Rumour GFC 2025 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt 2

[Pure_Ownage]

Way too early to call Conway cooked. There are certainly fitness issues, but he's very young, and I trust our medical and fitness people. He reminds me of Damian Bourke. A real talent.

I'd be pissed if we are going to pay Worpel $600,000 p.a. The Hawks apparently weren't offering that much, and they would know.

600pa is average to middle player rate now with the cap going up i have no problems there. Draft picks are more of a problem for us than cap space (which is why we wont get Curnow) and worpel fills a need.

On Conway look hes talented but theres nothing to suggest he wont be as crocked as Simpson was. If he comes good its a bonus but you have to move on and plan that he doesnt.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

As of two weeks ago the bulldogs had agreed to all of his contract terms and from there he has not moved a muscle. We are not miles away for cash for him. I know this year would be hard but I hope today accelerates a move, even though next year is more practical.

If you mean butters port aren't trading him this year regardless of what's offered. Our best chance is next year but id love him now.

 

[AM]

600pa is average to middle player rate now with the cap going up i have no problems there. Draft picks are more of a problem for us than cap space (which is why we wont get Curnow) and worpel fills a need.

On Conway look hes talented but theres nothing to suggest he wont be as crocked as Simpson was. If he comes good its a bonus but you have to move on and plan that he doesnt.

How about the general proposition that we put a value on a player's head and offer him that amount? As apparently Hawthorn did in this instance, which was $500k. They arguably know his strengths and weaknesses better than we do. And we have players on our list who fill the same role and who are younger, one of whom we haven't seen this year.

As for Toby, he's young with huge upside. It may be his body doesn't hold up, but to categorically say he's finished and to pack him off is foolhardy. And we won't.

 

[AM]

Is he?

This is what the club said in response to his surgery - “Toby is a long-term player for us, and with this in mind, we expect his return to be in the early stages of 2026.”


What do they mean by "early stages of 2026" though - is that early in the year 2026, or early in the 2026 season because there's a difference between those two times; early 2026 would be anything in the first quarter of the year so through to March, while early in the season could take him through to May or first 10 rounds of the season

I'd love to see him back, but I wonder if they're almost better delisting Conway with the intent of picking him up via the rookie draft and all but right off 2026 to get his body right without the pressure of taking to the field

If we delist him, he'll be picked up by another club. And there'll be more than one interested.

 

[And_ROOS]

Way too early to call Conway cooked. There are certainly fitness issues, but he's very young, and I trust our medical and fitness people. He reminds me of Damian Bourke. A real talent.

I'd be pissed if we are going to pay Worpel $600,000 p.a. The Hawks apparently weren't offering that much, and they would know.

I don't trust our medical history with players. What are the odds we delist Conway, he goes elsewhere and gets fit like we have seen a few others do.

Either way Marshall deal needs to be done because Stanley was on his last legs this year and needs to only be kept for squad depth next year because our other rucks are too young and unreliable.

 

[SkittleCats]

I'd agree there's work to do. However, he's only 22 and is expected to be fit for 2026 preseason training.

He was in the group standing on the field after the game...in a moon boot and on crutches...Id be stunned if he has anything like a "full preseason".

 

[And_ROOS]

He was in the group standing on the field after the game...in a moon boot and on crutches...Id be stunned if he has anything like a "full preseason".

At this rate I would be surprised if he does one until 2029.

Is it just random back luck injuries or is this going to be one of those things where we need a good 2nd ruck because Conway will be a month to month proposition?

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Agree with Ammo on the Conway call being too soon. Still time yet.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Had a total of 14 possessions 2 marks and 3 goals for the final series. Thats 3 games. Had to compete and step up when Jezza got hurt but got owned by Andrews

Key forwards were far from the issues today.

Finals are not suited to key forwards.. Its a game for medium and smalls. Its about contested footy and then breaking the lines and working smalls and medium players into space.

Issue is we are a very poor in and under contested side and got smacked at this.. And it ripples onto our outside game.

We end up relying soley on turnovers to score, and if the opposition are not giving them easily or focusing on strangling your transition... You are in trouble.

The key to beating geelong in 2025 was to stiffle our run, because thats our only driver we have. We have run and carry players, but we lack quality in and under types.

 

[AM]

I don't trust our medical history with players. What are the odds we delist Conway, he goes elsewhere and gets fit like we have seen a few others do.

Either way Marshall deal needs to be done because Stanley was on his last legs this year and needs to only be kept for squad depth next year because our other rucks are too young and unreliable.

Agree, Marshall as a replacement for Stanley - even though the latter is contracted for 2026.

Toby requires some patience. If you can see the talent, writing him off now is foolhardy. He's only 22. Our management of players during recent times has been generally very good - even the envy of many.

 

[AM]

He was in the group standing on the field after the game...in a moon boot and on crutches...Id be stunned if he has anything like a "full preseason".

Perhaps start by not putting in quotes something I did not post. The club has not said such a thing either. Writing off someone so young and with such talent at this time is foolhardy. Which is why the club is not doing it. And they are in a position to know his rehab prospect better than those of us who are on the outside with no sports medical background. The exception being V'dubs.

 

[And_ROOS]

Agree, Marshall as a replacement for Stanley - even though the latter is contracted for 2026.

Toby requires some patience. If you can see the talent, writing him off now is foolhardy. He's only 22. Our management of players during recent times has been generally very good - even the envy of many.

Rucks don't usually hit peak til late 20s, but he needs consistent games by his mid 20s and building the tank for that happens now. He needs at least 15 consecutive games in the VFL next season or it starts to become a worry.

He is very talented, that game against Brisbane he was excellent, and they should be preparing him to breakout around the age of 25 because if you push rucks too early they end up like Sean Darcy.

 

[Lingsface]

Rucks don't usually hit peak til late 20s, but he needs consistent games by his mid 20s and building the tank for that happens now. He needs at least 15 consecutive games in the VFL next season or it starts to become a worry.

He is very talented, that game against Brisbane he was excellent, and they should be preparing him to breakout around the age of 25 because if you push rucks too early they end up like Sean Darcy.

I am confident in Mitch Edwards being a very good afl player as well.
For now though, Marshall and Blitz would be a brilliant combo and give Neale some support in contests as well.
At worst even would consider Mason Cox if we can't get Marshall.

 

[Wojcinski]

I am confident in Mitch Edwards being a very good afl player as well.
For now though, Marshall and Blitz would be a brilliant combo and give Neale some support in contests as well.
At worst even would consider Mason Cox if we can't get Marshall.

I'd rather not have Cox on the team. He is tall but he sucks and he seems like a bit of a ****wit

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Agree, he's a long shot. Reckon the Baggers ambit claim will be 2 first-rounders, one within the top 10. And possibly a player. No can do.

I'm really keen on getting Marshall if we can get him. Worpel - meh!

After today, a player like worpell needs to be high on our priority list

 

[Bartel]

Agree, Marshall as a replacement for Stanley - even though the latter is contracted for 2026.

Toby requires some patience. If you can see the talent, writing him off now is foolhardy. He's only 22. Our management of players during recent times has been generally very good - even the envy of many.

Didn't realise Stanley was contracted for next season and have just vomited a little

 

[Bartel]

After today, a player like worpell needs to be high on our priority list

Why do you think Worpel should be a high priority? I'm not having a go - genuinely wondering

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Why do you think Worpel should be a high priority? I'm not having a go - genuinely wondering

Brisbane brought the game down to a contested one and clogged up our space to transition. Once this was taken away, we got beaten badly in an arm wrestle contested slog. We have elite outside runners.. But we cant go toe to toe with a good side for inside grunt if its played that way.

Guys like worpel will improve us in this area when the game is congested and in tight, and help break things our way to open up.

 

[And_ROOS]

I am confident in Mitch Edwards being a very good afl player as well.
For now though, Marshall and Blitz would be a brilliant combo and give Neale some support in contests as well.
At worst even would consider Mason Cox if we can't get Marshall.

If you thought Stanley was bad today, boy have I got some news for you...

Cox is poor. Not good in the ruck, and not great forward. Coasts off the fact he has 2 good games a year.

If we don't get Marshall and need a ruck then I hope we push for Reeves in the Hawks ressies.

But the Marshall deal will get done, and it will be good to have a quality, consistent ruckman again.

Worpel raises the midfield floor, but not the ceiling. The following year if we get Butters that raises the ceiling.

 

[BigCat1]

Surely yesterday again proves that we need a key forward above all else. You just can’t “expect to rely” on Cameron and Danger at 33 and 36 years of age.

We literally have nothing in the reserves. Zero depth. Yesterday Blitz spent 30 mins trying to quell Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

28

Ht

200cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

.

The ruck is just not as important position. The Lions had Darcy Fort

32

Darcy Fort

Age

32

Ht

204cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.6

2star

K

5.8

2star

HB

2.9

3star

CL

2.9

4star

HO

17.8

5star

D

9.2

2star

K

6.0

2star

HB

3.2

2star

CL

3.6

4star

HO

21.2

5star

D

7.6

2star

K

5.4

2star

HB

2.2

2star

CL

2.2

4star

HO

15.6

5star

in there FFS!! Id rather look at a free Stephen May and play SDK and Blitz in there. On top of that ruck is a position we have young depth at. Albeit it hard to see ready for 2026.

For mine the sole priority is Curnow. We also need to look at what assets we could give up which sadly we don’t have a lot of. The name I keep looking at is Stengle. Extremely highly paid, still has plenty of value. Yes you would like to keep him but it’s about balancing the list.

 

[fpm84]

Surely yesterday again proves that we need a key forward above all else. You just can’t “expect to rely” on Cameron and Danger at 33 and 36 years of age.

How did you come to that conclusion? Their key forwards Morris and Gallop barely had a kick. Last year, Hipwood and Daniher were quiet in the GF.

The game was always going to come down to the midfield battle and the elite half forwards / small forwards for each team.

Unfortunately for us Holmes, Smith and Atkins were well beaten by McClug, Ashcroft and Dunkley - for the third time this season.

Charlie Cameron, Bailey, Lohmann and Rayner kicked 10 between them. Stengle, Mannagh, Miers and Close kicked 2. There’s the game.

 

[catters05]

I am confident in Mitch Edwards being a very good afl player as well.
For now though, Marshall and Blitz would be a brilliant combo and give Neale some support in contests as well.
At worst even would consider Mason Cox if we can't get Marshall.

Please no Mason Cox.

 

[MisterMarcus]

I know people have unhinged emotional outbursts when they lose a big game, but even then, talking up getting Mason Cox

46

Mason Cox

Age

34

Ht

211cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

is a bridge too far

 

[Warhorse]

We are 2 midfielders short. Pray that Clark comes on, worpel can find some form and we can turn Sdk and this years 1st and next years first into Marshall and Butters.

We need some hard working balanced midfielders.

How did you come to that conclusion? Their key forwards Morris and Gallop barely had a kick. Last year, Hipwood and Daniher were quiet in the GF.

The game was always going to come down to the midfield battle and the elite half forwards / small forwards for each team.

Unfortunately for us Holmes, Smith and Atkins were well beaten by McClug, Ashcroft and Dunkley - for the third time this season.

Charlie Cameron, Bailey, Lohmann and Rayner kicked 10 between them. Stengle, Mannagh, Miers and Close kicked 2. There’s the game.

All while Bews was sitting in the stands. Still our best lock down defender now he is gone

 

[catters05]

We are 2 midfielders short. Pray that Clark comes on, worpel can find some form and we can turn Sdk and this years 1st and next years first into Marshall and Butters.

We need some hard working balanced midfielders.


All while Bews was sitting in the stands. Still our best lock down defender now he is gone

I thought Clarke showed a lot, but he shouldn’t be trapped down in backline