Strategy Trade and List Management Thread Part 8 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)

[_Mike_]

Opposition supporters coming to troll , you have been warned

 

[Proffessor]

He's had only 2 preseasons though...

He hasn’t had 1 actually this will be his first

Buss was drafted back in 2022, so he has had 3 preseasons in the AFL system and is about to enter his fourth.

They may not have been perfect but has had them.

 

[lachy]

Buss was drafted back in 2022, so he has had 3 preseasons in the AFL system and is about to enter his fourth.

They may not have been perfect but has had them.

Absolute rubbish. Fisrt pre season was in full rehab of shoulder reconstruction. Took till more than half way through the season to even play. The next 2 pre seasons had surgery, did not commence full training till late January early February.

Not only not perfect but non existent, sorry the facts do not support your premise at all

 

[DueWest]

Gallagher reminds me of a young Matty Boyd tbh.

Boyd took a lot of time to come good, very good midfielder but tended to turn it over a lot. He moved to half back and used his experience to take his time when disposing of the ball and his disposal efficiency improved.

At his best he was a brilliant defender and great one on one.

 

[Proffessor]

Absolute rubbish. Fisrt pre season was in full rehab of shoulder reconstruction. Took till more than half way through the season to even play. The next 2 pre seasons had surgery, did not commence full training till late January early February.

Not only not perfect but non existent, sorry the facts do not support your premise at all

I recognise Buss has had a substantial amount of bad luck with injury but regardless of these unexpected obstacles, he has still spent a lot of time in the system, and needs to somehow find a way to overcome them and still excel.

Compare Buss with Sam Darcy, who was drafted just 1 year earlier and has also had a retched run with injury.

 

[lachy]

I recognise Buss has had a substantial amount of bad luck with injury but regardless of these unexpected obstacles, he has still spent a lot of time in the system, and needs to somehow find a way to overcome them and still excel.

Compare Buss with Sam Darcy, who was drafted just 1 year earlier and has also had a retched run with injury.

False equivalence. Buss may or may not make it, but any player needs 3 to 4 pre seasons to get to true AFL strength and fitness base. He literally has not had one yet, and has still improved year on year. These are simple facts not opinions.

He has not spent the critical pre season time in the system at all

 

[Proffessor]

Absolute rubbish. Fisrt pre season was in full rehab of shoulder reconstruction. Took till more than half way through the season to even play. The next 2 pre seasons had surgery, did not commence full training till late January early February.

Not only not perfect but non existent, sorry the facts do not support your premise at all

So how long does he get lachy?

He is contracted for the 2026 season, but there are several others on the list competing for the same position, with more likely to arrive before it starts.

Whichever way you slice it, he needs a big preseason, and a pretty solid 2026, to guarantee a contract extension.

 

[lachy]

So how long does he get lachy?

He is contracted for the 2026 season, but there are several others on the list competing for the same position, with more likely to arrive before it starts.

Whichever way you slice it, he needs a big preseason, and a pretty solid 2026, to guarantee a contract extension.

Don't disagree, would expect significant improvement after a full pre season of he is to get a contract extension. Though will still be a couple of years away

 

[goodcop badcop]

Absolute rubbish. Fisrt pre season was in full rehab of shoulder reconstruction. Took till more than half way through the season to even play. The next 2 pre seasons had surgery, did not commence full training till late January early February.

Not only not perfect but non existent, sorry the facts do not support your premise at all

Busslinger played 19 out of a possible 20 games in his 1st season.

 

[MrChristo]

You also need to practice semenal retention to spike your testosterone.

I imagine a seminal spike would be relatively easy to spot in, say, an espresso martini.
(Not that thst particular drink would encourage testosterone at the best of times...)

 

[lachy]

Busslinger played 19 out of a possible 20 games in his 1st season.

Yes my statement was not well worded, he struggled for the first half of the season as he did not have a proper pre season and playing in the VFL was his pre season. Same again in 2024 and 2025. Never had a chance to build strength or a base in pre season. This year he will

 

[Iamspock]

He's had only 2 preseasons though...

And they've been interrupted as well.

 

[adogsfan5]

Buss was drafted back in 2022, so he has had 3 preseasons in the AFL system and is about to enter his fourth.

They may not have been perfect but has had them.

Has never had a full pre season mate. That’s why the club views huge upside.

 

[BomToydd]

Do we need to find a spot for him - he seems to be another player that does great up until he actually has to take possession and dispose of the ball. Contrast with someone like dolan who just looks sharp as a tack with ball in hand.

Gags just has to work on his faults and when he does he will demand a position almost anywhere, but his faults are the kind that dont fix easy

Dolan looks like a smart and promising player but he doesn't look particularly quick or strong so I think Gallagher could help more with locking the ball in the forward line. Would be nice if he had Dolan's composure with the ball though

 

[stefoid]

Dolan looks like a smart and promising player but he doesn't look particularly quick or strong so I think Gallagher could help more with locking the ball in the forward line. Would be nice if he had Dolan's composure with the ball though

You only have to lock the ball in the forward line if you dont score first!!

 

[Proffessor]

Don't disagree, would expect significant improvement after a full pre season of he is to get a contract extension. Though will still be a couple of years away

A couple of years away from what? His peak?
That may very well be true.

My point is that if he doesn’t get a move on that he probably won’t be on an AFL list when it occurs.

 

[NthBondiDoggies]

Dolan looks like a smart and promising player but he doesn't look particularly quick or strong so I think Gallagher could help more with locking the ball in the forward line. Would be nice if he had Dolan's composure with the ball though

Am a huge fan of Dolan. He has skill and composure that is really hard to teach but extra power - you can get from the gym. That will increase his burst and agility and leap - he is already good overhead but will get better.

Both he and Hynes were smart picks that we are going to love and smart picks because they will both get much better as they put on muscle. Hynes at 190+ and that balance and fend.

 

[Proffessor]

Has never had a full pre season mate. That’s why the club views huge upside.

Pre seasons are important, but they aren’t the be all and end all.
His selection in the All Australian U18 team is a long time ago.

For those who have watched him closely, I’m genuinely interested to hear where this huge upside with Buss is going to come from. Will he get quicker, stronger, more creative?

Where do you expect him to display an elite ability/outstanding dimension to his game that is going to cement him in the side going forward?

His best currently looks solid rather than outstanding, which is ok as long as he can demonstrate it soon and fill a role.

 

[bresker]

He'll do the natural progression that many players do as they get older. Some make it, some don't. But not many players get worse as they get older

More preseasons +
More confidence +
More knowledge +
More strength +
= better players .

 

[CDBulldog]

Pre seasons are important, but they aren’t the be all and end all.
His selection in the All Australian U18 team is a long time ago.

For those who have watched him closely, I’m genuinely interested to hear where this huge upside with Buss is going to come from. Will he get quicker, stronger, more creative?

Where do you expect him to display an elite ability/outstanding dimension to his game that is going to cement him in the side going forward?

His best currently looks solid rather than outstanding, which is ok as long as he can demonstrate it soon and fill a role.

Ok. Good intercept marking ability. Very good footskills, can roost the ball which is a bonus, positions very well, height. Downsides - pace (hard to fix but mitigated by good positioning, and strength (which will come in time).

 

[adogsfan5]

Pre seasons are important, but they aren’t the be all and end all.
His selection in the All Australian U18 team is a long time ago.

For those who have watched him closely, I’m genuinely interested to hear where this huge upside with Buss is going to come from. Will he get quicker, stronger, more creative?

Where do you expect him to display an elite ability/outstanding dimension to his game that is going to cement him in the side going forward?

His best currently looks solid rather than outstanding, which is ok as long as he can demonstrate it soon and fill a role.

Fitter / stronger = more confidence in his game. The whole “he’s too slow” is nonsense. Which full backs are quick?
I think it’s more about reading the game and the coaches can help with that. I see the upside in his skills, just needs some one on one improvement and a full body of work over summer.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

Busslinger played 19 out of a possible 20 games in his 1st season.

It doesn't really tell the story of his first season though.

I distinctly remember going to Skinner Reserve for a preseason training session. Something I try to do at least once a year. And watching him trailing in well behind a couple of other guys in the rehab group. As they did the gentlest of run throughs. At the time he could barely lift his arms above his headl. None of which should come as a surprise given his recent shoulder reconstruction(s). But it ads context to the discussion surrounding his alleged deficiencies when it comes to one on one contests.

Will he make it? Dunno. What I do know is that he's come from a long way back.

 

[Proffessor]

Fitter / stronger = more confidence in his game. The whole “he’s too slow” is nonsense. Which full backs are quick?
I think it’s more about reading the game and the coaches can help with that. I see the upside in his skills, just needs some one on one improvement and a full body of work over summer.

Agree that confidence can make up for a lot.

However, if he needs coaching to read the play he is in big trouble, it needs to be instinctual.

As I have said before, I think he needs a big preseason, to get supremely fit, and hopefully gain the confidence to be aggressively offensive with his positioning, willingness to go for intercept marks, and with his disposal.

I actually think his one-on-one defensive work is ok, and I don't think that is where he needs to focus on improving. The way we play, we need players who take the game on when the opportunities present.

 

[yebach]

How many games and seasons did we give English to prove himself?
We continue to give games to VDM & McNeil.
Why can't Buss be afforded the same opportunity?

 

[King Harold]

How many games and seasons did we give English to prove himself?
We continue to give games to VDM & McNeil.
Why can't Buss be afforded the same opportunity?

He is getting that opportunity ?
Our problem the way I see it , we need that part of the ground fixed now.
Maybe he fixes it this coming season , but there’s a good chance he will still need more time.

I will be surprised if we don’t list some journeyman as cover.

 

[geoffjennings79]

Need Rick Kennedy tutoring Busslinger. Then it won't matter if his opponents are 20m away from him, they'll be looking over their shoulder to see where he is... maybe he could use one of them as a surfboard like Kennedy did with Dunstall on one occasion?!