I am actually really concerned about the direction we are heading. I think our List Management is reactive and archaic.
It is obvious to most we have not turned over enough players or recruited well enough.
This year we get Thomas and pay overs for him. At his best he is a top class player but he is 27 next season and hasn't played much in the last 2 years. We will get Docherty for around pick 33 and will be handy and is the right age but is no star.
We also lost Betts for nothing because we got Thomas for nothing and handed Collingwood Pick 11.
We have been shopping around Lucas, Casboult, Laidler, Bootsma, Garlett & Yarran with little or no interest. Pick 32 for Hampson was a fair deal IMO. Unless we can move one of these we wont be doing much else.
Look at some of the other clubs and how they top up or re generate.
Collingwood will lose Thomas & Shaw but get pick 11 and Adams. They will also get White & Karnezis with later picks. For the second year in a row they will have two picks inside the Top 20. They are gold. Last year they got Grundy & Kennedy. This year will be just as good plus Adams is a star with 10 years ahead of him.
Hawthorn after winning a Premiership go out and trade Pick 17 and Savage for McEvoy. He is a top flight ruckman for the next 10 years and coming into his prime. He will be supported by Hale & Ceglar, both recruited from other clubs!
Sydney go and get Buddy. Smart from several angles.
Freo will go and get Sylvia & Gumbleton.
The difference is these clubs plan and do deals and they can afford them!!
Even St Kilda, realising they are crap trade good players (McEvoy, Dal Santo through FA) to get picks because they need depth and class. A bit like us. They are targeting 4-5 picks in the top 25 in this years draft. They will also get Bruce & Delaney with late picks. IMO that is smart.
North have been stockpiling for 3-4 years and will now add Dal Santo. Watch out in 2014.
I am told GWS are keen to trade Pick 2, even after they got Mumford with pick 35!
If I was us I would be trying to get it. Trade Kruezer or Gibbs. Both very good players but neither is Elite and are in their prime. No one should be off limits. Even a deal incorporating a few of Walker, Jamison, Warnock, Garlett, Bootsma or Yarran should be considered.
We have pick 13 at the moment. Our next is around 32? That is a lottery. We need early picks. If we could get pick 2 and maybe another inside 20 that would be a win. I hope we can.
Things need to change or we will be stuck in no mans land for a while. I have tried to be positive but what I see worries me as a supporter.