2019 Trade thread

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This is the moment Luke Hodge knew Birch was coming to the Lions.
Birch just needed a pen to sign his new contract and Hodgey said "I've got one in my shorts".

Birchall.jpg


Good luck Birch in the future. Let's hope that warm Brisbane weather can warm up those legs for a few more years.
Hope he can provide your boys with a few years of good service.
 
I would have preferred we went with one of our youngsters to replace Hodge ie. Cox, Ah Chee, Bailey, Starcevich, Hinge than go with Birchall but I'd be very happy to be proven wrong and for Birchall to play 20+ games including finals and be a star off half back.
 
Greater Western Sydney receives a first-round pick (currently No.6) and a fourth-round pick (currently No.59)FROM: St Kilda

St Kilda receives two first-round picks (currently No.12 and No.18)

There goes pick 6
 

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Greater Western Sydney receives a first-round pick (currently No.6) and a fourth-round pick (currently No.59)FROM: St Kilda

St Kilda receives two first-round picks (currently No.12 and No.18)

There goes pick 6
The Giants will be doing this in an attempt to get a selection in before a bid comes on their highly rated academy guy Tom Green, although from what I have seen on the draft board Tom Green is likely to be bid on before pick 6 so they will probably try to move higher up still.
 
The acquisition of Birchall might well make way for someone like Witherden to spend some time through the middle if he has a big preseason. A lot of this years improvement came from some of our more experienced guys.

It’ll be the improvement from McCluggage, Witho, Rayner, Hipwood, Berry and co that will take us that step further next year.
No way witherdon has the speed or endurance to play midfield just my opinion .
 
If we want to trade up then Carlton are the most likely partner. Currently have pick 9 and then nothing. They have a very young list and may want to use picks on the trades they are positioning for - heaven knows they will need more picks than they currently have to secure them all. Ryder also spotted at Ikon Park.
 
We better off gifting games instead? Weird logic. You're implying that both Birchall will be a lock in our best 22 and others won't be able to show enough to make our best 22, but that we should be playing the worse option in hope instead.

I didn’t say gifting games. Starch has already played and **** has said a few times he is rated highly. Cox was bought in round 23 against the tiges at the G on the back of good form. Berry and Wooler have both been knocking the door down. On the form these guys demonstrated this year it’s not gifting games.


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No way witherdon has the speed or endurance to play midfield just my opinion .
Speed isn't everything, would think Witherden is quicker than Simon Black, Tom Mitchell & Greg Williams. Of course I'm not saying he will be half as good as them but disagree you need to be quick to play in the middle.

He's a very smart player for his age and can see him being able to build his midfield minutes.
 
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Alex Witherden strikes me as someone who will never be able to play large minutes as a winger/outside mid, he's genetically disadvantaged like Rhys Matheison.

He's never going to have Whitfield, Scully, B.Hill levels of endurance.
 

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Alex Witherden strikes me as someone who will never be able to play large minutes as a winger/outside mid, he's genetically disadvantaged like Rhys Matheison.

He's never going to have Whitfield, Scully, B.Hill levels of endurance.
I feel the same but he's had a bit of experience now and the opportunity's there if he's good enough
 
I get why we've taken Birchall . As long as he gets out on the park he's better than any other options.

If he has trouble with injuries and is in and out of the side then he's probably just thwarting the consistent development of someone younger.

But what it does tell you is that we think Hodge's absence will leave a big hole.
Reading between the lines with Noble's comments:
He made mention the other day that we were the most inexperienced finals team (and that included Hodgey). No surprise that Hodge was clearly one of our best finals players when the big game heat was on.
Today, he referenced Birchall's ability to stand up in big games.
My guess is that he and Fages saw us implode a bit in that GWS game in particular and were keen to retain some "big game" experience in our defensive unit.
Birchall will only be 32 next year and all being well, will add some important experience to our team.
 
Birchall onlyCosts us dollars only for a year or 2 when m

Speed isn't everything, would think Witherden is quicker than Simon Black, Tom Mitchell & Greg Williams. Of course I'm not saying he will be half as good as them but disagree you need to be quick to play in the middle.

He's a very smart player for his age and can see him being able to build his midfield minutes.

Simon black was an elite endurance runner who came in season 1 and was beating Shaun hearts Beap test record : he also didn’t need immense pace as he could read the game better then anyone and had supurb hands . Not sure you can say any of those things about witherdon . Hope I’m wrong and he can set the world on fire but he hasn’t been blessed with great endurance or speed and as I alluded to a week ago his supposed elite
Foot skills went missing Last year .
 
Sorry to intrude -

Glad to see you guys giving Birch another run at a flag. If you can get his body right through the pre-season this is a big win for your club.

Upon return to the senior side this year, Birchall showed he's still got the sublime skills and the hunger/determination to play AFL.

He should be quite similar to Hodgey in the aspects of great disposal, calm veteran down back and on-field leadership qualities. He also should give you a bit more drive off the half-back line, potentially opening up more space for Rich on the opposite side of the ground.

Tough player like Hodgey too.
thanks, nice summary. thanks for dropping by.
 
Would like to see Birchall actually come in for Witherden, I understand everyone says but Witherden is 21. Until he gets faster I'd like to see Birchall kicking the ball instead of Witherden. Hodgeys replacement can see it being someone quick maybe Cedric Cox or hopefully Brodie Smith still finds his way to Brisbane. Then Back 6 next year:
Gardiner, Andrews, Adams, Rich, Birchall & Cox/Smith.
I'll just say it if it is Smith in that 6 it becomes a premiership worthy back 6.
Witherden isn't in the team to play on the agile small forwards. As long as he plays his role in the team defence he gets games. Cox I feel is heading the way of Cutler. Potential there but has a huge hole in his game that is not being fixed.
 
Simon black was an elite endurance runner who came in season 1 and was beating Shaun hearts Beap test record : he also didn’t need immense pace as he could read the game better then anyone and had supurb hands . Not sure you can say any of those things about witherdon . Hope I’m wrong and he can set the world on fire but he hasn’t been blessed with great endurance or speed and as I alluded to a week ago his supposed elite
Foot skills went missing Last year .
Never said he would get Black's endurance levels.

Did you watch his kicking this year? Witherden's 80% kicking efficiency tells me his elite disposal didn't go missing, this puts him 3rd for the Lions (based on regular players), only Hodgy and Rich in front of him.

What he did do this season was stop high risk kicks that was common in the first 2 years.
 
Witherden isn't in the team to play on the agile small forwards. As long as he plays his role in the team defence he gets games. Cox I feel is heading the way of Cutler. Potential there but has a huge hole in his game that is not being fixed.

It is something that has worried me, but think his form at the back end of the year was overwhelmingly positive and would back him in to have a good career more than I would Tom. Next year will have to take another step, but reckon he's got it in him.
 

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