I will leave it for other much more qualified to judge the new talent in the draft. I will note though that I thought we needed multiple picks under 40 and we now have 3. Some times you over pay for players. Some time you under pay. I think overall we we have some freedom to pick some gems.
On the players we have traded for. Two thoughts:
I think people are trying too hard to fit everyone into our best 22. We need 28 to 30 player. People think the bulldogs are lucky and that they didn't have much high end talent. But they had depth. We have 2 alternates in the forwards and backs. That is a good thing.
People keep on mentioning a move back to Roly ball in a big way. For starters I think several teams played a pressure game this year. We need pressure and when executed exquisitely as in the Sydney prelim (a crowning moment). It is something to behold. I have definitely enjoyed expecting to win the last few years. Also I do think there is a shift in the team. We are younger and we are way faster. Langdon, bennell, 2 x hills, Pearce, Sheridan, and Weller are quick.Expect to see more run and gun through the corridor. Love it!
Ok another thought just to make me a liar. We struggled in two parts of the field this year. 1 out of defensive 50 and 2 into offensive 50. In the defensive 50 we have relied on Sandi and Fyfey to take a contested make. How many times did Mayne, Tabener, Clarke, Griffin miss that outlet Mark. At least one other option would be great. That people is why you can't play Fyfey exclusively forward. Into the offensive 50 we just kicked and hoped. We didn't recruit Karsten and McCarthy to take those marks. We recruited them so we could hit them up on the lead down the centre like we used to hit Walters up regularly in years past. Lower the eyes boys. You'll be rewarded.
On Barlow seeing as you kept on reading. Unfortunately Neale took his spot last year (2015). You can only have so many players feeding the contested ball. So he is a depth player for us. You don't pay depth player like first stringers and you don't give 28 year Olds 3 year deal. Hopefully he stays. I love the guy. But we need to keep our eye in the prize making sure we pay our first stringers. The most perplexing deal of the year was Pearce. I think they recognised that was a mistake and are resisting making it again.
Good night everyone. Happy draft!
