We've had one of the worst performing forward lines over the last few years.
Our I50 to scoring opportunity rate would have to be close to the worst in the league over that period.
You can argue whether Darling is worth it or not, but I think our forward line is far from set
Agree. We lack a true 2nd KPF.
We have depth in the 3rd & 4th talls with Laverde, Langford, Redman, Brown, Ambrose, etc. Even Fanta plays above his height profile.
Plus guys like Jobe,
T-Bell would be an ideal short term solution until we find the right alternative.
One thing people are forgetting is that at Pick 19, Battle or Kerr should still be available. And a bid on Sproule is unlikely to be matched by GWS if its earlier than the late 3rd round. Losing McCarthy may force their hand, esp with the Brander situation up in the air, but its hard to tell. Lobb, Patton, Cameron, Flynn, Tomlinson. They are fairly set for talls.
A scenario for Darling that may work involves a fairly complicated deal with GWS and the WA clubs.
Freo get McCarthy & 7 for 3
Then
GWS get 1, 2017 EFC 2nd Rd & whatever we get for Hibberd
EFC get 3 & 15 & 16 + Jake Barrett & Pat McKenna*
With 15, 16 & 19 we can either bolster the young stocks we are missing (Simpkin, Berry, Scharenberg, Galluci, Venables, Battle, Kerr, Drew)
or target Darling with 1 or 2 of those picks.
personally prefer to take 4x top 20 picks to this draft and look to emulate the Dogs' recruiting strategy.
1 of Brodie, McGrath or McCluggage
3 of Simpkin, Berry, Scharenberg, Galluci, Venables, Battle, Kerr, Drew
*Adding McKenna and Barrett gives us 2 more early 20's players who i think are worthy of AFL exposure.
Barrett is an inside ball magnet with a decent frame and engine (albeit at NEAFL level) and McKenna gives us a young tall to look at in the case Laverde and/or Langford fully transition to the midfield or Redman doesnt make it.