No Opposition Supporters OPPOSITION OBSERVATION XXII

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THE THIN MAN

Norm Smith Medallist
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How Josh Schache trade cost Western Bulldogs two of the AFL’s most promising key defenders, GWS’ Sam Taylor and Gold Coast’s Charlie Ballard


The real price of the Josh Schache trade hit the Western Bulldogs last week.

With Aaron Naughton at full forward, Zaine Cordy (193cm) was the only key defender picked against a Carlton team boasting best-afield Harry McKay (204cm), Levi Casboult (198cm) and Mitch McGovern (191cm).

Expensive free agent Jackson Trengove (197cm) and premiership defender Fletcher Roberts (196cm) are wildly out of favour and their strong VFL form again went unrewarded.

But they were not the only key defenders the Dogs could’ve had access to.

With 30 seconds left in the 2017 trade period, stressed football boss Chris Grant signed off on a deal for homesick full-forward Schache.

Needing to save face after the public disaster that was Jake Stringer’s exit, the Dogs emerged as the only buyer for the talented yet unproven goalkicker.

But with Brisbane Lions asking for more than just pick No. 25, the Dogs buckled under deadline pressure and threw in No. 40 … with nothing coming back.

Keeping those two picks would’ve delivered a draft bonanza for the Dogs.

After grabbing Naughton and Ed Richards in the first round, backmen Charlie Ballard and Sam Taylor were high on the club’s talent board.

How handy would they have been against the Blues?

Given Taylor lasted until pick 28 (GWS) and Ballard until 42 (Gold Coast) it is possible that both would’ve made it to the Dogs.

While teenagers Taylor and Ballard are off Broadway, they’ve played every game this year and are rated as emerging stars by their expansion clubs.

Taylor is a key defender who intercepts well next to Phil Davis, while Ballard has stood up in Rory Thompson’s absence after shooting from 180cm to 197cm in two years.

The Dogs had form in that part of the draft. In 2014 they took Toby McLean at No. 26, Bailey Dale at No. 45 and Caleb Daniel at No. 46.

McLean and Daniel played in the 2016 premiership, as did 2015 No. 25 pick Josh Dunkley.

A sweaty Grant emerged after deadline confident Schache and Tom Boyd would work in the same attack.

(Jordan Roughead) in the ruck, so we’re really well placed,” Grant said.

Little more than a year on and Roughead is gone, Schache has been dropped and Boyd requires months in the VFL after a serious back problem.

If Schache, Trengove and Boyd team up for Footscray on Sunday the Dogs will have close to $2 million of this year’s salary cap in the VFL.

It is still unfair to question Schache, who is not the only early pick struggling in his fourth season.

The Seymour boy booted four goals in Round 2 but then endured a lean fortnight, where he managed five kicks for no score as coach Luke Beveridge lost patience with him.

But it isn’t too early to question the trade, and Ballard and Taylor provide a clearer assessment of whether the Dogs paid too much.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...d/news-story/ce69954a5e1e2bbf700737cea315bc5f
 
Joined
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Gary Lyons asking whats happened to Melbourne, Does he even remember their season last year? R22 they were actually in danger of missing the finals after not beating a top 8 side all year. 2018 was the exception and not the rule for this Melbourne squad of big-heads, many things went right, from their a bottom six fixture to an easy finals series against a beatup Cats & Hawks. Dermott Brereton called them what we all knew last year, they're downhill skiers
 

JAKLAUGHING

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How Josh Schache trade cost Western Bulldogs two of the AFL’s most promising key defenders, GWS’ Sam Taylor and Gold Coast’s Charlie Ballard


The real price of the Josh Schache trade hit the Western Bulldogs last week.

With Aaron Naughton at full forward, Zaine Cordy (193cm) was the only key defender picked against a Carlton team boasting best-afield Harry McKay (204cm), Levi Casboult (198cm) and Mitch McGovern (191cm).

Expensive free agent Jackson Trengove (197cm) and premiership defender Fletcher Roberts (196cm) are wildly out of favour and their strong VFL form again went unrewarded.

But they were not the only key defenders the Dogs could’ve had access to.

With 30 seconds left in the 2017 trade period, stressed football boss Chris Grant signed off on a deal for homesick full-forward Schache.

Needing to save face after the public disaster that was Jake Stringer’s exit, the Dogs emerged as the only buyer for the talented yet unproven goalkicker.

But with Brisbane Lions asking for more than just pick No. 25, the Dogs buckled under deadline pressure and threw in No. 40 … with nothing coming back.

Keeping those two picks would’ve delivered a draft bonanza for the Dogs.

After grabbing Naughton and Ed Richards in the first round, backmen Charlie Ballard and Sam Taylor were high on the club’s talent board.

How handy would they have been against the Blues?

Given Taylor lasted until pick 28 (GWS) and Ballard until 42 (Gold Coast) it is possible that both would’ve made it to the Dogs.

While teenagers Taylor and Ballard are off Broadway, they’ve played every game this year and are rated as emerging stars by their expansion clubs.

Taylor is a key defender who intercepts well next to Phil Davis, while Ballard has stood up in Rory Thompson’s absence after shooting from 180cm to 197cm in two years.

The Dogs had form in that part of the draft. In 2014 they took Toby McLean at No. 26, Bailey Dale at No. 45 and Caleb Daniel at No. 46.

McLean and Daniel played in the 2016 premiership, as did 2015 No. 25 pick Josh Dunkley.

A sweaty Grant emerged after deadline confident Schache and Tom Boyd would work in the same attack.

(Jordan Roughead) in the ruck, so we’re really well placed,” Grant said.

Little more than a year on and Roughead is gone, Schache has been dropped and Boyd requires months in the VFL after a serious back problem.

If Schache, Trengove and Boyd team up for Footscray on Sunday the Dogs will have close to $2 million of this year’s salary cap in the VFL.

It is still unfair to question Schache, who is not the only early pick struggling in his fourth season.

The Seymour boy booted four goals in Round 2 but then endured a lean fortnight, where he managed five kicks for no score as coach Luke Beveridge lost patience with him.

But it isn’t too early to question the trade, and Ballard and Taylor provide a clearer assessment of whether the Dogs paid too much.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...d/news-story/ce69954a5e1e2bbf700737cea315bc5f
Shame cos their recruiting over the years has been second to none...neck and neck with us...seems like someone maybe at Footscray over rode their recruiting staff's advice for Schache/Taylor/Ballard...who knows may come good given something Footscray have'nt got at the moment and that is time!
 

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