Not really. Next years draft is significantly weaker and will be heavily impacted by academies, NGA's, f/S etc. If we finish top 4 which we should expect, our first pick will likely be in the 20's and our second in the 40's. If we have a shit year and finish out of the 8, picks will be the least of our issues. I like it. Go for the high level talent while its there.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Especially if we trade the picks for Houston.
Imagine missing finals next year with an ageing list with no upside, and also not having any decent draft picks.

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'The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it'
H.L. Mencken

If we have another shit year next year we will be trading out players and more than likely back in the first round of the draft.

We wont be trading 12 and 14 for Houston. Unless we get something significant back. Personally, I'd offer them 14 and Motlop or take the picks to the draft. Houston wants to come to us but the deal has to be right. Having a loose cannon like Leppitsch involved muddies the water too much.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Didnt they say Houston wants to get to Collingwood ?

Anyway im non plussed. Would give them 12 or 14 and thats it.

BlueVain - How do we have enough points for the Campos now? I dont understand this point business. Hopefully we can trade Kennedy or Owies or Carrol for some late pics that will help.

Having 12 and 14 is great. Lots of options now.

The vibe seems to be that we go to the draft but we've got a bit more bargaining power now if need be.

Houston played junior footy/is close friends with J Silvagni?

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Via Jon Ralph

The Blues have not had recent discussions with Houston and believe he is still Collingwood-bound if the Pies, Gold Coast and Port Adelaide can agree on a three-club deal.

But if the Houston deal falls over — and there are still five days to run on the trade period — then the Blues would offer pick 12 for the dual All Australian.

They have traded out pick 36 and must retain their future second-rounder linked to Brisbane, so have little more left to give.

They would use pick 12 and one of Matt Kennedy or Lewis Young but the Power seems uninterested in either of those two players.

Carlton believed their No. 36 pick would have been swallowed up by a bid for Ben Camporeale so was happy to trade it.

The Blues believe their three back-end picks 69, 72 and 73 will move higher up the draft order once clubs bid on father-son and academy picks, and could be enough to secure both Camporeale brothers.

At worst, their second-rounder next year might be pushed back if they go into a small points deficit or they could trade more picks on draft night to ensure they have adequate points.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Perfect thanks !!

You know what - Stuff Houston if his 1st preference is to get to Collingwood. Why would we want to be his fallback option? Who knows to believe. 1st he wanted us and then he wanted Collingwood.

He wants to come to Carlton. But Austin may not want to pay the price.
He wont nominate a team that can't do the deal.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

So the age saying they believe Houston wants to go to Collingwood - is just make upey then ?

At least Austin is trying to do something now. We either get Houston for one of those picks or we have two picks in the top 15. Win - Win.

A long way to go, obvs, but if we end up taking 12 and 14 to the draft that may not be a bad thing.

From Port's side it's unlikely they'll buckle and accept less than they want. If that's more than we want to pay, good luck to Dan, wherever he ends up.

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Just saw it somewhere that he hasn't nominated a club, so yes, makey uppy definitely in force.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

Ben C seems to be rated just outside the top 30. Let's say a bid comes at 33, that's 563 points. Less 197 discount, that means we need 366 points. Our 3 x 4th rd selections will def move up 6 - 8 spots after all the bid matching from dons, lions, suns, plus possibility of clubs passing on late selections. If they move up 7 spots, our three selections will be worth approx 330 points. If they move up 8 spots they will be worth 360 points.

Lucas is rated lower than Ben. Any pick of Lucas after pick 55 means we get him for no points due to the 197 point discount.

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Go Blues

Keep 12, offer 14 otherwise go to draft with 12 & 14.

Good outcome

I would suggest Houston is off the table. Collingwood, Port and GC will get the deal done to get Noble, Houston, Lukocious and the other one to the clubs of their choice. It will happen and therefore my feeling is we will take 12 and 14 to the draft. But hey who here predicted we would get pick 14 from Hawthorn? Not me! But I'm happy with the trade. It shows that Austin and Co. aren't asleep at the wheel as some on here suggest.

And Bingo with pick 14.

I'd have a crack at pick 12 and Owies for Barrass now that Hawthorn seemed to have dropped plans to get him. Barrass suits our needs alot more than Houston.

for a 29 year old?

Ashcroft, Lombard & Kako will push 12 down to 15.

Interesting times for Gold Coast with their #6 pick. If I’m Richmond, the message is clear - trade it to us for Rioli, or watch it get eaten up matching a bid on Lombard.

Then there’s some f-wit at the Filth trying to swap Noble for Humphries

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