If we are talking two years away, this is my current assessment:
Defence (Ten players in the mix for 2019)
Cox - Cox may not cement a spot this year but IMO everything says so far that he will be a lock next year. He looks so much better in the backline to and adds that composure and quick thinking. And he is taller than Johnson; him, Hamling and Pearce for mine for the backbone of the defence part of our defence going forward. All of these players have the requisite speed to keep up with forwards, and Cox and Pearce have strength (with Hamling also no mug). Collins also around as a backup option.
Ryan, Duman, Tucker, Hughes, Nyhuis and .... Crozier - I think these are the players that would for a reasonable basis around that defence. Not all of them are going to make it and I don't know if they will ever try Crozier in defence again (or Tucker ever), but Ryan, Tucker, Duman (and Crozier) would add clean decision making and kicking and reasonable size, whilst Hughes and Nyhuis are lock-downs on mediums and have the size to do that.
Add to this Jason Carter who may start in defence as a tearaway speedster and I don't think we are short of options there. The players are there - just needs to add experience and confidence.
Midfield and Ruck (Nine players in the mix for 2019)
Neale, Blakely are the work horses and should continue to be in the centre - and would be nice to confirm Fyfe and Balic are in that mix for raw power. Hill Brothers on the outside add the speed and offence. Weller is too good (and I don't think is suited) for defence, bring him back onto a wing or better still place him in the centre to add the quality and offence that is needed around the ball. Langdon as backup speed / bench player.
I think this group needs more brute strength and height (all bar Blakely, Fyfe and Balic are under 182cm) and I am going to continue to guess that Logue might progress from defence to play in this group to add that grunt. I think it could also use another midfielder with height.
It looks like Darcy will be the ruck by this point in time. He looks really good at WAFL level, but the test will be at the next level where he will come up against guys almost 10cm taller than him. If he goes down we have Strnadica as a rookie ruck currently, but I think we would need to add someone else to replace Apeness and Clarke whom I feel will be gone by then because of injuries.
Forward (Four players in the mix for 2019)
The place with the most holes. Agree with others that McCarthy and Walters are the only locks at this stage.
In terms of talls I think McCarthy to hold down a key position post and I will back Kersten to still be there although on the fringe. I am not going to back Strnadica to make despite liking his talent. Needs a quality ruck-sized forward.
Walters I see playing more as a Half Forward here on in. For mine Bennell won't be there but could be and makes a big difference if he is. Grey will be there as a fringe player / defensive forward. Whilst he deserves a go right now I don't see Deluca making it, and I see a need for at least two small forwards.
So the needs are IMO:
(1) Ruck sized Forward (taken no later than 1st round);
(2) Ruck to develop (happy for this to be a rookie-listed and/or also mature age);
(3) Small Forward (taken no later than second round);
(4) Small Forward (taken no later than third round OR a trade - could be mature age); and
(5) Tall midfielder (taken no later than second round).
Draftwise for mine:
2017 Draft: Ruck sized forward, Small Forward (Rookie-Listed Ruck)
2018 Draft: Ryan Carter, Tall Midfielder
Trade: Look for a small forward.
Defence (Ten players in the mix for 2019)
Cox - Cox may not cement a spot this year but IMO everything says so far that he will be a lock next year. He looks so much better in the backline to and adds that composure and quick thinking. And he is taller than Johnson; him, Hamling and Pearce for mine for the backbone of the defence part of our defence going forward. All of these players have the requisite speed to keep up with forwards, and Cox and Pearce have strength (with Hamling also no mug). Collins also around as a backup option.
Ryan, Duman, Tucker, Hughes, Nyhuis and .... Crozier - I think these are the players that would for a reasonable basis around that defence. Not all of them are going to make it and I don't know if they will ever try Crozier in defence again (or Tucker ever), but Ryan, Tucker, Duman (and Crozier) would add clean decision making and kicking and reasonable size, whilst Hughes and Nyhuis are lock-downs on mediums and have the size to do that.
Add to this Jason Carter who may start in defence as a tearaway speedster and I don't think we are short of options there. The players are there - just needs to add experience and confidence.
Midfield and Ruck (Nine players in the mix for 2019)
Neale, Blakely are the work horses and should continue to be in the centre - and would be nice to confirm Fyfe and Balic are in that mix for raw power. Hill Brothers on the outside add the speed and offence. Weller is too good (and I don't think is suited) for defence, bring him back onto a wing or better still place him in the centre to add the quality and offence that is needed around the ball. Langdon as backup speed / bench player.
I think this group needs more brute strength and height (all bar Blakely, Fyfe and Balic are under 182cm) and I am going to continue to guess that Logue might progress from defence to play in this group to add that grunt. I think it could also use another midfielder with height.
It looks like Darcy will be the ruck by this point in time. He looks really good at WAFL level, but the test will be at the next level where he will come up against guys almost 10cm taller than him. If he goes down we have Strnadica as a rookie ruck currently, but I think we would need to add someone else to replace Apeness and Clarke whom I feel will be gone by then because of injuries.
Forward (Four players in the mix for 2019)
The place with the most holes. Agree with others that McCarthy and Walters are the only locks at this stage.
In terms of talls I think McCarthy to hold down a key position post and I will back Kersten to still be there although on the fringe. I am not going to back Strnadica to make despite liking his talent. Needs a quality ruck-sized forward.
Walters I see playing more as a Half Forward here on in. For mine Bennell won't be there but could be and makes a big difference if he is. Grey will be there as a fringe player / defensive forward. Whilst he deserves a go right now I don't see Deluca making it, and I see a need for at least two small forwards.
So the needs are IMO:
(1) Ruck sized Forward (taken no later than 1st round);
(2) Ruck to develop (happy for this to be a rookie-listed and/or also mature age);
(3) Small Forward (taken no later than second round);
(4) Small Forward (taken no later than third round OR a trade - could be mature age); and
(5) Tall midfielder (taken no later than second round).
Draftwise for mine:
2017 Draft: Ruck sized forward, Small Forward (Rookie-Listed Ruck)
2018 Draft: Ryan Carter, Tall Midfielder
Trade: Look for a small forward.
