Tippett!!

[Big Al]

I agree. Big Al is the voice of reason on here.

If anyone hasn't noticed, the Swans won the premiership without the advice of anyone on here and they will do the necessary trades to get the desired result as well.

We offered a fortune at the time for an untried sausage eater from Bunyip. Who is laughing now?

The KT bleeters will join the Longmire bleeters next year when we win another premiership. However, like Marvin from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I'm sure there will be something else to complain about.

Good to see you back Billy Ray.

[giant]

Fabulous to see RWO so fired up in the off-season! First big trade we've been involved in since a young Barry Hall flew north - great effort from the club to bring him across the line (well, not yet of course, but you know what I mean...).

First, apologies, for some reason I had Reg pegged as much older than he is, as a 26yo quality tall defender he is eminently good trade bait (and his 7th placing in the F&B supports this). I had a thesis that our strength in tall defenders might be the difference in September and I think to some extent that's how it played out. So, his loss would be sorely felt by the Swans & a great pick up for the Crows.

But I don't know if this is even necessary: surely, the Crows have made it clear what they figured they'd get for Tippett in the last contractual negotiations and that now becomes their BATNA in negotiating terms. If we can provide them with better than a second round pick, then we've more than met their own expectations. Given how close our 1st rounder is to the GC's 2nd rounder, we may need to sweeten the deal so they can keep face, but I don't see it will need to be much.

Any resiling from their gentleman's agreement with Tippett opens the door for him to say he is no longer obliged to keep his end of the bargain and to walk to the PSD.

It is funny to see the Adelaide BF thread and the difference between the respective supporters' relative valuations - surely if it was left to the fans no deal would ever get done!!

Would be a super pick up, adding strength to a real chink in our armour - wouldn't need to kick 80 goals a year either, just provide that structure that can go missing from time to time. The $ seem scary but when you think of the figures that were flying around for Cloke, this is how the market values big key forwards these days. Nice work if you can get it!!

[Alan]

As has been stated by many, the swans seem to know what they're doing.

Perfectly sound reasoning, Big Al

We all know this in a rational sense, but it is the emotional realm that has filled most of these 37 PAGES. Reg has been put up only because he is a Croweater and we have all grown to love his work. We all want the team to get better but just not at the expense of one of those we all hold so dear. Just think about how you felt when Dempster and Schneider went, or when Bolton was put on the table after 06, 07...whenever it was. Hopefully the deal is done first thing tomorrow morning, we lose White, Meredith & round three selection, and we can start a new thread about the pro' & con's of Jude's retirement. Go Bloods!

[DamY]

Ludwig summed up the situation really well, we do need to be fair and balanced in this situation and consider what Adelaide has been through as well.

[Red]

It must be said that Reg as a trade option was brought up as an option here and NOT by the club so before everyone fills their boots let's all just settle down, enjoy the fact we won the flag (remember that) and wait to see what decision the club makes. As has been stated by many, the swans seem to know what they're doing.

Quite right Big Al -- there's been no mention of Reg by anyone that matters.

I truly enjoy the fact we won the Flag, but this is a thread about Tippett and what we may have to give up to get him.

[Woodie]

Nice post Ludwig, totally agree with your comments.

I to wouldn't like to loose Reg, but who will make way from our starting 22 to fit KT in?

[Go Swannies]

I'd be interested to see how the conversation is broached:

"Well Reg, we found we could do without you after you were suspended for that final so we're thinking of moving LRT back and playing you in the 2s next year. Unless, of course, you'd be interested in heading home to Adelaide (with Jesse) where they said they'd try and get you both some games. Well, particularly Jesse as they have a hole to fill up forward. Yes, of course you can keep your Premiership Medallion. Do you want us to book your flights?"

Maybe Marty might be interested in heading back, too? Either/or?

[aardvark]

I'd be very surprised if Reg or Marty or any of our Premiership players went. I reckon Beatson has a cunning plan up his sleeve.
Its going to be an interesting week.

[Cardinal]

All this talk of trades making the squad stronger makes me realise how tough it will be to get selected for the Swans squad next year - but that's another thread.

[Melbournehammer]

i agree with much of ludwig's post. the fundamental difficulty is the nature of our list. we have 4-6 of our best 22, 30 years of age or over. our players available to trade are not amongst this group. equally our really core group of youngsters are criticial for the future of the club beyond the next four years. through away a rohan or a parker and we simply may not replace them. that core group of parker, hanners, jack, jetta reid are what will be needed to make us competitive as gws really comes together.

this means that grundy is really it as a player that i consider capable of being traded. and that sucks i reckon. he is maligned by many but actually is a genuinely reliable defender against everyone other than the monsters in the league. and there is a reason why they are called the monsters. i can see aj becoming like saddington if put into a kpd role. grundy keeps his head up and takes a lot of marks peeling off his opponent. we see the errors he makes and magnify them, but many others have noted that in richards and grundy we have an excellent pair of defenders.

we have a choice here to strengthen our side for the next 4 years as they approach retirement and maybe pinch another flag. so i can understand what is going on here. and make no mistake tippett will improve our side.

but the consequence to me remain the same. would all the players have talked in such glowing terms about the club on friday night if they knew just how dispensible one or more of them are ?

for everyone who says the leadership group may have been consulted - well thats possible but its not the entire squad and its going to effect them not just the leaders. we are not yet at the stage of english football or us baseball where a club can just trade a player and people see that as just a part of the system. we are miles from this. and i dont want our club to lose its relationship between players and coaches in the rush to get the next flag.

remember almost every person who commented on the flag mentioned it was because we were the champion team - and i simply dont want to lose that mentality.

[Cosmic Wizard]

All these post are all very well but doesn't answer the question: WHAT DOES ADELAIDE ACTUALLY WANT FOR TIPPETT???
What if they don't want Gundy and want someone else, say Jack, are we still willing to trade??
They have lost a lot of players, and may decide to draw a line in the sand, as a warning to others.
Best wait and see; only one thing is certain, this will be an interesting trade week and this thread will get a lot longer!

[Ludwig]

I really like Reg and would love to keep him (want to keep them all), but with Tippett coming in it could mean that we would have to say to the much loved and admired new life member LRT:

"Lewie, unless one of our talls gets injured, the remaining years of your career will be spent in the reserves."

We just have too many good players to squeeze into the side. Someone has to miss out. It's not loyalty. It's arithmetic.

Similarly, it has been sad seeing Parker sitting on the pine all game, but I know that's where he will be unless Jude retires. Love Jude, but ..................

There will be some very hard and emotional calls to be made.

Maybe having such a great team is not all it's cracked up to be. It must have been really painful for Hawthorn to let Josh go.

[Jewels]

but the consequence to me remain the same. would all the players have talked in such glowing terms about the club on friday night if they knew just how dispensible one or more of them are ?

for everyone who says the leadership group may have been consulted - well thats possible but its not the entire squad and its going to effect them not just the leaders. we are not yet at the stage of english football or us baseball where a club can just trade a player and people see that as just a part of the system. we are miles from this. and i dont want our club to lose its relationship between players and coaches in the rush to get the next flag.

remember almost every person who commented on the flag mentioned it was because we were the champion team - and i simply dont want to lose that mentality.

Do you really think that these things haven't been considered? Do you also think the players are unaware of the chance that they could be used as trade bait?

None of us want any of our premiership 22 plus Rohan/McGlynn traded and in reality none of us know what is actually being discussed in the talks between the clubs so we really are just talking crap, but in reality a player of Tippetts ilk will be an amazing IN to our team and to get someone of his calibre we will have to give SOMETHING.
I'm pretty much certain that all our boys will be well informed of what is happening and it will have absolutely no effect on our culture, bloods ethos etc.

[Wardy]

Do you really think that these things haven't been considered? Do you also think the players are unaware of the chance that they could be used as trade bait?

None of us want any of our premiership 22 plus Rohan/McGlynn traded and in reality none of us know what is actually being discussed in the talks between the clubs so we really are just talking crap, but in reality a player of Tippetts ilk will be an amazing IN to our team and to get someone of his calibre we will have to give SOMETHING.
I'm pretty much certain that all our boys will be well informed of what is happening and it will have absolutely no effect on our culture, bloods ethos etc.

What she said !!!!! We haven't a clue as to what's really going on - nor should we until the deals have been done. Let's just stop and take a chill pill until the announcements are made.

[Kirkari]

All these post are all very well but doesn't answer the question: WHAT DOES ADELAIDE ACTUALLY WANT FOR TIPPETT???
What if they don't want Gundy and want someone else, say Jack, are we still willing to trade??
They have lost a lot of players, and may decide to draw a line in the sand, as a warning to others.
Best wait and see; only one thing is certain, this will be an interesting trade week and this thread will get a lot longer!

Jack??? Are you kidding?? In their wildest dreams.