News Nick Austin departs

[WalshistheGOAT]

Walter is not going to do that to the Suns. It's just fanciful to even think it is a possibility.

Why would he even want to come to us anyway? He could get good money anywhere he goes.

Opportunity is his biggest issue at the moment at the Suns. We have no young KPF prospects at all, would have the forward line to himself once McKay goes.

 

[Jimmae]

Opportunity is his biggest issue at the moment at the Suns. We have no young KPF prospects at all, would have the forward line to himself once McKay goes.

That'll be 4 years later if he joins in the off-season, and who's to say McKay won't rally and play on another year or two given his athletic profile.

All comes down to workload, injury management, and a smarter coaching operation. At the rate things are going we need to figure out what we're doing with Kemp, because if we get someone like Walter or King - whether it be through drafting a similar prospect or free agency - he needs to be introduced into the midfield IMO.

And that's without even considering Kouta's kid. Got a similar problem at the other end with Thornton, plus maybe the Walker kids depending on how their games evolve.

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

3 firsts were not as good as it sounds. The first from 2025 was used for Dean. Sydney's first this year is looking like 18 plus. Next year with Tasmania and the compromised draft. Sydney's first could be high 20s early 30s. We gave him away for unders imo.

If the deal allows us to gain Dean Walker (Thornton) plus second/s rounder/s or aligned trade options as well as Hayward, I’m fairly happy with that considering the crap timing of the draft rules changes…

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

The below KPFs may be gettable:

Walter
JUH
Gruzewski
Dear
Jefferson

Not sure JUH or Dear would move from their clubs for obvious reasons, although would take Dear in a heartbeat

 

[Crippa#9]

The below KPFs may be gettable:

Walter
JUH
Gruzewski
Dear
Jefferson

Have heard we’re into Ollie Lord

 

[Blue By Blood]

Have heard we’re into Ollie Lord

I'd hope not. Not trying to say you're wrong, just I'd hope we don't go down that path. Port supporters don't rate him and he just did his ACL.

 

[DangerousD]

Charlie Ballard

10

Charlie Ballard

Age

26

Ht

196cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.9

3star

K

8.8

3star

HB

3.1

3star

M

4.7

4star

T

1.2

3star

MG

185.6

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

3.6

2star

M

4.9

5star

T

1.3

2star

MG

158.9

3star

D

9.4

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.4

4star

MG

156.0

3star

who was dropped by the Suns would be a good fit, I see a few players missing out at GC who could want to move forward opportunity, GWS I feel will also struggle to keep players and we should be sniffing around.

 

[TENACIOUS]

Have heard we’re into Ollie Lord

That would be pretty underwhelming. So wouldn’t surprise me..

 

[TENACIOUS]

Opportunity is his biggest issue at the moment at the Suns. We have no young KPF prospects at all, would have the forward line to himself once McKay goes.

He’d most likely go home to WCE, who you’d think will have a pick before us.

 

[BRADLESTICKS]

Austin inherited a job with truckloads of salary cap room and a base where we could field this line up of core players aged 26 or younger that we know can play at league level.

B- Newman Weitering Silvagni
HB- Docherty marchbank Kemp
C- Cottrell Cripps
HF- McGovern McKay Martin
F- Dekoning Curnow
R- Pittonett Kennedy Walsh

Then we also had highly rated youngsters most of whom didn’t make it for whatever reasons like Dow, SPS, O’Brien, Setterfield, Fisher, Stocker and Cuningham.

Overall an excellent base to start from for any new list manager but with still some holes that needed to be filled and depth added. Injuries obviously affected some of these players but every team has injuries.

Fast forward to today if Austin was removed tomorrow and a new list manager came in this is a line up of core players aged 26 or under we know can play league level.

B-
HB-
C- O. Hollands Cerra
HF- Cottrell
F- Kemp
R- Walsh

Only 5 players and only one who you could call a star (Walsh) and he wasn’t selected by Austin.

We also have Carroll and Cowan who look ok but are not anymore proven than Dow and O’Brien were at the same stage.

Then we have the two we have big hopes for still unproven in Dean and Smith in their first seasons playing AFL they look good but between them Austin paid 4 mid first round picks a second round pick and Owies.

Austin has been a disaster anyway you look at it some of his errors.

1. Gave Zac Williams the worst contract in the history of the Carlton Football Club

2. Grossly overpaid at the trade table for Saad the highest price ever paid for a small defender.

3. Overpaid again at the trade period for Cerra, he’s a nice player but we recruited Hewett the exact same time and both are one position slow midfielders when we already had Cripps and Kennedy.

4. Recruited 3 wingers in the one offseason all terrific runners but all poor kicks.

5. An obsession with slow small/midsize forwards with little to no x-factor Durdin, Fogarty Motlop, Moir, Evans and others

6. Ridiculously and unnecessary long contracts eg.Williams 6 years, Riedy 3 years. Their are plenty more examples

7. Paying O’Brien and Binns to not play for us

8. Not one decent developing ruck or key forward traded for or drafted in his 6 trade/ draft periods in charge.

9. Paid a ridiculous amount for Jagga Smith, 2 mid first round picks a second round pick and Owies for Smith and junk picks late in the draft which in the end weren’t really needed to get the camporeale boys who in reality we should have passed on. The last thing our list needed was more players that can’t kick.

10. Botched the matching of Harry Dean in the draft by not realising he was getting bid on earlier than expected Uwland was bid on at 2 and Dean at 3 but somehow we coughed up better quality picks than Gold Coast to match.

11. Waited until the last minute to trade Curnow when under contract (yes he sooked it up) for Will Hayward

19

Will Hayward

Age

27

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.8

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

9.0

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

4.7

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

9.4

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.4

5star

and garbage first round picks which end up essentially being pick upgrades.

Their are more examples but all up Austin and his teams tenure has been an absolute disaster.

 

[CarmenSandiego]

He's done a pretty bad job in hindsight.

Thought he'd be safe, but I'd be happy to move him on & think he will be.

 

[juzza316]

It's hard to argue we have gone from one of the better lists in the comp a few years ago to one of the worst, if not the worst list in the comp. Any one that has had a major part to play with that, needs to be sent on their way.

 

[Korn]

Fast forward to today if Austin was removed tomorrow and a new list manager came in this is a line up of core players aged 26 or under we know can play league level.

B-
HB-
C- O. Hollands Cerra
HF- Cottrell
F- Kemp
R- Walsh

We are in deep trouble, our next wave of key players are no where to be seen.

 

[BRADLESTICKS]

We are in deep trouble, our next wave of key players are no where to be seen.

I also forgot Ollie Florent the swans were moving past him last season because they wanted more speed he was dropped multiple times we take him essentially as a salary cap dump and on a 5 YEAR CONTRACT why would anyone think that is a good deal.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Austin inherited a job with truckloads of salary cap room and a base where we could field this line up of core players aged 26 or younger that we know can play at league level.

B- Newman Weitering Silvagni
HB- Docherty marchbank Kemp
C- Cottrell Cripps
HF- McGovern McKay Martin
F- Dekoning Curnow
R- Pittonett Kennedy Walsh

Then we also had highly rated youngsters most of whom didn’t make it for whatever reasons like Dow, SPS, O’Brien, Setterfield, Fisher, Stocker and Cuningham.

Overall an excellent base to start from for any new list manager but with still some holes that needed to be filled and depth added. Injuries obviously affected some of these players but every team has injuries.

Fast forward to today if Austin was removed tomorrow and a new list manager came in this is a line up of core players aged 26 or under we know can play league level.

B-
HB-
C- O. Hollands Cerra
HF- Cottrell
F- Kemp
R- Walsh

Only 5 players and only one who you could call a star (Walsh) and he wasn’t selected by Austin.

We also have Carroll and Cowan who look ok but are not anymore proven than Dow and O’Brien were at the same stage.

Then we have the two we have big hopes for still unproven in Dean and Smith in their first seasons playing AFL they look good but between them Austin paid 4 mid first round picks a second round pick and Owies.

Austin has been a disaster anyway you look at it some of his errors.

1. Gave Zac Williams the worst contract in the history of the Carlton Football Club

2. Grossly overpaid at the trade table for Saad the highest price ever paid for a small defender.

3. Overpaid again at the trade period for Cerra, he’s a nice player but we recruited Hewett the exact same time and both are one position slow midfielders when we already had Cripps and Kennedy.

4. Recruited 3 wingers in the one offseason all terrific runners but all poor kicks.

5. An obsession with slow small/midsize forwards with little to no x-factor Durdin, Fogarty Motlop, Moir, Evans and others

6. Ridiculously and unnecessary long contracts eg.Williams 6 years, Riedy 3 years. Their are plenty more examples

7. Paying O’Brien and Binns to not play for us

8. Not one decent developing ruck or key forward traded for or drafted in his 6 trade/ draft periods in charge.

9. Paid a ridiculous amount for Jagga Smith, 2 mid first round picks a second round pick and Owies for Smith and junk picks late in the draft which in the end weren’t really needed to get the camporeale boys who in reality we should have passed on. The last thing our list needed was more players that can’t kick.

10. Botched the matching of Harry Dean in the draft by not realising he was getting bid on earlier than expected Uwland was bid on at 2 and Dean at 3 but somehow we coughed up better quality picks than Gold Coast to match.

11. Waited until the last minute to trade Curnow when under contract (yes he sooked it up) for Will Hayward and garbage first round picks which end up essentially being pick upgrades.

Their are more examples but all up Austin and his teams tenure has been an absolute disaster.

He has been horrific and we all should have known that when he was incapable of recruiting a half decent small forward while we had the core of the list in their absolute primes and crying out for just one consistent performer in that role.

 

[carlton_99]

I also forgot Ollie Florent the swans were moving past him last season because they wanted more speed he was dropped multiple times we take him essentially as a salary cap dump and on a 5 YEAR CONTRACT why would anyone think that is a good deal.

He has been a great pick up for us for a 3rd rounder. Provides overlap run we have desperately lacked. Takes on the game and has neat footskills and is tough. Had 10 score involvements last night which is crazy for a defender.

 

[carlton_99]

9. Paid a ridiculous amount for Jagga Smith, 2 mid first round picks a second round pick and Owies for Smith and junk picks late in the draft which in the end weren’t really needed to get the camporeale boys who in reality we should have passed on. The last thing our list needed was more players that can’t kick.

A midfielder that can go from inside to outside effectively is exactly what we needed in the midfield group. And he very much can kick

 

[BRADLESTICKS]

He has been horrific and we all should have known that when he was incapable of recruiting a half decent small forward while we had the core of the list in their absolute primes and crying out for just one consistent performer in that role.

He’s finally done it this year with Hayward and Ainsworth both quality players with a little bit of attitude and speed but they are 27/28 we needed this type of player 5 years ago to compliment our side not now when they are playing like marathon runners to support our slow midfield.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

He’s finally done it this year with Hayward and Ainsworth both quality players with a little bit of attitude and speed but they are 27/28 we needed this type of player 5 years ago to compliment our side not now when they are playing like marathon runners to support our slow midfield.

Yep, and not when we're looking destined for another rebuild due to his incompetence (amongst a raft of others too)

 

[BRADLESTICKS]

A midfielder that can go from inside to outside effectively is exactly what we needed in the midfield group. And he very much can kick

The can’t kick comment related to the camporeale boys, I like the looks of Smith however it was an expensive price to pay for a side that lacks depth.

 

[carlton_99]

The can’t kick comment related to the camporeale boys, I like the looks of Smith however it was an expensive price to pay for a side that lacks depth.

Ah my fault sorry misread it

 

[BRADLESTICKS]

He has been a great pick up for us for a 3rd rounder. Provides overlap run we have desperately lacked. Takes on the game and has neat footskills and is tough. Had 10 score involvements last night which is crazy for a defender.

The last thing we need is to be on the hook for Ollie Florent on a 5 year contract on good/solid money.

He plays the easiest position on the ground to get a kick as a half back flanker and was forced out of the swans because he can’t play on small forwards with real speed and who takes the safest option by foot almost every time.

At the game last night I looked at our backline majority of the time it was Saad Weitering Newman Haynes Florent Williams and Dean, only one player under the age of 27 and four over 30 we didn’t need to add Florent to an already ageing backline.

If Austin’s drafting was any good ideally Wilson or charleson would go past Florent by the end of the year and then what happens with Florent for the remaining 4 years of his contract.

 

[carlton_99]

The last thing we need is to be on the hook for Ollie Florent on a 5 year contract on good/solid money.

He plays the easiest position on the ground to get a kick as a half back flanker and was forced out of the swans because he can’t play on small forwards with real speed and who takes the safest option by foot almost every time.

At the game last night I looked at our backline majority of the time it was Saad Weitering Newman Haynes Florent Williams and Dean, only one player under the age of 27 and four over 30 we didn’t need to add Florent to an already ageing backline.

If Austin’s drafting was any good ideally Wilson or charleson would go past Florent by the end of the year and then what happens with Florent for the remaining 4 years of his contract.

I don't think we need to go past Florent. He's 27 years old and he will play good footy for at least the next 4 years. Wilson and Florent can definitely play in the same team . I don't really agree with the safest option thing I actually think he tries to take the game on and that's why he can commit turnovers but I can cop that. Like I said 10 score involvements last night and against Pies he and Newman were the ones providing the overlap run to get us finally scoring from our defensive half. He played 130 games in a row under Longmire when Swans were one of the best transition teams in the comp. Has been good this year but will be even better with a more modern system imo.

 

[The Return of the Paf]

It's hard to argue we have gone from one of the better lists in the comp a few years ago to one of the worst, if not the worst list in the comp. Any one that has had a major part to play with that, needs to be sent on their way.

Yes, at least in terms of youth coming through. Our list reminds me of one of those species of Galapagos Tortoise; still alive yet effectively extinct.

 

[Broadside]

Yes, at least in terms of youth coming through. Our list reminds me of one of those species of Galapagos Tortoise; still alive yet effectively extinct. .

Just not as quick