Rogue

I'm not sure about that. Often he seems happy to let an opponent take first-possession when he's got an even-money (or slightly better) chance at getting it first.

I think you're massively over-rating him. If we lose someone to the GC I won't lose sleep if it's Petterd. For me, the major issue is that he's not particularly quick and his skills aren't particularly good either. Some have mentioned his goal-kicking but his shots were generally from quite 'easy' spots - how many did he dob from the boundary or from 50 (or outside)? I think he has a good footy brain, is a decent mark for his size and gives a good effort. However, without pace or skills I'm not sure where he fits as an important player in our side. What important role do you have him pencilled in for? I don't think he's a crumbing forward and he doesn't have the pace to man a crumbing forward. I don't see him as a push-up forward and he doesn't have the skills to play as a free-wheeling playmaker from defence. Perhaps he could take on a limited midfield role - stopper or inside - or play as a defensive forward, Rooke-style, but I don't think he's irreplaceable by any stretch. I'm finding it hard to envisage a vital role he fills, let alone figure out how I could get him near a 'top 5' must-keep list. As Jaded said, if his disposal improves you might be in business, and likewise if he improved his pace/engine. I don't dislike Petted but despite a decent year he hasn't shown me he's a vital premiership building block.

I think you should have established this in your first post in the thread - your post initially came across as quite odd until I guessed that German was rumoured for the Williamstown gig. I doubt keeping up with the machinations of VFL coaching moves is the highest priority of too many posters.

We did indeed.

2010 - how much benefit are we likely to get from a young key forward at 18 years? 2011 - how much benefit are we likely to get from a young key forward at 19 years? 2012 - how much benefit are we likely to get from a young key forward at 20 years? I don't think we would be bringing it forward much/if at all. However, if we don't get a young tall now it's going to be a long time before anyone we unearth in future years is ready. I imagine the success with early picks has improved dramatically since 1986, given the resources spent on recruiting these days...

If Sylvia can consistently play at the level he showed in a couple of games we'll have a very good player. It was pretty disappointing that he missed a fair amount of footy following his suspension. I'm interested to see how he performs in 2010!

Too old.

How does that equate to a desire to offload him?

There's probably a fair bit of interest from other Clubs and Davey's market value would be high right now, so he'd want to cash in.

There's a subforum for drafting and trading (it's imaginatively called the drafting and trading board) - the discussion is there.

...and what is he doing when he's not relieving the main ruckman? He's been given time up forward and hasn't proved the goods.

The idea that we'll win a flag in 1-3 years is more of a myth! I know it suits your purposes to misrepresent the position, but as quoted it was 4-6. We also don't know when that was mentioned - if this year is year one it means 2012-2014, more likely 2013-2015. That means the sixth year is the furthest point you could pick. If you want to have a dig at the Club that's cool, but be fair about it. Anyone who can't play in our next premiership is expendable. However, you have to balance out some short-term objectives too. Just because you want a flag sooner doesn't mean we can actually get one then. Think about when our most exciting talent will be at their peak. When is that and who are we going to lose by the time they come to fruition? Given that we don't have many older players, the answer's not much. I doubt he'll be the next Newton but given the current list, if he doesn't come a KPF we're screwed. This is why we need to unearth another KPF, and fast. More likely that once he was leaving and pick 11 was put on the table we jumped at the chance and officially announced it so there was no wriggle-room

Good work. I can't imagine anything I'd want Schwab doing more than having to deal with a swarm of tweets from angsty fans. Honestly, if the Club has signed up Davey they'd announce it. Do you think they're too lazy to mention the new contract but will suddenly get onto it because you tweet the CEO? I don't really understand where you're coming from (apart from 'oh noes, we might lose Davey').

I'd like to get the best key forward we can, but if we rate someone else far above them at pick 11 *shrug

I meant Thompson - not sure why I mentioned Arma. Anyway, Armstrong was delisted so you can't put that down to the 'culture' of the Club making a player 'want out'. Doubtful. Haven't we picked up just as many players from other Clubs? Off the top of my head we've had Vardy, Ingerson, Heffernan, Moorcroft, Ellis, Shanahan, Pickett, Bizzell, White, Holland, Moloney...the list goes on and on. Would he have been in our best 22? Anyway, it's irrelevant to this discussion - he didn't 'want out'. If it was a bad decision it's down to list management, not a rotten culture. One, who said he was no loss? Anyway, it's irrelevant to this discussion - he didn't 'want out'. If it was a bad decision it's down to list management, not a rotten culture.

Despite a couple of good games when flying solo he hasn't shown that he'll be a #1 ruck candidate IMO. He also doesn't have another string to his bow, which you'd want from your second ruck.

This thread was already up. /locked

If only Godders had contributed to Debt Demolition! Is it? I challenged this assertion in the McLean thread. Thompson Armstrong and Farmer relocated for personal reasons, didn't they? I think Bishop was the same, although that's going back a while. Jolly wanted more game time. Robertson floated moving because we wouldn't give him a three-year deal, while Green chose to stay at the Club. We moved Woewodin and TJ on. Sure, there's Powell. Maybe you'll also chuck in CJ. Who else? It's not like we haven't brought anyone in. We've had guys like White, Ingerson, Vardy, Pickett. Holland, PJ and Meesen in recent-ish times. If true, would that be so shocking? Once you're involved in a Club as a player it's nothing like the idealised view of things you might have as a kid. Instead of idolising the players you're sharing a changeroom with a bunch of blokes, some you won't particularly like. After pain and disappointment you grow old and are no longer wanted - hardly the stuff of a kids idealised view of footy, is it?

Has it? Who are the recent ones? Farmer moved to WA for personal reasons, likewise Armstrong to SA. Same with Bishop? Jolly wanted more opportunity so he left - no indication it was an issue with our 'culture'. Sure, Powell moved on.

I missed this earlier...pick 11 and 18 when we're rebuilding? Agreed.

Possibly. In - Out Pick 1 - Whelan Pick 2 - Wheatley Pick 11 - McLean Pick 18 - Robertson Pick 34 - ? PSD1 - ? (Spencer/Valenti - ?) One, Burgoyne's nominated the Hawks. Two, McLean decided to leave. You've got to be kidding me (and that's without Stevens being forced into retirement).

The pertinent part of the article is as follows:

Why? If we lost Davey and picked up Burgoyne he could fill a similar role, being a silky player we tried to get the ball to. Anyhow, apparently he's nominated Hawthorn.

I think that's the earliest we'll be a legit contender regardless of whether we had McLean. The cream of our crop isn't with players from the McLean 'generation' (to use that term very loosely), it's with younger guys. This draft is also probably our last crack at drafting a promising young tall that will develop quickly enough to be a force while guys like Frawley are at their peak.

...and 99% of those won't eventuate when it comes to trade week. Terrible year. This year might be pretty poor because 1/3 of the pool has been eliminated due to the AFL's change to the min age restrictions. First, McLean's best is unlikely to be behind him. Second, pick 11 isn't as good as it'd normally be given the shallow pool to choose from.