2022 trade speculation (Part 2)

Because our midfield depth is shocking?

Jack Ross signed with Richmond for 2 more years two weeks ago

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I definitely wouldnā€™t do it for EFC, but I wasnā€™t suggesting we should. I think GWS might try and move a player to increase their leverage with Taranto and Hopper negotiations, Haynes was a good example of who they may seek to move.

If stocker is going to cost a pick in the rookie draft, why not take a punt on him. He can be that defensive mid that we need, heā€™s already a decent build and if thereā€™s doubt on his fitness Iā€™m sure as a professional he would hire a pt and knuckle down as it has already cost him a spot at carlton.

I think people are overemphasizing the importance on height. Your not going to overlook someone just because they arnt tall mids. Lachie Neale is under 180cm, if you can football you can football.

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No, it isnā€™t. Itā€™s just playing in our forward line. Will also likely be adding midfielders with pick #5 and Alwyn Davey.

It really is. Itā€™s deceiving because literally every midfielder we have is playing seniors apart from Ham.

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its about list balance with our list.
Mostly Part time/wingers
VOSS 194cm
Stringer 192cm
Langford 192cm
Martin 190cm
Perkins 188cm
Durham 185cm

Main mids
Hobbs 183cm
Caldwell 183cm
Shiel 182cm
McGrath 180cm
Parish 180cm
Merrett 179cm

Snelling 175cm - was a Rutten favourite spent some time up ground and in mid rotations, maybe be a VFL mid next year.

That said If Wardlaw is there we take him 182cm

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Our depth isnā€™t great, but if you added 3 high quality HFF/small forwards to our list, weā€™d drop three midfielders.

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so has parish and look at how the zealots defend him to the hilt and canā€™t fathom why anyone would dare to mention him as a trade target.

if he has a few clangers he should fit right in at the club cos most of the players have em, week to week.

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Setterfield has been disappointing for a few years. I donā€™t think heā€™s going to make it.

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From the Herald Sunā€¦

WILL DELISTED BLUES LAND AT RIVAL?

CARLTONā€™S Will Setterfield and Liam Stocker are expected to attract interest from Essendon as the pair look to extend their AFL careers.

Stocker was delisted by Carlton after 28 games in four years while Setterfield has been asked to wait until after the trade period for a new contract.

Stocker was played largely in defence but was highly-rated by ex-Carlton list boss Stephen Silvagni when he was taken in the 2018 national draft.

Setterfield had shown promise as an inside midfielder but was squeezed out on to a wing after the Blues brought in George Hewett and Adam Cerra this year.

The Bombers liked Setterfield, who supported the Bombers as a child, in his draft class and considered taking him with the No. 1 pick alongside Andrew McGrath and Hugh McCluggage.

At 192cm Setterfield could provide some size the Bombers require in the midfield.

The Bombers are also eyeing Stocker, who would could provide some hardness and long-kicking to the back half. Stockerā€™s fitness was an issue at Carlton but the youngster is keen to play on at AFL level next year.

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Yer look, i dont disagree.

Parishā€™s disposal this year was very disappointing, particularly by foot.
Not sure what happened from 2021, when he was working his way thru traffic thoughtfully in order to give him more time and space to dispose.

Our first 8 rounds when the mid group as a collective were playing hot potato with the ball inviting oppo pressure was a real hard watch.

Weā€™re a poor kicking team.
Definitely in the bottom 8 IMO in terms of having above average kicks.
We maybe have 1 consistently good kick per line, thats why im hesitant to bring in guys like Stocker, or Dunkley for that matter.
Sometimes, the other attributes and strengths are enough.

Am all for picking up these cheap players (and trying the moneyball option) and trying them out if we can get a gem - given that this year is pretty much a write off in terms of any success and will probably be spent mostly integrating the new coach/ planā€¦etc - Unless thereā€™s a miracle (and given our rotten run of luck + some self-inflected work for the past two decades) people will be dreaming if they think we can do a collingwood with a first year coach.
Ideally, if we get the culture right (and get all departments/ stakeholders/ powerbrokers on the same page)ā€¦success will automatically follow and it will result in excellence - the old saying of ā€™ champion team vs team of championsā€™ will kick in when everyone is pulling in the same direction.
That was the optimistic view - but these 2 decades of mediocrity and pain is almost driving me away from footy. These days Iā€™m kinda getting desensitised to it and probably as an inbuilt defensive mechanism, have just tried to focus on Soccer/F1 and Cricketā€¦cant harbour that loser feeling - it eats your soul.

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his kicking was just as bad last year, just the 40 plus disposals meant MOST supporters were ok with it, cos you know possessions.

this year however the poor foot skills combined with little to no defensive pressure plus not 40 possies a game meant a few more people noticed it cos the supposed pay off wasnā€™t the same.

we dont have the experienced senior players they do - Sidearse, Pendelbury, Treloar, Adams etc

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Disagree with this, but i cant prove it because there isnt a meaningful stat in football that can measure it (i dont rate DE).

He was definitely moving more confidently in congestion which was giving him easier options, and more time.
Therefore, his disposal was better, or resulting in better outcomes for the team, even though his actual kicking prowess has most likely not changed.

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Our write up of Stocker in his draft year

Having finished his schooling in 2017, Liam Stocker has had the benefit of absolute TAC Cup commitment this season and has flourished. The Haileybury product, who could follow in the footsteps of fellow 2017 alumni Andrew Brayshaw, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Aidan Bonar to be drafted in the first-round, has the rare ability to break games open. The 183cm midfielder initially caught the eye in round three of the TAC Cup season, with a damaging 21-disposal, two-goal display against the Calder Cannons at home. Stockerā€™s ability to rest deep in the forward-line and hit the scoreboard was also particularly notable in Round 3 of the TAC Cup, drawing comparisons to Richmond champion Dustin Martin as a result.

Missing Vic Metroā€™s crusade in the National Under 18 Championships with a broken jaw, Stockerā€™s name did not seem to feature in the conversation of 2018ā€™s top prospects mid-year, but a dominant back-end of the TAC Cup season saw that change. The inside midfielder plays with aggression and tenacity and contributes in all facets of the game, having averaged 23 possessions (12 contested), six clearances, five inside 50s and five tackles from 12 games this season. His status as an elite midfielder became apparent when the Dragons hosted the Pioneers, gathering 35 disposals together with four marks, five tackles and a goal. The St Kilda supporter capped off a memorable season with the coveted Morrish Medal, recognised as the TAC Cupā€™s best-and-fairest, three votes clear atop the leader-board. It puts the talented junior cricketer in favourable company, with Richmond cult-hero Jack Higgins, Demons ball-magnet Clayton Oliver and Brisbane Lions Rolls-Royce Hugh McCluggage the past three recipients of the award.

STRENGTHS

  • Aggression
  • Explosiveness
  • Leadership
  • Vertical jump
  • Size

Stockerā€™s aggression, explosiveness and tenacity combine to make the oft-used term ā€˜midfield bullā€™ quite the fitting description, while he leads through his commanding voice and ā€” more importantly ā€” his actions. Indeed, while Stocker can often be heard ordering direction, his unrelenting attack on the ball is likely to inspire teammates wherever he plies his trade in future. In addition, the midfielderā€™s versatility, on show when resting at full-forward, is another feature likely to catch the attention of multiple clubs ahead of the 2018 draft. The type of player that makes opposition defences nervous, he presented a constant threat when deployed out of the goal-square. At 83 kilograms, Stockerā€™s size caused headaches for opposition midfields throughout the season, making him an AFL-ready prospect for 2019.

Stocker showed through the finals series he can play through adversity, which he did while having a clear shoulder injury. He has shot up the draft boards from last season to this year after a huge pre-season and his consistency since coming back from his broken jaw has been noticeable. It is how he earned the Morrish Medal with many best on grounds through Sandringhamā€™s season which was mixed, often playing in a team missing its top players through school football, but his game never wavered. Even upon their return, Stockerā€™s consistency remained. He also achieved a massive 85cm running vertical jump at pre-season testing, which is why he can play effectively up forward.

IMPROVEMENTS

  • Endurance
  • Durability

Stockerā€™s game does not present any obvious flaws, but by his own admittance, his endurance could improve, stating ā€œIā€™m not really fit enough to be an outside mid, so I base myself on the inside and try to get as many clearances as I canā€, after being presented the Morrish Medal. While seen as an inside midfielder ā€” focusing on winning contested ball ahead of running all day ā€” his endurance may yet need to improve for AFL level next season. Another potential question mark could arise over Stockerā€™s durability, who apart from a broken jaw, sustained multiple niggles throughout the season, playing just 12 of a possible 20 TAC Cup games.

DRAFT PROJECTION: 10-25

SUMMARY

Liam Stocker is simply one of the best midfielders in this yearā€™s draft crop. He appears ready to play against men and would be a strong chance to do so at AFL level in 2019 if he can get his body right early on with a full pre-season behind him. Stocker is an elite inside midfielder who bursts out of stoppages, is dangerous when drifting forward, tackles hard and takes marks around the ground. His ability to have an influence throughout four quarters is very good and expect him to be high on a lot of clubā€™s draft boards.

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Here is a difficult one for you.

If he gets really fit, and starts playing to the best of his abilities, which player do you think he would be like??

Luke Parker

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I like the Setterfield idea, a lot of similarities to Brodie imo.

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