Is it time to make a big move?

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

Unless a great opportunity comes our way, I don't think it's time.

I would wait a year or two when we are closer and then go for a free agent. We will be paying big dollars either way, at least with a free agent we don't have to sacrifice players and/or picks.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

Unless a great opportunity comes our way, I don't think it's time.

I would wait a year or two when we are closer and then go for a free agent. We will be paying big dollars either way, at least with a free agent we don't have to sacrifice players and/or picks.

I'm thinking along similar lines.

Let's draft (trade if possible/cheaply) to sure up our defensive stocks. We are very bare in the cupboard and need to add 2-3 defensive types IMO.

In a year or two, go out and buy a key forward. By then, the puzzle will be close to completion.

[Bornadog]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

I'm thinking along similar lines.

Let's draft (trade if possible/cheaply) to sure up our defensive stocks. We are very bare in the cupboard and need to add 2-3 defensive types IMO.

In a year or two, go out and buy a key forward. By then, the puzzle will be close to completion.

Same old story at the Dogs.

For me, if there is an opportunity, grab it.

We should have put some big dollars in front of Barry Hall in 2007 to join in 2008 and we would have won at least two premierships.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

Same old story at the Dogs.

For me, if there is an opportunity, grab it.

We should have put some big dollars in front of Barry Hall in 2007 to join in 2008 and we would have won at least two premierships.

I think there's some massive differences there.
1- as I mentioned earlier, that was a great opportunity as he wanted to go and he wanted to come to us
2- we were a lot closer to a flag in 2007 than we are now

Unless we are going to pay MASSIVE overs, we won't get players to come to us unless we can prove we are going to be up there very soon.

Of course we should be on high alert in obvious areas for improvement but there is a time and a place to sell the farm. There's a fine line between aggressively chasing success and desperation. Let's hope we are on the right side of it.

[Twodogs]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

The more I think about it the more I think that unless a really good chance comes our way we keep our powder dry until next year.

But who knows what happens in trade week. St Kilda might roll in like a drunken sailor and put pick one on the table.

[Bornadog]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

I think there's some massive differences there.
1- as I mentioned earlier, that was a great opportunity as he wanted to go and he wanted to come to us
2- we were a lot closer to a flag in 2007 than we are now

Unless we are going to pay MASSIVE overs, we won't get players to come to us unless we can prove we are going to be up there very soon.

Of course we should be on high alert in obvious areas for improvement but there is a time and a place to sell the farm. There's a fine line between aggressively chasing success and desperation. Let's hope we are on the right side of it.

I am not saying get a player over 25 years old. If there is a gun around the 23/24 mark (or younger like some of the GWS or GC players), in two years time they will be at their peak and so will some of our young midfield. Hall was the right age when we played those prelims, but we don't want another 28/29 year old at this stage.

Its all about timing and opportunity which may not be there in the future.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

Lets not look like some desperado at a club at 4am.
The only hope of landing a 23 or 24 year old is paying over the odds.
Please no fringe players

[Bornadog]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

Lets not look like some desperado at a club at 4am.
The only hope of landing a 23 or 24 year old is paying over the odds.
Please no fringe players

Sam Reid is not a fringe player.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

Same old story at the Dogs.

For me, if there is an opportunity, grab it.

We should have put some big dollars in front of Barry Hall in 2007 to join in 2008 and we would have won at least two premierships.

Yes, obviously we all want a quality key forward, but we can't invent one if none are available and I sure as hell do not want to pay over the odds for a foot soldier.

Sam Reid is not a fringe player.

He's not a superstar either.

[Bornadog]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

Yes, obviously we all want a quality key forward, but we can't invent one if none are available and I sure as hell do not want to pay over the odds for a foot soldier.

Never said to get a foot soldier. I said if there is an opportunity to snare a good KPF now, then take the opportunity, why wait till a few years time.

He's not a superstar either.

Reid is 22 going on to 23, still has the potential to develop further and has shown signs he can.

[Sedat]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

Please no fringe players

I don't mind fringe players - Sydney would not have won the 2005 or 2012 flags without trading underappreciated fringe players into their squad - but there hasn't been much of a rhyme or reason to the ones we have secured.

My two favourite ekers, Jay Schulz (not that he's an eker anymore) and Matt Spangher, were both fringe players traded away from unwanted clubs (twice in Spangher's case) who are now pivotal players to the structure of their current clubs. I don't mind identifying an underappreciated player or two at a current club who will add significant incremental value to our list.

[Twodogs]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

Over the last couple of years we have been able to secure some terrific youngsters that have really given us some light at the end of the tunnel. Stinger, Macrae, Hrovat, Hunter and Bontempelli have proved themselves exciting prospects. As fans, we love what they can bring us and we find it exciting now to look forward to the next few years.

The one thing we lack is a genuine key forward. Jones has found it difficult to be the number one forward target and both Grant and Crameri are definitely better suited to the 2nd or 3rd key targets. Even Stringer isn't a number one key forward target.

This year we will get a low pick and it's a draft that has a blend of midfield and KPP. It's sounds easy enough to just pick the best player especially when the last two years have been so good to us but I wonder if this is the year to shake things up and go for a ready made player. It's risky trading an early pick for an established players but to me it's worth exploring.

Sam Reid is a player that I think now consider making a bold move on. He is stuck behind both Franklin and Tippett and despite the pending retirement of Goodes he should consider that playing the 3rd role behind those two isn't a great position for him.

The Swans might free up some money with Goodes and O'Keefe retiring but Reid has a big contract and they might look to clear some space. One thing they might also consider is Membrey is performing well in the NEAFL and that might give them assurance that they could cover the loss of Reid.

I don't want to hear that we should just go with the best player in the draft and I also don't want to get too focused on the value of the deal ie that we are giving up too much because I'm sure there could be sweeteners involved if the Swans were open to a deal.

So the question is along the lines of if Sam Reid is the sort of player we should make a bold move to acquire by using our first pick?

The upside to me is that structurally he would add a lot plus and provide us with a genuine marking target up forward. He is also versatile enough to be used on occasions as a defender.

The downside is that he isn't a great kick for goal and probably unproven as being the main target in an emerging forward line.

To me a lot of clubs go that extra mile to acquire a player that adds a lot to their structure and given the strength of our younger players coming through at the moment this might be the year to do something creative by acquiring a young, tall and fit KPP.

I'd be very interested in your thoughts? If you have some other suggestions on players we should target I think that would add a bit extra to the thread.

What's his field kicking like?

Must be OK if he's played in defence.

[Happy Days]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

What's his field kicking like?

Must be OK if he's played in defence.

From what I've seen it's not offensive or anything.

His goal kicking is actually much improved though - 15.5 this year.

[Webby]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

Re Sam Reid, it's not an altogether far fetched idea. I wouldn't kid ourselves that he's anything outstanding, but he's a very good tall who's in the right age bracket for us.

Looking from the viewpoint that:
1. His club potentially see him as slightly surplus to requirement (due to heavy-ish salary and the presence of Franklin and Tippett.
2. Reid himself might take a view that he'd like to play KP forward in future
3. If Reid were looking for another club, with a premiership medallion already in his keeping, he'd surely be looking for a team who should be up and running throughout the second half of his 20's
4. He'd surely be looking for a team for whom he would be adding something that's lacking
5. Sydney will use their pick 1 for an academy priority pick (17 or 18). Thus leaving them a second pick in the mid 30's.. They'd potentially be open to a trade for a lower pick
6. If WBFC were to lose Higgins to F/A, we'd likely land a mid 20's pick as compo.
7. Pick 24 or so for Reid might just do it. Particularly as, if he's a contracted player who the club want to move off its payroll, he'd be able to have some input into where he agrees to go
8. As a big childhood Doggies fan whose granddad, dad and uncle all played for the club, with a premiership medal already in a drawer at home, Reid may see the kennel as a pretty good choice from both a head and heart perspective. Becoming a third generation player for a club is a pretty big deal - if it's presented.. If the Swans were to signal that they're not determined for him to stay, he might begin thinking "well, what other club do I feel a bit of a pull towards?"...

Certainly worth a feeler, IMO.

[Bornadog]

Re: Is it time to make a big move?

he might begin thinking "well, what other club do I feel a bit of a pull towards?"...

Collingwood "where my brother plays."