And then there was Crouch....(retiring at end of season)

[ernie koala]

With Crouch, I reckon he should stay on. We're losing a lot of players this year already, meaning that if we do replace Crouch, it will in all likelihood be with a very late pick, in a shallow draft. I'd rather keep him around another year, and have him be one of the few players we lose out of necessity next year, and replace him with a higher pick. The same could be said of guys like Ablett, Buchanan, even Playfair.

In other words, rather than have 7 picks in 7 rounds in 09 and 3 picks in 3 rounds in '10, we could have 5 picks in 5 rounds in '09, and another 5 picks in 5 rounds in '10. Even with GC concessions, a 4th and 5th round pick in 2010 will be worth more than a 6th and 7th round pick in 2009.

Monty is definately worth keeping. Ablett, with a preseason, is also worth keeping.....but....
I'd prefer ANY draft pick, including preseason and rookie, over keeping Playfair on the list.
As for a waning Crouch, I'd again prefer the gamble of a late round pick.

[BSA5]

I'd prefer ANY draft pick, including preseason and rookie, over keeping Playfair on the list.
As for a waning Crouch, I'd again prefer the gamble of a late round pick.

But my point is that if we wait a year, we could get a better pick/less gamble. Also, as Adelaide have shown, if you have a balance of experience while blooding youngsters, you can do it without losing the winning culture.

[ernie koala]

But my point is that if we wait a year, we could get a better pick/less gamble. Also, as Adelaide have shown, if you have a balance of experience while blooding youngsters, you can do it without losing the winning culture.

I agree we need a mix of youth and experience but...
We still have plenty of experience without Crouch, or Playfair for that matter.
I'm sure I've missed a few, but we still have; Kirk, Boltonx2, Mattner, Shaw, LRT, Ablett, BUchanan, Richards, OKeefe, McVeigh, Goodes....
As for 'shallow drafts', aren't they refering to the quality dropping off more quickly in the first couple of rounds? After that it becomes hit and miss in all drafts doesn't it?

[BSA5]

I agree we need a mix of youth and experience but...
We still have plenty of experience without Crouch, or Playfair for that matter.
I'm sure I've missed a few, but we still have; Kirk, Boltonx2, Mattner, Shaw, LRT, Ablett, BUchanan, Richards, OKeefe, McVeigh, Goodes....
As for 'shallow drafts', aren't they refering to the quality dropping off more quickly in the first couple of rounds? After that it becomes hit and miss in all drafts doesn't it?

Far more hits come in the 40-60 range than later. We'd be much better off staggering the years in which the players leave so that our replacement draft picks are spread out, and (by virtue of the fact that you use your top picks first) on average higher. Rather than replace Crouch with pick 90 immediately, we could replace him with pick 60 in a years time. Makes sense to me.

[ugg]

Crouch announces his retirement

Crouch joins queue at Swans exit - RFNews - realfooty.com.au

[Rod_]

His legacy is in Smith and Jack. Well done Crouchy - I will miss your battles with Acker!

Rod_

[lachlanc]

Knew Crouch was always going to go, sad but probably apt. Of all the old stars, the one i want to keep going is Kirk. Love Monty, of course, but reckon he might also be past it. But Kirk can help pass the baton by playing a bit longer, and that's got to be a good thing.

[ShockOfHair]

So much for the "Crouch will have to be dynamited out the door" theory.

Another gracious, unforced retirement. Well done, Crouchy. We wouldn't have won the flag without you.

[stellation]

Thoughts and prayers are with Jenky and her family at this tough time.

[Wardy]

Certainly not a surprise - So who will it be next week???

[Hartijon]

Well done Crouch..and a good time to go personally and for the club too.Great work with Smithie too. The discussion on this thread that somehow the club can control retirements is a joke.Retiring is a PERSONAL decision when the body or mind cannot do the job anymore.No one can make a player play on when their body no longer repairs.Most players know when its time..some have to be pushed a bit but Crouch owes us nothing.He played with injuries that would have kept most guys off the field for weeks. Only he knows the pain and the mental effort to get up and ready each week. Another genuine star at his peak and one of the solid reliable contributors to the club.

[Wardy]

Well done Crouch..and a good time to go personally and for the club too.Great work with Smithie too. The discussion on this thread that somehow the club can control retirements is a joke.Retiring is a PERSONAL decision when the body or mind cannot do the job anymore.No one can make a player play on when their body no longer repairs.Most players know when its time..some have to be pushed a bit but Crouch owes us nothing.He played with injuries that would have kept most guys off the field for weeks. Only he knows the pain and the mental effort to get up and ready each week. Another genuine star at his peak and one of the solid reliable contributors to the club.

Well said.

[Primmy]

I kind of knew after the corky that Crouchy would make his mind up definitely. And I am glad he has on his own terms (again). I can still see him in his first game I think against Collingwood, with Brad Seymour affectionately thumping his head as they came off the ground. I think it was the one where Kell crashed to the turf "like he was shot" after a finger in the eye. Anyway, he was such a little bloke, whodathort he would last for so long.

Fairwell the best Serial Pest in the business.

They are all going!!!! AAAGGGHHH. I don't like this...it makes me feel old. All my best boys are not going to be here next year. Hang in there Kirky, we need someone to hold on to!

[ernie koala]

Far more hits come in the 40-60 range than later. We'd be much better off staggering the years in which the players leave so that our replacement draft picks are spread out, and (by virtue of the fact that you use your top picks first) on average higher. Rather than replace Crouch with pick 90 immediately, we could replace him with pick 60 in a years time. Makes sense to me.

Yeah, what you say does make sense, which makes the previous couple of drafts, where we took the minimum number of players, look like poor planning.

Anyway, back to Crouchy ..Well done , fabulous career, 193 consecutive games is an amazing effort. Retiring now , while still playing some good footy, seems like great timing to me. It will be a big day against the Lions.
A full on changing of the guard both spiritually and literally.

[ScottH]

PSD could be busy for us.