Stefchook wrote:
Dominator_7 wrote:
Already 5 down... 6 if rumors that Clem has packed his bags and gone home already are true.
Unless we manage another package deal with GWS to bring in a group of players, that's probably about it for list changes this year. Unlikely to pick up more than 6-7 new players through draft and trading.
I'd expect most of the rookies to be gone as well.
Clearly our list needs another few years to clear out all the dead wood.
Great post! and couldn't agree more.
While we all realise that the list needs to be cut deep, we don't have the ability to replace them. We just won't have the picks or trade currency...unless SOS can weave some sort of crazy magic.
Our first 5 selections are pick 5, pick 23, pick 41, pick 49, and pick 77.
So far, we've got 4 senior positions to fill (Walker, Jamison, Foster, Dick). Where there's smoke, there's fire, so let's say that Clem Smith is gone too. That's five senior positions to fill. Let's look at this independently of the rookie list.
We have 5 positions to fill and 5 selections available. If we all cry for Mark Whiley to be delisted, we're not able to replace him with anyone unless we can get some sort of package deal with GWS like last year. An alternative would be to move him to the rookie list on a 1 year deal, and elevate a rookie during the draft period. The only exception is if we end up with a Free Agent. I don't know how many there are left, that haven't re-signed with their original clubs already.
1 rookie position (Wood) has been made available due to his retirement, and assuming Korcheck, Sheehan and Byrne are all Cat B Rookies, we still have 3 Cat A rookies on the list out of a maximum 6. So there is room to move in the rookie list if we wanted to move some bodies around. Remember, we only have 1 veteran player (Grandpa Simpson) so we can nominate a rookie for senior selection. Obiously, none of these decisions need to be made now, before the draft, or even this year. It could certainly be used as an incentive for all players, rookies included, that anyone could play in round 1, 2017.
Of course, we could move some battlers on for mediocre picks, but expect battlers in there place. I don't see this as much of a solution unless we're shifting the age profile of the list. Getting rid of White (28yo), for instance, and getting a 22-23 year old battler in his place might not be a bad move but we're not necessarily moving forward to much, and its unlikely to happen anyway.
I wrote a post a little while back, talking about a couple of years of changing 7 senior players, like our 2015 draft/trade period, would have our list in great shape for the 2018 season. On further reflection, I don't think we have the player currency to be able to pull off a similar feat, and for this reason, I might have been off the mark and it may not be until after the 2018 draft that we'll be in our happy place, list wise.
I thought about Gibbs being traded to Adelaide, because of the whole age profile, premiership window reason. I've posted this previously. But the Crows only have 14 and 50, and I just can't see them giving up 14. I initially thought I wouldn't take 14 anyway, but I really think I would. Perhaps 14 and they give us their 50 for our 77 so we move up at the tail of the draft (where we still expect to be active). I didn't want to get into a trade rant, so I'll save that for another post.
I'd be interested in what you all think.
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