Who would you have JMac target this year?

[Happy Days]

Here is something a little different, how about we target a new list manager?

Not a lot to be excited about with our recent dealings.

We won a premiership last year with the list he built. I'm good with him staying on.

[jeemak]

Here is something a little different, how about we target a new list manager?

Not a lot to be excited about with our recent dealings.

Funnily, I was thinking the same thing these past few days. Is McCartney the right person for the job, does he have the appropriate level of influence at the club to stop our coach from bringing in the likes of Suckling and Cloke, or other players the coach might fancy?

I'm actually OK with the recruitment of these guys as decisions made at the time, but, I do think it's an important question to ask and believe that this period in time from a list management perspective is about as critical as it can get.

There's a list of players I'd be willing to entertain trades for to freshen up our list, I'm not going to post it as yet as it's so long it almost seems unreasonable, and I have to get my head around how realistic it is before I do.

[bornadog]

Here is something a little different, how about we target a new list manager?

Not a lot to be excited about with our recent dealings.

Not sure what you are talking about?

[Mantis]

We won a premiership last year with the list he built. I'm good with him staying on.

How much credit do you give him or the recruiting team, which I guess he influences them anyway?

There hasn't been many decisions since we won the flag that has improved the list moving forward:

* Let Hrovat, Hamling & Stevens go for little... If nothing else they all offered depth and weren't replaced. Hamling was more than depth.
* Re-signed Hamilton who is yet to play.
* Re-signed Prudden who is always injured.
* Bungled the JJ deal... Had to call in re-inforcements (C.Grant)
* Re-signed Picken, Roberts & Smith perhaps earlier than we needed to and all are really battling now.

Not saying he needs to go, but these decisions need to be questioned.

[Happy Days]

How much credit do you give him or the recruiting team, which I guess he influences them anyway?

There hasn't been many decisions since we won the flag that has improved the list moving forward:

* Let Hrovat, Hamling & Stevens go for little... If nothing else they all offered depth and weren't replaced. Hamling was more than depth.
* Re-signed Hamilton who is yet to play.
* Re-signed Prudden who is always injured.
* Bungled the JJ deal... Had to call in re-inforcements (C.Grant)
* Re-signed Picken, Roberts & Smith perhaps earlier than we needed to and all are really battling now.

Not saying he needs to go, but these decisions need to be questioned.

The only really impactful error to me is letting Hamling go, but at the time he would have theoretically been re-signed he was in the twos and looking like a surefire delisting. He was kind of collateral damage in our pursuit of Hurley anyway, who we were apparently all but over the line with. Still, it's clearly a bad error.

I'd contend that JJ's manager has bungled the deal more than anyone from inside the club. And given his form line maybe it was prudent to not offer him overs?

Guys like Smith, Prudden and Picken are as much re-signings for player welfare and list harmony than the actual ability of the individuals themselves. I've stated before that as much as we want to "treat it like a business" and take the human element away from the game, the simple fact is it can't be done. To chop a guy like Clay Smith, who has overcome such significant injury and personal issue to return to a somewhat competent level is the sort of stuff that really demoralises a group. Doing the right thing by a guy like Prudden makes the club a happier place and is probably of far greater value than the $80k or so it's costing to keep him on the rookie list. How much value do these small scale deals detract from the bottom line anyway? Same goes for Hamilton; he was probably kept around because, unlike Stevens and Hrovat, he didn't walk.

There's a lot of good in his work too. The re-signing of Adams only ~6 months after he (maybe) walked out was particularly inspiring. I mentioned elsewhere that I think our problems are largely defensively based, and if we get a guy like Lever, paired up with a fully fit Adams, all of a sudden we look in a lot better shape, and are a lot freer stylistically to play better football.

[jazzadogs]

It's also worth looking at what the club DID try to do at the end of last year.

We DID chase Hurley very hard - given his form this year, it is safe to say that he would have been making a significant difference to how we are playing.

We DID look at Long and Hannan in the draft, but were pipped on both of them - small creative forwards, which I'm sure has been identified as an area of concern.

We DID try to get as much value as we could for Stevens/Hrovat/Hamling, but the trade economy last year was ridiculous. Unless you were an out and out star (Mitchell, O'Meara), you were getting moved around for peanuts. Jarryd Lyons is at a similar level to Hrovat and Stevens, and was traded for a third rounder. There's only so much you can do.

I don't think it can be said that the club sat on it's hands or expected success. We tried things, we expected some natural progression or at least maintenance, and improvement to come from players who missed finals.

As for this year, Lever is obviously target number one in JMac's eyes and I think we all know of his quality. There is no way we're getting Kelly as well, but you don't get quick skillful midfielders for free so I'm not sure what our other options would be.

It would be fantastic if JJ developed a midfield component to his game - his speed would be very helpful in there. But given the way he has not been able to handle a tag at half-back, I think the chances are slim.

[jeemak]

Pending Port Adelaide's progress through the finals and their subsequent progress expectation the next year onward, I'd be putting a huge money and draft pick offer to Robbie Gray, providing our poor performances continue and we have a draft pick within the top 10-12 to offer.

He's 29 and is an absolute gun. If Port fail to impress in September, he might feel it's time to come home, and play two or three years out with a club that might win a flag and has a recent history of doing so.

[Twodogs]

We should gave walked away from the Hamling deal. Its all well and good providing the players with what they want, but what about the club? The club that scraped him up and gave him another chance? That provided him with a premiership? We should have held out for a better deal or let him walk to the PSD. Messages to the playing group work both ways

[bornadog]

How much credit do you give him or the recruiting team, which I guess he influences them anyway?

There hasn't been many decisions since we won the flag that has improved the list moving forward:

* Let Hrovat, Hamling & Stevens go for little... If nothing else they all offered depth and weren't replaced. Hamling was more than depth.
* Re-signed Hamilton who is yet to play.
* Re-signed Prudden who is always injured.
* Bungled the JJ deal... Had to call in re-inforcements (C.Grant)
* Re-signed Picken, Roberts & Smith perhaps earlier than we needed to and all are really battling now.

Not saying he needs to go, but these decisions need to be questioned.

* Let Hrovat, Hamling & Stevens go for little... If nothing else they all offered depth and weren't replaced. Hamling was more than depth. Market dictates what you get, and Hrovat & Stevens barely best 22, Hamling -maybe could have got more, who knows.

* Re-signed Hamilton who is yet to play. - Is that JMacs decision or football department want him

* Re-signed Prudden who is always injured. Signed as a Rookie not a senior player - again Football department decision.

* Bungled the JJ deal... Had to call in re-inforcements (C.Grant) Bungled mmmmmm - 5 year deal, the Grant report was that really correct?

* Re-signed Picken, Roberts & Smith perhaps earlier than we needed to and all are really battling now. Deserved it, player of the finals - got us a premiership

I think you are being very harsh

[Bulldog4life]

Heard on radio this morning that JMac met with Mr and Mrs Lever last night

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/...c36a4d9a1daa2c


ADELAIDE cannot afford to lose out-of-contract defender Jake Lever.

The Crows need to up their offer to ensure they hold on to the 21-year-old star.

Reports last week out of Melbourne suggested the Western Bulldogs were the latest team to table an offer to Lever, with Channel 7 reporting it was a five-year $4 million deal.

In the Dogs’ favour is the connection Lever’s family has with Bulldogs.

Club officials were spotted socialising with the Lever camp in a hotel foyer after the game last Friday night.

The Western Bulldogs join Hawthorn and Collingwood in trying to lure home the Victorian native.

Steven May’s two-year contract extension to remain at the Gold Coast is the latest domino to fall in increasing Lever’s market value as the best out-of-contract key defender.

Lever has surpassed two-time All-Australian Daniel Talia as the Crows most important defender.

There is no disputing the value in what Talia does playing the lockdown role on the opposition’s best forward, where he is rarely beaten.


However Lever’s unique ability in the air, courage dropping back into the hole and composure with ball in hand is already elite.

On Friday night the Bulldogs got a first-hand of reminder of his talent as he repeatedly repelled their attacking forays, gathering 22 disposals and 11 marks in what was close to a best-on-ground performance.

And his lookalike, Jake Kelly, is one of the most improved players in the competition undoubtedly due to time spent playing alongside Lever and Talia in the Crows’ back six.

Calder Cannons product Lever, who hails from Romsey in Victoria, is already viewed as a leader at the Crows, with the late Phil Walsh identifying him a future captain after admiring his toughness in his first few weeks at the club.

Lever had repeatedly suggested in his fortnightly FIVEaa radio spot that a new deal would be imminent once the new player’s pay deal was done.

However, on Tuesday a fortnight ago, he spoke about the fact he hadn’t started serious contract negotiations with the Crows, but added: “You do speak about it … but probably not in the depth it has to be. In the end it’s a life decision — a really important decision.”

Those comments pricked up the ears of Adelaide fans and the massive offers from rival clubs have many from across the border feeling he is a chance to pried away from the Crows.

More often than not when a player waits until the end of the year to find a new deal they depart their current club.


The Crows remain extremely confident Lever will recommit, as they believe the environment at Adelaide gives him the best opportunity to become the finest player he can and to enjoy future team success.

Adelaide will have to manipulate its salary cap, which is already under strain due to lucrative deals recently signed by Josh Jenkins, Eddie Betts, Daniel Talia and Tom Lynch.

Taylor Walker also signed a fresh contract extension in which he would be well remunerated and Rory Sloane is expected to follow suit in the not-too-distant future.

The Crows will offer Lever a fair and reasonable deal, but he may have to sacrifice some of what he could get in Victoria to stay in Adelaide.

Entering Round 17 this weekend we appear no closer to a deal being reached with Adelaide for the young star.

One factor working in the Crows’ favour is that Lever in his third season on an AFL list is not a free-agent. However clever agents like his, Ned Guy, can manipulate their players to the club of their choice via the pre-season draft.

The Crows couldn’t stop Patrick Dangerfield returning home to Geelong after eight seasons of great service, but would be less forgiving if a deal for another young star can’t be struck.

Jack Gunston left Adelaide after just two seasons and went on to become a three-time premiership star at Hawthorn.

It’s a nervous time for Adelaide as it waits on the signatures of Mitch McGovern and Jake Lever, but needs to do whatever it takes to secure the later, a star on the rise and a likely future captain.

[bornadog]

What connection does Lever have with us?

[Bulldog4life]

What connection does Lever have with us?

Not sure. Wondering myself.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Not sure. Wondering myself.

Not sure but this was from an article on the Michael Talia investigation. McCartney may just know Jake Lever's dad:

"Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney told the club about a conversation he had that morning (Wednesday, September 16) with the father of Crows defender Jake Lever."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vic...3a639d6a6c5e01

[bulldogtragic]

A guess based on geography. Lever is from Romsey. Redders is from somewhere like next door Kyneton. It's a small world out there. You'd think they'd know each other. If true, it explains why after Redders missed his set shot late in the game, he was joking and laughing with Lever.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Chris Grant confirmed we're into Lever this morning on SEN