With a new President and CEO joining the club soon, and with 'old' players like Judd, Carrazzo, McLean (not that' old but plays old), Waite and Scotland (already gone) in the twilight of their careers (Judd and Carrazzo have hardly played all year) I think it's fair to say the club is at the cross roads.
I think it's pretty obvious Malthouse will be tasked with rebuilding the list, and thank God he is the because he has proven he knows how to build lists.
Whether his game plan stacks up we won't know until he gets the right cattle . Right now the list is going through a transformation with the old players hitting the wall and kids like Buckley, Menzel, Docerty coming through.
With free agency , Gibbs not yet signed (could land an early pick), and some old players nearing the end, it is really is an interesting time for the club. The draft is supposed to be strong so I really hope the club make the most of the draft and the opportunity to replenish the list what with old players vacating ther posts soon.
It's not all doom and gloom because Port Adel showed you can turn it around quickly if you bring good players to the club and rebuild the midfield through the draft and shrewd trades.
I guess the concern is whether the club, who have been and still appear to be to some extent stuck in the dark ages, will rebuild the smart, modern way. Hopefully they won't think one player (another Judd) will be the savior. Hopefully they won't trade picks away. Hopefully they recognize midfield is the key in modern football. Hopefully they relies depth is more important than a $1M player. Obviously a balance needs to be struck and one could argue our midfield needs a player like Dangerfield and our spine needs a Frawley. I guess free agency is a wonderful thing in that regard.
Personally I hope they can cash in their older players, and use any cap space savings to bring in some free agency talent, and then cross our fingers our new recruitment manager does well in the draft. We will certainly have one high pick.
I'm torn on Gibbs. I understand he is nearly across the line but until the deal is signed sealed and delivered nothing is certain especially with a new President and CEO coming soon. I agree with Mick who said we need big bodied midfielders like Bryce. But I think everyone agrees now zbryce is not an elite talent and mightn't have a lot of improvement left in him so I do wonder if we are better off letting him go and getting another high quality kid with a high comp pick we get for letting Bryce go. Not too fussed either way as the flip side is we do lack depth and Bryce at least provides us with a good if not great midfielder. We have enough of a base to build on so getting a high pick for Bryce is not necessarily a necessity. I can see both sides to this coin.
It's certainly a critical time for the club though. Time to rebuild to some extent. Let's hope the new President, CEO and recruitment manager don't stuff it up.
I think it's pretty obvious Malthouse will be tasked with rebuilding the list, and thank God he is the because he has proven he knows how to build lists.
Whether his game plan stacks up we won't know until he gets the right cattle . Right now the list is going through a transformation with the old players hitting the wall and kids like Buckley, Menzel, Docerty coming through.
With free agency , Gibbs not yet signed (could land an early pick), and some old players nearing the end, it is really is an interesting time for the club. The draft is supposed to be strong so I really hope the club make the most of the draft and the opportunity to replenish the list what with old players vacating ther posts soon.
It's not all doom and gloom because Port Adel showed you can turn it around quickly if you bring good players to the club and rebuild the midfield through the draft and shrewd trades.
I guess the concern is whether the club, who have been and still appear to be to some extent stuck in the dark ages, will rebuild the smart, modern way. Hopefully they won't think one player (another Judd) will be the savior. Hopefully they won't trade picks away. Hopefully they recognize midfield is the key in modern football. Hopefully they relies depth is more important than a $1M player. Obviously a balance needs to be struck and one could argue our midfield needs a player like Dangerfield and our spine needs a Frawley. I guess free agency is a wonderful thing in that regard.
Personally I hope they can cash in their older players, and use any cap space savings to bring in some free agency talent, and then cross our fingers our new recruitment manager does well in the draft. We will certainly have one high pick.
I'm torn on Gibbs. I understand he is nearly across the line but until the deal is signed sealed and delivered nothing is certain especially with a new President and CEO coming soon. I agree with Mick who said we need big bodied midfielders like Bryce. But I think everyone agrees now zbryce is not an elite talent and mightn't have a lot of improvement left in him so I do wonder if we are better off letting him go and getting another high quality kid with a high comp pick we get for letting Bryce go. Not too fussed either way as the flip side is we do lack depth and Bryce at least provides us with a good if not great midfielder. We have enough of a base to build on so getting a high pick for Bryce is not necessarily a necessity. I can see both sides to this coin.
It's certainly a critical time for the club though. Time to rebuild to some extent. Let's hope the new President, CEO and recruitment manager don't stuff it up.
