Tim Schmidt retires

[magic.merkin]

Best of Luck Tim!

Youd had a crack, and that's all you could do with the body you were given. Hopefully it has set you up for the future, and you have aquired some skills to make the most of it.

I will always have that goal from the pocket @ AAMI in my mind.

[dread and might]

Yeah Damn, I had high hopes for the young fella. All the best for the future.

[AnnieH]

Good luck Tim - I hope you make a motza in commissions!!

Good boy, retiring now rather than one week before the season starts.

[hammo]

For 2009, I'm not sure that that's such a positive any more. We just have too many spots to fill (in what's purportedly a weak draft, but once you get past pick 60 I'd be surprised if there's any statistical difference between "strong" drafts and weak ones).

This on the face of it suggests that we have 4 spots to fill, but in fact it's at least 6 and as many as 9. That is to say, Schmidt and Kennelly are already listed in the 34; then 2 of Kirk, Goodes and JBolt can be 'outside veterans' (creating a 40-man list). Then there's the prospect of Playfair's hammie not coming up to speed, which would be the 9th senior vacancy.

Even if we upgrade both Pike and Thornton (is there any point upgrading Orreal or Gilchrist?), that will potentially leave us with 6 or 7 slots to fill. Even if we nab Bradshaw, that's likely to be just too many untested young players to add. (Maybe one of DOK or-- please-- Laidlaw might get to slip in through the side door again.)

We may well decide not to list any outside veterans for a reason that hadn't occurred to me before-- there is simply not enough talent available in 2009 to give us 40 senior list players worthy of the name, and we would rather keep our powder dry and have the option of expanding our squad in future years.

We may use one or two late picks for a recycled player now. With the GWS concessions now published, restocking via the draft is going to be impossible over the next few years.

There's little chance of the best young players going anywhere else but Gold Coast or Western Sydney in the next 2 draft years. So if this draft is considered weak what are the recruiters going to say
about the 2010 and 2011 drafts?

Thankfully the club seems to have assembled what appears to be a very talented young list. I assume we'll compensate for the lack of talent in future drafts by taking a punt on as many kids and rookies this draft as we can and try to develop them into decent senior players. We could also have a decent father son selection next year (?) in young Mitchell.

[CJK]

Bummer for Tim.

Best of luck in the future.

[Doctor]

Strange. My mail was that he'd been traded to the Eagles?

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/...384417724.html

[AnnieH]

Strange. My mail was that he'd been traded to the Eagles?

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/...384417724.html

On ya doc.

Life is good without the cocaine, brawls and police problems, ...

[dimelb]

Strange. My mail was that he'd been traded to the Eagles?

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/...384417724.html

[Captain]

So he is pursuing a career in real estate. Must of lost some passion for footy.

??? Did you expect him to sit around and mope?

[RogueSwan]

Strange. My mail was that he'd been traded to the Eagles?

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/...384417724.html

How long have you been holding on to that one?

[Doctor]

How long have you been holding on to that one?

Ever since he was a New Kid In Town.

[Lucky Knickers]

Ever since he was a New Kid In Town.

Shame it's all been wasted time.