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I haven't been able to keep up with all the posts but today seems to bring some of the first concrete news since we learned Hanners, Rohan and Newman want out.
My thoughts:
* Delisting of Foote, Styles and Brown not too surprising.
* Delisting of Towers much more surprising. Seemed to be best 22 12 months ago but clearly fell out of favour this season. Not sure why. I hope he gets given another go somewhere.
* Still a few players with watch this space. Of these Maibaum is quite interesting, particularly given he plays a role that we seem to be on the lookout for. Currently we have Reg, Melican and Aliir as potential KPDs with Reid as swingman. Who knows if McCartin could make it as a KPD too? Possibly Maibaum's future hinges somewhat on whether we sign another KPD and, if we don't, his prospects are better.
* Rose and Marsh are other interesting ones - they have both been on our list a while now and proven themselves ok depth players but probably not that likely to be best 22 and maybe just turning into listcloggers. Marsh the more solid, dependable and uninspiring. Rose the less reliable but with more upside but competing for a position (small forward) where we seem to have some depth (Papley, Ronke, Florent, Hayward and Jack are all currently ahead of him but Rohan is departing). Again I'm guessing their futures are dependent on what happens during trade period.
* Robinson I expected we would keep and I still expect that but stranger things have happened. I have long maintained he is more versatile and has more upside than Foote. He strikes me as a bit like Harry C (without the pace) or Lloyd (without the same running ability and quite the same level of determination and hard work) but maybe he can still develop into something like those guys have.
* Pink I really liked in his first season. He did not progress at all this season but he was injured for most of it and perhaps didn't have time to regain his form. Amartey has apparently surpassed him but they are different types of players. Pink seems a long way off AFL so not sure whether he will be retained. On the other hand I tend to think they have probably made the final calls on the rookie list and may not delist any more (having now delisted 3: AJ, Brown and Styles) so perhaps Pink will get another chance.
* In terms of trades I have no idea what's going on. It seems that subject to the Hannebery trade going through we should have a significant amount of cap space available but we don't seem to be targeting any expensive big names. The only one I would be delighted to see pop up would be Steven May - he would be a great get! - but nobody is talking about it and we don't have the trade currency because we need to pay for Blakey so probably not happening. I'm content to just get some valuable, mature role players in the door via trade (perhaps as stopgaps while the youth develop further) and build via the draft, given it promises to be a good one. The dream scenario of getting a top 5 pick so we might get another star as well as Blakey seems to be just a dream but let's see how trade 'week' unfolds.
* Given Blakey's history with the Academy and also having his Dad as a bit of a private coach in the background, I wonder how likely he is to slot straight into seniors next year? He certainly would know our systems already and his tank and versatility bode well.
* I'm content with straight swap of Newman for Clarke. Newman is a decent player - good kick and gets the ball. I hope Clarke will be a decent player too.
* Vandenberg appeals.
* Initially I wasn't sold on Duryea, and I'm still not that keen but perhaps they see a very specific role for him based on his good kicking ability and left-footedness. Plus he is the right age/experience profile.
Big question for me is: who will replace Shaw as our backline coach? Isn't going to be Macca yet. Very sad to lose Shaw but wish him absolutely the best. Wonder if he'll ever return. Apparently family reasons for returning to Melbourne. I guess Heath isn't a big enough drawcard compared to whoever is in Melbourne.
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Very interesting point. Either one will be delisted or Fox will be promoted. I guess they could de-list and re-rookie if they want to. Can't imagine Pink would have that many suitors.
My thoughts:
* Delisting of Foote, Styles and Brown not too surprising.
* Delisting of Towers much more surprising. Seemed to be best 22 12 months ago but clearly fell out of favour this season. Not sure why. I hope he gets given another go somewhere.
* Still a few players with watch this space. Of these Maibaum is quite interesting, particularly given he plays a role that we seem to be on the lookout for. Currently we have Reg, Melican and Aliir as potential KPDs with Reid as swingman. Who knows if McCartin could make it as a KPD too? Possibly Maibaum's future hinges somewhat on whether we sign another KPD and, if we don't, his prospects are better.
* Rose and Marsh are other interesting ones - they have both been on our list a while now and proven themselves ok depth players but probably not that likely to be best 22 and maybe just turning into listcloggers. Marsh the more solid, dependable and uninspiring. Rose the less reliable but with more upside but competing for a position (small forward) where we seem to have some depth (Papley, Ronke, Florent, Hayward and Jack are all currently ahead of him but Rohan is departing). Again I'm guessing their futures are dependent on what happens during trade period.
* Robinson I expected we would keep and I still expect that but stranger things have happened. I have long maintained he is more versatile and has more upside than Foote. He strikes me as a bit like Harry C (without the pace) or Lloyd (without the same running ability and quite the same level of determination and hard work) but maybe he can still develop into something like those guys have.
* Pink I really liked in his first season. He did not progress at all this season but he was injured for most of it and perhaps didn't have time to regain his form. Amartey has apparently surpassed him but they are different types of players. Pink seems a long way off AFL so not sure whether he will be retained. On the other hand I tend to think they have probably made the final calls on the rookie list and may not delist any more (having now delisted 3: AJ, Brown and Styles) so perhaps Pink will get another chance.
* In terms of trades I have no idea what's going on. It seems that subject to the Hannebery trade going through we should have a significant amount of cap space available but we don't seem to be targeting any expensive big names. The only one I would be delighted to see pop up would be Steven May - he would be a great get! - but nobody is talking about it and we don't have the trade currency because we need to pay for Blakey so probably not happening. I'm content to just get some valuable, mature role players in the door via trade (perhaps as stopgaps while the youth develop further) and build via the draft, given it promises to be a good one. The dream scenario of getting a top 5 pick so we might get another star as well as Blakey seems to be just a dream but let's see how trade 'week' unfolds.
* Given Blakey's history with the Academy and also having his Dad as a bit of a private coach in the background, I wonder how likely he is to slot straight into seniors next year? He certainly would know our systems already and his tank and versatility bode well.
* I'm content with straight swap of Newman for Clarke. Newman is a decent player - good kick and gets the ball. I hope Clarke will be a decent player too.
* Vandenberg appeals.
* Initially I wasn't sold on Duryea, and I'm still not that keen but perhaps they see a very specific role for him based on his good kicking ability and left-footedness. Plus he is the right age/experience profile.
Big question for me is: who will replace Shaw as our backline coach? Isn't going to be Macca yet. Very sad to lose Shaw but wish him absolutely the best. Wonder if he'll ever return. Apparently family reasons for returning to Melbourne. I guess Heath isn't a big enough drawcard compared to whoever is in Melbourne.
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Very interesting point. Either one will be delisted or Fox will be promoted. I guess they could de-list and re-rookie if they want to. Can't imagine Pink would have that many suitors.
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