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

[weltschmerz]

A peek at the Essendon board suggests J Davey isn't fit enough, doesn't work hard enough, and doesn't have an appetite for the contest. Maybe a kick up the arse and a VFL apprenticeship would have him realise the chance he's lost, but certainly not the kind of guy you pick up straight away as a DFA.

Also I know the 2022 draft was generally pretty bad, but jeez.

 

[4Seasons]

Who cares what he looks like if he can run out games. His body shape doesn’t seem to be causing injuries etc.

Plus it’s pretty hard for a 25 odd year old bloke that’s not in a professional environment and probably has to work a day job to look as chiseled as a league footballer. Being in a professional environment will help.

Given he was at gc when they were close to there lowest some would say he has never been in a professional environment.

He tested positive to Cocaine on match day FFS.

 

[DannyB4]

He tested positive to Cocaine on match day FFS.

Bailey Sniff replacement?

 

[Claudonious]

Who cares what he looks like if he can run out games. His body shape doesn’t seem to be causing injuries etc.

Plus it’s pretty hard for a 25 odd year old bloke that’s not in a professional environment and probably has to work a day job to look as chiseled as a league footballer. Being in a professional environment will help.

Given he was at gc when they were close to there lowest some would say he has never been in a professional environment.

Come on - he is unfit.There are plenty of chiselled full time accountants out there.He simply appears to have not had the desire or discipline to play at the elite level.


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[doggiesin08]

Come on - he is unfit.There are plenty of chiselled full time accountants out there.He simply appears to have not had the desire or discipline to play at the elite level.


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Also it’s not like he’s a short midfielder (Lachie Sullivan type) who could get himself super fit but remain undated or only get 1-2 years on a list. If he cared to get himself in AFL condition and behaved himself he’d lock in at least 5-6 years when you see a bloke like Tom Campbell still getting a list spot.

 

[Freshwater]

He tested positive to Cocaine on match day FFS.

I also ran into his old man and uncles in the dunny’s at his debut game in Ballarat. They all had that look that I see, in not all, but a few tradies I work with that call cocaine ‘nose beers’. To use is just an extension of Friday night beers. I’m no supporter of using cocaine, often described as the worlds most boring drug, because it adds no creativity or mind opening elements, just makes a yobbo or yuppie feel good about themselves for a little while, whilst the pain and suffering of it from the bikies here and leads all the way back to South America. This lad was still a teenager or not much older. He was obviously heavily influenced by his family, mostly for good but maybe not everything. He is surely more mature now and getting more so each year. I know Bevo doesn’t rate actual ruck work enough, he is nearly over the 3rd man up rule, but hopefully this is why we’ve employed recruitment staff and other experts and aren’t under the cult of one man. I would definitely be giving him a go. Another club just recruited Tom Campbell, this fella would be way more valuable than Tom.

 

[Testekill]

I'd certainly at least look at bring Lazarro into Footscray and seeing how he goes, dominates VFL and then gets the sub vest the majority of the time. He's probably someone that genuinely needs a change of scenery.

A peek at the Essendon board suggests J Davey isn't fit enough, doesn't work hard enough, and doesn't have an appetite for the contest. Maybe a kick up the arse and a VFL apprenticeship would have him realise the chance he's lost, but certainly not the kind of guy you pick up straight away as a DFA.

Also I know the 2022 draft was generally pretty bad, but jeez.

View attachment 2150616

Alwyn is the pick of the litter there, Elijah doesn't even really look that amazing in the VFL where he gets to play midfield.

 

[spindles11]

He played a very good game against us in the VFL kicked 3 or 4 goals. His pace seemed pretty good too from memory. Could he be a HHF that is a goal threat?

Yep. Won Richmond VFL's time trial last preseason and used to burn defenders running back to goal for the tigers

 

[Dogs 13]

Lazzaro dominates VFL then only gets the sub vest when up to AFL. I wouldn’t be against him on a wing.

I'd certainly at least look at bring Lazarro into Footscray and seeing how he goes, dominates VFL and then gets the sub vest the majority of the time. He's probably someone that genuinely needs a change of scenery.




Alwyn is the pick of the litter there, Elijah doesn't even really look that amazing in the VFL where he gets to play midfield.

Someone on X had these stats. 39 games of which 17 times he was the sub, 9 times didn’t get on the ground, 6 times got 1 qtr, 11 times dropped after being the sub. Really sounds like he didn’t get a great run at it or that he was managed well.

 

[Dogs Rule]

Ethan Phillips was clearly treated like s*** by Hawthorn on the way out.

Hope he gets another crack

 

[weltschmerz]

Ethan Phillips was clearly treated like s*** by Hawthorn on the way out.

Hope he gets another crack

I’m really curious about why it took so long for him to get on a list when he was a glaring need for a lot of sides. Makes me wonder if there’s something off-field we haven’t seen.

 

[dergert]

I’m really curious about why it took so long for him to get on a list when he was a glaring need for a lot of sides. Makes me wonder if there’s something off-field we haven’t seen.

I always thought it was because he is slow and very much a kick mark player?

 

[Lindsay_Gilbee]

Ethan Phillips was clearly treated like s*** by Hawthorn on the way out.

Hope he gets another crack

What makes you say that?

 

[Smiley Boy]

Jaxon Prior as a DFA could be alright for a small defender option? Pretty stiff to be delisted

 

[Hoges64]

Jaxon Prior as a DFA could be alright for a small defender option? Pretty stiff to be delisted

From Brisbane?

Yeah, I'd have thought that's a bit stiff. Certainly worse players than him getting around on lists.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Jaxon Prior as a DFA could be alright for a small defender option? Pretty stiff to be delisted

Then when Coons Jnr joins us we can be first team ever to have two Jaxons

 

[weltschmerz]

Then when Coons Jnr joins us we can be first team ever to have two Jaxons

Draft Jaxon Artemis this year for a threefer

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Draft Jaxon Artemis this year for a threefer

Move over the Baileys here comes the Jaxons.

 

[Sharpiesadog]

Move over the Baileys here comes the Jaxons.

They could bust out some 70’s disco numbers as a sideline.

 

[Here we go dogs]

Come on - he is unfit.There are plenty of chiselled full time accountants out there.He simply appears to have not had the desire or discipline to play at the elite level.


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What makes you say his unfit tho? Is it because he doesn’t cover the ground? or because he isn’t chiselled? Fair enough if he can’t run or he got injured every second week.

Tyson Fury is one of the best boxers of a generation. He looks worse than Crossley. Fury can box 12 rounds easily in one of the most demanding sports without looking like Wolverine (Ditto Foreman post retirement).

Looks aren’t everything when it comes to cardio fitness.

 

[Anja_Nees]

I suggest we give up the mental gymnastics about a change of environment or a delisting being the spark some hack needs to kickstart his career and look at players who haven’t just been shafted by clubs who are desperate for talent on their lists.

 

[ScragCity]

I suggest we give up the mental gymnastics about a change of environment or a delisting being the spark some hack needs to kickstart his career and look at players who haven’t just been shafted by clubs who are desperate for talent on their lists.

Tbf I remember a lot of similar talk on this board when Sam Collins was delisted

 

[weltschmerz]

95% chance of a player delisted from a basket case team just being a bit shit, 5% chance that they were mismanaged and can blossom or their delisting gives them the kick in the arse they need to smarten up. It does happen sometimes.

 

[Anja_Nees]

95% chance of a player delisted from a basket case team just being a bit shit, 5% chance that they were mismanaged and can blossom or their delisting gives them the kick in the arse they need to smarten up. It does happen sometimes.

About right. I think the odds of picking a gem untried mature player (ie Picken, Dicko, Morris, Boyd) is a fair bit higher. Would rather go down that path.

 

[Oliver G]

New St Kilda recruit Jack Macrae says he wants to return to “the peak of my powers” in an inside midfield role at Moorabbin, adamant he is not a spent force at AFL level.

Macrae, 30, said there was no bad blood between him and Western Bulldogs despite finding it “really difficult” at times being dumped to the VFL and regularly made sub in 2024.

In his first interview since the trade for pick No. 45, Macrae said he was at peace with the Dogs’ decision to opt for “more speed and a different dynamic” in the midfield this year instead of throwing “the toys out of the cot”.

But the experience hasn’t shaken Macrae’s faith in his own ability, with the three-time All-Australian targeting an impactful return to the centre square at his new club.

“I know it would have been easier to cruise around at the Dogs and stay for the last few years, and there are no ill feelings there at all,” Macrae said.

“But there is definitely the fire in the belly and determination to get the absolute most out of the rest of my career."

“So, it wasn’t the easiest decision – to leave the club – but it was definitely the right one because I want to get back to the absolute peak of my powers of my football ability."

“I still feel like I have a lot to offer in that sense.”

Macrae said he had several conversations with new coach Ross Lyon post-season and was certain the club’s direction and game plan was “an exciting fit” for him.

In particular, the popular team member said he looked forward to teaching the next wave of Saints’ playmakers the tricks of the midfield trade.

“Just where they are at with their list, it’s obviously a young and exciting group,” he said.

“So they probably had a need for what I can bring with my strengths around the midfield side of things."

“The way the game is going it is such a strong transition-based game, it is contest-to-contest running."

“But also hopefully I can be a bit of a mentor with some of my experiences."

“I have played with some great players in a really strong midfield so I hope that can help grow others in that area."

“Their midfield really spiked late in the year so hopefully I can add to that. I feel like I have some really strong football still to play.”

Macrae, who helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2016 premiership in only his fourth season, will help replace Seb Ross and potentially Brad Crouch

5

Brad Crouch

Age

30

Ht

186cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.1

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

14.0

5star

M

2.7

3star

T

5.5

5star

CL

5.0

5star

D

20.3

5star

K

11.1

4star

HB

9.1

5star

M

1.5

2star

T

3.9

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

21.6

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

4.2

5star

CL

2.6

5star

as he deals with a degenerative knee issue.

The running machine was eager to begin training next month after avoiding surgery every season across his 12 years at the top level.

And Macrae will play his 250th game in Round 1 after gathering seven touches as substitute in his last game for the Dogs in the elimination final thrashing from Hawthorn.

Regardless, Macrae said he will be forever grateful for his time at the Dogs, and was eager to maintain the right attitude when things got tough this year.

“It was hard, but the Bulldogs have got a strong midfield and then there was (Ryley) Sanders, Ed Richards

20

Ed Richards

Age

25

Ht

188cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.4

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.5

3star

T

2.4

4star

MG

201.4

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

5.3

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

2.5

3star

MG

198.3

3star

D

14.6

4star

K

9.8

4star

HB

4.8

4star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.6

4star

MG

232.4

4star

coming through and (Harvey) Gallagher, a few players who offer a different dynamic to me,” he said.

“So it was nothing personal. The conversations I had with ‘Bevo’ were always upfront and honest."

“When I went to the VFL a few times it was important to me to have a strong mindset and be a really good leader because it can be easier to throw the toys out of the cot."

“I really wanted to show I could get on with it and be a real pro in those areas and I feel like I did that.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jack-macrae-reflects-on-2024-trade-to-st-kilda-and-the-fire-in-the-belly-over-returning-to-the-midfield/news-story/50fec6ed626ac2d044251aa7aad415aa