trade requirments

[sharpie]

I would take Ray Hall. If he's the only defender available, then it is better than nothing.

Just think of this - prior to this year, Schauble was able to drift forward on a number of occasions and kicked goals more often than not, in many cases multiple goals. This year, he spent the whole year at fullback due to a lack of tall defenders. We need anyone we can get our hands on.

[Steve]

Originally posted by barry
Because he's bigger and stronger than either

And so is Ricky Mott - perhaps we should bring him back to play CHB?

I'm sure I'm not going to convince you, but Hall is a back-up ruckman. And IMO a very average one at that.

[Steve]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
He doesn't play as "big" or strong as any of those players.

The argument from so many people seems to be 'he's too skinny ... he'll never be big/strong enough to play in a KP ... he has to put on bulk ...'

Fletcher is 28, Wellman is 29, Gaspar is 27.

Saddington is about to turn 24.

It takes experience of playing on key forwards to become a good CHB - not just muscle in the right places. Had he been fit this year Saddington would have played on key forwards a lot more, and learned a hell of a lot.

He has been around a while now, but not as a CHB. I think it is totally unfair to say 'he's been around 6 years and still got exposed by Carey etc etc' - how many games in those 6 years has be played CHB.

In some of them I personally think he has done a very good job anyway. I have complete faith that if he consistently played on the likes of Carey he'd learn quick enough how to play them.

[NMWBloods]

Gaspar and Fletcher have been highly-regarded CHBs for a number of years. Scarlett is only 24 and is considered one of the best in the comp.

Saddo has two problems - one is he is not strong enough to beat the powerful forwards and two, he does not have the nous to work out when to punch and when to mark.

I think he does an okay job in the backline, but he has an awful lot of improvement to make if he wants to be a CHB.

[barry]

Originally posted by sharpie
I would take Ray Hall. If he's the only defender available, then it is better than nothing.

Exactly. A 3rd round draft pick, and a player like Nicks/Syemour/Warfe would be about right.

Rumours are Richmond are doing a big cleanout, and we could tip the deal in our favour by offering Hall the chance to come home (hes from Gosford I think), to play in finals, and to probably earn 15% more than he would in Melbourne.
Its worth looking at.

[Rob-bloods]

Ray Hall has probably disappointed there, with the "annual disappointers" He has though, been thrown all over the place and my recollection is that he never really gets a permanent job, basically replacing their other talls when they fall over. He is an ordinary kick too, I don't know if he is a "tall for talls sake" hard to pick this bloke, could improve in Roos'eys nurturing breast perhaps? Trouble with poor kicks tho' is they stay that way at 24!

[Steve]

OK - what is the main difference between someone like Scarlett and Saddington?

And Fletcher, Gaspar etc when they were 24 and Saddington?

Is it bulk - not really.

Is it talent - it seems most would say yes but I'd say no.

Is it experience playing on key forwards - WHOA, COULD THIS BE IT?????

Scarlett gets the opportunity to do it consistently and (by learning a hell of a lot) rapidly develops.

Gaspar plays for us when we were **** and then goes to Richmond - opportunities.

One thing you have to say about Kevin Sheedy, he fast-tracks talented players and lets them develop - Fletcher.

[NMWBloods]

Hasn't Saddington been playing in the back line for a number of years, in fact most of his career?

[Craig]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Hasn't Saddington been playing in the back line for a number of years, in fact most of his career?

Exactly what I was thinking.

Players like Carey, Brown, Tarrent come to mind as some of the players he gets a crack at. I would have thought these were among the best in the league.

[Rob-bloods]

Scarlett and Saddington are very different players. Scarlett is more a Dunks with better knees, Sadds is closer to a Roos with silkier hand and foot skills. We have lacked balance in defence for years lacking 'mongrel' and size. Dunks was a great mark and the greatest punch but he could (obviously) not kick out and when he took the kickout around the fifty had to hand pass every time, as does Schauble if under pressure to kick quickly.
This affects our taller defenders taking on unlikely matchups, we do not have much flexibility at the back with only Sadds and Schauble as talls, and it will be a big ask next season for Bolton and Barry to play above their size in matchups all year!

We have discussed at length that Powell looks a likely lad, but when?

[Ryan Bomford]

Originally posted by Rob-bloods
Ray Hall has probably disappointed there, with the "annual disappointers" He has though, been thrown all over the place and my recollection is that he never really gets a permanent job, basically replacing their other talls when they fall over. He is an ordinary kick too, I don't know if he is a "tall for talls sake" hard to pick this bloke, could improve in Roos'eys nurturing breast perhaps? Trouble with poor kicks tho' is they stay that way at 24!

Can also double up in the ruck. Like midfielders, "you can never have enough ruckman" - R Bomford Oct 2003 . I was impressed with him last time they were up here at TS.

IMHO Hall may be one of the value 'gets' in the trading period and will add to our pair collection ie B1 and B2, H1 and H2

[Steve]

Originally posted by Steve
He has been around a while now, but not as a CHB. I think it is totally unfair to say 'he's been around 6 years and still got exposed by Carey etc etc' - how many games in those 6 years has be played CHB.

This is the issue.

How are we ever going to really develop players if, after they are given a brief opportunity and intially struggle, they have "NOT GOOD ENOUGH AT THAT AND NEVER WILL BE" branded across their foreheads?

Adam Goodes' Brownlow-winning season was (in part) the end result of 2-3 years of relative stuggle as he came to grips with all areas of his game. We all know what a lot of people were suggesting to do with Goodes due to those years of struggle (which in fact I never thought were that bad anyway).

Jude Bolton, Barry Hall etc etc etc - it's not that suddenly that became talented - it's that through experience they become much better at using their talent.

IMO Saddington is in exactly the same boat.

[Rob-bloods]

OK....as long as we do not get two Bomfords perhaps?

[Ryan Bomford]

Originally posted by Rob-bloods
OK....as long as we do not get two Bomfords perhaps?

I'm glad you've noticed - yes quality footballers run in the family.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Steve
He has been around a while now, but not as a CHB. I think it is totally unfair to say 'he's been around 6 years and still got exposed by Carey etc etc' - how many games in those 6 years has be played CHB.

This is the issue.

How are we ever going to really develop players if, after they are given a brief opportunity and intially struggle, they have "NOT GOOD ENOUGH AT THAT AND NEVER WILL BE" branded across their foreheads?

Adam Goodes' Brownlow-winning season was (in part) the end result of 2-3 years of relative stuggle as he came to grips with all areas of his game. We all know what a lot of people were suggesting to do with Goodes due to those years of struggle (which in fact I never thought were that bad anyway).

Jude Bolton, Barry Hall etc etc etc - it's not that suddenly that became talented - it's that through experience they become much better at using their talent.

IMO Saddington is in exactly the same boat.

How many years has he played as the first or second tall defender? It doesn't seem to have taken Bolton so long to have become a good defender, nor did it take the players from other clubs.

Saddington may not have been the key defender for most of his career, but he has played in defence for most of that time. He's done some good jobs but I don't think he's really stood out on a regular basis on the players he has been against. If he hasn't made a name for himself as a premier defender in general, why will he do so at CHB? When I watch Saddington in the back line, I don't think it is as reassuring as watching other defensive players.