We were ripped off in Veale deal

[Sedat!]

Originally posted by Westy_Boy
In terms of value, you look back at the draft in which Rawlings was originally taken, in hindsight he would have been worth about pick 8-10 - as a 16 year old. Logically, if the quality/depth of drafts have remained relatively similar, how on Earth can a player be worth more ten years on with most of their best football behind them, and their value and form can only head in one direction (downhill)? That's just in terms of pick 6 and totally disregards the opportunity to get Stevens for free.

This is the biggest reason as to why it's so disappointing: IMO the recruiting last year will improve us a fair bit, but not to a point where we can have a realistic shot at a flag in the next two years. With the imminent retirements of Grant, West, Smith and Darcy, and not enough young talent to compete with the St Kilda and Fremantle super lists after that point (which could have different if we picked up Tenace, Stevens, kept picks 19 and 20, and received an extra two top 20 picks this year), we're just in line for more middle of the road rubbish, leaving the club in no-man's land under the current system and doing nothing to ensure our long term survival.

Westy, you make some good points, but I honestly don't think that we could've accommodated both Rawlings and Stevens in our list. Rawlings was always a whisker from being traded to North (picks 8 and 24 were offered by North to the Hawks), and the only way this was short-circuited was to give Hawthorn adequate compensation for losing Rawlings (in the form of Danny Jacobs) hence the Veale deal. I think we have invested enough in youth over the last 4 years, and we desperately needed to shore up some mid age strength as well. Only time will tell if the strategy fails or succeeds. Tim Walsh will be a critical draft selection in the future. If he comes good, we have a ready made quality KPP for the next 10 years, and Jade will help his developement by playing next to him in the next 3-4 years. I will also be keeping a close eye on Kepler Bradley's progress as he was pick 6, not to mention the likes of Tenace and Ryley Dunn.

 

[Dog Town]

Originally posted by Sedat!
I think we have invested enough in youth over the last 4 years, and we desperately needed to shore up some mid age strength as well. Only time will tell if the strategy fails or succeeds. Tim Walsh will be a critical draft selection in the future. If he comes good, we have a ready made quality KPP for the next 10 years, and Jade will help his developement by playing next to him in the next 3-4 years. I will also be keeping a close eye on Kepler Bradley's progress as he was pick 6, not to mention the likes of Tenace and Ryley Dunn.

I think I was thinking along similar lines at the time of the trading period but seeing the success of the saints and how far off the pack we are has made me realise it was probably the wrong way to go.Its only natural to try and rush our ascendancy up the ladder having been starved of success for so long but given we cant afford the top shelf coaches our only real shot at a flag is to build a list that is so over whelmingly packed with talent that it pretty much guarantees us an extended run in the top 6.Hindsight is a wonderful thing....

I think we all agree Clayton has given us what will be a good core of solid senior footballers with the odd stand out but IMO with the possibility of losing our only established stars in the next 4 years we need to put some cream on the cake.On Rohdes past record you would consider Walsh a fair chance to come through and be at least a serviceable player.My own opinion is that Cooney and Ray will be top shelf elite players for us in 2 perhaps 3 seasons time.We look reasonably set for running players although we could probably do with another stand out.Word has it this years draft is one of the best for talls in some time.We definetly need to stiffen up our future spine.Harris is currently our only sure bet for the future.We have a tall list but alot are stop gap measures and wont last more than a few years.

 

[OldSchool]

Originally posted by Westy_Boy
"Why didn’t we keep pick six and get Rawlings or even Stevens in the Pre Season Draft? Rawlings would not have made it to the pre season draft if the Bulldogs kept pick six. "

Just disregarded Stevens altogether.

I agree, quite simply the Hawks would have done a trade with the Roos rather than lose Rawlings for nothing. The Hawks were never going to follow Port's stance and lose a quality player for nix.

 

[Borgsta]

I agree with a lot of what you say Westy, but I still do believe we would have struggled to survive as a club by the year 2006 if we continually put in woeful performances this year. Getting an extra 8 players and 10 years of service is fine, but who is to say those players will stay at the club? Imagine if we go through this year at 2-20, players would leave in an instant. We have a lot of interstate players (young players) who would be missing home and losing by 100 points a week. I believe they wouldnt think twice about returning home if it was offered.


Long term you right, we have lost a ****load, but there is a chance to make that up this year also, with the possibility of 3 top 20 picks and a high pre season pick also.

Ps. I still have no idea why we got Koops. Since when was HBF a priority for us. BP, crumbing forward, marking forward, someone to help Darcy.

PPS. With the inclusion of Minson and exclusion of Street this week, how many ppl are now questioning that trade also?

 

[OldSchool]

Originally posted by Borgsta

Ps. I still have no idea why we got Koops. Since when was HBF a priority for us. BP, crumbing forward, marking forward, someone to help Darcy.

PPS. With the inclusion of Minson and exclusion of Street this week, how many ppl are now questioning that trade also?

We really need to wait until the end of the season to judge the value of the trades.
Other than his kicking for goals Rawlings has been great, we haven't seen enough of Koops just yet but if he can get a decent run at it he could be very good and Street has been of some value. FWIW, Morgan might also be a handy player for us.