List build - where are we going in the next 10,000 posts?

In my opinion, plodders can usually play a defensive tall role, tagging midfield role and defensive small forward role. You can also include ruckmen in there, but I think there’s more to that position.
So unless they are absolute stars for can play multiple positions effectively, they are later picks more often than earlier picks.

The midfield is where the game is won and lost. So they hold the greatest value. Especially if they have multiple attributes (speed, kicking, strength, marking, etc). If they only have one of these, then they must be in the top 10% of the league in it to make up for the deficiencies elsewhere.

For me, wings are the next level of importance. Without good running power off the wing, you just will struggle to transition the ball or play an affective defensive transition game.

Then come the creative small forwards. They are few and far between and you are just as likely to get an ‘average’ one than the next Charlie Cameron.

Then come tall forwards. You definitely need forward targets. Yes, you can ‘get away’ with someone who contests (like Calshear Dear) but if you get a Curnow or Franklin, you’ll be set for a decade and you will be forcing the opposition backline into uncomfortable positions and decisions.

Then come medium forwards and medium defenders who can also switch into the midfield. These are usually ‘slow burners’ like Heeney and Rayner so there is some patience needed with them. Fyfe and Dangerfield played forward early, but they were always going to be midfielders and were shifted there within 3 years. The chances are, you just have a forward that works their way up to the stoppage and back rather than be a full time midfielder.

Then small defenders. I don’t think enough credit goes to this role because you definitely need them to combat the amount of small forwards in the game. There are virtually no lockdown defenders who can help with rebound transition. It’s either one or the other. There are also very few that transition into the midfield. Ed Richards is the closest to be able to make the transition and I’m not sure if the midfield is the best spot for him.

This doesn’t mean those positions are how I’d order a particular draft class. There are many other factors that go into making draft decisions such as needs (short and longterm), the individuals skills, whether your development can handle the player, whether they fit into your ‘club culture’, etc.

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I get the style comparison but Neale has always had that real elite level ball magnet ability that Caldwell does not have.

Nothing will legit change until there’s a full fucken board spill.

All comes from the top- not the CEO or coach or list manager.

External review!!!

Disagree.
Both players were serviceable.

although I thought Caldwell was lucky not to be dropped. He was underwhelming.

Both have taken a step up…. but they need to back it up next year. Enough of players having a break out years, and then dropping away again.

Not sure how that is harsh.

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fair enough

Yes I agree with Houli and Alex. Durham and Caldwell are very good footballers. The sort of guys that are first 22 on a team that should expect success. They aren’t top 30 in the comp, but you can trust them to give their all. They are also pretty flexible. I think both could run off a half back, could play time on the wing, or be in the core midfield. Caldwell has shown he’s very good in a lockdown role as well.

We absolutely need to pressure them to take an incremental jump next year, and I believe there is further development in them.

I have no issues with Caldwell and Durham.

They’ve had a good season, this year.

But I’m speaking more about how we analyse a players season.

When I say a player has an average or serviceable year. It’s not a bad or good thing. It’s just middle of the road.

People seem to think this is worse than someone saying ‘they had a sh*t season’.

But I’m also pointing out that most of our players who have a break out year, end up dropping away.

They need back it up.

Breakout years are always followed by LTI’s.

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Better than STI’s

What is STI?

Subaru Technica International

Sexually Transmitted Injury?

I thought it was players who signed contract extensions were followed by injuries.
Wright, parish, etc

It’s both.

This draft and trade period is really showing how ■■■■■■ a position Dodoro has left us in. We better double down on development with what we have, as we ain’t doing anything on the draft and trading front with what we have.

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Yep, we have no one to trade worth a first round pick, despite having a huge amount of players picked in the first round.

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How many list spots do we need to fill in the off season?

We currently have (with Stringer, Laverde, Weideman, etc still around):
34 senior listed players
3 rookie listed players
0 category B rookies

We can fill that with a total of 5 players, at least 2 of whom have to be senior listed, plus up to 2 category B rookies.

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I agree with your sentiment. But ill take it one step further and say both Caldwell and Durham had serviceable years THIS year.

Average in disposals, average in clearances, average in i50s, coaches votes, player ratings, brownlow votes, contested possessions, score involvments, ground ball gets, meters gained,i50s - the list goes on.

Both are currently 20 possesion/4 clearance players and need to take another step up next year.

Now with Durham, he has that explosiveness and impact that stats cant show however needs to be getting it more to take the next level. Needs to aspire to become more like Danger with his ability and this means having more impact more often.

For Calders, he could either become the next Sam Lonegan or the next Joel Selwood. Time will tell how this plays out.