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View Full Version : End of the line for big Dogs? Bevo won't say



bornadog
24-08-2017, 02:59 PM
link (http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-24/end-of-the-line-for-big-dogs-bevo-wont-say)

http://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/Forwards-Future-Unclear-AFL.jpg

FORWARDS Travis Cloke and Stewart Crameri may have played their last games for the Western Bulldogs, with Luke Beveridge unable to guarantee the duo's future at the club.

Cloke, who has battled mental health problems and form slumps this season, isn't a definite starter against Hawthorn on Friday night due to soreness and a six-day break.

The 30-year-old has kicked 11 goals from 10 matches this season since crossing from Collingwood on a two-year deal at the end of 2016, and could possibly join Robert Murphy and Matthew Boyd in retirement.

Crameri, out of contract at season's end, defected from Essendon to Whitten Oval on a four-year deal at the end of 2013.

A hip injury has restricted the 29-year-old to just two games this season, while his 2016 season was wiped out by the year-long ban for his part in the Essendon supplements scandal.

With the Bulldogs likely to become the first premier since Hawthorn in 2009 to miss finals the following year, Beveridge was unable to guarantee the high-profile pair would be wearing red, white and blue next season.

(Travis is) contracted, so we'd assume (he'd play on)," Beveridge said on Thursday.

"We're working through all of that decision making at the moment, and Stewart is one of the players that is uncontracted, but there is ongoing talks with his management and other (players').

"We don't want to delist or exit a lot of players, we want to make sure we make good decisions around what's available in the upcoming draft.

"There's a bit of water to go under the bridge as far as processing list management stuff between now and (list lodgements).

"There's too much up in the air."

While Cloke and Crameri's future is uncertain, veteran Dale Morris is almost certain to play on into a 14th season.

The coach believes the durable defender has more to offer to a young Bulldogs backline that will be without Murphy and Matthew Boyd in 2018.

Another area Beveridge will need to address is his side's inability to score from an abundance of inside 50s this season.

The Dogs sit fourth in the AFL in forward forays with 1,154 at an average of 55 per game, but have been plagued by inefficiency in attack, and are clear last when it comes to goal accuracy (42.8).

The premiership coach once again acknowledged the glaring deficiency and said improvement would be sought from outside the club.

The Dogs are likely to have a top-ten pick for the first time since the 2014 NAB AFL Draft, and that could be used to attract some more class from another team to compliment the club's array of inside midfielders.

"(We'll look trade and free agency), but there'll be some organic improvement within the club," Beveridge said.

"Our efficiency, skill, and decision making hasn't been where we'd like it to be, and that's linked to things other than just raw skill.

"It's running capacity, opposition pressure and so many other things, so we've trained that and (must) deal with it better.

"It's still a significant work in progress."

bulldogsthru&thru
24-08-2017, 03:17 PM
"attract some more class from another team"?

I like the sound of that.

ledge
24-08-2017, 04:17 PM
Mmm someone's on the radar obviously.

bulldogsthru&thru
24-08-2017, 04:24 PM
Must be. If this is correct and Redpath is potentially looking to sign elsewhere. Surely we have something in mind. Otherwise that's Red, Cloke and Crameri all gone. We would have no power forward. Especially with Boyds mental wellbeing and if rumours are true we're looking to deal Stringer....

Tom Lynch anyone? (The Gold Coast version)

bulldogtragic
24-08-2017, 04:34 PM
I'd have the GCS captain in a heart beat, but it'd be against the odds with him having a contract next year and Peter Wright until 2019. I wonder if the label covers Paddy McCartin, also contracted? Jack Gunston, also contracted?

EasternWest
24-08-2017, 04:35 PM
Must be. If this is correct and Redpath is potentially looking to sign elsewhere. Surely we have something in mind. Otherwise that's Red, Cloke and Crameri all gone. We would have no power forward. Especially with Boyds mental wellbeing and if rumours are true we're looking to deal Stringer....

Tom Lynch anyone? (The Gold Coast version)

Tom Lynch is a pipedream. I'm down.

bornadog
24-08-2017, 04:36 PM
Must be. If this is correct and Redpath is potentially looking to sign elsewhere. Surely we have something in mind. Otherwise that's Red, Cloke and Crameri all gone. We would have no power forward. Especially with Boyds mental wellbeing and if rumours are true we're looking to deal Stringer....

Tom Lynch anyone? (The Gold Coast version)

I doubt we will lose Stringer, that is just media buffoons making things up. Tom Lynch is contracted till end of next year.

We need Tom Boyd back at FF, and get a new second ruck.

bulldogtragic
24-08-2017, 04:39 PM
I doubt we will lose Stringer, that is just media buffoons making things up. Tom Lynch is contracted till end of next year.

We need Tom Boyd back at FF, and get a new second ruck.

Eric Hipwood is out of contract. 202cm.

bornadog
24-08-2017, 04:44 PM
Eric Hipwood is out of contract. 202cm.

A very impressive kid

bulldogtragic
24-08-2017, 04:46 PM
A very impressive kid

Absolutely, I started looking into lists of uncontracted talented KPFs and couldn't believe he was uncontracted. I can't believe he's not sealed away yet. Interesting...

bulldogsthru&thru
24-08-2017, 04:48 PM
Hipwood is interesting. I had no idea either.

Academy selection though. How have they not signed him yet

bulldogtragic
24-08-2017, 04:57 PM
Hipwood is interesting. I had no idea either.

Academy selection though. How have they not signed him yet

Delete reference. The site I was using seems to have missed an extension of his. However, he might still be tempted.

bulldogsthru&thru
24-08-2017, 05:08 PM
Delete reference. The site I was using seems to have missed an extension of his. However, he might still be tempted.

Sounds unlikely

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/brisbane/the-next-buddy-brisbanes-eric-hipwood-wants-to-be-a-lion-for-life/news-story/4b1137110febdc7753b1f32ca173ffc4

anfo27
24-08-2017, 05:16 PM
Great news Moz will go again!

bulldogtragic
24-08-2017, 05:38 PM
Sounds unlikely

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/brisbane/the-next-buddy-brisbanes-eric-hipwood-wants-to-be-a-lion-for-life/news-story/4b1137110febdc7753b1f32ca173ffc4

Then it's going to surprising who it actually is. I don't see any obvious candidates.

merantau
24-08-2017, 05:39 PM
Hip Wood is a very good player. Booming kick and for a bloke 202cm he's no one trick pony.

bulldogsthru&thru
24-08-2017, 05:46 PM
Then it's going to surprising who it actually is. I don't see any obvious candidates.

We might be disappointed....Shoenmakers? Menzel? Motlop? Not big forwards though but if we're losing potentially 3 forwards we must have a couple in mind. I know Darcy Moore has been floated around but I can't see it happening.

KT31
24-08-2017, 05:48 PM
We might be disappointed....Shoenmakers? Menzel? Motlop? Not big forwards though but if we're losing potentially 3 forwards we must have a couple in mind. I know Darcy Moore has been floated around but I can't see it happening.

Darcy Moore, yes please.
Eddie never let it happen though.

bulldogtragic
24-08-2017, 05:51 PM
We might be disappointed....Shoenmakers? Menzel? Motlop? Not big forwards though but if we're losing potentially 3 forwards we must have a couple in mind. I know Darcy Moore has been floated around but I can't see it happening.

I assume, or my reading if it is the inference from the article is the Top 10 pick will be used to being in the class player. A KPF. But as we seem to be agreeing, there doesn't seem an obvious candidate right now.

I hope it's not the above, or Tippett (under most circumstances). Unless the player wants out of a contract, because all the good ones have one.

Rocket Science
24-08-2017, 06:03 PM
Trying to lure Hipwood from up there is akin to them trying to lure The Bont.

Bullies
28-08-2017, 03:25 PM
if they have watched Shoenmakers on Friday night and during the year there is no way we would take him. Motlop as a smart small forward who knows where the sticks are.