rjay

As good a player as Ollie is I don't see him as a priority. If we have a weakness it is a bit of outside class & that's not him. Pity we didn't pick him up when we had the chance but that horse has long bolted.

I think we are past going for the big fish... We have our own homegrown to look after now. Clubs will be knocking on Oliver's door, Petracca and others, lets keep this list together as long as it takes to get the elusive flag. To me a player like Sloane would end up around our 3rd or 4th mid behind Oliver & Patracca and on par with Viney but we would be paying him number 1 mid money. Not a wise spend... Look at needs and spend wisely...Hibberd is an example. Although not a free agent he fitted a real need to have quality run and disposal from defence. Gaff maybe the one to look at but that depends on money and how some of our younger players come on.

The footy show should be dead and buried by then 'Redleg'... Be lucky to make through this season.

Couldn't have said it better myself 'Dee'. ...and as for the maturity line trotted out by some, what a load of rubbish. It would seem more mature to me to finish your contract. Funnily enough for all the talk of the NRL's approach being more mature etc Cam Smith has on numerous occasions said he doesn't like it.

This one has had over 1.5 Billion YouTube views... I remember when music was for listening, for a song this makes better viewing than listening and I think you can see why it had so many views.

Yep, and that's why he is an elite talent. We have the best young mid in the competition, the rest of the AFL will finally work it out in 2018...the opposition coaches already have, that's why they put a tag on him and give him votes in the coaches award.

Let me simplify it for you... Maybe none of these players are good enough. The FD would seem to think that's the case. We don't need more list cloggers but we can develop quality for our own needs and for future trade bait. You are looking at things in a very one dimensional way and we are far from done and locked out of trading or drafting in 2018...

This post makes little sense... You wanted us to draft 2 unknowns to boost our midfield depth when we have a few knowns in Brayshaw and Salem who at the moment have to bide their time on flanks where as you say we have them coming out of our ears. We will be in a good position to trade in class/needs over the next few years as Jones, Vince and Lewis move on. We do that by having better players on our list not by drafting/taking chances drafting players our recruiters and list management people don't rate to fill so called needs now.

Yet from memory you weren't that impressed with Bailey. Now this is only going by the highlights but Bailey to me was very smooth, looked to have good skills and vision. Baker, again by the highlights didn't really impress. For one thing his handball seems very mechanical and forced, almost like someone who is only just coming to terms with the skill. Anyway, it will be interesting to see who we take this draft. Lets hope we get a real gem here...

NEAFL though 'Dee'...players rack up the numbers in that comp. I think a lot of the so called experts have decided we need some run and carry and have been blind sided by this. They have us picking on a needs basis and as our own history tells us, this is a recipe for disaster. I just want us to get the best available prospect.

Above from Snoop dog... If he doesn't win a lot of ball in the NEAFL then I would be concerned with his footy smarts...

Unfortunately 'McQueen', the umpires don't seem to pay these. Howe was always blocked in his run at the ball when playing deep, that's why he could never get a kick there. It might not be overt but non the less defenders are very skilled at taking away an advantage. Body strength and positioning are key. I know nothing about Ryan, just making an observation from the highlights, which were all big marks, getting a run at the pack. He will take the odd one same as Jeremy but he will need a few more tricks than that. He's from your neck of the woods, what's his ground ball skill like? is he smart around goal like Betts? does he apply defensive pressure? Is he very quick? does he involve his teammates? is he a good field kick?

Good work 'Big Carl'... Just off the top of my head I would have Neitz at CHB, Hardeman on a flank and Wight at FB... Jako moves into FF, needs to be the pea...

I'm sure we're across this, but he won't get that space to get a running jump at AFL level. It's why Howe couldn't make it as a forward and had to go back... Would like to see what else he offers at ground level.

I think Tony is taking a very educated guess...99.9%

Totally different situation...Carlton held the whip hand because Gibbs was still contracted for a few more years. Lever is out of contract, they can't hold him.

Stanley had the job last night.

Another thing to be noted with Lever is that opposition teams have been running a defensive forward against him to try and take him out of the game, keep him away from the footy. It's happened in both finals, so it looks like the coaches rate him.

Never hurt Gibson, a very valuable player at Hawthorn. A couple of B&F's in premiership years. Look he's still a developing kid but with some runs on the board. I don't think we will pay overs for him and his best is yet to come. I wouldn't define him on his career to date apart from saying noting his talent, and I definitely wouldn't define him on last nights game where he wasn't a standout but played his role. He had some really good moments and a few average ones that you would expect from a player of his age and experience.

I shudder when I see an under age player staring in the SANFL. Toumpas was a gun for Woodville the year before his draft year...late debut coming into finals. Should also add Aish and a number of other kids who have struggled after good seasons in the SANFL. Unfortunately as we've found out, SANFL form doesn't necessarily translate.

Can I post a like for 'Rhino Richards' liking your post(s)...'Vogon'.

He will evolve as player in the next couple of years and we will see more of his kicking, marking and goal kicking game. He's already given us a taste of these attributes. That will take him to the elite level, quick mids or not.

A month will be plenty to get the deals done, no more going behind anyones back. The only reason it stretches out now is because agents know they have time and they are hoping to increase value or see where a club is heading by the end of the season. Well guess what, they will know what they need to know and there will be no need for guess work. Trade week can be trade month. Clubs can set up their targets but not approach them until this time and sort out their list scenarios and get the deals and signings done... As for Storm, they've lost big name players...it's not just them, I've heard a number of NRL people say they don't liked the implication of disloyalty attached to their system. It's not particularly mature, in fact the way some of the situations have panned out it seems particularly childish.

So 'Abe', I've heard this talked about and put up in the media but I've never understood what makes it mature. Often it's in the context of the NRL being so mature about how they handle these player trades when players come out and give their intentions 12 months out. However if you ask the Storm boys they don't like it. I've heard Cam Smith and their Footy ops man say this a number of times...it causes to much trouble. To my mind a more mature approach would be to have a strict trading period at the end of the season and no one allowed to talk to players in season and no contracts to be signed outside of this period. To hold this in place there would be massive penalties for any team/player that steps outside of the rules. No talk of player movement, no more stupid press conference questions about when are you signing. A true mature approach...dare I say too mature for the AFL...

Sounds like some of the EFC supporters on Hibberd last trade period, nothing good to say about him. ...and how did he turn out???