Well mate, it's just as easy to overrate the players in other squads, especially when they win all the time. Look how we all overrate Justin Horo now that he's in a strong squad. At Parra he was gash.
We're not getting rid of guys because they're useless; we're getting rid of them because we have too many fringe players competing for spots when a better balanced squad has a clear separation between first graders and backups. We have a lot of guys who are too good to be backups but not good enough to be first graders. Luke O'Donnell will soon be in this category if he's not already.
The edges aren't so much about speed as lateral movement, and LOD has been goneskis in that area for years. He hasn't played out wide since about 2009. Everyone would get past him just like they get past Fui (still a very quick forward) when he plays on the edges.
We have a few experienced forwards: Moimoi and Smith have been around forever, and Mannah and Mossop have both played 100+ games. The only thing O'Donnell could teach them is how to be a merkin, and it (aggression) is not really something that can be taught to adults. Most of our young forwards are church boys. They just don't have it in them.
That is the biggest reason I feel he would be good value. We have some young forwards with some ability and size, and they have the potential to be aggressive (Darcy Lussick being the prime example). But perhaps having O'Donnell teach Lussick, Perepo, Tanginoa and Paulo how to physically dominate their opponents using aggression could take us that one step further.
I have a lot of respect for blokes like Mannah, Smith and even oldies like Hindmarsh and Cayless. But you need at least one forward who looks to dominate the ruck by either hitting hard in attack and defence (in his younger days, this role suited Fui to a tee) or being an absolute merkin. Most Premiers recently had at least one player in their squad fitting this description:
* 2001 had Ben Kennedy;
* 2002 had Adrian Morley (I would LOVE to have a bloke like this in the Blue and Gold);
* 2003 had Joel Clinton;
* 2004 Reni Maitua for the merkin and SBW for the physical dominance;
* 2005 had Bryce Gibbs as the merkin;
* 2006 had Tonie Carroll (and Neville Costigan early in the season);
* 2007 had Mick Crocker;
* 2008 had Josh Perry for the merkin and Anthony Watmough for the physicality;
* 2009 had Sika Manu;
* 2010 had Neville Costigan, Jeremy Smith and Beau Scott;
* 2011 had Anthony Watmough (and Steve Matai);
* 2012 had Jason Ryles for the merkin and Richie Fa'aoso for the physicality;
* 2013 had SBW for the physicality, Luke O'Donnell and Jarred Warea-Hargraves for the merkin.
In conclusion, I think we need a merkin or two.
