Heard some negative feedback on David Hale on SEN last night. Are you a fan or would you be happy to see him on Jetstar flight 435 to Coolongatta?

Redb

Mind you, it would be a massive coup for GC and of immense symbolism if they could pull it off.

And should StKilda win the flag this year, would Nick Riewoldt be any more likely to head north of the Tweed at the end of next year? Would StKilda envisage that at end of 2010 season, given Riewoldt is 26 1/2 now, he’d be 28 by then. Kosi around the same age, would they want to got forward with both into their 30s, or, potential trade Riewoldt as a 28 yo for perhaps 2 top 20 picks that they would get near otherwise??

Part of the answer to the hypothetical lies in what talent is left after all the best 17 year olds have been removed by GC17 (and then what next with WS18??)

Redb makes a good point about the importance of your recruitment staff.

Good article Michael.

Michael raises some good points that they will have to get rid of some players for a long term benefit and it could be a good idea to get rid of some dead wood. ie: White from Sydney, Seaby from Eagles etc

The role of the talent and recruiting manager just became a $50,000 a year better paid job. The Gold Coast team are currently 4th in the TAC Cup so the talent coming out of Queensland and PNG is producing some exciting times for footy.

Not sure how the WS draft picks will work when GC seem to have snapped up most of the better prospects.

As an aside, Dave Matthews (AFL Development Mgr), Nathan Buckley and Connell the high performance Manager of the proposed Western Sydney team are in Notre Dame for a week to gather and share information on draft picks, development,etc.

Redb

They need to target mature bodied key position players, including a ruckman.

For what GC17 can’t get suitably via trading and uncontracted – they then need to look more broadly,

For players a bit here and there at other clubs, the next 5 years could provide so much greater opportunity than ever before. Outside of the AFL lists, a Jason Cloke if he were still in the system now might be big chance – could he still be? – (well, he’s still going around in the VFL). Could a Marty Pask with an extra year or 2 of maturity be a chance to re-enter the system.
I just wonder how many of the big bodied players delisted in the 2007-08 era will have managers telling them to keep going as hard as possible outside of the AFL, whether in the SANFL or whereever – just in case. I reckon too many very good players miss out because they hadn’t physically matured sufficiently at age 20!!!

Geelong is an interesting case, as its unlikely they won’t be in premiership contention next year but will be facing the question of how to manage the transition from one generation to another.

The good news is they have no shortage of in-demand talent. I can’t see the big four — Ablett, Bartell, Corey, Selwood — remaining beyond the end of next year. Corey is the logical choice to off-load, as he is the oldest, but I’d be very surprised if GC weren’t already talking to some of the others.

Reality is all the good players will be signed up and locked away. What’s that leave?

Only the draft picks.

And 2 teams need to have ready made over night spread of age/body type and ready made leadership groups outside of the sub 21 years age group.

So – - trading will be in vogue like never before. Early draft picks will be available for clubs that otherwise might not have had access. This MAY give a club like Geelong a chance to off load perhaps a Joel Corey to deliver GC17 a ready made on field leader and allow Geelong a half decent draft pick (perhaps not a first round). Anyway, just an example.

So, the Swans – perhaps if a Mike Pyke comes along and Jolly holds his own, might be willing to trade away Jesse White for a top 10 pick?

However it goes – it’ll be the ultimate test of the trade process – and will a single week be enough?