Evaluating the trade period: how did we go?

[Piesnchess]

[AN_Inkling]

The hysteria over our loss of KPPs is a way out of proportion to what actually happened.

Here are our net changes:

KPF: -1
KPD: -1

Yes, we lost one of each and that somehow means we'll not be able to field a defence? Or that our forward line is non existant? Yeah, sounds like reasonable analysis.

We also still have an option to bring in insurance players who will mostly play VFL, you know just like the ones that we let go, but on much smaller salaries.

[What'sinaname]

[AN_Inkling]

Dunn played 44 games of AFL from 2014-2015. He's a more than capable AFL player.

None of the players we let go were expected to play regular senior footy in 2017. Frost only played 10 games in 2016. Brown played 16, but we clearly would have preferred he didn't.

I think we do want to find another younger key defender at some point. At the moment though, a mixture of Dunn, Keeffe, Goldsack and potentially others we bring in will get the job done alongside Reid and our mediums, Howe, Langdon, Scharenberg, Oxley. It's not a huge downgrade on Brown, Frost and Marsh (if he doesn't stay on) no matter how you look at it. Not as good as individual defenders maybe, but far better mobility and ball use, which for me means it will be an improvement especially because we want to play a zone defence.

Also I'd not rule out the possibility of Scharenberg eventually playing key position. He's 191cm but we are seeing some smaller keys in recent years (Grundy, 192cm) and I think that trend will continue.

[swoop42]

Well let's be honest we didn't have a great hand to play with in terms of draft picks.

I have concerns about the length and financial remuneration for Wells and Mayne but I can see reasons why we targeted both given the lack of experience on our list.

Wells and injury will always be a concern but if you look at some stats for him this season they are elite in areas we need improvement in.

Still he isn't no spring chicken.

Mayne hasn't been a high goal kicker in recent seasons but he can play a role both forward and back and is a more skilled and polished version of Toovey or Goldsack. Hopefully he should prove handy and like Howe make a position is own as the season progresses.

The bigger question is whether we should have waited till next year when a number of higher quality free agents like Martin will possibly be available.

This move seems partially motivated by the desire to give the coach every chance of returning to finals next year and saving his job.

Dunn was a need given the departure of Brown and Frost (and now Marsh).

He's arguably better than Brown in most areas and has played his best football in the latter stages of his career. He's coverage which is needed.

I don't know much about Hoskin-Elliott other than he was a former No.4 draft selection and has been very injury plagued the last 2 seasons.

Kicked 26 goals from 20 games in 2014 so must have some talent to play with.

I wonder if we made a decent play for Stewart or not?

Given the little Essendon had to give up to get him I'd be disappointed if we didn't have a real crack.

He may not be good enough but as that lighter framed mobile forward/ruck option he seems the prototype of how big forwards are going to be and would have been possibly a good combination with Moore and released some pressure and focus off him.

Perhaps he still harbours a grudge towards us as we didn't take the opportunity to draft as a father son and he told us to get stuffed when we came knocking.

Other teams did better this trade period but given our limitations I'd rate us a 7/10 or a grade B.

[MatthewBoydFanClub]

We need another two or three Darcy Moores on our list starting with pick 28 in the national draft and whatever first round draft pick we have next year. Another KPP delisted free agent would be good as well, but doesn't look like we're going down that avenue. My prediction is, by round 10 -12 next year we will start regretting our shortage of KPP's, especially if injuries strike early next year.

[Dave The Man]

[think positive]

[Pies4shaw]

Cloke cost us the GWS game.

[Dave The Man]

[Dave The Man]

[watt price tully]

[HAL]

Sorry you've lost me, we were talking about we'd get Brown and pick 58 for 28 .