2019 Trade thread

[martinson]

From what I can gather the club was actually keen to keep Cutler but he has personal circumstances that might prevent him from playing his best football here , and with the reasonably significant injury in the back half of the year it just got a bit too hard for both parties.

He's one player I'm sorry to see go.

 

[Shaq attack]

I hope you're are right Nunez, but there is always risk as a younger player has to be delisted, I suppose we agree to disagree.

He is replacing Hodge, not a delisted youngster.

 

[Football Pope]

So Achee comes in, CYE comes in, Birchall comes in. Hodgie goes out. Who else? Two more players are out to accommodate these guys. Lets say Christensen is one, who else? And then on top of that what about progression for Starch, Joyce, Berry, Cox Wooler ect? All blocked by a banged up 31 year old.


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Guess it's a waiting game on who we delist.....We were blessed last year on the injury front with our seniors, in fact, those injured were...Starch (hamstring), Bailey (hamstring),Joyce (suffered a stress reaction in his right shin.) ...Wooler suffered a setback from injuries in his first year 2018.

 

[Tom14]

Think he was referring to a list spot rather then position

We have more than enough available list spots at the moment, so that isn't an issue. Cutler wants to go home and play more which is fair enough, but if he'd stayed I don't think Birchall really affects him.

 

[cotter101]

The acquisition of Birchall might well make way for someone like Witherden to spend some time through the middle if he has a big preseason. A lot of this years improvement came from some of our more experienced guys.

It’ll be the improvement from McCluggage, Witho, Rayner, Hipwood, Berry and co that will take us that step further next year.

 

[Nunez]

I get why we've taken Birchall . As long as he gets out on the park he's better than any other options.

If he has trouble with injuries and is in and out of the side then he's probably just thwarting the consistent development of someone younger.

But what it does tell you is that we think Hodge's absence will leave a big hole.

I don't necessarily agree with the bolded part as they play seperate roles. Birchall will run off the half back whereas Hodge was the quarterback directing play.

 

[Football Pope]

The acquisition of Birchall might well make way for someone like Witherden to spend some time through the middle if he has a big preseason. A lot of this years improvement came from some of our more experienced guys.

It’ll be the improvement from McCluggage, Witho, Rayner, Hipwood, Berry and co that will take us that step further next year.

Yep, I expect Adams to play forward more next year.

 

[Gadzorks]

I’m all for raising the draft age to 20, which means that older players are going to get to play for longer, and the younger ones are get to spend more time in the twos. Reckon that’s the way to go to set up the be a perpetual finals playing club, which has openly been stated as the goal of the club.

 

[Section 5]

Players out of contract - So Birchall just replace one of these for now (Hodge). More changes to come of course. List courtsy of Footywire.

Name	Years Service	Status
Allen Christensen​	5​	Non-Free Agent​
Ben Keays​	4​	Non-Free Agent​
Connor Ballenden​	2​	Non-Free Agent​
Corey Lyons​	3​	Non-Free Agent​
Joshua Walker​	4​	Non-Free Agent​
Lewis Taylor​	6​	Non-Free Agent​
Luke Hodge​	2​	Non-Free Agent​
Matt Eagles​	3​	Non-Free Agent​
Mitchell Hinge​	3​	Non-Free Agent​
Nicholas Robertson​	6​	Non-Free Agent​
Ryan Bastinac​	4​	Non-Free Agent​
Ryan Lester​	9​	Restricted Free Agent​
Sam Skinner​	4​	Non-Free Agent​
Tom Cutler​	6	Non-Free Agent

 

[Nunez]

From what I can gather the club was actually keen to keep Cutler but he has personal circumstances that might prevent him from playing his best football here , and with the reasonably significant injury in the back half of the year it just got a bit too hard for both parties.

He's one player I'm sorry to see go.

Are the club going to come out and say "he doesn't adhere to structures and is not best 22. Happy to see him go". They also said they wanted to keep Rockliff yet offered supreme unders for him (for a reason).

I get what you mean though. The temptation of Cutlers best is awfully tempting but the reality is he hasn't solidified a best 22 position despite having great development coaches and plenty of opportunities. His best is very good, but if he can't fix his deficiencies he won't be best 22 at any club.

 

[davemc_lions]

Yep, I expect Adams to play forward more next year.

thats interesting was mentioned last year when he was drafted.. Although you cannot see Adams, Hipwood, McStay and Big O in forward line.

Birchall might not be Hodge replacement.. Lester could still take Hodge spot and one of either Witho or Answerth move mids?
Really depends where we looking to play Cox.. Good to have choices.

Re Cutler.. he played HB and wing.. M Robbo and Clugga took wing.. Starc, Answerth and Bailey got roles off HB last two years with Hodge here.

 

[4THAWN]

Sorry to intrude -

Glad to see you guys giving Birch another run at a flag. If you can get his body right through the pre-season this is a big win for your club.

Upon return to the senior side this year, Birchall showed he's still got the sublime skills and the hunger/determination to play AFL.

He should be quite similar to Hodgey in the aspects of great disposal, calm veteran down back and on-field leadership qualities. He also should give you a bit more drive off the half-back line, potentially opening up more space for Rich on the opposite side of the ground.

Tough player like Hodgey too.

 

[rangatangtang]

Did you see his games this year?
Still a great player if we can get his body right and a good stopgap until we can develop or get a good HBF

Having seen a glimpse of the type of experience these players who played in the Hawks dominant years have on emerging players I am sure he eill positively influence Cox, starcevich, ah Chee, witho and Cutler if he stays who have all played Hb for us

 

[Brizzys Squizzy]

He is replacing Hodge, not a delisted youngster.

Fair enough, Does it mean the club doesn't see anyone on the list ready to play half back then.

 

[Shaq attack]

Fair enough, Does it mean the club doesn't see anyone on the list ready to play half back then.

I think it's more to do with the success of Hodge and what his leadership and experience brought to the team. Birchall will provide us with some solid decision making and a bit of speed (if fit) that should help to further improve a young team.

 

[dlanod]

And then on top of that what about progression for Starch, Joyce, Berry, Cox Wooler ect? All blocked by a banged up 31 year old.


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We better off gifting games instead? Weird logic. You're implying that both Birchall will be a lock in our best 22 and others won't be able to show enough to make our best 22, but that we should be playing the worse option in hope instead.

 

[Football Pope]

thats interesting was mentioned last year when he was drafted.. Although you cannot see Adams, Hipwood, McStay and Big O in forward line.

Birchall might not be Hodge replacement.. Lester could still take Hodge spot and one of either Witho or Answerth move mids?
Really depends where we looking to play Cox.. Good to have choices.

Re Cutler.. he played HB and wing.. M Robbo and Clugga took wing.. Starc, Answerth and Bailey got roles off HB last two years with Hodge here.

No... it will be rotation through the forward... Adams got exposed against Richmond (then again not many teams play like Richmond) Adams was a forward in the WAFL...Noble said we're looking for run off half-back we'll need marking options up forward

 

[haystark]

Nobes will be on trade radio during The Late Trade starting from 3pm AEDT.

 

[Dom PC]

The acquisition of Birchall might well make way for someone like Witherden to spend some time through the middle if he has a big preseason. A lot of this years improvement came from some of our more experienced guys.

It’ll be the improvement from McCluggage, Witho, Rayner, Hipwood, Berry and co that will take us that step further next year.

If Witherden can build a tank and play on a midfield/wing/half forward. He'll become a multiple AA player.

He could be our version of Steve Johnson (I reckon deep down Witho loves kicking goals).

Big call i know, I just hope he has that drive to get his fitness to an elite enough level to make it all possible.

 

[Mayestro]

In the Age today in an article about Mason Cox to Essendon. Did I miss this?

When he was last out of contract in 2017, Cox received a significant offer from the Brisbane Lions, who saw him as a better ruckman than forward and planned to play him more in the ruck.

Collingwood re-signed Cox then on a significant contract in 2017 fearing he could have walked to bottom-of-the-ladder Brisbane for nothing through the pre-season draft. He is contracted for next year with a trigger for 2021.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Fair enough, Does it mean the club doesn't see anyone on the list ready to play half back then.

That's a binary approach to what is a multi-faceted issue. It's not a question of either Burchill or somebody else, but giving us more options and helping to replace some of Hodge's nous and experience. He isn't guaranteed a game and neither is anyone else. If, as expected, we have more injuries next season than this, we will be thankful we have options.

 

[TheFrequency]

We've been blessed with injury the past couple years, but this may not continue; even if Birchall isn't in our best side come round 1 (probably ideal scenario) we gain a good leader and depth in a specific position which we lack. Half back may be one of the 'easiest' positions, however, as we saw at times this year teams who can best utilise their best ball users can really create some drive. Birchall & Rich along with possiblly Witherden offers three very different but equally dangerous distributors in our back half- would much rather have Birchall come in than have an untried player such as Hinge fill the role.

Low risk, high reward pick up.

 

[rangatangtang]

I see Matho benefitting from CEY too and like this year, the club benefitting from the younger guys putting pressure on these experienced guys with developed bodies who then train harder and get the best out of themself which we've seen is a step above our youth brigade. We may not be so lucky with injuries as others have said but if we can keep these ins on the park it's a win win. They aren't going to be here forever and I'm sure the young guys who demand a call up and take their chances will get a regular Guernsey as Answerth has

 

[martinson]

I'm also looking at improvement from guys who've only had one pre season such as Ely Smith and Tommy Berry that could see them in contention at some stage in 2020.

Bailey and Starc you could perhaps say took half a step back last year which is not unusual so wouldn't be surprised to see significant improvement in those two as well.

It's quite possible that next year's line up might be a surprise to many people used to the incredible stability of 2019 with some of this year's NEAFL regulars getting stronger and demanding a spot.

 

[briztoon]

I hope we are having a look at who we could pry out of the Giants list, they will have salary cap pressure over the next few years with Lachie Whitfield and Jeremy Cameron coming OOC.

Midfielders who are on the fringe and finding it hard to get a foothold in the seniors would be the ideal targets, with Whitfield, Kelly, Coniglio, Hopper, Taranto, Ward and also Williams getting more time as a mid + a very highly rated mid in Tom Green from their academy coming in this draft they may see us as a more realistic opportunity to get into a senior side eg. Jye Caldwell, Aiden Bonar, Jackson Hately.

Jye Caldwell of the three.

Hately is a pure inside mid, without much scope to play elsewhere. And Bonar is likely to head back to Victoria.

Also Tom Green has a younger brother coming through the GWS academy as well. Not sure if he plays mid or more of a forward role.