Ottens to quit richmond

[dendol]

Originally posted by SimonH
No need to get too hung up on theoretical positions- Roosy doesn't! When Ottens is playing in the forwards, I would love to see him as the lug who can stand in the goalsquare (or 25 metres out from goal) to mark the big bomb into the forward line. This would free up Hall & O'Loughlin to do what they do best- be leading forwards. On this scenario, his role in the team would be totally different to Hall's, so they wouldn't get in each other's way.

For my money, the way to go is:
* When playing a taller side- Ottens playing & rucking in the forward 50, and only going up the ground if the situation demands it. Ball & Doyle changing off the bench to ruck around the (rest of the) ground, as in 2004.
* When playing a shorter side- say 'sayonara' to Doyle, and Ball and Ottens can work together. Whether Ottens sits in the forward line or on the bench when he's not rucking, depends on his fitness level & the way the game is panning out.

Of course, the more excited we get about it, the less likely that he'll come here!

I think we can find a position for all three ruckmen in most dry weather games.

I'd play Ottens as the marking FF, with Bazza at CHF. MOL can easily play as the third tall or a crumber - he'll get the third best (and third shortest) defender. Ottens and Bazza can keep them guessing as to who will contest the ruck contest in the forward line.

Ball and Doyle continue as they have done this year. Another idea would be to play Ball as a tall defender against an opposition ruckman resting at FF. I remember him doing this against Stafford earlier this year.

But the question then still remains: where does Goodes play? If hes not a marking forward now, and not accountable enough to play CHB, it means Roos has no choice but to play him in the midfield as ruck-rover!

[Matt79]

Miller is a goose and still harbours bad feelings towards the swans for not being able to crack the roos into the Sydney market.

I still remember Greg Miller standing out the front of the SCG in a swans scarf trying to flogg off the roos membership...discraceful!!

He will probably try and stop Ottens from coming to Sydney if Ottens leaves. He will probably end up at Fremantle in a straight swap for Troy Simmonds knowing our luck!!

We can only hope he gets here though!

[Reggi]

Originally posted by Snowy
He mentioned that Sydney was less than professional in its dealings over Ray Hall. He also said that there is bad blood with the Swans going back to his Kanga days.

......and the unprofessional one is??

Push his price up at any rate.

Miller is a one trick pony who's made a 20 year career out of the fact he recruited Wayne Carey.

A complete bozo

[Reggi]

ummm given he had been Sydney's football and recruiting manager at the time I suspect he had inside info..

Given the history of these things people are getting excited way to early.

Given The Aints history of plucking disaster from positions of great benefit they are going to be interest to watch - the poaching they have done, must have them under cap pressure.

[Destructive]

Originally posted by Captain


Don't be supprised to see Craig Boltons name thrown up as trade bait. To me this would be a disgrace, but from what I hear it's extremely possible.

This is no suprise to me at all. I was very critical of him last year, although this year he has put in some good perfomances.

[caj23]

C Bolton is an option as we can easily cover him - it would be harsh though considering we lured him from Brisbane with a 3 year contract

[Damien]

Originally posted by Will Sangster
C Bolton is an option as we can easily cover him - it would be harsh though considering we lured him from Brisbane with a 3 year contract

Pretty fair lure mind you - he priced himself so high (at our request from memory) in the preseason draft so that the Tigers couldn't afford him.

I think his career has progressed thanks to his move away. So if we were to get a good player for him, he shouldn't be angry at us, as Brisbane shouldn't be angry at him.

[ScottH]

Swans won't get Ottens, says Tigers boss

I didn't think they would give him up too easily.

[cruiser]

Yikes, why are some of you talking about trading one of our best defenders? The only way Sydney should consider trading a defender would be if it had secured aother top defender from another club.

As for Millers statement re Ottens, its to be expected that they will play hard ball. The question is, will a player with Ottens huge potential want to take a big pay cut to stay at a hopeless, useless, shambles of a club like Richmond, with almost no hope of a premiership (it'll probably have to trade its priority draft picks just to stay alive financially), or would he prefer to come to Sydney with what it has to offer?

Another link here on this matter, this time quoting Wallace:

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10852094-23211,00.html

Would they eally give up their first draft pick just to keep Ottens when he clearly doesnt want to remina at the club, rather than pick up the most promising young player in the country?

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by cruiser
Would they eally give up their first draft pick just to keep Ottens when he clearly doesnt want to remina at the club, rather than pick up the most promising young player in the country?

If they do, and its clear that Brad was so desperate to go to another club that he would risk the lottery of the PSD, it would be a great injustice.

Bring in free-agency IMO. It is not fair that a 30yr old is forced to sacrifice over $150,000 because he can be picked up by the worst performing club in the land. Or at the least, change it so that he can veto an attempt by a club he has just left to resign him... for a lot less than he would get elsewhere.

[barry]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
If they do, and its clear that Brad was so desperate to go to another club that he would risk the lottery of the PSD, it would be a great injustice.

Bring in free-agency IMO. It is not fair that a 30yr old is forced to sacrifice over $150,000 because he can be picked up by the worst performing club in the land. Or at the least, change it so that he can veto an attempt by a club he has just left to resign him... for a lot less than he would get elsewhere.

In the PSD, Ottens would nominate a salary (prob $450K), so If richmond picked him up again, they would have to pay it.

This statement by wallace actually works in Ottens favour, as he can reject any pay cut knowing there is a chance the tigers will agree to his rate via the PSD.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by barry
In the PSD, Ottens would nominate a salary (prob $450K), so If richmond picked him up again, they would have to pay it.

This statement by wallace actually works in Ottens favour, as he can reject any pay cut knowing there is a chance the tigers will agree to his rate via the PSD.

I was just about to make that point (referring to Barry Mitchjell and Ben Doolan as examples) but it suggests that much of what is coming from Richmond is hyperbole.

[Sanecow]

Of course, if we don't get Ottens, he's an overpriced, broken down old dud under an injury cloud anyway.

[barry]

Originally posted by Ruckman
I was just about to make that point (referring to Barry Mitchjell and Ben Doolan as examples) but it suggests that much of what is coming from Richmond is hyperbole.

I just had a look on the richmond board and there may be a rule in place that any player nominating for the PSD cant be picked up by their former club. (ie the PSD is set up to allow players to change clubs after their contract has expired).

[penga]

we could end up with two all-australian ruckmen in our side, not playing ruck

i like the call that ball could cover the opposition ruckman in the backline... didnt ball play CHF and back-pocket for west coast? a 200cm CHB maybe?