I think if you want to build around 5 elite or key players for an open premiership window then that five shouldn't be including either Gibbs or Kruezer. I would think you would be wanting to build around Weitering, Cripps, SPS, Charlie, Docherty, Williamson etc as the keys.
Look at the five names I've given you, and you'll notice that they are genuine key position players, and genuine midfielders.
You've given me - at best - one genuine key position player, two genuine midfielders, a tall utility and two running defenders.
Now I'll grant you, they all look great right now, but is Docherty going to become a stoppage general and organiser like Hodge or Bartel were? Is Charlie going to transform into Roughhead? McKay to Buddy?
We don't even know if Williamson will successfully move into midfield at this point, and Docherty isn't even half way there. Murphy (29), Gibbs (28) and Kreuzer (28) are only a smidge older than what Hodge (27), Mitchell (28) and Lewis (26) were at the start of Hawthorn's run 5 years ago.
We have pooled all these resources with the express intent of being ready to go for 2019, and that means hanging onto some senior talent, as well as spending some money (and arguably future picks) this coming off-season to start preparing for that year.
The bulk of our squad meant for top 4 footy should be in place after this coming off-season, particularly those under 23. We've gone through all our under-performing and superfluous talent that had outside value, so every trade onwards must be extremely close to, or over, market value.
Look at what Hawthorn paid for Burgoyne, and ask yourself: is Gibbs worth more, or less? Clearly more, so we should be expecting a top 10 pick and then some, depending on the quality of this draft and what Adelaide are willing to setup using or part with from their list.
I don't give two shits what barass has said about Fyfe or Martin: we have money to burn, we have a GWS list that will have wantaway players, and we have the cap space coming up that will allow us to do all of this and retain our best players. We should do all of those things, or improve the outcome further should someone wish to take Carlton players away from us.
If it winds up being Kelly instead of an elite free agent this year, great, but that doesn't automatically create a situation where Gibbs goes cheaply just because Adelaide asked again. At the very least, money needs to be spent, and it shouldn't all be dropped on Plowman, Docherty, our recent draftees and depth players.