Maybe making room for Gibbs?

I am sure we are not currently under salary cap pressure. We are reported to have banked salary cap credits for a couple of years in order to land a top level free agent. My guess is that we would have no worries paying for one player like Gognilio, but maybe we have more than one top level player in our sites and thus the need to syphon off some salary if we get all we are after.

Maybe this is just wishful thinking........ but wouldn't it be great if true. As much as I have appreciated Daisy Thomas's contribution to the club in recent years after a slow start due to his injuries, I wouldn't have a problem with letting him go if it meant we got a couple of big fish... Cogs and Grundy anyone??

_________________
“Before you criticise someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticise them, you're a mile a way and you have their shoes."

Everyone.

_________________
Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Coniglio, Ellis, Papley, Martin.

It’s as if they’ve sent SOS to the shops to rustle up some dinner and he’s come back with a good, but overpriced wagyu steak & some @#$%&! ordinary vegetables.

_________________
"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

Vegetables are overrated particularly when it’s a marble 9+ rabbit potentially being served.

_________________
"A good composer does not initiate. He steals."

- Igor Stravinsky

I think you misread the article



I would not be surprised if we have salary cap issues if we got Coniglio, Ellis and Papley

Exactly.

I heard last year at that stage we had a $2M warchest.
It is a case of use it or lose it.

Best way forward is to get a player you target and not enter a war you may lose in the end.
Too many other pieces to put in place after a class mid has been recruited.
Lets just hope we really do get him.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

If you want to believe it was cap pressure...go ahead.

I don't believe that for a minute.

We have a war chest for next season too.

Front loading year after year has created a lot of cash to splash over the next 2 trade periods.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

“If”. And “if” we don’t get them then what? We ask him to come back? Why would we decide now “if” we aren’t sure that we will get them all?

This doesn’t make sense, Thomas must have done something really bad...

Players who get 'retired' in November don't get much of an opportunity to stand in front of the group and speak their piece.

250 game players deserve that opportunity at the very least.

_________________
"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

If we don't secure them, we can front load contracts for existing players. The money wont be lost.
I'd prefer the club go hard at free agents and miss out than not try at all.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Respect

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

War chest just grows as do our young players as we rise up the ladder, albeit slower without this year's FA's.

The footy world knows we are on the rise.
The footy world has seen fortunes change very quickly:

2019 Brisbane
2018 Pies
2017 Tigers
2016 Bulldogs

Carlton is next, but with a twist: a list built for sustained success and a destination club !

(unlike a built list from scratch with GWS and not a destination club)

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

At the end of this season, we will have 15 players on the list (32%) that have played 20 games or less. Of that group, Setterfield, Williamson, Stocker, De Koning, Schumacher & Ben Silvagni should get the opportunity to add to their tallies in 2020, although Schumacher will need a new contract to do so.

Polson, Macreadie & O'Dwyer will clog the main list for one more year.

Goddard, Deluca, Cottrell, LeBois & Owies are rookies with no prospects, whilst Kerr needs to hope a rookie spot opens up.

Of those with more than 20 games to their name; Thomas & Pickett are gone from the main list already, with Fasolo, Lang, Garlett & Lobbe to follow. Bugg was an early scratching from the rookie list, with all of Goddard, Deluca, Cottrell & LeBois set to be turned over as well.

At least six new additions to the main list, with another five to be added to the rookie list.

_________________
"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

I still have hopes for Macreadie. He has the skills to play AFL footy.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

To say Owies has no prospects is a bit harsh. First year back in footy for how many years, Category B rookie, a position we need, will surely get another year. Wouldn't be that shocked if Deluca and Cottrell were here next year either, mind you I wouldn't be shocked if they weren't.

I crave for more of what I saw when he first started from round 1.
This, after a break through preseason where he put his body on the line.
Then within a blink he'd be off with the ball.

I want more of that.
He looks like a wingman to me.
Forget the 6 foot wingman.
This kid is 196cm IIRC.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Pickett was the one I was really hoping would turn into a star....
Shame.

Still not getting the Thomas decision.
Surely there has to be more to this than meets the eye?

In terms of the next 5 yrs there's been some wonderful signs this year from some of our young players.

Jack is developing into a hard uncompromising contested bull who can set the right tone for his team mates. Looks super fit.

SPS's smarts and class setting up rebounds out of defence is more prominent. Also looks strong and fit.

The Gov has had a well deserved shake up from AR and looked fantastic yesterday apart from that careless act in the 1st qtr.

If AR can get a full preseason into Doc, Cuningham, Charlie and TDK, we're finals bound.