I don’t think the club should be targeting a premiership in 2018. The list demographic is young, the bulk of the asada players are retiring. There is an experience gap around 26-28 and massive holes in midfield and defence. We aren’t going to fill all the gaps we have this year. If we tried we will probably halfarse it and stuff up the next 6 years.
Pick the best value trades that somewhat fit our needs. If we don’t cover them all off, try again next year. By 2019 we will have the development time and trade opportunities to be a legit contender. Next year just seems too soon.
Whilst I appreciate that is the logical team as we stand today, if that was our round 22 team we would be in trouble.
We need to find at least 3 players, they may be drafted, traded, or developed, but without new players pressuring supposed best 22 we will stagnate.
Personally I am hopeful Mutch, Francis, Ridley or even Redman or McNiece step up and become best 22. Would really like Langford & Laverde to step up and become important players in our best 22 rather than in the team but on the fringe
Matera, Trengove, Wilson, Lever all pretty much gone according the Fairfux rag. There’s plenty of clubs making moves already, have to think these were well underway if true. Smith doesn’t appear to be on our radar, or vice versa, doubt we have interest in Menzel or Motlop, Rockliff talking to Blues and someone else. Stringer and Kennedy are the only two I can think of still available. We are a very good chance to be a wallflower for another year.
We’re clearly massively into Stringer and have been for some time. He’ll be the biggest news of this year period, so it’s not like we’re sitting on our hands.
I expect we’re also into a number of others. If the Schache stuff is any more than wild speculation you might even suggest well be one of the biggest players in the year period. And clearly these wouldn’t be last minute attempts to get involved in other deals.
Now, not everything will get done, but to be criticising the club at this point is a pretty negative view to take. They’re having a crack at at least a couple of guys that will make a long term difference, and there probably a couple more as well.
Not criticising, just observing a real possibility. Forgot Schache but then, what’s to forget? A vague rumour. Stringer would be fascinating but I’m not actually that concerned if we don’t do anything, the dynamic shifting mids are all gone bar maybe Rockliff who we don’t want. I’m not one to criticise a massive organisation that employs specialists in complex areas. Unless it’s Telstra, the Government, the IPA, Macdonalds…well just about all of them and Fark Carlton.
In addition to Stringer we are now being heavily linked to Smith. Those two would make for a nice haul. Both better than what we could expect from the draft, or at least a little more safe.
The SOSage link to GWS is verging on corruption. They’re ‘allegedly’ box seat for Smith and Kennedy. Will be a force that wretched club in the next few years if they keep getting it right.
Why would we be in the rush to delist players? Getting trades across the line is difficult, if you axe players because were getting player X, what do you do should the trade fall through. As it stands we have 4 players gone from the senior list and 1 from the rookie list Only West Coast with 7 and Carlton with 6 we are on par with a number of teams on 5.
I don’t know why you would rush to drop more at this point given the shallow nature of the draft. Should we pull off some magic with our picks and say manage to get 3 players from our top 2 picks, pick up a player really cheap or grab a delisted free agent you might have another look.
Smith and Kennedy could be good gets at the right price though.
The only 2 GWS boys that have really shown much on their list at the moment are Plowman and Marchbank. Pickett might be ok. But he struggles to find the footy.
The other thing of course is that the GWS well is drying up. So there will be less and less quality to come out of there as the years progress. Carlton will need to find another means of improving their list.
In addition, they will have to start to pay market rate to get them out, because GWS won’t be able to afford to continue to be a Carlton Charity.
People seem to gloss over that they had 4 top 25 picks in 2015 in the draft, took SPS last season, took Cripps in 2013. The only major screw up was trading #7 for Jaksch, Whiley and #19 (Boekhorst), and that was done by the guy Silvagni replaced. In 2015 they took Weitering, McKay, Cunningham and Curnow, and in 2016 took SPS. As well as the GWS players. I hate Carlton, but they’ve been doing a lot of smart business lately.