After Gibbs left we had to spend it on something to come up to 95 percent. A back up Ruckman was as good as anything.
Even factoring in that we've probably paid slight overs to lure Kennedy, Marchbank and Plowman to the club, we have a squillions to spend.
With the state our back line is in, and Jones sudden form, the writing is on the wall for Rowe this year. Simpson, ASOS and Thomas' contracts all expire this year as well.
I dare say most of those four will be retire by the end of the year, and if not this year then next year for certain. Only Simpson would be on in excess of 500K per annum, but those four players alone free up over a million (and probably closer to 1.5 million) in the salary cap combined.
The Long and Short of it is is that we have enough room to safely accommodate contract extensions for all of our young players and Patrick Cripps, and still have enough left over the acquisition of a gun free agent or two or a big name trade over the next few years.
It's all part of a deliberate long-term list management strategy by the club. Focus on the draft first and banking sizeable amounts of the salary cap for several years. Then as those young draftees start to rise up the ladder and the club becomes a destination club, use that money along with the promise of a young and upcoming list to lure promising free agents to plug any remaining holes in the list and add that extra layer of class.
Mark my words this year we will embrace the draft again and also be on the hunt for a big-name free agent.
Next year we will go all in with trading for a big name, and look to also obtain another gun free agent.