I've obviously not seen Ries for a while but he had potential there a little while back.

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I might have been wrong but I thought it was 10 years to become a Vet. that would make him eligable in 2007 . while we are trying to develop younger players signing Lance for $200k for 2006 and $400k 2007 with half going because of vet status. I am pretty sure Lance would accept that and it would be good value. Then the CFC would not have to worry about loosing him for nothing.

If it is more than 10 years then forget what I just wrote

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I see this as an advantage to us IF Hawthorn finish second last.

Hawthorn have the $$$ ($1million as reported in today's HUN)
Other than Whitnall, what other big name key forwards are coming out of contract at the end of the year?
Brown has been signed...as has Fevola...anyone else?

Ok, so we tell Lance that he either get's his contract cut in half (250K) or he finds a new home through a trade.

Hawthorn comes a knockin'...we ask for their second and third round pick in exchange for Lance.
So their first three player that they would secure in the draft would be a kid at pick 2, a kid at pick 4 and Whitnall via trade week.

They get a 25 year old ready made forward to play FF while Franklin and Roughead develop, and we get Pick 20 and Pick whatever their third rounder is.

That would give us Pick 1, Pick 3, Pick 19 and Pick 20 for our first 4 picks.

I'd take that.

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

PJ, it's not that simple. If he decides to walk (because Hawthorn have promised him 300K say) then we are right royally screwed. They don't have to trade with us, much like we didn't need to trade with Port for Stevens.

Sydney, you've also got to be turning 30 years of age in the year you go on Vets list. Also why would you pay Whitnall a backloaded contract with a 2nd year of 400K?

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"A good composer does not initiate. He steals."

- Igor Stravinsky

I think Whitnall is worth more than Picks 19 and 35.

I would pay him 300K too. What is he reportedly on at the moment? Is it 500K?

It is true 30 years of age is for the Vet's list.

But if he can get the money at Hawthorn that he can't get at Carlton, why wouldn't he go there?

Besides, do you think he would burn the club that gave him his start in AFL?

Don't bring the Nick Stevens situation into your answer for that question either. Difference there was that Port weren't willing to deal with Collingwood.

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Is it just me or does Christine in the first thread sound a little bit like Manchester City Blues!!...?

I wouldn't expect Whitnall to walk out on the blues. But you know, stranger things have happened. And you wouldn't know what his reaction will be to what is sure to be a drastically reduced contract offer.

If no-one offers much for him then keep him. You don't just give players away for pittance.

Surely he must know his contract will be slashed by half?

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I will bet my bottom dollar, Carlton will be wanting at minimum a 1st round pick for Lance. There should be no doubt about his value. Those fools at Dawk Headqtrs are smokin weed with what they're offering for him.

Remember, we have a crap midfield that cannot deliver to Fev, let alone Lance. Also, remember Lance circa 99 to 01 - his form was fantastic - WHY? because of the Rattens, Hickmotts, Campo's (inform), and Bradley's.

Good midfield that can deliver the ball to forward line accurately and fast = Firing Lance Whitnall. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE HIS REAL VALUE.

You guys can bag me if you want but really we can afford to loose Whits look at our senior list and you will see that Whits is not the prob he is just part of a really bad part of the Blues era at the moment where we have no mid 20's players and you guys want to get rid of one of the last 2 we have left with expereince.

Our Senior list is made up of

Kouta - 1 more year of contract (may be gone by 2007)
Lappin maybe 2-3 Sesons left (gone by 2007 or 2008)
Campo - Last year of contract we can afford to trade or free up our salary Cap with him
French Maybe 2-3 seasons left
Whits 26 Mid senior player
Stevo 25 Mid Senior Player

By 2007 if we retained Whits we would only have Lappin / Stevo and Stevo around maybe with French.

Cut Lance out we would only have Stevo and by 2008.

Yes we need young talent from all acounts this draft coming up is strong in the first 5 picks and then tapers off we want picks 1 and 2 and we still want to keep some experience on the list other wise we are going to wreck any young talent we get as they will have zero guidance.

Big red can be signed on for less i reckon 300K - 350K would be good and give him some responsibilty. I watched the Brisbance match yes he played better but more importnatly he was the only player i saw trying to set up the forward line unfortunately Fev was finished with his groin and i guess didnt work out so well.

But i still reckon we need Lance to stay on for the next Generation if you want to trade someone get rid of Campo back to S.A least we get rid of someone who is undisciplined and maybe Port or the crows might offer something for him.

How do you explain O`Reilly???

You just need another team to have shit for brains....

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It amazes me that people still say "if we did this", "if we played Whitnall here", "if we kicked to him properly". We've been debating "ifs" for the last four years, but the reality is he's delivered very little during this time for a variety of reasons.

We are realistically several years away from having a real shot at anything resembling a flag. At that time Whitnall will be 28 at least. I would hate to hazard a guess what shape he will be in at the age of 28 when he is being paid $250k. I'm betting it's not going to be all that great. If he hasn't been able to look after himself over the last few years when he's being paid in the $500k vicinity - why would we think he can look after himself when he is on half that?

And is it only me or does anyone else think there appears to be a HUGE coincidence with Lance's form over the last 2 weeks and Collo's announcement that we won't be looking at re-signing him until the end of the year????

Taking all this into account, it is best that we trade him at the end of this year and get as much as we can for him. The risk is we lose him in the PSD, but if we play our cards right we should be able to get something for him. And let's not kid ourselves with his value.

Spot on, M'sM.

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

I'm afraid I don't agree.

I'm with you Malleefowl, don't under estimate Lance. Adjust his contract accordingly $200 to $250 and bring in some runners (Mclean and Sylvia types) who can at least give our forwards a chance and you'll see a more effective Lance.

Put Lance in about 12 other clubs and I'm sure he would be more effective as he is at the moment. Difficult to shine when we have so many c grade players kicking the ball to him.

Can you really see Lance performing for us at the $250k mark? Taking into account that we will not be able to bring in some runners overnight. We will still have "c" grade players kicking the ball to him for a while longer, we won't be able to fix that straight away (even if we draft them this November) - so do you really really think he will perform at the $250k mark?

I honestly can't see it. I just can't.

Lance's problem is not about the delivery he is getting.

It's about his overall preparation for each season and maintaining that preparation for the season.

You could have Chris Judd, Daniel Wells and Jason Akermanis kicking the ball to him at the moment and he still wouldn't perform.

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Twitter - @johnfeeney24

PJ,

The bloke has kicked 21 goals in 12 games while playing most of the time away from the forward line. He deserves some credit for his performance in his first injury free year since 2001.

Many people forget the injuries Lance has had over the last few years.

If we can snag him for 250K-300K next year it will be a bargain.

Put him on a short contract, incentivise it with goalkicking standards and keep the boy hungry, so to speak.

Constructive criticism is good but saying Judd Wells and Aker would not help his output is outlandish.

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Trade him....!!!
He will slip....

Not up to it mentally... and certainly not a modern day footballer with a strong mind...

Has done nothing in 4 years....

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some stats on slim red:

2005: average 14.2 possies, 5.7 marks, 1.8 goals a game
2001: average 14.4 possies, 7.0 marks, 1.8 goals a game
2000: average 15.6 possies, 8.3 marks, 2.8 goals a game

whatever you say about him, abd however his average stats have been improved upon in the last 2 games, Lance is almost at 2001 form and near 2000. these performances were in a much stronger team with a stellar midfield.

i think lance is doing ok. i think he'd do much better with a stronger midfield again. i think if we get him on a hefty pay cut we'll do ok.