WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says while he doesn’t expect his club to play a major role in coming days it might make a play for a tall forward.
Fresh from snapping up father-son selection Ayce Cordy (at 202cm), Eade confirmed the Bulldogs might seek some height to bolster their forward line in 2009.
When asked if the Bulldogs might be on the lookout for a key forward, the Bulldogs coach playfully replied: “Do you think we need one?”
“We’ll be asking some questions of some clubs today but whether anything comes of it, only time will tell,” he said.
Hawthorn forward Tim Boyle has been thrown into the trade talk mix and Eade said the Dogs would sound out the Hawk.
“With all tall players we’ll ask some questions. He’ll probably be one we’ll ask a question of today.”
Bulldog Farren Ray has also been the centre of much debate with the running midfielder declaring he wanted out of the club.
However his coach says he is still a required player at Whitten Oval.
“We’d certainly like to keep him,” Eade said, explaining that they would listen to what other clubs were willing to offer but if it was not acceptable they would still try to convince him to stay.
The bargaining between clubs at trade week is always a tough task and Eade said the Bulldogs would have to wait and see what their rivals would offer should Ray be determined to leave.
“It’s a bit like buying a house. You have a price but the market is going to drive that, so we’ll just have to wait and see,” he said.
Despite Eade declaring his club’s interest in acquiring a key forward he questioned the rate of activity in coming days.
“I don’t think we’ll be super active,” he said.
“And I don’t think many clubs will be, with the draft the way it is. I think it’ll be a quiet week.”
The Bulldogs coach poured cold water on the idea of his club trying to lure a ruckman to the kennel, saying Ben Hudson’s recruitment to the club last year meant his team was sufficiently stocked in the ruck department.