Rumour The Thread formerly known as the rumour file, now with zero rumours

[etsal1]

I've heard from a pretty solid source that we are sounding out Andrew Gaff.

I'm not a huge fan.

I think Gaff's major issue is that he can't break a tag.

I don't think he would be tagged @ Carlton. He was very promising in his early years when he wasn't tagged. But given the Eagles poor midfield (especially outside runners) he is tagged every week. There are a number if players that will be tagged @ Carlton before Gaff.

But I wouldn't want him for a high draft pick.

Lucas would be the ideal swap but I can see the Eagles wanting more.

 

[gab213]

For the life of me i just don't see what getting SOS would do for us. I don't think he has been in a position where he can be judged as being good or not.

He is at a club that was gifted an inordinate number of first round draft picks and operates under different salary cap rules to anyone else.

I'd much rather see us get someone who has experience at managing a list without all the special conditions. It seems to me we want him cause he is SOS the ex-player more than anything, that shouldn't be a consideration at all.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I think Gaff's major issue is that he can't break a tag.

I don't think he would be tagged @ Carlton. He was very promising in his early years when he wasn't tagged. But given the Eagles poor midfield (especially outside runners) he is tagged every week. There are a number if players that will be tagged @ Carlton before Gaff.

But I wouldn't want him for a high draft pick.

Lucas would be the ideal swap but I can see the Eagles wanting more.

Garlett for Gaff?

 

[etsal1]

Garlett for Gaff?

That's what I was thinking.

It would help a lot if Gaff picked us and not just said he wants to go home.

Only in my fantasy land could we get Gaff for Lucas.

 

[95blues]

Garlett for Gaff?

Lucas + Garlett for Gaff?

I'm not suggesting it, nor am I considering any trade rules etc, but it seems probable considering the players circumstances?

I haven't seen a lot of Gaff... all I know is every time the eagles are playing he is all the commentators speak about.

 

[etsal1]

Lucas + Garlett for Gaff?

I'm not suggesting it, nor am I considering any trade rules etc, but it seems probable considering the players circumstances?

I haven't seen a lot of Gaff... all I know is every time the eagles are playing he is all the commentators speak about.

Garlett should be enough.

Lucas & Garlett should get us gaff plus 3rd rounder.

 

[etsal1]

Remember people - this is the team that have a first rounder for Wellingham. We could get lucky.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Lucas + Garlett for Gaff?

I'm not suggesting it, nor am I considering any trade rules etc, but it seems probable considering the players circumstances?

I haven't seen a lot of Gaff... all I know is every time the eagles are playing he is all the commentators speak about.

This may be closer to the mark.

I think Eagles would want some better return on their investment (#4 overall, 2010).

While you could argue that Garlett has proven ability (insert: 40+ goals in a season argument), Gaff's ceiling is much higher.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

That's what I was thinking.

It would help a lot if Gaff picked us and not just said he wants to go home.

Only in my fantasy land could we get Gaff for Lucas.

This!

 

[etsal1]

As long as the trade doesn't involve Yarran or our first or second rounder, it could be ok.

 

[Nut_Sacks]

Gaff is no good.

He is soo outside that he's almost in the corporate boxes.

 

[F_therest]

I've heard from a pretty solid source that we are sounding out Andrew Gaff.

I'm not a huge fan.

I like it if true.

Obviously wouldn't want to give up a huge amount, but he would be a good fit for us I recon.

He's young, talented and can break lines. The only players regularly breaking lines through the middle of the ground for us atm are Yarran and Murphy. Seriously lets face it, the only time we look good and dangerous is when Yarran and Murphy are cutting through the middle of the ground.

We've been doing quite well with in close situations like clearances and contested possessions, but I feel a big problem has been getting caught out when the opposition spread and then not being able to break lines enough offensively ourselves, which Gaff will help with.

He has had issues with taggers, but the hope would be our coaching staff can help him with this plus the fact that most teams only go with 1 'run with' player these days in the middle and that player would go to Murphy. And if they go to Gaff instead of Murphy then that's even better.

 

[F_therest]

That's what I was thinking.

It would help a lot if Gaff picked us and not just said he wants to go home.

Only in my fantasy land could we get Gaff for Lucas.

I don't think its that big a stretch IF Gaff said he wanted to go back to Vic...

Lucas is from WA, a talented first round draft pick, young, midfield runner (an area where they are currently lacking) I don't think it would be the worse deal for WC.

I'm actually still holding onto hope that we can turn Lucas around cause he has the skills but it's not looking great atm

 

[F_therest]

This may be closer to the mark.

I think Eagles would want some better return on their investment (#4 overall, 2010).

While you could argue that Garlett has proven ability (insert: 40+ goals in a season argument), Gaff's ceiling is much higher.

Speaking of investments, Lucas was a #12 pick investment for us too and then we are giving Garlett (with proven ability as you said) as well...not sure I like this trade for us tbh. I think they'd have to throw in something on top of Gaff if anything. Gaff has only had 1 good year and been shit since.

 

[HARKER]

As long as the trade doesn't involve Yarran or our first or second rounder, it could be ok.

That just won't happen. It can't happen.

Gaff has always looked like a good get for us. Lucas isn't delivering what we know Gaff can.
Garlett and Lucas, plus or minus, feels about right.

It's probably a deal W.C. supporters wouldn't get excited about given current form, but they may just have the better chance of getting the guys right to play, if indeed they both wanted to go back to W.A.

 

[James_Blues]

I like it if true.

Obviously wouldn't want to give up a huge amount, but he would be a good fit for us I recon.

He's young, talented and can break lines. The only players regularly breaking lines through the middle of the ground for us atm are Yarran and Murphy. Seriously lets face it, the only time we look good and dangerous is when Yarran and Murphy are cutting through the middle of the ground.

I dunno about that,Juddy looked pretty good the other night cutting the lines to me

On Garlett, we know how good he can be when he's up and about. Are we sure his loss would be able to be sufficiently covered? When he's on he's incredibly dangerous tackling, crumbing and can kick them from just about anywhere, I'm not entirely sure we have a good enough replacement. Menz is going to be very good but he needs someone else to work with him and he's a different type of player to Jeffy.

 

[Blue since 72]

Gaff is no good.

He is soo outside that he's almost in the corporate boxes.

Question we should all be asking is would Gaff improve the quality of the list.

I'm no great fan of his at least in terms of his time at the Eagles but depending on what we would have to give up he would definitely add some quality to the list and Mick has mentioned numerous times of his desire to keep turning over and improving the list.

Maybe he plays better in a team with a better midfield or maybe him being on the list ramps up the pressure for spots in the seniors. Either way if for arguments sake we swap him with Garlett (who maybe wants to go home so wont play his best for Carlton if he stays) or Lucas (possibly for the same reason) or both and get a pick wouldn't we then be improving the list?

 

[Azul]

Question we should all be asking is would Gaff improve the quality of the list.

A 22yo midfielder who hasn't missed a game in 3 years, since his debut season?

This guy would be best 22 ahead of many of the guys on our list, including Bell, Robinson, Lucas, Armfield, Ellard and McLean.

To suggest otherwise, i.e. 'soft' and 'outside' - some need to take off their navy blue coloured glasses.

 

[Jeremias]

This guy would be best 22 ahead of many of the guys on our list, including Bell, Robinson, Lucas, Armfield, Ellard and McLean.

To suggest otherwise, i.e. 'soft' and 'outside' - some need to take off their navy blue coloured glasses.

I am not Gaff's biggest fan and would prefer to steer clear but you are correct in saying that he would certainly add something to our best side.

However I'm not sure why you're comparing him with Bell, Robinson, Ellard and McLean. Certainly a completely different type of player to those four who are far more inside by nature than Gaff. Quite clearly Gaff wouldn't be competing with any of them for a spot in our best side.

Gaff is far more comparable to Lucas and Armfield who you correctly identified as players he would be ahead of in a similar position.

Also, if you're arguing that calling Gaff 'soft' and 'outside' is a case of supporters wearing navy blue coloured glasses, I'd suggest you haven't seen Gaff play. That's exactly what he has been from day 1 and that's exactly what he'll likely be for the remainder of his senior career. That doesn't mean he's of no value.

 

[LordLucifer]

Speaking of investments, Lucas was a #12 pick investment for us too and then we are giving Garlett (with proven ability as you said) as well...not sure I like this trade for us tbh. I think they'd have to throw in something on top of Gaff if anything. Gaff has only had 1 good year and been shit since.

Wouldn't Shuey be the better option as opposed to Gaff ??

Another Victorian lad who may relish the opportunity to return home.

 

[LanceRomance]

Wouldn't Shuey be the better option as opposed to Gaff ??

Another Victorian lad who may relish the opportunity to return home.

Relish seems like the wrong word.

Maybe ravenous?

 

[BlueJet]

A 22yo midfielder who hasn't missed a game in 3 years, since his debut season?

This guy would be best 22 ahead of many of the guys on our list, including Bell, Robinson, Lucas, Armfield, Ellard and McLean.

To suggest otherwise, i.e. 'soft' and 'outside' - some need to take off their navy blue coloured glasses.

Especially when discussing trading Lucas and Garlett for him..

 

[Azul]

Also, if you're arguing that calling Gaff 'soft' and 'outside' is a case of supporters wearing navy blue coloured glasses, I'd suggest you haven't seen Gaff play. That's exactly what he has been from day 1 and that's exactly what he'll likely be for the remainder of his senior career. That doesn't mean he's of no value.

I'm saying 'soft' and 'outside', while averaging 20 disposals a match is a virtue. A quality finisher who is a reasonable mark for his size, finds space for an uncontested possession and produces heaps of inside 50s provides something.
We have sufficient b-grade inside players on our list (the four above) but few with polish to feed the ball out to.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

I still feel like the majority of my questions are unanswered.

Was that ex player Kernahan?

If he comes to us, are we therefore going to forego 3 potential father/son picks over the next 5 years?

Is he going to potentially bring draft picks he has a report with, and if so, who is he close to?

Why would we forego the sons?? Todd Viney still works at Melbourne and SOS would be in a list management/recruiting role I would imagine and wouldn't have any real impact on match day or selection week to week. Has the lads junior form even indicated that they might end up AFL players??

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Why would anyone give us anything for Lucas, they know we will delist him anyway and they can get him for free, he isn't even steak knives. If we were to get Gaff I reckon Garlett and out 2nd round pick would be about on the mark.