2020: Trade-Targets, Free Agents, Rookies & Roughies

[Crazy Dazz]

Due to the earlier moratorium on re-signings, there are still a lot of uncontracted players and free-agents.
We're not typically active chasing Free-Agents, but I wouldn't mind if that changed.
i) We're unlikely to lose anyone to FA, so we don't put a compo pick at risk;
ii) We are sitting in a Premiership window;
iii) We have a lot to offer (just not money); and
iv) We don't have many picks, the draft is compromised and hard to read, and we're going to struggle just to get the requisite 1st rounder.
v) We could potentially slot somebody into a key role or two during the coming season(s).

As usual there's currently an interesting mix of potential Free-Agents, but many will re-sign before the clock runs out, and whilst there is certainly some quality in there, none jump out as obvious targets for us.

I'm not sure exactly what the situation is with Gaff. If he doesn't exercise his option, I assume he becomes a Free-Agent again. Rumour is that he wants to stay, so I hope that is resolved early.

Atkins is apparently moving on from the Crows, but not sure what you do with a mid who's struggling to get a game there.
Jitza Cameron is a Restricted FA. Maybe we should offer him a big Brown Paper bag, just to screw with GWS. He could slot in nicely as a JK replacement.
I wonder if Viney will move on from Melbourne? Surely he'll attract offers from other Victorian teams?

[Fat Side]

Due to the earlier moratorium on re-signings, there are still a lot of uncontracted players and free-agents.
We're not typically active chasing Free-Agents, but I wouldn't mind if that changed.
i) We're unlikely to lose anyone to FA, so we don't put a compo pick at risk;
ii) We are sitting in a Premiership window;
iii) We have a lot to offer (just not money); and
iv) We don't have many picks, the draft is compromised and hard to read, and we're going to struggle just to get the requisite 1st rounder.
v) We could potentially slot somebody into a key role or two during the coming season(s).

As usual there's currently an interesting mix of potential Free-Agents, but many will re-sign before the clock runs out, and whilst there is certainly some quality in there, none jump out as obvious targets for us.

I'm not sure exactly what the situation is with Gaff. If he doesn't exercise his option, I assume he becomes a Free-Agent again. Rumour is that he wants to stay, so I hope that is resolved early.

Atkins is apparently moving on from the Crows, but not sure what you do with a mid who's struggling to get a game there.
Jitza Cameron is a Restricted FA. Maybe we should offer him a big Brown Paper bag, just to screw with GWS. He could slot in nicely as a JK replacement.
I wonder if Viney will move on from Melbourne? Surely he'll attract offers from other Victorian teams?

We do have a large number of players coming out of contract at the end of this year. St Kilda and North Melbourne have indicated they will be aggressive in the off season. With potentially lower salary caps, some of our out-of-contract players could become a target for other clubs. In any event I would think we need further depth in our midfield and at half back. XO'Neill might be the player we need coming through the middle and Ainsworth will get more opportunities, but Shuey is 30 and Redden turns 30 this year. No panic, but we need more young ones coming through. We will likely lose Jetta and Hurn in the next 12-18 months meaning we lose the precise ball use out of defence. Our defenders are no slouches, but Jetta and Hurn are elite. Sheppard turns 30 next year. Perhaps look at GC and GWS to see which 2-4 year players are languishing on the list due to lack of opportunity.

If all that fails, go after Toby Greene with the kitchen sink

[Crazy Dazz]

We do have a large number of players coming out of contract at the end of this year. St Kilda and North Melbourne have indicated they will be aggressive in the off season. With potentially lower salary caps, some of our out-of-contract players could become a target for other clubs. In any event I would think we need further depth in our midfield and at half back. XO'Neill might be the player we need coming through the middle and Ainsworth will get more opportunities, but Shuey is 30 and Redden turns 30 this year. No panic, but we need more young ones coming through. We will likely lose Jetta and Hurn in the next 12-18 months meaning we lose the precise ball use out of defence. Our defenders are no slouches, but Jetta and Hurn are elite. Sheppard turns 30 next year. Perhaps look at GC and GWS to see which 2-4 year players are languishing on the list due to lack of opportunity.

Losing Shuey to age is going to hurt. He's not just a great player and onfield leader, he gives us a lot of what we otherwise lack.

Powell_Pepper was rumoured to be on the outs last season, and is currently coming out of contract. He'd be a handy addition, but we haven't really got much to offer trade wise.

[Fat Side]

We do have a large number of players coming out of contract at the end of this year. St Kilda and North Melbourne have indicated they will be aggressive in the off season. With potentially lower salary caps, some of our out-of-contract players could become a target for other clubs. In any event I would think we need further depth in our midfield and at half back. XO'Neill might be the player we need coming through the middle and Ainsworth will get more opportunities, but Shuey is 30 and Redden turns 30 this year. No panic, but we need more young ones coming through. We will likely lose Jetta and Hurn in the next 12-18 months meaning we lose the precise ball use out of defence. Our defenders are no slouches, but Jetta and Hurn are elite. Sheppard turns 30 next year. Perhaps look at GC and GWS to see which 2-4 year players are languishing on the list due to lack of opportunity.

Losing Shuey to age is going to hurt. He's not just a great player and onfield leader, he gives us a lot of what we otherwise lack.

Powell_Pepper was rumoured to be on the outs last season, and is currently coming out of contract. He'd be a handy addition, but we haven't really got much to offer trade wise.

Shuey would have 2-3 years left. He has had injury issues, but he is relatively durable and will be managed through. Redden is 30 this year, but could go another 2-3 years. Sheed, Kelly and Gaff are relatively young and can guide the new guys coming through. SPP isn't the type of player I think we need or, as you say it might be difficult to get him given what we have to offer. I reckon we proceed with developing O'Neill and Ainsworth while we recruit more depth behind them.

[CouchPotato]

Atkins is apparently moving on from the Crows, but not sure what you do with a mid who's struggling to get a game there.

Atkins as a unrestricted FA, so I think would be a good pick up for nothing. 26yo in the right system will add something and helps with experienced depth in our midfield.

Jeez - I'd hate to be out of contract this year with the list reductions

[Crazy Dazz]

Atkins is apparently moving on from the Crows, but not sure what you do with a mid who's struggling to get a game there.

Atkins as a unrestricted FA, so I think would be a good pick up for nothing. 26yo in the right system will add something and helps with experienced depth in our midfield.

Yeah thats the thing, assuming we're not losing anybody, a FA is a free-hit. Given our lack of picks, and that we'll need to trade the farm to get that 1st rounder, picking up a FA could be good value.

But as you say, not a good time to be out of contract with the potential list reductions, so we have to see how much space we have both on the list and in the cap.

[Crazy Dazz]

SPP has re-signed with the Bogans.
There's still a lot of players out of contract across the league, and I'd expect many will be re-signed in the coming weeks. But there's a couple of quality players out there who are sure to attract interest.

Viney, as mentioned, is a RFA, and sure to attract a lot of interest.

[Crazy Dazz]

Swag of players delisted by Norf. https://www.afl.com.au/news/508040/roos-massive-cull-north-delists-eleven-after-horror-season
I'm a little surprised by McMillan, I'd have thought he had a couple of seasons left in him. But he hasn't played since he left the hub for the birth of his first child, so maybe there's a story there.

[Pinion King]

Depending on list sizes and given out status in a very compromised draft. I will have a look at Zac Mainwaring and possibly Alec Waterman again for rookie spots.

[Fat Side]

Depending on list sizes and given out status in a very compromised draft. I will have a look at Zac Mainwaring and possibly Alec Waterman again for rookie spots.

I'm hearing that Alec Waterman is in our sights. The issue for us this year is that we have a bees dick of room in our salary cap.

[Pinion King]

If the word going around is true that Connor Blakely is being shown the door at Freo is true. Is he worth a look?

[MrWoollie]

If the word going around is true that Connor Blakely is being shown the door at Freo is true. Is he worth a look?

I would have thought so.

Not sure on his pace, but he certainly looked ok and is still young. If he costs nothing he could be a solid contributor. He is obviously behind Brayshaw, Serong, Fyfe etc. at Freo.

[Crazy Dazz]

If the word going around is true that Connor Blakely is being shown the door at Freo is true. Is he worth a look?

He's contracted, but maybe they're open to trading him?

I don't know, I rated him 5 years ago, but I can't help wonder if he wasn't ruined by Rosco?

I'm all for looking at mature players, and looking for diamonds in the rough, but he's 25 and has 6 years on a AFL senior list.

[Fat Side]

If the word going around is true that Connor Blakely is being shown the door at Freo is true. Is he worth a look?

I would have thought so.

Not sure on his pace, but he certainly looked ok and is still young. If he costs nothing he could be a solid contributor. He is obviously behind Brayshaw, Serong, Fyfe etc. at Freo.

If he can't get a game at Freo, we need to steer well clear.

[Streaker]

Peter Wright (Gold Coast) would be a good pick up to replace Kennedy and a reasonable back up ruck for Naitanui and is only 24. Gold Coast will be under extreme salary cap pressure and looking to trade out some reasonable players. Should only cost us a trade of picks around our pick 33 for their 36. Future forward line of Wright at Full Forward and Allen at CHF.