cj3,
agreed Dean Cox is very good trade bait.
But that is ONLY if we can secure another backup ruckman/forward or ruckman/backman in the trade period, which is why I've been keen on Otten's lately.
If we trade Cox, and recruit no other rucking options, and Gardiner breaks down next year (which going on history, he will miss at leas 3 matches), we can't go in with an untested Seaby or Beeck.
BTW we're getting robbed if we give Cox plus 1st rnd pick for Hay plus 3rd rnd pick.
Cox for Hay plus 2nd/3rd rnd pick would be fair for mine.
Maybe Cox for Hay straight, but i'm sure we can bargain them into giving us another pick.
Remember, it will be them desperate to sell, at it seems Hay isn't signing with them and he may be doing so because he wants to return to WA, while we aren't desperate to sell Cox. We are more than happy to keep him, so they have to convince us to agree to the trade.
Also, another reason why Cox is good traid bait, is because it could be good for both him and the Eagles.
Cox is too good of a footballer to spend so much time on the bench. And the reason he spend's so much time on the bench is because he is a first line ruckman. He doesn't play anywhere else on the field, he can only pinch hit in the forward line. And he can't force his way in front of Gardiner - no one could atm.
So if he went to a club were he would be the first ruckman, he'd get a lot more time doing what he does best.
While for us, if we had Gardiner, and a utility ruckman (like Ottens) we wouldn't have a situation were our backup ruckman spends half a game or more on the bench because they can't play anywhere else.....