Does the gap widen ? ......

[Linton Street Saint]

2010 Premiers ----- + Krakouer, Tarrant

2010 Runners Up ----- + N/A

What do people think ?

[saintlee]

2010 Premiers ----- + Krakouer, Tarrant

2010 Runners Up ----- + N/A

What do people think ?

The answer is definitely maybe....depends on a lot of other factors like form, injuries over the course of next year.

[SaintWodonga]

2010 Premiers ----- + Krakouer, Tarrant

2010 Runners Up ----- + N/A

What do people think ?

Yep it widens for sure... I hope our young players come up..

[IluvHarvey]

I don't believe so. There are a lot more factors than just trading in players.
For example who would have put Gwilt into our best 22 last year?
A lot of things can change.

[Con Gorozidis]

2010 Premiers ----- + Krakouer, Tarrant

2010 Runners Up ----- + N/A

What do people think ?

yes. we should be concerned. not alarmed. but concerned.

[HSVKing]

2010 Premiers ----- + Krakouer, Tarrant

2010 Runners Up ----- + N/A

What do people think ?

Possibly minus Cloke though.

Krakouer is a slightly better Leon Davis, and Tarrant will have to fill the Cloke spot if he leaves.

I don't think it does at all TBH.

[ausfatcat]

can't see tarrant being any better then nathan brown or presti, Krakour well could end up being gold could end up playing in the VFL all year who knows, gotta remember he failed at AFL level already but exceeded at wafl level with family and friends support, now away from them again.

[dcstkfc]

2010 Premiers ----- + Krakouer, Tarrant

2010 Runners Up ----- + N/A

What do people think ?

Yep it widens for sure... I hope our young players come up..

They're best 22 will look better at Rd. 1.

In: Tarrant, Krakouer, Dick
Out: Goldsack, Beams, Blair

For us:

In: R. Clarke, Gardiner
Out: Eddy, McQualter/Dempster

But it is a long season

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Cloke won't be going anywhere and Tarrant and Krak certainly look as though they'll improve Collingwood, as could the expected improvement from the likes of Sidebottom, Reid, Brown, Thomas and Pendlebury, who are apparently all 22 or under. Plus Dick. Even Cloke is only 23, so he's not yet reached his peak.
If they don't have a "Premiership hangover", we'll seriously have to pull a rabbit out of the hat, as will every other team.
And the talk was that Collingwood want Tarrant to play CHF, not down back. That would mean Cloke could play closer to goal, with probably one of Dawes, or Brown, next to him and Krakouer and/or Dick/Davis at their feet.

[bigcarl]

I can see the benefit in astute trading, especially to fill known gaps in the list.

But one thing against bringing in recycled players is the message it sends to young players already on the list.

It pushes everyone down one.

For instance, were we to have recruited another seasoned ruck. What message would that send to a McEvoy or Stanley?

Or another midfielder/goalsneak. What would that say to Steven?

IMO we've got to give our kids a go. Wisely, of course. They are not going to develop at all unless given a chance. That is a given.

The core is still very strong.

[Thinline]

Tarrant has to stay fit, sober and interested to have an impact. None of these things are anywhere near certainties. And he's no spring chicken.

Krak is a great story and he could be anything, but realistically it's a long way from the WAFL to to the AFL.

The wash up is that I'm not sure they've really added anything much yet.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

I can see the benefit in astute trading, especially to fill known gaps in the list.

But one thing against bringing in recycled players is the message it sends to young players already on the list.

It pushes everyone down one.

For instance, were we to have recruited another seasoned ruck. What message would that send to a McEvoy or Stanley?

Or another midfielder/goalsneak. What would that say to Steven?

IMO we've got to give our kids a go. Wisely, of course. The core is still very strong.

True, but Collingwood did it last year and Jolly and Ball were instrumental in helping them win a flag, in more ways that just on field.

[Middo]

2010 Premiers ----- + Krakouer, Tarrant

2010 Runners Up ----- + Stanley,Steven...

Like this one better

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

2010 Premiers ----- + Krakouer, Tarrant

2010 Runners Up ----- + Stanley,Steven...

Like this one better

That seems to be where our hopes lie. Hope they're up to the challenge. Plus Tommy.

[Moods]

2010 Premiers ----- + Krakouer, Tarrant

2010 Runners Up ----- + N/A

What do people think ?

Possibly minus Cloke though.

Krakouer is a slightly better Leon Davis, and Tarrant will have to fill the Cloke spot if he leaves.

I don't think it does at all TBH.

Why? What has Krakour done at AFL level that will somehow make him better than Leon? REmembering that Krakour is now 27yrs old - not 21 yrs old. He may be great, but I reckon that statement is a little disrespectful to a bloke who has played 200 games, regardless of how he's performed in finals. The other bloke hasn't ever done anything - yet.

[bigcarl]

I can see the benefit in astute trading, especially to fill known gaps in the list.

But one thing against bringing in recycled players is the message it sends to young players already on the list.

It pushes everyone down one.

For instance, were we to have recruited another seasoned ruck. What message would that send to a McEvoy or Stanley?

Or another midfielder/goalsneak. What would that say to Steven?

IMO we've got to give our kids a go. Wisely, of course. The core is still very strong.

True, but Collingwood did it last year and Jolly and Ball were instrumental in helping them win a flag, in more ways that just on field.

Collingwood also stood down a few veterans at the expense of up and comers.

That is obviously the direction we have decided to take and ... all things considered and providing it is done wisely ... I agree with it.

[Dr Spaceman]

2010 Premiers ----- + Krakouer, Tarrant

2010 Runners Up ----- + N/A

What do people think ?

Yep it widens for sure... I hope our young players come up..

To be honest I'm not worried about gaps, I just want our team to get to where we want it to be in 2011.

Gaps are meaningless come GF day when it's all about player availability, mental toughness, desire and luck.

[SaintWodonga]

Anyone think we will list other rookies (on to senior list)

[HSVKing]

Why? What has Krakour done at AFL level that will somehow make him better than Leon? REmembering that Krakour is now 27yrs old - not 21 yrs old. He may be great, but I reckon that statement is a little disrespectful to a bloke who has played 200 games, regardless of how he's performed in finals. The other bloke hasn't ever done anything - yet.

Sorry for giving my informed opinion on the matter... After speaking to some Collingwood fans on the subject.

Sheesh!

[Ice Wolf]

The ins might help them, but the new interchange / sub rules is going to effect Collingwood the most considering how much they use the bench

[GrumpyOne]

I reckon the strength and depth of the Collingwood side has been improved by their trading activities.

We are full up to Pussy's Bow on our salary cap, just to make sure we lost no-one of importance to GWS or Suns.

Come two years time, we will be very active at draft and trading time as our ageing list starts to bite us.

It was a definate policy to keep this current group together, and just top up with minimal draft picks during the period of compromised drafts.

[gringo]

Yes the gap widens between the feral corrupt troglodytes and the rest of the civilised society they operate with in.

The Tarrant trade is an example of what happens when a team is allowed to bend the rules. The AFL like a strong Collinwood because it increases what they bring in but to allow them to flout a loop hole is just negligent.

Freo were bullied into a poor decision, they would have been dragged over the coals like our guys if they allowed him to go for nothing.

They will be lambasted while collingwood will be talked up as geniuses at recruiting.

I hope some pressure is put back on their list this year at least and guys like Brown and Dawes start looking at GWS for some good money.

[Sobraz]

If Tarrant can hold out either Brown or Ried from their best 22, they would have gone backwards IMO...

Those 2 guys are both very young and talented, and should step up even further next year...

And they could hardly go in with all 3 in defence, as well as possibly Presty... Far too top heavy...

Up forward, I dont think Tarrant will offer much...

Krakour is an unknown.. Sure, tearing up the WAFL is one thing, but at rising 28, he may be as useless as Leon in the forward line... The Pies will expect improvement in McCaffer, Blair, Beams... Krakour may be tearing up the VFL next year...

[fingers]

In the main it's all massive speculation on the calibre of players that have been traded this week. Very few are proven AFL level players - except maybe Tarrant (going from memory here).

I don't give a toss what Collingwood do - we have our own stuff to try and manage.

[St. Luke]

I truly love the prospects with Jack Steven! Very promising player! I was surprised he wasn't used more this season. He has good physical impact and a good eye for goal.

I think with some of our younger guys stepping up, the gap isn't that big.