Bradshaw a Swan

[DeadlyAkkuret]

It's not as if we added a bunch of 30yr olds to a rapidly ageing list, we lost a lot of experience this year and added a quality forward for 2 years or so.

Bradshaw isn't keeping the next Paul Kelly out of the side, we have midfielders like Jack, Hannebery, Meredith etc who could be our next elite player. White will be playing in the same team as Bradshaw so I don't see the issue there, he's essentially just replacing O'Loughlin.

There's a lot of promise in our kids and none will be kept out because of Bradshaw. Grundy, Smith, Jack, Hannebery, O'Dwyer, Meredith, Bird, Kennedy, Mumford etc all play different positions to Bradshaw, how will it hinder their development?

There's just absolutely no negative to getting a champion forward for free, unless you believe Johnston was going to be our leading goal scorer this season.

[Cardinal]

Mick Malthouse hit the nail on the head when he said part of the satisfaction in following a team is watching young players grow and develop into champions. Apart from players like White, who will be our next Barry Hall or Michael O'Loughlin? Our next Paul Kelly? That's what we really need to focus on.

That's an attitude to console you when you are either out of the premiership hunt or to appear humble when you've won a premiership

[Cheer Squad]

It's not as if we added a bunch of 30yr olds to a rapidly ageing list, we lost a lot of experience this year and added a quality forward for 2 years or so.

Bradshaw isn't keeping the next Paul Kelly out of the side, we have midfielders like Jack, Hannebery, Meredith etc who could be our next elite player. White will be playing in the same team as Bradshaw so I don't see the issue there, he's essentially just replacing O'Loughlin.

There's a lot of promise in our kids and none will be kept out because of Bradshaw. Grundy, Smith, Jack, Hannebery, O'Dwyer, Meredith, Bird, Kennedy, Mumford etc all play different positions to Bradshaw, how will it hinder their development?

There's just absolutely no negative to getting a champion forward for free, unless you believe Johnston was going to be our leading goal scorer this season.

Time will tell. Given the huge turnover on our list this year, 2010 will be an interesting season for us, to say the least.

We've got some very good young talent. I just hope most of the players you mention participate in our next premiership.

[bennyfabulous]

I would be absolutely delighted if we won premierships for as long as Bradshaw is playing for us.

Unfortunately, he's on the wrong side of 30, while he has played well since, the risk of career ending injuries increases dramatically with age. And if things are working out as we all hope, and he suddenly breaks down, we're going to have to go back to the drawing board all over again anyway.

It's the same with Kennelly - everyone knows he's injury prone and his AFL glory days are almost certainly behind him.

Your earlier point about Malceski - I've already stated that we should consider trading him at the end of 2010 if he doesn't produce next year. The same goes with any mid-tier player who's been on the books for a while. Goodes and Craig Bolton are proven champions for the club; I would not like to see them traded.

I just think we should move away from this strategy of trying to cling to the eight for as long as possible, in the belief that we must because of the market in Sydney. Performing cosmetic surgery on the squad with ageing players isn't going to move us forward - people in Sydney aren't buying it anymore. They know we're a fair way off our next flag, and we're not going to fool anyone.

Mick Malthouse hit the nail on the head when he said part of the satisfaction in following a team is watching young players grow and develop into champions. Apart from players like White, who will be our next Barry Hall or Michael O'Loughlin? Our next Paul Kelly? That's what we really need to focus on.

If Bradshaw goes down what have we lost, A PSD pick?

Kennelly may have had a couple injuries, but injury prone is a little much.

If malcheski doesnt perform this year, no one will want to trade for him so it doesnt matter.

Making the 8 is the only way to have a chance at winning a premiership so that should be the goal every year otherwise we end up as richmond or melbourne.

And finally what we need to focus on is developing a team that can WIN GAMES not just develop a couple of good players.

[hot potato]

Roosey was demonstrably more than just very pleased to get Braddles to say 'Siddeenneee', so if it's good enough for the The Boss, it's good eough for me, well done to everyone who helped with the process.

HP

[Robbo]

There's a lot of promise in our kids and none will be kept out because of Bradshaw.

That's simply not true.

[Go Swannies]

That's simply not true.

You seem to feel that the coach does not have the job of getting the best team possible onto the field and then getting the best of them out of there.

On the other hand, I've watched "rebuilding" teams always on the verge of future success but not getting there. So putting together a good team for next year seems like a reasonable way to proceed.

Maybe I'm just a Sydneysider and enjoying the instant gratification of winning games rather than suffering in the wilderness as we wait for the birth of the messiah, but I'll be very excited if Bradshaw in red and white plays as well for us as he did for the Lions.

Perhaps I'm vindictive too. I'll even admit to a bit of shadenfreude if he becomes the clubman for us that he has been for them while Fev self destructs in the tropics. If our Bradshaw kicks more goals in 2010 than the Dogs' Baz my joy will be complete.

You have to grab what fate offers and it seems to me that that is what the club has done - and done with a lot of dignity and civility. Fair enough, that's what I pay them to do.

[laughingnome]

On the other hand, I've watched "rebuilding" teams always on the verge of future success but not getting there.

*cough*richmond*cough*

[hammo]

That's simply not true.

If you're referring to Johnston, he was drafted as a 17 year old and missed most of last season with a foot injury. He will also play further up the ground than Bradshaw.

Given the club had hoped to blood him last season I am sure that hasn't changed for 2010 just because Bradshaw has been brought in as a direct replacement for O'Loughlin.

[Cheer Squad]

Roosey was demonstrably more than just very pleased to get Braddles to say 'Siddeenneee', so if it's good enough for the The Boss, it's good eough for me, well done to everyone who helped with the process.

HP

It's ironic you're invoking Roos to defend the Bradshaw transaction, because, for the past couple of seasons, there's been no shortage of people on here absolutely caning him for persisting with ageing players.

[goswannie14]

It's ironic you're invoking Roos to defend the Bradshaw transaction, because, for the past couple of seasons, there's been no shortage of people on here absolutely caning him for persisting with ageing players.

Was HP one of them?

[Damien]

Mick Malthouse hit the nail on the head when he said part of the satisfaction in following a team is watching young players grow and develop into champions. Apart from players like White, who will be our next Barry Hall or Michael O'Loughlin? Our next Paul Kelly? That's what we really need to focus on.

Good old Mick. It was a bit easier for him to do that when he had all of WA as his recruiting territory or Nathan Buckley calling the shots in the middle. However things change and these days they are happy to swap a first round draft pick for a 27 year old ruckman, wonder what future champion Jolly is keeping Collingwood from unearthing?

You seem to suggest unearthing this talent isn't their focus, of course it is and the thing is, if that talent is there it will come through no matter who is on our list.

I can tell you that in a tight match, these young players are only going to benefit from Bradshaw calling the shots from that end of the ground, just like the young midfielders will benefit from Kirky or our backs from Bolton. Development doesn't just happen because you get thrown into seniors and see how you go.

[Cheer Squad]

Was HP one of them?

Don't know. Maybe you could ask him?

[Cheer Squad]

I can tell you that in a tight match, these young players are only going to benefit from Bradshaw calling the shots from that end of the ground, just like the young midfielders will benefit from Kirky or our backs from Bolton. Development doesn't just happen because you get thrown into seniors and see how you go.

That's probably what Collingwood thought when they decided they wanted Jolly.

[goswannie14]

Don't know. Maybe you could ask him?

Given you raised the suggestion, isn't it up to you to prove or disprove your allegation?