Room in the salary cap - who do we throw money at?

[Plugger46]

Still think we should definately go after Tim Boyle from the hawks & matt Maguire, 2 big targets one down back and one up forward both you would think for second rounder, possibly less!

Would go for Maguire. But wouldn't touch Boyle with his injury history and don't think he's much good anyway.

[DST]

Based on team selection tonight at the Aints, we should target Maguire and hang our bets on White, Johnstone and Murphy being capable of filling the KP forward posts for the coming years.

This years draft is thin and the top 10 look to be all midfield/utility type players.

DST

[jono2707]

we need defenders...big ones.

The Footy Show just reported that Brian Lake is off contract and he may be available as the Bulldogs aren't offering huge $$$'s for his new contract - apparently 4 other clubs are interested in him, including 2 interstate clubs. I reckon he could be exactly what we need, a ready made replacement for Leo at Fullback. Would free up Craig Bolton a bit more too as he's been struggling on the #1 opposition forwards of late.

I was always thinking we needed a big forward but maybe Jesse will step up tp the plate, and its become apparent over the last few weeks that we need to bring in some quality in defence.

[Jeffers1984]

The Footy Show just reported that Brian Lake is off contract and he may be available as the Bulldogs aren't offering huge $$$'s for his new contract - apparently 4 other clubs are interested in him, including 2 interstate clubs. I reckon he could be exactly what we need, a ready made replacement for Leo at Fullback. Would free up Craig Bolton a bit more too as he's been struggling on the #1 opposition forwards of late.

I was always thinking we needed a big forward but maybe Jesse will step up tp the plate, and its become apparent over the last few weeks that we need to bring in some quality in defence.

Geez imagine the cost of a premier KPP Back. Would have to be at least our 1st rounder + Veszpremi.

[liz]

Geez imagine the cost of a premier KPP Back. Would have to be at least our 1st rounder + Veszpremi.

Hardly. He turns 30 next year and he's not in the absolute best rung of KPPs (though his best is close).

I reckon we trade the Bullies the aggressive, key forward they think they need. Both out of contract, only a year or two age gap, and everyone knows potent key forwards are rarer and more valuable and even really good key backs.

[goswannies]

Hardly. He turns 30 next year and he's not in the absolute best rung of KPPs (though his best is close).

I reckon we trade the Bullies the aggressive, key forward they think they need. Both out of contract, only a year or two age gap, and everyone knows potent key forwards are rarer and more valuable and even really good key backs.

The problem with a trade for Hally is that few clubs are interested in him. If it really is only the Doggies, they don't need to trade for him, they can just get him with the last pick of the national draft or the pre-season draft.

[Bloody Hell]

we need defenders...big ones.

What else is new!

Harry O'Brien and Ryder.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

We'd need to give up the house for Ryder, he's a genuine star in the making (if not already). Essendon would probably want our first pick and someone like White or Vez, and imo that's a loss for us.

[Mr Magoo]

The Footy Show just reported that Brian Lake is off contract and he may be available as the Bulldogs aren't offering huge $$$'s for his new contract - apparently 4 other clubs are interested in him, including 2 interstate clubs. I reckon he could be exactly what we need, a ready made replacement for Leo at Fullback. Would free up Craig Bolton a bit more too as he's been struggling on the #1 opposition forwards of late.

I was always thinking we needed a big forward but maybe Jesse will step up tp the plate, and its become apparent over the last few weeks that we need to bring in some quality in defence.

Amazing how four clubs could be interested in him when none are allowed to talk to players from other clubs at this time (or is it the old quick ring around to the football department of each club with a leading question like "If Brian lake were avaliable would you take him?").

Sounds more to me like his manager is trying to drive up his price to secure him a contract that will see out his days at the bulldogs at a time when he is in pretty red hot form.

[laughingnome]

Amazing how four clubs could be interested in him when none are allowed to talk to players from other clubs at this time (or is it the old quick ring around to the football department of each club with a leading question like "If Brian lake were avaliable would you take him?").

With absolutely no evidence to back me up, I think that there usually are talks between clubs and player managers (with or without player knowledge) during the season. I don't mind that there is, provided it stays in the backroom and preferably without the player's explicit knowledge. I struggle to think that absolutely all discussion happens only in trade week, thought that would explain why nothing happens in that week

[SwansFan1972]

Just to add fuel to this fire, around 4-6 weeks ago, Luke Hodge was on channel 7's AFL gameday show on Sunday morning and was asked if Alistair Clarkson wasn't his coach or if he could play under any other coach or who does he think is the best coach in the competition?(one of those 3 questions) His answer was Paul roos. So having said that, I don't think it is that inconceivable that we might be able to snare him.

Fingers have been crossed for a while now - after hearing that, legs now crossed too!

Hopefully the Hawks might be looking nervously at 2011 now (rather than next year - when many of their stars are out of contract, and the CG17 mob will be in the market). They may seek to upgrade/extend a few now which would limit their flexibility with others (hopefully Hodgey is in the second group!!).

[SwansFan1972]

Geez imagine the cost of a premier KPP Back. Would have to be at least our 1st rounder + Veszpremi.

Not for uncontracted ones! When an uncontracted player wants to leave, his current club has much less leverage. They need to decide whether to get something for him (and of course, they push for the most), or nothing (see Port v Nick Stevens for reference as to how it can play out). In that case, Port felt the Pies were trying to do them over in the deal (knowing Stevens wanted to get back to Victoria no matter what), so they (Port) saw more value in demonstrating they were no pushovers (for trade dealings in future seasons) and forced Stevens into the pre-season draft (and got nothing in return). That also pressures the player - depending on who has the first pre-season pick. In Stevens' case, he would have pushed the Pies harder to deal, if there was a chance he could wind up in Perth or Brisbane (rather than his preferred destination of Melbourne).

It becomes a game of poker and can come down to who blinks first and is very different to the process for negotiating for a contracted player. For contracted players, the destination club definitely has to come up with something good to get a deal.

[sWAns63]

The problem with a trade for Hally is that few clubs are interested in him. If it really is only the Doggies, they don't need to trade for him, they can just get him with the last pick of the national draft or the pre-season draft.

Bulldogs & Collingwood are interested what about Richmond they must be.

[10Totti10]

Brian Lake rejected Bulldogs contract. Only offered 300, 000 for two years. We could do better.

[sWAns63]

We would offer him 3 or 4 years and make a better money offer.