Rumour File #8.

[KennyHunter9]

We have restricted salary cap space - which is why we are quiet.

Maybe we do. I presume we are doing some serious front-ending of contracts given the relative youth of our list - and that we're ready and cashed up for FA next year.

Interested in how the Hawks can accommodate Mitchell, Hodge, Franklin, Roughy, Rioli - plus raft of youngsters - plus lots of mid-tier players like Ladson, Sewell, Lewis with premiership credentials - plus the overs they paid for Burgoyne, plus Gibson etc ... and still fork out cash for Gunston and now make a 350K bid for Gillies.

Are you on the phone Ken Wood, or is it only Carlton that cheats the cap?

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

We have restricted salary cap space - which is why we are quiet.

from my i've been told there is a fair amount available.

 

[Blue and Silver]

We have restricted salary cap space - which is why we are quiet.

MS3 has reported quite the opposite in the past.

I would of thought that we are quiet due to the high proportion of contracted players, the compromised nature of the draft and the poor quality of players on the general (meaning open to any proposal) market. Doesn't help we have high picks.

 

[Aphrodite]

We (Essendon) have restricted salary cap space - which is why we are quiet.

*efa

 

[Dominator_7]

I wouldn't mind finding a list of players that have gone from Carlton to play at Essendon int heir final years.

Scott Camporeale and Matty Allan are the only two that come to mind seeing as my footy brain doesn't date back too far.

Theres been a couple come from them to us too overthe years...
Justin Maddem
Glen Hawker
Glen Manton
Jordan Bannister
Bradles was rumoured to have signed with them ona Form 4 before we got in his ear and lured him across to Princes Park from under theier noses... They had to make do with Greg Anderson and Tony Antrobus instead lol

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

the reason why we are so quiet is because we need to take 3 players in the draft. Ultimately at the moment we are trying to seek a trade for Carlos for picks only so we fall into that number which we will use to upgrade Tuohy and perhaps Ed.

 

[Gezim]

should the Blues go after Jordan Lisle of the Hawks, bit of a rumour going around that this might come to be. This would be a great win for the Blues as Lisle can play and is 196 cm,

 

[Blue since 72]

the reason why we are so quiet is because we need to take 3 players in the draft. Ultimately at the moment we are trying to seek a trade for Carlos for picks only so we fall into that number which we will use to upgrade Tuohy and perhaps Ed.

Have you heard anything new on Bower by chance?

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

from my i've been told there is a fair amount available.

Could be the case - a pretty good source has told me that we are quiet this year for a number of reasons:

1. Stephen Icke's departure - he had his ear to the ground during the season in sounding out possible targets, however he has taken that information with him and in the meantime Swann has had to hastily fill in Icke's role during the interim.

2. Restricted cap space - Not sure why this is the case, and God help us when Kreuzer, Gibbs, Yarran etc come out of contract, unless the team is already factoring these new contracts in?.

3. Lack of currency - Nothing of quality by way of draft picks nor players to barter with. Bower/Setanta aren't commanding much in this landscape, McLean has a $350k contract which nobody wants to touch.

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

should the Blues go after Jordan Lisle of the Hawks, bit of a rumour going around that this might come to be. This would be a great win for the Blues as Lisle can play and is 196 cm,

can he? for a team so decimated with injuries to KKP, he only played 5 games this year. He has been in the system for 3 years and one would have hoped that he would have played more games than 5 in total.

Be happy to let this one slide.

 

[HARKER]

MS3 has reported quite the opposite in the past.

I would of thought that we are quiet due to the high proportion of contracted players, the compromised nature of the draft and the poor quality of players on the general (meaning open to any proposal) market. Doesn't help we have high picks.

McLean's situation is hurting us, make no mistake. We may not like it, but that's a lot of money tied up right there.

This will be unpopular, but did we make a mistake in re-signing all three of Joseph, Ellard and Armfield?

 

[Blue and Silver]

McLean's situation is hurting us, make no mistake. We may not like it, but that's a lot of money tied up right there.

This will be unpopular, but did we make a mistake in re-signing all three of Joseph, Ellard and Armfield?

I believe so. Both Ellard and Armfield should of been trade bait.

 

[mac25]

McLean's situation is hurting us, make no mistake. We may not like it, but that's a lot of money tied up right there.

This will be unpopular, but did we make a mistake in re-signing all three of Joseph, Ellard and Armfield?

Agree on this, Hawthorn seem to be proactive in taking a approach to make up the gap next year on Geelong/Collingwood, not quite sure what we are doing, Ratten's comments after the West Coast game were quite bizzare indicating the list would undergo some change and the Mclean situation is a disaster and we clearly still have a few gaps as we do not seem to have been proactive in identifying players that may address them.

 

[Kramer1]

McLean's situation is hurting us, make no mistake. We may not like it, but that's a lot of money tied up right there.

This will be unpopular, but did we make a mistake in re-signing all three of Joseph, Ellard and Armfield?

Being overly dramatic, as is my want at times, I think the McLean situation may continue to bite us beyond his time on the list.

We could of conceivably picked up a Josh Kennedy (of the Hawk/Swan variety) in the same year for much less and he is exactly 8.76 times a more valuable player. We could have done nothing and just picked up another quality kid, and put the coin to good use elsewhere. It's the opportunity cost that hurts the most.

More I think about it the more I want to go on a cactus swinging rampage...whose with me?

Re Ellard, Joseph & Armfield...Ellard and Armfield have merit for mine, Joseph is fine (it was just the one year wasn't it?) but I would like to think he is firmly on the fringe in 2012...well either that or he comes on in leaps and bounds.

 

[Beloved]

I believe so. Both Ellard and Armfield should of been trade bait.

No they shouldn't have.

Both proved themselves as top quality footballers this year, and Armfield's disposal has improved out of sight. Both are incredibly underrated, hard-working guns.

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

Have you heard anything new on Bower by chance?

At this stage it looks like he will stay.

Of the 2 Carlos is more than likely to be traded, perhaps for a 3rd/4th rounder.

 

[Mr.Kennedy]

I know it has been a boring week, but anything can happen from now to Monday lunchtime. IIRC last year the Laidler deal was announced Sat morning. We dont need a big fish just some peices to the puzzle.

 

[Canyouhearthedrums]

McLean's situation is hurting us, make no mistake. We may not like it, but that's a lot of money tied up right there.

This will be unpopular, but did we make a mistake in re-signing all three of Joseph, Ellard and Armfield?

No. It's not like there is some blue chip gun out on the market at the moment and McLeans 300K will be off the books next year, just in time for FA.

 

[Blue and Silver]

Hawthorn have picked up a skinny third tall. Talented certainly, but unlikely to be a massive impact next year.

The gap from Geelong and Collingwood isn't that great either. Both have significant retirement/ageing concerns in key positions. I think if the cards fall right for us we could pass them next year

 

[Silvagnis]

No they shouldn't have.

Both proved themselves as top quality footballers this year, and Armfield's disposal has improved out of sight. Both are incredibly underrated, hard-working guns.

They're not guns and top quality players. Pure role players. We could live without them if we received a pick upgrade. The cap space will be needed to keep Yarran, Watson, Kreuzer, Lucas or another good young player. One year like Thornton and Scotland should have been the offers. The likelihood of Thornton, Scotland and Mclean leaving next year should free up room.

Judd's contract ends in 2013.
Robinson's in 2013.
Gibbs's in 2013.
Henderson's in 2013.
Murphy's in 2014.
Hampson's in 2014.
Walker's in 2014.
Jamison's in 2014.

 

[Kramer1]

At this stage it looks like he will stay.

Of the 2 Carlos is more than likely to be traded, perhaps for a 3rd/4th rounder.

This is great news and I shall hold you to it MS3...Bower will be a recruit to look forward to in 2012, with plenty to prove.

Happy for the club to do not much, but would love to see at least one quality addition to the midfield rotation (that can have an impact in 2012.)

 

[KennyHunter9]

should the Blues go after Jordan Lisle of the Hawks, bit of a rumour going around that this might come to be. This would be a great win for the Blues as Lisle can play and is 196 cm,

A poor man's Shoenemakers ... no thanks.

 

[yibbida]

1. Stephen Icke's departure - he had his ear to the ground during the season in sounding out possible targets, however he has taken that information with him and in the meantime Swann has had to hastily fill in Icke's role during the interim.

If that is true, sacking/letting him go prior to trade week is an amateur mistake.

 

[Blue and Silver]

No they shouldn't have.

Both proved themselves as top quality footballers this year, and Armfield's disposal has improved out of sight. Both are incredibly underrated, hard-working guns.

Really?

Ellard doesn't win enough ball as an inside mid, and while important to us thanks to his defensive pressure is certainly replaceable.

Armfield's kicking has imporved but he is still fringe and would get us more value on the trade table then on the football field.

Both are quality, but fringe, which is why they should be trade bait. Not TRADED mind you, only if something we need is on offer would I let them go. But we need players like these on the table so we have options

 

[HARKER]

Re Ellard, Joseph & Armfield...Ellard and Armfield have merit for mine, Joseph is fine (it was just the one year wasn't it?) but I would like to think he is firmly on the fringe in 2012...well either that or he comes on in leaps and bounds.

I didn't set out to upset anyone by the suggestion, but oddly when we drop our best team together those three boys are generally not there and we still have quailty types in the 25-32 range.

It has nothing to do with trade week per se, but just on reflection it doesn't sit as well with me as it did upon the signings.
Off topic.. Sorry.