- Moderator
- #7,851
Crows have shown they're quite happy to not get Gibbs, they entertained the idea at his request but were quite fine walking away too.
Didnt Roo say you offered a 1st and a 3rd rounder, then sat back playing games thinking we would cave?
You're characterizing it as a bit of tire kicking and then you walked off. That wasn't quite what happened at all.
I'd argue Carlton need to get picks in more desperately than the Crows need an ok midfielder. Particularly in a market with 3 huge midfield free agents this year all younger and better than Gibbs.
The two are not related. I agree we need more picks in, but we're not really rushed on this 66 game rebuild timeline. Im happy pushing it out a year or two and doing it right rather than trying to do it all in three drafts. I would have traded Gibbs for your 1st least year (that you had on the table) and your 2nd this year (by all reports that wasnt far off what your offer was). I agree we need more picks and more players; but on the other hand we cant afford to lose too many senior players or we become a rabble like Melbourne did when they gutted all seniority in one hit.
As to whether you needed him desperately, I disagree. Again; If I was your list manager last year I would have traded Gibbs for the 1st and future 2nd (on the condition that Carlton pay his salary so I could afford a Free agent the next year), and offloaded McGovern to WCE for their 1st rounder (he's probably leaving this year in any event). I would have brought in a big bodied ready made player like Power Pepper who could contribute straight away.
From there I spend all this year in Martins ear.
The way I see it, you guys are primed for an assault on the flag. If you had have strengthened your midfield this year (where the competition looks pretty weak with the Hawks, Swans, Dogs, Giants and Cats all looking shaky) you would be in with a much better (indeed favorites) for the flag.
As it is at the moment, you have a huge weakness. You could have gone some of the way last year to addressing it. Add Gibbs and a ready made player to your midfield last year, then add one more this year for a concerted assault in 2018.
Now you might go on to win the flag anyway. Beats me. But from where I sit, right at this moment, it looks like a terrible idea not to actually sit down with Carlton and negotiate in good faith. One of the grounds that may have enticed you was us paying Gibbs salary (we can certainly afford to) meaning you could get him without jeopardizing going after a free agent. Instead you tried to play silly buggers expecting us to cave, and find yourself where you are at present. Looking at a very midfield hole sized problem.