VFL 2024 Rd 3: Carlton vs Collingwood at Ikon Park

[ElwoodBlues1]

Yep.
We are chasing the same players.
What often gets overlooked is
a) How easy is it to get them? Supply vs Demand
b) How much does it cost to get them in terms of picks/players when it is
    i) Through the draft
    ii) Via trade
c) How long before they are AFL ready once we do get them.

In terms of good KPPs
Easiest way to get them is via trade, but that will cost you BIG time.
Next best way is via the draft, but you have to be proactive as it is usually years before you see if they are up to scratch. Which, in the meantime means you could miss your (next) window if you get a bad batch and are not continually drafting them.

Yep....looked at the free agents this season who are defenders who you may loosely call KP types and you are looking at Tom McDonald,Dylan Grimes, Josh Battle, Nick Haynes and Adam Tomlinson only. All are undersized for KP roles imo bar McDonald and the only one I would consider is Battle given his age and future prospects, so its slim pickings in terms of supply.

That leaves State League players or drafting suitable types in the ND....both those sources are very limited and as you say kids from the ND take plenty of time usually.
You are left with only one other method and thats developing your own from within your playing list and maybe changing a players role and position which can also take time and with no guarantee of success, plus then having to replace that player with another who can play his initial position...
We saw Geelong take the raw Ratagolea after failed attempts at being a KF and ruck then turn him into a CHB in a fairly short space of time. Lemmey could be a candidate for that treatment or even Jack Silvagni on return.....TDK of course has been mentioned in the media for a transition as a CHB but Im inclined to leave him where he is playing ok.