Ok,

It's been nagging at me all day.

What I've done is come up with our best 25 for the start of 2016, which is I think is the most realistic chance of snagging a flag based on current demographics and talent of the playing list. This is based on currently listed players and assuming players below aren't there due to de-listings, trades or retirements. I've not included new draftees/trades etc (obviously).

What is encouraging is the age of the players, yes Betts, Jamo, Walks and Brock will be 29 but the rest are nicely positioned in terms of experience and age. Obviously some of the retirees may still be there and productive but I prefer the conservative/worst case scenario and work back.

Retired

Scotland
Carrazzo
Simmo
Judd
Waite

Traded

Warnock (while he still has value)
Hampson

De-listed

Joseph
Davies
Ellard
Duigan
Rowe
Duigan
O'keefe

Team

B: Tuohy Jamo McInnes
HB: Walker Watson Bootsma
C: Gibbs Graham Yarran
HF: Menzel Hendo Jeffy
F: Betts Levi Bucks
F: Kruezer Bell Murphy
I/C: Lucas, Armfield, Cachia, Mclean
Emerg: Temay, Curnow, Robbo

A lot worse lists out there, just need patience plus hardness and leaders

Rather than delisting Duigan twice, why not trade both of them for a kpf?

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Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

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Oh Yeah, nice one centurion

Jenx, there is no way that we will trade both Warnock AND Hampson.

Stamos,

Based on hypotheticals obviously.

Warnock will be 29 then, has a less than a durable body, can only play 1st ruck and currently has some currency.

I'm not averse to doing the unthinkable and trading Kruezer for something worthwhile but doubt that will happen given his perceived value. Love the big guy and am prepared to seem him play injury free for a year or two but can't stop thinking of the Josh Fraser comparisons.

Hammer, meh, he can stay unless we get offered something silly

Stamos,

Would you do a Kruezer + Laidler for Jaksh, Dom Tyson and a 3rd round pick? The Giants need this sort of trade.

Tell me you wouldn't think about it?

We've got to be realistic, we'll struggle to make top 4 this year or next. We need to build for 2016 and beyond.

The Giants might need that trade, but we certainly don't.
I wouldn't trade Kreuzer for anyone. The fabric of the club is bigger than individual pieces, and you don't improve your club by selling your soul.

Whilst I don't agree with these trades I will give you some pieces of fabric;

Trent Croad young fabric >>>>>> Luke Hodge
Brendan Fevola recognised as poor off field quality fabric >>>>>> Lachlan Henderson + Kane Lucas

We need to find someone to replace Waite fast, in fact this person should have been at the club two years ago.

Trent Croad and Fev were not fabric. James Macdonald was though. And Kreuzer is.

Supporters are already throwing up stupid trade suggestions after nine rounds.

Some of us think that trading players is akin to trading swap cards.

You don't trade someone like Kreuzer unless he insisted on it and even then you get on your knees and beg for him to stay.

....and that's the problem, never ever beg anyone to stay, if they don't want to stay get the best you can for them. An issue I have is that whilst we are trying to build our next premiership we don't try and trade players at the height of their value. Everyone is tradeable and if an offer came along that would take us forward we should take it, actually we should be encouraging it.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

..personally, i don't see any comparisons with Krooz and Fraser, beyond them both being pick 1 rucks.. ..some may point to the notion of them being undersized as ruckman.. ..but so was Jeff White, and he played at the same time as Fraser.. ..nobody compared them.. ..Fraser was like Knockers and Hampson.. ..less about individual ability, and more about playing attitude..

..and at times he could be a bit of a pea heart, but fraser as a young ruck was good in those GF losses to brisbane, who played the GF specialist in clarke.. ..and he cranked out 200 games.. ..am not saying fraser was some under-rated gun.. ..but i do think he gets a little maligned these days..

..your ruck needs to be a machine.. .work hard, crunch players, bowl and batter them over and playing attitude of the ruck is a prime mover in regards to overall team playing attitude.. ..krooz plays like a leader on the field.. ..not just attitude, but guidance and self sacrifice..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

its a business,

as the psych says, "everyone is tradeable for the right price".

where they were selected in the draft is irrelevant

BTW, Kreuzer was poo tonight, as was gibbs (1st qtr excepted)

trade kreuzer, kidding yeah.....
we only need another key forward,
do what swans do best, chase a player on the fringe and sell him a story.
scott gumbleton, tom lynch, ben griffiths, todd elton
shane kersten, arron cornelius, jack watts
just some examples, but i am sure we can sell a good story to pick up a ready made key forward,
we have some cash also, make an offer they can't refuse!!!!!!

It's a business, but one where winning games is the goal, not making a profit.
And while culture is important in all businesses, it's even more important in football clubs.

Trading Kreuzer out would ruin us.

Get the best we can and that should do the job. I like the list you're looking at: Jack Watts would be

We don't need to trade Kreuzer for that to happen. Give them our pick 12 or a former first rounder, say around pick 3....oh yeah Brock fits that description. They'd be rapt to get their favourite raffle ticket purchaser.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

He's already at the club, he's called "Henderson" OMG!!!!!

At the weekend we played our Best balanced side in a long while.

I am hoping during the second half of the year we have a similar type line up.

B: Simpson Jamison Laidler/McInnes
HB: Walker White Tuohy

Foll: Warnock/Kruezer Judd Murphy
C: Yarran McLean/Curnow Gibbs

HF: Garlett Henderson Armfield
F: Betts Waite Casboult

Int from: Menzel Bootsma Graham Carrazzo Lucas Robinson Bell Ellard


Lots of run, pace and good ball use.
Jamo, Laidler, Waite, Henderson, Walker & White are all interchangeable.
I still believe Laidler's ball use, intercept ability and 3rd man up role is needed.
Lots of goalkicking options.
Game is really going away from contested ball so one of McLean/Curnow play. Curnow more a tagger and McLean more of a ball winner.
Gibbs to fill Scotland role on wing dropping back and distributing
Garlett, Yarran, Betts rotate through middle.
Simpson seems to have settled well in BP.
Menzel, Bootsma, Graham, Lucas are the future.
Either Warnock or Kruezer play, not both.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015