Cale Hooker

[george2]

We'd have to be mad not to go after Hooker. With decent salary cap management, something we seem to be good at, he's essentially a free asset. And would probably hold down our full back spot for 4 years. Better player than Dawson in practically every way, and can swing forward in a pinch.

Don't think he precludes getting Hogan/McCarthy, who will cost picks as well as salary. This list needs more than 1 good KPP.

I agree with this 100%! the only thing that would stop me wanting us to go after Hooker was if it hindered us in anyway of getting Hogan, if getting him is any possibility. I think KPF are our number one priority at the moment as we have Pearce who is coming along nicely, Dawson who still ha ssa little bt left in him, Silvagni who can do a job and Collins looks like he could have something to offer. as far as KPF go we have Pav who is obviously in his last year, Tabs who has shown us all very tiny glimpses at AFL level and has shown good signs at WAFL level but struggles to translate it across to the next level, Apeness who is unproven and has suffered some significant injuries and Uebergang who is a rookie list prospect. I would say that our KPF gap is far greater than the KPB issue.

 

[Docker82]

I agree with this 100%! the only thing that would stop me wanting us to go after Hooker was if it hindered us in anyway of getting Hogan, if getting him is any possibility. I think KPF are our number one priority at the moment as we have Pearce who is coming along nicely, Dawson who still ha ssa little bt left in him, Silvagni who can do a job and Collins looks like he could have something to offer. as far as KPF go we have Pav who is obviously in his last year, Tabs who has shown us all very tiny glimpses at AFL level and has shown good signs at WAFL level but struggles to translate it across to the next level, Apeness who is unproven and has suffered some significant injuries and Uebergang who is a rookie list prospect. I would say that our KPF gap is far greater than the KPB issue.

No Alex Pearce and it's just as bad if not worse IMO. Dawson is alright but has two years tops, same goes with Johnson. Silvagni isn't good enough and Collins hasn't played a game. Hooker is at least a medium term solution to the problem which will be great. Imagine if Hogan and McCarthy come and we've got Fyfe, Hill, Bennell, Neale, Weller, Langdon, Tucker, Blakely as a midfield kicking to to Hogan and McCarthy with Walters at their feet. We then have Alex Pearce in defence surrounded by a bunch of players we've drafted with late picks/rookies. That'd be pontentially painful to watch without Pearce there but with Hooker until 2020 and Pearce we can build a half decent defence rather quickly.

 

[george2]

No Alex Pearce and it's just as bad if not worse IMO. Dawson is alright but has two years tops, same goes with Johnson. Silvagni isn't good enough and Collins hasn't played a game. Hooker is at least a medium term solution to the problem which will be great. Imagine if Hogan and McCarthy come and we've got Fyfe, Hill, Bennell, Neale, Weller, Langdon, Tucker, Blakely as a midfield kicking to to Hogan and McCarthy with Walters at their feet. We then have Alex Pearce in defence surrounded by a bunch of players we've drafted with late picks/rookies. That'd be pontentially painful to watch without Pearce there but with Hooker until 2020 and Pearce we can build a half decent defence rather quickly.

I agree with you about our defence not having quality but our KPF stocks are basically empty! I would love to get all three of Hooker, McCarthy and Hogan but realistically that's not going to happen and getting two of those three is going to be very very hard.

 

[TheMcManusNose]

I agree with you about our defence not having quality but our KPF stocks are basically empty! I would love to get all three of Hooker, McCarthy and Hogan but realistically that's not going to happen and getting two of those three is going to be very very hard.

The attractive thing for me is that Hooker is the easiest and most likely, in 2017 at least.

McCarthy + Hogan means we need to be able to pony up assets for each of these guys. Which is realistically going to be at least 2 first round picks plus at least one best ~10-15 player plus maybe some steak knives. Hooker is free, as long as the cap works.

 

[Wizard]

So with the new realisation that we are now more than a couple big guys from a flag how are we feeling on Cale now?
I Have personally done a 180 and don't think we should invest so much cap on a guy his age.

 

[mightymouse75]

Yes. If we blow the cap out other guys might be more motivated to leave if the chance of a premiership is looking slim.

 

[Wizard]

Yes. If we blow the cap out other guys might be more motivated to leave if the chance of a premiership is looking slim.

Could potentially cost us Neale is one fear I have.

 

[Taylor]

Could potentially cost us Neale is one fear I have.

Not being competitive could cost us those young players too.

 

[Wizard]

Not being competitive could cost us those young players too.

Yep a good point also, bit of a balancing act isn't it.

 

[freoextra]

Not being competitive could cost us those young players too.

Think Lachie is very valuable for us at the moment but you need quality to get quality. Would only feel ok about this if Hogan (clearly to valuable to give up for McCarthy) is picked up and Tucker and Blakely are making progress in our midfield.

 

[TheMcManusNose]

So with the new realisation that we are now more than a couple big guys from a flag how are we feeling on Cale now?
I Have personally done a 180 and don't think we should invest so much cap on a guy his age.

Nah, not for me.

I think with genuine KPPs you have to take them where you can get them. Hypotheticals about cap, which we have never really had a major issue managing, are secondary to the fact that we need another 3 genuinely good talls on this list - here is one that we have a good chance to get.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

There are three players we are being linked to who can totally transform our team.
We are a reasonable chance on two , Hooker and McCarthy and it isn't outrageous to think we can lure Hogan.
We must go hard on all three.
Hooker actually offers the best deal given we can acquire him as a free agent and also he has the most versatility of the three.
I can't wait to hear officially if we have succeeded with Cale.

 

[yakka man]

It's ludicrous that some people on here think we're in a position to pass on Cale Hooker.

 

[PurpleWizard]

It's ludicrous that some people on here think we're in a position to pass on Cale Hooker.

Why?

You realise he'll be 29 in September 2017?... If we're not contending why would we bother, I rather play youth, bottom out and get some picks and look to the future instead of avoiding the suffering for false premiership dreams, which getting Hooker is.

We aren't that rich in young talent compared to nearly every team in the competition, it's likely that it's going to take a few years to become a threat again, just in time for Hooker to retire.

Or do you think we can contend in the next two years with Sandy, Mundy, MJ, Ballas, DP, Pav, Dawson, Barlow, Spurr and Ibbo retired or with their best football behind them?

 

[theridge]

Anyone else concerned that players are less likely to want to come to a struggling freo? We've hardly ever been a destination club and if players want to come home to Perth then WC could swoop in.

 

[Lach72]

Why?

You realise he'll be 29 in September 2017?... If we're not contending why would we bother, I rather play youth, bottom out and get some picks and look to the future instead of avoiding the suffering for false premiership dreams, which getting Hooker is.

We aren't that rich in young talent compared to nearly every team in the competition, it's likely that it's going to take a few years to become a threat again, just in time for Hooker to retire.

Or do you think we can contend in the next two years with Sandy, Mundy, MJ, Ballas, DP, Pav, Dawson, Barlow, Spurr and Ibbo retired or with their best football behind them?

How long do you think it'll take a 17 years old to get to the level of Cale Hooker.

We have so much dead wood to cut Hooker is a no brainer, even at 29.
He'll have likely 3-4 years of good footy left.
Dawson and Johnson aren't getting younger either with Johnson's body wearing out now.

Pearce has taken 3 years to get to this stage. We can draft another KPB while Hooker is at his peak

 

[go_the_dockers]

It's ludicrous that some people on here think we're in a position to pass on Cale Hooker.

He would be great for the next 4 years, but I don't think we will win a premiership during that time.

The problem I have is that our premiership will open again in 4-5 years.

He would use up a fair chunk of salary cap that could be used on a 24-25 year old.

I believe we should only trade\sign a free agent if they will help us win a premiership. I don't think he will do that.

 

[Sweetback]

If we get Hooker and McCarthy, our premiership window opens again.

 

[Wizard]

If we get Hooker and McCarthy, our premiership window opens again.

Can either of them run/create and hit a target from half back? Until we can find a few guys that can do that effectively our window is slammed shut.

 

[Sweetback]

Can either of them run/create and hit a target from half back? Until we can find a few guys that can do that effectively our window is slammed shut.

With a straighter spine, the knock-on effect for guys like Sheridan, who is already doing a decent job of it, will be noticeable with genuine targets up front. Presumably Bennell will play one day and we can release Mundy or Hill to also help out in this regard. Mora is looking good. This is also Tucker's specialist role. Maybe we recruit one other guy who can also help, if we have to but we have options.

 

[Carnthedockers]

So with the new realisation that we are now more than a couple big guys from a flag how are we feeling on Cale now?
I Have personally done a 180 and don't think we should invest so much cap on a guy his age.

I think the exact opposite. We are in desperate need of a Cale hooker type. We have been too conservative at the trade table, and now it is costing us.

 

[Lach72]

Can either of them run/create and hit a target from half back? Until we can find a few guys that can do that effectively our window is slammed shut.

The way I look at it we have immediate issues in:
2 KP forward roles.
2 KP back roles, as Dawson is 30 odd and Johnson is 32 and his body is creaky.
Ruck.
Back pocket and half back flank.

Hooker IMMEDIATELY solves one of them for the next 3-4 years with no draft picks required.
McCarthy helps with another and we can then start filling the ball carrier and ruck holes at the next two drafts.
We have conservatively 8-10 players that need to go in the next two clean outs

 

[Carnthedockers]

Can either of them run/create and hit a target from half back? Until we can find a few guys that can do that effectively our window is slammed shut.

No, but the players that it frees up can. And it straightens us up significantly. In fact, I think we need another tall as well, seeing as it will be pavs last season.

 

[elsleevador]

Can either of them run/create and hit a target from half back? Until we can find a few guys that can do that effectively our window is slammed shut.

Tucker/balic hopefully

 

[Lach72]

and further to this if we snagged both Hooker and McCarthy this draft, I'd be taking a couple of Rucks as rookies and the rest of the draft would be slanted to kids with good skills and decent pace.
Then load up for a crack at Hogan