I started thinking about this a few days ago but the report today (Fox Sports, apparently, but I can’t find the article) that Kersten might be shown the door along with Bennell, has really grabbed my attention.
My understanding is clubs need to head into the draft with a minimum of 3 selections. That means our current list of 42 (after retirements but adding Conca) will need to be trimmed by at least one more.
If Lobb joins us, that increases to 2 delistings. Add Hogan and it’s 3. But the only way Hogan is coming in now is if LN departs to BrisVegas - so that brings us back to 2.
Of the 3 unsigned players in Sheridan, Grey & Sutcliffe (in order of retention, IMHO) - two of those would very be nervous.
However, if Kersten and Bennell are cut, then at a maximum - all of the unsigned could be retained.
If we assume, for the sake of this exercise, trading in Lobb and Hogan for the following picks: Lobb (pick 11 with pick 25 coming back), Hogan (pick 5 & 25).
Much harder to work out the LN compensation but again, for the sake of this exercise, let’s say we get 5 & 18 (from the Beams trade to Collonwood) and send pick 30 back.
That would leave us with picks 18, 23, 49 & 81.
With luck we could get Hill with 18, but prob not Clark with 23 (or vice-versa) as WC have 20 & 22 - assuming other clubs don’t pinch both with earlier picks.
The real question is how many of those picks will we use in the national draft and/or save for the PSD/Rookie drafts?
Who stays and who goes?
I’ll get the ball rolling:
Sheridan (retained as a Rookie)
Grey (delisted)
Sutcliffe (delisted)
Bennell (delisted)
Kersten (retained)
Neale (traded)
I just hope one of the late draft picks or maybe a rookie spot is used on Dillon O’Reilly.
