Birss To Saints For Pick 59
The first officially completed trade is Shane Birss going to the Saints and pick 59 going to the Bulldogs.
Birss was not going to get many games with the Bulldogs next season so trading him to a team where he has a chance to play is a good gesture. Pick 59 won't be that great, but as the Bulldogs could be trading away picks for Akermanis and McDougall they needed to get another pick even if it was late. But a late pick is also something they can roll the dice on, they may end up with someone who never plays a game or they may get a future star, it happens and the Bulldogs know as they took Chris Grant with the 8th last pick in 1988.
Birss played his last AFL game for the Bulldogs against the Saints and now he will be playing for them. Birss can replace another ex-Bulldog there as Stephen Powell has retired.
The Saints picked up a young player who has the experience of 51 games, it only cost them pick 59 so they should be happy with that.
Birss has averaged 12 possessions game over his career, he had his best year in 2004 with 19 possessions a game. If it wasn't for some injuries along the way he could have cemented his spot in the Bulldogs team. He gets twice as many free kicks as he gives away, is a good tackler and has some marking ability for a smaller player. Depending on what happens with delistings and trades, Birss could play a lot next season, and should be a player that has attributes that Ross Lyon is looking for.
Birss was not going to get many games with the Bulldogs next season so trading him to a team where he has a chance to play is a good gesture. Pick 59 won't be that great, but as the Bulldogs could be trading away picks for Akermanis and McDougall they needed to get another pick even if it was late. But a late pick is also something they can roll the dice on, they may end up with someone who never plays a game or they may get a future star, it happens and the Bulldogs know as they took Chris Grant with the 8th last pick in 1988.
Birss played his last AFL game for the Bulldogs against the Saints and now he will be playing for them. Birss can replace another ex-Bulldog there as Stephen Powell has retired.
The Saints picked up a young player who has the experience of 51 games, it only cost them pick 59 so they should be happy with that.
Birss has averaged 12 possessions game over his career, he had his best year in 2004 with 19 possessions a game. If it wasn't for some injuries along the way he could have cemented his spot in the Bulldogs team. He gets twice as many free kicks as he gives away, is a good tackler and has some marking ability for a smaller player. Depending on what happens with delistings and trades, Birss could play a lot next season, and should be a player that has attributes that Ross Lyon is looking for.
