1 Midfielder away

[spitlizard]

I heard on the radio, can't remember what station though, that we are one good midfielder away from a G/F berth.

Where are we going to get this midfielder from?
I heard that we need a fast large player but who would be a likely candidate. Priddis is a good start but we need a AFL seasoned player without being to old.

Trade week is going to be soooo interesting for us I think.

 

[kp junior]

here's a few names: coughlin, wells, ray,moody, what about simon black, brissy seem to be falling apart at the moment. from within, we'll get haze, maybe browne or dunn will step up?
I like the coughlin trade idea myself

 

[spitlizard]

here's a few names: coughlin, wells, ray,moody, what about simon black, brissy seem to be falling apart at the moment. from within, we'll get haze, maybe browne or dunn will step up?
I like the coughlin trade idea myself

Blackie would be a great addition but what would we need to trade to get him.

I reckon Medders, Pollack and a packet of Tim Tams....Mmmmm geez I love Tim Tams

 

[rgauci]

Hasleby. Playing well and not injured.

 

[Sailor]

Of those mentioned the only one who could add to what we have now is Wells.
As always, does he want to come home and what would we have to trade to get him?
The others are either too similar to what we have now, injured or past their best.
Slow, short people we have plenty of.
Moody looks like being in the mix next year after asking for a one year deal although Brissy may make the enquiry early knowing that he wants back in WA.

 

[YelloMit]

Just imagine if our midfield was 100% and playing well.

Bell, Hasleby, Black, Carr bros, Schammer, Cook, McManus, Peake, etc...

Hoo boy! I'm all shivering!

 

[Ysaye]

Just imagine if our midfield was 100% and playing well.

Bell, Hasleby, Black, Carr bros, Schammer, Cook, McManus, Peake, etc...

Hoo boy! I'm all shivering!

Im not, there are only 3 guys over 180cm in that lot and a lot of dodgy kickers. Only 1 of those guys is truly fast as well, and most of them are what you would consider very slow. Not many decent tacklers there either.

Watch as Adam Goodes/Jude Bolton/Kirk/McVeigh or Judd/Embley/Waters/Butler or Griffen/Cooney/Cross run straight through them or Cousins/Kerr or Ray/Eagleton or Schneider/Buchanan/O'Keefe run around them.

We need more height, speed and skill.

 

[dominguez]

If Coughlin, Moody or McGrath are available we should pick them up. Apparently Hasleby's rehab will take around 4 months which will really restrict his preseason.

There's a good chance Collard wil still be available at pick 13, he looks to be a real prospect and should be ready to play a few games next season.

 

[Roundhouse]

If Coughlin, Moody or McGrath are available we should pick them up. Apparently Hasleby's rehab will take around 4 months which will really restrict his preseason.

There's a good chance Collard wil still be available at pick 13, he looks to be a real prospect and should be ready to play a few games next season.

I think the club is looking for a midfielder or two that are capable of playing more than a few games next year.

They are after someone who already has a few preseasons under the belt, and fits in with the core age group of the squad ie 22-24.

I agree that a strong push for a Moody/Wells/McGrath/Ray type is on the cards, with whatever picks we have left being utilized to snare best midfield talent available.

 

[dominguez]

The problem is though that the midfielders we would be looking to acquire will fall into 2 categories. They will either be handy players who will hopefully be in our best 18 or if we want a real quality player we will have to give up way too much at the trade table. Tha kangaroos would want Polak + Medhurst + a 1st and 2nd round pick for Wells, which is too much to give up considering the depth of this draft. The doggies would want something similar for Ray, probably Polak and pick 13.

The players who will be available at a reasonable price will be midfielders in a similar situation to Polak, with some baggage or question marks next to certain aspects of their game. Chad Fletcher would probably be available, but he's not what we need. Coughlan's name has been mentioned and I'd be happy with that if the price was right, but he won't have much impact in 2007 since he is coming back from a knee reco.

If Polak and pick 13 for Coughlin is on the table we should consider it if our medical staff are satisfied with his recovery from surgery, but we should ask for a 3rd round pick to be included by the tigers. If we trade Polak and 13 we should trade Medhurst for a draft pick because we want to have as many picks as possible in this draft. I would rather take a midfielder at 13 who wil play a couple of games in 2007 and become a genuine superstar 3 or 4 years down the track than trade for another mediocre player like Des.

 

[matthedocker]

i have two contreversial words for you

ak er

i know most people will shoot me down, bad how good would it be having the two most antagonising players in the same team. The jeffrey aker show would be worth the admission price alone!!

 

[dominguez]

I wouldn't have a problem recruiting Aka at the right price (say a straight swap for Medders), but-
1) He only wants to live in Melbourne and play for the doggies.
2) We don't need someone who can cause conflict within the group at a club which has had internal problems in the recent past.

 

[pinkus maximus]

what about Duffield? height pace skill

 

[dominguez]

what about Duffield? height pace skill

That idea has more merit than Mundy and Johnson IMO.

 

[Clay Davis]

We aren't a quick fix solution from a G/F berth, we're patience and time away from a premiership.

Did West Coast last year go and get a full forward? No, they persisted and were patient with young blokes in Lynch and Hansen. It paid off, both kick 5 goals between them out of 12 in the Grand Final. The scary thing is that both of their KPPs are still young and have time in their favour yet.

We should 1) Keep Polak, 2) Work on Duffield, Hayden, Mundy, Johnson, Drum, all to work through the midfield. Unless there is a gun out there who will not cost the earth, we should generally keep what we've got, and top up our young players.

Remember that West Coast has two rising stars in their premiership year. It is achievable to cycle youth through your squad while going for a flag. The experienced player we need is the 24 blokes who got a game for us during the finals. Trying to find a quick solution is the first step towards the making of a bigger problem.

 

[rgauci]

Absolutely agree with Gravy. Change nothing. Improve the players we have. Delist the worst and get some good kids.

 

[dominguez]

We aren't a quick fix solution from a G/F berth, we're patience and time away from a premiership.

Did West Coast last year go and get a full forward? No, they persisted and were patient with young blokes in Lynch and Hansen. It paid off, both kick 5 goals between them out of 12 in the Grand Final. The scary thing is that both of their KPPs are still young and have time in their favour yet.

We should 1) Keep Polak, 2) Work on Duffield, Hayden, Mundy, Johnson, Drum, all to work through the midfield. Unless there is a gun out there who will not cost the earth, we should generally keep what we've got, and top up our young players.

West coast could have traded Gardiner, McConnell and a draft pick for Fevola last year and gone 25-0 this year.

If Barry Hall or Jude Bolton had kicked accurately there would be all sorts of questions being asked about west coast today. They scraped over the line by a point and the rest becomes insignificant.

Trading is a reality, our midfield would really struggle without Bell, Black, Josh Carr, Matt Carr and Cook. Certainly we need to retain our draft picks but if we can get a midfilder who will be in our best 18 for 2 guys that aren't then we should do it.

 

[rgauci]

Year after year we have always thought we were one player away. Last year, the only year we haven't participated in trading, the same players got themselves into the top 4.

Its respect from the coaching staff, and shows faith in the current player group. I wouldn't change a thing. We don't have a glaring deficiency. Our midfield could be better. So with our draft picks look at midfielders.

If someone wants to leave the club, for more opportunity or think they deserve more money, we should look for adequate compensation. Otherwise leave things the way they are.

 

[wehavethepassion]

We aren't a quick fix solution from a G/F berth, we're patience and time away from a premiership.

Did West Coast last year go and get a full forward? No, they persisted and were patient with young blokes in Lynch and Hansen. It paid off, both kick 5 goals between them out of 12 in the Grand Final. The scary thing is that both of their KPPs are still young and have time in their favour yet.

We should 1) Keep Polak, 2) Work on Duffield, Hayden, Mundy, Johnson, Drum, all to work through the midfield. Unless there is a gun out there who will not cost the earth, we should generally keep what we've got, and top up our young players.

Remember that West Coast has two rising stars in their premiership year. It is achievable to cycle youth through your squad while going for a flag. The experienced player we need is the 24 blokes who got a game for us during the finals. Trying to find a quick solution is the first step towards the making of a bigger problem.

Very true gravy. I think medders could easly re invent himself as a winger. Has tremdous footy nous. keeps him out of farmer's space

T.Edwards & S. Goodwin started their careers as Half backs.
with Rash thorton,grover & happy to come into side that does free up mundy & Johnno to possibly rotate thru midfield.

LIke to see Duff beer settled in the back half.

 

[branco]

Maybe a midfielder who can kick goals away from a grand final. I don't know who that is of the players rumoured to be traded. But McGrath might help.

 

[Clay Davis]

West coast could have traded Gardiner, McConnell and a draft pick for Fevola last year and gone 25-0 this year.

If Barry Hall or Jude Bolton had kicked accurately there would be all sorts of questions being asked about west coast today. They scraped over the line by a point and the rest becomes insignificant.

Trading is a reality, our midfield would really struggle without Bell, Black, Josh Carr, Matt Carr and Cook. Certainly we need to retain our draft picks but if we can get a midfilder who will be in our best 18 for 2 guys that aren't then we should do it.

Our midfield would struggle because we failed to nurture youth when we had the chance. While he was an excellent servant to the club, there is no doubt that trading the pick that got Luke Power for Adrian Fletcher was a poor choice. We took no picks in the 2000 draft before number 51. A draft in which we had pick 6 (traded for Bell), where Daniel Kerr went at 18. The club is still suffering from the poor choices made under Drum and Neesham where a quick fix solution was employed. To have bypassed the quality youth like we did in those days was criminal.

Coughlan is injury prone and as near his peak as he is ever going to be. Polak has his best years ahead of him. It's an easy decision. Trade Polak for a second round pick + more. Not a player who could very well be past it.

A settled side, a stable list, is successful. Ask Sydney.

 

[Clay Davis]

Just to clarify, a trade should not happen if it benefits the other club more than us. Richmond desperately need another tall more than we need another midfielder. We should always keep in mind that no trade can be win-win - one club will desperately need one player more than the other does. And as you compete with the opposing club in the season, to give them a leg up more than what you get in return is stupid.

Port Adelaide knew this when they held off trading Nick Stevens to Collingwood. Collingwood desperately needed a midfielder after their 2003 Grand Final humiliation. Port would not give an opponent who could have challenged them for a flag something that would benefit them. They held out for Ryan Lonie, a player they could have used and given them great benefit. Collingwood reneged and Nick Stevens went to Carlton.

In the end, Port preferred losing a good player to a bottom club for nothing over trading the player to what they thought was a premiership contender for cheap. Port won the flag in 2004.

 

[Ysaye]

Just to clarify, a trade should not happen if it benefits the other club more than us. Richmond desperately need another tall more than we need another midfielder. We should always keep in mind that no trade can be win-win - one club will desperately need one player more than the other does. And as you compete with the opposing club in the season, to give them a leg up more than what you get in return is stupid.

Port Adelaide knew this when they held off trading Nick Stevens to Collingwood. Collingwood desperately needed a midfielder after their 2003 Grand Final humiliation. Port would not give an opponent who could have challenged them for a flag something that would benefit them. They held out for Ryan Lonie, a player they could have used and given them great benefit. Collingwood reneged and Nick Stevens went to Carlton.

In the end, Port preferred losing a good player to a bottom club for nothing over trading the player to what they thought was a premiership contender for cheap. Port won the flag in 2004.

Can I clarify your position?

I am under the understanding that:

(a) Polak doesn't want to stay at Freo because he won't get the opportunities, and therefore wants to be traded.

and

(b) Because he is not contracted, our bargaining power during trade week is greatly dimished, especially with lowly clubs like Carlton and Essendon, who will threaten to lure him into the pre-season draft.

My conclusion from (a) and (b) is that Any dealing with the lowly club is likely to be in there favour, whilst we might only be able to strike an even deal with a club like the Bulldogs or Richmond.

So you are saying:

(a) We should throw incentives at him (IE Promise to give opportunities, pay him more money etc.) to stay but if he still wants to go:

(b) we should try for a better than even trade (likely with Bulldogs or Richmond) but failing that:

(c) that we should let Polak go in the preseason draft, instead of trading him for a "loss", because it would allow one of our nearest competitors an advantage?

I don't think Port getting Lonie for Stevens would have been an even or better than even deal in their favor; I think what you are saying is that if they had allowed Stevens to go to Collingwood, that would have meant one of their nearest competitors would have been given an advantage (IE. Because then they would have had a pretty strong midfield with Buckley).

You are therefore suggesting we let Carlton/Essendon get Polak in the pre-season draft because they are not in our competitive scope at the moment?

 

[Ysaye]

Sorry - I keep thinking Polak is not contracted, but apparently he is as Freoshark points out: http://fremantlefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=233606

So in that case you are just advocating that we keep him unless we can get a better than even trade for him. Which I think is what most supporters here are arguing, only that we all have differing versions of what a "Better than even" trade is.

 

[Karlostj]

From an outsiders perspective, the Dockers aren't far off being a legitimate contender and perhaps they would be able to develop their own players to get there...

But the Dockers could very well lose Cook, Bell and McManus in the short term. Who are the players that are going to replace these guys?

As for keeping polak and Medhurst, how much of the Dockers cap is going to be chewed up with players that aren't going to get a game. Unless polak improves remarkably (given that he has now had 5 years of AFL footy, how likely is that?) then he is going to be playing WAFL chewing up cap - I'm sure that he's on a bit. with Haddrill back next season, he won't be finding it any easier to make the side. Medhurst is the same - as the former dominant forward for the Dockers, I'm sure he's contract is well padded...

Guys like Murphy, Schammer, Peake etc aren't going to be cheap to retain. Murphy is a victorain, Schammer SA... I'd be concentrating on keeping these players rather then players like Medhurst and Polak.

As for your midfield, the Dockers have one of the worst clearance statistics in the comp, having Hazelby back might got some way to correct that. However, there is still a need for a quality receiver at the Dockers - Aker would be a good fit. But not likely....