GC1 is on its way, and maybe WS1 too, and we all know the next few drafts will be seriously compromised to the extent we won't have easy access to cherry ripe picks for some time now.

With this in mind, do we think we have enough good cattle to be a very, very competitive team in the next few years and beyond, good enough to maybe have a tilt at a Premiership?

I know it's arguably a bit early to tell, but I'd be interested to see what fellow TCers think about this topic.

I think in Warnock and Kreuzer we have two very, very good young ruck prospects, and I think in Judd, Stevens, Gibbs, Murphy, Scotland, plus others such as Hadley, Carrazzo, Grigg, Simpson, Walker, plus youngsters like Yarran, Browne, Robinson etc we probably have enough class and depth in midfield.

Down back I am actually a bit of a fan of both Jamison and Bower and think both will continue to improve and eventually be fine defenders for us. I also have been impressed with what I have seen of Austin and think he is improving at a good rate and stands a decent chance of making it also. Throw in Thornton and Waite, and maybe also Setanta and there's 6 tall defenders - surely enough to form a good backline in 2-3 years.

It is up forward that I have my only real reservations. Obviously Fevola is a gun of the competition, but outside of him none of the rest are guaranteed to be class forwards. The good thing however, is we seem to have competition for spots, so hopefully this will force players to improve. The way I see it, there's ... Cloke vs Hartlett for the CHF spot; and Fisher vs. Edwards for the more mobile, tall leading FP spot. Of course a Setanta or a Austin or even a Tiller in time could emerge as a forward, but right now I think we'd all agree the 4 aforementioned talls are at the top of the pecking order to assist Fevola up forward, and I think most of us would also agree none of those are guaranteed guns. So, is KPP up forward the one spot we might be a bit light on for? Are we a Roughead short of where we'd like to be? Or will Yarran be the second forward gun we need?

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

I think the timing of the gold coast team is going to help us if anything. I think its going to hurt teams on the way down as they miss out on the important draft picks, more so than teams on the way up. And we are definitely on the way up.. The thing is its hard to win a premiership and you need every little thing to go right. We will know in a few years but this might be just one of the little things going in our favour which might help us to number 17.

I don't see the GC team being a contender for a few years at least 6-8 maybe?

Good point Kaxsta.

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

you never know we may be able to trade our way into some good picks.

hampson could come on in the ruck, freeing kruze up front.

An additional forward that can stand up every game is the key. I think the backs are coming along OK with the required KP’s developing and having the athletic qualities needed these days, however, finding another KP especially across HF is going to be very important.
Cloke, maybe, but he lacks the athleticism and can get exposed when the ball hits the ground.
Kreuzer, maybe in spurts, don’t want to give him to big a load
Hartlett, my hope has always been him but the body mightn’t be up for it
Fisher, only good as a 3rd floating option IMO
I hope Waite can play there as he has the X factor

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C'mon Blueboys!

Thinking along the same lines.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Good post, and I think the last line hints at a possible solution. We know J.Waite has the ability to be a genuine go-to-man up forward. He kicked 36 goals in 2005, and he's a far better player now than he was then. And in 2007 he bagged 17 goals in a 5 week period. So we know he can be good for 2 a game on average plus the occasional bag, and that is a handy addition to Fevola. In 2009 he's probably good for 40-50 if he plays as a forward week in week out.

But are we robbing Peter to pay Paul if we take away his intercepting and running ability from defense? He really is the architect down there at the moment. I think one of the most important stepping stones for this team in the short term is to develop a backline. If one can be developed that covers the need for a Waite down back, then and only then should he be switched back forward. But right at this moment, judging by what I saw at training on Saturday, the plan is for him to stay down back in 2009 while the young defense develops.

The other point you raise is Kreuzer as a forward. Again, judging by what Ratten has said the plan is for Kreuzer to play ruck to utilise his athleticism and work ethic, and for Cloke to be trailed as the CHF. Right now Hampson turns the ball over at a rate of knots so it's hard to predict whether he will make it and allow Kreuzer to become a forward. It's all a bit up in the air, and I suspect the KPP structure won't be solidified until 2010. Ideally Hampson (and Warnock) both come-on, and/or Austin/Bower really come-on, which means a combination of Kreuzer and/or Waite can go forward. If one of these things can transpire, then it helps our structure enormously.

Let's say Hampson doesn't make the grade, but by 2010 Austin AND Bower both become good defenders (I already make the assumption Jamison will make it). The structure then becomes ...

Key Defenders - Jamison, Thornton, Austin, Bower (Setanta?)

Key Forwards - Fevola, Waite

Rucks - Warnock, Kreuzer

The reality is not all of these youngsters will develop into good footballers.

I think the other point that needs to be made is Waite's importance down back has less to do with pure defensive work (ie: ability to stand a man well), and more to do with his ability to carry the ball out and set up play. If a Bower can add more confidence to his game and become better at carrying the ball, and if the Griggs and Johnsons etc can develop into good running half backs, then we stand a greater chance of being able to send Waite back forward.

A forwardline of Fevola, Waite and a talented Yarran could be dynamite in 2 years time.

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

clubs that have finished mid-table for the best part of this decade will struggle a little more. we are blessed that we have a plethora of top 10 picks in our team + judd. sure we do have some weaknesses but players like armfield, browne should be good players. we probably need to utilise the rookie draft bit better [if thats at all possible] but we definitely need to be aggressive during trade weeks. there should be a free transfer system somewhere down the track as well.

I think that we will be ok for talent - perhaps we might be one KP short.

In terms of the impact of GC17 on the draft I'm not too fussed actually. We have enough 'kids' that we wont dont have a pressing need to pick up more. Furthermore, any KP kids that we might pick up would be unlikely to make a meaningful contribution to a flag tilt during our initial window (ie with Fev around) - if anything, we might look to trade our 1st round pick for a slightly older promising KP player (ie 21-25yo)