Merrett is overrated.
So is most of our squad, I think Merrett is just what we need, he is tough at the contest, provides run and is not scared to take on the contest......overrated... 
Grimes and Rance also do that just as often and well as Merrett, make less mistakes than Merrett, have a lot more room for improvement, and currently cost a lot less under the salary cap than Merrett would cost. Merrett will be 28 this year and has only played 32 out of 50 games in the past 2+ seasons. By the time we reach our supposed 'window' in 2015 he will be 31. I don't think getting him now would be a smart thing at all, regardless of what I think of his ability, and if his current injury record holds up as he approaches 30 (which is more likely than not) then most on here will attack the club mercilessly for it's shortsightedness in recruiting the next Kingsley, Hudson et al.
Fletcher just turned 38 didn't he??
I am not bagging Grimes and Rance, but other than Rance where are our big bodied tallish back men??
Mal Michael was 190cm and 100kgs
Dan Merrett is 195cm and 103kgs
Astbury is 195cm and 92kgs at 21 yrs old
Elton is 197cm and 92kgs at 18 yrs old
Griffiths is 198cm and 99kgs at 21 yrs old
Grimes is 193cm and 87kgs at 21 yrs old
Post is 193cm and 93kgs at 23 yrs old
Rance is 194cm and 93kgs at 23 yrs old
Darrou is 190cm and 97kgs at 19 yrs old
Wright is 190cm and 96kgs at 19 yrs old
Every one of these players is taller than Michael was and given their ages it would be within the reach of most to end up close to (or more than) his weight.
Not allowing for Moore or McGuane to make it, there is a bit here for the coaches to work with already, before we go spending our money chasing a ready made solution and before we go to next year's superdraft. I'm not saying don't pick up an experienced big defender but I don't think it needs to be a priority yet for at least a year or 2 and that's only if we can't produce a working unit/combination from within. I go back to my Geelong comment for proof that you don't necessarily need big bodied defenders but you do need a shedload of cohesion, trust and understanding, and only time and ongoing training/development can bring that.
