If a couple of our lads gave Dodoro a call and said, “hey mate, sorry and all, but I’d be interested in seeking more opportunities at another club”.
Then I think Dodoro would be happy as a clam. Even more so if they were willing to go to the GC to get a game.
I don’t think Laverde, Dea or Bags will be delisted.
Haha. I think even Poorth Melbourne is more attractive than GC at present.
It depends on what you want.
I imagine a few of our guys would be best 22 at Gold Coast.
Our best quality list for some time:
I’m not saying we have all the star power in place yet. But going towards 2019 an even list which plays as a team, beats a star studded list that doesn’t do as much hard work.
By my calculations we currently have 39 players who are up to AFL level with 2 more who are showing plenty and will be opening their account next year (Zerk and Draper) which would make 41 players on our list who would be respectable at an AFL level.
There are 3 first year players who need time to show something and only one player who I can’t see staying on our list next year (sorry Jerrett).
The point of this post is I think we have the best true depth we have had in my memory of our list, which goes back to the dark days of Des Tuddenham as captain coach.
There are no players who regularly get games who I don’t think deserve to play at AFL level. I like Colyer, and believe he could play at a high level still, but needs a good pre-season to get some touch, he is probably the most vulnerable as a whipping boy, but even he has been dropped to do some improving in the VFL.
Obviously we are going to need a couple more, at least, to go next year, besides Jerrett, but I don’t see the big turnover we have had in previous years. Although if push came to shove there are probably up to 9 players who could be under some pressure if Dodoro thought we could find some upgrades.
In terms of quality players in excess, there is quite a lot of depth in the 190 to 195cm defender department (Gleeson, Francis, Ridley, Hurley, Ambrose, Zerk-Thatcher) and combining those with the taller defenders, Hooker, Hartley and Brown there is only probably 5 or 6 places in the side for these 9 players, and that is including one in the Goddard role and another 1 or 2 as forwards (but only when players like Joe and Smack are out) with Brown being the only one in the group demanding a forward position at the moment. If you chuck Goddard and Dea in the medium to tall defender bracket, we have 11 quality players who can play as medium to KPD.
So Brown now being largely a forward isn’t a surprise, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Francis joined Stringer, Langford, Laverde and Begley in an elite big bodied midfield, forward rotation in years to come, with Fanta, Smith, Walla, Zaka and Zerrett also showing a similar versatility with their speedy midfield and small forward nouse. It is this newly realised midfield depth which is starting to shine through, and the fact it includes so many quality forwards makes it very special.
There are 3 players who are over 30 (Goddard, Bags, Leuenie) and 3 who turn 30 before or during next year (Hooker, TBC, Myers), and we won’t be letting any of the latter 3 go, and the older group all have some chance of staying on.
With the depth players, I would be happy to keep all of them, but depending on what is lighting up Disco’s eyes at the end of the year - that will determine how many we keep.
But the reason we let players go, at the end of 2018, won’t often be because they are not up to it.
It will be in almost all cases, a matter of making enough room for those who we can’t go past at trade and draft time.
I am making the assumption that after our glorious win last Friday that everyone is happy with the players who are in the current team from last week.
Below is a look at the 23 players who didn’t play last week.
Players outside the current team:
Injury List - are all players who were getting a game when fit until injured.
Joe
Marty
Fridge
Redman
Ambrose
Smack
Developing Prospects not in side - plenty of upside
Ridley
Stewart
Mutch
Zerk-Thatcher
Laverde
Clarke
Draper
McNiece
First years who need time to show something:
Houlihan
Mynott
Lavender
Decent depth players - AFL worthy
Green
Leuenberger
Colyer
Hartley
Long
Time’s probably up
Jerrett
Add Green and Leuenberger in to the ‘time is up category’ and I agree with you for the most part.
I do differ in that I think Dylan Clarke get’s incorrectly ‘bundled’ in with Ridley, Mutch, Begley etc as a promising\developing player. I think he has critical flaws in his game that Mutch, Ridley and Begley do not - hence he is purely speculative at this stage and IMO not likely to make it at AFL level.
Cut
Jerett
Most likely Cut
Leuneberger
Decision is his
Goddard
In trouble to keep spot
Green
Potentially Kept as Depth / further development required/ could also be delisted.
Long, McNeice, Clarke
Potentially Traded
McKernan - if we got right offer
Laverde - if we got right offer
Ambrose or Hartley
McKernan has been signed to a new deal.
That’s good news.
Man this OP didn’t age well
Haven’t read it anywhere?
There was an editorial by the club not long after McKernan did his hammy. Someone just told me recently the club made him an offer. Maybe the deal is still a work in progress and not signed yet.
Wowzer. 
I’ve been too busy at work lately to keep up to date.
Glad Hes got a new contract.
Houlahan is a candidate for rookie list IMO.
Just revisiting the initial post, by @robmur13
Colyer - trade value?
McNiece - has been solid, provides depth at least
Green - depth
Myers - leads the club for clearances per game (5.0)
Baguley - has been good as a pressure forward
Long - agree
Leuenberger - agree
J. Merrett - agree
Keeping in mind that this was posted 24 days ago. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then and Myers and Baguley especially might have changed your mind.
There’s nothing official yet
2018 - will miss finals
2019 - Runners Up
2020 - Grand Final Win.
(All dependent upon injuries)
Brett Ratten leaving Hawks at the end of this season. Keen??