Nick's Collingwood Bulletin Board

If Collingwood cannot do a deal for both Nick Stevens as well as Nathan Brown, then Luke Power must be looked at. He is one of Brisbane's uncontracted players, and he is from Melbourne.

Leigh Matthews has brought him on very well, he is a three time premiership player, and he would know how Brisbane function. They are slowly getting to a point where they have to unload at least one of their uncontracted higher profile players.

The extra salary cap benefit is not the reason that Brisbane is so good because many of their top players were very late draft picks, and they don't go after players from other clubs and offer $$$$$$$ like Carlton do, and their recruiting has been brilliant. The extra cap though has helped them keep the side together for the last three seasons.

I would like to follow that path, but if Stevens wants to play for Collingwood, and if Brown wants to come to Collingwood, or if Power is not resigned, then we must go for them! We don't get the extra allowance that they do, and we need one or two established players!

We'll see what happens! He'd be as good a pick up.

However Brisbane don't have salary cap problems. They get $600,000 more than every other team exept Sydney, and at the end of last year key players took pay cuts. Apparently they plan to do it again to stay together...Vossy said at the celebrations.

Sorry mate...you did mention that. I'm just tired.

M.I.S has struck on something!!! Wasn't aware Power was off-contract but definitely a quality player and the Club would be first-degree boneheads not to consider him v closely along with the other names well publicised. Also agree fully with her point re Brisbane; they have rec'd advantages but they have used them constructively. Fact is over the next 2 seasons, the salary cap and age will take toll on their playing group.
We must look to be active in the trade market where there is quality and good experience available. We have good youth on our list which is a good one, but we have been shown where there are holes and should be looking to remedy them.

We have to be wary of these "top guns" from other clubs. In a side like Brisbane where there are many players who are tagged or closely marked someone like a Power or a Pike can pop up and look good. When they are in a side of lesser lights they are then the main target of the defensive opposition like a Headland and without the quality around them making the play they can look very ordinary. Trading and plugging holes with acquisitions is the path we have tried many times. It has paid off in some cases ie Bucks, but there is a core of players we have now that still need time and the fact we have made it to the GF the last two years is to be applauded. The guts of what I am saying is the quick fix is not always the best option. However we must get quality if we are in the market in a serious way.