Traded Alex Witherden [traded with #86 to WCE for #58 and 2021 R3]

[PMBangers]

The price you have to pay: All the top trade targets and their market value

Mitch Cleary looks at the value of this year's potential trade and free agency targets

www.afl.com.au

ALEX WITHERDEN (BL)

Draft picks: Second-round pick
Value on open market: $300,000-400,000

Missed just two games across 2018-2019 but has been reduced to six matches this campaign with youngster Brandon Starcevich

37

Brandon Starcevich

Age

24

Ht

187cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.2

2star

K

6.5

3star

HB

2.6

2star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

185.3

3star

D

9.5

2star

K

7.3

3star

HB

2.3

2star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.1

3star

MG

187.9

3star

D

8.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

1.4

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

181.2

3star

and recruits Grant Birchall

14

Grant Birchall

Age

36

Ht

193cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.9

5star

K

12.6

5star

HB

9.3

5star

M

5.8

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

250.0

4star

D

13.3

3star

K

9.2

4star

HB

4.2

3star

M

4.3

4star

T

1.3

2star

MG

250.0

4star

D

14.0

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

6.4

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

0.6

3star

and Callum Ah Chee

4

Callum Ah Chee

Age

26

Ht

183cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.9

4star

CL

0.8

3star

D

11.1

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

3.4

2star

M

3.1

3star

T

2.7

4star

CL

0.7

3star

D

9.4

3star

K

4.4

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.0

5star

CL

0.8

3star

picked ahead of him. Has two years to run on his current deal, and while the Lions won't want to lose him, Victorian clubs are already lining up for the 22-year-old who has proven himself as an astute ball user out of the back half.

 

[PMBangers]

Been some talk about how good Witherden would be for us on the GWS board, however I'd put the odds of us getting him at under 1%, if a club can get him for the second round pick Cleary is suggesting would get it done that'd be a steal

 

[M Malice]

I'd prefer we kept Witho as he is a like for like replacement for Grant Birchall who you would think plays 1 more year maximum... although I wouldn't be surprised if he is used as part of a trade deal we have in the works eg. Daniher*/Cockatoo.

* Expecting Dodumbo to match an offer.

 

[undefined]

Had plans early in his career to return to Vicco, but is now at home up here - his girlfriend is a Queenslander as well. Doubt he will leave this year, though if he can't break into the 22 again in 2021 it'll be a different story.

 

[Warhorse]

I reckon he will go. Brisbane absolutely stacked in that position.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I reckon he will go. Brisbane absolutely stacked in that position.

No we're not. Once Birchall retires, Witherden is well ahead of the other options.

 

[Brutalitops]

I'd prefer we kept Witho as he is a like for like replacement for Grant Birchall who you would think plays 1 more year maximum... although I wouldn't be surprised if he is used as part of a trade deal we have in the works eg. Daniher*/Cockatoo.

* Expecting Dodumbo to match an offer.

Why would he be involved in a Cockatoo trade? 3rd/4th rounder for Nakia and done I would have thought. Unless youre trying to extract something extra?

 

[ibuprofen]

If all it takes is a late second rounder, I think he will be at Geelong on Day 1 of trade perod. utensil + 2nd rounder for Witherden.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

If all it takes is a late second rounder, I think he will be at Geelong on Day 1 of trade perod. utensil + 2nd rounder for Witherden.

It will take a lot more than that which is the issue.

 

[Warhorse]

No we're not. Once Birchall retires, Witherden is well ahead of the other options.

Ah Chee, Rich, Starcevich, Answorth seems plenty to me. Doesn't seem to be ahead of any of them

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Ah Chee, Rich, Starcevich, Answorth seems plenty to me. Doesn't seem to be ahead of any of them

Rich is the only one who plays a similar role. The rest have very different responsibilities.

 

[jasonrampage2010]

I think he’s worth around pick 15 considering he’s still contracted.

 

[eastfreo75]

I think he’s worth around pick 15 considering he’s still contracted.

Lol

A player who isn’t playing doesn’t demand a first round pick.

 

[Dom PC]

Lol

A player who isn’t playing doesn’t demand a first round pick.

Since he is contracted, Brisbane can pretty much name their price. Freo getting pick 2 for Weller is a good example of this.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Lol

A player who isn’t playing doesn’t demand a first round pick.

A player who isn’t out of contract doesn’t have to be let go.

 

[robbo1981]

Every time he has played this yr he has been pretty good can't understand this one.

 

[Prochard123]

I actually don't even think he's worth a list spot.

Slow and does nothing with his kicking.

Imagine Jake Lloyd with his many flaws, but just 3 times worse.

 

[PMBangers]

I actually don't even think he's worth a list spot.

Slow and does nothing with his kicking.

Imagine Jake Lloyd with his many flaws, but just 3 times worse.

He kicks it 15 times a game at 74%, you have some really high expectations if that's doing nothing with your kicking.
He's actually pretty comparable to Jack Crisp stats wise, lacks the speed though can't deny that

 

[Prochard123]

He kicks it 15 times a game at 74%, you have some really high expectations if that's doing nothing with your kicking

Well no that's exactly it. He does nothing with the ball and most of the time he just chips it sideways, where it's almost impossible to miss, I'm sure brisbane supporters know this too.

And even then, 74% is actually quite low given his position, especially when that's literally ALL he offers.

FYI, other players are much sounder defensively and still have better and more impactful possessions - Hurn (87.78%), Short (85.11%), Ridley (87.53%), Quaynor (84.39%), Ryan (84.19%)

 

[eastfreo75]

A player who isn’t out of contract doesn’t have to be let go.

Very true.

I wouldn’t him go.

 

[PMBangers]

Well no that's exactly it. He does nothing with the ball and most of the time he just chips it sideways, where it's almost impossible to miss, I'm sure brisbane supporters know this too.

And even then, 74% is actually quite low given his position, especially when that's literally ALL he offers.

FYI, other players are much sounder defensively and still have better and more impactful possessions - Hurn (87.78%), Short (85.11%), Ridley (87.53%), Quaynor (84.39%), Ryan (84.19%)

Apart from the fact 3 of those guys are genuine A graders, and they all play in different systems and roles to Witherden, none of them are kicking the ball as much as Witherden is, the closest is Ryan who's regarded as one of the best counter attacking kicks in the league, they're all disingenuous comparisons.
Stylistically and role wise Shaw is a much better comparison for Witherden, marginally better efficiency but no where near as many kicks per game

I'm also not even suggesting Witherden is a star player, but 'isn't worth a list spot' is such a hyperbole it's not even funny, if he's available there'll be interest

 

[eastfreo75]

Since he is contracted, Brisbane can pretty much name their price. Freo getting pick 2 for Weller is a good example of this.

Thats the Suns.

 

[Prochard123]

Apart from the fact 3 of those guys are genuine A graders, and they all play in different systems and roles to Witherden, none of them are kicking the ball as much as Witherden is, the closest is Ryan who's regarded as one of the best counter attacking kicks in the league, they're all disingenuous comparisons.
Stylistically and role wise Shaw is a much better comparison for Witherden, marginally better efficiency but no where near as many kicks per game

I'm also not even suggesting Witherden is a star player, but 'isn't worth a list spot' is such a hyperbole it's not even funny, if he's available there'll be interest

Lol i got a feeling you haven't actually watched Witherden play.

Using 2019 stats because he wasn't even in best 22 in 2020.

In terms of meters gained per game, he is behind:

Lloyd, Rich, Stewart, Smith, Houli, Wilson, Williams, Whitfield, Newman, Short, Rampe, Sicily, Daniel, Mckenna, Jetta, Suckling, hurn, Burton, Simpson, Salem, Shaw, Tuohy, Bonner, Ryan, Savage.

Now that's a long, long list ahead of him, at the one thing he's supposed to be good at, and some of these players are very very ordinary if I'm being nice. In fact, at 360 metres gained per game, and close to 15 kicks a game, that means on average, each of his kicks equate to 20 - 25 metres gained. If that doesn't scream seagull idk what does. And when you consider how many kick ins (usually at least 50 metres) he took, just think about how often he kicks it sideways or even backwards to make his stats look pretty...

 

[Prochard123]

Apart from the fact 3 of those guys are genuine A graders, and they all play in different systems and roles to Witherden, none of them are kicking the ball as much as Witherden is, the closest is Ryan who's regarded as one of the best counter attacking kicks in the league, they're all disingenuous comparisons.
Stylistically and role wise Shaw is a much better comparison for Witherden, marginally better efficiency but no where near as many kicks per game

I'm also not even suggesting Witherden is a star player, but 'isn't worth a list spot' is such a hyperbole it's not even funny, if he's available there'll be interest

And FYI i do think he will land somewhere, but whether he deserves/is worth a list spot is another question.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Lol i got a feeling you haven't actually watched Witherden play.

Funny, I have the same feeling about you.