...The Shiel talk surprises me because I keep hearing if he moved back to Victoria he'd prefer to go to the Bombres.

Hence the need to trade for him this year and not wait for free agency.

Can't see him blocking a trade to us.

Shiel is an absolute gun (as a Sydneysider I watch a lot of GWS) and I think his age is about right - pretty much 2 years to the day older than Paddy the First. He and Cripps would be the lead midfielders in their prime, Murph and Ed as the old heads, with SPS, Fisher, Kennedy and Dow leading the younger set. Didn't realise Shiel was a Carlton fan, so that helps. But I have to agree that a straight swap for #1 would be paying overs. I like the idea of offering a 2019 first-rounder, in the hope that GWS sees that as a top-5 pick, when in reality it could be in the 8-10 range. Alternatively, we can hope the AFL does us a favour with a very high PP that could be swapped for Shiel. If we have Shiel and Walsh next year (admittedly I know nothing of Walsh, just going on TC hype) then our mid-term prospects would suddenly be looking pretty tasty.

He's good but IMO he shanks too many kicks and is not quite in the best of the best discussion.

Kelly gets the tag but Shiel doesn't exploit that enough IMO - what if he comes to Carlton and does get the tag?

Add to that the shoulder problems and the club has to be very careful about a trade.

Hence the need to trade for him this year and not wait for free agency.

Can't see him blocking a trade to us.

Pick 1 -> Adelaide
Picks 8 & 13 -> GWS
Kelly -> Carlton

Kelly gets $2M upfront and $1M every year after that.

Looking at today, I can't see us being any thing but bottom 4 for years to come.

It took Melbourne 10 years, Brisbane haven't played finals since 09, we're 3 years into this.

what if it gets worse?

Looking at today, I can't see us being any thing but bottom 4 for years to come.

It took Melbourne 10 years, Brisbane haven't played finals since 09, we're 3 years into this.

what if it gets worse?

We got thumped by the most talented team in the league. I’m not too worried. Was always going to be a thumping.

Amazing what a preseason will do for this group.

2019 Season should start our new era.
66 week rebuild complete.

NEW: Docherty Williamson Plowman Fisher Kreuzer Pick 1 TRADE TRADE Pick 19 FA
PRESEASON: McKay Curnow SPS Dow OBrien Lang Pickett Kennedy Marchbank Macreadie Schumacher DeKoning

2020 NEW: FA TRADE TRADE

Carlton have got 10 picks to trade for good players 23-27yo in the next 2 drafts. I can't see why we can't make the finals in 2020.

Things will improve in 2019 from the 'get go'.

Things can change very quickly game to game. Last year we beat GWS by a point. We are missing so many players that will make a big difference next year.

Try not to be too negative. If at the end of 2019 we are still struggling then we are probably many years away. I think we will dramatically improve next year because of:

1. Players coming back into the team from injury.
2. Another year under the belt for youngsters.
3. Recruitment of another experienced (B+ or A grade) player ... hoping.
4. Recruitment of either Rankine (ready to go) or 2 top 10 picks.

I am getting old ... It's only football ... but it would be so good to see another premiership.