Are North Being Too Impatient With Their Rebuild?

Kangaroos4eva

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We haven't chased every FA, just ones that any club would want. Some of them are long shots, but others have been more substantial, Martin for example was very close to coming over, if it wasn't for Richmond making a last bid attempt to offer more money and getting close to what we offered he said himself that he was on the verge of accepting our offer.

It is not like we are attempting to poach players of the Mayne calibre.

We don't spend eons at the bottom of the ladder sucking back #1 picks, like some clubs do, so if we can supplement our list via free agency then great, if players do not accept then it doesn't matter, we don't pay anything for players who end up staying.

I don't think we are impatient with our "rebuild", I think rebuild just means a lack of enough talent to realistically win a flag, so most clubs are rebuilding outside of a handful of genuine contenders, I think all clubs are always trying to make their list better and we would likely chase good quality free agents if we have the capacity to do so irrespective how good our list was if there are better players available.
Your wasting your time with this lot, mate.
 

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Howard Littlejohn

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Yeah, I reckon North are sort of going about it backwards. They should probably be looking at trading out some talent and stock-piling draft picks over the next two years, then looking at A-Grade talent to trade in to the club around 2019.
If by "stockpiling" draft picks you mean settling, or even aiming, for low placed finishes I hope we never go that far.

Trading in draft picks is a different thing. Problem is there's not many on our list worth more than a high third rounder, so we can't r.
If North don't land a big fish I think they may fold in 2 or 3 years.
I can't see it happening. The AFL tried to kill us ten years ago, since then the debt has almost been wiped and small profits almost every year. Only if the AFL decided its time to get the third WA team happening will our existence be under threat in the next few years (amd, yes, that's a very real threat - but even then other clubs would be looked at as well).
 

Mattdougie

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I think most did secretly hope Stringer goes to North so we can be secure he won't win another flag and the deal won't end up really hurting us
 

Sin City

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I still think they're in pretty good shape forward and back but their midfield has nowhere near enough quality.

Down back they have Tarrant, Nielson, Durdin, McKay, EVW, Williams, Mullet, MacMillan, Hibberd and Atley.

Up forward Brown, Wood, Larkey, Simpkin, Hrovat, Turner, Ahern, Garner plus Durdin, Preuss and McKay are capable of contributing there.

The midfield needs a serious dose of star power which to their credit they tried to fix with Martin and Kelly but weren't successful. Cunnington had a huge year, Higgins is getting on a bit now, Ziebell is good but would be better as a half forward. McDonald had a good year as a midfielder and Clarke shows promise but they have nowhere near as much midfield talent as the top teams and these days the midfield is where the game is won or lost. A few years of high draft picks on on-ballers required.

They need a new coach too. Most weeks you see them outrunning teams and winning enough ball but coughing it up by having team mates standing way off the contest resulting in long loopy handballs or being forced to kick long due to no short options.
 

Kangaroos4eva

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I still think they're in pretty good shape forward and back but their midfield has nowhere near enough quality.

Down back they have Tarrant, Nielson, Durdin, McKay, EVW, Williams, Mullet, MacMillan, Hibberd and Atley.

Up forward Brown, Wood, Larkey, Simpkin, Hrovat, Turner, Ahern, Garner plus Durdin, Preuss and McKay are capable of contributing there.

The midfield needs a serious dose of star power which to their credit they tried to fix with Martin and Kelly but weren't successful. Cunnington had a huge year, Higgins is getting on a bit now, Ziebell is good but would be better as a half forward. McDonald had a good year as a midfielder and Clarke shows promise but they have nowhere near as much midfield talent as the top teams and these days the midfield is where the game is won or lost. A few years of high draft picks on on-ballers required.

They need a new coach too. Most weeks you see them outrunning teams and winning enough ball but coughing it up by having team mates standing way off the contest resulting in long loopy handballs or being forced to kick long due to no short options.
Agreed, while the defence and forward lines require a bit of work, the midfield needs a complete rejig and we can't leave it to kids and rely on Cunnington, Higgins and Mcdonald to do the job every week on their own.
 

go you pups

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Chasing every F/A and uncontracted player available, OK list but nothing to write home about - Are they worried bottoming out is going to put them in a precarious position going forward?

Currently in no man's land as a club, and certainly not an attractive destination.
Yes they are

They really should just draft some decent midfielders, not the hardest thing to do imo. Cunnington, Swallow, Dumont etc can always be improved upon (more competition would do them the world of good really) while Ziebell and Higgins have the flexibility to go forward.

There's always a Zac Merrett, Powell-Pepper, Wines, Macrae, Cripps, Oliver types out there who come on very quickly within 2 years, North should be backing themselves with picks 4 and 21 to get best available and they can always improve their draft hand through trade, whether it be through future picks or players.

They have a decent spine to work with already having put alot of time into their talls over the last few years, Tarrant, Preuss, Brown etc are the nucleus to build around while Durdin, McKay and a few others should get their opportunities sooner rather than later.

Imo improving their midfield as mentioned before and defensive running stocks, improving on the likes of Atley (been gifted over 100 games and does nothing with his height and speed) and Mullett would turn them into a much better team, imo an explosive Xfactor type in the JJ mould and a decent quarterback accumulator type is what they need down there. Their medium types are probably in a good space though like their talls, EVW and Hibberd looked ok in their handful of games given down back, MacMillan is a tough nut, while Garner is solid up forward and Wood is a potential star. If Ziebell plays more forward if the midfield situation is improved upon then he helps that medium complimentary bunch.

If they shortcut this current period then they set themselves up for more years of missed opportunities where they potentially get outclassed come the crunch as what happened between 2012-16. They only need two good drafts addressing those needs really, half the job has been done already imo.
 

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Uneik

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I still think they're in pretty good shape forward and back but their midfield has nowhere near enough quality.

Down back they have Tarrant, Nielson, Durdin, McKay, EVW, Williams, Mullet, MacMillan, Hibberd and Atley.

Up forward Brown, Wood, Larkey, Simpkin, Hrovat, Turner, Ahern, Garner plus Durdin, Preuss and McKay are capable of contributing there.

The midfield needs a serious dose of star power which to their credit they tried to fix with Martin and Kelly but weren't successful. Cunnington had a huge year, Higgins is getting on a bit now, Ziebell is good but would be better as a half forward. McDonald had a good year as a midfielder and Clarke shows promise but they have nowhere near as much midfield talent as the top teams and these days the midfield is where the game is won or lost. A few years of high draft picks on on-ballers required.

They need a new coach too. Most weeks you see them outrunning teams and winning enough ball but coughing it up by having team mates standing way off the contest resulting in long loopy handballs or being forced to kick long due to no short options.
Radical change is required off-field.

Brad in particular, if only he could get away from that laptop and be more demanding of ALL players, and be more radical & creative....be different!.....not Same old, same old. Same as, same as. Say same, say same. Think and do outside the square circle!
 

Juddernaut08

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They followed Brisbanes/Hawthorns route of trading and signing older, former stars. A gamble for short term success in exchange for the future.

Brisbane traded for Fevola. Thougt the twin towers would help.

Hawthorm traded for brugoyne mcevoy and threw cash at Frawley.

North went for the likes of dal samto and waite.

Sometimes gambles payoff. Sometimes they bite u in da ass
 

FastLife

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I still think they're in pretty good shape forward and back but their midfield has nowhere near enough quality.

Down back they have Tarrant, Nielson, Durdin, McKay, EVW, Williams, Mullet, MacMillan, Hibberd and Atley.

Up forward Brown, Wood, Larkey, Simpkin, Hrovat, Turner, Ahern, Garner plus Durdin, Preuss and McKay are capable of contributing there.

The midfield needs a serious dose of star power which to their credit they tried to fix with Martin and Kelly but weren't successful. Cunnington had a huge year, Higgins is getting on a bit now, Ziebell is good but would be better as a half forward. McDonald had a good year as a midfielder and Clarke shows promise but they have nowhere near as much midfield talent as the top teams and these days the midfield is where the game is won or lost. A few years of high draft picks on on-ballers required.

They need a new coach too. Most weeks you see them outrunning teams and winning enough ball but coughing it up by having team mates standing way off the contest resulting in long loopy handballs or being forced to kick long due to no short options.
Summed up perfectly.
 

the big lebowski

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I still think they're in pretty good shape forward and back but their midfield has nowhere near enough quality.

Down back they have Tarrant, Nielson, Durdin, McKay, EVW, Williams, Mullet, MacMillan, Hibberd and Atley.

Up forward Brown, Wood, Larkey, Simpkin, Hrovat, Turner, Ahern, Garner plus Durdin, Preuss and McKay are capable of contributing there.

The midfield needs a serious dose of star power which to their credit they tried to fix with Martin and Kelly but weren't successful. Cunnington had a huge year, Higgins is getting on a bit now, Ziebell is good but would be better as a half forward. McDonald had a good year as a midfielder and Clarke shows promise but they have nowhere near as much midfield talent as the top teams and these days the midfield is where the game is won or lost. A few years of high draft picks on on-ballers required.

They need a new coach too. Most weeks you see them outrunning teams and winning enough ball but coughing it up by having team mates standing way off the contest resulting in long loopy handballs or being forced to kick long due to no short options.
How can anyone argue with that.
 

Leeda

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rebuild isn't the problem... it s the ruu.. build cough... sorry shorty can't apologise
 
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Harvey was known as one of the best preparers for match day, plus his off field professionalism was first class.

Those are the intangibles I was refering to.
That's why we kept him at the club. In pre season I watched him at training working one on one with Josh Williams.

Williams a classic pacy but light kid you'd say - two years in the twos and we'll see when his balls drop.

Turns out working with Boomer accelerated his development far beyond what we'd anticipated and he played a few games this year and showed a bit.

Best of both worlds. Getting Boomer's leadership and still having a spot open for a kid.

Only a few years til Cooper is running around anyway.
 
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