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Yes, that will likely happen. Not disputing that. But explain to me the logic in trading a player like Gunston? The first round pick they might get in exchange could turn out to be another speculative draft pick that may end up turning into a Beau Dowler or Mitch Thorp!
The lack of key forwards is one weakness on our list and Gunston is the only one who can play that role. Last season he dominated being the go to player inside 50. This is who's left; Schoenmakers, O'Brien and Vickery. That is horribly bad key forward stocks to have in reserve.
It's much easier to replace a quality midfielder then it is to replace a quality key forward. The club built around Franklin and Roughead. Likewise they should be building around Gunston, Rioli and co by building a formidable forward-line for the future.
The lack of key forwards is one weakness on our list and Gunston is the only one who can play that role. Last season he dominated being the go to player inside 50. This is who's left; Schoenmakers, O'Brien and Vickery. That is horribly bad key forward stocks to have in reserve.
It's much easier to replace a quality midfielder then it is to replace a quality key forward. The club built around Franklin and Roughead. Likewise they should be building around Gunston, Rioli and co by building a formidable forward-line for the future.
Clarkson and Wright are looking at 2021. There's so much more at play, than how we will set up in 2018.
I'm not saying Gunston will be traded, but if the right deal is tabled and he's open to it, then it might happen. Some of these deals would need to be pretty good, obviously. Wright isn't stupid.
What most people here depend on when discussing the current list is things like "if we get the best out of this bloke, and this guy recaptures his form we could challenge top 4 again, we just need another midfielder and a tall forward...etc, etc."
Needless to say Wright and Clarkson are looking to set us up for continued success, with multiple chances to win a flag in future years, not a sneaky chance to compete for 1, so they can't rely on blokes recapturing form.
If Wright and Clarkson think that means we need to do a reshuffle this year and look to bring in our next Hodge, Mitchell and Franklin in the next 2 years, then I think we should be all for it.
The players would be well aware of the need for change, and despite probably not wanting to leave, who's to say the promise of an extra 200k a year and the opportunity to win another flag in the short term isn't exactly what they are looking for.
Buckle up.
