Richter wrote:Agree, quite well done despite what some might say. Would really have like to get the Bruce deal done today
I disagree. IMO an *outstanding* trade period.
Essentially....
McEvoy out for Longer in - both taken around the same place in their respective drafts, Longer 4 years younger and will come in to his prime years at around the time we will expect to be rising up the ladder again. Ben a better ruckman now, Billy arguably has greater potential to be better long term.
Dal Santo out for Savage in - clear downgrade, but Dal in his twilight years and Savage potentially has his best years ahead of him, which again should coincide with the Saints resurgence in 2/3 years time. Best case scenario Savage is as good as Jason Gram was, worst case he's delisted in a couple of years.
Bruce and Delaney - 2 KPDs picked up for late picks that we wouldn't have used anyway. One likely a GOP at best (Delaney) but ready to go, the other (Bruce) has more potential, but of course younger and may not turn in to anything.
Picks #3, #24 and #41 turned in to #3, #18 and #19 - the masterstroke. Gives us 3 picks in a shallow draft that is reputed to be good for mids but to tail off after the top 20 and then fall off a cliff after #40.
-------------------
Of course, none of this assures us of anything in to the future, but we now have some reasonable cause for optimism that we can see the skeleton of a side that can propel us back in to finals contention in 3/4 years time.[/quote]
Savage will be a better player than Gram IMO. He's harder at the ball & a better kick already.