List Mgmt. Our Midfield

[Soapy V]

Was there very much with you re Shiel Soap as most will remember. But cannot see GWS matching us if we go after Coniglio as a FA. He will add a lot to our team imo.

I don't buy into the "a good player will cost a young gun a spot" tbh. Injuries, form and other factors play a huge part and coniglio would be an amazing get.

I want us to get to the stage where we do start losing players for decent picks. I want us to have an extremely quality best 30. Thats when all players are fighting so hard for a spot. And if we lose 1 or 2 then we get good picks and we either go to the draft or we spend those picks on needs based players.

Coniglio is a gun. You don't say no to him if he costs only cash and no picks

I can understand the points HCJ but can't agree. Two things re: Coniglio. I don't see him leaving GWS and if he does it will be back to WA. Just for what he would cost I would rather use the money elsewhere. With Shiel this year if we had got him we wouldn't have got Setterfield & Stocker and not had a first round pick next year plus a lot of salary cap room.

I also don't think he adds anything to our midfield especially at 27. By the end of 2019 we will see that Cripps Kennedy SPS Dow Walsh Setterfield Stocker O'Brien Fisher who are all or mostly better players (Plus Murphy & Curnow who will still be here and maybe Cuningham Lang or Polson who step up). IMO we will be targeting young top end talent or needs. The last 3 years we have chased and brought in so much talent. I think at the end of 2019 we won't be doing a lot and we are easily 2-3 years away from trading good players for picks.

I will be very happy if we go to the draft with Picks 10, 28, 46 as examples and then get 2-3 players similar to Setterfield Newman & Preuss. It's now about maintaining, developing and topping up each year.

 

[SkyhorseTamer]

Gws wont match what we offer.

If gws can’t afford to match as a borderline top 4 contender why should we be willing to offer that much?

If it is gonna cost that much I’d far prefer we went the Richmond route with a few solid players. We have the stars. Some are still developing, we should be using free agency to fill gaps. Not blow our cap up.

 

[The Bighouse]

^^^^Haynes (FA) + Taranto or Jack Martin trade, or even Whitfield as a long shot.
Sneak Billings/Gresham in depending on trade value and some gaps have been filled.

 

[JustaBattler]

SOS and Bolton will be looking for a rebounder and organiser to provide some class out of the defensive arc - before anything or anyone else I would imagine.

 

[Eiffel 65]

SOS and Bolton will be looking for a rebounder and organiser to provide some class out of the defensive arc - before anything or anyone else I would imagine.

Hopefully Newman raises his game to the next level.

 

[Eiffel 65]

I will be very happy if we go to the draft with Picks 10, 28, 46 as examples and then get 2-3 players similar to Setterfield Newman & Preuss. It's now about maintaining, developing and topping up each year.

In other words, take pick 10 to the draft, use pick 28 on a Setterfield type and allocate pick 46 for a deck chair

 

[Soapy V]

In other words, take pick 10 to the draft, use pick 28 on a Setterfield type and allocate pick 46 for a deck chair

Deck chair? What Pick was Willo? [emoji6]

#nomoredeckchairs

 

[thylacine60]

sixty something

 

[Metalcrusher]

sixty something

+1

 

[katmanblue]

Gws wont match what we offer.

But should we offer $1m+?

Given what our cap situation will be in a few years with so many young guns coming into their own around the same time, I think it might not be the best idea in the long term.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[katmanblue]

Was there very much with you re Shiel Soap as most will remember. But cannot see GWS matching us if we go after Coniglio as a FA. He will add a lot to our team imo.

I don't buy into the "a good player will cost a young gun a spot" tbh. Injuries, form and other factors play a huge part and coniglio would be an amazing get.

I want us to get to the stage where we do start losing players for decent picks. I want us to have an extremely quality best 30. Thats when all players are fighting so hard for a spot. And if we lose 1 or 2 then we get good picks and we either go to the draft or we spend those picks on needs based players.

Coniglio is a gun. You don't say no to him if he costs only cash and no picks

That's fair.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Red Bull]

#nomoredeckchairs

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

I think GWS are right in the flag hunt this year. Got a feeling all the what if's about who's who at the club re the list are nearly all sorted and they can be more of a "all eyes on the flag" team. If that makes sense. I just think they will be more sorta settled and secure. No knock on guys who have left. There was always gonna be a lot of sorting out to do with that vast collection of talent.

Cogs i see as your heart n soul along with the skippers. Can't see him leaving next contract. Bizness to be done onfield first at HIS club. GWS will look after his pay packet enough.

Iactually think our finals performances were our best ever this year, so I'm happy.

The risk for about 8 teams is someone else will be better.

 

[Eiffel 65]

Deck chair? What Pick was Willo? [emoji6]

#nomoredeckchairs

Willo is 1/3 of a second round pick

 

[gbatman]

Biggest concern over Dow is his kicking, it was poor in all regards this season but in saying that it's early days. Pressure wasn't great at times either but it's tough on a young guy playing midfield. He'll be a really good player no doubt.

LOB seemed to play some very prolific quarters and halves on the wing and then go missing. Not sure whether he was just dropping off but it looked to me he was being shifted away from those positions. Looking forward to more consistency, this guy IMO is a serious player. Looks like a genuine wingman for mine.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Agree with Soap and have made this point previously. I was happy to chase Shiel but I’m not sure we need to sell the farm any longer. We have put together a great list of midfielders and have all but done the hard yards, Another year of development in our young list and the 2 / 3 year draftees / trades especially will start to blossom.

If there is a top end free agent, then good and well but keep going to the draft. You must always keep building the list with young talent.

 

[La Dispute]

I actually thought LOB had a better first year than Dow. His versatility and kicking skills are going to make him a very good long-term player. Looks equally capable on half-back or a wing, and I love his attack on the ball for an outside player. Doesn’t take a backward step.

Doesn’t get mentioned in the same light as Dow and Walsh, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as good if not better than both.

He’s arguably already our best long kick too.

 

[Soapy V]

Biggest concern over Dow is his kicking, it was poor in all regards this season but in saying that it's early days. Pressure wasn't great at times either but it's tough on a young guy playing midfield. He'll be a really good player no doubt.

I don't think it's an issue. Looks really good at training. I just think it was a combination of fatigue, lack of strength, getting used to pace of play and being in a poor side. That will all improve. There were times his kicking looked very good.

 

[Soapy V]

I actually thought LOB had a better first year than Dow. His versatility and kicking skills are going to make him a very good long-term player. Looks equally capable on half-back or a wing, and I love his attack on the ball for an outside player. Doesn’t take a backward step.

Doesn’t get mentioned in the same light as Dow and Walsh, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as good if not better than both.

He’s arguably already our best long kick too.

I try and analyse Lochie as I would any other player. I think he has flown under the radar a bit because he is raw and plays a bit differently. Doesn't look a pure mid like Dow or Walsh. At AFL level his style looks like a classic old school wingman that cruises up and down the ground as a link man and good ball user.

IMO once he believes in himself and has the body to handle the contest people will see a very different player. Has no issue finding it inside and distributing with hand or foot. Will also be very very dangerous in space. He will take the game on kick goals consistently from 50m. Will also be a weapon with Willo etc in being able to break the zones with their kicking. Watch out for long direct kicks to Charlie, McKay etc

I often liken him to Josh Kelly because of his ability to find the ball inside as well and break free and run. He will outrun the opposition and make their mistakes pay. 20 possession from him can win games.

I still believe he needs another season (Kelly took 2-3) before he truly breakouts but he will be good and is the different type of player every good side needs.

He is actually further along than I thought he would be and that is credit to him. Just another reason we will be hard to beat in 2-3 years

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

I find bloody hard atm to worry about future salary cap problems. We would’ve had 1 player in the best 100 in the AFL last season.
We will learn a lot next season though but I still highly doubt we can’t find room for a star recruit when teams like West Coast and Richmond have such highly paid top end players and don’t seem to lose players.

 

[La Dispute]

Our young midfielders (if they do become stars) are still 4-5 years away from receiving payments in the absolute top bracket. During that time we will lose Simmo, Murphy, Daisy and Kreuzer who would all be on reasonable coin.

We’ve also got the added bonus of being able to frontload contracts so yearly payments would decrease as our young guns require pay rises.

If a player of Coniglio’s calibre wanted to join we couldn’t sign fast enough.

 

[Robert Heatley]

I try and analyse Lochie as I would any other player. I think he has flown under the radar a bit because he is raw and plays a bit differently. Doesn't look a pure mid like Dow or Walsh. At AFL level his style looks like a classic old school wingman that cruises up and down the ground as a link man and good ball user.

IMO once he believes in himself and has the body to handle the contest people will see a very different player. Has no issue finding it inside and distributing with hand or foot. Will also be very very dangerous in space. He will take the game on kick goals consistently from 50m. Will also be a weapon with Willo etc in being able to break the zones with their kicking. Watch out for long direct kicks to Charlie, McKay etc

I often liken him to Josh Kelly because of his ability to find the ball inside as well and break free and run. He will outrun the opposition and make their mistakes pay. 20 possession from him can win games.

I still believe he needs another season (Kelly took 2-3) before he truly breakouts but he will be good and is the different type of player every good side needs.

He is actually further along than I thought he would be and that is credit to him. Just another reason we will be hard to beat in 2-3 years

I think we all under rate Lochie because our first look at he and Dow was in JLT where Dow starred and Lochie looked a bit raw.

Lochie’s adjustment was outstanding and quick.

Glass half full, but from list management perspective we appear to have nailed mid range picks, Fisher, Williamson and probably De Koning.

My glass half full midfield perspective says we have 2 top 10s from 2016 (SPS and Setterfield), 2 top 10s from 2017, (Dow and O’Brien) and two top 10s this year (Walsh and Stocker).

Its those mature bodies we need to add. How would we go with Gawn or Grundy in the side?

 

[Soapy V]

If a player of Coniglio’s calibre wanted to join we couldn’t sign fast enough.

If it was the trade period just gone I would agree, now I'm not sure. If 2019 goes the way I expect/hope then I don't think we will.

The focus will now be on stability, needs and backing in what we have. A Ruckman, maybe a small forward and a couple of good draft picks is my early call. JMO

 

[La Dispute]

If it was the trade period just gone I would agree, now I'm not sure. If 2019 goes the way I expect/hope then I don't think we will.

The focus will now be on stability, needs and backing in what we have. A Ruckman, maybe a small forward and a couple of good draft picks is my early call. JMO

What changes though? If our players were further along in their development and age then I’d agree with you, but with a few well-paid players likely to retire in the next few seasons and a gap for a player of Coniglio’s profile and age in the midfield (also factoring in a heavily front loaded contract), it’d be the perfect opportunity to bring him in.

It’s nice to look at our group of mids and assume they’ll all make it and many will be stars, but the reality is some won’t establish themselves and others will be decent B-graders. Also can’t predict injuries, team makeup and other clubs poaching players.

 

[Soapy V]

What changes though? If our players were further along in their development and age then I’d agree with you, but with a few well-paid players likely to retire in the next few seasons and a gap for a player of Coniglio’s profile and age in the midfield (also factoring in a heavily front loaded contract), it’d be the perfect opportunity to bring him in.

It’s nice to look at our group of mids and assume they’ll all make it and many will be stars, but the reality is some won’t establish themselves and others will be decent B-graders. Also can’t predict injuries, team makeup and other clubs poaching players.

At some stage you need to stop and back in what you have. Our list really needs to settle. IMO we have the elite talent. Coniglio at $1m IMO isn't what we need. All he does is add depth and will be past his best by the time we challenge for a flag. I would prefer a Setterfield or even another Stocker deal?

Much prefer to keep the money to pay Charlie Weitering Dow Walsh O'Brien Marchbank SPS Fisher Cripps McKay etc. We will have a lot of top end talent to keep happy and a $1m a year can go a long way

It's not a simple decision and there are many variables yet to happen but I will be happy that if at years end SOS says we will be quiet this trade period as we are happy with our list. A Newman & a Pruess type plus 3-4 great draft picks would keep adding to our list and we can pay more of our young guns early.

Getting rid of 5-6 players at years end won't be easy.