deelusions from afar

Maybe the wrong thread for it but I don't think I see what everyone else sees in Baker. His GWS game was good... but he barely played this year. He's been on the list for a few years and wasn't suffering major injuries throughout the season. It's not as if the club wouldn't have trained him up to play on the wing this year. I hope he is the answer... but think its crazy to be putting all our eggs in his basket and that of Hunt etc. Surely bringing someone in to play this role would not hurt

People who watch VFL / training will be better placed to comment, but I thought Bradtke was actually showing a bit natural instincts as a forward that in the ruck? I'm not against us going after a ruck as insurance - yes we could play tomlinson / weid / jacko in the ruck, but we don't want to be forced to do that if they're all playing well in other positions.

Don't disagree but would love to bring someone else in as a winger and for Baker / Hunt or whoever to have to win it off them over the preseason. Given Hunt and Baker have been on our list the last few years suggests they're not the answer - but would LOVE to be proven wrong. I think Mahoney's comments are strange but it's easy for quotes to be taken out of context in print. Clearly they don't have anything locked in but I'm sure they are seeking to bring players in if they improve our best 22. Mahoney's hardly going to say "we're after wingers / outside midfielders" publicly as it puts him in a worse negotiating position with another club - e.g. they will know that Mahoney has promised something to the members so will do whatever it takes to keep the promise.

I tend to agree - I suspect it's more about Mahoney trying to manage expectations. Brown is locked in, and they will go hard at other options but given the lack of draft picks (and the fact that we don't know what we will get for what we trade out) he doesn't want to say we'll be able to get anyone else in. Surely SURELY they would be looking for one or two of the following: - another winger (left footer preferably) - a pacy midfielder with decent skills - pacy small pressure forward - ruck insurance - eg if Max goes down and we don't want Jackson / Bradtke to carry all of the load

Ideally we are able to entice another crumbing / pressure forward to come across too. The we would have a dangerous forward line! Is it possible to do this, grab an outside winger and keep a top 30 pick? For essentially Pruess / Hannan / ANB / TMac

Maybe if TMac went to them and we didn't have to pay his salary. Think it's horrendous the way he has been treated by Collingwood... would love him at the dees but would be a little concerned about those hamstrings esp at such a high price.

It's all about trying to get the bombers the best deal - if anything Brown looks to be a more reliable prospect than Daniher

I think he's best 22. Did some fantastic things in defence this year. Not sure on what the question marks is on him - maybe it's fitness? Surprising to me that he was overlooked at the end of the year as we don't have many players that can lock a small forward down. I also would love to see him up forward crumbing with Kozzie if we don't go after another small forward in the draft / trade period.

Disagree with many in this thread. Defenders are an easy target as their mistakes cost goals. He missed all of last year, has been asked to play a variety of roles in the last few years, and didn't have the VFL to build his form and confidence. I still think he's got a lot of upside if he gets a decent run at it. Having said that that, I think the third defender role (after may and lever) is currently taken by tomlinson with hore and maybe petty ahead of him. Will be be tried forward again in 2021?

Don't disagree... but who are you taking out of the centre square if he is to play that role out of Clarry, Trac, Viney and Brayshaw (and where do they go)? I know others talk about the depth of other midfields. Our problem (to date) is that our two best players (Trac and Clarry) are the only ones that can play in other positions.

I wonder if this is part of the reason the likes of Hannan and ANB may not be at the club next year. The role of Melksham and Fritsch surely should change as well.

I rate Harmes but due to the one dimensional nature of a few of our other midfielders (Viney & Brayshaw in particular, and maybe Sparrow & Jordan when they're given a proper go), there's just not enough spots for them all in the centre square. Harmes is one of the few that has the speed / running ability to play somewhere else, he's strong and also better than most overhead - but this year showed defence is not his go. Is that decision making / skills? Or is it inability to read the game? If he plays onball in 2021, who's spot is he taking? And if not, I wonder whether he could essentially take over form ANB forward next season - can be build his running capacity to do that and be more damaging. Ultimately his best position is in the middle - and so I thought other teams such as Geelong were trying to entice him away with the promise that he wouldn't be played out of position. He's one of my favourite players... but I can't see much changing next year unless one of Brayshaw / Harmes / Oliver / Viney / Petracca find a spot outside the centre square where they can excel. That's what they've tried to do this year and it hasn't worked - so it will not surprise me if he or Brayshaw aren't at the club after the trade period if it allows us to bring in some pace / finishing skills.

Rennick sounds promising particularly given the priority to establish a home base. Loved Greeny as a player (hated the period when he was Captain but that's hardly his doing) but seems like a bit of an odd fit for the board. Hope he proves me and others wrong.

Kinda - we got his RH man in Yze

It's interesting as I don't think these guys will get a game while we have Trac, Clarrie, Viney, Harmes, Brayshaw in the same team. Love them all but can't see our fortunes changing much if this isn't shaken up a bit.

As others have noted, assuming all is fine with the medical, then Brown at this price is a steal! Will be interesting how our forwardline would look in 2021. I'd have fritsch playing further up in Melksham's role (who on form this year is no longer best 22). Fritsch would still kick a few but could be one of the important link men with the final kick inside 50. But if we are going to have Brown and Weid playing forward, then I think we will need another speedy pressure forward to help kozzie - can bedform / hunt play this role? Or is there someone else we can bring in.

Haven't seen a heap of Esava but when I have seen him he's looked impressive. Might have only been 8 possessions and 1 goal in that 2018 round 1 game but I remember thinking "who the hell is this guy, he's so dangerous!" every time he went near it in what was his first (?) game? Clearly (judging by the comments) he's had many games since where he has gone missing but at 22 surely there's a bit to work with? Would love to get Brown as it takes the pressure off Weid but obviously there's a big salary, the trade and question marks over his potential injury issues. Ironically I actually think a (physically and mentally) fit Hogan / TMac is actually what we need most - i.e. players that have running capacity to be a target up the ground as a CHF and run back to the 50 as Weid looks to be more of a traditional FF who will lead at the ball out of the goal square and crash packs. If we get Brown then both he and Weid seem more stay at home forwards so maybe Jackson would have to provide a lead up target to get the ball out of defence.

That doggies mate obviously knew something. Hope we can hold on to him

I agree - but if he can't get the mobility and confidence back then he is no use to us. If he is being shopped around, it might be an indication that the club don't think he can get it back.

I think we would get him very cheap (do we really want him?). This is what pie fans think of him on bf (it's brutal!): Dastardly form this evening. Needs some time in the twos. Needs to go back to the twos at Oakleigh Chargers!!! How bad is he playing? It’s amazing in his ability to hit new lows just when you think it’s impossible Do the Cats still want him? I'll take a meatpie and a fridge magnet at this stage... Take the rest of the year off to get over your Hammy mate. We need you back next year fit and firing ( after being traded ) This guy has fallen off a steeper cliff then Jaidyn. He's not worth anything, so unsure what we do with him - considering his contract ends at 2021. Might need to see how he goes next year with longer quarters, and more space to roam on the MCG. Reminds me of Jordan Russell. One good season. Then putrid performances from there on. Yea this season is not conducive to Phillips strengths. Smaller grounds, shorter quarters so less opportunity for him to use his endurance to find the footy and more pressure on his disposal which highlights his weaknesses in pace/agility/pinpoint disposal. https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/tom-phillips.1122615/page-36

A Doggies mate of mine said they were going to take Hannan back from us. Anyone else heard similar? While he's not always been in our best 22, he seems to play well in big games when we play well. Would hope he stays but I guess if we're looking to bring in a key forward our forwardline line up has to change.

Assuming Brown leaves the Roos, doesn't this ultimately come down to whichever club he nominates? So the media each few days name the suitor that's "in pole position" to get some more clicks (us, Bombers, Pies etc) but it's all irrelevant until Brown decides who he prefers?

Wouldn't mind Fritsch moving to the wing if this happens - I thought when he played there a few seasons back he actually did pretty well. On the otherhand, he's normally a good kick and had enough shots on goal to justify playing as a forward

Love Neita! But he did not have a great kicking action and other than a few brief periods (96-96, 02?) he was not a reliable kick for goal.

Hope you're right... but there's a reasonable chance his body is cooked. Do we know he has plenty of interest out there? He's done very little since 2018.