Originally Posted by
bloodspirit
Yep, good points TB. Still, I think the cupboard is not as bare as you're suggesting. We do have other midfield prospects:
* Hopefully Stephens can develop to be inside and outside, like Florent has done.
* Could Blakey become a midfielder? (I know your personal views on this.) I don't really see it but he's going to be somewhere between the midfield and forward. I don't see him as a defender. But then again, why not? He's got height and the perfect tools for rebounding (speed and an excellent kick). Maybe he could become a defender?? I guess he would have to become a much more accountable defender, learn to read the ball better in flight and be more composed and reliable with the ball in hand.
* Bell is useful depth but not looking like best 22 material.
* Sheather is a work in progress but looking ok at this point.
* Heeney could be moved to spending more time on ball (maybe a bit like Petracca) - would help if Hayward can consolidate some improvement to free us from needing Heeney forward.
* Campbell and Gulden are midfield prospects and Campbell brings speed, like Warner, Florent and Stephens.
Still, makes it obvious why we have re-signed JPK and moved Mills to the midfield at last. Also strengthens the case for retaining Hewett - but Hewett deserves to be more than a depth player. I don't know if Adelaide would be into Hewett - but they should be. So, for that matter, should Port. Their midfield shallowness was exposed by the Bulldogs.
All in all, after thinking on the page, I think we're ok in our midfield. We will draft at least one more prospective midfielder in and we've still got JPK and the youth will continue to develop. We could still trade a mid in if the right prospect crops up. I keep thinking that with their depth, one of the Demons or Bulldogs must be ready to spill someone of quality.
***
Also, returning to the KPPs, I just realised that as things stand Gold Coast have both Jack Lukosius and Ben King coming out of contract at the end of next season (just when our cap space opens up big time). I reckon one of them might be gettable because the Suns are going to struggle to hold on to all the numerous high draft picks they have on their list (Rowell, Anderson, Lukosius, King, Rankine, Flanders, Sharp, Ainsworth, Bowes, Powell, Hollands, Budarick, McLennan etc. etc.). And I reckon Lukosius is a better fit for us, not least because I think he's more likely to be willing to come to Sydney than King. So, if that's what we think might be a good direction to invest our $$, I hope we're speaking to his management now.
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