List Mgmt. Contracts, trades, draft - 2022 superstar edition

[Keys]

Link to contract status of all players -

The Contracts Thread

2024 List Changes : Out: Retired- Gaff Delisted - Jones, Trew(R), Baker(R), Witherden, Burgiel, Culley(R) Traded - Darling (NM) Barrass (Hawthorn) In: Trade/FA acquisitions - Graham (Richmond) Baker (Richmond) Owies (Carlton) Current contract status (Updated 18/10/24) : Total 39 Players -...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Looks like GC will have picks 6 and 8 after the Rankine trade. Given it seems there isnt a standout after Ashcroft and Wardlaw - we should surely consider splitting pick 2 into 6 and 8 (and we'll probably have to chuck something else in too)

Is there a player that Gold Coast would want to trade up for?

 

[CountryLad]

I agree that this is not a short term build and all effort should be put into building it right.

BUT, the reason we need mids is not "because it's an immediate need". It's because to win a flag you absolutely must have a top 4 midfield. The best players in every team predominantly decide whether they win or lose, week in, week out. Have a look every week at the best players - Neale, Brayshaw, Oliver, Petracca, Miller, Steele etc. It's not a coincidence. The teams with the best top end players (or best set of top end players) generally win more. Touk Miller has been good for a while, now Anderson has come on and Rowell is pretty good. Guess what - they are rising up the ladder. LDU came of age this year. If he keeps coming on and JHF comes on like we think, guess what? They will climb the ladder. People will call Clarko a genius, but the truth is, he has elite players at his disposal.

So we need mids for the reasons above. If you find a core of elite mids, you will climb the ladder.

The whole "Premierships are built around defence" is a largely myth just like "the premiership quarter". It's old school thinking that people just keep repeating without thinking it through. Sure, you have to have a good defence, but it's the midfield that matters. It's hard to have a good defence without a good midfield. Everyone complains about the Brownlow being a "midfielder's medal" but the cold hard truth is, the midfielders are the quarterbacks who control the fortunes of the team.

As for Busslinger, he's probably the safest bet in the draft. To me, looks every bit a 200 game player who could be a multiple AA. There's no real KPF propositions at the pointy end of this draft, and the mids look more on the risky side. But it's much easier to find a gum KPD later in the draft that an elite mid. We're only going to have a limited amount of top 5 picks over the next 3-4 years. We must take every opportunity to try to draft players in the ilk of Oliver, Petracca, Cameron, King etc. We have to leave (close to a sure thing) Busslinger aside a take a risk on a mid. Answer yourself the question: If you spend a top 2 pick this draft on a KPD in Busslinger, where are you going to find the elite mids who can compete with Oliver/Petracca, Neale/McLuggage, Cripps/Walsh etc?

Good points however defence is just as important as a good midfield.
Tigers don’t win without Rance, yes dusty gets the Norm Smith but Rance was an important cog.
May and Lever super important at the Dees yes Petracca and Oliver get the limelight.
A good list wins you flags, take the best talent at this point of a rebuild is my point.
If it’s Buslinger take him if it’s Warlaw take him if it’s Cadman take him

 

[amazingjoshy]

Looks like GC will have picks 6 and 8 after the Rankine trade. Given it seems there isnt a standout after Ashcroft and Wardlaw - we should surely consider splitting pick 2 into 6 and 8 (and we'll probably have to chuck something else in too)

I like how you've pushed back both their picks but not ours

 

[eagles rule]

Smythe had on his mock draft us taking Warlord, Ginbey, Billy dowling ( the perfect wingman for us imo please for the love of god) and Broadbent i would take that in a heart beat

Ginbey’s kicking is a real turnoff , we need to recruit good kickers ..

 

[Chump Change]

That’s where trade week comes into play. All I’m saying is if the recruiting guys think the mids this year are vanilla then grab best available talent. We will have plenty of time to grab mids going forward.
Maybe there is a mid thats worth grabbing at pick 2 and we are all happy after draft night

There's some clear standouts in this draft:

Ashcroft
Warlord
Sheezel
Tsatas
Phillipou
Clarke
Hewett
McKenzie

It's rare that there is a draft where there's not a few absolute stars in the top 5 or 6. Maybe this year it's harder to pick a winner. The thing is with footballers - some guys will be at the top of any pool they are in. Let's say the standard this year is low - there are still players (in every draft) that will rise to the occasion. They'll be at the top of a group no matter what the talent level. Other players might be at the top because it's weak and once in a strong group (i.e. the AFL) they sit in their place which is not the top. Which of those 8 players above are which? We don't know. We just know some are in the first group and must take a punt.

 

[Chump Change]

Good points however defence is just as important as a good midfield.
Tigers don’t win without Rance, yes dusty gets the Norm Smith but Rance was an important cog.
May and Lever super important at the Dees yes Petracca and Oliver get the limelight.
A good list wins you flags, take the best talent at this point of a rebuild is my point.
If it’s Buslinger take him if it’s Warlaw take him if it’s Cadman take him

Defence is not as important as the midfield. May and Lever leak a heap more goals if Oliver and Petracca aren't there. Melbourne only became the real deal with the emergnce of those two. Before it was Brayshaw and Viney and it wasn't enough.

Midfielders are worth more than defenders, so the best available player at #2 won't be Busslinger. In that game against Vic Met - we lost but Hewett nearly won them the game, not Busslinger. A defenders influence on a game is much more limited.

 

[Obeanie1]

Essendon don’t need to bid on Davey that early unless they want to match another teams bid ..
Essendon will wait till 3 Rd or 4 th Rd if they have the choice..

** Ok I’m coming from a long way back following this thread , playing catch-up..

I think you caught up. I was wondering who would bid that early forcing Essendon to pony up. Around that pick we are talking about Geelong, Melbourne, Swans or Pies.

 

[Avalor]

Essendon in full meltodwn. CEO gone, Simon Madden stepping down from the board.

Besides Nick Martin, is there any other WA boys who are actually any good over there we might be able to prise out while this instability is going on?

EDIT: Looks like Alec Waterman might be the only other WA player there.

Guelfi has come on quite a lot this season - ex Claremont boy if I recall correctly. Versatile.

 

[Obeanie1]

Fitting Bazzo, Edwards and Busslinger into the same defense (with Barrass and Gov there for a few years yet) becomes a problem. We may end up with a Brander situation, where we have to try (and fail) to find a different position for one of them.

Meanwhile midfield continues to be light on for talent.

Bazzo and Busslinger can play forward and defense.

We need another tall forward, Darling is 30. So is Gov.

Word is Gov may play forward / ruck next year and Simo has said on a couple of occasions he would like to try Barrass forward for an extended period.

So I don't see the Brander situation unfolding at all. One of Gov or Barrass play forward. Bazzo, Busslinger spend time developing down back. H Edwards is the other tall. Chances of all of Allen, Gov, H Edwards, Bazzzo, Barrass and Busslinger being 100% fit all the same time over the next two years? Not very high.

Plenty of opportunities for the young guys to develop.

 

[Goldfish]

I like how you've pushed back both their picks but not ours

In fairness it depends if North (or us) bid on Ashcroft...

He'll definitely receive a bid before pick 5.

 

[Obeanie1]

That nobody from the club and nobody in the media have stated that we are heavily into this years crop of midfielders, but having a good look and interested in key positions, is really, really concerning

I know Busslinger is good, but surely given our needs and that our cupboard is bare for young midfielders, even Obrien wouldn't draft 2 key position players over 2 mids this year, would he??

We have a few years to draft our top end mids, and mids dont take as long to develop as talls.

So it does make some sense to draft a tall now. Then in the next two drafts chase elite mids. Then as a group they all start to peak at the same time.

Also, it may just add pressure on other clubs with a pick swap. If they are really keen on a tall we are keen on then they need to pony up. Likewise, if they want to jump up to grab a mid, we need to be compensated for risking missing out on our preference. Create the 'smoke and mirrors' to inflate the value of pick two to force a better deal.

 

[ziad]

Guelfi has come on quite a lot this season - ex Claremont boy if I recall correctly. Versatile.

I have been noticing he has solid games

 

[Obeanie1]

Is there a player that Gold Coast would want to trade up for?

Sheezle to replace Rankin?

Busslinger to shore up their KP defense.

 

[eagle1]

Guelfi has come on quite a lot this season - ex Claremont boy if I recall correctly. Versatile.

Signed a 2 year contract extension this week.

Contract Update: Matt Guelfi - AFLRATINGS

Matt Guelfi has signed a contract extension at Essendon.

aflratings.com.au

 

[Kapowie1]

Essendon in full meltodwn. CEO gone, Simon Madden stepping down from the board.

Besides Nick Martin, is there any other WA boys who are actually any good over there we might be able to prise out while this instability is going on?

EDIT: Looks like Alec Waterman might be the only other WA player there.

Guelfi??


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Sheezle to replace Rankin?

As someone to come in, look exciting then ask for a trade back home?

 

[ziad]

We have a few years to draft our top end mids, and mids dont take as long to develop as talls.

So it does make some sense to draft a tall now. Then in the next two drafts chase elite mids. Then as a group they all start to peak at the same time.

Also, it may just add pressure on other clubs with a pick swap. If they are really keen on a tall we are keen on then they need to pony up. Likewise, if they want to jump up to grab a mid, we need to be compensated for risking missing out on our preference. Create the 'smoke and mirrors' to inflate the value of pick two to force a better deal.

Quite strategic, Rome wasnt built in a day. I think our very recent drafting has been very good and sets a firm foundation.

 

[Wild Kelly]

From what I've read the Poo is a good sized mid who finds his own ball and, importantly, can take a contested mark. We have, for some time, lacked marking capability between the HB and HF lines. It would be good to have someone who can break away from the pack on the right hand side of the ground at kick outs from points against and run to the middle of the ground and take a mark, contested or otherwise.
If he is capable of doing this then I want the Poo!

 

[The wily weagle]

We have a few years to draft our top end mids, and mids dont take as long to develop as talls.

So it does make some sense to draft a tall now.

Is that you Rohan?

 

[Monocle]

As someone to come in, look exciting then ask for a trade back home?

Rinse and repeat.

That said by God they have some very promising Academy home grown talent, that will be welcomed through their Change Rooms in the next few years.

So don’t feel too sorry for them, as all the Northern Clubs are given a substantial leg up with having free access to the best talent in their respective zones.

What a dream - unfettered access to home grown talent.

Can you just imagine how you could strategise your trade plan and target specific players, knowing full well that ( to use this year as an example ) that your draft haul this year would be Busslinger , Hewett and Ginbey. While still holding our first round pick and say we took Tsatas.

Pretty good draft intake:

Tsatas
Busslinger
Hewett
Ginbey

I think it fair to say that even the harshest critics of our recruiters, would give that a massive tick of approval.

So I repeat don’t feel too sorry for Gold Coast loosing Rankine.

 

[ArdentEagle]

Bailey Banfield >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Langdon

IMO - Bailey Banfield >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Langdon, West, Nelson, Witherden, Trew, Foley, Joyce (could have been good), Naish, *Clark, *Dixon *L.Edwards

* Not enough exposed form in comparison. Clark played in the right position should go pretty well. L.Edwards I don't like as much as most. While he has footy nous, he doesn't look have the pure class of Pendles or Mundy but is just a slow. Then again, not many do.

Man our list is in a bad way looking at is this way.

 

[WCE_phil]

I agree that this is not a short term build and all effort should be put into building it right.

BUT, the reason we need mids is not "because it's an immediate need". It's because to win a flag you absolutely must have a top 4 midfield. The best players in every team predominantly decide whether they win or lose, week in, week out. Have a look every week at the best players - Neale, Brayshaw, Oliver, Petracca, Miller, Steele etc. It's not a coincidence. The teams with the best top end players (or best set of top end players) generally win more. Touk Miller has been good for a while, now Anderson has come on and Rowell is pretty good. Guess what - they are rising up the ladder. LDU came of age this year. If he keeps coming on and JHF comes on like we think, guess what? They will climb the ladder. People will call Clarko a genius, but the truth is, he has elite players at his disposal.

So we need mids for the reasons above. If you find a core of elite mids, you will climb the ladder.

The whole "Premierships are built around defence" is a largely myth just like "the premiership quarter". It's old school thinking that people just keep repeating without thinking it through. Sure, you have to have a good defence, but it's the midfield that matters. It's hard to have a good defence without a good midfield. Everyone complains about the Brownlow being a "midfielder's medal" but the cold hard truth is, the midfielders are the quarterbacks who control the fortunes of the team.

As for Busslinger, he's probably the safest bet in the draft. To me, looks every bit a 200 game player who could be a multiple AA. There's no real KPF propositions at the pointy end of this draft, and the mids look more on the risky side. But it's much easier to find a gum KPD later in the draft that an elite mid. We're only going to have a limited amount of top 5 picks over the next 3-4 years. We must take every opportunity to try to draft players in the ilk of Oliver, Petracca, Cameron, King etc. We have to leave (close to a sure thing) Busslinger aside a take a risk on a mid. Answer yourself the question: If you spend a top 2 pick this draft on a KPD in Busslinger, where are you going to find the elite mids who can compete with Oliver/Petracca, Neale/McLuggage, Cripps/Walsh, LDU/JHF etc?

TBH I think the whole premierships are built on defence still actually rings true but not in the way that most people think. From a coaching perspective and also how the umpires put the whistle away in major finals when you talk about defence winning premierships you aren't just talking about the back 6 on the field. You are talking 2 way running, hardness in the contest, at the man and the ability to win clearances as well.

I don't see a host of superstar inside mids in this draft however there are a lot of them and if can get 4 good bites at the cherry (including a potential trade) then I think if you account for one bust whether that be due to the player or injuries you need to allow for that. That would leave 3 and really you are hoping for 2 B+ players and one that takes his game to the next level. We have a fair amount of outside class on the list and will continue to do so, particularly with improvements in fitness.

Getting players who can at least break even in the stoppages allowing us to push and keep Kelly and Sheed on the wings will go a huge way to making those improvements. I already see one of those B+ players on our list and think he will be critically important on the inside in Culley. A lot of the time great young inside mids produce really good tackling numbers because they are second to the ball but still know where it's going. That's how I see Culley and he is going to be a physical beast. At 19 he is already able to stand up to a lot of inside work, has very, very good hands and with a little composure his kicking will be average at worst.

If you consider Sheed and Kelly can be around for our next challenge at the top in those outside roles (we also know they can take inside time and win clearances especially around the ground. Sheed is one of the best in the league at around the ground clearances) with the potential of Hough and Chesser to take those roles in their prime as Kelly and Sheed fall away we really are just short of inside and balanced mids as well as a ruck who can break even.

If we can add Phillipou or Hewett and then grab say Mackenzie as well as either Hustwaite/Ginbey (seems like the club is all over him) on top of Deven Robertson we have really ticked off that part of the rebuild in 1 draft.

Robertson is 185, Culley is 193, Hustwaite is 194, Mackenzie is 188, Hewett is 186, Phillipou is 192cm, Ginbey is 189cm. That's a big, strong midfield with Hewett having the ability to burst from stoppages and Phillipou seemingly having the pendles/sidebottom ability to make time slow down to make the right decision and execute as well as the great ability to go forward. Hustwaite has the elite ability to get the ball out to the right man and one of his strengths is kicking under pressure in close. I know if reporting is true the club is all over Ginbey but I consider him the weakest of the lot. Robertson is inside, outside and provides great leadership.

We are likely getting one of Hewett or Phillipou and one of Hustwaite or Ginbey as well as Robertson. We just need the extra pick for Mackenzie. Sure it's going to take 3-4 years of development but to me we already have most of the cream as well as the spine, we just need the midfield cake, a competitive ruck, 1 very solid HFF/Mid prospect who can impact around the ground and 1 true Key forward. The key forward may need to come from trade but there's the potential for guys to go later in this draft who can make the role their own particularly if Allen does become the star we hope.

If we don't target Barnett or Keeler there is a strong chance due to his year that Broadbent could even make the rookie draft and Max Knobel is certainly a rookie pick. If they were there I'd take both.

3-4 years from now that is the sort of midfield that is not going to get bullied on size, strength or positioning and outside of maybe Hewett they are all genuine hard bastards as well.

 

[Westend]

TBH I think the whole premierships are built on defence still actually rings true but not in the way that most people think. From a coaching perspective and also how the umpires put the whistle away in major finals when you talk about defence winning premierships you aren't just talking about the back 6 on the field. You are talking 2 way running, hardness in the contest, at the man and the ability to win clearances as well.

I don't see a host of superstar inside mids in this draft however there are a lot of them and if can get 4 good bites at the cherry (including a potential trade) then I think if you account for one bust whether that be due to the player or injuries you need to allow for that. That would leave 3 and really you are hoping for 2 B+ players and one that takes his game to the next level. We have a fair amount of outside class on the list and will continue to do so, particularly with improvements in fitness.

Getting players who can at least break even in the stoppages allowing us to push and keep Kelly and Sheed on the wings will go a huge way to making those improvements. I already see one of those B+ players on our list and think he will be critically important on the inside in Culley. A lot of the time great young inside mids produce really good tackling numbers because they are second to the ball but still know where it's going. That's how I see Culley and he is going to be a physical beast. At 19 he is already able to stand up to a lot of inside work, has very, very good hands and with a little composure his kicking will be average at worst.

If you consider Sheed and Kelly can be around for our next challenge at the top in those outside roles (we also know they can take inside time and win clearances especially around the ground. Sheed is one of the best in the league at around the ground clearances) with the potential of Hough and Chesser to take those roles in their prime as Kelly and Sheed fall away we really are just short of inside and balanced mids as well as a ruck who can break even.

If we can add Phillipou or Hewett and then grab say Mackenzie as well as either Hustwaite/Ginbey (seems like the club is all over him) on top of Deven Robertson we have really ticked off that part of the rebuild in 1 draft.

Robertson is 185, Culley is 193, Hustwaite is 194, Mackenzie is 188, Hewett is 186, Phillipou is 192cm, Ginbey is 189cm. That's a big, strong midfield with Hewett having the ability to burst from stoppages and Phillipou seemingly having the pendles/sidebottom ability to make time slow down to make the right decision and execute as well as the great ability to go forward. Hustwaite has the elite ability to get the ball out to the right man and one of his strengths is kicking under pressure in close. I know if reporting is true the club is all over Ginbey but I consider him the weakest of the lot. Robertson is inside, outside and provides great leadership.

We are likely getting one of Hewett or Phillipou and one of Hustwaite or Ginbey as well as Robertson. We just need the extra pick for Mackenzie. Sure it's going to take 3-4 years of development but to me we already have most of the cream as well as the spine, we just need the midfield cake, a competitive ruck, 1 very solid HFF/Mid prospect who can impact around the ground and 1 true Key forward. The key forward may need to come from trade but there's the potential for guys to go later in this draft who can make the role their own particularly if Allen does become the star we hope.

If we don't target Barnett or Keeler there is a strong chance due to his year that Broadbent could even make the rookie draft and Max Knobel is certainly a rookie pick. If they were there I'd take both.

3-4 years from now that is the sort of midfield that is not going to get bullied on size, strength or positioning and outside of maybe Hewett they are all genuine hard bastards as well.

Wardlaw???

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Wardlaw???

Hammies like Petch

 

[Chump Change]

We have a few years to draft our top end mids, and mids dont take as long to develop as talls.

So it does make some sense to draft a tall now. Then in the next two drafts chase elite mids. Then as a group they all start to peak at the same time.

1. There are no KPFs worth of pick 2 (based on what they have shown)
2. Busslinger is worthy, but KPDs more often than not can be found later in the draft. Elite mids, much harder.

Here's a rough guess of the top 26 mids in the AFL right now. This is off the top of my head, so happy to add anyone in or move anyone out:


Oliver - 4
Petracca - 2
Brayshaw - 2
Serong - 8
Neale - 58
McLuggage - 3
De Goey - 5
Bolton - 29
Bont - 4
McRae - 6
Libba - 41
Sniff - 7
Cripps - 13
Walsh - 1
Steele - 24
Rozee - 5
Wines - 7
Miller - 29
Anderson - 2
Laird - 86
Parish - 5
Merrit - 26
Kelly - 2
Taranto - 2
Hopper - 7
Coniglio - 2
Uniacke - 4

Didn't include Toby Green (6), Swallow (1), Stringer (5), Wingard (6), G Brayshaw (3), Cerra (5), Rayner (1), Butters (12), Ash (4), JHF (1), Rowell (1)

Or older players like Pendles, Sidebottom, Danger, Dusty etc


I would suggest leaving mids until the next 2 drafts as reducing our chances. Top 5 pick has to mid or dominant KPF. We just can't afford to get it wrong.