2023 List Management

[Bloods05]

Wicks seems to have got the silly stuff out of his game. He's no superstar but he is hard at it, but the coaches must like what he does as a role player. He kicked a few very good goals under real pressure in 2023.

Yes, he's shown a bit of improvement this year and there's no reason that can't continue.

[troyjones2525]

Reports from 7sport that we are now out of the race for Ben McKay. I'm sure there will be more than a few on here that will be delighted by this news, but I'm not one of them.

This sucks as getting both him and Grundy would have been a perfect off season IMO.

199cm intercept marking defender's don't grow on trees, and that was a major weakness for us in 2023 once Paddy went down as I believe we were ranked 18th in the league for intercept marking.

Looking at the top sides, they all have elite intercept markers in defence as it has become a real weapon in the game! First Barrass (who is excellent at intercepting) and now missing out on McKay, I wonder where we'll head next...

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[mattybloods]

I wonder if Darcy Gardiner from Brisbane is someone of interest. Not getting a game at Brisbane, not the size of McKay but certainly would be in our best 22

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[i'm-uninformed2]

Cal Twomey - and now others - reporting that McKay is staying in Vic and it’s now between Essendon and Hawthorn. He’s usually pretty spot on with this stuff so no reason to doubt him.

Part of me is disappointed, part also relieved. Disappointed as he can play and we have real need for extra oomph down back. It confirms my long held view that McCartin is the most important player on our list as he’s elite and we have no real alternative. But I’m also relieved given the price attached to McKay. How could the club honestly say to, for example, Errol next year that we’ll extend you for four years to free agency, starting at $650K with some ratchet clauses linked to the new CBA that might get you to $800k by the end of the contract (which is the type of deal you’d like to table), having gifted McKay $750-800k?

But it also reinforces that we should be all in on Gold Coast’s pick 4 to get O’Sullivan. Which is where our trading with Melbourne for Grundy gets interesting. We have 11, 22 and 30 = which equals pick 2 and an upgrade of 400 points for them. The Dees have 13, 24, and 32. (They also have pick 5 but that’s of little use to GC). I think 30 is about fair for Grundy, but we hand that to Melbourne and we deal ourselves out of pick 4. We should really only offer them a second round pick from next year. They’ll be desperate for pick 30 for those reasons, but we need to stand firm.

If we walk out of this year with Grundy, O’Sullivan, and Cleary as a minimum, happy days.

[Blood Fever]

Reckon we will develop someone from within. Just throwing this out there, what about Mcdonald? Good size, mobile and good footy brain.

[troyjones2525]

My next choice for a defender is probably Dougal Howard now if we can get him cheaply.

He's 27 years old, 199cm and from memory is decent intercept mark and solid defender.

It's slim pickings but we really need to shore up that part of the ground as we all saw what happened this year once we got a few injuries!

I really want O'Sullivan too, but the pessimist in me feels that we will be unlikely to trade up into the draft (even if Beatson likes him, he normally has other ideas...), and more likely trade further back! Which is more our style... [emoji22]

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[Bloods05]

Reckon we will develop someone from within. Just throwing this out there, what about Mcdonald? Good size, mobile and good footy brain.

Apparently Gerard Healy has been suggesting this.

[wolftone57]

Stephens is uncontracted so we don’t have much clout, similar to Dawso. In any case he wants to be traded so we don’t want a player who doesn’t want to be here- no great loss as he has been average at best and shows that KB and Co can get it wrong just like everyone else.

What change in coaching philosophy are you suggesting Wolfie? Our last quarter fade-outs were most likely due to mental tiredness, but our choice of subs was often very poor, I’ll grant that. I thought that our main issue this year was the injuries to key personnel and the drop in form to players like Chad, Isaac and big Tom. Paps was patchy too. In the circumstances the team did remarkably well to finish in the 8 and with a bit of luck we should have beaten Carlton and then challenged the Dees. I think Horse coached well though I would have played Mills in midfield all game except for maybe the last few minutes.

Our fade outs were obviously due to fitness not psychology. This was obvious in the early part of the season, up until round 5, where players cramped up. This continues until the middle of the year with reserves players cramping. The senior players would have done extra work to fix this. But if you are behind the eightball fitness wise it is hard to catch you. Especially as we get more injuries the weight on experienced players becomes more pronounced.

Either the fitness staff were not allowed to do their job or they did not do their job. I find the latter be improbable at the least as these guys were great last year and kept the team on the park. If you are not up to the fitness level to start with it will play with your psyche. You start to fear getting injured so take softer options. Less chasing when fatigued etc.

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[Blood Fever]

Not the worst idea. Or maybe Melican and Reid can provide half a season each if their injuries don't coincide!

[caj23]

Reckon we will develop someone from within. Just throwing this out there, what about Mcdonald? Good size, mobile and good footy brain.

Why would we want to move a potentially elite forward to the backline when he has shown significant improvement each season?

The three headed monster worked really well as soon as Buddy departed

I can see why you love Horse so much, you share a similar philosophy

[Blood Fever]

Why would we want to move a potentially elite forward to the backline when he has shown significant improvement each season?

The three headed monster worked really well as soon as Buddy departed

I can see why you love Horse so much, you share a similar philosophy

Ha ha! Nothing to do with philosophy. Not sure if he can be an elite KPF. Easier down back. Only a suggestion not stubbornly set in stone.

[waswan]

1st and 2nd Pick to shift a contracted player

- - - Updated - - -

They can then deal with GC for a higher pick

[Blood Fever]

Who do you have in mind?

[wolftone57]

Cold hard light of day with the injuries we had we done well to recover and make finals. To me we finished pretty much we’re our list is at the moment

Looks like Grundy will play for us next year and that might help with our clearance issues . But I’ll temper my expectations as he simply is not the ruckman he was a few years ago .
If finals is anything to go by clearances and stoppage clearances are a must . We need help in this area as our midfield simply doesn’t cut it . Sheldrick may be the future but he simply doesn’t have the tank as yet to sustain it for considerable amounts of game time . We need ready made assistance in this area.
I think we need another good quality crumber when the ball hits the ground . Konstanty might turn out to be this player in time but hopefully with Paps playing more midfield time next year we can’t really solely on wicks who is more a defensive forward.
Another key defender is needed but I hope we don’t sell the farm to get McKay . Hardly plays a full season . The uptick could be in the right environment he could become elite . But the alleged price tag you would want a more consistent key defender.
Going to be an interesting off season that’s for sure


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1. Grundy will be far better under Cox's supervision. Cox is the best at getting the best from a player

2. Nothing wrong with Sheldrick's tank. A preseason and injury free he will be a gun.

3. We have crumbers & the option to put Parker forward & give Sheldrick & Roberts a go. Parker will be a very dangerous forward. You have to match up a player who can take a grab but also crumb. That is going to stretch any defence with what is already there.

4. I don't think McKay is the answer at that price. He is inconsistent. More an interceptor than a lockdown player. I think we have plenty of interceptors.

5. Stephens leaves and we get a second round for him. This will give us an extra pick.

6. We have shown interest in Harmes & I am told there is one other who we are talking with. But the one who told me will not say who. We will also draft a Key Back, as there are a few good prospects there. Arnold was really good in the reserves. Far too good for that level. Francis showed a big & Melican, when he played in the middle season was bloody good. He turned back time. I think we already have the elements there. Just a matter of putting them together.

7. We will probably take May as a project ruck. This will mean we have Grundy, Ladhams, McAndrew & May. Look how Lachie has developed over his two years. He is a super tap ruck, he just needs to learn to read the play to intercept and get more field ball. He is capable forward. Ladhams is a two edged sword. He can be great and terrible in the one play. His temper is a problem. But if they can teach him to direct his handball & control his temper he might actually succeed. But a tuned in Grundy will be a great ruck.

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[troyjones2525]

I actually don't mind if we get the two Melbourne players who are potentially leaving in Harmes and Jordon.

I think Harmes in particular could help us immediately as I reckon he is very good as a CB player, and if given the opportunity to go out and win his own ball, he could be a real moneyball type pick up! Cheap and fills a need.

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