I think we also need to pull off a very carefully targeted acquisition of a free agent.
Now, as soon as I say “free agent”, everyone thinks megabucks for a gun…and otherwise, “it’s not worth it”.
But that can’t be right…every week we play older players like Baguley, Brown, McKernan, and they are more than handy for the team, and they would be on very modest salaries…but if we look at similar-quality players at other clubs, we would look down our noses at them…it’s a bias that we have to fight against at trade time.
If we select carefully, we can find a Victorian at an interstate club that wants to come home…or someone who has been at a lowly club, and likes the look of our club trajectory, and wants to come on board.
I look at someone like Crozier at the Dogs, who has worked out better than I expected. Or Henderson at the Hawks was actually a delisted free agent. I’m sure there are many more (and better) examples that other posters can come up with.
Heck…it could even be a trade. If we could use a second rounder to get a player with output like Melksham at the Dees, then I would be delighted (ouch!).
We just need to find the right player to fit our team…probably for the forward half IMO.
And plenty of them were cheap as chips (FA, DFA, cheap trade, re-draft) - Dea, Stewart, SMack, Hartley. Etc etc. Plus Leuie, Jimmy Gwilt, Josh Green, Kelly, Bird all played useful footy.
Swap Laverde with any of our 3-4 year brigade. I’m raising the general concept, not lining up a specific player. This is the only way I see us getting back into the first round, if nobody is interested then we take our second rounders to the draft.
Jamie Elliott (26) - He has returned well. And if we play fantasia up the ground, he could play forward.
Or at least if we gave him an offer, might force pies hand to pay a higher price $$
Jack NEwnes Saints (26)
Tom Liberatore - He has been good this season, we could have went after him.
IF Dave Myers got poached? What compensation do you think we would receive?
Hes an odd one, he was good last year.
But Adelaides selections have been a bit odd. even leaving Gibbs out of the side.
Greenwood is a bit like Devon smith, big engine, good runner and hard tackler, probably lacks some polish. But would be nice to add another tasmanian to the side.
he could fill a role. Just depends if you would prefer Mutch/Clarke/Myers/Mynott playing or this guy.
I know I was the one arguing value down earlier. But in this case Francis wouldn’t be worth pennies. Totally different ball game as a) he’s a key position player and b) kept out by Hooker and Hurley. He’d be very desirable to both Adelaide and port.