If Carlton could sign one free agent, which type of player would you choose?

Silvagnis

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Which type of player would you choose to address one of our needs and get us closer to a flag?

Only stipulations is that the player hasn't made an AA side or AA squad, but could be on track for such honours if they play every game and continue to improve. Doubt that we'll be able to afford another marquee player as a free agent.

  1. KPF, eg. Chris Dawes, Tom Hawkins, Liam Jones.
  2. KPD, eg. Tom Lonergan, Scott Thompson, Nathan Grima or Eric Mackenzie
  3. Inside midfielder or high half forward/defensive mid such as Josh Kennedy, Heath Hocking, Jordan Lewis, Dayne Beams, Mitch Robinson, Shuey, Zaharakis, etc.
  4. Utility such as Jordan Russell, Chris Newman, Heath Shaw, Shannon Hurn, etc. who can kick and create

My ranking would be

  1. Inside midfielder
  2. KPD
  3. KPF
  4. Utility
Another grunt and big body such as Josh Kennedy at the coal face would take the pressure off Judd and extend his career.

A Mackenzie or Lonergan would allow us to release Henderson forward. Still believe we could see this if Watson comes on quickly. Would also go for the KPD because I expect Rowe to become a best 22 player.

Waite's fitness and inability to play every match might be the biggest reason to go for a Hawkins, Jones or Dawes. Sad fact is this also applies to Jamison.

Last spot is covered, but running Yarran on the wing would make this signing worth the price of admission. Would also be great cover for Scotland if he doesn't play on after this year.
 

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zeeCFC

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#2
I worry about our midfield quality after the Judd era and ideally would add another elite mid.

However if we're talking free agents, that would imply they fall under that criteria and are old-ish. So give me a KPF!

1. KPF
2. Inside mid
3. Outside mid
4. KPD
 
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Moderator #4
Inside midfielder and defensive HFF should be different options.

1) Inside midfielder - our midfield is fantastic but an elite inside midfielder would make it nigh on unbeatable. Curnow & Ellard are honest battlers and whilst they do a good job, we can certainly improve in that area. This was the thought process behind the McLean trade but that has not worked as well as we hoped. Robbo an option but don't like him as a permanent inside midfielder.

2) KPD - Jamo is top shelf quality but extremely injury prone. Hendo was great last year but still relatively unproven in the position. Watson & McCarthy coming through but not ready yet.

3) Defensive HFF - Houlihan was brilliant in this role towards the end of his career. Need someone that is capable of shutting down a rebounding defender, whilst impacting the scoreboard. Would absolutely love to see Gibbs play this role in 2012.

4) KPF - so many put ultimate success down to having or not having a KPF. Whilst they are important, I don't agree they are the be all and end all. Waite is getting on, Thornton isn't a long term option. Mitchell very injury prone and no sure thing to make it. Rowe unproven. Not enormous quality there but enough to serve us well. A forward line built as ours is doesn't require a dominant force a la Franklin to survive (although he'd obviously be bloody handy), but it does need someone who can consistently force a contest, and at worst bring the ball to ground.

5) Utility - We have plenty, so probably not needed as much as the other positions but would be handy nonetheless. Appareny Goddard supported Carlton as a kid...

I hope we really explore the potential of free agency. Could be of huge benefit, even if it is to fill a need indirectly. Even recruiting someone to 'release' another player on the list (ie. Yarran to midfield, Gibbs to midfield/forward line) would be invaluable.
 

rp84

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#5
Where's the HB Flanker option?
Had to go for inside mid, then.

Right now, I'd sonner take Deledio than Goddard. (Hypothetical only, opposition fans)
Agree totally.

Would much rather have Lids than BJ. I feel that playing in a good side, Deledio would be rated even higher. He would kill it for us. He must know a move to another club is the only way he will get a flag. Would love for us to entice him. Can play BP, HBF, wing, centre, HFF, FP. Is a genuine gun in multiple positions.

BJ is a gun also, but I think Lids would be rated at the same level if not for being belted every week.
 
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Can't agree with you on Deledio & Goddard.

You are right that Deledio would do considerably better at a stronger team, but he's behind Goddard for mine.

Would love either in Navy Blue but I'd certainly have Goddard ahead.
 

rp84

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#7
Can't agree with you on Deledio & Goddard.

You are right that Deledio would do considerably better at a stronger team, but he's behind Goddard for mine.

Would love either in Navy Blue but I'd certainly have Goddard ahead.
f


Fair call mate. I guess it is fairly hard to compare until we see Deledio line up in a strong side, a luxury Goddard has had for a while.

As you say though, would love them both.
 
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#9
i dont understand how anyone can go past a KPF. whilst the current fwd is dynamic they would add yet another dimension that is currently lacking unless henderson can grow into the role
 

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coryne

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#12
I can't believe that no-one else has mentioned Josh Kennedy of the WCE kind. He is older than Dawes and Sydney's Kennedy, has been at the wce longer than Kennedy has at Sydney and I can't remember him ever making an AA side. He would be my perfect free agency selection under the criteria given
 

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#16
Another KPD I think... as people have noted, it would give us the freedom of allowing Lachie to go forward or even act as a third tall down back.

Although, if Watson and McCarthy come good, then it will be all good in the end :D
 
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#17
Im gonna take the KPF.

Another avenue to goal ala Cloke, Buddy, Kennedy, Hurley etc and screw top 4, I'd be talking flags.
Gotta agree, another target for our mids would be more than handy. It would give us depth to protect us against injury, look at what happened to the Pies last year when it mattered. KPF please.
 

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#18
Watch the elim final again and you will see that a CHF completes the team. Thornton and Carlos holding marks down the wing to ease pressure off our defence and load up a forward thrust was huge.

We need a T.Cloke badly.

Edit: also hendo's first quarter against Brisbane in mid 2011 also showed how much better and structured we look with a solid marking CHF.
 

Silvagnis

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i dont understand how anyone can go past a KPF. whilst the current fwd is dynamic they would add yet another dimension that is currently lacking unless henderson can grow into the role
As important as KPF are to your structure, the game is run and won in what we consider to be the midfield (centre square, wings, pocket and flanks) in today's game. Contested footy is now King all over the ground. A Luke Ball playing with Kreuzer, Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Lucas, Simpson, Yarran and Robinson would be porn. Sydney's Josh Kennedy would have been a great addition. Anything to keep a once in a generation player such as Judd on the park whilst he's a superstar is hard to pass up.

Geelong and WC had dominant sides without having a Fevola or N.Riewoldt up front. If Waite and Rowe/Henderson/Mitchell can stand up, I think we could produce enough goals and contests to make our forwardline work.
 
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Geelong and WC had dominant sides without having a Fevola or N.Riewoldt up front.
But they both also had key forwards capable of reliably taking a contested mark.

Im not suggesting Mooney or or Lynch were stars, but they were both capable CHF's in WCE's and GFCs premierships.

You are writing off Ellard a little too soon FWIW. I honestly think he can fill the void of inside mid.

Possibly also Joseph, Army or Robbo.

Ive all but given up hope on Brock.
 
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#21
I think you all are wrong. Or list ATM is good enough to win more than one flag and I would want to get some over the hill, over pay player. That will make it harder to keep our young stars at the club. The grass might be greener but it smells like crap!
 

Silvagnis

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Thread starter #22
Where's the HB Flanker option?
Had to go for inside mid, then.

Right now, I'd sonner take Deledio than Goddard. (Hypothetical only, opposition fans)
Utility is practically HBF with Russell, Hurn and Shaw listed. Hodge would be the best utility to sign, but I'm trying to shy away from A graders who will be out of reach due to the salary cap. I hope Barry Prendergast and our scouts are scouring the lists of the other sides and searching for another Laidler who lacked opportunities at Geelong. Laids should be a bargain and ten year player.
 

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#24
I'd vote for a quick outside midfielder with exquisite skills - someone capable of kicking 35 goals a season from a wing. (The next Paul Chapman.)

Kade Simpson, to a lesser extent Murph, is the only regular of our midfield rotation who damages opposition on the scoreboard.

Key positions? Nah, we just drafted 3 huge buggers in 2010. Patience!

As for the holy grail of an inside midfielder to replace Diesel, let's not blow the salary cap on another Brock. :eek: Eduardo Curno did fine in his first year until he was injured.
 
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