...just because I like thinking about these things.
First, some definitions...
Career Status:
Elite - A player who is desired by all teams.
Excellent - A player who would get a game in all teams.
Good - A player who would get a game in most teams.
Fair - A player who would be on the periphery of selection in most teams.
Poor - A player who struggles at AFL level.
Unknown - A player who has not been tried sufficiently at AFL level.
Trade Status:
Indispensable - A player who is simply too valuable to our team for us to ever consider trading.
Undervalued - A player who would probably not attract trade value equivalent to his worth.
Valueless - A player who would have no/little value to another club. Either a fair/poor or young/aging, player.
Tradeable - A player who could attract trade value comparable to his worth, and who's absence would not severely hamper our team.
Now, on to the list...
1. Barry Hall
Career Status: Elite
Trade Status: Indispensable
One of the best key forwards in the competition. At 27 he has entered his prime, and will most likely be our MVP for the next few years. Given his frame, he could quite possibly extend his career into his mid-30s, if he's prepared to put on another few kgs and stand in the goal-square. At the moment, I'm choosing to ignore rumours of a desire for a boxing career.
2. Nick Davis
Career Status: Excellent
Trade Status: Indispensable
He has been limited by injury this year, but is still as good a kick for goal as anyone in the league. Given the trouble caused to get him here, he's not going anywhere. The real question with Davis is: will he ever have the fitness/application to become a regular midfield contributor?
3. Jarrad McVeigh
Career Status: Unknown
Trade Status: Indispensable
We've seen far too little of Jarrod to confidently judge his ability. Yes, there have been glimpses of sheer class, but there's also been Fosdike/McPherson-esque absence of presence. Still, another pre-season in the weight room and he should be a starting 18 player in Round 1 next year. He was a No. 5 draft pick and we've put the development in, so no way is he going anywhere (take not Bomber supporters).
4. Ben Mathews
Career Status: Fair
Trade Status: Valueless
Gets a bit of the ball, but mostly as soft receives in his role as backline sweeper/wingman. His disposal is infrequently damaging. Mathews is the kind of player that every team in the league has a couple of - hence he has no real trade value. Given the shallowness of our midfield he will certainly be retained this year, however, I would not be surprised if he was a candidate for delisting c.2006.
5.Ryan O'Keefe
Career Status: Good
Trade Status: Tradeable
O'Keefe has been an effective half-forward all year and compensated for Davis, Schneider and O'Loughlin, during their absences. The reason I have listed him as tradeable, is that our middle sized forwards are about the only group where we could afford to sacrifice the degree of talent needed to attract the quality midfielder we are desperate for. Still, O'Keefe is getting better all the time, and it would be dangerous to let him go while his potential is still unknown.
6. Craig Bolton
Career Status: Good
Trade Status: Undervalued
The perfect 'third tall defender' and natural run-with option for midfielder/forwards (eg. Hird, Buckley, N Brown). Bolton would never attract his worth in a trade, but is an important player in our team. His only danger is being victimised, like Saddington was, if he is forced to play on opposition key forwards in the absence of Schauble/Goodes/Barry/(yet unnamed KPP backman).
7. Josh Willoughby
Career Status: Unknown
Trade Status: Valueless
Yet to debut. First year - must be retained on the senior list.
9. Ben Fixter
Career Status: Unknown
Trade Status: Valueless
He's played 27 games in 4 years. Some may have good 'feelings' about him - and yes, he has looked hard at it when he has played - but the fact is that no-one can be certain of his abilities. He will more than likely be retained for next year - but IMO it will be his last chance.
10. Paul Williams
Career Status: Good
Trade Status: Valueless
He's a class player, but has been troubled with injury all year and is aging. I would expect that he will be keen to maximise the length of his career given prior money troubles, so he'll probably gradually move to a flank/pocket over the next couple of years. No other team is going to go after him at his age, and if he wanted to go back to Melbourne for any reason, we'd get no more than a token pick for him.
11. Stuart Maxfield
Career Status: Fair
Trade Status: Valueless
I was surprised the Swans were so quick to sign him up for another year - I thought he'd retire. Anyway, he's obviously on the downward slope now, and I'd be very surprised if he was still in the team this time next year. His saving grace is that he still hard at the ball, but he too often goes missing. Hopefully, he'll relinquish the captaincy over the summer to avoid any potentially nasty mid-season retirement.
12. Nic Fosdike
Career Status: Fair
Trade Status: Tradeable
Young and experienced, but simply not that good. As an outside midfielder he doesn't get enough of the ball, or kick enough goals. He seems to be at least known outside Sydney, which gives him more tradeability than Mathews for example (No.4 incident aside). Still, I just can't see us getting much for him.
13. Adam Schneider
Career Status: Good
Trade Status: Indispensable
A young gun and potential saviour of the midfield (hamstrings aside). He's not going anywhere.
15. Stephen Doyle
Career Status: Fair
Trade Status: Indispensable
Doyle may be struggling to find the talent he showed as a rookie, but he's a required player. Ball is 50/50 to play on next year and even if we go after a ruckman during the trade period, we need two of them. IMO Doyle needs to spend more time on the ground, but that's not likely at this time of year.
17. Tadhg Kennelly
Career Status: Good
Trade Status: Indispensable
I really thought Kennelly would be playing up on the wing by now. I'd like him closer to goal, but I guess the rebound is still essential. I doubt that he would ever be traded - he might even go home instead (although that's increasing unlikely).
18. Heath James
Career Status: Unknown
Trade Status: Valueless
18 games in 5 years. Like Ben Fixter, we just haven't seen enough of James to speak intelligently about his abilities. However, I doubt he'll ever make a backman, given that from everything I've seen of him, he can't work below his knees. It would be unpopular, (and just suggesting it will no doubt outrage some) but don't be surprised if James is delisted at the end of this year.
19. Michael O'Loughlin
Career Status: Excellent
Trade Status: Tradeable
A long-term star, who's injuries have been frustrating. Any dreams of him playing anywhere but the goal-square have long since passed. It would be absolutely ballsy to trade him, but its the same as for O'Keefe - if we have to give up quality to get quality, its a middle sized forward that must be sacrificed. As Micky is a South Australian, wouldn't any number of Ports or Adelaide's classy midfielders add more to our team than Micky? The answer is, I don't know.
20. Luke Ablett
Career Status: Poor
Trade Status: Valueless
Overall he's struggles at senior level, and even the Ablett name wouldn't attract much at the trade table. However, a couple of fair games have probably removed his head from the chopping block for this year. He'd want to improve in 2005 or he won't see 2006.
EDIT: Link to Part II - http://redandwhiteonline.com/forum/s...&threadid=6419
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