I’m not sure about Kelly, if we get him, he will be easily in our top five players, possibly top two. He would offer excellent support to Fyfe, Walters, and Mundy in the midfield, an area we were soundly beaten at times this year. A midfield of Fyfe, Kelly, Walters, Cerra, Brayshaw, Blakely and Tucker looks to have a lot more depth in the next three years than without Kelly.
This setup would hopefully lead to Fyfe and Walters being able to be released forward more where both are genuinely dangerous. Something like 70% midfield 30% forward.
We will be sadly lacking pace with the loss of both Hill and Langdon but this won’t be immediately rectified by draft picks. I would hope that S Hill can get fit. I would throw Carter on a wing, and out of left field Giro as well. Giro may be lacking a little for skill but is an elite runner, let’s face it Langdon doesn’t offer much in the skill department.
My concern would be, if we are to get Kelly, and maintain a presence in the top ten, Geelong will want the deal to include Darcy. I don’t see that we have cover for Darcy and would need to recruit an established ruckman, something the Eagles and Hawthorn have never shied away from. Ryder is on the table at a good price, but at 32 is a very short term option but I think an ideal partner to Lobb.
Should it pan out this way, we should be able to maintain a high pick, which I would then use to draft Jackson. With the pick received for Langdon predicted 20, we should then be able match for Henry, and have a crack at other West Aussies. I like Robertson.
