Rumour Rumour File

[No1Suspect]

Also someone on the north melbourne board has posted that he has heard talk of Murph being a little unhappy. Fool.

 

[Blueboys7]

My inside mail is that young rookie Josh Donaldson has been told by the Blues that he won't be retained on the list in 2011. Bit of a shame considering he is a first year player. I think the fact that he plays as a ruckman and is only 193cm would be the reason we are letting him go. Not quite tall enough for an AFL ruckman and with our current ruck depth it wouldn't be a surprise if he was delisted.

I thought we wanted to turn him into a defender as he is quite agile and has a great leap?

 

[Fail]

Lol he was drafted as a forward and he's been injured.

 

[Salaryman]

Harper is not an inside distributor

 

[Blueboys7]

Harper is not an inside distributor

Now you're just being silly.

 

[Blue Dawn]

My inside mail is that young rookie Josh Donaldson has been told by the Blues that he won't be retained on the list in 2011. Bit of a shame considering he is a first year player. I think the fact that he plays as a ruckman and is only 193cm would be the reason we are letting him go. Not quite tall enough for an AFL ruckman and with our current ruck depth it wouldn't be a surprise if he was delisted.

Bit of a surprise if true. He hasn't done much this year i know but i've got to say that his athleticism really stood out out pre-season training.

 

[BLUE BLEEDING]

Betts - Walker - Garlett
Yarran - Henderson - Buckley/Lucas/Robinson

That's a killer young forward line to compliment a quality midfield and ruck division. I say throw everything at Walker. Would definately do Jacobs + 1st rounder.

 

[King Elvis]

Are you putting Walker up there with Hurley and Riewoldt?

Yep.

What has Hurley done to put him ahead of Walker?

Jack Riewoldt is what, 18 months older than Walker, and what had he done before this year?

What would you trade for Riewoldt or Hurley?

I may consider Walker with Dangerfield for Gibbs and if they want a later pick.

Funny guy.

 

[CrippsonBlue]

Two picks in the top 20 and a quality marking KPF to work in tandem with Hendo doesn't appeal to you?

I've noticed you always do this with your trade suggestions.

You first make a suggestion, and then add our existing draft picks into the equation to make your suggestions sound better than what they are.

The situation is not 'two picks in the top 20 and a quality marking KPF', it is a late first round draft pick in a weakened draft (unproven player) + a promising yet unproven KPF, for a proven quality player, and former number 1 draft pick. No offense, but it’s one of the worst suggestions I’ve seen..

 

[Malifice]

The situation is not 'two picks in the top 20 and a quality marking KPF', it is a late first round draft pick in a weakened draft (unproven player) + a promising yet unproven KPF, for a proven quality player, and former number 1 draft pick. No offense, but it’s one of the worst suggestions I’ve seen..

Firstly, you should see the thread where some Essendon clown was offering Jetta and the Dons 1st rounder for Lynch.

Secondly, I don't really care where player 'X' was initially drafted. It has next to zero bearing on any future discussions re trade/ ability.

If Walker and Gibbs were both available in this years draft, Id take Gibbs over Walker in a heartbeat. But the difference isn't as great as you might think. Gibbs would likely go 1-2 (nod to Swallow correct me if I'm wrong Gil.. err... Splendini), and IMO Walker would easily be somewhere inside the top 10. Walker has as much potential as any other young KPF in the AFL you care to name.

He was 19 at the start of the 2010 season FFS.

When you add a further 1st round pick (at @ 13-15) to the equation, and our need for a quality KPF to help out and develop with Henderson and free up Waite to play down back, its looking a fairer deal. Weigh in factors like free agency and SA clubs throwing a shitload of money at Gibbs in a few years and our inevitable salary cap problems that will start to bite when out talented kids mature, and id call it around about even.

Walker would fix our Forward problems in the short and long term, and we would get another pick in the first round to add to our 1st rounder to help find replacements for Scotland and Hoops (our two oldest players).

You might not rate picks from 10-20 this year, but quality is taken in the top 20, weakened draft or no weakened draft.

Take 2006 for example:

10 Nathan Brown North Ballarat Rebels Collingwood
11 Andrejs Everitt Dandenong Stingrays Western Bulldogs
12 James Frawley North Ballarat Rebels Melbourne
13 Jack Riewoldt Tassie Mariners Richmond
14 James Sellar Glenelg Football Club Adelaide
15 Daniel O'Keefe Geelong Falcons Sydney
16 Mitchell Brown North Ballarat Rebels West Coast Priority
17 Shaun Hampson Mount Gravatt Football Club Carlton Priority
18 Leroy Jetta South Fremantle Football Club Essendon
19 Shaun Grigg North Ballarat Rebels Carlton
20 Tom Hislop Tassie Mariners Essendon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_AFL_Draft

Fair to say you get a fair few hits in that lot.

We already have pick 20(ish). Adding pick 15 gives us two bites at the cherry.

And we add this bloke:

2009 season:
Walker made his AFL debut in round one against Collingwood and became one of the few AFL footballers to kick a goal with his first kick. He played the first 13 games of the season and kicked 23 goals. In round 10 he earned a NAB Rising Star nomination for his five first half goals against Hawthorn that set up Adelaide’s 27 point win.

David Noble’s 2009 review:
“Halfway through the year Taylor was sitting in the top group in the league for marks and goals inside 50, a phenomenal effort for a 19-year-old in his first year. He’s a really important cog in our forward line. He puts pressure on the likes of Hentschel, Burton and McKernan. Taylor needs to get himself super fit over pre-season, so he’s able to play for a longer period of time. If he gets the ball in his hands four or five times he’s going to convert at 80 per cent or better, so he’s a dangerous forward.”

Career:
Walker played in North Broken Hill’s senior premiership side in 2007, where he kicked seven goals in the Grand Final. He represented NSW/ACT at under 18 level in 2007 and was chosen in the All Australian under 18 side. Walker signed with the Adelaide Football Club via the NSW Scholarship Program in 2006, realising his childhood dream of playing for the club he grew up supporting. Walker showed a lot of promise in the SANFL for Norwood in 2008, kicking 46 goals in his first year of league football. He starred in the SANFL finals series kicking seven goals in the elimination final against Port Adelaide.

http://www.afl.com.au/players/playe.../senior/season/2010/selected/bio/default.aspx

He's shown he can make it at this level. Needs to work on a few things, but what KPP doesn't at his age?

A Henderson (CHF) Walker (FF) Yarran (HFF) Gartlett (FP) Betts (FP) forward line would serve us pretty well for the next ten years or so.

Admittedly we would lose Gibbs (which to be clear I don't want to do).

Ideally, we could offer Walker a shitload more money than the GC can offer, he agrees to play for us, and we offer the Crows a 1st rounder + Jacobs. Assuming no-one else bettered the offer of $$ and players/ picks (and Adelaide accepted the deal and didn't want to lose him to the GC for nothing) we would be set.

I simply want the club to pursue all avenues to set up sustained success for the future. At the moment I (and many other pundits and experts) see our lack of KPP to be the main issue.

 

[OldBlueFan]

Ideally, we could offer Walker a shitload more money than the GC can offer, he agrees to play for us, and we offer the Crows a 1st rounder + Jacobs. Assuming no-one else bettered the offer of $$ and players/ picks (and Adelaide accepted the deal and didn't want to lose him to the GC for nothing) we would be set.

I thought Bock has signed with GC, therefore they've got their 1 uncontracted player from Adelaide.

They will have to trade to get Walker as well, so that blows your "lose him to GC for nothing" theory.

For someone who says they don't want to see Gibbs go Mal, you raise his name in an awful lot of these theoretical trade posts.

 

[CrippsonBlue]

Honestly, what's the point in replying if you're going to just spout any old shit, and do not possess the ability to admit when you are wrong on a matter.

I am happy to let you have the last say:

Walker and pick 14(ish) for [Gibbs] and pick 36ish

Secondly, I don't really care where player 'X' was initially drafted. It has next to zero bearing on any future discussions re trade/ ability

 

[Malifice]

I thought Bock has signed with GC, therefore they've got their 1 uncontracted player from Adelaide.

PSD comes into play there. And he cant exactly price himself out of GC range either.

For someone who says they don't want to see Gibbs go Mal, you raise his name in an awful lot of these theoretical trade posts.

This says more about my desire for a KPF than any dislike for Gibbs.

Plus its the other extreme for suggestions involving washed up hacks bundled together for a gun young player from another club.

Freo and Richmond have wised up in recent years, and Vossy wont be dumb enough to play that game again.

For the record I actually rate Gibbs very highly. Always seems to have time and space, fantastic skills, and generally makes the right decisions. IMO Gibbs is getting wasted playing down back. He is a little superflous to our needs down there with JR, Scotland and even Walker at times all more than capable of playing that 'halfback sweeper' role well. I also worry it might be having a negative effect on him. If I could play him anywhere other than the midfield, Id rather see him play on a HFF where he can use that disposal of his.

Of course to be fair, he hasn't come on this year as I would've expected after a stellar 2009. Murphy is in the same boat (down on AA from from last year), but has had an interrupted pre season and injury problems, so I'm perhaps a bit more forgiving.

I still havent seen Gibbs go 'harder' in the one on ones or contested situations in the past few weeks, despite all the tough talk from Ratts, and despite many other less gifted players lifting intensity.

Of course all said and done if we could bend over another club, nab a quality young KPF or two for a used condom, a dead seagull and a fifth rounder, while keeping all our good players, then sign me up!

 

[Malifice]

Honestly, what's the point in replying if you're going to just spout any old shit, and do not possess the ability to admit when you are wrong on a matter.

Well, I'm glad I took the time out to explain my position only to receive that insightful reply.

For the record, I'm not wrong (and neither are you).

We just have different opinions.

My opinion might very well be a bit more left field than yours, and I understand that when a club favorites name gets raised its going to be controversial.

Still. One things for certain. Henderson + 3 smalls aint going to win us any premierships anytime soon while our window is open.

I'm just trying to be open to ideas to resolve the problem.

You think the Hawks are still pissed off they traded Croad for Hodge? Or are we still pissed off we traded Fevola for Henderson and pick 12?

 

[Silvagnis]

Give it a rest Malifice.

You're all over the place.

Posting non-stop and digging a hole isn't going to get us a tall.

Murphy is down because he hasn't had a pre-season.

Carrazzo and Scotland weren't as good last year due to interrupted preparations.

Gibbs is carrying an injury that he can play with.

Lets dump the player who spoiled Hille in the goal square, then unloaded a 65 metre pass off two steps and hit Simpson on the chest. Simpson dropped that pass because he didn't expect the kick to make the distance and get over their forwards. We don't need Gibbs because we have Scotland and Russell who missed Henderson from 35 metres in the same game.

Scotland is a young buck.

Yep.

What has Hurley done to put him ahead of Walker?

Jack Riewoldt is what, 18 months older than Walker, and what had he done before this year?

What would you trade for Riewoldt or Hurley?

It's what Hurley will do as a KPP after he's played 100 games.

Hurley has the potential to be an A grader and a power KPP who can play at both ends of the ground. Yet Hurley kicked Essendon into the finals in his ninth game with four goals.

Elite prospect who can kick 55 plus with both feet.

Must be carrying an injury.

A player of Hurley's talent wouldn't kick straight to Grigg and misjudge a marking contest with Robinson.

I believe Walker was dropped for his lack of defensive pressure and to work on that. That isn't an issue with Hurley and Riewoldt who have played at both ends. Riewoldt played as a defender against Carlton in Judd's first season, yet still streamed down the ground to kick a goal from 50 on the run. I'd give up more for a Hurley or Riewoldt than Walker who is still in his second year.

A lot more.

We know that they've already proven themselves as number one back and forward in a bottom side.

 

[son of dominator]

Well, I'm glad I took the time out to explain my position only to receive that insightful reply.

For the record, I'm not wrong (and neither are you).

We just have different opinions.

My opinion might very well be a bit more left field than yours, and I understand that when a club favorites name gets raised its going to be controversial.

Still. One things for certain. Henderson + 3 smalls aint going to win us any premierships anytime soon while our window is open.

I'm just trying to be open to ideas to resolve the problem.

You think the Hawks are still pissed off they traded Croad for Hodge? Or are we still pissed off we traded Fevola for Henderson and pick 12?

Mal,

don't you think that with Henderson and Carlos, Kruezer and/or Hampson playing forward, the development of Casboult and the possibility of playing White and/or Austin forward means we have the KPF posy covered for the long term future

 

[King Elvis]

Malifice, respect, reasonable, realistic and rational.

It's what Hurley will do as a KPP after he's played 100 games.

Hurley has the potential to be an A grader and a power KPP who can play at both ends of the ground. Yet Hurley kicked Essendon into the finals in his ninth game with four goals.

Elite prospect who can kick 55 plus with both feet.

Walker is still a baby, and he's already better than Hurley.

Hurley is great, that I'm not disputing, but anybody who has seen both of them play a lot wouldn't argue that one is vastly better than the other - yet.

 

[HARKER]

Mal,

don't you think that with Henderson and Carlos, Kruezer and/or Hampson playing forward, the development of Casboult and the possibility of playing White and/or Austin forward means we have the KPF posy covered for the long term future

Sorry to interject, but the answer is a very simple: NO

Henderson: A very good prospect and looks more likely to develop very well, than not.
O'hAilpin: He is a, one good match from 3 player. Not good enough on an every week basis.
Kreuzer: Ruckman that MAY take up a CHF position: Likelihood: say 30%
Hampson: No guarantees as a bona fide forward. Too risky to pin our hopes on and kick not good enough.
Casaboult, White and Austin: Too speculative to hang your hat on.

We need a KP forward with some handy back ups.
It would be very remiss for us not to hunt down a key postion forward and backman.

 

[Silvagnis]

http://twitter.com/sgrigg88

http://twitter.com/samjacobs32

I love how journalists follow them on Twitter.

Leeches.

 

[son of dominator]

Sorry to interject, but the answer is a very simple: NO

Henderson: A very good prospect and looks more likely to develop very well, than not.
O'hAilpin: He is a, one good match from 3 player. Not good enough on an every week basis.
Kreuzer: Ruckman that MAY take up a CHF position: Likelihood: say 30%
Hampson: No guarantees as a bona fide forward. Too risky to pin our hopes on and kick not good enough.
Casaboult, White and Austin: Too speculative to hang your hat on.

We need a KP forward with some handy back ups.
It would be very remiss for us not to hunt down a key postion forward and backman.

Agree with what you are saying

However, this has been brought up in other threads, I can't see us playing Kruezer, Warnock and Hampson in the same side if 1 of them isn't playing a kep forward post. This effectively makes Hampson nothing more than a fringe player being kept on the list as a back up for an injury or to be used as trade bait, not to mention Jacobs (who is probably on the list for the same reasons - back up or trade bait)

In terms of Casboult, Austin, White being too speculative I agree but you have to trust that they are on the list with the view of making it in the seniors and not just as back ups.

 

[HARKER]

Agree with what you are saying

However, this has been brought up in other threads, I can't see us playing Kruezer, Warnock and Hampson in the same side if 1 of them isn't playing a kep forward post. This effectively makes Hampson nothing more than a fringe player being kept on the list as a back up for an injury or to be used as trade bait, not to mention Jacobs (who is probably on the list for the same reasons - back up or trade bait)

In terms of Casboult, Austin, White being too speculative I agree but you have to trust that they are on the list with the view of making it in the seniors and not just as back ups.

We won't play anyone just because we can.
The end result will be whatever starts, then continues to work will be held on to

Had Jacobs kept performing, Warnock would not have had a sniff and we could well be asking for a trade for him.
For now there is nothing to suggest that any of those guys other than Henderson have a real reason to hold down a regular forward spot and for that reason alone, we must keep our options open looking for someone we have more confidence in that the cattle we currently have.

If Casboult becomes our man than all and good, but who is willing to put their money on the table that this will actually happen?

 

[No1Suspect]

I'd certainly be hanging onto my money with casboult for the time being, i've watched a few vfl games and can't say i've seen him take one by the scruff of the neck.... He's a big boy but not the most athletic foward getting around.. Needs alot more development.

Apart from the seniors we fall away talent wise pretty badly in most areas on the ground it'd be good if we could grab a forward back and decent mid who could put more pressure on players to perform and push for selction each week, i think some players in the 1's become complacent because they know they are safe as churches!

 

[NAUGHT5]

Mal,

don't you think that with Henderson and Carlos, Kruezer and/or Hampson playing forward, the development of Casboult and the possibility of playing White and/or Austin forward means we have the KPF posy covered for the long term future

Kreuzer - Ottens type ruckman. He will be a ruckman who can float forward.

Carlos - short term answer.

Hampson - highly speculative.

White/Austin - defenders

Casboult - pinning hopes on a rookie?

Hendo will be a star. But we need genuine, natural goal kickers. Eddie and Garlett are, but we need a tall option.

 

[Malifice]

Posting non-stop and digging a hole isn't going to get us a tall.

Actually nothing Im going to do is going to get us a tall.

Murphy is down because he hasn't had a pre-season.

Thats exactly what I said.

We don't need Gibbs because we have Scotland and Russell who missed Henderson from 35 metres in the same game.

We dont need Gibbs down back in my opinion.

I reckon he's wasted there. Happy to discuss in another thread.

 

[King Elvis]

Gibbs should be in the centre.

Soz.