FarmerBlue wrote:
bondiblue wrote:
rhino27 wrote:
My biggest/only issue if he goes is our midfield depth.
Yes he is currently behind Walsh, Cerra, Cripps, Kennedy and Hewett. Yes if a one of those are missing we can potentially shuffle things around (ie Doc in the midfield).
Yet the reality is we often have multiple of the above missing. Love Kennedy but lets be honest. His ability to consistently stay on the park is only marginally better than the likes of Gov, Jack M etc.
Hewett has had 2 major back injuries in recent years. Cerra has missed multiple games due to his hammy on at least 3 separate occasions in 18 months. The once durable Walsh has basically missed 2 pre season and start of 2 home and away seasons in a row and currently out with a hammy.
Crippa rarely misses but his body takes an absolute battering. Something has to give at some point.
We let Setters go for nothing 12 months ago. Granted his injury history is pretty bad too. We let Dow go too (possibly for nothing), where is our depth? Who comes in when we have 3+ of the above all out injured at once?
I understand Paddy may make that choice himself but if we have the option to stay or if he says team x is offering me 2 years. You guys offer me 2 instead of 1 and I'll stay - can even be on a little coin, why wouldn't we do it?
I agree rhino. We have reached that point where our list proves that our depth is our friend nowdays.
Gresham
is the obvious one from the Gresham camp. I'm not.
It's very much about list profile. We lack that 26-30 group to help
Along with Gresham we will bring in another group of kids to go along with Hollands Binns Lemmey O'Keefe Cowan. A large group under 20. Ed, Plowman will leave making us younger again. You must balance that out
Gresham isn't a genuine A grade star (neitehr was Acres) but has attributes when fit. Can play mid minutes, has leg speed and can kick a goal. With McKay Curnow TDK Jack all fit an firing the more options we have as forward smalls that can do midfield minutes the better. I'm excited to see Owies Motlop Durdin Gresham Cuningham Cottrell all fighting for spots
Now more than ever depth and competition for spots is vital
Look Farmer I get it. I get the pro Gresham camp.
The point is everyone knows the uncontracted FA's and Gresham therefore is a candidate for selection.
For good reason, you seem to state its a fait accompli Gresham is coming to Carlton.
I will tell you why I think you sound like an apologist for the club against that back drop.
I have no idea why or how you can compare Acres and Gresham. I do actually, but it doesn't correlate whatsoever. Except, both their former teams let them go to better offers.
Acres had an outstanding season and Finals series the year prior to arriving. Gresham has not. Acres was worth taking at $400K to play, Gresham is depth and is not worth $400K
Acres filled a position of need, the wing, Gresham is a "midfielder who can kick a goal", but we have no shortage of midfielders. Just look to see at our depth players who cant get a game when Walsh Cerra and Kennedy are back.
As for fighting for spots for small forwards, do you really think that isnt happening with Durdin, Owies, Motlop, Fogarty, Cottrell, and since Cuningham and Martin have returned, bloody hell, You know we have to fit in Harry Charlie and possible SOS into that forwadline? Gresham is a peripheral player for the Saints and was unimpressive when the heat was and he had plenty of incentive to to display his wares on Sunday. There was no room for Fisher, who along with Cuningham, Fogarty and Motlop run through the middle, as did little Durds before coming to Carlton. We still have Cerra Walsh Kennedy to return to the midfield, now we want to add Gresham, to run through the midfield. Anyone can run through the midfield, but can they perform in 2024 and beyond? I don't care what he did in 2020 and 2021. We are talking 2024.
Acres came top fill a position of need on the field, and now Gresham is filling a spot for depth/ age profile for how much? Point is he takes up a list spot and does not fulfill a need. I could go on with the comparison...
Now the argument is Age profile; 26-30yo? Really?
Lets see who we've got to fill that age bracket?
Cripps, Kennedy, Hewett, Acres, Owies, Cuningham, Cincotta Kennedy Williams, Boyd, Saad, Fisher, and that's just those who can play midfield, add Newman, Silvagni,, Harry, Pitto, Durdin, Weitering add Dow and Fogarty next year...how many is that so far? 22/45...and we need to add Gresham to fill a shortage? I think you're very wrong.
How many players have we got over 30 in a potential premiership year. Not as many as previous Premiership teams that's for sure. In fact we have none this year and only Doc next year. Point is if there's a gap in Age profile one could argue its the 30 plus, but I'm happy where we are at.
The story keeps on changing to fit this square peg in a round hole.
There's better options than Gresham. Some are sitting on our list and looking at the door because we need to make 3 changes and get some new young blood in the team, or someone who will help us in Finals. Gresham wont get a game with us unless he finds that form from 2-3 years ago.
No offense Farmer, I love yu mate, but I think the argument against Gresham is stronger than the excuses I'm hearing to get him. If you know its a fait accompli that's fine, and I thank you for bringing light to the situation, but until he is signed, I will be disappointed to think we may sign him for the reasons I'm hearing to this point. Terry Wallace had the job at the Swans till the crowd gave their opinion.
I'm sure supporters like me, and the media noise before trade period will be quarrelling about who we could take to make a big difference to our team as our Premiership window is open (and reigning Premiers too). Being a Destination Club will shake out many more candidates at the end of the year, so I'm not counting on Gresham.
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and Ben is a tough inside midfielder.