Tom Barrass

[Grantysghost]

Is that an admission that Smith is headed to Geelong?

Might be something to do with the Josh Battle chase as well.

[1eyedog]

Two games from Lobb and his confidence is high. The problem with Lobb is we've seen this before. At GWS and at Freo and he's done it here. His confidence fluctuates and he starts to struggle.

He's played two good games. Whether we go hard at Barrass is dependent on whether Lobb can finish off the season strongly and give us all a bit of confidence that he's fit for purpose.

I don't expect stellar games like the one he played last week but when he has a less impactful game he still needs to be solid defensively.

At the moment I'm still all in on Barrass.

[bulldogtragic]

Key excerpts from Fox Footy:

Barrass:

The Bulldogs are seen as the front-runner for Barrass, with Morris reporting the Dogs were prepared to offer him “at least five years” to move.


English:

But 7News Perth and The West Australian reported on Wednesday that English had narrowed the call on his future to two possibilities: Remain at the Bulldogs or move to the Eagles, who’ve reportedly tabled a six-year offer for him.

There have been reports this year all signs are pointing to English re-signing with the Dogs on a big-money deal.

But Channel 7 reporter Ryan Daniels on Wednesday wrote on X that English had “warmed to the idea of joining the rebuilding Eagles”, adding the WA lifestyle had “strong appeal”.

Herald Sun reporter Glenn McFarlane said the fact English still remained out of contract beyond this season was “alarming signs” for the Dogs.

“When you get to this stage of a year and no one is even looking at the contract at this stage, that (he leaves) is what you start thinking,” McFarlane told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

[bulldogtragic]

If Tim wants their juicy offer, I’d think that puts us in a strong position to grab Barrass. Then go shopping for a ruckman.

[Grantysghost]

Tim leaving would be pretty shit.

I don't think there's anyone who could replace what he does.

Bevo doesn't like your traditional ruckman so there's no way he's getting someone like Pittonet. He'd rather ruck Macrae.

Barrass at least 5 years wow. Ok - so what are they saying? 6?

For a guy with his injury history that would be negligent.

I want him though, if the deal looks right.

[comrade]

I want to keep Timmy but we?d adapt. We need another genuine key defender and Barrass is the best of the possibles out there, so I?d do it. Wish he was 2-3 years younger but if he was, we wouldn?t be getting him.

[Hotdog60]

The thing that shits me about ruckmen is they are always late bloomers so you spend all your time grooming them and when they finally hit there prime someone comes along and waves a juicy carrot in front of them and they piss off and became a stars elsewhere.
May be hybrid rucks are the way to go train your mids to play to a losing ruck and the hybrid either floats to defense or roams up forward.

[bornadog]

Tim leaving would be pretty shit.

I don't think there's anyone who could replace what he does.

Bevo doesn't like your traditional ruckman so there's no way he's getting someone like Pittonet. He'd rather ruck Macrae.

Barrass at least 5 years wow. Ok - so what are they saying? 6?

For a guy with his injury history that would be negligent.

I want him though, if the deal looks right.

Cripps was rucking last week, so shows you how much they rate Pittonet.

Tim is a must keep, as Hotdog60 says, you put in that much time and effort to get the rucks to a certain level, they mature and then what.

I don't want a Pittonet or some other lumbering tall bloke who does nothing around the ground.

Barrass would be great, although 5 years is a concern, but if we snag a Premiership who cares about 5.

Mitch Cleary:

Hawthorn has the cap room for both Barrass + Josh Battle.There?s growing expectation Geelong is fav for Bailey Smith, leaving Hawks with a pick to use for Barrass.Dogs still frontrunners if Barrass leaves. He has links to 2018 flag assistants Sam Mitchell + Daniel Pratt (Dogs)

[Sedat]

English potentially leaving changes the equation significantly in favour of getting Barrass. Lobb might have to change from being the next Glenn Jakovich to the next Dean Cox in 2025, which opens up a significant hole in our readymade key defensive stocks in 2025 (goes without saying Jones is 34yo next year).

We should be targeting another ruckman regardless but the Lobb flexibility piece is becoming ever more critical - he absolutely stays for the next 2 years.

[Mantis]

Cripps was rucking last week, so shows you how much they rate Pittonet.

Tim is a must keep, as Hotdog60 says, you put in that much time and effort to get the rucks to a certain level, they mature and then what.

I don't want a Pittonet or some other lumbering tall bloke who does nothing around the ground.

Barrass would be great, although 5 years is a concern, but if we snag a Premiership who cares about 5.

Mitch Cleary:

Whilst Pittonet isn't someone who gets heavily involved in broken play (maybe he's coached not to?), and hence doesn't take many uncontested marks (which Tim does) he does win his fair share of the ball and is averaging 15 disposals per game this year with Tim at almost 17.

[bulldogtragic]

English potentially leaving changes the equation significantly in favour of getting Barrass. Lobb might have to change from being the next Glenn Jakovich to the next Dean Cox in 2025, which opens up a significant hole in our readymade key defensive stocks in 2025 (goes without saying Jones is 34yo next year).

We should be targeting another ruckman regardless but the Lobb flexibility piece is becoming ever more critical - he absolutely stays for the next 2 years.

Whilst not big on him, I think Ladhams could be cheap and could be packaged with small forward Konstanty. Fairly cheaply. Move VDM back to defence as a small defender. Addresses KPD, running small defender, small forward and cheap ruck. While holding say the compo pick and hopefully just trading the first for Baz and hopefully upgrading a F2 into F1.

Barrass makes us better and we can use Lobb as needed. We get back pretty much the first we gave GCS. We free up the cash and not holding the risk on Tim and concussions if they happen again.

I think we contend more strongly going ahead with Barrass more than English. If it was a one or the other. It’s shaping as a decisive list management period including whether we retain say Macrae or Daniel, or if they request a trade. It has the feel of trade period where we brought in Keath & Bruce and held a first for use on Weightman. Later Stef Martin as a cheap ruck. A period that led to 2021 and what could’ve been but for Bruce’ knee.

[azabob]

Two games from Lobb and his confidence is high. The problem with Lobb is we've seen this before. At GWS and at Freo and he's done it here. His confidence fluctuates and he starts to struggle.

An argument could be made if you include VFL form this is one of Lobb's most consistent years in his career.

But yes, Lobb is still a watch and see.

[GVGjr]

Cripps was rucking last week, so shows you how much they rate Pittonet.

Tim is a must keep, as Hotdog60 says, you put in that much time and effort to get the rucks to a certain level, they mature and then what.

I don't want a Pittonet or some other lumbering tall bloke who does nothing around the ground.

Barrass would be great, although 5 years is a concern, but if we snag a Premiership who cares about 5.

Mitch Cleary:

Does it really show that? TDK was injured during the game and the club has already announced that Pittonet is coming in this week.
They rolled the dice with no back-up ruckman.

[azabob]

Tim leaving would be pretty shit.

I don't think there's anyone who could replace what he does.

Bevo doesn't like your traditional ruckman so there's no way he's getting someone like Pittonet. He'd rather ruck Macrae.

Barrass at least 5 years wow. Ok - so what are they saying? 6?

For a guy with his injury history that would be negligent.

I want him though, if the deal looks right.

Barrass has three years left on his existing deal - we have tabled a five year contract.

Very early on it was reported that Eagles and Barrass had agreed to an extra couple of years - Now West Coast have a new list manager and CEO. The extra two years is no longer guaranteed.

Hence why everyone is now offering five + years.

[jazzadogs]

Cripps was rucking last week, so shows you how much they rate Pittonet.

I saw a stat last week that Cripps is one of the most effective rucks in the competition, in terms of winning the contest and taking possession. He is very good at outmuscling his opponent, grabbing the ball and throwing it on the boot to gain territory. I don't think it's a bad tactic tbh.