Craig Bolton was struggling to cement a place in the strongest team of the last decade. And we didn't pay anything for him more than a pre-season draft pick.
Darren Jolly was the number two ruck behind a guy who hates being interchanged (White) and whose coach was prepared to pander to that desire. We gave up a late first round draft pick who may well have never played a game (think Josh Willoughby - different year but similar pick. Shows how picks at that level are still very hit and miss). And we absolutely desperately needed a ruckman who could step in and play right away. I think Roos' judgement has been shown to be reasonable re Jolly.
Cats fans were desperate to give Gardiner away for most of last season when they were injury riddled and generally crap. Everytime he got a game they bitched like anything. He's a mid-sized floater / flanker, of which we already have a couple of very handy ones in O'Keefe and Davis. KPP forwards are going to become a need very soon but mid-sized, soft, outside ones aren't (not that I'm labelling ROK or Davo like that).
I could write similar comments re Essendon fans' views on Bradley. Most can't wait to give him away.
Buchanan, on the other hand, finished top 5 in the B&F in a premiership year, was also very good last year and is still only 25. He's our most creative small midfielder, probably the only one who consistently gets in and under clearances other than Kirk. He's had a lousy year by his standards - no doubt largely contributed towards by the knee injury in round 4. But that doesn't mean he's suddenly become an ordinary player.
He's one of my favourites, I admit, but I don't see him as untouchable. I do see him as someone not worth trading just for the sake of trading. If there's something good that we really want and need and Bucky had to be the price, OK I suppose. But I'd hate him to be given away for other clubs' sloppy seconds.
