Mackie

[GeeCat]

Draft a future champ- I think most years a player in the top 10 can be almost a dead cert to be a 100+ player if you pick a midfield type player but big guys are far harder to gauge. That being said, if there was a Riewoldt type tall coming up in this years draft I would attempt to trade our top pick and a player( maybe some you have mentioned) to get it.

Players of the ilk of Riewoldt are rare and that being said, not many clubs would bypass an oppurtunity to draft a player like him coming through the system.

Additionally, players who are champs in the juniors and the U-18 competition may never always come out as planned. What's to say the transition into the AFL is a failure and we are stuck with a struggling kid.

Young, Under valued, in the system - My second approach and I think our best chance for success is to go for a player who’s been in the system 2-3 years , either has been playing mostly VFL(or equivalent) who might have been drafted interstate and wanting to come home, drafted to a stronger club lacking a chance to show their wares, coming out of contract and their current club might deal through with the knowledge of not wanting to lose out totally. Haynes I think was a very good pick , he was a quality addition to our list just not the big one. This is why I would try to get guys like Murphy from Freemantle( currently kick goals in WAFL)Watts (big strong dedicated strerotypical forward ) Chaplin (talented local who went to Port).These guys all went first round, potentially could all be a guns and would improve the quality of our tall stocks. True , not an immediate star but a player with the talent to grow and be ready when we are in the Flag Zone

Players mentioned in your post were all drafted in last years draft and all were relative high picks from memory (Murphy at #12, Watts at #14, Chaplin at #16?). All are obviously highly rated and would have only had 1 year in the system. Additionally, I can't see any of the respective clubs trading away these players. Furthermore, we haven't seen what these kids can do at the level and thus am not convinced we should give up proven players yet.

I would go after them - Kosi, Polak, Petrie

With the Saints theoretically struggling to keep all their young stars under the salary, Koschitzke could be a option. However I can't see him being one of the players left out in the cold by the Saints. Key position players of his talent are rare, and injuries barring, Koschitzke can be a very very good player. If the Saints had the choice between letting go a midfielder or a KPP, I'm quite sure it would be the midfielder shown the door. But you never know...

Polak's developement as a CHF has seemingly stuttered as of late. His marking is superb yet tends to struggle with his kicking for goal. Sound familiar? . Anyhow can't see Fremantle or Polak himself wanting to come to Geelong. He's born and bred in WA and I can't see him leaving anytime soon.

I simply can't see the Kangas trading away Petrie, even for the 1st round pick and proven player. Furthermore he's been handed a official leadership role at a young age; which must obviously mean the Kangas plan for him to be with them for quite some time.

 

[Turbocat]

As usual Gee I have little to disagree with you

Your first point

champs in the juniors and the U-18 competition may never always come out as planned

May never always? I think i know what you mean.There are plenty of examples in the past of players esspec. with advanced bodies being champs in junior comps and failing in the big time. ( cant remember his name , back pocket for Richmond)
No certainty’s no guarantee’s any pick might ultimatley struggle with the full demands of AFL which these days is more than just talent eg Caydin Bethum (Sts) and that Dhead, Angwin, that started at the Crows and got another try at the Blues were both first round picks.That being said if there was a couple of kids the likes of a Kosi,Riewoldt,J.Brown I would roll the dice and do what I could to get the picks needed to get him
I agree that the players Ive mentioned have not proved anything and there might be another a couple players a couple of years further on but Im thinking at the end of there first contract and with little or no time with there current club so their not really too entrenched, we would have chance to trade for them.Im sure if our knowledge on the talent draftees , which has been better than ave of recent years , they would also be able to judge the worth of these kids a couple of years on.
The three young guns - Kosi,Polak and Petrie. I agree with you.History says we would little or no chance. It was just an order based on BigCats Picks, wouldnt mind Kosi though.

 

[GeeCat]

Originally posted by Turbocat
...wouldnt mind Kosi though.

I wouldn't mind all three to be brutally honest. But reality suggests we have at best, a slim hope.

 

[nananana catman]

I wish we knew what was said, when trade discussions came up between clubs, Just to see if they have been fair dinkum and doing all they can to get CHF. Forget broadcasting tribunals, televise Trade week!

 

[bLuEMoOsE]

Oh Please dont, trade week for the most part is all the coaches cashing in on a free lunch at Optus.