Strategy Trade and List management Thread Part 6 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)

[flipper83]

Without injuries, how do all of Keath, Gardy, Buss and Croft fit at Footscray? One of them probably has to play forward.

I hope they send Keath forward, have Gardiner Full back, Croft CHB and Buss intercepting.
Need to get Croft and Buss ready to step into defence in a year or two and Gardiner ready to come into the AFL team if needed.
That said Croft might not be physically ready for a key post but playing him on a smaller forward would be good for his development too.

 

[Libbaaaa]

Without injuries, how do all of Keath, Gardy, Buss and Croft fit at Footscray? One of them probably has to play forward.

No injuries is obviously the ideal position to be in, would allow Keath to be pure break in case of emergency, Gardner to keep working at nailing the basics and not trying anything outside his skill set and Buss/Croft play all the time

 

[TiAn_]

Without injuries, how do all of Keath, Gardy, Buss and Croft fit at Footscray? One of them probably has to play forward.

Croft or Gardner will play forward.

 

[Testekill]

Without injuries, how do all of Keath, Gardy, Buss and Croft fit at Footscray? One of them probably has to play forward.

I would throw Keath up forward. He's break glass if no other senior options available to play full back since he won't be there past next year and he's pretty cooked; Croft & Busslinger are earmarked as future defenders and Gardner may still have a future as depth.

 

[dogwatch]

I know it was a bit of a laugh having that 'Coffield getting ignored' video on our social media, but how good is it that he's moving freely and having a pre-season?

I think the kid's only had one proper pre-season so far in his career. Good sign.

I wonder if there'll be a bit of friendly niggle between Coffield and Naughton, both class of 2017 kids?

	8	Nick Coffield	St Kilda	Northern Knights	TAC Cup
	9	Aaron Naughton	Western Bulldogs	Peel Thunder	WAFL

 

[HK_Bulldog]

In the Croft article on the club website, he said he was looking forward to working with Naughton and Marra. I thought he’s been told he will be developed as a defender?

 

[BulldogMuscle]

In the Croft article on the club website, he said he was looking forward to working with Naughton and Marra. I thought he’s been told he will be developed as a defender?

My mail was he was told.

Maybe he looks forward working with them as a defender?

 

[_Cerberus_]

I reckon Croft will start as a forward, to keep his confidence going and play to his strengths that he gained from this year. You don't tear that up and throw it away straight away. Probably the worst thing you could do. He rose up the draft boards, because of what he did as a forward this year. Not because he used to play defender a couple of years back. If he was really good at defending, he likely would not have gotten moved forward unless his club were forced to due to lack of tall options up front. What if he shows more than our starting forwards in the AFL? We won't even know unless we try play him where he played his best at first.

As some have mentioned. Gards, Keath, Busslinger is plenty of talls down back. We are not saying "stiff s**t, one of you guys are sacrificing your career and season, by playing forward in the VFL. So we can develop Croft down back. Up front we only really have Darcy, at VFL level, Khamis is more of a third tall.

I see him starting off up front, and he will have gradual stints in the back line via rotations or if one of the defensive trio are not available. Simular to Darcy in his first season I think, he started more at one end, and finished up at the other. We know the club likes to move the players around in the VFL and try to get them to be a jack of all trades type player. And if the club sees him as a defender, he will prob see his role down back increased more as the season progresses.

Given he is a long term prospect, and Keath is likely to retire any time in the next year or two. I see him mostly forward this year, with some stints down back. And if the club sees him as a defender, he will take over Keaths role there near full time in 2025, assuming Keath calls time on his career.

 

[NthBondiDoggies]

2027 Dogs:

Weightman Ugle-Hagan Darcy

Daniel Naughton Artie

Friejah Macrae Smith

English Bont Sanders

Coffield Busslinger Dale

Red JOD VDM

Int: Croft (Utility forward) West (mid), Williams (mid-wing), Garcia (mid)

West and Garcia stepping up to full time mids are our most important growth factors.

In 2027 - 4 years from now - Macrae will be 33 and at end of his career but his style will hold. Bont will be 31/32 and still a force but playing more forward - maybe 50% like Danger.

Mid: Bont, Sanders, Macrae, Smith, West, Garcia - is Ok but only if West and Garcia really lift.

Smith (placed on wing but will play more mid replacing Bont),

Croft - Will find we put Naughton back at times if we need to stop a flow and Croft goes forward. Also when English is resting and Darcy in ruck.

Weaknesses:

• Tall defenders - effectively JOD (looking ok), Buss (unproven) and Gards (proven to be just ok) - no star yet and all top team are built on rocks on defence. Croft may go there. Naughton is the best answer but pay a price. Will be main recruiting target.
• Small forwards - Daniel and elite player will find a way to excel but is not a natural forward, Artie has shown glimpses and bring great energy and Clarke is unproven. West is too slow and will play mid and McNugget looks ok but can make fast enough decisions- not a natural forward. this role needs to be a genuine threat with speed that creates panic. Maybe O’Driscoll.

Other maybe for best 22:

• Bedendo, (our unicorn- could be anything - has a very high ceiling as a wing or HFF - fast, strong runner)
• Scott (Our best utility - if he stayed in defence could be the best replacement for Duryea - no nonsense fierce and good mark)
• Cleary (will play a lot for Dale, Red or Coffield)
• Buku - simple fact is he kicks bags of goals: could be the VFL Dixon of our next premiership and is putting on bulk and is a nightmare to match up with - just needs to be a bit quicker and he will force his way in
• O’Driscoll (lightning fast - wing or small forward)
• Clarke, (only genuine small forward - is highly rated and can take a spot)
• Gallagher (reckon will be better than VDM if he can mark - both fast and tough)

Depth: Gardner, McNeil, Poulter, Baker

Next wave: Sanders, Busslinger, Cleary, Clarke, Gallagher, Freijah, O’Driscoll, Garcia

Gonesky: BLobb, Jones, Keath, Libba, Trelor, Duryea and JJ

 

[Libbaaaa]

Did we end up upgrading Anthony Scott?

 

[doggie dog]

Do we get another ruck (prospect or mature) or run with Smith, Lobb and Darcy as the support? Maybe that Geelong win unlocked something in the way we’ll approach games, ruck Lobb more often.

Seeing the injuries Darcy sustained in 2023, i would be very hesitant to put him in the ruck till he can put on some muscle.
Hes just too slight ATM to go up against grown men.

 

[Claythesmiths]

Did we end up upgrading Anthony Scott?

Yep.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

Seeing the injuries Darcy sustained in 2023, i would be very hesitant to put him in the ruck till he can put on some muscle.
Hes just too slight ATM to go up against grown men.

How’s he going, do you think?

 

[Hoges64]

How’s he going, do you think?

View attachment 1861417

Honestly, still at least another year off...

 

[Libbaaaa]

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

ScragCity !!!!!!!

Insider extraordinaire

 

[Foxman98]

Happy with that,

Solid depth option

 

[Dogs 13]

All hail Scrag

 

[VitalDread]

[PLAYERCARD]Bailey Dale[/PLAYERCARD] to the wing becoming true

 

[Igloo]

 

[Testekill]

Happy with Bramble, mature depth who still has time on his side. He was also really ****ing good in the VFL semi-final against us playing out of defence.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

2027 Dogs:

Weightman Ugle-Hagan Darcy

Daniel Naughton Artie

Friejah Macrae Smith

English Bont Sanders

Coffield Busslinger Dale

Red JOD VDM

Int: Croft (Utility forward) West (mid), Williams (mid-wing), Garcia (mid)

West and Garcia stepping up to full time mids are our most important growth factors.

In 2027 - 4 years from now - Macrae will be 33 and at end of his career but his style will hold. Bont will be 31/32 and still a force but playing more forward - maybe 50% like Danger.

Mid: Bont, Sanders, Macrae, Smith, West, Garcia - is Ok but only if West and Garcia really lift.

Smith (placed on wing but will play more mid replacing Bont),

Croft - Will find we put Naughton back at times if we need to stop a flow and Croft goes forward. Also when English is resting and Darcy in ruck.

Weaknesses:

• Tall defenders - effectively JOD (looking ok), Buss (unproven) and Gards (proven to be just ok) - no star yet and all top team are built on rocks on defence. Croft may go there. Naughton is the best answer but pay a price. Will be main recruiting target.
• Small forwards - Daniel and elite player will find a way to excel but is not a natural forward, Artie has shown glimpses and bring great energy and Clarke is unproven. West is too slow and will play mid and McNugget looks ok but can make fast enough decisions- not a natural forward. this role needs to be a genuine threat with speed that creates panic. Maybe O’Driscoll.

Other maybe for best 22:

• Bedendo, (our unicorn- could be anything - has a very high ceiling as a wing or HFF - fast, strong runner)
• Scott (Our best utility - if he stayed in defence could be the best replacement for Duryea - no nonsense fierce and good mark)
• Cleary (will play a lot for Dale, Red or Coffield)
• Buku - simple fact is he kicks bags of goals: could be the VFL Dixon of our next premiership and is putting on bulk and is a nightmare to match up with - just needs to be a bit quicker and he will force his way in
• O’Driscoll (lightning fast - wing or small forward)
• Clarke, (only genuine small forward - is highly rated and can take a spot)
• Gallagher (reckon will be better than VDM if he can mark - both fast and tough)

Depth: Gardner, McNeil, Poulter, Baker

Next wave: Sanders, Busslinger, Cleary, Clarke, Gallagher, Freijah, O’Driscoll, Garcia

Gonesky: BLobb, Jones, Keath, Libba, Trelor, Duryea and JJ

There will be anywhere from 12-20+ new players on the list by the time the 2027 season rolls about.

I understand the positivity that a thought experiment of a post like yours brings, but it seems to ignore the fact that the list is never in stasis.

Without even projecting the success or otherwise of the latest recruits into the future. I think there are 4 and as many as 6 players from your projected starting 22 that are long odds to be on the list in 2027.

The likelihood of the team looking anything like you have it is somewhere around the Zero.

 

[VitalDread]

[PLAYERCARD]Bailey Smith[/PLAYERCARD], Sanders and Joel top 3 2km time trail

 

[Del203211]

Who nailed the Bramble link? Well done.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Who nailed the Bramble link? Well done.

You wouldn't believe us if we told you