MT we will have to trade a Foley or a Newman to attract something of value now. Whereas before all we had to do was win less than 4 and ensure we did not trade away any of our picks. Stupid Stupid Stupid RFC.
All that is left for us to do is to ensure that Melbourne and West Coast beat us to ensure that they do not get a priority pick and a jump on us in years to come. Surely we can do this right. 6.5 wins and 12th spot for us means squat in the scheme of the bigger picture. Ie 2011 onwards.
Sometimes when you are in 14th spot it is not about winning and losing it is about the future. This game today was one of those games..............
We need to find another top 20 pick if we are going to make the most of this draft. Sure the 'simplest' way was not to win another game (I was pro-tanking). However now the priority pick is gone, the reality is we need to be pragmatic and trade someone with value away. Tucky would be another who may have some value. The fact is we didn't miss him or Foley today.
The way things stand we have picks 7, 24, 40, 56, ..... Equivalent to finishing 10th on the ladder if there weren't any PPs yet we've won just 4 games
. So we have just one pick in the top 20. Most likely that will be a midfielder as the only top 10 tall is Butcher who will be gone before pick 7. We need to trade for another early-ish pick.
I can't see us losing to Melbourne next week based on the way both sides are playing at the moment and the personnel of each side. We may knock over the Swans too after seeing them the last few weeks although it will be O'Loughlin's 300th so the Swans may be up for it. They have also owned us in recent years.
We can't go any higher than 12th but it looks like we won't fall back lower either on current form. The worst thing we can do is win in round 22 and allow the Eagles to get a PP. I would rest Cuz, Cotch, Richo, :Lids, Tambo, Riewoldt - all our most talented players. Play Putt if need be. Whatever it takes to tank it. If we go without a PP then make sure our opponents don't end up with one either so we can push up higher in the draft order. Especially screw a club like the Eagles who are deliberately tanking to use and abuse the system while Demetriou keeps his head in the sand
.
1. Melb
2. WC
3. Melb
4. Freo
5. WC
6. North
7. Rich
.....
18. St Kilda
19. Freo
20. Melb
21. Freo
22. WC
23. North
24. Rich
...
40. Rich
...
56. Rich
...
72. Rich