Robbie Warnock

[CatsBack2Back]

I think Warnock is an ok ruckman good tap work and can mark around the ground defiantly a better all round player than Blake but won't be a star.

But he is too similar to Simpson in my opinion and if he and Vardy need more time to get back from injury and get into form for next year then we only need a ruckman for a couple of years.

In that regard I would look at Jamar from Melbourne could work really well with West while the other two recover.

On West do other remember when he decked R.Clarke a couple of years ago? In the senior and VFL team at that time he had real aggression at the man and ball.

If he can get some of that back to complement his rucking he'll be a real weapon for us this year and beyond.

 

[The 747]

I dont think Warnock is what we want to be chasing.

However, no doubt we need to draft and/or trade for ruckmen at seasons end. We are very light on after losing 2 last year.

 

[Die Hard Hoops Fan]

Robbie Warnock at the cats

I was listening to Balmey on SEN earlier this morning and the questionw as posed to him re: the cats posiibly chasing Robbie Warnock at the end of the season.

Nrmally Balmey swats these sort of discussions away like Scarlett on Ballantyne but he seemed a little tight lipped and didn't discount it.

Apparently his time is up at the blues at the end of the year and West is refusing to sign up at the cats, this along with the vacuum left by Ottens retiring leaves the cats with a few forward planning issues.

I would really see the cats invest time and $$$$ pursuing a reputable ruckmen rather than another ready to go midfielder.

I'm keen to get your thoughts on this.

 

[Son_Of_God29]

Has anyone thought about Scott Lycett 3rd string behind NIC NAT and big Cox at WCE not kooking like getting a look in for a while

 

[hbk_aus]

Re: Robbie Warnock at the cats

I was listening to Balmey on SEN earlier this morning and the questionw as posed to him re: the cats posiibly chasing Robbie Warnock at the end of the season.

Nrmally Balmey swats these sort of discussions away like Scarlett on Ballantyne but he seemed a little tight lipped and didn't discount it.

Apparently his time is up at the blues at the end of the year and West is refusing to sign up at the cats, this along with the vacuum left by Ottens retiring leaves the cats with a few forward planning issues.

I would really see the cats invest time and $$$$ pursuing a reputable ruckmen rather than another ready to go midfielder.

I'm keen to get your thoughts on this.

Plenty of thoughts on it already in the other Warnock thread...

 

[Go Hoops]

Re: Robbie Warnock at the cats

I was listening to Balmey on SEN earlier this morning and the questionw as posed to him re: the cats posiibly chasing Robbie Warnock at the end of the season.

Nrmally Balmey swats these sort of discussions away like Scarlett on Ballantyne but he seemed a little tight lipped and didn't discount it.

Apparently his time is up at the blues at the end of the year and West is refusing to sign up at the cats, this along with the vacuum left by Ottens retiring leaves the cats with a few forward planning issues.

I would really see the cats invest time and $$$$ pursuing a reputable ruckmen rather than another ready to go midfielder.

I'm keen to get your thoughts on this.

We would be foolish not to look at him. There are not that many ready made ruckman our there.

 

[vinum coupe]

Did Balme actually say West is refusing to sign?
I would be amazed.

 

[rocker_oz33]

Oh goodie another injury prone ruckman.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

On Warnock, I agree with AM that he is better than average, but he is injury prone (not saying that just because of today) and I don't think he'd come cheap.

We may need to be looking at another ruckman come the end of the year, but I'm not convinced he's the right target.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Did Balme actually say West is refusing to sign?
I would be amazed.

Depends on whether they are his actual words or the poster's interpretation (I haven't listened to the interview).

It would surprise me if Balme said that as he doesn't often talk like that, but I wouldn't be surprised if he said something more subtle, e.g. we have a contract on the table for West, he's not ready to sign it yet, but we are confident he will sign later in the year, but of course we are doing our due diligence on all possible options etc., and the poster has interpreted that as West refusing to sign.

Look it doesn't surprise me, you yourself said (correctly) about a month ago he has us over a barrel, at the very least for the first time in his career he has good bargaining power, and he will probably use it to get the best $ he can from us, as his manager would be advising him to do. Wrong thread, but honestly I'm more worried by Menzel putting off the contract as I think it's unlikely (mainly because of the knee) that he'll increase his value significantly in the next 3 months, whereas you can see how, rucking solo, West will increase his value a lot in that time. In a lot of ways it would be silly for him to sign before mid year, because as much as I'd like him to, if he plays well and is unsigned in the second half of the year, no doubt we will come back with a second offer that is better than the first, given we are thin in the rucks. He strikes me as a pretty shy kid who likes the lifestyle here and would be unlikely to want the spotlight (GWS etc) and so given there's no go home factor anywhere else I am not that worried about him leaving, but I do think he'll be looking for the best deal he can get from us and thus may not sign for a while.

 

[AM]

On Warnock, I agree with AM that he is better than average, but he is injury prone (not saying that just because of today) and I don't think he'd come cheap.

We may need to be looking at another ruckman come the end of the year, but I'm not convinced he's the right target.

Well! He was injury prone PO. Not sure that's still the case though. He's had two shoulder recos and since then he's mainly only had soft tissue probs.

A relo of mine is a former Carlton premiership player and sees him quite a bit. I do occasionally too when I tag along. He considers at 25 his best is yet to come. So do the Blues hierachy BTW.

On a side note, if there are any Blues people reading this tell your management to restore the annual free visitors pass formerly provided to former 100+ gamers along with their annual pass. It's a pain for him to have to apply for a visitors pass on a game-by-game basis.

 

[_Me_]

Well! He was injury prone PO. Not sure that's still the case though. He's had two shoulder recos and since then he's mainly only had soft tissue probs.

A relo of mine is a former Carlton premiership player and sees him quite a bit. I do occasionally too when I tag along. He considers at 25 his best is yet to come. So do the Blues hierachy BTW.

On a side note, if there are any Blues people reading this tell your management to restore the annual free visitors pass formerly provided to former 100+ gamers along with their annual pass. It's a pain for him to have to apply for a visitors pass on a game-by-game basis.

is too old and would demand too much coin

plenty of second tier that would work if we lost west

i am over people giving up everything for players who have yet to do anything

we traded a first round and maloney for a AA ruckman

not a average player who has had minimal game time after 6+ years

and no we dont want to trade brown, smedts and buddy for a ruckman

 

[AM]

is too old and would demand too much coin

plenty of second tier that would work if we lost west

i am over people giving up everything for players who have yet to do anything

we traded a first round and maloney for a AA ruckman

not a average player who has had minimal game time after 6+ years

and no we dont want to trade brown, smedts and buddy for a ruckman

He's 25. For a big man that's not old and he hasn't got alot of game time mileage.

If Dawson and Vards come up there's no need to consider him. If they don't he's a better propositon than any others I've seen mentioned and should at least be considered if the deal was reasonable.

 

[Selective Retention]

I would prefer to chase Bellchambers.

Warnock is not cheap, Blues played plenty for him to move from Fremantle, and in his prime earning years I doubt he would be looking to take a cut. Better off looking at someone like Bellchambers who would value the opportunity over the cash and doesn't come with a 350-400k price tag.

I don't think O did a lot wrong against North and have been surprised he hasn't reappeared at all, especially against the weaker sides and if only to give West a chop out.

I think the Scotts may have a shared belief about 2 ruckmen and forward balance and what it throws out tactically in the modern game. Both McIntosh and West are at least decent forward targets as well and neither coach seems interested in taking 2 rucks in at the moment. Petrie does ruck more than the T-Hawk but a big call for Brad to continually leave Goldstein out.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

I would prefer to chase Bellchambers.

Bingo! I had 2 ruckman in mind with one being Griffen who i thought the club should not only chase, but through circumstance actually had a chance of nabbing.

I for the life of me havn't been able to recall the other ruckman until now.

I like Bellchambers and he hasn't been given enough opportunities at the Bombers with Hille and Ryder in the side, when he has he's aquitted himself quite well and is worthy of a look in my opinion. A change of club may well be beneficial for his career.

 

[catswhiskers]

Bellchambers can play. I think though that the bombers have at last woken up and will play him ahead of Hille. Would be hard to get = costly.

Fingers crossed for big Daws.

 

[AM]

Bellchambers is contracted until the end of 2013.

 

[winty]

While we're throwing names into the ring, what about Stefan Martin from Melbourne? He's 25, seems to be on the outer at Melbourne with Mitch Clark and Jamar playing in the ruck and can play as a key defender as well.

 

[Ess_don]

Sorry to intrude, but heres my 2c as a Dons fan.
Hille's out with a calf atm so we are yet to see Belly being named ahead of a fit Hille.

Belly is also contracted till the end of next year, but you guys should use next year to monitor how young Joe Daniher goes.. if he's capable of stepping straight into the rigours of AFL, then Belly may lose his number 1 mantle, as Ryder plays way better as a Number 1 ruck, with stints as a fwd, which he is not getting atm with Hille/Belly who are getting more ruck time.

There are lots of Dons fans atm who sees this as an opportunity to get an A grade mid by trading Belly (check out the thread on our board) however, the general, sensible consensus is he is required for depth at least.. I agree with this sentiment of having 3 quality rucks in the side is necessary and oppose the idea of even putting him up for trade.

But as I said, if he's still not getting consistent games next year (Hille may still have another year or so in him), an offer for greater opportunity (and of course $$) to the Cats may just be too tempting and no matter how much Hirdy tries assuring him he is our No1 ruck, he may still go.

Lol still not even sure how I stumbled into this thread tbh..

 

[Turbocat]

I suppose the question here is how FA will affect the general worth of trades.

If you can get a ruck at 28 ish that can give you 2-4 years at which time you then get a similar type - all for no loss of picks or players

or do you trade picks or players for a younger player that may give more longevity.

Think a Jolly type but unlike him it would cost you zip apart from $$. It makes the Jamars of the world very tempting. He would add to our depth and not cost us a pick.

Of course if we could get a youngish kid who is ready to go , it may be worth the cost of a pick or player but he wold want to be more than a "maybe" player. He would want to have shown something at AFL level already.
Belchamber's could be this , Roughhead at Bulldogs , Zac Clarke also.

Or do you continue to farm the the forgotten paddocks , guys like Stephenson and perhaps Banjanin

We are on the cusp of a reassessment of our approach to list build. It may mean we change little but it may also mean a drastic change from having no player from another list.

 

[AM]

If we're extending the thread to players who are under contract until the end of 2013 and beyond, as Bellchambers and Martin are, it becomes as long as a piece of string - so to speak.

I thought JB was on about ruckmen who are out of contract at year end and Warnock seemed the pick of them.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Not really AM, keep in mind it is possible (and probably even likely) that by the end of the year we will be no more certain about Vardy's prospects of playing again. Thus it may well make sense to leave 'ruck recruitment' until mid next year when we have a better chance of knowing Vards future and seeing where Daws is at also.

In fact the only reason I'd really be talking to out of contract ruckmen at the moment is to ensure we have some other irons in the fire in the (highly unlikely) event that West doesn't re-sign and goes elsewhere. If we keep him, he's young enough and playing well enough that we can probably defer targeting another ruck until next year.

 

[Boxhead_31]

Has anyone thought about Scott Lycett 3rd string behind NIC NAT and big Cox at WCE not kooking like getting a look in for a while

Now this is the kind of player we should be targeting a highly rated junior who is stuck behind two entrenched players who would be looking to get some game time. (Sound like a former Geelong developing ruckman to anyone).

Lycett has some good size about him 202cms and 99kgs and is only turning 20 this year I would love to see us go after him

 

[STC]

I would rather Hampson than Warnock but as someone said Goldstein would be fantastic, as would Bellchambers (although he is playing right now and I doubt Essendon would let him go) and Griffin also a good target although he wanted to move home to Perth from Adelaide so I'd be surprised if we could lure him to Geelong.

 

[AM]

Not really AM, keep in mind it is possible (and probably even likely) that by the end of the year we will be no more certain about Vardy's prospects of playing again. Thus it may well make sense to leave 'ruck recruitment' until mid next year when we have a better chance of knowing Vards future and seeing where Daws is at also.

In fact the only reason I'd really be talking to out of contract ruckmen at the moment is to ensure we have some other irons in the fire in the (highly unlikely) event that West doesn't re-sign and goes elsewhere. If we keep him, he's young enough and playing well enough that we can probably defer targeting another ruck until next year.

Think the Laidler scenario PO. Out of contract. Committed to Carlton. We were left with virtually no bargaining power.

Warnock could well be a reverse Laidler. With the caveat that we rate him, of course, and Balmy's reported comment during the week seemed to point to us feeling that way. Also, that Vards and Simpson don't come up.

Agree you never close off other options and you seek out the best option. But good players under contract predominantly involve tough negotiations with the club holding the contract having the whip hand. That's not the case with good players out of contract who commit to another club. Should an out of contract Warnock commit to another club the Blues really have little bargaining power..

Gillies is another example. Last year had he insisted on heading to Hawthorn we had the whip hand. Whereas with an out of contract Gillies - given the same circumstances - the Hawks have the whip hand.