Poaching Hogan. Can it be done?

[Presti35]

[Stupied]

Even if he was interested in coming to us I doubt we'd be able to satisfy Melbourne in a trade without offloading a young star in the making.

[yin-YANG]

Dees would be crazy to trade him - this is the kind of player you can build a team around. They need him desperately and he will be the face of the Dees over the next few years.

No Chance.

[regan is true fullback]

So far we have passed on McCarthy, Dixon, Weidemann, Franklin and Clark and given up Dawes and Anthony.

Not much luck in the full forward department.

if you buy a full forward you have give up heaps to get him, either draft choices or young stars.

The trick is to find someone who is down the pecking order, such as those at North Melbourne or Port (the amazing, inaccurate and aptly named John Butcher) or draft someone like Moore. Instead of chasing young stars, go for the cheap option.

Another option is to get another centre half back, and move Reid to full forward.

[yin-YANG]

One tall forward (Moore) and resting/rotating ruckman (Grundy/Witts) seems tall enough already in the modern game. Or future collingwood forward line.

I would have Pendles in there also in his twilight years because he has good height, hands and an accurate kick for goal.

With other marking options such as Howe or even Caff over the next few years I am not sure we need to worry about extra big guys. Surely the days of bombing long to the forward line are gone for genuine premiership contenders! All you need to do is compete in the air and have the crumbers on the ground ready to go.

That is the real gap at our club atm - a genuine forward crumber with x-factor like Kraks, Leon, Dids or even Daicos.

I am hoping Broomhead, Varcoe and DeGoey offer more X-factor up forward when given the chance and Elliott or Faz or both deliver on their super potential!!!

[cityslick1]

Agree with a lot of what has been said above. I think we could look to snag a big name KPF / free agent at the end of this year, as the heir apparent for Cloke. Or... If we were to say, grab a Michael Hurley type at the end of his year (no idea of his contract situation) and push Reid forward, we'd also be looking v good for the near future, and would soon become a major flag favourite.

Whilst for this year... with Howe injured atm, AND after witnessing a dominant display at training... We could throw Grundy forward, whilst Witts (or Cox) handle the bulk of the rucking duties, and could have a v handy forward combination of:

Fasolo Cloke Elliott
Grundy Moore Broomhead

... which gives you your crumber, three imposing Talls, and two strong marking, HF flankers that can either kick or set up bags of goals.

We'd still need to replace Cloke in the not too distant future, but similarly if Brown, Frost and Marsh develop into a solid backline combination, Reid could still be that guy, without having to venture to the trade table.

All big if's, but the more I look at our list, the more I think we can challenge for the flag sooner rather than later if things click for us.

We've got he talent, we just need some luck with injuries, and the sbove players to either develop and fulfill their potential, or hold on and maintain peak form for as long as possible.

Come on season 2016... Go Pies!!

[stui magpie]

If Hogan is available, we'd have to be stupid not to sound him out but I'd be careful about throwing all the egss in one basket, we've seen with Cloke what happens when mids get too focused on one key forward demanding the ball to the detriment of others.

Multiple options and avenues to goal is the key. Moore is a keeper and will be a key forward for the next 10 years, Cloke has 3-5 to go so we aren't desperate yet.

Cox could be a handful as a key deep forward, he's fricken quick and if he can mark on the lead with his arms at full stretch there isn't a defender in the league who could legally spoil him. Apart from the resting Witts and Grundy we've also got gault and the basketballer with the bogan first name as potential tall options, Fasolo and Caff who can both play as undersized leading FF's, Reid who can be thrown forward if required.

We have got plenty of forward options, it just depends on how they play as a unit and how the midfield delivers to them.

I also would like a lightening quick over short bursts) small crumber who can grab the ball from a contest, accelerate away and pick a goal from nothing. You could have timed Krak with a sundial over 200m but in close over the first 5 metres he was slippery as a greased eel and could read the play like a billboard.

[HAL]

You want only one?

[Dave The Man]

[Boogie Knights]

[Presti35]

Has officially put off contract talks until seasons end. Although they are saying it's because of the new payment agreement or higher salary cap.

Still, it's interesting.

[Member 7167]

[MightyMagpie]

What Melbourne really need is Travis Cloke ...

[Lazza]

[inxs88]