Why can't we have a star first gamer?

[battye]

That Dawes bloke for Collingwood... never heard of him before. No idea what pick he was, hell I don't even know his first name.

First kick (gifted, mind you) was a goal. He did go missing throughout the game, but his first half was very solid... took some really strong marks, showed a bit of talent. Beat Hudghton a couple of times and looks like he could become something.

Why do our first gamers fail to live up to the hype? Geary, Eddy, McEvoy... who knows what the future holds, but they haven't done anything to suggest they are stars of the future. (though Eddy looks like he will become a GOP at best)

When was the last time we had a debutant play a really good game?

[mad saint guy]

Because if we haven't traded away all our draft picks, we're using the remaining ones on athletes rather than footballers.

Also our game style would be a reason. If Dawes played for us last night he would have been on the ground for 20 minutes and spent most of it running up and down between the wing and back pocket.

[baf]

1988

[SaintBot]

He was still being used as a target in the second half however Gilbert's defensive efforts all night were of an excellent standard. Showed brilliant closing speed on both Davis and Dawes and showed a knack of just getting his fist on the ball in the last second.

Dawes on Gwilt showed a lack of respect from the coaching staff. He was destined to be a very high pick until his knee injury where Collingwood picked him up cheaply around pick 30ish(?)

Hudghton was obviously hampered by his quad, very poor speed and found himself several meters behind Dawes and Anthony on many occasions.


The club should be moving heaven and earth to secure a top 5 pick for a shot at Michael Hurley. The best key defender to come through the system for some time. His size suggests he won't take long to come straight into the seniors.

[battye]

The club should be moving heaven and earth to secure a top 5 pick for a shot at Michael Hurley. The best key defender to come through the system for some time. His size suggests he won't take long to come straight into the seniors.

But what would we have to give up for a top 5 draft pick?

Dal Santo + 2nd rounder? Risky, Dal Santo is a quality player. Even when he's down he racks up 20 odd possessions.

Kosi + 2nd rounder? Kosi is a one-of-a-kind player. So is Riewoldt, and we are lucky to have both of them. He is one of very few players who can consistently grab pack marks. I wouldn't get rid of him.

Then who are you left with. Guys like Montagna, Ball, Gram, Clarke x2 who aren't worth first round draft picks.

I think we just have to accept that we won't be getting high draft picks any time soon.

[Junior]

Did you not see Carl Ditterich's first game or Dean Greigs?

[SaintBot]

The club should be moving heaven and earth to secure a top 5 pick for a shot at Michael Hurley. The best key defender to come through the system for some time. His size suggests he won't take long to come straight into the seniors.

But what would we have to give up for a top 5 draft pick?

Dal Santo + 2nd rounder? Risky, Dal Santo is a quality player. Even when he's down he racks up 20 odd possessions.

Kosi + 2nd rounder? Kosi is a one-of-a-kind player. So is Riewoldt, and we are lucky to have both of them. He is one of very few players who can consistently grab pack marks. I wouldn't get rid of him.

Then who are you left with. Guys like Montagna, Ball, Gram, Clarke x2 who aren't worth first round draft picks.

I think we just have to accept that we won't be getting high draft picks any time soon.

Ross has proved to be an 'expert' during trade week. He'll find a way.

[saint66au]

Yeah agreed...

With Luke Ball you just knew...28 touches in his third game

With Dal you just knew...26-odd in his 2nd

X Clarke was damned nearly BOG in his first game running off HB..that was the last WOW first game I can remember..before that it was Dean Grieg I think

[Richter]

Guys like Montagna, Ball, Gram, Clarke x2 who aren't worth first round draft picks.

Disagree. All of these players are proven performers (bar Raph) at the highest level.

Joey - worth pick 5 - 10. Unlikely to be traded by us as a runner - what we need. Although Fiora, Gram and Schneider ( when rotated through the midfield) are similar type players. I would consider trading him to then on trade with our 1st round pick to WCE for Kerr.

Ball - worth pick 5 - 10. Won't be traded as a hard ballwinning mid. Can't have enough of these.

Gram - see Joey. Also is a running half back. Would be loathe to offload even for potential of getting e.g. Kerr.

X - worth pick 10 - 15. I like X as a player and for his off-field work but he has been injury prone for 5 years now and we rarely see him. If he could be traded for a pick to be ontraded for Kerr I would jump at the chance. We would be unlikely too though as on talent he is worth a top ten pick but on reliability he is worth closer to 30.

Raph - we won't get anything for him. Will be lucky not to be delisted at season's end.

I think we just have to accept that we won't be getting high draft picks any time soon.

Agree, which is why we need to trade to get a proven gun to add to this group whilst they have a chance of grabbing a flag i.e. in the next 3 years.

We should look at the following players.......

Cousins - Brownlow winner. Schmooze him using Gardiner and offer him a bucketload of cash so that we price out clubs with lower PSD picks than us.

Kerr - trade one of our B grade players (?X) and send the pick gained with our 1st rounder to WCE for him.

Didak - we already have Milne and Schneider; he's from Adelaide; he's a knob. No thanks.