We can’t continue to go with players who are perennially injured every 4 games. I’m more inclined to cut our loses now and get rid of these players. The player doesn’t get any continuity and therefore, neither does the team. Instead of getting better, we get worse at that part of the ground.
So based purely on injury history, I would not invest much time in the following players.
Langford
Parish
Ridley
Reid
They don’t come into the seniors until they can prove they don’t break down in real game conditions and not simulations
Why though? Neither are A grade top 20 midfielders and they will be 24/25 this year.
I wouldn’t get rid of either but I dont understand this narrative of untouchable with our side. Oh but they try hard and are good blokes so we must keep them. Thats the sort of backward thinking that has led us to mediocrity the past 2 decades.
If we can improve our midfield by getting rid of any of them, then we need to look at it.
I think both can be top 20 mids if the team actually got their crp together. In any hypothetical trade you need to actually make your team better..which “top 20” clear upgrade midfielder are you getting using those guys?
I dunno, maybe something like Caldwell and a 1st rounder for Butters? I think someone like WCE would pay a kings ransom for Martin too.
I personally wouldn’t trade any of them, I just don’t like this idea that they are untouchable because they are your favourite player.
I don’t think that they’re untouchable, but I think it’s highly unlikely that there’s an upgrade out there that we can get for them without way overpaying. If Port are trading Butters the price would require more than Caldwell and a first I think.
I just feel the price to upgrade, for a relatively small upgrade, would be more than the value to our team of the upgrade
I also doubt WCE would be paying a big price for Martin. I think they’re committed to the rebuild, and wouldn’t want to year themselves apart for a player of Martin’s type. A contender would be very keen on Martin, but again what are they willing to pay vs the value to us of a mid 20s player who is clearly AFL standard who can work as a leader with the younger generation.
We’ve spent years trying to replace that age group, that we traded out of at the draft due to trying to appease the 34, it would make little sense to trade out of the quality guys of that age, and leave the kids only with the veterans.
They are both still on the improve and have surpassed all - excluding Merrett - our more experienced and higher paid midfield players.
Durham, in particular, would walk in to any team in the league and be Best 22.
The other thing that both bring is effort, which is something seriously lacking, and by this are - after Merrett - our 2 most important on field leaders.
I’d be very keen to refresh our half forward line with some better athletes. High work rate, defensive mindset. We have brought in Duursma and Clark over the last few years which has made a big impact. Kako does a lot of up and back running and we need more of that. Caddy is very good at this too.
Perkins, Geulfi, Gresham, Hobbs are awful at it. In Geulfi’s case it’s persistent injuries / fitness as he has great intent. Plus they aren’t dangerous enough the other way. I think this is where we can find value through the draft or via trade. Mcreary or a similar player, would be a great addition.
Thing is, other stars of the game are younger and already far better than both. So you would assume have scope to further improve too.
I think Martin is our 2nd best player.
And what makes u mention effort? Just a vibe or eyes test sort of thing? Duz goes in hard no doubt and Calders tackles really well, but they both don’t offer much two way running and often let their opponents run off them.
I think if we can get a star in the door, then you gotta look at your options.
Update - i would never trade Duz cos he’s my fav player.
I would have happily included Martin in a trade for Harley Reid, although not at the price Harley is going to get. Would trade him out for less? No.
Durham two way effort is enormous he chases even when he is no hope of a tackle, we have very few that do this. As you said Caldwell’s chase and tackling - admitted in close - are better than most at the club.
If you were to trade them, you would be keeping some guys like: Perkins, Hobbs, Parish, Shiel, Wright, McKay, and the like.
I can think of 30 players I would be happy to move on, but this is just ridiculous, putting Durham & Caldwell in the first 10-15 out of the club would be taking us nowhere.
As for the leadership group, are you forgetting our Coach wanted Heppell to stay as Captain when he arrived. I have little faith in his coaching ability and even less in his ability to identify on field leaders.
there’s a huge difference between being best 22 and first choice midfielder. He’d struggle to get CBA’s at lots of clubs.
Brisbane - Neale, Dunkley and McCuggage
Dogs - Bont, Libba and Edwards
Melbourne - Petracca, Oliver and Viney
I cent be bothered listing all the teams out, but you get the idea. Durham is a footsoldier not a star. Good teams need Durham types but if he’s our best mid we are not a good side.
Its an interesting one, in regard to trades, you need to give something to get something.
I don’t think we will get anything for Perkins, Hobbs, Parish, Shiel etc. Maybe a late 2nd rd pick for Parish or Perkins. But that wouldn’t move the needle really in any meaningful way. Late 2nd/3rd round picks are easy to come by.
I will have to disagree with your opinion of the two way running part as all our midfielders are notoriously bad on the spread and tracking back, Duz and Caldwell included.
I think our midfield is seriously lacking star power and when Merrett gets tagged, we are left with a real bottom 8 midfield. I don’t know how to fix it this year, as i was hoping for Butters but we need to do something.
I reckon most teams would pick Durham today over Oliver and probably Viney. Stats aren’t everything but he’s pretty much dead on with Oliver per game in 2025 and he’s got far more improvement. Also if it rains at training there’s less chance the rest of your list gets into a car accident because their windscreen wipers have been snapped off.
Agree. That’s why I would like us to take the best available inside mid and inside/outside user (like Rowell & Anderson) with our first 2 picks in this years draft.