Phew, we dodged a bullet!

[CyberKev]

There are numerous close shave stories to flow out of the AFL competition.

From Hawthorn, I can only express my relief at Wayne Carey choosing Adelaide ahead of us a few years back, because had we taken him, we would be even worse of now than we are.

For mine, however, the big recent winner would have to be Richmond.

When Greg Miller set of for London a few years back to offer Dean Solomon $2m over 5 years to switch to Punt Rd, I thought he was on crack! Why offer that much for a solid HBF when Richmond has far more pressing concerns, was my thinking at the time.

History shows that Solomon stayed at Essendon for less money and the Tigers took some public grief for it.

How relieved must Greg Miller be feeling today though? Solomon is shot to pieces and would have been consigned to Bendigo yonks ago were it not for Essendon's overall form dip and lack of genuine depth.

Dodged a bullet there, Tiges.

 

[meltiger]

At the time though, it seemed like a good move to make. Soli was one of the best HBF going around, who was capable of taking the bigger men.

History shows though that yes, you are right. Richmond are exceptionally lucky that Solomon didn't come across.

 

[CyberKev]

Soli was one of the best HBF going around.

But he was still just a HBF.

As such, I would have to also say that Collingwood probably dodged a bullet when they made a similar play for Joel Smith at the end of 2004.

Smith has been a good performer and still has good games and warrants a top flight spot, but his off-days are growing in number (eg his touch-up by Brown on the weekend) and at the end of the day he is predominantly just a HBF.

 

[meltiger]

But it's not as if we were giving up something for him, if they had of offered the Scummers a draft pick etc then you;d have a point.

But to pick up a quality player in any position via the PSD is worth the punt.

In hindsight, yes we dodged a bullet, but you can't always recruit blokes who are 7 foot tall...

 

[CyberKev]

but you can't always recruit blokes who are 7 foot tall...

This is a very fair point, actually.

After any trade period, clubs X, Y and Z will draw flak for not recruiting player A, B or C to fill their needs, but commonly, the people letting loose with the flak fail to acknowledge that players A, B & C simply weren't put up for trade.

I guess my view is coloured by the fact that I see HBF as a rather innocuous position that can be filled easily. Or maybe its just that Peter Schwab created that impression by effectively building a side that consisted of about 14 half back flankers :x

 

[Hoops]

CK could you stop saying "He was just a HBF", I spent the majority of footy career there.
Think of all the great HBF over time - Bruce Doull and ...................................................


could somebody help me out here?

 

[CyberKev]

CK could you stop saying "He was just a HBF", I spent the majority of footy career there.
Think of all the great HBF over time - Bruce Doull and ...................................................


could somebody help me out here?

:lol:

Don't worry, Hoops, I could be just as damning about HFF and that's where I spent the majority of my career (such as it was).

Ken Hunter and John Kennedy Jr are two very handy players that come to mind that were predominantly HBF.

HBF could be about to undergo something of a renaissance actually.

I can see that sides will want to put a speedy (winger type) at HBF to use speed and long kicking to force quick rebound from defensive to forward 50.

I think Hawthorn will use this approach with young Birchall, that's for sure.

 

[Hoops]

I can see that sides will want to put a speedy (winger type) at HBF to use speed and long kicking to force quick rebound from defensive to forward 50.

I think Hawthorn will use this approach with young Birchall, that's for sure.

Don't even try to compare a Dogged, Blue collar, Hardworking HBF to your "kick it to me, kick it to me" type winger. They might have a bit more pace and even skill, but are way too soft to ever get a game on the ball. would rather be statistically leading (to use modern terminology) "hand ball/kicks recieves" than "hard ball gets" :roll: ;-)

 

[CyberKev]

Usually Freo are monties to end-up on the wrong side of this sort of ledger, but I think its safe to say that they'd be happy with themselves about now for pulling out of the race for Jonathan Hay's signature (when they were probably leading for it) last October!

 

[camsmith]

Does Aaron Fiora fit into this thread?

Phew, we could have kept him?

 

[Cricketer]

What I'm concerned about is that we get Aker, I'd prefer a younger kid for the future not a loud mouth fool.

 

[roosters06]

as much as he is maligned in this thread, solomon is a great player, when fit. Having been brough back despite a doubt about his fitness, he played well against the kangas on Friday night (i watched the game live)

the one benefit of this losing streak is that we will get Bryce Gibbs

 

[lockyno1]

the one benefit of this losing streak is that we will get Bryce Gibbs

Exactly why I want the no1 pick!

 

[roosters06]

Exactly why I want the no1 pick!

and looks like we'll be in the market to pick up another first round pick, probably around 15-16

Would make for an interesting time in the draft, considering this is widely regarded as the best draft in a VERY long time.

 

[lockyno1]

Exactly rooster. Plus if we don't win another game we can get a priority pick in the 07' draft as well if this year and next year's wins don't equal 9 games. Very happy!

 

[roosters06]

Exactly rooster. Plus if we don't win another game we can get a priority pick in the 07' draft as well if this year and next year's wins don't equal 9 games. Very happy!

we should easily eclipse nine wins for the two years combined.

After this year, with Fletch, Lloyd, Solo, McPhee, Johno and Hird (if he decides to play another year) fully fit, i expect us to make the eight quite comfortably.

 

[camsmith]

You cant really be happy with your team tanking can you?

Im happy Richmond got Lids in the draft in hindsight... but every Richmond game i went to i wanted us to win (or at least try, and field the BEST possible team) I know some people dont agree..

But i see it as like putting money on the opposition if you go into a game wanting to lose. IMO its just not right. Its just not cricket

 

[lockyno1]

You cant really be happy with your team tanking can you?

Im happy Richmond got Lids in the draft in hindsight... but every Richmond game i went to i wanted us to win (or at least try, and field the BEST possible team) I know some people dont agree..

But i see it as like putting money on the opposition if you go into a game wanting to lose. IMO its just not right. Its just not cricket

Thing is Cam, the reality is that our midfield is old, slow, etc. We need those top picks. There is no point coming mid table every year. You don't win flags by coming mid table. It is that simple. Its a short term pain for a longer-term gain. I am all for it. If that is "tanking" then I am fine with it!

 

[camsmith]

So you watch every game going for the opposition?

 

[meltiger]

So you watch every game going for the opposition?

Locky is under the same deluded belief that Hawthorn supporters are in that going through a St Kilda like bottoming out period will ensure future success. It's achieved nothing for St Kilda so far, and their prelim chokes may in fact have something to do with the loser mentality in the club.


Hawthorn, at the least to their credit have taken a slightly modified road to the true 'bottoming out' style in that they have also combined it with trading away old hacks and average players from the spine, to pick up early draft picks. Like Richmond, they have almost cut all of the dead wood from their list over the last 3 years.


Essendon will not do that.