Despite my personal view that we have done extremely well this trade period - there are several on here that hold the view we shouldn't be trading in mid-tier players for the (former) mid tier players we have just let go - Gu, Da Pig, Mayne, et al.
The argument being that we made a GF with this mid tier blokes so they should be retained.
My take on it, setting aside the argument as to whether these new recruits are an improvement on those that have left, is we have improved based on the age of the new blokes alone.
It is true that Da Pig and Gu, in particular, bleed purple and have particular traits (I.e. Elite endurance) that fit well with RLs game plan. However, these blokes have peaked and are not getting any younger.
Assuming that RL doesn't revert completely to the 'old' game plan - unlikely with the reduction in rotations - then the new and improved game plan is still going to rely on foot soldiers to execute successfully.
All of these new lads are under 23 and are going to be around for the next 7+ years. As all the other clubs have said in relation to players they've picked up in this age range - they all have their best footy in front of them. The same cannot be said for Pig, Gu, C. Pearce & Mayne.
So regardless of your view about the relative merits of the traded in players, one undeniable fact is they are all younger - significantly younger in the case of Mayne & Gu.
That alone makes this a successful trade period - particularly as we have not sold the farm in terms of draft picks to make it all happen.
