Rumour GFC 2025 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt 1

[Gazza Greatness]

The club will give Conway time. Talented bigs aren't plentiful. He reminds me of Damien Bourke. Love his aggression. Just needs to stay on the park and progress his ruck craft.

I've been saying virtually from the get go AM: that Toby Conway is a 'CLONE' of the former Geelong captain in Damien Bourke, even 'in appearance', it's just uncanny how similar the two of them are, including their football and to why I've been saying that Toby will be a top 3 ruckman in the league one day, I'm sure of it, he just needs his body to hold up and as you quite rightly pointed out that "talented bigs aren't plentiful".... more like 'hens teeth' so we must give Toby plenty of time for his body to mature to the rigors of being an AFL ruckman with the Demons Max Gawn a good guideline for he was very much in that boat in the early days, so that's what I'm going by.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

That's all true, but I'd kill for a meat and potatoes, blue collar, Joel Corey style clearance midfielder right now.

Whether Knevitt ever actually develops enough to reach those heights is a seperate matter, but that's the style of player he'd be trying to emulate if he ever makes that jump.

It's up to you, but whether a player's style of game gets anyone drooling or not shouldn't really be important.

If we had a Matt Rowell, Touk Miller, Josh Dunkley, Tom Greene, Tom Liberatore, James Rowbottom, or Jack Steele in 2024, we're probably the reigning premiers right now.

None of those guys are exciting to watch, or have any traits that would make you drool over what they could become, but they're pretty important figures in a side.

Probably us more than anybody right now, when we've got Smith, Holmes, Miers, and Dempsey on the outside....we just have to get them the pill, and it's easier said than done.

That's on Knevitt, Bowes, Bruhn, & Atkins, and it remains to be seen if they can do it. Hopefully they can.

Great post KG:..... on all accounts and yeah Matty Rowell would go down very nicely thank you very much. So much so, that both Bailey Smith and Max Holmes should be offering small pay cuts for 2026 to get him into club as they will be the ones more than any that will reap the rewards.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Love to hear it, and appreciate the insight.

Do you know how serious the Mannagh injury is? More of a precaution, or something that keeps him out of the opening round(s)?

I think he will be ok for opening round in terms of body but he has missed a lot of competitive work so I reckon might be struggling to be selected by then. No inside info just a hunch based on what i have heard re prep. As always Cats will be conservative given they have nearly full list to choose from…

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Yep all in front of him. I am more hopeful than certain…but

Today for example in the final match sim I am told by my track watcher that he started in the guts…for the first 2 (or 3) half hour periods. Longest match sim so far which makes sense with practice game next week. They played A vs B for first two periods - including proper 4 on the bench so a real showcase of what they are thinking…

And Mitch was alongside Bowes and Max (Smith on the “non-Dempsey” wing) with SDK in ruck. Danger played forward the whole time (remembering Mannagh is injured) so that might not translate fully into the season but…

In the A team they also had Atkins and Bruhn on the bench. Atkins and Bowes swapped a lot (off bench and in backline)…Max and Smith rotated off wing and MF (and bench) as did Knevitt and Bruhn…

B team lead by Clarke (who played well apparantly), Closehy, Stephens, MOC etc - so a fair gap between the teams!

Stanley played mainly forward in the B team with Edwards doing most of the rucking against SDK.

Found that interesting…

Again for me it comes down to Mitch taking his chance next two weeks and then in the first couple of games next year. Like Dempsey 12 months ago who was genuinely training the house down (!!) in pre-season, it all would have been for nought if he didn’t play well in practise games (and if Rohan wasn’t injured maybe!) and then of course cemented with Round 1 game - sliding doors are real and Mitch I think is standing in front of one!

Sounds to me like knevitt is a good shot at round 1 if that is true.
And if we are considering playing Bowes and atkins rotating back I would assume that means Duncan and bews will be in the vfl (which I'm fine with).

When is mannagh due back?

 

[Turbocat]

Which club? Gc don't have the cap space (even with luko gone they brought a lot of wages in) and they are stacked for tall forwards and just signed Moyle for 4 years and they have no room for the tdk brothers.

Brisbane is more plausible because daniher is gone and omac is over 30. But they wont have much capspace and annable et al will take most of their picks this year (with the new points table). Unless they are pushing a good player like bailey or rayner etc out i cant see how they have the means to trade the de konings in.

i would think its more likely both brothers look to go to a contending victorian club if they move.

The new PVI table will shakes things up a bit. Whats Anabell going to cost them under the new rules if he is a late R1 ? Two R2 picks?

 

[Turbocat]

The club will give Conway time. Talented bigs aren't plentiful. He reminds me of Damien Bourke. Love his aggression. Just needs to stay on the park and progress his ruck craft.

Do you see similarities in his style of play? My memory is DB seemed to have a few injuries issues but he also played a lot from his 18th year.

I have been happy to be patent and have confidence in the club to make the right call on Conway , I also feel that time stays still for no one …and if he does not make a spot his own soon then another player will whether its another kid or a trade in. 1 game in 2023. 5 games in 2024 . For someone his size Id say he is on track if his body is ready we should see a bit of him n 2025

 

[CHAWKTS]

Sounds to me like knevitt is a good shot at round 1 if that is true.
And if we are considering playing Bowes and atkins rotating back I would assume that means Duncan and bews will be in the vfl (which I'm fine with).

When is mannagh due back?

Yes for bews. I didn’t ask about Duncan.

Remembering against hawks we will be down humphries and Tyson due to indigenous game so a couple extra spots. And of course it is that funny 5 qtr game so will be mixed around. I suspect we know more about round 1 team based on Essendon game (can’t remember if they rested some last year or went with best team?)

Don’t know about Mannagh. Understand he is close but being cautious. He thinks he will be ready for opening round…just wonder whether they will hold him back to get more training into him. But I am guessing

 

[Johnny Cattery]

Dempsey would be a great signing.

Big year for us contract wise.

Neale and sdk are ooc and will get interest (and need to be locked down. Y us structurally). Henry due to sign a new deal and I have a feeling clubs will come very hard at mannagh and close-we will have stacks of cap room with retirements to sign both through.
Big years for knevitt clohesy and Conway and their futures too. I'm assuming osullivan gets a standard 2 year extension from us.

I would be hoping O'Sullivan is showing enough that we lock him away for a bit longer.

 

[Pollywaffle]

We should go the extra mile for Rowell for 2 reasons
1/ we need a true Geelong ‘ranga’ consistently on the park
2/ he looks like a mini me version of Damien Bourke a true cats stalwart..

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Knev makes it for rd 1 in the opinion of for reporting

 

[And_ROOS]

We should go the extra mile for Rowell for 2 reasons
1/ we need a true Geelong ‘ranga’ consistently on the park
2/ he looks like a mini me version of Damien Bourke a true cats stalwart..
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Lots of top quality grass for him on Stanleys farm...

 

[Mr Meow]

Knev makes it for rd 1 in the opinion of for reporting

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Based on Chalk Katz mail, it would be surprising to see Mullin miss.

 

[The rabbi]

Matt Rowell looks like he could be Cameron Ling's lovechild.

 

[My Tilly]

Knev makes it for rd 1 in the opinion of for reporting

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That team looks pretty solid on paper.

The only concern for me is the back six as De Koning will be playing a fair bit ruck so perhaps O'Sullivan can find a spot on the bench?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

The new PVI table will shakes things up a bit. Whats Anabell going to cost them under the new rules if he is a late R1 ? Two R2 picks?

I haven't run the exact numbers but they wont be able to trade the r1 and match with late picks that's for sure. I expect he goes before their r1 so it will cost them the r1 or 2 decent r2s.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Yes for bews. I didn’t ask about Duncan.

Remembering against hawks we will be down humphries and Tyson due to indigenous game so a couple extra spots. And of course it is that funny 5 qtr game so will be mixed around. I suspect we know more about round 1 team based on Essendon game (can’t remember if they rested some last year or went with best team?)

Don’t know about Mannagh. Understand he is close but being cautious. He thinks he will be ready for opening round…just wonder whether they will hold him back to get more training into him. But I am guessing

Yep bews I always felt was going on as a backup and quasi coaching role (there was no point delisting more players last year with all the late picks we had) and he won't see a lot of afl. I have the same opinion re Stanley. Duncan is the interesting one as he's been a gun but has lost his pace. Do they persist or vfl oncd he gets to 300.

From memory in the prac games last year we did use close to an A team but not a full team. Will be interesting to see if we do the same again and I'd knevitt and Clark plus osullivan are in the As.

Mannagh is interesting. We have the depth to cover him early rounds if needed (but he adds so much) but it's a huge year for him contract wise I'd be surprised if he himself isn't pushing to get back for round 1.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Knev makes it for rd 1 in the opinion of for reporting

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Be surprised to see Knevitt straight in for R1 ahead of Mullin and Bowes but I guess those are the fringe guys and practice match form for them will be somewhat important.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

That team looks pretty solid on paper.

The only concern for me is the back six as De Koning will be playing a fair bit ruck so perhaps O'Sullivan can find a spot on the bench?

I doubt Stanley will be there.
I think blicavs will be FB and sdk the starting ruck. It's then a matter of if you want to use neale or blitz as the 2nd ruck or bring another tall in.

I would also personally leave Duncan put but I think the coaches will have him in at the start of the year.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I would be hoping O'Sullivan is showing enough that we lock him away for a bit longer.

Connor is better off backing himself to play a lot of afl over next 12-18 months before trying to negotiate a longer deal he will make more $ that way hence my thoughts on only 2 years now.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Even if he stinks it up this year i don't see him getting delisted. He's too versatile and they have other avenues to explore got his development.

Happy to see him go if he doesn’t progress this year. He seems on no man’s land most of the time. Not an inside mid and not an outside yet not good enough to specialize In Either. Not a fan so far.

 

[Hamingja]

Knev makes it for rd 1 in the opinion of for reporting

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What's the latest on Cam Guthrie? I don't really see him getting a gig over Bowes either. I'm not out on Knevitt though, I think he can be an AFL player long term, might be a tough ask to get in the R1 team unless we have a few injuries.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

What's the latest on Cam Guthrie? I don't really see him getting a gig over Bowes either. I'm not out on Knevitt though, I think he can be an AFL player long term, might be a tough ask to get in the R1 team unless we have a few injuries.

Cam is still on restricted training with the injury group.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

That team looks pretty solid on paper.

The only concern for me is the back six as De Koning will be playing a fair bit ruck so perhaps O'Sullivan can find a spot on the bench?

Yeah depends if Stanley is made of two or single ply this year.

But Dekoning ruck, Blitz back, and another mid in is a fairly straightforward change

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Cam is still on restricted training with the injury group.

I expect we will be able to ctrl+v this one into most updates for the year

 

[Vdubs]

In terms of physicality though for a 194cm inside mid he's only just got there.

He's a decent ground level player who is key position sized with massive endurance. Even if he's not an inside mid, surely we can do something with that combination.

Not saying he'll be our next Joel Corey, or Bont, or Cripps, but we can hope.
It did take Corey a good while to mature and blossom.