We need 3 capable ruck/forwards on the list, and if Hale retires at the end of the year its essential we replace him with a competent ruck/forward. Wouldn't want to go into 2016 with no support for Ceglar & Big Boy -target doesn't need to be as good as Hale but must be able to play the role if required
Great post mate!
I'd be content with us picking up a ruckman in a similar circumstance to Ceglar. On the fringes of a side with good depth, or someone recently delisted - perhaps if the Swans let go of Derickx he'd be an option (i'd still play Pittonet in front of him). McEvoy and Ceglar are the future, that's for sure.
Did we recruit Burgoynes eventual replacement last year in JOR? - not saying JOR will ever be as good as Burgoyne, but can he play the role for us.
He looks the natural replacement. Rangey, fantastic disposal, tall enough to be a utility player and can ruck up disposals. There's probably a 1% chance he'll hit the heights of (IMO) our best player, but he has the talent of a top 5-10 in a decent draft, and is already a class above in the VFL.
That leaves Hodge & Mitchell so we need to recruit/trade/free agent 2 gun mids in the next 3 years. Acquiring a gun mid Free Agent will be much easier if we are sorting the rest of the positions (Happy if Jed/Woody develop to the level we hope)
The way we transition these two out of the side and replace them will be one of the most important things Clarkson will ever do at the club. He went full 'balls out' to acquire them, and he's going to have to do the same to keep our team rolling when they retire.
HOWEVER, we have cash to burn if contracts are back ended, and it's not inconceivable that a 'destination club' like us could get a high profile free agent AS WELL AS a young gun midfielder that nominates us.
Sloane/Dangerfield are the two most obvious free agency candidates for this year, however we could go for someone like Hannebery/Ziebell/Sidebottom at the end of 2016 as both Mitchell and Hodge will go again next year.
One of Shiel/Treloar would be an absolute dream, but players like Kelly/Whitfield/T.Mitchell who are not as high profile, yet still ******* brilliant would still be fantastic.
It would take our first rounder, a decent player and a discontented opposition player to make it happen however.
Someone like Tom Mitchell is a possibility. If we can trade some fringe players and our second round (as well as Suckling compensation) and somehow get another first round pick, Sydney might bite with two first rounders as they need the picks for academy bidding.
So if you look at the current best 22, and make feasible replacements where necessary, we still look like a top 5-6 side based on the 2015 season.
FB: Stratton - Lake/
Spangher - Gibson/
Litherland
HB: Burgoyne/
O'Rourke - Frawley - Birchall
MID: Ceglar - Mitchell/
Shiel - Lewis
MID: Hill - Hodge/
Hannebery - Smith (that's some serious ******* running power)
HF: Breust - Gunston - Rioli
FF: Hale/
McEvoy - Roughead - Puopolo
INT: Langford/Duryea/Shiels/Hartung
Add in Anderson, Whitecross, Woodward, Brand, Howe, Miles, O'Brien, Pittonet, Schoenmakers, Sicily and Simpkin and all of a sudden I feel like we're gonna be okay.
I also wouldn't say no to a second rounder for Brendon Matera! Although he seems a bit of a campaigner, the kid can play.