Time to decide

[1892]

The club needs to decide if we are a genuine chance next year or if we are still a couple of years off and trade accordingly.

If they believe we can make up the gap in strength and experience with the addition of a few players we should go all out and gain those players. Much like St Kilda filled their holes with King, Gardiner, Ray, Dawson, Schneider, Dempster.

If they don’t believe so we should aim for 2012-14 and take the route of Hawthorn by trading established players regardless of name (see Hay, Thompson, Lonie) and delist or phase out others next year.

There’s little point getting Seaby, Tuck etc if we don’t think 2010-11 can be our years, nor should we play/retain all of L. Brown, Byran, Davis, Fraser, Johnson, Lockyer, O’Bree, Presti if we’re no chance until 2012.

It’s an interesting time even coach wise, are the next 2 years about a transition and getting experience into Buckley or giving Malthouse one last shot?

There should be no half measures or sentiment and either way we need to go hard this trade period.

Sooner or later a side needs to look at the now and not the future. To me we missed our chance by not filling holes in 07-08, but the top end we had then is no longer.

From the outside I think we look more likely from 2012 when our youngsters have more experience and size. As such I would look to trade some of the more senior players if the deal is right and play Dawes, Wood, Reid, N. Brown etc when their form warrants inclusion. I’d also be giving more and more responsibility to Buckley over the next 2 yrs.

 

[dima17]

i agree 100% with what has been said above. THe only thing i would add is that we are capable of finishing top four over the next four years, and we did do this year. so i would argue that we go hard at trade week, fill the holes in our team (like st.kilda did) and keep turning over players.

and if it comes down to "steel sidebottom vs shane obree or tarken lockyer" at some stage over the next two years - it will simply mean we opt to play and develop our youth.

 

[datwhitey]

Yep, gotta agree. NOW is the time to start phasing out some of the older blokes who, IMHO are not likely to be part of a premiership with us or any other team. Perhaps we can keep a couple as back-up, should injuries to the younger blokes occur, but Steele, Beams, J-Mac, Brown, Reid, Dawes, etc. need to be given plenty of game time next year, and a PROPER opportunity to cement their places in the team. If it means we lose a few more games, so be it.

 

[pongo_3931]

I think Essendon has shown us what a really young playing group (not to be confused with young list, their seniors had sooo many injuries last year they were forced to play young) and a fresh coaching plan can do.

The got pretty battered last year but hit their straps towards the end and this year claimed some pretty big scalps.

I think a cull of some of our older blokes is in order. I think playing youth as a result will benefit us in the long run even if it means we have to take a step back for 12 or so months.

I'd be fascinated to see what MM and co. would be thinking about this very situation. I say we play hard ball with our list (but not to the point of being reckless, dont get me wrong).