Consider Trading Billings

[damienc]

This footy club is facing some pretty stark choices. None of them particularly good.

The current playing group is not getting the job done. In fact compared to last year we have gone backwards by a long way.

Why? Is the 64 million dollar question. We looked promising at the end of 2017 and now we are dog tucker.

I wish I knew what was going on. The players look like they are going through the motions. Play like they don't really believe in what they are being told to do. That's how it looks to me.

We could and should have a big clean out at the end of this season. We've been linked to Hannebery, Lycett and Gaff and probably some others we don't know about.

We've been criticised by Malthouse and Roos for chasing Hannebery. Personally I couldn't care less what either of them think. They have never been friends of this footy club.

Our draft position is not strong enough for us to be a serious player. So we are going to have to give up something that has currency to improve our lot.

The only player that I see that might give us that currency is Billings. Some may disagree but IMO Billings is never going to be the player we want and need him to be. It's a big call but that is what I think.

He wins a lot of possessions but he is not hard enough at the contest, he is not influential, he is not a playmaker and he is not a great kick for goal. Putting him on the trading table might get us closer to what we truly need.

We probably also need a new coach but that is another story in another thread.

[Saintmatt]

Maybe. But I tend to think Billings is the silk that we'll one day need.

My comparison is with Shaun Higgins. Ok player at the Dogs but has really flourished at North. I can't for the life of me think he wouldn't be the player he is now under Bevo - he's always been a very clever player who perhaps just needed a new voice and ideas. So back to Billings ...

No - he's not Bont. Never will be. If we drafted him to be a jet of a mid then, not for the first time - we got that horribly wrong. He's a silky half forward/half back - perhaps pinch hitting in the midfield. But he's not a full time jet of a mid in the mould of Bont, Shiel, Treloar, Pendles, Kelly (or any other A Grader for that matter).

So - if we're not going to give him a new voice (i.e. retain Richo and his monotone drivel and 1 dimensional 'pressure' game plan) then by all means - trade him and try and steal an early 1st rounder for him. Or - if we plan to change direction and get a new voice and a whole heap of much needed new ideas and methods - stick with Billings and back the new crew to use him to his strengths .

[bigcarl]

No. He’ll be a superstar at Essendon, slotting them from everywhere and taunting us for the next decade.

What we need is a coaching set up that gets the most out of the talent that Billings has.

That Gresham has, that Acres, Clark, etc have.

[thejiggingsaint]

No. He’ll be a superstar at Essendon, slotting them from everywhere and taunting us for the next decade.

What we need is a coaching set up that gets the most out of the talent that Billings has.

That Gresham has, that Acres, Clark, etc have.

Spot ON!

[derby Street]

And what - use the pick we get on someone like Tom Lee, Adam Saad, Millera (Terry variety)

[Cairnsman]

Aren't we looking to bolster the list?

Get him some support and watch him get off the chain.

Getting our hands on talent is one of the biggest challenges the club faces and unless we can think of names that are GETTABLE then why would we even discuss getting rid of a number 3 DP with so much upside in a team that has greater depth.

What is plan B if getting a Dan Hannebery type fails. Who do you target after the elite options fail?

[thejiggingsaint]

And what - use the pick we get on someone like Tom Lee, Adam Saad, Millera (Terry variety)

+1

[thejiggingsaint]

Aren't we looking to bolster the list?

Get him some support and watch him get off the chain.

Getting our hands on talent is one of the biggest challenges the club faces and unless we can think of names that are GETTABLE then why would we even discuss getting rid of a number 3 DP with so much upside in a team that has greater depth.

What is plan B if getting a Dan Hannebery type fails. Who do you target after the elite options fail?

Fair comment there Colleague

[saintbob]

No. He’ll be a superstar at Essendon, slotting them from everywhere and taunting us for the next decade.

What we need is a coaching set up that gets the most out of the talent that Billings has.

That Gresham has, that Acres, Clark, etc have.

Spot ON!

Absolutely spot on

[dragit]

We probably also need a new coach but that is another story in another thread.

The two are intrinsically linked…

Billings had 11 disposals and 2 goals in the first quarter on Friday playing on a wing, the guy was on fire… so what do our coaching panel do?

Move him deep forward.

The thing we lack the most on the list is what Billings has - class, poise, vision and elite ball use.

Lunacy even thinking of trading him, we only have a handful of potentially elite players… how about we keep them instead?

[thejiggingsaint]

We probably also need a new coach but that is another story in another thread.

The two are intrinsically linked…

Billings had 11 disposals and 2 goals in the first quarter on Friday playing on a wing, the guy was on fire… so what do our coaching panel do?

Move him deep forward.

The thing we lack the most on the list is what Billings has - class, poise, vision and elite ball use.

Lunacy even thinking of trading him, we only have a handful of potentially elite players… how about we keep them instead?

Hear Hear!

[saintsRrising]

Trade Billings. We would get way unders. I am sure than many clubs will be circling like vultures to make most of the players on our list who can be good players but who are under-performing. However virtually all these clubs will be looking for bargain buys.

Yes we could trade him out for bugga all, but why?

What we should do is play him where we make the most of his ability to set up play, and if you look you will find that even in this shitty season that he has been one of our best at this.

He should be played further up the ground as this is where he has played a lot of his best football.

Against the Dons he was starring untill good ole Richo moved him forward.

Think back over the last few seasons and you will realise that a lot of better games have been when his playing across the middle or even hb.

The other thing that the club should do is have Billings take most of our kick-ins. We struggle to get the ball out and Billings would help with hat.


Lastly we have way, way, way too many poor kicks. Yes Billings shots on goals have not been good, but his field kicking is way better than that dished up by many of his team mates. Watch that goalkicking improve too if we every get a decent coach that can inspire his players and have the team well structured.


TRADES

The areas that we have excess in are:
- slow inside mids
- tall forwards (Bruce, Paddy, Battle and Marshall = not all can play an so if we can get a good offer then one of Paddy or Bruce should be on the table). Mores as Members is a very good "third tall",
- rucks. We have at least one too many. If Pierce backs up with two more ok games including against Goldstein then we could possibly even trade both of Longer and Hickey if there are reasonable deals on offer.
-HBs. We keep acquiring more every season and buggered if I know why as we have too many.

[saintsRrising]

, he is not influential, he is not a playmaker

Not sure which games you have watched but take a peak at https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/tr- ... t=TT&st=GA

I am of the view that many people under-rate him because of his goalkickng.

[CURLY]

, he is not influential, he is not a playmaker

Not sure which games you have watched but take a peak at https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/tr- ... t=TT&st=GA

Billings was on fire in the first on the wing and across half back. Then he is pushed deep forward for god only knows.

[CURLY]

We probably also need a new coach but that is another story in another thread.

The two are intrinsically linked…

Billings had 11 disposals and 2 goals in the first quarter on Friday playing on a wing, the guy was on fire… so what do our coaching panel do?

Move him deep forward.

The thing we lack the most on the list is what Billings has - class, poise, vision and elite ball use.

Lunacy even thinking of trading him, we only have a handful of potentially elite players… how about we keep them instead?

Even worse is the fact it's not the team rule to give it to him by hand everytime hes around so we can use his elite footskills. Blokes like Brown Geary Armitage Marshall just refuse to hand it off.

[Spud]

No. He’ll be a superstar at Essendon, slotting them from everywhere and taunting us for the next decade.

What we need is a coaching set up that gets the most out of the talent that Billings has.

That Gresham has, that Acres, Clark, etc have.

Spot ON!

THIS!

And all that will happen is we trade him out and draft a player with half his ability, I just don’t get that. Let’s see what a new coach could do for our list. We don’t want to throw out the baby with the bath water.

[parkeysainter]

Not a chance. Would be one of the worst decisions ever.

[takeaway]

Billings is a very good player, and would be regarded as a gun if he sorted out his goal kicking. He will sort that out. Exactly the type of player we should retain because of his skills - we have too few players in that group. A good side would be getting it to him more often to use his skills. He has been very good since his game in the twos and coming into his prime. Lunacy to trade him unless he is desperate to go.

[saintadamski]

We probably also need a new coach but that is another story in another thread.

The two are intrinsically linked…

Billings had 11 disposals and 2 goals in the first quarter on Friday playing on a wing, the guy was on fire… so what do our coaching panel do?

Move him deep forward.

The thing we lack the most on the list is what Billings has - class, poise, vision and elite ball use.

Lunacy even thinking of trading him, we only have a handful of potentially elite players… how about we keep them instead?

Even worse is the fact it's not the team rule to give it to him by hand everytime hes around so we can use his elite footskills. Blokes like Brown Geary Armitage Marshall just refuse to hand it off.

Elite Foot Skills?!?!?!!
Have you actually seen him play a game over the last 3 years??? hahahahah

I think a trade for Billings is a great idea.
Great OP - soft as a wet rag, can't kick straight under pressure, and perhaps still some value at the trade table.

[Gershwin]

Certainly not an untouchable. Major reason for the team going backwards this year is him going backwards.

[takeaway]

We probably also need a new coach but that is another story in another thread.

The two are intrinsically linked…

Billings had 11 disposals and 2 goals in the first quarter on Friday playing on a wing, the guy was on fire… so what do our coaching panel do?

Move him deep forward.

The thing we lack the most on the list is what Billings has - class, poise, vision and elite ball use.

Lunacy even thinking of trading him, we only have a handful of potentially elite players… how about we keep them instead?

Even worse is the fact it's not the team rule to give it to him by hand everytime hes around so we can use his elite footskills. Blokes like Brown Geary Armitage Marshall just refuse to hand it off.

Elite Foot Skills?!?!?!!
Have you actually seen him play a game over the last 3 years??? hahahahah

I think a trade for Billings is a great idea.
Great OP - soft as a wet rag, can't kick straight under pressure, and perhaps still some value at the trade table.

For your info, Saintski, Billings is No. 15.

[derby Street]

We probably also need a new coach but that is another story in another thread.

The two are intrinsically linked…

Billings had 11 disposals and 2 goals in the first quarter on Friday playing on a wing, the guy was on fire… so what do our coaching panel do?

Move him deep forward.

The thing we lack the most on the list is what Billings has - class, poise, vision and elite ball use.

Lunacy even thinking of trading him, we only have a handful of potentially elite players… how about we keep them instead?

Even worse is the fact it's not the team rule to give it to him by hand everytime hes around so we can use his elite footskills. Blokes like Brown Geary Armitage Marshall just refuse to hand it off.

Elite Foot Skills?!?!?!!
Have you actually seen him play a game over the last 3 years??? hahahahah

I think a trade for Billings is a great idea.
Great OP - soft as a wet rag, can't kick straight under pressure, and perhaps still some value at the trade table.

So what is it? No good but he is still some value at the trade table. And yes he does have elite field kicking foot skills (except goal kicking) have you seen him play over the last 3 years????

[parkeysainter]

We probably also need a new coach but that is another story in another thread.

The two are intrinsically linked…

Billings had 11 disposals and 2 goals in the first quarter on Friday playing on a wing, the guy was on fire… so what do our coaching panel do?

Move him deep forward.

The thing we lack the most on the list is what Billings has - class, poise, vision and elite ball use.

Lunacy even thinking of trading him, we only have a handful of potentially elite players… how about we keep them instead?

Even worse is the fact it's not the team rule to give it to him by hand everytime hes around so we can use his elite footskills. Blokes like Brown Geary Armitage Marshall just refuse to hand it off.

Elite Foot Skills?!?!?!!
Have you actually seen him play a game over the last 3 years??? hahahahah

I think a trade for Billings is a great idea.
Great OP - soft as a wet rag, can't kick straight under pressure, and perhaps still some value at the trade table.

So what is it? No good but he is still some value at the trade table. And yes he does have elite field kicking foot skills (except goal kicking) have you seen him play over the last 3 years????

The bloke just posts s*** and bags out the entire club.

[st.rod]

I think Billings wouldn't say no to Essendon. But we need to get a Darcy Parish swap going.Keep him otherwise.

[saintadamski]

We probably also need a new coach but that is another story in another thread.

The two are intrinsically linked…

Billings had 11 disposals and 2 goals in the first quarter on Friday playing on a wing, the guy was on fire… so what do our coaching panel do?

Move him deep forward.

The thing we lack the most on the list is what Billings has - class, poise, vision and elite ball use.

Lunacy even thinking of trading him, we only have a handful of potentially elite players… how about we keep them instead?

Even worse is the fact it's not the team rule to give it to him by hand everytime hes around so we can use his elite footskills. Blokes like Brown Geary Armitage Marshall just refuse to hand it off.

Elite Foot Skills?!?!?!!
Have you actually seen him play a game over the last 3 years??? hahahahah

I think a trade for Billings is a great idea.
Great OP - soft as a wet rag, can't kick straight under pressure, and perhaps still some value at the trade table.

So what is it? No good but he is still some value at the trade table. And yes he does have elite field kicking foot skills (except goal kicking) have you seen him play over the last 3 years????

The bloke just posts s*** and bags out the entire club.

No mate - you post delusional rubbish about this faultless list of ours.
It's not amazing, it's mostly shite, after some of the most inept recruiting and management seen in years.

Yes...let's stick with this amazing list and see what happens. I'm sure you'll keep posting how much potential guys like Billings have with every pathetic season that rolls past.

I'll never 'bag out' guys like Long, Gresham, Ross, Membrey, Steele and a few others....because they show something on at least a semi consistent basis.

We're at the bottom of the ladder with not a leader or star in sight, a game plan that doesn't work, and a coaching group that is pathetic....YES I WILL CRITICISE IT....because unlike you, I don't stick my head in the sand thinking that guys like Billings or Newnes or whomever else, will ever take this club further.

...and as for Billings, the only reason he has value at the trade table is because of another club's view that he may have 'unrealised' potential, that would be realised if they listed him.
I personally think they would end up being sorely disappointed