we dont need to chase after a mature defender. not if we accept we are still pretty early into rebuild.what we do need to do is get onto the list two or three big boned if you like, tall defenders. to go with grimes and astbury.
the thing is we dont have to pay a huge price to get a good kpd just look at where most of them are taken. few come from the first round and most of the better ones have come from the second and third rounds.
we only have a serious problem if we think we are a finals side then we will have to trade for all sorts of mature types.
i know this is a big knock but i still believe structurally we should have used pick 31 this yr on a tall defender and taken the risk batchelor would be there later. i say this even though i think we have picked a decent kid in batchelor. if not pick 31 they should have used pick 26 the adelaide pick we got for tambling and used it on one of darling, pat mccarthy who i thought was close to the best tall defender in the draft or scott lycett a very promising ruckman. we could have done something about a chronic list deficiency and taken batchelor at the same time.
i say all this from the perspective that
mcguane - delist/trade
thursfield - delist/trade
rance - likely delist/trade
gourdis - likely delist/trade
graham - delist/trade
browne - 50/50 at best to make it likely delist. development still
post - struggling will he make it. atm 50/50 at best. development still.
westhoff - a long shot project you hope he makes it but its more likely he wont. development still.
derickx - 23 24 yr old ruckman with good size should be pounding the door down. can he step up to the level. has a yr or two to adjust to the tempo.
miller - 27 28 yr old recruit who is no long term prospect whos career has in the main been ordinary.
astbury - shows promise but imo has done nothing to say hes a player. development stil.
griffiths - the next big thing according to some. based on what i ask. there is no guarantee. development still