North Rebuild

[neilfws]

North just announced that they're not offering new contracts to Harvey, Petrie, Dal Santo and Firrito. Seems pretty brutal and odd timing!

Farewell our champions - NMFC.com.au

[ScottH]

Interesting.
Take Firrito and Harvey out of last weeks game and we win by 10 goals.

[KTigers]

Wow, that really is brutal ! I'm sure Petrie knew it was coming, but the others.... re the timing : I guess it's to give fans a chance to say goodbye at their Etihad game this weekend.

North just announced that they're not offering new contracts to Harvey, Petrie, Dal Santo and Firrito. Seems pretty brutal and odd timing!

Farewell our champions - NMFC.com.au

[neilfws]

re the timing : I guess it's to give fans a chance to say goodbye at their Etihad game this weekend.

Apparently so, says Brad Scott.

I wonder if they're clearing salary space for someone? Maybe Jarryd Hayne now has a lifelong dream to play AFL

[mcs]

Yawn at least Norf can smell the roses that, even with another finals miracle this year, the writing is firmly on the wall for their current team.

[0918330512]

I'd love to see Boomer continue at GCS or Ess

[KTigers]

Talk about a slippery slope. They were 9-and-0 this season, now four senior guys are cut and they look like being roadkill for GWS for their last two games of the season. Being a Swans supporter, it's a pretty comfy life compared to what other people have to go through.

Yawn at least Norf can smell the roses that, even with another finals miracle this year, the writing is firmly on the wall for their current team.

[RogueSwan]

Could be that the Roos are trying once last roll of the dice to get the team to "do it for their mates"?

[Zlatorog]

I'm not sure what the point is. Win or lose they're in the finals anyway.

[dejavoodoo44]

Could be that the Roos are trying once last roll of the dice to get the team to "do it for their mates"?

Possibly, but if it is, then I suspect that it won't work. A more likely outcome, is that the other players, will feel a certain amount of contempt towards those who made the decision.

[Sandridge]

Not a huge Brett Harvey fan but general consensus in the media is he'd be in the top 4 or 5 of their Best and Fairest this year.
Seems very tough!

[Triple B]

Could be that the Roos are trying once last roll of the dice to get the team to "do it for their mates"?

Pretty sure, as KTigers noted, it's more than likely their last game in Melbourne this year so giving the Norf fanbase, all 500 or 600 of them, a chance to farewell some longterm players...

[Doctor]

I get the other three, but I still think letting Harvey go is a mistake.

[goswannies]

From afl.com.au today

NORTH Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw will be disappointed if Daniel Wells leaves the club, saying he hopes the unrestricted free agent takes into account how "unbelievably well remunerated" he was through his past injury woes.

Not sure how that club can request loyalty from it's veteran after recent weeks ... sure he was well paid for not much game time, but that's the risk the Roos took when they inked his most recent contract

[Mug Punter]

From afl.com.au today

NORTH Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw will be disappointed if Daniel Wells leaves the club, saying he hopes the unrestricted free agent takes into account how "unbelievably well remunerated" he was through his past injury woes.

Not sure how that club can request loyalty from it's veteran after recent weeks ... sure he was well paid for not much game time, but that's the risk the Roos took when they inked his most recent contract

He's a silly boy is young James....

Thinking about the North re-build I think they have no choice but to follow the St Kilda model for a rebuild that will have them back in the 8 and challenging for a til within 5 years which I think will become the template going forward.

Step 1 - Draft out or unload any players over the age of 27 who has any draft currency. Similarly de-list or give away veterans (with some exceptions e.g Reiwoldt) that are on huge money
Step 2 - Go deep to the draft for three years at the same time frontloading required players to long term deals thus building a huge free agency war chest
Step 3 - In years 4 and 5 attack free agency along with your drafting.

At the moment Norf have pick 1 and 29 inside the top 60 draft picks and that is just inadequate to start a re-build.

The blokes that are there long term and who are integral to their next flag tilt are IMO the following: Zeibell (25 years old at end of 2016), Swallow (29 - an exception to the rule); Cunnington (25), Tarrant (27) Wood (23) Majak (25) and Ben Brown(24) and a few other I've missed probably

Lindsay Thomas has re-signed as has Waite. The four oldies are gone (Burrito, Petire, Del Santo and Harvey), Wells is looking elsewhere and Nahas and Ray have also left.

So they probably need seven in and replacing old guy with more old guys just doesn't make sense. So they have to generate some trade currency this season to get at least six picks in the top 30. I'd keep their first rounder for next year but I'd look at trading in an extra second rounder from 2017 and I'd find another fringe player to get another pick in the late 30s.

But, ultimately the only player with any real value on their list who should be tradeable is Todd Goldstein. GWS would readily trade Rory Lobb to Freo or WCE if it meant they could get their hands on Goldstein to partner Mummy. And GWS should be able to offer up Norf an early first rounder and a late pick in the 20s for Goldstein.

So, Norf now get picks (say) 7,11,25,29,30 and 38. Take their top 5 picks for the next couple of years and start challenging.