We will lose someone. You know it, I know it.
Just not this year so take solace from that.
Absolutely, that's the way it'll work. Clubs will win some, and they'll lose some. The clubs that do well are the ones that don't overpay to keep their own players (Alipate Carlile on a big 4 year deal is dangerous) and still manage to top up their list. The last thing you want to do is either have to lose a Goddard type through cap mismanagement (St Kilda are well behind the eight ball, and it's their own fault) or lose a key player (say if North lost Goldstein) who is practically irreplaceable.
I'm happy Tommy's staying, and I hope he takes another huge step next year and forces us to question Ryder as the permanent #1 ruck, but I'm concerned that Hurley, Ryder and Bellchambers might be taking up a big chunk of the cap for what is, at this point, potential.
If I ran a club, I'd be throwing shitloads of dollars at a backroom staff member from a big MLB club to come and manage our list profile.