an elite tall if they’re too good to pass up or more likely some pace and class. Trading out of 15, 25, 35 whatever they are I get. I don’t get trading out of 5 unless JT hates the top of the draft

Many of the guys who might be leaving are either contracted requiring pay outs or paying a good chunk or salary or injured requiring injury match payments. Probably marginal savings a lot of which is taken up by young players getting pay rises. The big one is Grundy’s contract, which was Jackson’s contract, which could/should become a key forwards contract. Richmond might follow the Hawks model (especially if they appoint Chris Newman which I believe they will) and see the success of moving Mitchell and O’Meara. The difference is they don’t have key forwards to come in the way the Hawks had mids in Newcombe, Worpel and Day. It might take a first rounder to get them to do it, which is a lot for a 31 year old.

Plays much above his height but probably too similar to Lever and unlikely to produce his best in 2024. Brisbane apparently keen because he fits nicely with Andrews and Payne. I’d probably go for a cheaper depth player to compete with Disco and focus resources on rucks/forwards.

Classy forward mid with some medium size is something we could really do with. Tracc’s our only forward/mid, there’s no great option to change him with. Can’t really see us paying a fortune to get him when he’s contracted though.

The pies have just about named a squad of 25 for the afl final where as we might have 26/27 in contention, The difference might be in the ineligible players. They’ve had a settled line up for most of the year so probably less players ruled out by afl/VFL rules nonsense

Are you sure all were eligible? I’d imagine Grundy, Spargo and possibly JJ and Hibbo weren’t. Would like to hear the club protest because if they’ve had players pulled out due to the afl bye making them ineleigible it’s a joke.

I’d rather take a chance on one of the many back ups around the league coming in to their prime than Lycett who hasn’t been able to get through a game all year. If we are after a veteran Goldy makes more sense than Lycett. Otherwise I’d be looking at Jordon Sweet, Matt Flynn, Sam Hayes, Tom Fullarton or even Ivan Soldo.

6. Heath - 11 tackles! 2 snags. Stopped Davey in her tracks and got her the other way 5. Hore - full of class and versatility 4. Mackin - exceptionally wing game, 16 kicks and a heap of penetration to them 3. Bannan - 17 touches, 3 snags, worked up and down the field 2. Hanks - just makes it look effortless at times 1. Purcell - quiet first half but got rolling late Apologies to Paxy, Tay Harris and Zanker, with goal kicking the difference for those last 2 missing out

All our forwards are fighting for spots because Aimee Mackin is going to come in and runs rings around teams very shortly (I hope)

Continuity is the Dees big advantage over the comp. For the sake of the league hopefully ever other side can get something similar.

Maybe he had it wrong to start with but Hore as a spare back to kill momentum, then on ball to get them going, Heath tagging and Paxy Pacman out of the congestion to half forward have all been excellent coaching moves from Mick.

If Banno can start clunking big grabs then she might go to a whole new level

I don’t think Choco will be happy with it if he’s watching

Better get you to Gosch’s.

Gay, Goldy and Birch have all been really bad across half back. Haven’t won many contests and barely halving many. Unusual given that’s often one of our strengths

Big Pearce looks shot but wow Georgia Campbell is talent

Clear Mark/free on the goal line ignored. Mids and defenders can’t win a contest

If we are being charitable: McDonald comes in for Melk. Perhaps Grundy and Schache are held over for Fritsch or for Gawn. Hibberd in case we need a defender. JJ if we need an on ball. Woey for the wing. Spargo if we need a small forward. But 6 hold overs is a lot. Barring a couple of unknown or late injuries that’s more than the emergencies. Grundy, Hibbo and one of the mid/forwards would’ve been enough.

Yeah back to his home state, plus cash, plus opportunity to play regularly that he was getting at the Suns. I’m not sure the Suns or Hardwick would want him to go. He’s down the pecking order as a key forward but as a forward/ruck he’d be in line to take back over for Casboult. But across the competition you’ll see guys on big money playing in the reserves sent to new homes where they can.

Must’ve played like Matthew Scarlett down back on the weekend

No to chasing him this year when he'd cost a fortune in picks. Yes to chasing him as a free agent if he's genuinely on the market. But if we trade Grundy out we'll need someone cheap but playable in next year and they might surprise and push to be a long term option. Plus we need forward help next year too.

I don’t think he’s the best key defender in the draft, but he could be the 2nd best midfielder in the draft

Clarko won 4 flags building via the draft (which some vital top ups) and got fired building via trades. He was right to pump his side up after the win and say they’d get a good player at pick 2. But I expect they’ll make a compelling offer for Reid. I know he’s had Dusty comparisons but to me the player he mosts reminds me of with his left foot, physical style and country background is Luke Hodge. I still hold out hope they don’t get pick 3 but even if they do I think they’d look to deal 2, their own future first and Port’s first rather than 2 and 3. That’s still an amazing deal for the Eagles if they are cold on Reid.

Nah the draft media are overwhelmingly saying Reid is the number 1. If North get gifted a dream draft hand they’ll at least make an offer to switch from 2 to 1. There’s 3 big obstacles against us getting Reid. 1. The Eagles don’t get cute with go home factor or trying to get multiple picks and just take him straight up 2. North might have a monster draft hand and are massively incentivised to use it 3. The eagles might be willing to trade back to get Curtin but he could go at picks 2-5 and we’ll have at best pick 6, or even the Suns pick 4 is likely 5-6 when it gets used. With Curtin moving up draft boards it’s hard to see how far back the eagles would go. All 3 are potential dangers