Strategy Trade and List Management Thread Part 7 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)

[Mojorisin]

Most I like next year that aren't club tied are talls at this stage but as you say lots can change.

 

[Dogs Rule]

Remember the days when the most compromised a draft would be were father sons? Good times.

There will never be an uncompromised draft again. Ever.

 

[JohnnySteel]

I still have a lot of faith in Arty. He showed improvement. He has had some special moments when he has stepped up at AFL level. Think we need to back him in, give him the role as the pressure forward.

 

[TiAn_]

I still have a lot of faith in Arty. He showed improvement. He has had some special moments when he has stepped up at AFL level. Think we need to back him in, give him the role as the pressure forward.

Easy to forget that he’s still only 21 for most of next season. Some small forwards don’t really get going until 22-24. Even then, good production in that role can look objectively underwhelming.

 

[SackofTaters]

Arty will always provide more than VDM.. Every .. Single .. Game...

 

[Philthy1]

Arty will always provide more than VDM.. Every .. Single .. Game...

Both of them are not up to it. No point splitting hairs.

 

[Proffessor]

Agree. The other one I would add is Arty Jones. I liked his game as the harassing forward in the last round, unlucky to be dropped for the final.

With a big preseason, he can add to our mix in a position of need.

Yeah. Happy to add Arty to that list, I too liked his last game appearance and hope with another preseason in the gym he might be physically ready to become a contributor at senior level.

The opportunities will certainly be there if he is ready.

 

[Mr. Walker]

Arty will always provide more than VDM.. Every .. Single .. Game...

I think you are being harsh on VDM. I know some of us wish when he had the ball in range he would just take the shot or when he has the ball in space that he would just hit the target. But to me the important thing is he has the ball.
Arty Jones, at senior level, however, well let’s say he is a work in progress.

 

[Proffessor]

Add Freijah to that list.

I think Freijah has already proven himself to be a solid reliable contributor at senior level, if he can keep developing that’s great but if he just continues to play at his current level that would also be fine for 2025.

In my opinion, the players I listed weren’t appropriately contributing (at least not regularly and reliably) at senior level in 2024, and with our recent reductions in mature player stocks we will desperately need those players to make big personal improvements to fill the gaps left by recent departures just to allow us to maintain our current level as a team.

Either that or we will need one or more of our recent draft/trade additions to have some serious impact, particularly in the midfield.

On the bright side, there should be are no excuses about lack of opportunity (with an exception for our key position players were we have excellent depth).

 

[Proffessor]

I think you are being harsh on VDM. I know some of us wish when he had the ball in range he would just take the shot or when he has the ball in space that he would just hit the target. But to me the important thing is he has the ball.
Arty Jones, at senior level, however, well let’s say he is a work in progress.

Whilst I agree that VDM is currently ahead of Arty Jones, I hope someone close to him is giving him some harsh judgement, because if not he will likely find his career gone in the blink of an eye. Joel Freijah has already gone past him in one season, and more young players are coming through.

For someone who has been in the system as long as he has, he should be making a much greater contribution in games than he is currently. He needs to either develop greater composure up forward and hit the scoreboard, or a greatly improved ball gathering ability and contribute more in terms of possessions. The time when cameo appearances are deemed an acceptable level of performance should have well and truly run out for him. It already has in the eyes of many supporters.

 

[Ash1337]

Whilst I agree that VDM is currently ahead of Arty Jones, I hope someone close to him is giving him some harsh judgement, because if not he will likely find his career gone in the blink of an eye. Joel Freijah has already gone past him in one season, and more young players are coming through.

For someone who has been in the system as long as he has, he should be making a much greater contribution in games than he is currently. He needs to either develop greater composure up forward and hit the scoreboard, or a greatly improved ball gathering ability and contribute more in terms of possessions. The time when cameo appearances are deemed an acceptable level of performance should have well and truly run out for him. It already has in the eyes of many supporters.

They guy has had first uninterrupted season for the most part.

 

[Proffessor]

They guy has had first uninterrupted season for the most part.

That’s good to hear, and I sincerely hope it continues.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Does Freijah move to the wing this year? It was arguably his natural position. We've made comments before about playing draftees off half back to get them involved but Freijah has progressed quickly!

 

[doggiesin08]

I think Freijah has already proven himself to be a solid reliable contributor at senior level, if he can keep developing that’s great but if he just continues to play at his current level that would also be fine for 2025.

In my opinion, the players I listed weren’t appropriately contributing (at least not regularly and reliably) at senior level in 2024, and with our recent reductions in mature player stocks we will desperately need those players to make big personal improvements to fill the gaps left by recent departures just to allow us to maintain our current level as a team.

Either that or we will need one or more of our recent draft/trade additions to have some serious impact, particularly in the midfield.

On the bright side, there should be are no excuses about lack of opportunity (with an exception for our key position players were we have excellent depth).

You still hopefully get Freijah for a full year rather than only 12 (H&A) games. In that sense he only contributed 50% of what he can in 2025, and we were 9-0-3 in the H&A season when he played.

 

[glenashley]

Hottest of hot takes, but I expect North to push up a bit next year. Their first might be somewhere around pick 7 or 8 or so in a compromised draft. Sometimes a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Yeh. I'm thinking surely they can't be bottom 2 again with a dozen first rounders on the list.

But lolnorf

 

[adogsfan5]

Hope Buss, Sanders, Freij and Darcy have huge summers. Want them all in our round one side.
Hope Croft puts some size on too!

 

[Proffessor]

Hope Buss, Sanders, Freij and Darcy have huge summers. Want them all in our round one side.
Hope Croft puts some size on too!

Hope they all have good summers too, however if Buss plays round 1 it likely means that we have suffered an injury to a key tall leading into the season so I’m not going to hope for that.

Think Buss will get his chances this year regardless.

 

[weltschmerz]

Hope they all have good summers too, however if Buss plays round 1 it likely means that we have suffered an injury to a key tall leading into the season so I’m not going to hope for that.

Think Buss will get his chances this year regardless.

I think he’s competing with O’Donnell for a round 1 spot and I think he can earn it.

 

[4Seasons]

And in the third Herald Sun article on the Dogs today (list analyst) - Says we’re down the road on several contracts for key stars, confidence that we’ll lock away everybody we need to, including a long term contract for JuH.

Says we dumped 2m off our salary cap this off season.

Also vaguely linked us to Ollie Dempsey for next trade period.

Good to hear.
I hope that's closer to the other reports on here that we hate JUH, and were looking to trade him out.

 

[Mojorisin]

Good to hear.
I hope that's closer to the other reports on here that we hate JUH, and were looking to trade him out.

He is just waiting for the perfect time to sign with Essendon. The 2 year contract was all smoke and mirrors

 

[maddog37]

Having Rory slotted in at chb for the whole year after a full preseason will be massive.

 

[NthBondiDoggies]

Weird how people see the same selections differently. A few of us believe the draft was more about best available and not addressing needs. I think that is true of our first pick but all the rest were needs:

1. Hynes - best available at the pick but also if we imagine our starting mids in two years will be Bont, Richards and Sanders - then we will need to rest Bont forwards more - interchange with Hynes would make sense as a big bodied mid/forward. Last year an injured Cody left a big hole in forward mobility and goal threat.

2. Jacques - Duryea is a short to medium term hole. We have Coffield - who hopefully can come through but he is strong not quick. Jacques is a great mark and a quick small defender. Best after Oliver. Clear need.

3. Dolan is a small forward. Fast, aggressive and kicks goals. He is seen by us as someone who has slipped under the radar. Clear need.

4. Sam Davidson is a fast running HF/Wing. In the VFL game played against us he tore us about with work rate and marking. Has speed and is most likely to play round 1 on the wing.

5. Kennedy2 is a mid - more a project player. He has elite stats as a runner and beautiful kick. Clear a need but is really unproven. Team think he is a hidden gem.

Interestingly the club is gone very hard for leadership and character. Two of these are captains of their sides and all are heavily indexed on this. Maybe a hint as to why our list has underperformed?

Looking at our list ATM and our history of playing picks early in the season we can expect to play 1-2 in the first game.

We also expect a big lift in offseason. I see 14 players should add more next season:

• Sanders: surprised he didn’t play more at business end - he was clearly a step up in VFL but too unpredictable in disposals. Hold on to it for a half a second more and he will be a star
• Gallagher: I have been iffy on him but he has power, speed and versatility
• Artie: his last few VFL games were very good and he is improving a lot). If he can just get a bit better then the high half forward gap is filled. Weightman, West and Smith is a good three smalls. Particularly with Garcia and Harmes / like a few hear I don’t have a huge confidence in VDM or McNeil
• García only played a few games and has contract stuff going on - when he was fit he was knocking the door down and gives us speed in the midfield and forward
• West look set for a great year and injury failed him off. He has swagger that may grate some but matters in big moments. One a game when went into midfield and got first touch five or six times in a row to lock it up. His best is still to come.
• Friejah was a delight to watch / courage and composure made him look like a 30 year old and he was I think the youngest player in the team. We have a star here. Question will be whether we move him closer to the ball yet or stay patient.
• Weightman is a very good player but had a poor year. A fit and firing player like him adds a lot.
• Naughton just has an average year. Good on boys but the Cereberus:Fluffy still isn’t in sync. Often looked better when only two playing. Darcy coming on changed the focus (to him) but if they can each find a way of adding - rather than one tends to take away from another - then this is the best forward line in the league. Darcy playing more ruck and rotating with Tim closer to goal will help.
• Lobb doesn’t need to lift - he was outstanding - it is more about players like Dale, JJ and Bramble running off him more automatically.
• Father Time will catch Jones and we should be prepared for this. Manage him with games of and restricted travel and we will both get the best out of him and get Buss games at Fullback. Buss is ready but a few more KGs each year over the next year will help. He is a big unit already but need him to be the monster and JOD to be Lever like smart marker - eventually replacing Lobb.
• Coffield had some very good games and then some MEH - he has a spot if he is prepared to through himself at the contest . His ability to play on bigs and small is needed but we need consistency. We don’t have a lot in the third tall category - have tried a lot of players there but not nailed it - with him (Def) Khamis (Def/For) and now Davidson (For) hoping to come through
• Khamis - he improved again last year to play more games - had some great games and one shocker against Adelaide (Coffield didn’t do any better on Fogarty) but showed his limitations as a third tall but also strengths. Depending on the match ups he can be very valuable as an interceptor but with Lobb coming on - I think he is behind JOD - bigger and faster and Coffield - better defender. However a bit more speed or power and he will play a fair few games again.
• Croft - I wonder where they will develop him? He has played mostly forward with limited games and was starting to influence games. Footscray missed him when he went down. He is very quick for a big player. Most here see him long term as a defender. At 201cm - not sure if still growing but will need to put on size before he can play AFL - it will be interesting. JOD 197, Buss 198 and Croft 201 is plenty of height and they are all athletic.
• JJ just a fitness thing. If fit he plus every game and adds speed we need and missed - burying through the middle with great kicking makes him a 100m player. Bramble has been fantastic in his absence and would be stiff to not play. Great thing about Bramble is he can play a Duryea type role also as better defender- not as good but adds to his value.
• Harmes - with Macrae and Caleb gone he will slot straight in. Hard body co tested but also adds goal kicking.
• Matt Kennedy likewise slots straight in as a money ball. Played 24 games for competitive midfield in Carlton and above average on all stats. Not a star but lost management was clearly sick of our mid being too small and being cracked open - he is a direct response to that.

 

[Bulldog Banana]

I see on Jaques highlights the speed, run & carry & good disposal, but can anyone comment on his actual defensive skills?
Small defender is real need with Doc another year older.

On SM-G970U1 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Libbaaaa]

I see on Jaques highlights the speed, run & carry & good disposal, but can anyone comment on his actual defensive skills?
Small defender is real need with Doc another year older.

On SM-G970U1 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Duryea has been a top 5 all time Bulldog acquisition, especially for the cost (future 4th!)

Every now and then I watch his contest with Charlie Cameron in the dying seconds of the 2021 semi, up there with Shane Biggs never forget.

 

[Mofra]

I see on Jaques highlights the speed, run & carry & good disposal, but can anyone comment on his actual defensive skills?
Small defender is real need with Doc another year older.

On SM-G970U1 using BigFooty.com mobile app

He seems a bit more zone off, intercept, rebound from limited vision. More early Ed Richards than Doc.

Lockdown smalls rarely get on the draft radar without rebound ability. Pity. We could look to the state league though for our train on player, although we may look for ruck depth instead for the last spot.