The value of building a side around Jackson/Tuck/Foley type tough, ball-winning senior mids, as opposed to downhill skiing 'stars' like Dal Santo and Montagna, was clearly on display yesterday.
Not even 1% of this board would have held onto Jackson and Tuck if we were offered a straight swap for Dal Santo and Montagna two years ago. Most would have happily added an abundance of draft picks and spent a lot of time gleefully fantasising about a midfield of Cotchin/Martin/Deledio/Dal Santo/Montagna on paper.
Players like Jackson, Foley and Tuck are the raw foundation of a bloody good cake, players like Dal Santo and Montagna are icing, self-evidently well and truly separated from the cake which allowed them to forge their reputations.
Not even 1% of this board would have held onto Jackson and Tuck if we were offered a straight swap for Dal Santo and Montagna two years ago. Most would have happily added an abundance of draft picks and spent a lot of time gleefully fantasising about a midfield of Cotchin/Martin/Deledio/Dal Santo/Montagna on paper.
Players like Jackson, Foley and Tuck are the raw foundation of a bloody good cake, players like Dal Santo and Montagna are icing, self-evidently well and truly separated from the cake which allowed them to forge their reputations.