Who would you have JMac target this year?

[Dry Rot]

FWIW, If I was the boss of the suns and assuming Ablett is leaving...

They have a good spine IIRC, need good mids now. Don't think they have time to do a rebuild, club will fold.

They have lots of second round picks and a good first round pick this year. I'd therefore be trying to pry a few good mids, mid twenties year old, from clubs, even if I had to pay overs in picks and salaries to entice them up there.

Say from us, I'd be trying to get one or two of Dahl, Libba or Wallis (not saying that we should do that), or like players from other clubs.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Sometimes teams trade for guys who play well against them

On that logic - Andrew Gaff has polled 6 out of a max 6 votes against us in 2017 - he's rumoured to be potentially on the move - could we be in the market?

I'd spew if we went for Smith - seems to want the game on his own terms and doesn't work back the other way

[Twodogs]

FWIW, If I was the boss of the suns and assuming Ablett is leaving...

They have a good spine IIRC, need good mids now. Don't think they have time to do a rebuild, club will fold.

They have lots of second round picks and a good first round pick this year. I'd therefore be trying to pry a few good mids, mid twenties year old, from clubs, even if I had to pay overs in picks and salaries to entice them up there.

Say from us, I'd be trying to get one or two of Dahl, Libba or Wallis (not saying that we should do that), or like players from other clubs.

That's exactly the sort of player they should be targeting. Players who get their hands on the ball first at the contest.

[Sedat]

Sometimes teams trade for guys who play well against them

AKA the Daniel Bandy rule.

[GVGjr]

We've put forward a good offer to Trengove and given he helps us out in a couple of positions I think it's a solid move.
That being said, even with Stringer looking like being a departure, I'm starting to wonder if it's worth chasing other big names or just focusing more on the draft and looking for a low key trade or two instead.

With the likes of Motlop, Menzel, Devon Smith, Watts and Lang all having limited appeal and Rockcliff looking very unlikely I don't think there is necessarily a quick fix for us. Is there is some merit in just adding some depth in a couple of positions but leaning more towards focusing on the draft?

We got English, Lipinski, Young and Greene via the draft last year so there is plenty of upside there but they will need another year. Dunkley, Collins, Adams and Williams from the previous year are very close to the mark so with an emerging list we might as well go to the draft in the strongest possible position.

I'd like to hear some thoughts on if we should go hard at trading for players or if it should be more about the draft and topping up in a couple of positions?

[GVGjr]

I know this probably won't be a popular comment but I wouldn't be against having Ryan Griffen back at the club at the right price.
I hate the thought of him being used as a sweetener for the Blues which is being reported.

If we think we could get him fit we could run him off a half back flank.

[Go_Dogs]

I know this probably won't be a popular comment but I wouldn't be against having Ryan Griffen back at the club at the right price.
I hate the thought of him being used as a sweetener for the Blues which is being reported.

If we think we could get him fit we could run him off a half back flank.

Had the same thought yesterday when I saw he might be on the move. It's a risk and may not get a lot out of him, but if he can stay fit and play a role he could free up some other players and add some experience down back where we are very light on.

[Go_Dogs]

We've put forward a good offer to Trengove and given he helps us out in a couple of positions I think it's a solid move.
That being said, even with Stringer looking like being a departure, I'm starting to wonder if it's worth chasing other big names or just focusing more on the draft and looking for a low key trade or two instead.

With the likes of Motlop, Menzel, Devon Smith, Watts and Lang all having limited appeal and Rockcliff looking very unlikely I don't think there is necessarily a quick fix for us. Is there is some merit in just adding some depth in a couple of positions but leaning more towards focusing on the draft?

We got English, Lipinski, Young and Greene via the draft last year so there is plenty of upside there but they will need another year. Dunkley, Collins, Adams and Williams from the previous year are very close to the mark so with an emerging list we might as well go to the draft in the strongest possible position.

I'd like to hear some thoughts on if we should go hard at trading for players or if it should be more about the draft and topping up in a couple of positions?

If the players we want (or types) aren't available then we should definitely go in via the draft. I'd be happy with the approach you outlined and if we can pick up another good pick for this year or next, that will give us a very solid platform to add another 2-4 top end players via the draft who will be able to have an impact as some of our younger stars now enter their prime.

No point trading if it doesn't significantly improve the list over the next 1-3 years and while we struggled this year, on balance our list is strong with a high ceiling so we can continue to take a longer term view.

[The Doctor]

I know this probably won't be a popular comment but I wouldn't be against having Ryan Griffen back at the club at the right price.
I hate the thought of him being used as a sweetener for the Blues which is being reported.

If we think we could get him fit we could run him off a half back flank.

It's better for us and the comp if Griffen and his salary stay at the Giants. That will force out another young gun or two.

I was filthy with Carlton taking on Rhys Palmer last year to help them.

I doubt Griffen would be welcomed back after the manner in which he left anyhow

[Bulldog Revolution]

It's better for us and the comp if Griffen and his salary stay at the Giants. That will force out another young gun or two.

I was filthy with Carlton taking on Rhys Palmer last year to help them.

I doubt Griffen would be welcomed back after the manner in which he left anyhow

The only reason Carlton get the gws assets so cheaply is that they were prepared to take on salary to help the giants out

Comparatively they haven't traded much to get Marchbank et al

[GVGjr]

It's better for us and the comp if Griffen and his salary stay at the Giants. That will force out another young gun or two.

I was filthy with Carlton taking on Rhys Palmer last year to help them.

I doubt Griffen would be welcomed back after the manner in which he left anyhow

I would expect that GWS would need to pay a significant chunk of Griffen salary so I don't see that as an issue however, if by taking the full contract I wonder if we could be part of and sweetener on offer.

[Bulldog Revolution]

I would expect that GWS would need to pay a significant chunk of Griffen salary so I don't see that as an issue however, if by taking the full contract I wonder if we could be part of and sweetener on offer.

For me it has to be part of another deal - either buying an early pick because gws don't want or need it this year or a player we value

I don't want Devon Smith but it could put us in a three or four team swap involving him

I've never thought Griff was a bad guy and I'm also not opposed to him coming back at the right price - Bevo could plug him into the Marty Boyd role

[Topdog]

Staggered that people could want a deserting captain to come back

[Mofra]

I know this probably won't be a popular comment but I wouldn't be against having Ryan Griffen back at the club at the right price.
I hate the thought of him being used as a sweetener for the Blues which is being reported.

If we think we could get him fit we could run him off a half back flank.

Ditto, mentioned something similar yesterday. He'd be a direct replacement for Matty Boyd subject to his back holding up (still not convinced).

[Mofra]

Staggered that people could want a deserting captain to come back

I blame B-Mac's treatment of him more than anything else. Griff's not the brightest bear in the forest and his move got us Bevo & Tom Boyd so I'll cut him a little slack.