Trade Whispers / Rumours and Confirmations

[dimelb]

It's dissapointing we lose a bit of depth now, and aren't in a position to be recruiting any more in. Hope the injury gods are kind next year..

Ditto about the injury gods, but the depth is still pretty good. We will struggle to play everyone who's ready.

[Dosser]

And yes, 3 weeks is just too long...Lots of cloak and dagger, mixed with sitting on hands...Then the predictable scramble in the last few days.

I think the issue previously has been that clubs were forcing players to decide on their future within a week, so the time was extended to allow them to get used to the idea as well as work on more trades.

[ernie koala]

Why not? One word - Buddy.

Well 3 words really - Buddy + Salary Cap

Given Mummy and White = Approx 700k per year....And Buddy's salary is 700k for the next few years, his arriving, theoretically, shouldn't cause any extra pressure on our cap for the next few years.

Maybe Tippett's salary goes up next year?

I'll be disappointed if we loose Everitt as well as White. Ironically both had break out years.

Everitt is only 24 and has his best years ahead you would think.

With LRT getting on, and being injury prone.... AJ 's recovery is a bit of an unknown....

I'd love to see Everitt given another couple of seasons...

GWS are getting a ready made bargain with plenty of versatility.

[Ludwig]

On Everitt:

Ditto about the injury gods, but the depth is still pretty good. We will struggle to play everyone who's ready.

Agree. This is the problem with retaining players like Dre whose time has come to play full time senior footy. Often the timing just isn't right. We need to have a key defender or 2 that are ready to play senior footy in about 3 years as I think we will be okay for he next 2 with Ted and LRT. I appears that LRT has recovered from the knew injury, which wasn't that serious short term (meniscus tear) and he just turned 30 this year.

We also have Reid who could play defense if nothing transpires with obtaining or developing replacement KPDs. If we retain Walsh, he will almost certainly be developed as a defender, because you would think he has no shot at all in the current forward line.

The timing should be good for Xav and Lockyer. They will either be gone or ready to go by 2016. I would think we will add another tall defender through the draft or trade (maybe for Mummy and Everitt with GWS) and will have a better idea on how this defender situation is going by the end of next season.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

The silence is deafening me, we must be up to something in the remaining trade period, just based on our list numbers.

As you and Mug Punter observe, there seem to be a lot of spots opening up in our squad. But is this space for a recruit from another team or free agent?
I would be surprised if we drafted anyone beyond the third round (maybe not even that low {what with all the compensatory picks}).
Perhaps we will promote more than just Rampe? If they promote Biggs, BJ etc. who won't be on huge $$$'s then they can load up with another load of cheap rookies.

[swanspant12]

Feel sorry for Dre and the way the club has handled this. This is what happens when you throw all your eggs in the one basket and get the most high profile figure in the game. Downsizing of other players. I'm still against us getting Buddy and the fallout of the whole trade. We have one genuine ruckman next year in Pyke. If he's not rucking Tippett will have to rotate with him but that leaves us a true forward short when Tippett goes into the ruck. Mumford was forced out by the club because we got Buddy and fair enough he sought to find another career elsewhere.

FWIW Mummy was injured all year hence why he was down on previous years. When fit, he was one of if not our most important player. If Teddy or Grundy goes down next year who do we have down back to cover for them? Not happy with this Buddy saga and the fallout from it.

[Mug Punter]

I think we have more than enough depth to cover Dre's departure but I would like a number one ruckman please and think we may have to trade some draft picks and/or a decent player to get him....

Long term I'd hope Naismith and a drafted ruckman (Lobb from WA sounds raw but with unlimited potential) to fight it out for that role

[wolftone57]

Feel sorry for Dre and the way the club has handled this. This is what happens when you throw all your eggs in the one basket and get the most high profile figure in the game. Downsizing of other players. I'm still against us getting Buddy and the fallout of the whole trade. We have one genuine ruckman next year in Pyke. If he's not rucking Tippett will have to rotate with him but that leaves us a true forward short when Tippett goes into the ruck. Mumford was forced out by the club because we got Buddy and fair enough he sought to find another career elsewhere.

FWIW Mummy was injured all year hence why he was down on previous years. When fit, he was one of if not our most important player. If Teddy or Grundy goes down next year who do we have down back to cover for them? Not happy with this Buddy saga and the fallout from it.

I actually agree with you I think it is short term thinking. there is no long term gain and a series of premierships in this only the loss of top quality players. This is Capper era thinking, one or two big stars can carry the team. What a stupid idea.

[magic.merkin]

FWIW Mummy was injured all year hence why he was down on previous years.

he was actually injured less and played more than the 2 years previous.

[Mug Punter]

I actually agree with you I think it is short term thinking. there is no long term gain and a series of premierships in this only the loss of top quality players. This is Capper era thinking, one or two big stars can carry the team. What a stupid idea.

The Buddy deal is certainly not without risk but personally I think we can afford it...

Personally I felt we were a little off the pace this year and even a but predictable and Buddy will address this I believe (how will teams man up on a forward line of Goodes Buddy and KT?). Plus whilst the Hawks will deal with the loss, it can't be ideal for one our main competitors to lose their star to us. If we can win at least one flag in the next 5 years then I believe the gamble will work on the field.

And I think our depth in talent and smart drafting will allow us to cover for the fact that he soaks up a fair % of the salary cap.

Off the field the deal smacks of pure genius. A massive kick in the bollocks to our cross town rivals and a huge boost for our support which has plateaud somewhat. I would not be surprised to see average crowds at the SCG over 10,000 higher next year largely due to Buddy. Merchandise, sponsorship the list goes on. This is a deal that could catapult us up into one of the real financial powerhouses of the league and that impact (e.g. ST sales) could well last way after he retires...

Or he could do his ACL first game and never be the same again.

As they say, fortune favours the brave!!

[dimelb]

I actually agree with you I think it is short term thinking. There is no long term gain and a series of premierships in this, only the loss of top quality players. This is Capper era thinking, one or two big stars can carry the team. What a stupid idea.

Wolfie, I understand that you are very cranky about the importing of Tippett and Franklin, but I think you are making a couple of mistaken assumptions here. The only top quality players we have lost are Jude and Marty, gone for obvious reasons and not top quality any longer (time is cruel, isn't it?), you might add Morto here, and Mummy, whom I was disappointed to see leave, but I have come to accept that as the price we pay for getting Buddy. The fans are divided on this issue and there are good arguments on both sides. I personally am uneasy at the apparent dropping of the two ruckmen policy, and even though we will have a good lead ruck and a couple of competent assistants (Tippett, LRT, maybe Sam, depending where the ruck forms), I'm prepared to wait and see on this one.
The other mistaken assumption is the one I've highlighted. This is not the Capper era, the club governance has improved out of sight, and it is simply not true that one or two big stars will carry the team. There will be at least half a dozen stars in addition to Kurt and Buddy: Macca, K Jack, Josh, Teddy, Nic Mal and Goodesy. In addition there is star quality in Jetts, Rohan and Parker. Further, if some people continue their rate of development - I'm thinking Jed, Brandon and AJ who will be keen to pick up where he left off - this starts to look a frighteningly good team. And think about the ones I haven't mentioned.
But it will function as a team, which is where its hidden strength waits to be revealed. I can hardly wait.

[Auntie.Gerald]

my gut feeling is that with the emergence of BJ, Rohan, Lambie parker all dangerous mid to smalls rotating in the midfield and forward line and a new forward in Buddy we will see Shaw playing in the back 6 somewhere and AJ and Rampe and then we will see Towers moved back into the backline for 2014 in ressies to hopefully become the fast HBF we need to counter attack post Shaw

- - - Updated - - -

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-17/bassett-joins-the-bombers

[Bloodthirsty]

Feel sorry for Dre

I wouldn't feel sorry for any of these guys making huge money for kicking and catching a ball. And yes, Everitt would be on huge money compared to most other people who need to struggle on 30-80k doing jobs that absolutely suck.

Franklin, Tippett - brilliant ideas. Have we lost any players due to their arival who are better than Franklin and Tippett?

Anyone who can say that they aren't genuinely excited to see what happens next year and beyond is in serious denial. It will be great. I love the way the club has decided to go for gold on all fronts. Regarding depth - we have plenty of depth still. Depth in terms of interchangeable player positions, and reserves depth. But premierships aren't won on the back of who has the most depth players. They are won on the back of who has the healthiest top 22.

Trading, drafting etc still continuing. Obviously the club will be looking for another ruckman as well as getting the highest picks possible so that there are several years of gun players playing at bargain-basement prices.

[Flying South]

NEAFL grand final against Brisbane. Watch for about the first 10 minutes and you will get a snapshot of their play - Lloyd Perris is 47 and Jake Lloyd is 44.

Thanks gong. Just watched the first half. Certainly lloyd and perris have got a great future with us. So glad we didn't let perris go to demons. Others who impressed me were, Membrey - he is ready now. Need to find a spot for him in our forward line real soon Robinson - if he can get a couple of pre season's behind him and bulk up a bit, could be in the Kennedy mould. Naismith - 1st time I have seen him and quite excited about his potential. Quite mobile and does a lot midfield type work. Reminds me of a young mummy. A couple of kids who I liked that I haven't heard anything about are haddin (52), jaffa Williams (48), steven rey (50) and weir (60). Can anyone provide any more info about these player's and their future with us?

[ScottH]

I wouldn't feel sorry for any of these guys making huge money for kicking and catching a ball. And yes, Everitt would be on huge money compared to most other people who need to struggle on 30-80k doing jobs that absolutely suck.

Franklin, Tippett - brilliant ideas. Have we lost any players due to their arival who are better than Franklin and Tippett?

Anyone who can say that they aren't genuinely excited to see what happens next year and beyond is in serious denial. It will be great. I love the way the club has decided to go for gold on all fronts. Regarding depth - we have plenty of depth still. Depth in terms of interchangeable player positions, and reserves depth. But premierships aren't won on the back of who has the most depth players. They are won on the back of who has the healthiest top 22.

Trading, drafting etc still continuing. Obviously the club will be looking for another ruckman as well as getting the highest picks possible so that there are several years of gun players playing at bargain-basement prices.

I think we are are going to miss Big Mummy more than we think.
I"ve just watched the 3 finals we played, and he was one of the consistents in those games. his 2nd and 3rd and 4th efforts at ruck contests is amazing.
Whilst Pyke has improved in many areas, this isn't one of them.
If a swan doesn't get the ball from the tap, Mummy is quite regularly the one laying the tackle.