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Interesting that Jax Cooney is playing for the Geelong Falcons this year. St Josephs is his 'home club' (in West Geelong).
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Western Bulldogs: 2016 Premiers -
We just have to do everything we possibly can to get Butters. Bont, Butters, Libba & Richards next year would be insane, that mix genuinely has it all. Libba & Butters together in the coal face will give opposition nightmares, absolute dawgs, will free Bont up to run forward from the stoppage and do what he does best and Richards with the speed.
Butters speed on defence alone would transform our midfield, he’s that good. Throw the absolute house at him to get him here.Comment
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We have been linked to both Butters and Rowell.
Imagine they both want to come to the Bulldogs, same salaries, same trades etc...but we can only choose one. Who do you choose? Rowell or Butters?
I think Butters is an amazing player, and have watched more of him than Rowell, so I would be leaning towards him. My impression is that he is cleaner with disposal and faster?Comment
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It’s a good question, I would have said Butters no question at the start of the year but very well could change my mind by end of the season. Rowell is on a warpath right now, he’s an absolute maniac in the contest and looks to have his burst back which he seriously lacked after the pretty brutal knee injuries. Keeps going at this level and he’ll be one of the best mids in the comp by end of year IMO.
I do think Butters is a better fit though, and agree he’s faster and cleaner which we need. Would not scoff at Rowell though, it’d be the closest thing possible to getting another 8 years of Libba. Any midfield with Rowell getting first touch is going to be trouble, he’s a beast
I hope we’re pushing both hard and seeing what shakes out, realistically at this rate though Rowell might be closer to success at Suns than Dogs so why leave, the mountain of freebies that club has gotten is truly not quite recognised yet IMO. They’re bringing in 2-4 top top line draftees a year there’s only so long before it really starts to overwhelm the rest of the league. And they’ve got the expected #1 pick again this year…. Fun times.
can’t pay them all though so we have to keep raiding them and trying to beat out other big clubs for the scraps on the outer up thereComment
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Ah can anyone explain how Bont is not a restricted free agent? So that means he’s not in our top 25% highest paid players… what?
if that’s a case of front ending etc meaning his cap hit this year is lower for what ever reason that’s really poor list management. You can’t have that year be in the last year of their contract, that means IF he was to leave (and I obviously don’t think this will happen) he can walk and best we’d get is a pick after our first ie probably pick 10-14 etc whereas if he was RFA you’d just match and then trade him for an absolute bundle, should hell freeze over and he wants out.
pretty confused about thisComment
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Which is your top priority come draft day? Honestly I can’t see us landing any of the below positions of need via the trade table.
1. Liam Jones (is Buss or JOD the guy)?
2. Taylor Duryea (is Gallagher or Cleary the guy)?
3. Small forward (who will partner with Dolan long term)?More of an In Bruges guy?Comment
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Jones - we have to be hoping Buss is the guy, but I wouldn't say no to another genuine KPD to develop.
Duryea - I think Jacques is the guy to take this role.
Small forward - if there's quality available we'd be crazy to say no
I think we need to prioritise the Libba replacement. Ed and Sanders seem to be locked in to our future mids - if we can't land Rowell or Butters then we need to try and draft another mid in the first round. Freijah, West, Garcia, Luke Kennedy, Hynes, Gallagher all have questions marks over their ability to be solid AFL midfielders.Comment
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Small forward for mine, over the past two years these are almost some of the most important players in the game, and that shows in how high in the draft they’re going now. The best small fwds are coming from the first round mostly when they used to be found everywhere.
Small defender & tall defender can be brought in via trade/FA IMO, we’ve already got Bus and JOD developing well really need a more mature guy as they really only come into their own in mid 20s. This is a position IMO that you can still get good players on the cheap (maybe not star interceptors but at least solid cogs) ie guys who just need the opportunity and are stuck behind others etc, we’ve seen this with Lobb and Jones you can find em.
same with small defenders these guys move around a lot and can be mids/fwds who find their feet as solid plug & play defenders. Small forward right now I think is harder, you need quality.
I think small forward & small defenders (ideally Both a lockdown as well as rebounder) is our biggest need now that Richards and potentially Freijah have changed roles.
Dolan & Jacques looks like a great start last yearComment
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