Strategy Trade and List management Thread Part 6 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)

[Golden_6]

I was looking at the aggregated averages across the year.

Which would not be accurate right? Raw numbers aren't really relevant in this regard and you need to look at his individual matchups to get the full picture. English has a very high TOG% and doesn't play anywhere else other than in the ruck.

 

[King Harold]

Have any of you experts worked out what’s happened to Macrae ?
From a star to a lifeless plodder.

Almost like him and Daniel walked hand in hand over the cliff !

 

[Munnez]

Lobb deal make sense at the time

Dogs didn't expect Darcy to jump out of the gates so early

Given how Timmy progressed club can be forgiven thinking Sam might be on a similar trajectory given their physical similarities in the early stages.

 

[BEaston]

Which would not be accurate right? Raw numbers aren't really relevant in this regard and you need to look at his individual matchups to get the full picture. English has a very high TOG% and doesn't play anywhere else other than in the ruck.

Correct. Average just tells his average for a game, not how likely he is to beat the opposing ruckman.

 

[PocketRocket08]

Have any of you experts worked out what’s happened to Macrae ?
From a star to a lifeless plodder.

Almost like him and Daniel walked hand in hand over the cliff !

The game has changed. To high speed quick ball movement game. The stand rule has opened the game up.

 

[Golden_6]

Have any of you experts worked out what’s happened to Macrae ?
From a star to a lifeless plodder.

Almost like him and Daniel walked hand in hand over the cliff !

Macrae at his best was a picture of consistency. He never dominated games but was never quiet. All of his work was done over the length of the entire game as a midfielder.

Now his strengths have been taken away and he's expected to make an impact in the middle in short sharp bursts (which he can't do). Not to mention his lack of natural speed is probably more evident now.

 

[geoffjennings79]

Have any of you experts worked out what’s happened to Macrae ?
From a star to a lifeless plodder.

Almost like him and Daniel walked hand in hand over the cliff !

Possessed by aliens King, who have no concept of humanity's sporting endeavours. It's the only explanation I can come to terms with... especially if you're suggesting the alternative is they're walking around hand in hand! (NTTAWWT!)

 

[King Harold]

Macrae at his best was a picture of consistency. He never dominated games but was never quiet. All of his work was done over the length of the entire game as a midfielder.

Now his strengths have been taken away and he's expected to make an impact in the middle in short sharp bursts (which he can't do). Not to mention his lack of natural speed is probably more evident now.

Amazing to me one rule change is basically ending the career of a footballer who 2 years earlier every club in the comp would want in their best 18.

Your explanation is most probably on the money.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Which would not be accurate right? Raw numbers aren't really relevant in this regard and you need to look at his individual matchups to get the full picture. English has a very high TOG% and doesn't play anywhere else other than in the ruck.

I posted this a couple of weeks ago (clicking on the link takes directly to the post)

Review - Dogs choke the life out of The Eagles

Was the free against Baker for taking the player's legs out at the end of 3rd quarter fair? Seemed like he got to the ball ok and the opponent came in and tripped over him I thought I saw Bont trip over an Eagles player on the ground earlier in the game and the ump paid a free against Bont for...

www.bigfooty.com

It remains true. It's entirely fair to say that English is probably a below-average ruck in ruck contests themselves among what would be expected for the 25 or so "first rucks" in the league that would consistently get games (including those injury, who would get a game for another team etc.) but the extent that he's bad (he's merely just below average, not awful), is overstated- he's far from the worst the impact that it has in clearance success is not proven, and he arguably more than makes up for it in all elements other than the ruck stoppage.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

Is anyone a bit concerned with some of our list management decisions over the past few years?

• Trading two 2nd rounders for Lobb when we had Darcy waiting in the wings. It also practically made Bruce redundant

It all depends on whether Lobbs deal was as reported at the time 3 years or whether as was reported a week or so ago it is actually 4. If it was the former then I dont understand the angst that it gets in here. He is relatively cheap insurance that allowed Darcy to get beyond his first couple of seasons where he was invariably going to have growing and injury issues. If it's the latter then it doesn't look so good, but thats only because Darcy is a true unicorn who is coming quicker than a virgin in a knock shop. Bruce was cooked when Lobb arrived and we desperately need ruck coverage and the alternative was Sweet. A guy that neither the club nor I rate.

• The Dunkley trade and lowish return for him (although that may have been more to do with Brisbane then us, but we had the opportunity to trade him earlier at the same time)

I dont think the timing mattered much. When a player elects to leave and they nominate a club. They have all of the leverage.

• The unnecessary signings of some of our fringe types for more then a year (Gardner,Baker,Poulter,Scott)

This is a valid point, but all of thsee guys are mature bodied role players from within the games system who can step in as needed. However their real role is to fill out the list and to take minimum wage so as to pay the stars, as it is to play games.

We can only carry so many developing kids. Who unless they are from the elite end of the draft more often than not have inherent flaws in the game and take multiples off years to be match ready. If they ever make it that far.

• Slow to cut some of our spuds

A common refrain across all clubs.

• Continuing to pick players from Footscray and not working out (McComb, Poulter etc.)

I dont see a problem with giving the last spot on the list as a means of attracting long shots to the club.

They're as likely to make it as some random 3/4/5th rounder or rookie selection.

See you previous point.

• Trading 3 first rounders to pick Sanders (time will tell on this and it also meant we secured Croft for sure with this trade and maybe at a lower price possibly)

I get the sense that people in here are cooling on Sanders a bit. It makes no sense at all.

Much will depend on how he and Croft develop over time as to whether this was a wise move or not. It's way too early to judge just yet. It was a bold move for a club as risk averse as ours.

Im ok with it.

I'm a little bit concerned. I think we've been far too slow to see where the games been trending, towards the faster, smaller types.

Welcome to my thoughts of 2 years ago.

Geelong and GWS for example were in a similar position to us and have been much quicker to react then us. We at least have tried to cover it a little bit in the last few drafts, but we're still a fair way behind. We put too much priority on the Lobb trade when I think we had other areas of need. Trading 3 first rounders for Sanders wasn't something I would have done, but I think he will be a good player all the same.

GWS have the inbuilt incentive to trade out quality players for quality picks.

Its how the AFL set them up and it how they've been structured since their inception.

Geelong are just the exemplar when it comes to a slickly run outfit.

We could learn a great deal about things from them. But we just feel a little small and amateurish in comparison.

Again the reasoning for the Lobb trade was a sound one.

The positive for us is they have built a very good list of future talls to build around. And Liam Jones is probably the best recruit we've had since I have no idea when, I just wish he was 25. O'Donnell too will be a great asset that we got for free.

We are currently witnessing the cost of this.

So what does everyone think? Have they done a good job? Should they be doing better? Are you concerned or is the issue with the coach?

I dont have an issue with Power or his list management. What concerns me, is how we haven't foreseen the drop off in some of the core players on our list over the past couple of years. We are currently witnessing what happens when we have an imbalance in the list because the cost of getting so many quality talls has coincided with the drop off of a number of mids that are still at the core our once deep midfield. Its forced us to fill holes with kids and journeymen in the midfield and wings. Something you just cannot get away with against good let alone middling teams in this competition. The injury of Smith has not helped in this regard and if he decides to leave then we are in a world of hurt.

Its going to take us a couple of seasons and a s**t load of recruiting/development luck to address this.

Would changing the coach get more out of such an unbalanced list that relies as heavily on a few aging stars in the midfield as ours?

Honestly. I don't know. I have my doubts.

 

[Senor Ed]

I posted this a couple of weeks ago (clicking on the link takes directly to the post)

Review - Dogs choke the life out of The Eagles

Was the free against Baker for taking the player's legs out at the end of 3rd quarter fair? Seemed like he got to the ball ok and the opponent came in and tripped over him I thought I saw Bont trip over an Eagles player on the ground earlier in the game and the ump paid a free against Bont for...

www.bigfooty.com

It remains true. It's entirely fair to say that English is probably a below-average ruck in ruck contests themselves among what would be expected for the 25 or so "first rucks" in the league that would consistently get games (including those injury, who would get a game for another team etc.) but the extent that he's bad (he's merely just below average, not awful), is overstated- he's far from the worst the impact that it has in clearance success is not proven, and he arguably more than makes up for it in all elements other than the ruck stoppage.

What he lacks is an aggressive competitive nature against physical rucks. He gets dominated by any ruck regardless of talent if they are physical with him. Ruck's are the biggest myth in football. Rucks are there to create contests and try to nulify the influence of their opposing ruckmans. They don't need to be skillful, beautiful below their knees, or great users of the football. All they need to be able to do, is give the mids the best opportunity to gain possession. And Tim does not do that often enough. Might as well dig ourselves a grave if we offer him a huge deal.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

They don't need to be skillful, beautiful below their knees, or great users of the football. All they need to be able to do, is give the mids the best opportunity to gain possession. And Tim does not do that often enough.

I'm not really sure this line of thinking is agreed upon by the majority of people that work at AFL clubs, or those that have handed out contracts to rucks consistently from different perpectives over the last few years.

I agree in the most literal sense that by virtue of the rules of the game leading to 80 stoppages per game or whatever that it's helpful to have someone tall to contest the ruck contest. But the value-add of being good at that and being below-average on that, on the proviso that that player is already 2+ metres tall, is overstated. The game is fundamentally different to when Gary Dempsey was running around. This is proven by the fact that the terminology of centreman, ruck-rover, rover etc. is different to what it is today and is no longer used. It makes no sense to make the distinction between roving and ruck-roving or whatever.

I would also argue that a skillful ruck, one good below their knees, or being a great user of the football, provided they meet the minimum standars of being tall and reasonably physical enough in the ruck that their opposition isn't getting 20 hitouts to advantage a game or whatever (which English meets, given that he's 30th of 46 players who consistently attended centre bounces last year in hitout win rate), is important. Outside of the stoppage, they are one of the 18 players out on the field, and can contribute to driving the ball forward, winning possession, like any other player can. I think it's ridiculous to suggest otherwise. We can see visually e.g. how English pushed forward harder than Darcy to get inside 50 and convert three kicks inside 50 to three uncontested marks/marks on lead and three shots at goal. It was English's possession-winning ability by covering the ground that directly converted a inside 50 to a shot on goal, something that we obviously would want from every inside 50 but does not always happen.

 

[Senor Ed]

I'm not really sure this line of thinking is agreed upon by the majority of people that work at AFL clubs, or those that have handed out contracts to rucks consistently from different perpectives over the last few years.

I agree in the most literal sense that by virtue of the rules of the game leading to 80 stoppages per game or whatever that it's helpful to have someone tall to contest the ruck contest. But the value-add of being good at that and being below-average on that, on the proviso that that player is already 2+ metres tall, is overstated. The game is fundamentally different to when Gary Dempsey was running around. This is proven by the fact that the terminology of centreman, ruck-rover, rover etc. is different to what it is today and is no longer used. It makes no sense to make the distinction between roving and ruck-roving or whatever.

I would also argue that a skillful ruck, one good below their knees, or being a great user of the football, provided they meet the minimum standars of being tall and reasonably physical enough in the ruck that their opposition isn't getting 20 hitouts to advantage a game or whatever (which English meets, given that he's 30th of 46 players who consistently attended centre bounces last year in hitout win rate), is important. Outside of the stoppage, they are one of the 18 players out on the field, and can contribute to driving the ball forward, winning possession, like any other player can. I think it's ridiculous to suggest otherwise. We can see visually e.g. how English pushed forward harder than Darcy to get inside 50 and convert three kicks inside 50 to three uncontested marks/marks on lead and three shots at goal. It was English's possession-winning ability by covering the ground that directly converted a inside 50 to a shot on goal, something that we obviously would want from every inside 50 but does not always happen.

If we require our ruckman to push forward to take marks in f50 whilst playing 3 x 195cm+ forwards (in most cases 2 x above 200cm), then therein lies the issue. Tim should be plugging holes down the line when we don't have the footy, providing a bail out option in between the arcs when we're exiting the d50 and helping back taking marks in d50 (He costs us 4 goals v bombers with his non competitiveness and dropped marks in d50)

We need a ruckman who can adequately fit into our structural issues that we have. Paying English $1mil a year is foolhardy, Tim ain't that guy.

 

[cecil]

Those stats are great. Surprising that English spends so much time in ruck contests considering we have some of the best ruck rotations in the league. Him tiring may explain the periods where the opposition ruck gets on top of him. I'd like to see it more a 70:30 balance with Darcy/Lobb

 

[TiAn_]

English’s problem isn’t generating benefit from own ruck work, as this year he wins a hit out to advantage at 14% of ruck contests he attends, which places 6th of the top 25 in total hit outs to advantage this year. Funnily, Jordon Sweet currently leads the league at 19% form a smaller sample.

English’s problem is negating his opponent. His hit out win percentage (38%) is one of the lowest of that cohort of 25, meaning he concedes more hit outs to his opponents than most other first rucks.

Basically, Tim will have his influence but won’t take anything away from his opponent and will generally allow his opponent to have maximum influence in the ruck. It’s why so many ruckman will post season and career high hit out totals against him.

 

[Scotch N Coke Monatore]

Surely McNeil get his standard 5 week run of senior footy

There should be no place in the team for any player who does not tackle, cannot lay a physical tackle, runs past the ball to avoid contact and generally takes short steps.

 

[Scotch N Coke Monatore]

RALPHY’S 30 FREE AGENTS TO WATCH​

CAMERON ZURHAAR (NORTH MELBOURNE)
His manager has made it clear that Zurhaar has a decision to make. His teammates want him to stay, but he is the definition of noncommittal. Bounced back with three goals against Adelaide after four goals in his first five games. He’s very much on the table for a rival, with his good mate Ben McKay saying post-Anzac Day he was sure Essendon would be interested.
As McKay said, making a pitch to his former teammate is above his pay grade, but if the Roos remain uncompetitive, it would be surprising if Zurhaar stays. But surely no one offers him the deal to trigger first-round compensation and another top-five pick.

Zurhaar could be the latest to leave the Roos. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
HUGH MCCLUGGAGE (BRISBANE)
The Lions have the cap space, have offered him a six-year deal and believe he will stay after he told this masthead in the pre-season it was his preferred outcome. But given rivals are also offering six-plus years at $1.3m, he might have to accept seven figures less over the life of the deal to stay. It’s still not likely to be enough to move the needle, so would a club like St Kilda throw him $1.4m-$1.5m a year to extract him? Make it a $9m deal over six years.
His year has just been solid – 37th of all midfielders and 63rd of all players in the league.

McCluggage will command big money. Pic: Michael Klein
JARROD BERRY (BRISBANE)
Has an offer in front of him, but Berry is an inside midfielder playing wing with a bit of inside action. His contested possession rate is elite, but his kicking is below average as a wingman even tried in defence earlier in the year after Keidean Coleman’s ACL tear. After missing the top 10 in the best-and-fairest last year, would a rival make a sizeable play for Berry to help their centre square team? With Will Ashcroft back as early as round 10 and brother Levi coming in November, would the Lions match a bid? Perhaps not.

Berry has been a solid contributor at Essendon. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
BLAKE HARDWICK (HAWTHORN)
One Hawk who can truly put his hand up and say he’s given his all this year, playing both forward and back. Four goals against Collingwood, but plenty of time being flicked to both ends. Contract talks have started and you’d expect him to stay the course given he is a restricted free agent, which means he’s already in the top 10 pay rankings at the Hawthorn. At age 27 he would want a four-or-more year deal.
Hardwick and the Hawks are in discussions on a new deal. Pic: Michael Klein
OLIVER FLORENT (SYDNEY)
Contract talks have started with his management at Connor Sports. As an unrestricted free agent (outside the top 10 in pay at the club), Florent will be seeking a hefty pay rise, but as a durable running flanker coming off a 140-ranking point, 28-disposal and seven-score involvement game, he has timed those contract discussions well.

Florent has been a key cog at Sydney. Pic: Michael Klein
ANDREW MCGRATH (ESSENDON)
The Dons will reward McGrath as one of their “glue guys” with a six-year deal, which he told this masthead this week he was happy to sign. Essendon is still resisting putting CBA contract clauses in their deals to reflect the future rise in the salary cap. The parties are still haggling, but McGrath should expect a deal well in excess of $800,000 a year.

McGrath has been superb down back for Essendon. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
JACK GRAHAM (RICHMOND)
Is he exactly the kind of selfless hard-running prototype midfielder for the transition game a club would love to get its hands on, or is he just a handy type? Graham racked-up 15 tackles in his first two games, in a year interrupted by a quadricep issue, but hasn’t hit 20 possessions in any of his three games. He ranks below average for disposals, contested possessions, clearances, and scoreboard impact and poor for kicking. They are unflattering numbers.
But with clubs like the Crows desperate to lure free agents home to Adelaide, they will have to be interested in him to bulk-up their midfield.

Graham has had a tough start to the season. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
ELLIOT YEO (WEST COAST)
Was very keen to sign a two-year deal, which was in the works before new list boss Matt Clarke arrived at West Coast. That still seems on track, even as clubs who asked about him last year step up the chase. If the Eagles lost him as a 31-year-old on a three-year deal elsewhere, their compensation might be second-round at best. That won’t be enough given his importance in helping midfielders Harley Reid and Reuben Ginbey grow, so the only option that makes any sense is a sign-and-trade where the Eagles lock him away, then wait for insane offers inside the top 12 picks. If someone is desperate enough to pay him the money to consider a trade, then it’s his decision to stay or go.

Yeo is back to his best. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
HARRY PERRYMAN (GWS GIANTS)
Port Adelaide is keen on the general defender, who in some sides might play midfield, but has been used in the backline for the Giants under Adam Kingsley. He wants to stay, but after signing a pair of two-year deals, would a rival turn its head with a long-term deal on reasonable money? The Power certainly has the cap space and needs another mid-sized defender in a week when they dropped Ryan Burton. Perryman faces the free-agency conundrum – stay for less at a club he loves, or use the privilege of eight years’ service to jump ship to shore up his financial future.

Perryman is being chased by the Power. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )
ISAAC CUMMING (GWS GIANTS)
Another Giants defender keen to stay, with clubs like Gold Coast interested in his services.
Has pace and elite kicking skills, which don’t always stand out, given brilliance of Lachie Whitfield and Lachie Ash around him, but his upside is what excites rivals. In 2022 he averaged nearly 550m gained. Another player who would need to be offered a deal of several hundred thousand dollars a year higher than the Giants to consider moving on. Has battled a 2024 calf injury, so is returning through the VFL.

Cumming hasn't been able to get on the field this season. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
JACK HENRY (GEELONG)
Not going anywhere given brother Ollie is an attacking mainstay, but the Cats just wanted to see how his body responded after twin foot issues. A new deal in the offing.

Henry is expected to stay. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
NICK HAYNES (GWS GIANTS)
Another loyalist who won’t want to leave, but after only two games in 2024 (one against the Roos with 36 minutes of game time), Haynes is surplus to requirements. Just racked up 36 possessions against the Roos in the VFL, so he’s still got it, but he turns 32 next month. Would he accept a two-year deal on modest money elsewhere to extend his career? Not sure.

Haynes has not been able to crack the GWS team. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
BEN AINSWORTH (GOLD COAST)
He and his partner are very keen to remain on the Gold Coast, but the Suns do have a reasonably tight cap (with Matt Rowell and Charlie Ballard out of contract next year). So after being paid very well so far across his career, Ainsworth has the choice to stay on good, but not ridiculous money on a new deal – or chase a fortune elsewhere. His free agency status means he will have suitors after a strong start to the year without shooting the lights out – averaging 15 possessions and kicking six goals in seven games.

Ainsworth will have suitors. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
TIM ENGLISH (WESTERN BULLDOGS)
An enigma. He ranks sixth of all rucks this year and his critics have come hard. As Leigh Matthews said of him last week: “Tim English is a big man playing like a little man. He’s not playing with enough aggression. You can’t have soft big men. He is playing soft”. English responded with 23 touches, six tackles, six clearances and 28 hit-outs and, to be honest, it’s hard to find a suitor for him. The Eagles have three rucks, aren’t in the window and would be cautious about his concussion history. Might not get the very top dollar he wants, but English should stay at the Bulldogs on a six or seven-year deal on seven figures a season.

English will command big money. Pic: Michael Klein
WILL HAYWARD (SYDNEY)
A medium forward with significant interest from rival clubs, including Adelaide, given his free agency status and goal power. Hayward is elite for inside-50 marks and has kicked 11.4 so far this season. He’s not a superstar, but would fit well into Adelaide’s forward line as a consistent lead-up presence and enable the Crows to release Izak Rankine into the midfield.

Adelaide has strong interest in Hayward. Pic: Michael Klein
JOSH BATTLE (ST KILDA)
The Saints are supremely confident Battle will stay, with talks on track for a long-term deal. Elite for disposals and above-average for one-on-one contests, but his intercept game isn’t at the level it has been previously – only four intercept marks in the last three weeks. If Dougal Howard could get back to form, it would release him to fly for marks.

The Saints expect Battle to stay. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
ELLIOTT HIMMELBERG (ADELAIDE)
GWS missed out on the 2024 unrestricted agent last year and the Crows at least played him on the weekend – rewarding them with two goals, 98 ranking points and seven score involvements. Still expect him to get to the Giants alongside brother Harry, but just not sure he would play in the senior side very much.

The Giants chased Himmelberg in 2023. (Photo by Linda Higginson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
MATT TABERNER (FREMANTLE)
Still only 30 and finally putting games together (six goals in four contests). Taberner is a low-possession winner, but hasn’t gone goalless in 2024 so far. If the Dockers’ keep Sean Darcy it’s hard to see where he fits into the Luke Jackson/Jy Amiss/Joel Treacy forward line. He needs to stay fit all year – after his back issues – to be an attractive proposition for rivals.

Taberner is a known goalkicker. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
BAILEY BANFIELD (FREMANTLE)
An extremely bright start to the year after only 14 games in 2023, kicking nine goals to go with 16 touches a game. The hero against the Dogs with three goals, Banfield is keen to stay in Perth, but told Fox Footy on the weekend that talks with the Dockers were yet to kick off.

Banfield was the hero in round 7. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
DUSTIN MARTIN (RICHMOND)
Do whatever makes you happy, Dusty. No suitors yet. Gold Coast a little interested, but aware that he might be happy to stay at Punt Rd or retire. It would help if he wouldn’t be seen to want top-dollar to play elsewhere. Will sit down with manager Ralph Carr at season’s end to work through his future.

Where does Dusty play in 2025? (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
BRANDAN PARFITT (GEELONG)
Quieter on the weekend after a five-week hot streak where he averaged five clearances and eight tackles a game. As an unrestricted free agent, Parfitt would be mad not to want to shore-up his financial future. Last year it was apparent with tight list sizes that he didn’t have suitors, but he will this year. How much will he sacrifice to stay at the Cats?

Parfitt has worked his way back into the Geelong team. (Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
TYSON STENGLE (GEELONG)
The Cats are keen to lock Stengle away and after 12 goals in his first seven games in 2024, he has the form on the board to start negotiations. He will want to set himself up financially and Geelong will want to offer a responsible deal, so it might take some time to broker. Not going anywhere.

Stengle has made a strong start to 2024. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
CONOR NASH (HAWTHORN)
The unrestricted free agent wants to stay at the Hawks, but has put talks on hold with his manager Peter Lenton until mid-season. Nash is still putting up huge tackling numbers (six per game) and averaging 4.9 clearances. The Hawks have so much salary cap space they would be crazy to low-ball him and allow him to consider a rival deal.

Nash has delayed talks. Pic: Michael Klein
ADAM TOMLINSON (MELBOURNE)
Unlucky to lose his spot after nine spoils and eight intercept possessions in the first game of the season against Sydney and now putting up huge VFL numbers. As an unrestricted free agent, a rival would be silly not to swoop for Tomlinson. His latest VFL game? 38 possessions, six intercept marks, 17 intercept possessions, 15 marks. And he’s only 30.

Tomlinson is out of the Dees team. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
TOM MCDONALD (MELBOURNE)
Admits he came into 2024 aware it could be his last season. More likely to sign a one-year deal or retire than play elsewhere. But in a market with so few key defenders, will never go out of style.

McDonald may be in his last year. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
TRENT MCKENZIE (PORT ADELAIDE)
Has only played a single SANFL game this year due to injury and the club’s inclusion of Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Esava Ratugolea means others have gone past him at the Power. He’s 32, but played 19 games last season, and a club like North Melbourne could do worse than ask about McKenzie if he is deemed surplus to requirements at Alberton.
McKenzie (R) in the SANFL. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
DION PRESTIA (RICHMOND)
More likely to sign a one-year deal at the Tigers, given his many injury issues of late.

Dion Prestia has continued to battle injury. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
LEWIS MELICAN (SYDNEY)
A strong season so far, after only eight games due to hamstring issues last year. Melican is 27 and will be keen to stick around in Sydney to add to his tally of 67 games.

Melican has been steadfast for the Swans. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
LIAM DUGGAN (WEST COAST)

More Coverage​

The Eagles’ co-captain has finished top-five in the best-and-fairest in three of the past four seasons. He will be looking for a five-year deal in excess of $800,000 to stay.

Duggan will be hunting a big deal. (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )
JASON JOHANNISEN (WESTERN BULLDOGS)
Had a sneaky-good start to the season, averaging 23 possessions and 76 per cent kicking efficiency. The 31-year-old is worthy of another one-year deal, with clubs always looking for rebounding backs.

I am reminded of that old gem, he's played with all the greats and Tim English

 

[54Bulldog16]

Ok I’ve called it in my own mind.. time for a mini reset.

1. Keep Bev, but in a Coaching director role.
2. Recruit Cox as Senior Coach
3. Allow Cox free rein to pick his assistant coaches (but keep Pratt).
4. Offload Daniel, Macrae and Lobb for late seconds, early thirds with focus on maximising points and Free up $2m in cap space
5. Use our 2nd, and picks/points from 4. Above to swap for brisbanes 1st (points for Ashcroft FS
6. Trade Smith for pick around 10
Take Brisbane 1st and 10 to draft for best 2 mids
7. Add Hayward and Florent as FA with cap space from 4.
8. Win premiership 2025 and beyond.

This ain’t so hard.

 

[Munnez]

Gee, some tempting free agents coming up.

Florent, Berry, Cummings, Stengle.

Berry especially might be a Moneyball inside mid.

Don't @ me.

I feel they would all be best 22.

Berry could be a good acquisition but not under Bevo. Can put on a hard tag and still rack up some stats of his own. But as we all know Bevo very rarely tags. So guess with him a lot depends on the coaching situation at years end

 

[Mojorisin]

As of this morning, as I’ve been told.

Richmond, Melbourne, Saints are asking about Lobb
Both SA teams are asking about CD
North, Saints and Essendon are asking about Macrae

Dogs are looking to up their offer to Smith to 4 years + more money.
English is looking to be 5 on 900 odd
JUH 2 on 850ish

And I’d be slightly nervous around Bont if we don’t have a signature by Christmas…

As usual you've beat me to it. Good to see some of the things I've been told today is the same/similar to things you've relayed.

Lobb is someone I think will stay but also has the potential to get more games elsewhere. He is also the one that will be the easiest to trade as he doesn't have a huge price tag over his head.

Daniel is as good as gone from what I'm told, as you say both SA clubs have interest however I'm told Crows are most likely.

Macrea is a very complex case and something I'm sure the media will grab onto shortly, especially if he is out of the team again. Clubs are interested but the length of the deal is a big sticking point, if he was traded out the dogs likely to only receive a third unless a significant amount of the contract was covered.

Information on Smith I got was similar but although I heard the original offer of 2 years has doubled to 4 the money per year hasn't changed as it was already similar to that on offer from rivals.

English is the same as yours. His manager was asking for 1.2+ over 6 years, but rivals offers ended up similar including sharing Ruck duties (Xerri/ROB) so no point in moving.

Jamarra the same.

Busslinger has put contract talks on hold until the end of the year with blessings from the club in hopes that he will be able to negotiate a better deal with some decent form under his belt. Eagles have offered him 5 years on 500k plus large incentives for games played and B&F finishes.

The club have are assessing where they are at in relation to the review over the bye round as was organised prior to the start of the season but won't 'jump to conclusions' from the small sample size we have seen.

Alot of the players the club had outlined as potential targets are now re-signed or are in the process of re-signing hence why they've upped offers to the current out of contract players. There are still 2-3 bigger name targets on the board but otherwise it'll just be role players.

 

[Next Waiting]

Information on Smith I got was similar but although I heard the original offer of 2 years has doubled to 4 the money per year hasn't changed as it was already similar to that on offer from rivals.

They want him to walk, as do I. The trick will be to get a pick inside the top 5 this year from this and other manouevrings......Power will have to work some magic but that's what he's paid for. Over to you Sammy.

 

[Testekill]

Have any of you experts worked out what’s happened to Macrae ?
From a star to a lifeless plodder.

Almost like him and Daniel walked hand in hand over the cliff !

It's just his style of play. You can't be a slow accumulator anymore.

 

[Bald]

It's just his style of play. You can't be a slow accumulator anymore.

Tom Mitchell was a premiership player literally last year.

Edit: Don't mean this to be a crack FWIW, if Tom can adjust his style of play, surely Macrae can as well.

 

[Hobdog]

As usual you've beat me to it. Good to see some of the things I've been told today is the same/similar to things you've relayed.

Lobb is someone I think will stay but also has the potential to get more games elsewhere. He is also the one that will be the easiest to trade as he doesn't have a huge price tag over his head.

Daniel is as good as gone from what I'm told, as you say both SA clubs have interest however I'm told Crows are most likely.

Macrea is a very complex case and something I'm sure the media will grab onto shortly, especially if he is out of the team again. Clubs are interested but the length of the deal is a big sticking point, if he was traded out the dogs likely to only receive a third unless a significant amount of the contract was covered.

Information on Smith I got was similar but although I heard the original offer of 2 years has doubled to 4 the money per year hasn't changed as it was already similar to that on offer from rivals.

English is the same as yours. His manager was asking for 1.2+ over 6 years, but rivals offers ended up similar including sharing Ruck duties (Xerri/ROB) so no point in moving.

Jamarra the same.

Busslinger has put contract talks on hold until the end of the year with blessings from the club in hopes that he will be able to negotiate a better deal with some decent form under his belt. Eagles have offered him 5 years on 500k plus large incentives for games played and B&F finishes.

The club have are assessing where they are at in relation to the review over the bye round as was organised prior to the start of the season but won't 'jump to conclusions' from the small sample size we have seen.

Alot of the players the club had outlined as potential targets are now re-signed or are in the process of re-signing hence why they've upped offers to the current out of contract players. There are still 2-3 bigger name targets on the board but otherwise it'll just be role players.

Bless you and BulldogMuscle for your generous sharing of what is going on


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[VitalDread]

Ok I’ve called it in my own mind.. time for a mini reset.

1. Keep Bev, but in a Coaching director role.
2. Recruit Cox as Senior Coach
3. Allow Cox free rein to pick his assistant coaches (but keep Pratt).
4. Offload Daniel, Macrae and Lobb for late seconds, early thirds with focus on maximising points and Free up $2m in cap space
5. Use our 2nd, and picks/points from 4. Above to swap for brisbanes 1st (points for Ashcroft FS
6. Trade Smith for pick around 10
Take Brisbane 1st and 10 to draft for best 2 mids
7. Add Hayward and Florent as FA with cap space from 4.
8. Win premiership 2025 and beyond.

This ain’t so hard.

If lions trade picks
They would aim for Richmond's pick as they will finish lower than us