KPD. What is the plan? Is there a plan?

[eaglevision]

No interest in Jacob Blight?

Hasn’t hit the games played trigger at Richmond so is out of contract as it stands and would be relatively cheap

I’m very interested, I listed him next to Zakostelsky if that’s what you meant? Richmond have surprisingly good KPD depth and Blight is likely to be delisted which means we would get him for nothing. He’s well ahead of both Bazzo and Brock in my view.

 

[Keys]

I’m very interested, I listed him next to Zakostelsky if that’s what you meant? Richmond have surprisingly good KPD depth and Blight is likely to be delisted which means we would get him for nothing. He’s well ahead of both Bazzo and Brock in my view.

Haha, ignore me - I can’t read

 

[WCE777]

With the season almost over there are a few options coming to light:

Trade:
Cheap: Zakostelsky, Blight
Midrange: Buss (if SOS to Dogs)

Draft:
Cheap: Ainsworth (late 2R), Hay (late/rookie)
Midrange: Curtin, Murray (early/mid 2R)
Expensive: Schubert (early/mid 1R)

Archer Reid would be a good pairing with Edwards next year and perhaps beyond depending on how his ruck craft develops. With the new ruck rules looking like coming in he’d be a fantastic asset in D50 to take the taps if he can hold down CHB.

that's a good analysis.
I feel Bazzo will get a short contract so we are probably looking at 1 KPD player this year and see what emerges next year.
Either Zakostelsky or Blight would be good cheap options.
Zakostelsky being that athletic KPD in the mould of Brock, Blight more in the H Edwards mould, albeit slightly more athletic.
Not sure where RICH see him and is behind Miller and Balta.
Buss looks like a FB if their is concerns about his speed from WB, I would be more than happy with that as you can see with his limited games that there is a player in there, more advanced and more upside than H Edwards.
Schubert looks very good if WC want to turn him into a KPD, I would be keen to get Ainsworth as a KPD if we are drafting 1, he has had a very good year and has huge versatility.

 

[WCE777]

I’m very interested, I listed him next to Zakostelsky if that’s what you meant? Richmond have surprisingly good KPD depth and Blight is likely to be delisted which means we would get him for nothing. He’s well ahead of both Bazzo and Brock in my view.

looks at least ahead of Bazzo.

 

[jdisc]

I’m very interested, I listed him next to Zakostelsky if that’s what you meant?

the Ukraine president guy?

 

[Barrybran]

the Ukraine president guy?

He's a pretty good defender. Give it another year or two and we should be able to get him as a delisted free agent.

 

[WCE777]

He's a pretty good defender. Give it another year or two and we should be able to get him as a delisted free agent.

OOC 2026

 

[WCE777]

Been quiet in here for a while.
Draftee gurus.
Our desperate KPD depth and options as of now are so thin if 1 fell over we have Bazzo as a backup?
We have a 2026 KPD NGA in D Shanahan coming who is quick, strong, big leap from African background and already 198cm, so going to be very tall and a decent prospect to develop.
As soon as we find a prospect it would seem Bazzo is delisted after his contract ends in 2026.
We seriously need a KPD option trade or draft in 2025 to actually be ready come finals 2028 and while I am not convinced we have great KPD's in Edwards and Brock, they are both serviceable and would be surpassed with a decent talent.
Who and what do we do?
I am off the opinion that giving Bazzo a 1 year contract is a short term fix and WC are not thinking he is long term option, this basically rules out anyone except maybe Blight as a DFA/SSP candidate in the short term as list spots are tight.
I think we should be using our assets, draft picks to put someone on the list in 2025 that can develop sooner rather than later.
KPD options in 2025 draft are thin.
Probable options:
Ainsworth 200cm: played RUCK/KPF in the U18 champs and has played lots of KPD in his career, had a solid champs and competed well and looks an athletic, versatile KP player across multiple lines.

Thredgold 194cm: played a couple of U18 champs games and didn't play badly, since the champs has been developing and progressing strongly and recently BOG in UI8's side GF. With his height he is probably a CHB option.

Stumpf 196/197CM: over age 19yo who wasn't drafted last year playing as a KPF and has been putting together a solid overage year, as a KPD, an athletic freak with elite 20m sprint and vertical jump. CHB type.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

I am seeing Ainsworth and Thredgold late picks on many boards and I’d be ok with either.

Is Archer Reid going to make it as a ruck, KPF or KPD? That could determine our picks this year.

Left field. Draft Schubert as a KPD/KPF and start him back then move him forward post Waterman retiring.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

Another late throw at the stumps. Can Barnett make it as a KPD? He runway is becoming shorter each year he fails to impress as a ruck or KPF. A chat with him to become a KPD or be delisted might help

 

[WCE777]

I am seeing Ainsworth and Thredgold late picks on many boards and I’d be ok with either.

Is Archer Reid going to make it as a ruck, KPF or KPD? That could determine our picks this year.

Left field. Draft Schubert as a KPD/KPF and start him back then move him forward post Waterman retiring.

ok
A Reid has all the traits to make it as a ruck.
If he doesn't progress as a ruck next year he will ultimately be switches to KPD, I don't see him not progressing and not be one of our most exciting prospects.
Draft B Van Rooyen next year at 203cm already and did an excellent job in he champs this year, 3 years younger than A Reid and similarly athletic, they can build for the next 10 years and dump all our other rucks.
Barnett unfortunately is a bust.
Schubert is the best KP player in the draft, if we are taking 2 mids and want a KPF to turn into a KPD for a few years then yes.
Will need a top 10 pick to draft him.
We have K LeCras coming in the draft next year who is Mark's nephew and looks a very exciting CHF prospect.

 

[Wooshaaaa]

I am seeing Ainsworth and Thredgold late picks on many boards and I’d be ok with either.

Is Archer Reid going to make it as a ruck, KPF or KPD? That could determine our picks this year.

Left field. Draft Schubert as a KPD/KPF and start him back then move him forward post Waterman retiring.

Theyre long term though. KPD take time and very hit and miss. Busslinger about to be relegated back to the VFL if the dogs land Wilkie. Why? What is it about buss they don't like?

Barratt at the saints still likely VFL for another 2 seasons with aleer and silvani coming in. If Wilkie goes he might have to step up, but it is Ross!!

While I'm all In on drafting for the future, whats an immediate go to player that has the physical attributes to slot in should our key defenders go down with injury. ?

 

[Avalor]

We have K LeCras coming in the draft next year who is Mark's nephew and looks a very exciting CHF prospect.

Being a nephew though, we won't have access to him.

 

[Keys]

We have been linked to Tylar Young who has yet to be offered/accepted a new contract at Richmond

Jai Serong who we were linked to last year is also out of contract at Hawthorn so would be an option. Saw a clip recently where Barrass was talking him up

Failing that pair, Blight has been delisted by Richmond so would be available as a DFA or we could wait to sign him via the SSP possibly after trialling him as a train on

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

Theyre long term though. KPD take time and very hit and miss. Busslinger about to be relegated back to the VFL if the dogs land Wilkie. Why? What is it about buss they don't like?

Barratt at the saints still likely VFL for another 2 seasons with aleer and silvani coming in. If Wilkie goes he might have to step up, but it is Ross!!

While I'm all In on drafting for the future, whats an immediate go to player that has the physical attributes to slot in should our key defenders go down with injury. ?

If you want an immediate player, I would start with Barnett. He has had 3 years in the system and I watched a game in his draft year when he played CHB and did really well. Is his character the one that needs him taken to the play to get him playing properly?

The problem with Busslinger is that he is contracted and Dogs will be asking too much. He was OK late this season but looking more the 3rd tall rather than genuine KPD and Basso and Ginbey can cover that role.

As Keys put it, there are some options there but none look great.

If we want to get into bed with Brisbane and overpay for Starcevich, I would like to include Zane Zakostelsky in the deal. Yes, we can get Starcevich in the PSD but we would happy pay say end R1 AFL assistance pick plus Hawks R3 or R2 PLUS ZZ (still contracted for another year). That plus non bidding on Annable should be more than enough. I know they rate ZZ but he is the option I would go hard at.

 

[WCE777]

We have K LeCras coming in the draft next year who is Mark's nephew and looks a very exciting CHF prospect.

Being a nephew though, we won't have access to him.

I know, I was stating him as another excellent product for KPF if we are into drafting another to cover Waterman when he retires.
Will need another decent prospect on the list in the next couple of years and JW has fallen back behind Shanahan.
K LeCras might be an excellent CHF or even CHB and projecting a top 5 player in WA next year, it would be hard to walk past another LeCras in the draft.

 

[WCE777]

We have been linked to Tylar Young who has yet to be offered/accepted a new contract at Richmond

Jai Serong who we were linked to last year is also out of contract at Hawthorn so would be an option. Saw a clip recently where Barrass was talking him up

Failing that pair, Blight has been delisted by Richmond so would be available as a DFA or we could wait to sign him via the SSP possibly after trialling him as a train on

Obviously casting the net wide.
Short term options seem where Young and Blight fit, if we get 4 extra rookie spots we might use 1 on one of these.
Serong seems to be a 3rd tall and rebounding type unless I am missing something?

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

And before anyone proposes it - a solid NO to getting Steven May

1

Steven May

Age

33

Ht

193cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.7

4star

K

10.5

4star

HB

4.2

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.5

3star

MG

307.3

4star

D

15.5

4star

K

12.1

5star

HB

3.4

2star

M

3.4

3star

T

0.5

1star

MG

378.4

5star

D

12.4

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.8

4star

from Melbourne. His greatest downfall is not that he is now too slow, his impact on a young team would be toxic. Good on Dees to ask him to explore trades, but not to WCE. We might be low on defensive talls but not personalities like him

 

[WCErevival]

Surely North get May.

 

[ioppolo]

And before anyone proposes it - a solid NO to getting Steven May from Melbourne. His greatest downfall is not that he is now too slow, his impact on a young team would be toxic. Good on Dees to ask him to explore trades, but not to WCE. We might be low on defensive talls but not personalities like him

Surely North get May.

My first thought was Western Bulldogs. Fancies to at least be in the running for finals. Need a KPD for a couple of years if they think they're serious about going deep in September.

 

[Cursedsword02]

Surely North get May.

Bulldogs should be front and centre here, imo.

 

[Broken_Chairs]

Bulldogs should be front and centre here, imo.

Helloooo Buslinger

 

[Mop]

Helloooo Buslinger

I think The Bus showed his limitations in the finals, but maybe he'd be gettable for less than he otherwise would've.

I'd still take him.

 

[eaglevision]

Trade up for GCS pick, take Schubert then Ainsworth/Thredgold/Curtin with Hawks 2R.

Blight-DFA.

Cochrane pick #1 2026 if we have it.

Wait for Buss OOC.

 

[Bluke]

We have been linked to Tylar Young who has yet to be offered/accepted a new contract at Richmond

Jai Serong who we were linked to last year is also out of contract at Hawthorn so would be an option. Saw a clip recently where Barrass was talking him up

Failing that pair, Blight has been delisted by Richmond so would be available as a DFA or we could wait to sign him via the SSP possibly after trialling him as a train on

I heard along the grapevine that Young toured west coast last week… Apparently Baker was showing him around. Could be codswallop but would be a total moneyball pick