2019 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[S.S. Bleeder]

AMT is a weird choice to throw money at. He had a great game on the weekend but has had an extremely inconsistent season. We have plenty of players who can play that small forward role - they are just all horribly out of form.

I agree. He's very inconsistent and a small forward would be the last position I'd throw decent coin at. Small forwards are a dime a dozen. Just imagine what $700k would buy us in terms of a ready made tap ruck or excellent midfielder.

[S.S. Bleeder]

I had a thought a few minutes ago. Melbourne is a team with an oversupply of quality inside mids and perhaps a little bit of a lack on the outside. They also must have a fairly tight salary cap given their amazing list. (I reckon their list is amazing despite their terrible season. In fact it is their lack of success despite their amazing list that makes their season so awful.) We have a quality outside mid (who can go inside too) who has ties to Melbourne (the city and the football club) and we have a need for more quality inside mids. Is there potential for a deal that would see us get any one of Viney, Brayshaw, Oliver or Petracca? They are all A-grade mids that could really help us. They are all a perfect age/experience profile for our needs. We would probably have to pay a bit more than Z.Jones but is there scope for some kind of a deal here? Could any of them be lured to come to Sydney? Would Zak come to the party if the deal could be done? Are we better off keeping Jones and targetting someone else? Personally, I would be willing to trade Jones + Saints 2nd round pick for any of those players but I don't follow the Demons really closely.

There has been a rumour going around about us and Oliver. Add to that the rumours of Jones going back to Victotia and that his brother is the Melbourne captain and their might be something to it.

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They are only 'blunders' with the benefit of hindsight.....something you're pretty good at Barry.

Mitchell and Dunkley weren't. We knew how good they were, especially in Mitchell's case.

[Ralph Dawg]

Another story about how "gettable" Paps is in the Hun. Apparently wants to be closer to home. If this is the case, we need to play hard ball and extract a pound of flesh and some from whoever (if) he goes to. None of this BS trading that went on with Mitchell.
Which brings me to how Hawthorn always seem to be able to get other clubs to deal with them in such a one sided (their) way? It's like they have compromising photos of opposition officials and coaches!?

[Markwebbos]

Another story about how "gettable" Paps is in the Hun. Apparently wants to be closer to home. If this is the case, we need to play hard ball and extract a pound of flesh and some from whoever (if) he goes to. None of this BS trading that went on with Mitchell.
Which brings me to how Hawthorn always seem to be able to get other clubs to deal with them in such a one sided (their) way? It's like they have compromising photos of opposition officials and coaches!?

I saw that too. Really hope it isn’t true.

[Markwebbos]

Titus O’Reilly hits the nail on the head about the Vic media’s attitude to non-Vic clubs!

The Monday Knee Jerk Reaction: AFL Round Seventeen - Titus O'Reily | Don’t have faith in yourself

Richmond (94) v Greater Western Sydney (67)

This was a horror game for the Giants, soundly beaten and Stephen Coniglio suffering a cartilage tear to his left knee.

Obviously, the important question the media raised first is ‘how will this affect his trade to a Victorian club?’

[707]

Another story about how "gettable" Paps is in the Hun. Apparently wants to be closer to home. If this is the case, we need to play hard ball and extract a pound of flesh and some from whoever (if) he goes to. None of this BS trading that went on with Mitchell.
Which brings me to how Hawthorn always seem to be able to get other clubs to deal with them in such a one sided (their) way? It's like they have compromising photos of opposition officials and coaches!?

Does he look like a player not absolutely loving the guernsey? If there's a shred of truth in this I'd be very surprised. Just looks like another space filler by lazy journo's.

I reckon there's a story on the AFL website that shows Oliver has almost the worst disposal in the league!

[dimelb]

Does he look like a player not absolutely loving the guernsey? If there's a shred of truth in this I'd be very surprised. Just looks like another space filler by lazy journo's.

I reckon there's a story on the AFL website that shows Oliver has almost the worst disposal in the league!

I think you're on the mark re Paps. He wants to go elsewhere when both grandfathers played for the Swans? And he still rings his surviving grandfather before a game? Pull the other one.

[barracuda]

A few of my thoughts from the last few pages I’ve read (I’m overseas at the moment and catch up in bursts)

1. Dunkley - we were never in a position to draft him as a f/s if a Vic club drafted him. I agree that it was basically draft tampering and shouldn’t have happened but either way we would never have had him. What is sad is that a club legend’s son didn’t want to come to Sydney. I’ve heard that Andrew Dunkley had a falling out but don’t know the details.

2. Rucks - I’d love a good ruck as much as anyone else. Unfortunately, they are largely a fluke to draft and recruit. People often bring up Nankervis but he is no better than Sinkers. A lot of other teams are in similar ruck situations with their number 1 ruck approaching retirement age.

3. Small forwards - I think our stocks are low here. Paps is great. Hayward is not a hard ground ball get player. Ronke is showing that his few good games in 2018 was more likely the exception than the rule. I haven’t seen any of the NEAFL to comment on Wicks. I think we need a Rioli. There must be another one coming up in the next draft?

Wicks is coming on quickly both physically and in performance. He is however more of a high forward than a traditional crumbing eddie betts forward. This is not a bad thing as the high forward is one of the most difficult and taxing roles. The high forward is constantly running into the forward line (whilst being closely checked) and then having to gut run back to cover the opposition half backs (like a stoddart). Robinson was made to play this role in the seniors and really struggled, whereas Wicks does it very well. Guys like Rose can't deliver the defensive side of the high forward which is a reason why he has struggled in seniors as well. Wicks has also shown he can play midfield with a 40 possession game this year when he had a go and also can open up on the wing. I also know he is also a very good tagger and has played plenty of half back in his juniors. He currently leads the team for disposals and tackles despite being predominantly forward. I think he would also lead for goal assists. His disposal is clean on both sides, and he is clearly a thinker with his ball use even under pressure. The only knock on him at this stage of development is set shots from 50m where he looks like he has the ipps. Physically he is very strong with a resilient body. He is also very easy to coach and understands the structures. After 1 year in the system he has developed very well and hopefully he gets another contract. If not I imagine another AFL club will take him further.

[bloodspirit]

Thanks for sharing those thoughts, barracuda. Very encouraging. Interesting too when many of us were surprised that Wicks was the player the club selected from the Academy alumni. It goes to show how they naturally have much better insights into what players (especially our own) can deliver, than we do.

[Agent 86]

With each ineffective I50 on the weekend, i'd say Papley would've been more and more likely to look favourably at approaches from teams with classier mids. A lot of what we read/hear is BS, but in this case i'm thinking smoke=fire.

[Old Puppy]

Mitchell was a blunder with the benefit of hindsight but a difficult decision at the time.

Newman not a blunder - good player but it seemed he was not going to get as much opportunity with us (before Macca, Smith and Reg went down). Means that COR got his chance and the door is wider open for Stoddart & co.

Dunkley absolutely not a blunder. He only agreed to nominate us as father-son on the basis that we would only match a bid if he was going to be forced out of Victoria. We were bound by our agreement and our word. If you're saying that we should have just bid on him before the Bulldogs in the open draft then you might as well say we should have bid on Fyfe before Rohan or Jetta in 2009.

rofl

Cant wait for open mike in the next couple weeks!

[Ralph Dawg]

With each ineffective I50 on the weekend, i'd say Papley would've been more and more likely to look favourably at approaches from teams with classier mids. A lot of what we read/hear is BS, but in this case i'm thinking smoke=fire.

Dane Beams told the whole club at the end of season dinner that he loved them, was going no where. A few days later he was traded back to Collingwood.
Papley is the sort of player who would be pumped and giving 100% on game game regardless of who he was playing for. I'm not saying he's gone but I would put about as much weight on his public words and pride in the club as Dane Beams. Players say one thing but when it comes to contracts, are liable to do the complete opposite.

[Bloods05]

I think you're on the mark re Paps. He wants to go elsewhere when both grandfathers played for the Swans? And he still rings his surviving grandfather before a game? Pull the other one.

Max did walk out on us after just 60-odd games....

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With each ineffective I50 on the weekend, i'd say Papley would've been more and more likely to look favourably at approaches from teams with classier mids. A lot of what we read/hear is BS, but in this case i'm thinking smoke=fire.

The Herald-Sun is pure smoke. The fire died out when Rupert bought it, and even then it was only a flicker.

[707]

Max did walk out on us after just 60-odd games....

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Playing footy was not a career then, he left to earn more money out of the VFL I believe. Both sides of the family were and are dyed in the wool Swans. Papley is living the dream, playing for the team he grew up avidly following with two South Melbourne grandfathers and plays like he's living the dream. Let's not mention this again until something concrete comes to light rather than the scatter gun ramblings of journo's struggling to fill minutes and column inches!

[bloodspirit]

Playing footy was not a career then, he left to earn more money out of the VFL I believe. Both sides of the family were and are dyed in the wool Swans. Papley is living the dream, playing for the team he grew up avidly following with two South Melbourne grandfathers and plays like he's living the dream. Let's not mention this again until something concrete comes to light rather than the scatter gun ramblings of journo's struggling to fill minutes and column inches!

Well said.