Biz said " We aren't challenging now so our priorities change to developing talent (which means drafting). It's been said plenty of times."
I think all the argument from Biz is because he bought into the rebuild mantra that came out of the club during the year.
What we are seeing is more of a re-wiring or re-stumping than a rebuild. Which seems to be getting Biz offside.
If you look at our trading from a rebuild perspective, it sucks, no way would you give up pick 3 for pick 7 and a player. You might give it up for pick 7 and a pick in the teens to bring in more quality. Also you wouldn't give up pick 23 either. You'd be trying to get as many quality picks as possible to build a new core around.
Clearly from our trading this year the club believes we already have a core in their early twenties (Fyfe, Neale, Bennell, A Pearce) that is worthy of building around. And coupled with the remaining players from our old Core group (Sandi, Mundy & MJ) will be in contention much sooner than they were letting on.
If it doesn't come off then we may end up like Richmond, thereabouts without really challenging.
If it does, Lloyd, Bond & Lyon will look like geniuses. Only time will tell.
Back to Hamling, I have said it before and ill say it again, the only reason we have a perception of requiring more KPD's is the match committee keep insisting on playing Dawson ahead of SCOS and only playing 2 KPDs despite the fact we have more available. The fact SCOS qualified to play for peel in the finals in a year we were getting belted every second week is testimony to our failing to select the best team balance, leaving Ibbo to play on ruckman and Sutcliffe on Stringer!
No trading will help that.
Edit: Having said that, if Hamilng replaces Dawson in the pecking order so our starting 3 KPDs are MJ, Pearce and Hamling, this is a great trade that greatly improves our starting 22