Balance

[Westy Boy]

From the team that defeated Geelong:


17-20 :- Hahn, Penny, Giansiracusa, Murphy, Gilbee.

20-23 :- Brown, Eagleton, Robbins, Contessa.

23-26 :- West, Darcy, Johnson, Harrison, Hunter, Bartlett, Ellis.

27-30 :- Grant, Smith, Hudson, Croft, Curly.

31-34 :- Libba


I know it's only looking at one match in isolation, but is that the most ‘balanced’ outfit to take the field for us in the last 10 years?

The mix between youth and experience is almost spot on, IMHO.

The only group that looks as if we might be lacking in, is the 20-23 age group, but that will eventually be solved with a couple of astute trades, and the current crop of youngsters progressing to that group.

The spread of our top 6 is pretty good in comparison to other teams, from Penny in the youngsters, Brown in the 20-23’s, West, Darcy and Johnno in the middle group, and with Chris and Bubba in the older group. Once again, just one or two more in the younger groups, and we would be set for the next few years.

I was one to doubt Terry's youth strategy - but geez, I never thought it would feel so fantastic to be proven so wrong!

 

[Captain Sensible]

WB, you say that we could top up with a couple of astute trades. Put your thinking cap on and tell me who you would be willing to give up and who you could hope to get.

For example, if he hasn't recently re-signed, I think that Voss comes out of contract at the end of the season. Say he wanted to come back to Victoria, and we could negotiate a contract who/what would you swap?

 

[Westy Boy]

Tough, LY. Very tough.

To get Voss? Simply, I wouldn't be willing to give what they were asking. Brisbane would at least demand someone like Johnson, plus a first round draft pick, and probably another quality player on top of that.

The only one of our Top 6 that I could be convinced to get a player the callibre of Voss would be Smith -who, being a local lad who's barracked for the team from childhood, is a player who I would hate to see leave. But being unbiased, given age etc, his value would be no where near Voss'.

So:

Smith, draft pick 10-14 (depending on where we finish), and Dimma.

A gun player.
A top draft pick.
A serviceable player.

I feel that's too much, and the stupid thing is, it would still be bloody doubtful whether they would accept it.

Who would you give up for Voss, LY? How would we fit someone like that onto our salary cap? Players like Woewoedin, Farmer, Solomon are also coming out of contract. Would you be interested in any of them? Hay would be my preffered player in the comp, but since that's almost impossible, Solomon for mine- but how?

When I say astute trades, I don't necessarily mean superstars- as everyone knows teams rarely trade away their champions. Instead, I'm talking in terms of giving up little to get someone like Shauble to hold down CHB, a couple of years ago. Trading for Barker, Smith or Rawlings at Hawthorn, when they had question marks over their heads over the past seasons..... these are astute trades we have to look out for. We always seem to miss out on 'em though.

Simply - We've gotta trade quality to get quality - and we don't have quality that we're willing to give up, so given that, players I would be looking at more are young second tier types- someone like Daniel Bandy of Freo - 200cm, relatively young, and can hold down a key position or can be used as a second ruckman. Don't know what we would offer to get him, but it wouldn't be breaking the bank.

 

[Barking_Dog]

Some very useful info WB...
Thanx for that.....
cheers......

 

[Captain Sensible]

Hmmmm...Good question. My initial reaction is that we need a robust CHB type. Solomon would be the man from the gun players. Having said that maybe that problem has been solved with Penny's improvemnt. This tall defender thing has been a bug-bear of mine for a long time. From what I could see it cost us final matches in '95(Lyon 10 goals) and '97(smart) and '98(Robran).

Who would I give up for Voss? Depends on the medical report and how keen he was to come(This is PURELY hypothetical). Smith-nahhh hes a local boy and that, for me, gives him something intangible.

 

[Waltzing Woof Biscuit]

LY - I recall that when Lyon kicked his ten, Footscray had both Wynd and Grgic out injured. They played Barry Stanfield in the ruck that day. Now, if that didn't compound our problems, or what???

I believe we have traded quality - the departing class of 99 is a pretty good one - Leon Cameron, Brett Montgomery and Stephen Powell. But I really don't know whether we were adequately compensated. I like Nathan Eagleton - but he cost us BOTH Montgomery and Powell. And I will forever spew about the Leon Cameron trade. What did we get? Draft pick 39 or something?

During the trade period last year, we were inactive to the point of being comatose. I was happy with Ben Harrison though. I did recall a few of his good games for Richmond. But at least we are KEEPING our good players. This did not used to happen. Remember exchanging Garys with North Melbourne in 1978 - Gary Dempsey for Gary Cowton (plus a couple of no names)?? LY - you'd recall it.

For Micheal Voss, I'm with you WB. Bubba would probably be the gun I'd trade for him. I'm actually not convinced about Solomon. My nanna could probably blitz for Essendon...along with Lucas, I suspect that he is a 'good, ordinary player' in a fantastic team. Don't get me wrong. I'd take him, but I certainly wouldn't trade one of our top shelf players.

BTW, can you imagine Westy and Voss together at centre bounces? Chaulk in a few flags with that combo!

 

[Captain Sensible]

The other two blokes were John Moylan, who was the best of the players we got for Dempsey and Mark Williams. And I'm pretty sure we picked up Mitchell Hahn with the draft pick we got for Leon. I'm prepared to bide my time on judgement on that trade-Hahn might just be a gun.

Yes, Yes I am getting excited about West and Voss at the centre bounce. How old is Voss BTW does anyone know?

Its not suprising us remembering Harrison playing good footy for the tiges, I think all his good games were against us.

I think you might be right about Solomon-Wouldn't mind him at the footy club though.

 

[Waltzing Woof Biscuit]

Originally posted by localyokel
The other two blokes were John Moylan, who was the best of the players we got for Dempsey and Mark Williams. And I'm pretty sure we picked up Mitchell Hahn with the draft pick we got for Leon. I'm prepared to bide my time on judgement on that trade-Hahn might just be a gun.

You rarely if ever let me down LY

Yes, Mitch will possibly be huge!

 

[bulldogs1]

To follow on from WWB, by '98 Danny had had the wood on Robran for some time, but was out suspended from the preliminary final. Would have freed up Smith, who was hopelessly outgunned. That wasn't either Smith's or Wallace's fault. It was just damned bad luck.

Originally posted by localyokel
Hmmmm...Good question. My initial reaction is that we need a robust CHB type. Solomon would be the man from the gun players. Having said that maybe that problem has been solved with Penny's improvemnt. This tall defender thing has been a bug-bear of mine for a long time. From what I could see it cost us final matches in '95(Lyon 10 goals) and '97(smart) and '98(Robran).

Who would I give up for Voss? Depends on the medical report and how keen he was to come(This is PURELY hypothetical). Smith-nahhh hes a local boy and that, for me, gives him something intangible.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Was that suspension for wrestling?