Bully while I agree with much of what you have argued, overall I am happy with what we have achieved in bringing in new payers.Guys, I've been on this site for three months screaming about grabbing a tall forward, I've laid out a plan for this entire period, I haven't deviated once, I've mentioned numerous times Keeler was the slider, I mentioned numerous times there were 4-5 tall forwards in that 30-50 range, I've put the list up at least 10 times. I've picked a forward in the mock draft (2 just to ram home my point) and now I'm being a hindsight charlatan. Vintage PRE, following the same pattern as every year, can't cope with anything other than the club line.
Let me put it to you another way. If Hewitt goes early I take Jefferson & Hotton, a mid & a forward, it's probably still Keeler in the third much like the PRE draft (2 forwards). I struggle to see how this is so controversial, particularly when I've outlined my strategy prior to the draft. I was even asked the player I was picking in REAL TIME, go back over the comments if you must.
As for Mitchell, he was the player I focused on because he didn't interfere with our existing picks, that was the fundamental reason I preferenced him over Hopper. Now you blokes are rewriting the script & turning a salary cap dump into some highly valuable commodity which prevents me from taking the tall I've structured my whole strategy around. That's just lame revisionism & hints that some of you are concerned I've managed to secure a decent draft haul.
But you are correct, enough talk, I know my cues, I'll see you blokes next year, I'll drop in when the season concludes, hopefully we've got a premiership but if not, we'll be discussing the future first you've all happily parted with.
Hopper and Taranto fill an obvious deficiency in our midfield and our staff saw getting them in as an absolute priority, and paid up.
We also now have a group of young talls (Balta, Bauer, Gibcus, Miller, Nyuon and Young) who are all quick and who imo seem likely to finish up excelling as either key forwards, or key defenders. We don’t know where yet!
In Colina and Ryan we also have two young giant ruck/forwards who could be anything. Soldo coming back from a serious injury (inflicted by Hawkins) will also be a much better player.
Soldo apart, all of the above are still in their early 20’s and importantly have all progressed while at Punt road.
So I think missing out on another tall in the 2nd or 3rd round in what was a weak draft, should not be a concern.
While I was in total agreement with you on always keeping our future 1st, we have done pretty well.
(Have to assume our team tried other strategies which included Soldo and possibly Graham but couldn’t get it done - without the future pick).
Thanks again for your efforts and hope we don’t have to wait until the next draft period, before we hear from you again.
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