Buddys replacement?

[starbux]

I'm sure there are probably numerous threads similar to this one; but i havent been on BF for a while and cant locate any of them!
**I apologise if im going over old threads, if so mods please feel free to delete**

IF (and more then likely WHEN) we lose Buddy to GWS - we're only likely to receive pick #20 as compensation, but will have $1M+ freed up in the salary cap.

Who replaces Buddy, or take his spot on the list??

I'm not necessarily saying which key position forward from an opposition team do we target, more just asking the question of how everyone thinks it will play out - promote a player from Box Hill, target a player from an opposition club, if so what kind of player, move current players around, etc etc?

 

[bEnJi]

I think this year has shown we don't need to replace Buddy (if he goes) with a star. His output and general impact on games has been way below that of previous years and generally I believe this is a good thing. There will be life after Bud.

We have such depth in our forward line. Rough will become the main man which he has more then deserving of and will be supported by Gunner, Bruesty, Junior, Hale , Pop and the development of Tim O'Brien is waiting in the wings.

However I think targeting a couple of cheaper key forwards is a good idea in the hope one can develop into a nice sidekick for Rough while we target a young star midfielder with the majority of the Buddy cash.

I like John Butcher and Jesse White. Both lacking opportunities at their current clubs and both have shown potential. I really liked the look of Butcher in particular a couple of years ago. He looked a star in the making but has dropped off and could be brought in on the cheap. With so many stars around him he could really develop. Jesse White just has too many in front of him at Sydney but when he gets a chance he more then holds his own.

A young midfielder is on top of my wish list however. Gold Coast and GWS should be prime for the picking in the next few years.

 

[HawksILove]

Who replaces Buddy, or take his spot on the list??

Shem Tatupu or Kurt Heatherley

 

[Baz_hawk]

I think this year has shown we don't need to replace Buddy (if he goes) with a star. His output and general impact on games has been way below that of previous years and generally I believe this is a good thing. There will be life after Bud.

We have such depth in our forward line. Rough will become the main man which he has more then deserving of and will be supported by Gunner, Bruesty, Junior, Hale , Pop and the development of Tim O'Brien is waiting in the wings.

However I think targeting a couple of cheaper key forwards is a good idea in the hope one can develop into a nice sidekick for Rough while we target a young star midfielder with the majority of the Buddy cash.

I like John Butcher and Jesse White. Both lacking opportunities at their current clubs and both have shown potential. I really liked the look of Butcher in particular a couple of years ago. He looked a star in the making but has dropped off and could be brought in on the cheap. With so many stars around him he could really develop. Jesse White just has too many in front of him at Sydney but when he gets a chance he more then holds his own.

A young midfielder is on top of my wish list however. Gold Coast and GWS should be prime for the picking in the next few years.

I disagree with the first part of this. While Buddy's numbers are down across the board, he is still taking the number one defender week in week out and allowing Roughead and Gunston to get the second and third defender and then we can add Hale which stretches the oppositions defence even more. Whilst he hasn't been at his best, he is still competing and bringing the ball to ground and doing a lot of work off the ball that doesn't get the credit it deserves.

Losing Buddy will mean that Roughead will cop the number 1 defender every week and this could limit his impact in the forward line. I guess the great thing about Roughy is we can throw him whereever we need him and know he can perform. I think initially losing Buddy will hurt our forward structure quite a bit. Noy saying we don't have the talent, but Buddy has the ability to draw defenders off their direct opponents and create goals from this.

 

[bEnJi]

I disagree with the first part of this. While Buddy's numbers are down across the board, he is still taking the number one defender week in week out and allowing Roughead and Gunston to get the second and third defender and then we can add Hale which stretches the oppositions defence even more. Whilst he hasn't been at his best, he is still competing and bringing the ball to ground and doing a lot of work off the ball that doesn't get the credit it deserves.

Losing Buddy will mean that Roughead will cop the number 1 defender every week and this could limit his impact in the forward line. I guess the great thing about Roughy is we can throw him whereever we need him and know he can perform. I think initially losing Buddy will hurt our forward structure quite a bit. Noy saying we don't have the talent, but Buddy has the ability to draw defenders off their direct opponents and create goals from this.

I can't really disagree with anything you say here. I guess just trying to find a positive in something that will be so devastating.

 

[Baz_hawk]

I can't really disagree with anything you say here. I guess just trying to find a positive in something that will be so devastating.

Yeah can understand where your coming from and honestly I think we will do ok without him. Last year without him we still managed really well. I think we'll need Gunston to take the next step or Grimley to bulk up a little. Will be good to see it unfold though

I hold great hope for Shem and O'Brien to come through in the next few years. Exciting times.

 

[HR Roughnstuf]

Roughead has shown this year he can be the main man.

Gunner will also be in his 5th year of AFL, hopefully ready to step up and be a more key position player. Will be very interesting to see how he might go with more attention and possibly 2 defenders like Buddy constantly gets.

Then hopefully O'Brien can come in and take Gunners role as 3rd tall. Don't know much about him TBH except he was highly rated in the draft with particular reference to contested marking. Perhaps pumping games into him at AFL might fast track his development as we did with Bud and Rough.

I think poaching a player from another club will mean paying overs (just look at the spud Tippet) and even Dawes is on big coin at the Dees. I hope that we are in a position to allow players to develop in the team without being detrimental to our chances of winning. Working well with Hill and Duryea currently although key forward is a little more important for success.

I hope we spend our extra cap space (if Buddy goes) on 1-2 gun midfielders

 

[Ram-Man]

No mention of Sam Grimley ? Impressive in his two starts thusfar and O'Brien may be in the mix mid to late next year. Don't want to lose Bud but reserves look ok.

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

Stewart Crameri could be a handy replacement.

In regards to actually replacing Buddy, this year he is probably playing a role more than in any other year. We just have to replace him with someone who can play his role.

In reality we can never replace Buddy the player as he's a freak and no other player like him, but we can get someone to fill his role in the side, probably around $500k cheaper too.

 

[Agent Smith]

Is Buddy a chance to leave Hawthorn? Anyone got a source? When is he out of contract?

If it happens, we COULD try converting a defender into a forward... maybe someone like Ryan Schoenmakers? Could he make it as a forward? Hmm... the mind boggles.

 

[Kavliaris69]

I agree that we do have the talent and depth to cover a key forward if Buddy goes. There will also be some players in other clubs looking for a chance to play in finals so anything is possible. BUT, a player like Buddy is irreplacable. He is a once in a generation freak of nature that is capable of doing the impossible. He probably brings 10k members just by being at Hawks. Not to mention the glam factor of Hawks and AFL's marketing. IRREPLACABLE I tell ya.

 

[bEnJi]

Yeah can understand where your coming from and honestly I think we will do ok without him. Last year without him we still managed really well. I think we'll need Gunston to take the next step or Grimley to bulk up a little. Will be good to see it unfold though

I hold great hope for Shem and O'Brien to come through in the next few years. Exciting times.

Grimely is someone who completely slipped my mind. He showed great signs in his senior games this year. Our 2 NZ boys do fill me with great hope along with O'Brien so there is much to be hopeful about.

What are everyone's thoughts on players like John Butcher and Jesse White? I think they could both be handy additions while our prospects develop and give us more money to chase a younger midfielder

 

[Thaihawk]

No mention of Sam Grimley ? Impressive in his two starts thusfar and O'Brien may be in the mix mid to late next year. Don't want to lose Bud but reserves look ok.

If he develops as well over the next twelve months as he has over the last twelve, he could be a star next year. Remember, our club saw more potential in Sam than they did in Vardy, and we know how good he is. Sam's development has just taken a bit longer.

 

[NICE1]

Roughead has shown this year he can be the main man.

Gunner will also be in his 5th year of AFL, hopefully ready to step up and be a more key position player. Will be very interesting to see how he might go with more attention and possibly 2 defenders like Buddy constantly gets.

Then hopefully O'Brien can come in and take Gunners role as 3rd tall. Don't know much about him TBH except he was highly rated in the draft with particular reference to contested marking. Perhaps pumping games into him at AFL might fast track his development as we did with Bud and Rough.

I think poaching a player from another club will mean paying overs (just look at the spud Tippet) and even Dawes is on big coin at the Dees. I hope that we are in a position to allow players to develop in the team without being detrimental to our chances of winning. Working well with Hill and Duryea currently although key forward is a little more important for success.

I hope we spend our extra cap space (if Buddy goes) on 1-2 gun midfielders

O'Brien is currently playing in the development squad and hasnt really been a standout at that level so far. Still early days and he was rated very highly in the draft, but he could be a couple of years off before we start seeing him in the seniors.

I actually think Grimley has all the tools to be the perfect replacement and is currently being groomed as a KPF in the VFL.
199cm/96kgs, moves very well, good leap and pair of hands and seems to be tracking well . He's taking a lot of marks, presenting well and chipping in with 2-3 goals most games.

if not Grimley, then I think give Schoey that role. I still think he is not a defender and on the few occasions I've seen him play up forward, he seems to play more natural and instinctive game.

Agree with targeting midfielders with the extra cap space.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

The big Shem

 

[Mitchell Madness]

The big Shem

 

[burner1]

A forward line with roughy, grimley (as 2nd ruck) and shoey will keep most backlines honest - not many teams will have players big and mobile enough to contain all three. Add gunston, breust, rioli, puop and WX and thats still probably the best fwd line in the league.
Plus potentially o'brian and shem in a few years and stocks look pretty healthy.

It's our backline that is the concern - Lake has made a massive difference but him and gibbo aren't getting any younger. I really like shoey as a forward but I think we'll continue to see him play down back as we just don't have the depth coming through. Heatherly and Brand are a few years away but are a future CHB/FB combo.