Agreed.
Totally agree that we should be looking to replicate the GWS model of acquiring a constant stream of one or two high end picks as well as bringing in high end talent through our academy when possible. Academy players like Hopper, Perryman, Green, Himmelberg, Cumming and Sproule are essentially the reason why the Giants have been able to keep their finals window open for so long and they got another outstanding academy product in this year in Fahey. They also got pick 3 Finn Callaghan in so they've stayed true to their strategy and I'm sure it'll pay dividends for them going forward.
Don't we already follow this strategy the last two years after major draft uptake in 2018 and 2019? Cameron mentioned following GWS model last year in one of his interviews.
Yes, over the last two years we've been able to replicate the GWS model and I hope it's something we continue going forward. Although we won't be able to keep every player, I do believe we will have a better retention rate than GWS when our senior team is up and about because of the better lifestyle we can offer our players. The Miami Heat in the NBA are a great example of a medium/small market team who have been able to counteract their shortcomings in market opportunities by offering a very desirable lifestyle factor and a well run organisation. This is why Miami are regularly competitive both on court and in the free agency arena, despite their market size suggesting they shouldn't be. This is what I envision we will be one day when we get our house in order at all levels.
Yes and it's good to see. It obviously relies on the academy producing at least 1 AFL standard player a year but that's not unrealistic I think. I would say that part of this strategy may also include skipping a draft every now and then to maximise quality in other years. The advantage the academy provides is we get first choice of what should be at least the equivalent of 2nd/3rd round draft picks.
Therein lies the challenge. The optimist in me feels like not only will we be able retain almost all of our good players when we're firing on field, but I also think we'll be able to appeal to big name free agents as well. Never underestimate how appealing the Gold Coast lifestyle is to a young male aged between 18-30 (particularly during the winter months). We just need to win more often so they don't see a red flag when considering a move here.
Most teams have some extra players training with them already
Remember Townsend ( a C grader on his last legs ) won us one of our few games last year . Freeman is exactly the type of player those extra rookie spots should of been used for (a player with past success who could make or break rather than squandering those positions on bizzare academy choices
Yeah maybe but he couldn't break into St Kildas midfield when they where arguably worse off there than we are now.
www.sen.com.au
He’s a mature midfielder.. that’s entirely unproven at AFL level.He knows how to get the footy. That's for sure. Great bloke too. Doesn't hurt that he works for the company that manages Ben King.
Former top-10 pick still has the “fire” to compete and hoping to win AFL list spot after summer training
“I think my body has matured and injuries are a thing of the past.”
“I suppose once the Hugh Greenwood situation arose at the Suns there was obviously a spot there to be filled and a need for them,” he told Sportsday.
“Contact was made and we sort of thought for both parties it was a good idea if I went up and they have the need for a mature midfielder, so there’s a gap there.
Yes, he had some awful luck with his body during his time.
That's a limitation in his capacity to be a contributing player,
He is over his injuries now. Discovered a way to handle his body. Has been injury free for 2 years. Deserves another shot.
