- Banned
- #1
Today in the Addy appeared two articles.
Cats eye big Tiger
Thursday, September 23
DAVID DAVUTOVIC
GEELONG will know tomorrow whether it is in the running to secure uncontracted Tiger Brad Ottens.
Ottens will inform Richmond officials of his intentions tomorrow when he returns from a holiday in Bali and it's understood that the 24-year-old is disgruntled with the club and may request a trade.
Sydney is reportedly leading the chase for the ruck-forward but Geelong would be eager to lure him to Kardinia Park to solve their key position conundrum whilst providing valuable ruck relief for Steven King.
Cats' coach Mark Thompson said Ottens would be a tantalising prospect for the Cats but there's a long way to go before any such deal can be done.
``Ottens does appeal but it's going to be very very difficult to get somebody like that,'' Thompson said yesterday.
``We haven't heard that he's resigned from Richmond yet and they aren't aware of it either so until that happens. . .
``He's over in Bali at the moment and he's not going to give us any answers about what he's going to do and the first thing he's got to do is inform Richmond of his intentions, whether he's going to stay or go.
``If he said he wanted to come to Geelong, that would be only one step in the process, then we'd have to work out a deal and it just gets very complicated and really the first step is Ottens deciding where he wants to play.''
Thompson said the Cats wouldn't be prepared to offload their first round pick (No. 16) unless they got an ``outstanding'' player in return.
Ottens would fit that bill and any such deal would likely involve that selection and one, possibly two senior players in exchange.
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TRADE BAIT
David Spriggs: A chance to be traded.
Thursday, September 23
DAVID DAVUTOVIC
DAVID Spriggs looks set to find a new AFL home with the onballer yesterday told he would be traded.
Spriggs was yesterday told at his post-season meeting with coach Mark Thompson that the Cats would endeavour to find a suitable swap for him in the upcoming exchange period.
He said there was a chance that he would remain at the club if a trade didn't eventuate, but with the Cats needing to delist four players before the national draft, the likelihood is slim.
Sydney and Collingwood are two clubs that have already expressed interest in Spriggs with both looking to inject some pace into the midfield while Essendon could too be a possible suitor.
``Geelong's going to try and help me find a suitable trade for me but if there's no reasonable opportunities they might still be willing to have me there if there,'' Spriggs said.
``But the likelihood is that I won't be at Geelong next year.
``(Sydney and Collingwood) are two clubs that I would like to go to because of the way they play and there may be some speed needed in the midfield - but so far I haven't heard anything.''
The 23-year-old played just five games this year for a career tally of 64, but has struggled to rediscover the form that saw him earn a Rising Star nomination in 2000.
Spriggs is confident of continuing at the highest level next year and said kicking was his obvious problem area.
``I'm pretty confident of playing AFL next year, the only thing holding me back was my disposal but that comes down to a confidence more than anything,'' he said.
``It probably affects my head more than it should and it's just a matter of going back to basics because I can kick the footy and it comes down to whether other clubs trust my ability.
``I guess that's why I would look elsewhere for a fresh start to regain the confidence I've lost over the last two years.''
Thompson yesterday confirmed that veterans Ben Graham, Peter Riccardi and Brenton Sanderson will be offered contracts for 2005.
Ten players remain out of contract with David Wojcinski, Paul Koulouriotis, Cameron Mooney and Kent Kingsley all expected to re-sign with the club in the coming weeks.
The imminent promotion of rookie Shannon Byrnes means the Cats must delist four players to comply with AFL rules and reduce the squad to 35 before the national draft.
Defender Daniel Foster is almost certain to be one of those, while the Cats will have to make a hard call on the likes of James Rahilly, Will Slade or David Loats - with the latter two having two years to run on their contracts.
``We're going to find it very difficult to delist many players at all to tell you the truth, the philosophy hasn't changed, we're really going to have the bare minimum of player movements,'' Thompson said.
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So what does this mean?
To state the obvious:
Delisted: Daniel Foster
Traded: David Spriggs
Other possible delistings: Will Slade (2 years on contract), David Loats (2 years on contract), James Rahilly (out of contract).
Major Target: Brad Ottens.
Price: 1st round pick and 1 maybe 2 senior players.
-------------
My predictions:
Delist : Foster
Trade: Spriggs
Geelong's offer for Ottens: 1st Round Pick, David Loats + quality midfielder.
That leaves Geelong with one extra spot to clear if Spriggs is traded for a draft pick. in=1 + draft pick, out=4 + draft pick, nett= -3 players.
So one more player would have to go. Which would be Slade or Rahilly. I think they would try ship Rahilly both. If no one would take them, delist Slade.
Cats eye big Tiger
Thursday, September 23
DAVID DAVUTOVIC
GEELONG will know tomorrow whether it is in the running to secure uncontracted Tiger Brad Ottens.
Ottens will inform Richmond officials of his intentions tomorrow when he returns from a holiday in Bali and it's understood that the 24-year-old is disgruntled with the club and may request a trade.
Sydney is reportedly leading the chase for the ruck-forward but Geelong would be eager to lure him to Kardinia Park to solve their key position conundrum whilst providing valuable ruck relief for Steven King.
Cats' coach Mark Thompson said Ottens would be a tantalising prospect for the Cats but there's a long way to go before any such deal can be done.
``Ottens does appeal but it's going to be very very difficult to get somebody like that,'' Thompson said yesterday.
``We haven't heard that he's resigned from Richmond yet and they aren't aware of it either so until that happens. . .
``He's over in Bali at the moment and he's not going to give us any answers about what he's going to do and the first thing he's got to do is inform Richmond of his intentions, whether he's going to stay or go.
``If he said he wanted to come to Geelong, that would be only one step in the process, then we'd have to work out a deal and it just gets very complicated and really the first step is Ottens deciding where he wants to play.''
Thompson said the Cats wouldn't be prepared to offload their first round pick (No. 16) unless they got an ``outstanding'' player in return.
Ottens would fit that bill and any such deal would likely involve that selection and one, possibly two senior players in exchange.
------------------
TRADE BAIT
David Spriggs: A chance to be traded.
Thursday, September 23
DAVID DAVUTOVIC
DAVID Spriggs looks set to find a new AFL home with the onballer yesterday told he would be traded.
Spriggs was yesterday told at his post-season meeting with coach Mark Thompson that the Cats would endeavour to find a suitable swap for him in the upcoming exchange period.
He said there was a chance that he would remain at the club if a trade didn't eventuate, but with the Cats needing to delist four players before the national draft, the likelihood is slim.
Sydney and Collingwood are two clubs that have already expressed interest in Spriggs with both looking to inject some pace into the midfield while Essendon could too be a possible suitor.
``Geelong's going to try and help me find a suitable trade for me but if there's no reasonable opportunities they might still be willing to have me there if there,'' Spriggs said.
``But the likelihood is that I won't be at Geelong next year.
``(Sydney and Collingwood) are two clubs that I would like to go to because of the way they play and there may be some speed needed in the midfield - but so far I haven't heard anything.''
The 23-year-old played just five games this year for a career tally of 64, but has struggled to rediscover the form that saw him earn a Rising Star nomination in 2000.
Spriggs is confident of continuing at the highest level next year and said kicking was his obvious problem area.
``I'm pretty confident of playing AFL next year, the only thing holding me back was my disposal but that comes down to a confidence more than anything,'' he said.
``It probably affects my head more than it should and it's just a matter of going back to basics because I can kick the footy and it comes down to whether other clubs trust my ability.
``I guess that's why I would look elsewhere for a fresh start to regain the confidence I've lost over the last two years.''
Thompson yesterday confirmed that veterans Ben Graham, Peter Riccardi and Brenton Sanderson will be offered contracts for 2005.
Ten players remain out of contract with David Wojcinski, Paul Koulouriotis, Cameron Mooney and Kent Kingsley all expected to re-sign with the club in the coming weeks.
The imminent promotion of rookie Shannon Byrnes means the Cats must delist four players to comply with AFL rules and reduce the squad to 35 before the national draft.
Defender Daniel Foster is almost certain to be one of those, while the Cats will have to make a hard call on the likes of James Rahilly, Will Slade or David Loats - with the latter two having two years to run on their contracts.
``We're going to find it very difficult to delist many players at all to tell you the truth, the philosophy hasn't changed, we're really going to have the bare minimum of player movements,'' Thompson said.
-----------------------------
So what does this mean?
To state the obvious:
Delisted: Daniel Foster
Traded: David Spriggs
Other possible delistings: Will Slade (2 years on contract), David Loats (2 years on contract), James Rahilly (out of contract).
Major Target: Brad Ottens.
Price: 1st round pick and 1 maybe 2 senior players.
-------------
My predictions:
Delist : Foster
Trade: Spriggs
Geelong's offer for Ottens: 1st Round Pick, David Loats + quality midfielder.
That leaves Geelong with one extra spot to clear if Spriggs is traded for a draft pick. in=1 + draft pick, out=4 + draft pick, nett= -3 players.
So one more player would have to go. Which would be Slade or Rahilly. I think they would try ship Rahilly both. If no one would take them, delist Slade.
