Always miss someone! Another very strong option as long as he keeps forward. So much Zach Merrett in him but more goal sense already. Think he can be a huge scorer. Parker, Warner and Mills are pretty serious impediments to the best possible role, also Papley and Rowbottom (don't rate him though but he's hard at least).
Serious option though.
To be fair, Brodie has always been one of those "if they play him in position" guys, was a stud at GC when played mid but given they paid Freo to take him there was clearly some personal issues involved with his spot at the club.
There will be several of the Brodie types this year most likely. This year it was Brodie, Caldwell (kind of), Lipinski, Hewett, CCJ, Chol, Clark, and Stengle at new clubs, not all success stories albeit I think that Brodie, Caldwell, Lipinski, Hewett, Clark and Stengle were in enough sides to at least suggest they were chances and the others were the lower options anyway. 2021 had Hind, RAtkins, Zilliams, Daniher, Corr, Brouch, Hinge, Markov, Hogan, Wright, Preuss (kind of this year also), Caldwell (vice versa), Young, Saad, Hickey, Witherden, Stephenson and Phillips among a few others. Again, not all success stories but all had narratives at the very least.
This year we're likely to have several guys, perhaps a more high end group with the GWS guys, Grundy and Jackson all possible but there will be a few fringe guys who head to new clubs for bigger roles that will present value plays.
We're also at the point where the other "obvious" pathway to value starts to show it's face. Guys like Warner, Himmelberg, Redman, Coleman, Atkins, Berry, Rozee and the types who've had positive role changes that look likely to stick or at least watching for in the preseason. That's where the Dale, Ziebell, Rioli, Coleman, Cumming, Blakey and similar have come from the past couple of years.
Then there's perhaps the worst but also easiest group of the lot which is the injury crew. They've got the obvious problem of bad injury history but they've also generally got the good point of strong scoring history. Whitfield, Rich, Hopper, Graham, Bruce, English, De Goey, Greene (never really got back from the preseason), Preuss, Zorko, Grundy, Day, Duursma, Yeo, Fyfe, Thomas, Callaghan, McGovern (yep!), Wingard (one last ride on the death coaster?), Marshall, Lukosius, Salem, Danger (if FWD especially), Lycett, Billings, Hayes (x2 really), Stringer, Hickey, Zilliams, Chapman, Dusty, NicNat and Hall all potential options to varying degrees of value.
Hard to really go him either, maybe if Dunkley leaves then his value increases but he's pretty much mirroring the scoring trends of everyone not named Gary Ablett Jr, you just can't sustain that level of scoring for 5+ years and the fade starts to set in a bit at that point, his finish to the season is seriously concerning as a starting option next year. Albeit, you can equally make the value case. He's always reminded me of Pendles and the career path for SC scoring is eerily similar.
Actually think next year is going to be a very interesting year. Can see a very clear two paths between those who back in the Sicily, Stewart and Sinclair trio down back and those who take it on, can see that being a very bi-polar decision. There could be a very similar situation in the forwards if the likes of Bont, Smith, Dunkley and Marshall all get FWD status.
Rucks also looking very interesting from the get go. Value options aplenty, Gawn without Jackson possibly? Grundy at a new club? Marshall potentially alone. Whether North (moving on from Goldy), Geelong (getting a ruckman), Adelaide (cash in ROB and/or upgrade), Brisbane (legit #1 ruck), Carlton (genuine #1), Essendon (Draper 1-out or upgrade Draper completely), GWS (go all in, although Preuss is very solid when on-field), Hawthorn (#1 type), Port (#1 type) or Sydney (genuine #1 who can stay on the park) decide to do something about their ruck weakness could really change the whole landscape. You've got the likes of Flynn, Meek, Sweet, Cameron, Jackson and Ladhams who've all flashed #1 potential at times at least. Then you've got the Grundy, NicNat, ROB and Darcy types who at least conceivably could be on a trade table depending what their clubs decide on other options/rebuild/salary cap scenarios.
And then you get to the mids