McQueen

Freo will be looking for mids.

To be fair, Hogan has never had a real clean run at it. Injury, tragedy, followed by further injury and more tragedy. Also I think people are trying to make too much of the argument that he wasn’t ‘invested’ enough in the club purely because his body language isn’t sufficiently positive for them. He’s an individual and a very talented one at that. For a bloke who was whisked 3500 kms away from his family and mates when only 17 years old to a basket case of football club and managed to eek out a career that has so far yielded a rising star award, multiple 40+ goals seasons amongst huge challenges, I think it’s a massive credit to him. I understand this method of coming to terms with his departure is some type of coping mechanism for many on here but let’s not forget everything he’s been through and still managed to achieve for our club.

No, they probably are.

That’s just your opinion. The facts are that he is an All Australian wingman.

Okay then....

Not really.

After the first couple of interactions I didn’t bother to read too much of the content but generally I do read most posters contributions on here.

10 pages to catch up. None the wiser really but happy to see @ManDee and @Dappa Dan eventually sorted their [censored] out.

Do the crime, do the time. But there’s no doubting this bloke must be feeling so low and probably nauseous after watching his mates premiership medals be hung around their necks. Poor bugger.

From the AFL site with regard to both Lycett and Gaff: “With West Coast's best and fairest on Friday, the same day as the free agency period is deemed officially open, both decisions could be made public inside the next 72 hours.”

What’s Tim Kelly worth now? If I was Freo, I’d be looking at acquiring both Hogan and Kelly - particularly if Neale is outta there. If they snag Kelly then you would absolutely be fine with missing this years draft crop.

Freo definitely won’t want to pass up two top 10 picks in this years draft. There’s just no way it suits their rebuild phase. If Hogan leaves, I would be happy with this years 4,5 or whatever after FA compo effects and then, next years first rounder from Freo which should also be well inside the top ten. The Dockers strategy is bringing strong WA talent home and they’ve been quite successful in this the last few years but have had some busts with Bennell and McCarthy. I reckon this year they’ll head to the strong draft with at least one top 10 selection.

Unbelievable enough to do a straight swap?

Sounds like the Buddy to GWS saga that went all of a sudden to “oh look Buddy to Sydney!”

A couple of years ago that level of imagination wouldn’t have been possible. Things have changed a lot.

As light-hearted as the intent this post is being made in, it’s actually quite a humane perspective. Much like the criticism of Watts and noise it continually generated around the club for his whole career, we have experienced the same with Jesse - albeit for different reasons. Eventually, it wears the club, player and supporters down to a point where it’s nothing but a pain in the arse and an unwanted distraction. I’d love him to remain but if a very good deal can be achieved now, then let’s just do it so we can all breathe easier.

? post

Right in the cohuna's.

Yeah, you'd think so. Might be the play that ultimately lands us Gaff but also arms us with a superior hand next year for another gun.

i agree with this but I reckon it'll be one first round this year and next years as well - just like the Lever trade. Freo will be woeful again next year so we should get another high pick unless of course we burn it this year (trade future picks) scenario. FML. I'm rather dismayed this is happening.

Isn't Jason Taylor on record as being very keen on young Ed Langdon? He's a small defender though... Pearce is another Omac.

How can anyone be a super close mate with Nat Fyfe?

It's the game evolving, the rules changing and the player make-up being recruited to suit. Without doubt, the clubs FD has looked ahead and started to think how they can exploit the proposed changes coming next year - let alone giving Maxy a chop out or having a backup ruck God forbid he goes down injured. Like the team sheet of the '87 Prelim side recently put up on another thread, that list was made up of a bunch of midgets going by today's standards. The tallest mids were low 180 cms, the key talls were 185 -190 cms and our rucks in Stynes and Strawbs were ~200cm. Through human evolution and athletic capabilities, we have effectively had anywhere between a 5 - 10 cm change in players height and associated weight increase across the last 30 years in our code. Added to this, the grounds no longer get boggy, the decks are faster and the players skills and professionalism is improving all time (in most cases). Wet weather and slippery balls is going to be a constant but the speed the players can move is no longer hindered by muddy decks and our big men are getting better at ground ball gets than ever before. Now with longer goal squares for kick-outs, 6, 6, 6 starting lines at centre bounces looking likely, it would be plausible to think that having extra tall timber down the lines is going to be a reasonable strategy to deploy as opposed to worrying about the short chip kicks around congestion. The AFL want that gone and the clubs will adhere to it. We will be tall next year. Maybe one of the tallest teams in the league with the addition of Pruess and potentially May into our defensive half. Whatever the club has cooking, primarily I think it's not for Pruess to come and provide cover for Max but rather to provide a key pillar in an evolved game plan and secondarily aimed to combat certain rule changes.

Some people like myself spend thousands of dollars each year flying to Melbourne and other capital cities to watch the team play.

Correct. The early bird offer was $229 and the standard cost was $299 but I was eligible for the early bird right through which I’m guessing had something to do with length of membership.