Lucifers Hero

Yes, future picks can be live traded. But, we can't trade any more future picks until we trade in a 2021 1st round pick, which is unlikely. Pick trade up will be difficult for us because initially, not many clubs with pick #1-#5 will want to trade them out. And if they do there will be plenty of competition with clubs, holding stronger hands that have said they want to trade up: GWS (holding picks 10, 13, 15, and 20 and a full hand of 2021 picks). They aggressively gave up trade value (in points) last year to get into the top 3. Collingwood (holding picks 14 and 16 and want to trade out their 2021 1st pick). GCS (holding pick 5 and a full hand of 2021 picks). They will be relying on Adel, North or Hawks to take their pick #5 and their future 1st. GCS traded up aggressively last year and were willing to give up trade value (in points). Each club will out-trump our holding (pick 18 and 19) for picks 1-5. Unfortunately, that means heavy competition for Ess picks 6,7 or 8. Good luck trying to get a reasonable deal from them or even a timely deal. So I can't see us trading up higher than 10 which will slide to 13-16. Not great news for us but that is my take of the lay of land. We may be better off keeping our picks because some players will surely slide and we may get one of maybe 2 or 3 we have our eye on. Doubt that is the clubs plan but I don't think we have the hand to get too far up the order.

If we lose Oliver and Petracca we will get 2-4 1st round picks some being top 10, not the rubbish Coll got: 1 mid/late 1st rounder and a bunch of rubbish. Don't want to lose them but the situation would not be comparable to what Coll have done this year.

Hard to believe that Buckley is playing the sympathy card: My toughest day in footy....bar none. Meanwhile some of his best kids have just had their hearts broken after he pushed them out of the club. Always two sides to a story but hey he is supposed to be the grown up.

2020 Final 8 @ Rnd 18: Port Adelaide Brisbane Lions Richmond Geelong Cats West Coast Eagles St Kilda Western Bulldogs Collingwood History says one or two final 8 teams drop out the following year. For us to make finals in 2021 which team(s) drop out? imv the most likely are: Collingwood. They have been sliding for the last three years: 2nd, 4th, 6th. The loss of talent and treatment of players during the trade period will rock them a bit so can't see them in the 8. Bulldogs. I'm not as bullish (no pun intended) as many media scribes. From various accounts they have internal player/leadership issues. Treloar improves them but will they get the most from the star studded midfield when some are played in other positions? And while they will get JUH playing fwd they are still short of recognised tall fwds/goal kickers. Naughton is a bit hot and cold. StKilda seem to really have their act together on and off the field so don't think they will slide out. Top 5 positions might move around but doubt any will slide out. Other contenders are: GWS, Carlton, Freo. Anyone of them can have a spot after we make it

I have an unworn jumper with tags and the autographs of most of the last premiership team which I was able to get when they had their 50 year reunion at the Bentleigh Club. I think I was able to snaffle a couple of table cards from Barassi's and Hassa's tables. I bought the jumper in the dark days when Jimmy was ill, we had no FOJ sponsors and wore the 'Reach' label and our BOJ sponsor (some energy company) had gone belly up. I put # 11 on the back. My intention is to donate it to the club but am waiting to add the next demons premiership team autographs. Yes, I know it may be a long wait. But it will be a special item when it happens. That little anecdote aside a friend of mine has the small commemorative silk flags in the days when they were given out or sold for finals. I'll see if she is happy to part with them for the club.

Quite right. We can get a small fwd or a wingman the same way.

Thanks. I didn't see that on line. But that was my guess for a another trade because of the late advice on lists and TPP but my cynicism says it is to help Dunkley get to Ess. In a way it is a bit unfair to announce a mini trade period after the official one. It should be upfront. While I have no desire to see Coll improve would they have agreed to give up Williams for pick #65 and pay $150k of his salary if they thought there was a chance of getting a better deal in a month. More suitors may have come out of the woodwork - us for instance. Not easy to get the attention of decision makers in the hot house hours of the final countdown. Time will tell.

I think they will hold off until the 2021 Mid-Season Drafts (to be held monthly in 2021) and negotiate a retirement with KK if they need the list spot to draft someone. Because there has been little exposed form for this year's draftees, this could easily happen. The same might happen with Jones or Nev if the club needs other list spots mid year.

A potentially interesting twist: "The Bulldogs held their nerve on Josh Dunkley, but what might happen if the AFL holds a second trade period this year, just before the draft? Age Podcast Michael Gleeson, Peter Ryan and Jake Niall are good reporters and doubt they would hypothesise that without something behind it. It could be linked to the late advice of List sizes/TPP. Only guessing tho. Or is their a hint that the AFL may do it to help Essendon and the Bulldogs, both AFL darlings in recent years... I'm hoping this is the end of the player trade and lets get on with the draft etc.

Weird that they ranked us equal 3rd at 8/10 with Carlton and Geelong yet somehow manage to list us 6th rather than 4th (it isn't even alphabetical). Other weird rankings: GWS ranked 16th but got pick 11 for Williams (DFA), 2 extra 1st round picks for Cameron and better picks for Caldwell by standing their ground. Yet Geelong ranked 4th for giving up 3 first round picks (less some back) for a player they should have got free. Underestimated their op strategically. Lions ranked 7th yet added Daniher, Cockatoo and upgraded its 2021 picks: an extra 1st and an extra 2nd. Their rankings seem based mostly on players in and out. Rather shallow 'analysis' not giving due weight to picks in and out. A lot of finesse is required to maximise draft positions in 2020/2021 as Mahoney has shown.

For the last two years we have had fewer than the allowed 40 senior players but made max use of Rookies. The first $80k of a rookie salary is not included in the sal cap. This year we had 6 'A' rookies; a sal cap buffer of $480K (and 38 senior players). So rookies are quite attractive for sal cap. Its a shame the AFL has cut them back so far.

I can see Coll 'tanking' 2021 to fast track a 'rebuild'. If they end up bottom 3 -5 they will get a pick that will probably be high enough to get a top player before a bid on Daicos (F/S). Two top 10 players will be a good start and might soothe the masses a little...well those that are left after the membership cancellations. They lost 10,000 this year. More losses to come.

So you expect us to finish 14th - 18th ? Don't think so! I wouldn't be surprised to see Hawks, Coll and Ess in that range...well one can hope.

With Beams 'retiring' it is 3 players costing 5 recent first round draft picks that were sent packing. But they save $1.5m a year in sal cap...Hmmm. Clubs should take heed of how Geelong manage their sal cap. The List Manager does the first cut and then they meet with the Finance Department to keep it manageable. And they have sign off rules that go right up to Board level for player contracts > x. In comparison Coll sounds like the Wild West! Btw, rumour has it that Beams was brought back at Eddie's behest. He cost 2 1st round picks and reportedly $500k pa for 4 years and played 9 games in 2 years. Won't play again. But mud won't stick on Eddie. Ned Guy will be the fall guy.

But what player would accept their shiny pieces of silver to play in a snake pit. 'Back-ended' silver at that.

From what Stephenson said it was pretty tough on the single guys whose families who at home when other players had their families with them. Apparently players signed an agreement that they are banned from talking publicly about what happens in the hub.

It sounds like Tom is already working hard to get fit again. And, there is a good chance the sal cap will go up again in 2022 so his package won't be such an issue for clubs. Tom will be a lot more tradeable next year.

Its interesting the AFL has asked clubs to decide how the 9% sal cap cut is split across the list. Some clubs preferred it was mandated so that all players get the same cut. While that seems fairest, the club could ask players with contracts written several years ago but are no longer in the best 22 (TMac, ANB, KK etc) to take a higher cut.

There are various ways we can still get them: Main Draft/Rookie Draft next month From DFA's yet to be announced. The PSSP draft which is open until mid March (if club has a list spot). We took Lockhart, Brown and Bennell on this basis. No draft picks needed. Player can nominate their club. 'Mid-Season Drafts' becomes A Monthly Draft. We may not get the best available but if the club thinks we can't develop someone we have there will be plenty of chances to get the 'role' player for those two positions. Because of smaller list sizes there will be a lot less players drafted so a lot of good players will miss out. I think we will keep at least one list spot open for such opportunities. I wouldn't be surprised if someone we like in the draft misses out we invite them to train with us (ala Bennell) before committing.

Correct. Thanks. I will go back and change the post.

Welcome Ben Brown! Welcome 2 first round draft picks! @DavidNeitz9I've checked a few websites and they say Bradtke is OOC this year so I'll stick with that for now as one way or another it will be confirmed in the next month.

Reportedly $150k for Phillips (1 year) and $300-$350k for Treloar (5 years). He he. That will hurt. Whatever the reasons for the fire sale, they have handled the players very badly. Expect a bit of fallout.

Players Traded Out: Hannan, Preuss Players Traded In: Brown Draft picks: 2020: '@ Start: 23, 47, 62, 63, 89 '@ End: 18, 19, 28, 50, 89 2021: '@ Start: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th '@ End: 2nd (Tied to Brisbane), 3rd (Tied to WBD), 4th (Tied to North). I wouldn't be surprised to see the WBD slide and North to not improve much so these two picks might be an upgrade on what would have been our 'natural' 2021 picks. Overall Position: Covered a tall fwd need. Improved list by trading two 'depth' players Dramatically improved 2020 draft position. Only gave up 2021 1st rnd pick. Upgraded later 2021 picks I would rate that A++. Its good to be on the plus side of the ledger on individual trades and pick swaps. Shows that having a reputation for getting deals done pays off. Getting in early for Lions pick 18 and 19 stops other teams doing same altho GWS have a fistful of 1st round picks: 10, 13, 15, 20. And Ess have: 6, 7, 8. So plenty of scope for more deals to be done. I'm guessing we will take only 1 or 2 picks to the draft so more pick swaps to come. Would be surprised if we don't use pick #89 to upgrade Lockhart to the seniors list. Wouldn't mind swapping picks 28 and 50 for more future picks. Collingwood's 2021 1st perhaps?

Thanks for correction. I will go back and change my post. Family connection is there. It wasn't so much a conspiracy theory - just mates and favours.

And our Premier is an Ess supporter. And an ex Labor Minister's brother (Madden) is on their Board. The old story of 'who you know', od.