There is a belief here that if we give up two first rounders for Lever we'd want something back in return, with most mooting a second round pick.
If the Crows didn't want to give some picks back, are there any players from the Crows that could potentially be added to the deal along with Lever as sort of stakeknives? At the moment Dees need a backup ruck (please don't suggest Riley O'Brien), some outside run and maybe another pressure medium forward.
Yeah, I'd be comfortable with Lever + our 2nd (next years) -> 2 x 1sts.
Ruck wise, our depth chart is Sauce -> cliff -> O'Brien -> cliff -> abyss -> whatever is below the abyss -> our other options, so if it's not O'Brien (who I like, but question marks if the game has gone past his style) then look elsewhere... unless you like potatoes masquerading as ruckmen.
With outside run/small medium forward, the best bet might be just do go into the draft and get some. Both aren't positions you need much in terms of draft picks to get quality role players, and really that's all you need. For us though, our two tradeable options are really Seedsman and Menzel, which seeing they're already on average AFL wage, if not slightly above, is not exactly something I'd expect the Dees would be keen on.
After reading all that, all I came out with is that two firsts are very rarely traded, except for Treloar and the Pies got something like pick 21 back in that trade. Also it hasn't been a resounding success as far as playing finals goes, and a lot people thought they had paid quite highly for him.
Also Tom Mitchell played plenty of good games at AFL level for Sydney, not sure if you didn't watch many of their games or if you just missed him, but he had shown a fair bit with limited midfield minutes.
To be fair, I was just going from the time the futures rule came in, which was about 3-4 years ago. Considering 6+Griffin is pretty comparable to 2x firsts (seeing at that time Griffin was an out and out gun) it's about a one in two year occurrence. Currently, it's about a 50% thing, but equally finals is about coaches and structures more then players.
Mitchell I thought about, but decided against because he had only broken into Sydneys side as a permanent member the season he got traded, and whilst he oozed potential, he didn't have the runs on the board yet (that Boyd got away with due to the fascination of 200cm KPF/Forwards).
Pretty much everyone will admit Collingwood overpaid with the future pick for Treloar by assuming they'd finish higher than they did. Boyd was a contracted KPF recent pick 1 so a premium had to be payed, still only the equivalent of a 1st and second. Bennell, well 16 and 35 for Bennel and 22 hardly equates to a first and second rounder.
Seems to me his value is about a first and second rounder. The only odd one out is the Treloar trade, and Colonwood got screwed over thankfully. So no you most likely won't be getting 2 first rounders for an OOC player who nominates one club. No bidding wars there. Your club and mine are both reasonable at the trade table and a deal will be struck should he nominate us. 2 first round picks is not reasonable unless something substantial comes along with Lever. Jason Taylor will know how good next year's draft will be and should be loathe to give up a 2018 first. Oh and Tom Mitchell certainly did have runs on the board, moreso than Lever.
I'd agree Collingwood did overpay, however it's still worth mentioning as we're probably a decade off truly understanding what this current market is in terms of player movements with futures.
Even then, a 1st and an upgrade of a second for a couple of players whilst extremely talented, and extremely flawed is still a hefty price. Two bearing the risks of being one injury off retirement, and Bennell is well... something. By that, this deal would have to be more, and the either 1st + 2nd + steak knives, or 1st + 1st for an 2nd and Lever being what I'd say is likely (even with my bolstering).
At the same age, Lever is miles ahead of Mitchell (seeing Mitchell is just a depth option at this stage); even considering Mitchells last season at Sydney, Lever is still ahead seeing one had just established himself as a permanent member of a side, whilst the other was on the verge of an AA selection. Is it reversed now, one season after Mitchells trade? For sure.