Some of the good sides are getting better......

[Leather Poisoning]

St Kilda have just added Lovett and lost Ball. Net gain I'd say. Ball is a great inside player, but was really excess to Saints need. Lovett will be an absolute weapon in that side.

Collingwood. Finished top 4 with a young side and are looking to add Jolly and Ball. For mine, a glaring weakness of the Collingwood side has been the lack of inside players. Ball will be fanatstic for them. Jolly will give Malthouse a tool he pretty much has never had in his coaching career - a top class ruckman.

Bulldogs. FInished top four and seem to be getting closer to that grand final berth each year. They now have that power forward and a game style that will make the most of it.


Will be interesting to see what happens next year with these recruits. I know the Jolly deal isn't over the line.

Which is the best pick up? Who will have the most bearing on his side's season in 2010?

How is Geelong going to counter these improvements in their most fierce rivals of 2009?

 

[Madtiger2006]

The Hawks should get Burgoyne too. They'll be up there too after a bad run of injuries this year. The competition is getting tighter. Even Melbourne and Richmond have alot to look forward too in a couple of years with midfields of Scully, Trengrove, Silvia and Deledio, Cotchin, Martin respectively

 

[Leather Poisoning]

The Hawks should get Burgoyne too. They'll be up there too after a bad run of injuries this year. The competition is getting tighter. Even Melbourne and Richmond have alot to look forward too in a couple of years with midfields of Scully, Trengrove, Silvia and Deledio, Cotchin, Martin respectively

Yep, good point, but Hawks are no guarantee to shoot up the ladder. No doubt we'd be a better side with Burgoyne and Gibson though.

As for the tigers - will be interesting to see what Hardwick does with the crew. It was posted on the hawks board that Jay Shultz has gone to port - not sure what the other side of the equation was. Thought he seemed like the kind of guy that could make an impact with the right coach?

Hope Cotchin can get on the park more this year!

 

[Southerntakeover]

I dont really see how Collingwood will be able to trade for both Ball and Jolly... Surely its one or the other, given the high price that both would come with.

 

[Max zero]

St Kilda have just added Lovett and lost Ball. Net gain I'd say. Ball is a great inside player, but was really excess to Saints need. Lovett will be an absolute weapon in that side.

Collingwood. Finished top 4 with a young side and are looking to add Jolly and Ball. For mine, a glaring weakness of the Collingwood side has been the lack of inside players. Ball will be fanatstic for them. Jolly will give Malthouse a tool he pretty much has never had in his coaching career - a top class ruckman.

Bulldogs. FInished top four and seem to be getting closer to that grand final berth each year. They now have that power forward and a game style that will make the most of it.


Will be interesting to see what happens next year with these recruits. I know the Jolly deal isn't over the line.

Which is the best pick up? Who will have the most bearing on his side's season in 2010?

How is Geelong going to counter these improvements in their most fierce rivals of 2009?

Its like the NBA this coming season. One of the contenders topped up so all the other contenders followed suit.

The next year or two should be awesome for finals. Then there is going to be a major dropoff.

 

[watermelonslice]

If Jolly makes it over to Collingwood, that'll definitely be the best pick up. Collingwood hasn't had a top notch ruckman for a while (I don't remember the last one). Fraser's been good, but far from the elite ones in the league and has had some bad run with injuries.

 

[jackmac7]

Lovett will really be a weapon in our side. We haven't seen what this guy can do in a really good side with a strong midfield to feed it out to him. He will compliment Goddard, Gram and Farren Ray on the outside nicely only he has scary speed that we don't have in our midfield.

Now all we need to do is trade Ball or resign him for less money to make some room in the salary cap. A trade for a late 1st round pick or early 2nd would be ideal.

Hopefully our top draft pick from last year Tom Lynch can step up and play that medium half forward role we desire and we have filled all the needs. And with Max retired we know Zac is our full back. Goose McGuire to return at CHB after a successful return from injury this year. Xavier Clarke to come back from knee injury to give us even more speed in our side on top of Lovett. Young guns Armitage, Steven, McEvoy, Stanley, Heyne and Eddy to step up again this year as improved players.

 

[Madtiger2006]

Yep, good point, but Hawks are no guarantee to shoot up the ladder. No doubt we'd be a better side with Burgoyne and Gibson though.

As for the tigers - will be interesting to see what Hardwick does with the crew. It was posted on the hawks board that Jay Shultz has gone to port - not sure what the other side of the equation was. Thought he seemed like the kind of guy that could make an impact with the right coach?

Hope Cotchin can get on the park more this year!

Hawks had a bad run of injury in the first half of 09. They should be aiming for top 4 in 2010. I didn't hear about Schulz, but he's from Adelaide and I hear we are interested in Mitch Farmer who looks promising as a future midfielder. I hope we throw in Simmonds so we can off load him too. We are also looking to trade Tuck and hopefully we can get rid of Mcmahon. That'll be a great cleanout of about 10 players. I'm hoping Hardwick gets some weights into our key defenders Mcguane and Thursfield who I really rate. Rance is the other up and coming tall, while I think Polak has something to offer as a spare defender/forward

 

[geelong_crazy26]

How is Geelong going to counter these improvements in their most fierce rivals of 2009?

answere is simple,do what we have always done and develope our own players rather than pick up other sides left overs.Ottens is really the only player we have gone and got from another club.

Develpoing your own is the best way to go and no club is better at developing players than geelong

 

[bigrob]

Hawks had a bad run of injury in the first half of 09. They should be aiming for top 4 in 2010. I didn't hear about Schulz, but he's from Adelaide and I hear we are interested in Mitch Farmer who looks promising as a future midfielder. I hope we throw in Simmonds so we can off load him too. We are also looking to trade Tuck and hopefully we can get rid of Mcmahon. That'll be a great cleanout of about 10 players. I'm hoping Hardwick gets some weights into our key defenders Mcguane and Thursfield who I really rate. Rance is the other up and coming tall, while I think Polak has something to offer as a spare defender/forward

Isn't this thread about the good sides?

 

[bulletproof]

Geelong is still a fair way ahead of their rivals on player quality. St Kilda’s style of play, like Hawthorn, nearly brought them undone, but for sheer quality of personnel, Geelong is a mile ahead of them. All the teams really. Just look at the list. It is peerless.

The only thing that can bring Geelong undone is mental fatigue; I could not care less what our rivals do.

The loss of Harley is countered by the return Hunt. The decline in Milburn will be offset by the improvement in Mackie and Taylor.

Get comfortable, there’s still a bit of this ride to go.

 

[saintsrule]

answere is simple,do what we have always done and develope our own players rather than pick up other sides left overs.Ottens is really the only player we have gone and got from another club.

Develpoing your own is the best way to go and no club is better at developing players than geelong

Stop wagging remedial English classes!
And Lovett isn't a left over, he was keenly sought by three clubs!
And you got Mooney from North.

 

[bigpav]

St Kilda have just added Lovett and lost Ball. Net gain I'd say. Ball is a great inside player, but was really excess to Saints need. Lovett will be an absolute weapon in that side.

Collingwood. Finished top 4 with a young side and are looking to add Jolly and Ball. For mine, a glaring weakness of the Collingwood side has been the lack of inside players. Ball will be fanatstic for them. Jolly will give Malthouse a tool he pretty much has never had in his coaching career - a top class ruckman.

Bulldogs. FInished top four and seem to be getting closer to that grand final berth each year. They now have that power forward and a game style that will make the most of it.


Will be interesting to see what happens next year with these recruits. I know the Jolly deal isn't over the line.

Which is the best pick up? Who will have the most bearing on his side's season in 2010?

How is Geelong going to counter these improvements in their most fierce rivals of 2009?

trading with us to get Drum - he will counter these improvements to their rivals

 

[Matt_Hawk]

do what we have always done and develope our own players rather than pick up other sides left overs.

Lest we forget, Gary Ablett Snr. was another side's 'left overs'.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Stop wagging remedial English classes!
And Lovett isn't a left over, he was keenly sought by three clubs!
And you got Mooney from North.

we got mooney and harley when they were very young and than developed them into top players ourselves.

if lovett was a top player essendond wouldnt of let him go so easily.

the bottom line is its best to develop your own, thats partly why geelong have won 2 flags with their current group and st kilda have 0.

 

[hamG]

Why do we need to trade in a player to get better? I am perfectly happy with our draft day work in recent years. We really can't fit anyone in the 22 as it is but we can take talented kids and run them through the Geelong system which has been rather successful.

'06 - Selwood, Hawkins, Djerrkura, Hogan
'07 - Taylor, Mumford & a couple of hit/miss long term prospects
'08 - Brown, Gillies, Motlop, Ediriwickrama, A. Varcoe

 

[saintsrule]

we got mooney and harley when they were very young and than developed them into top players ourselves.

if lovett was a top player essendond wouldnt of let him go so easily.

the bottom line is its best to develop your own, thats partly why geelong have won 2 flags with their current group and st kilda have 0.

Don't be so boringly sanctimonious about this. Both Mooney and Harley were developed by the time Geelong got them! Lovett is a perfect fit for the Saints, a ball carrier with tremendous speed and a goal kicker. Saints are trading for quality now, because this is their premiership window. It would be negligent not to do so.

 

[andrepetz]

Don't be so boringly sanctimonious about this. Both Mooney and Harley were developed by the time Geelong got them!

Yep that 1 game Harley had played for Port, and those 11 games Mooney played for North really compare Lovett's 90ish games for the Bombers.

 

[watermelonslice]

if lovett was a top player essendond wouldnt of let him go so easily.

I have a feeling there are other reasons for letting him go. Either because he wants to leave, or there's friction between Lovett and the club. There was talk of trading him last year to Geelong, but it fell through for whatever reason. Change of environment may do him a world of good.

Don't be so boringly sanctimonious about this. Both Mooney and Harley were developed by the time Geelong got them! Lovett is a perfect fit for the Saints, a ball carrier with tremendous speed and a goal kicker. Saints are trading for quality now, because this is their premiership window. It would be negligent not to do so.

Actually, I'm pretty sure they were duds when the came to Geelong. IIRC neither fared very well at their previous club. Harley had a grand total of one game at Port. Mooney was the butt of all jokes after getting a premiership medal for a total of 0 possessions.

Lovett is very suitable for St Kilda though.

 

[saintsrule]

Yep that 1 game Harley had played for Port, and those 11 games Mooney played for North really compare Lovett's 90ish games for the Bombers.

So they got to play at top level with no development? And Mooney already had a flag before he went to Cats! Wasn't trying to compete with Geelong's virtuous trade record, just making the point that they are not innocent of importing players, as gc26 was implying.

 

[Bambino]

Geelong is still a fair way ahead of their rivals on player quality. St Kilda’s style of play, like Hawthorn, nearly brought them undone, but for sheer quality of personnel, Geelong is a mile ahead of them. All the teams really. Just look at the list. It is peerless.

The only thing that can bring Geelong undone is mental fatigue; I could not care less what our rivals do.

The loss of Harley is countered by the return Hunt. The decline in Milburn will be offset by the improvement in Mackie and Taylor.

Get comfortable, there’s still a bit of this ride to go.

Ahead? Possibly. Miles ahead? No. Get your head out of your arse. Geelong have very good personel but regardless their forward isn't top knotch and teams found holes in their backline this year as proven by more losses in your home and away season. A few injuries to some key players next year (ie Ablett, Stevie J, Scarlett) and you'll be happy to make top 4. The gap between Geelong and the rest of the competition has closed considerably.

Western Bulldogs, Saints, Adelaide, Collingwood will all be pressing for top four again. You can't write off the Hawks after the horrible 09 they had and the Blues may still be "coming". While Geelong are still great, I wouldn't be putting any hard earned on them at the start of the year

 

[stfan]

answere is simple,do what we have always done and develope our own players rather than pick up other sides left overs.Ottens is really the only player we have gone and got from another club.

So you don't rate Mooney and Harley then?

 

[watermelonslice]

So they got to play at top level with no development? And Mooney already had a flag before he went to Cats! Wasn't trying to compete with Geelong's virtuous trade record, just making the point that they are not innocent of importing players, as gc26 was implying.

Well I guess it depends on your definition of 'developed'. Generally it means a mature player who has established himself on the AFL level, but it seems you've taken it to mean someone who has merely been prepared to take to the big stage on a few occasions. Just a miscommunication it seems.

Yes, Mooney was a premiership player by the time he came to Geelong - but it simply meant he played with 21 other fantastic blokes on the day.

No, we're not innocent of importing players. But we've rarely imported a fully fledged player in the last decade. Ottens would be the only one who would fit the criteria IMO. Our recruiting staff would have to take credit for the great job they've done. We've had some quality picks in the 30s - IIRC Chappy being one of them.

 

[saintsrule]

I have a feeling there are other reasons for letting him go. Either because he wants to leave, or there's friction between Lovett and the club. There was talk of trading him last year to Geelong, but it fell through for whatever reason. Change of environment may do him a world of good.



Actually, I'm pretty sure they were duds when the came to Geelong. IIRC neither fared very well at their previous club. Harley had a grand total of one game at Port. Mooney was the butt of all jokes after getting a premiership medal for a total of 0 possessions.

Lovett is very suitable for St Kilda though.

Yes, of course Essendon wanted to trade him, because of reasons we are only partially aware of. Saints would be well aware however. But, as with Cousins at Richmond and Gardy at the Saints, he can overcome his past in a different environment. The duds you speak of did very well at Geelong because, eventually, they were surrounded with many quality players. Lovett, I think is quality to begin with!

 

[watermelonslice]

Yes, of course Essendon wanted to trade him, because of reasons we are only partially aware of. But, as with Cousins at Richmond and Gardy at the Saints, he can overcome his past in a different environment. The duds you speak of did very well at Geelong because, eventually, they were surrounded with many quality players. Lovett, I think is quality to begin with!

You seem to have misunderstood me. I was disagreeing with the comment that Essendon is dropping Lovett because they don't believe he has potential on the field. Didn't I say a change of environment could do him a world of good?