Tom Rockliff

Yes I would agree and I’ve been in the ‘build around the Heppel, Daniher group’ camp. However with the success of Footscray last year and the rise of the Tigers it will be interesting to see if that has changed the list management strategy.

Completely agree. Nature of getting a player to move you need to offer up more than you would most likely pay your own.

I agree our midfield is garbage. But he is 28 and he’s the type of mid who gets lots of the ball inside but isn’t an elite user of the footy. Good shot at goal though. I dunno

At this point I’m really only interested in adding guys 25 or less unless they’re seriously good. I don’t think Rockliff or Aaron Hall are seriously good.

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I think the sticking point will be whilst yes he is a very good player still, is he really $800k value in 4yrs time? Wants 4yrs to leave reportedly.

He will be slowing up and already has injury issues.

If we got someone like Miles who is 2yrs younger on $300k-400k/3yrs and has shown at AFL level to be not quite as good of output as Rocky but not that far behind is that more beneficial.

Miles averages only 4.3 possessions less over their senior AFL careers. Tackles like a maniac and very good at shoveling ball out from bottom of pack.

We need inside mids though. It’s our number one weakness. His forward craft is another tool we could use as he is replaced in the middle by our younger players.

Haven’t a seen a heap of miles, but is he much of an upgrade on bird?

Sold…get him in!

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I take your point but it’s a Rockliff every day of the week. Miles couldnt get a game at GWS and is now forced out of Richmond while Rockliff is former club captain and All Australian who would walk into any AFL team’s best 22.

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Good call. A younger version of Bird. Probably a little cleaner.

I’m not doubting who is better. It’s clear.

It’s just the $$ aspect against output. And if you just look at stats Miles not far behind Rocky.

You could bring in say Miles & Aaron Hall for the same cost as Rockliff (draft picks aside). And that gives us both a very solid inside mid and classy outside mid. Of which we need both of.

I’d still be very happy to get Rocky if we did for sure but it’s a conundrum for the list managers no doubt against what he wants $$ wise & term.

Aaron Hall is not for us. Too old.

Turns 27 in 2mths.

Huge gap in our list of 25-30yr olds.

We have Colyer, Jerrett and Long as outside mids at present. He is better than all 3 by a mile, capable of BOG performances. Parish will be moving to a more inside role and BJ to HBF. McGrath perhaps will shift up to a wing.

We saw Zaka turn the corner big time, similar players for mine, I’d back Woosha to get consistent best out of Hall who we are apparently into.

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The key thing is we only give up cap space for
Rockliff. We have to spend the cap so if we can afford him I would front end a deal with a view of our younger players improving and moving into that space during years 3 and 4.

I would be concerned with Hall as his lack of defensive instinct would even stand out amongst our group of mids. Don’t doubt his ball winning ability. Also worried Miles doesn’t really improve us greatly as compared to Rockliff. Therefore I rather the one player rather than two.

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If people can’t tell the difference between Rockliff and Miles then honestly we may as well just keep Hocking because people have no idea.

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Throw everything at him

Same people that wanted Kelly to go on next year don’t want us to get Rockliff, who’d clearly be in our best few midfielders because we might be able to get VFL standard plodders like Miles for cheaper. Farrkkkk

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Rockliff played tagging roles and specific forward roles a few times also, downplaying his stats.

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Tags opposition’s best mid, tacking beast, contested ball beast, kicks goals. Plays midfield - our most deficient area.

Yeah, why the hell would we want a player like that

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I[quote=“redbull, post:345, topic:10597, full:true”]

Why did we bother re-signing Zaharakis then given they are the same age? Re Rockliff’s durability refer my post above.

Also one other point - do you think signing Goddard was a bad move. Personally I think it was sensational and he has done great things for us. But by your type of comments you would not have wasted the money or years on BJ.
[/quote]

I like Rockliff but he is injury prone. He was very ordinary after he came back from his shoulder injury this year… Literally half a dozen games where he just was not close to being fully fit.

Good point re Zaka, we have already committed to one 28 year for the long term, why throw even more money at another when we could chase someone younger?

BJ has been great for us in context of what he has down for us with the saga. However his effectiveness and output is no where near the same now and hasn’t been great for a while. the only reason why I’d offer him one more year is because of what he’s been for us and because we’ve offloaded a few other older players.

BJ was brought in cause we thought we were on the cusp of a flag tilt. We are close but I believe it will come from our current players improving, not by buying 28 year olds. Only freaks like Fletch, Boomer etc power on well past 30. For a lot of players 30 can be a wall and a quick end to their career. Rockliff could be a prime candidate for this as his body takes a battering (not very well) and he is not quick.

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