Molly wrote:
I'm really puzzled by all of this.
My guess is that Saddo will be an ok pick up for us, and that McLaren won't. Okay - read that sentence again. It said 'my guess...' And that's all it comes down to - a guess. That's all any of you are doing. You're making guesses about how good these guys are going to be.
So let's take out the guesswork, and assess these moves according to the information currently available. That is, let's look at the logic the club used - and much of this has eloquently been put by Cazzesman (who by the way, is under no obligation to provide the inside thinking - and as such we should be praising his thoughts rather than denigrating them), So here goes:
1. We have a list with holes everywhere
2. Two particularly noticeable holes are the backline (talls) and the ruck
3. The draft was weak in 2005
4. We drafted to fix as many holes as we could given (a) the strength of the draft; and (b) our position in the draft. In the end, our drafting was 1 on-baller, two key position players, and one utility (Edwards). It was our belief that depth did not run past about pick number 45.
5. We have an issue with (a) salary cap; and (b) finances overall
6. Hence, no opportunity to make a massive play for a player such as Power in the PSD. Thus recruiting efforts are necessarily limited.
7. However, given the lack of depth on our list, and the need for our young players to develop at their own pace, it was necessary to draft some senior bodies to complement what we already have.
8. Saddington and McLaren fit the bill of: not too expensive, won't add to salary cap problems, have potential to add to ruck and key backline positions.
9: We take Saddington at pick 52 in a draft we believe lacks quality past pick 45 (and I'm probably being generous there)
10: We take McLaren at pick 1 in the PSD when we need ruck back-up for French and there is agreement that the young ruck options in the draft were not gilt-edged opportunities. Only quality player in the PSD was previously ours, and we had shown him the door on discipline issues.
So what do we have? A Tall Backline player and a ruckman who can both play immediately. They don't cost the earth, and they allow Kennedy, Bower, Edwards, Aisake, Hartlett, and Batson to develop at their own rate. We don't kill ourselves salary cap wise, and most importantly we don't endanger any further our financial position. It amazes me that some of those advocating we make the big play for Power are the same people who are advocating massive board changes because our finances are out of order.
In the end, Saddo and McLaren are likely to be prospects to hold positions in the team for the next couple of years while our young players develop. We haven't given up anything for them, and we haven't endangered the financial health of the club to bring them here. They are said to be good role models for our young blokes - they come from clubs who have won four of the past five premierships. I keep seeing that we need leadership - and whilst I don't know if these guys bring us leadership, they sure have been immersed in a winning culture. They've been coached by the best, and they've played with the best. If they even are able to add 10% knowledge of winning football culture to the kids on our list then their recruitment will have paid for itself.
Look, come the end of the year - I fully expect to be bottom three, if not wooden spoon. But will I be cursing and swearing and saying that recruiting these guys have set us back? Well, look at the other options we had.... there just wasn't much on the table.
Wish I'd said that.
Thanks Molly, fine effort at paying attention
Regards Cazzesman
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