Toast Bona-fide 'Toast': Steve Hocking & Stephen Wells. Pity about the mystery mid though ;)

[Beanstalk]

Motlop signed. Kolodashnij signed. Blitz set to re-sign.

I don't think we should underestimate the importance of, and effort it must have taken, to secure those first two. Motlop looked gone for all money by many reports, while rumours of Gold Coast circling have followed Kolodjashnij's career so far. Even Blitz, vitally important to our future, was reportedly tabled an offer by the Bulldogs (Although no dotted line just yet...)

And then there's...

Spoiler

Dangerfield?

Spoiler

Henderson?

Spoiler

Selwood?

Spoiler

Ruckman?

Spoiler

Mystery Mid?

...but more on that later.

Nice one, Steve.

 

[Danforged]

Yeah was thinking earlier about this. For all the noise you hear about Balme being a great operator we had consistent issues getting so called lockd and loaded trades/FA's over the line and signed. Meanwhile not only have Hocking secured all our stars who were supposedly gone we're actually bringing in some massive FA's / trades from other clubs.

Epic work

 

[Beanstalk]

Sitting on a solid B+ right now.

Which and how many of the above five mentioned join the club decides whether it's an A+ or a C- for 2015.

 

[CoachEmUpChucky]

I love the mythical 'Mystery Mid'!

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Well this is a new frontier. A potential toast. I like it!

 

[thegerman]

Yep, I'd agree with Gysenn it's a B+. With some of the impending ins easily moves up to being one of the best off seasons for a while.

 

[zb14]

Almost as good as Fagan!

He runs a tight ship..

 

[iameviljez]

We got to keep Motlop in the face of some serious $$. I think we might be underselling just how hard that must have been.

 

[fpm84]

We got to keep Motlop in the face of some serious $$. I think we might be underselling just how hard that must have been.

If you believe some people, Mots knocked back a potential $150-200k per season elsewhere to stay loyal

 

[devilsnap]

He was also the one who NOPED the f out of Dank when he approached us.

 

[ChookNorris]

Just needs to mend bridges with his brother for potential father Son picks.

 

[dazbroncos]

The other factor that needs to be considered here, and it's the much uglier side, but making the hard calls. No one wants to see club champions leave or be told but, but clearly SH had hands in this too.

This has to be applauded for making the tough calls - and while they may not be popular - they had to be made.

Sadly it's not just about the ins but the outs too.

Go Catters

 

[Teriyakicat]

He was also the one who NOPED the f out of Dank when he approached us.

So he NOPED the DOPE?? Hocking!

 

[iameviljez]

Just needs to mend bridges with his brother for potential father Son picks.

I believe they never really got on as players, either? Totally different playing style, too.

 

[Willo_]

It must be said that if we are toasting Hocking that we should also be patting Balme on the back, his job after all was to get Hocking to a position to be able to do the job

 

[Matthew Jelley]

Great news in all of the resignings! Very excited

 

[THE CAT WRANGLER]

Great effort so far but only half of the job is complete just by signing players up we are the same as this year to improve we need recruits if he can pull off some great recruiting it will be a coup

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Yeah was thinking earlier about this. For all the noise you hear about Balme being a great operator we had consistent issues getting so called lockd and loaded trades/FA's over the line and signed. Meanwhile not only have Hocking secured all our stars who were supposedly gone we're actually bringing in some massive FA's / trades from other clubs.

Epic work

And so far, how many locked and loaded trades/FAs has Hocking gotten over the line?

 

[Turbocat]

So far so good... but Im really hoping to add a kid like a Cripps that can come here and suddenly adds best 25 depth..... we need to be conscious that adding pnp mid 20 year old mids is fine for now , but we can not stop adding youth to our list or we will have a hole on our list again.

 

[Moggy]

He was also the one who NOPED the f out of Dank when he approached us.

Absolutely!

That shows good, solid judgement, which might not sound sexy but is crucial (just ask Essendon)

 

[RegHickeyStand]

I love the mythical 'Mystery Mid'!

I heard they offered Bennell $300.

He said "You have to be kidding." Later, after his manager did a ring around, Bennell rang back, and said "I'll take it. When do I start?"

 

[Moggy]

I heard they offered Bennell $300.

He said "You have to be kidding." Later, after his manager did a ring around, Bennell rang back, and said "I'll take it. When do I start?"

I'd take him and back the club to turn him around. Lorra talent there

 

[catempire]

And so far, how many locked and loaded trades/FAs has Hocking gotten over the line?

Three.*



*if they don't eventuate they become unlocked and unloaded

 

[Cezz The Catter]

I heard they offered Bennell $300.

He said "You have to be kidding." Later, after his manager did a ring around, Bennell rang back, and said "I'll take it. When do I start?"

Obviously worked out pints were cheaper in Geelong than Schooners in GC

 

[AM]

Geez! The bloke has been in the role for about two minutes. Goodness knows how much of the groundwork that's hitting the headlines now was done before his move from head of commercial development. A role he didn't actually excel in btw. Talk about a premature evaluation.