I think at some stage if you keep trying to sure up this current team you'll just end up delaying an inevitable decline. I'd be proactive and say anyone over 26 is tradeable. Stevie J, Stokes are good cats men and the midfield is a weakness lets keep them. Mackie, Enright, Kelly, Lonergan etc no one wants them for anything. One key defender Frawley in for free, one key defender out for a first round pick.
At the moment I see the number of spots needed to be filled in the best 22 as at least 6 (McIntosh, Bartel, Kelly, Enright, Mackie, Lonergan, SJ) in the next 1-2 years vs the improvement in the kids as taking Geelong backwards before they come forward. Is that a fair statement? No doubt the gun kids will improve but it's those who haven't played 20 games yet who probably don't cover the decline of some superstars.
I'm also not doubting Harry Taylor's abilities right now, just wondering how important a gun CHB if you have a gun full back in Frawley as well as Rivers as an option. Sydney and Hawthorn will likely make the grand final with Teddy Richards and Brian Lake. Both super reliable stoppers. Then they'll play Spangher and Heath Grundy as the other key defender who will sit on the back up rucks. Considering it's not really FB and CHB these days as key defender 1 and 2, do you need so much invested in 2 key defenders?
The other benefit besides the high draft pick Taylor would fetch would be the salary cap space. Instead of burning a chunk of it on Frawley, by trading it out you've still got it spare. Hello Dangerfield big contract?