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

[Gazzathegoat]

Stengle to Carlton is the only way I see the Curnow deal getting done. Would certainly take that deal over Mannagh going.

It goes against our list management strategy to trade a contracted player but I think the situation we find ourselves in is a bit different to previous years. When someone like Curnow publicly states he wants to get to Geelong, and Mackie publicly states a willingness to do a deal, then you've got a fairly unique scenario in play. If Mackie states publicly that they want Curnow then you can guarantee 100% that the club (including C Scott) see that as a big win and will have a way to make that improve our side. Otherwise they would have already killed off the chat.

In a perfect world (dreamtime) - Curnow to Geelong for Stengle, Stevens and a future 2nd / Marshall to Geelong for our first rounder plus Clohesy

Does trading Stengle for Curnow make us a better team?

A forward line of Curnow, Cameron, Neale, and Dangerfield is too top-heavy.

Even if Danger comes off the bench and plays a limited role next year.

Small forwards are crucial to the modern-day game with high transition footy.

We need to prioritise getting Marshall and Worpel.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Stengle to Carlton is the only way I see the Curnow deal getting done. Would certainly take that deal over Mannagh going.

It goes against our list management strategy to trade a contracted player but I think the situation we find ourselves in is a bit different to previous years. When someone like Curnow publicly states he wants to get to Geelong, and Mackie publicly states a willingness to do a deal, then you've got a fairly unique scenario in play. If Mackie states publicly that they want Curnow then you can guarantee 100% that the club (including C Scott) see that as a big win and will have a way to make that improve our side. Otherwise they would have already killed off the chat.

In a perfect world (dreamtime) - Curnow to Geelong for Stengle, Stevens and a future 2nd / Marshall to Geelong for our first rounder plus Clohesy

The chat will be killed off once we talk to Carlton and they wont meet our value-same as Oliver last year.
You will also find they will want a first rounder and stengle for curnow minimum it wouldn't be a straight swap.
St kilda wont want Stevens or clohesy with the other players they have coming.

 

[Warhorse]

Geez Blues going to want more than Close Knevitt and future 1st

1st round, future 1st and stengle might not be enough.

 

[FootyLad0]

General Question for Cats fans:

If we had to trade ONE current best 22 player to obtain a good draft pick, either for a trade or for bringing in a young talent, who would be the best bang-for-buck player?

In terms of maximum currency with minimal impact on our structure and game style?

Stengle would probably have most currency that wouldn't affect our structure too much if we are bringing in other talent.
Love Tyson and as much as it hurts to say it, his best and worst can be a monumental difference.

To bring in a talented player in a position of need for a talented player in a position of surplus is never a bad thing.
We have Mellor coming through as NGA as well so another talented youngster to forward line stocks that losing Stengle wouldn't be catastrophic.

I'd say Clark would be easier to offload but he wouldn't have the currency to get a high enough pick to justify it and anyone else we wouldn't want to offload them.

 

[Grimoz]

Can anyone explain why we'd want to trade Stengle?

Been fairly ordinary since 22 and we could get a recent 2 time coleman winner

 

[Hinkley29]

Can anyone explain why we'd want to trade Stengle?

The only plausible reason would be that we have depth in quality small forwards.

I tend to operate from the opposite view point. I would prefer to add to your strength and make it unstoppable rather than trade from your strength to try and patch up a weakness.

 

[Jumping Jack]

Can anyone explain why we'd want to trade Stengle?

That's not the question being asked.

The question is if we had no choice but to put a "best 22" player up to get deals done for Curnow AND Marshall then who would it be. I don't think anyone is suggesting we just do a fire sale on Stengle to get him out the door. If Geelong want to bring in players to fix gaps on the list then unfortunately trading a contracted player might be the only way.

 

[Cat Pummins]

I don't like the idea of Curnow, not only getting a deal done but how he would even fit in our best 22?

Maybe I need to go and look at some YouTube highlights of him at his peak, but in my mind our forward line is not the issue. We need midfielders and a ruckman.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

The kids need a decent stint in the gym like the one many had post 06 final , Holmes , Dempsey Clark need more significant size but it won’t happen

I dunno, Dempsey is getting bigger every year and shirking contract less and less. Holmes too. Clark i dunno

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Jack Martin is too old and has poor injury history to have the trade value.

Yeah, but the conditions were good pick for a best 23 player. So good pick please

 

[cats_09]

Stengle would probably have most currency that wouldn't affect our structure.

I'd say Clark would be easier to offload but he wouldn't have the currency to get a high enough pick to justify it and anyone else we wouldn't want to offload them.

How exactly does losing our best small forward not effect our structure? Stengle's ratings this year within the Geelong team are:

• 1.42 goals per game, 3rd
• 3.04 tackles per game, 8th
• 1.62 tackles inside 50, 1st; he also ranks 5th in the league from those who've played a minimum 5 games
• 1 goal assist per game, 3rd
• 6.33 score involvements per game, 8th
• 1.62 marks inside 50 per game, 3rd and ahead of Dangerfield

Losing Stengle would have a big impact on our structure as the likes of Close, Mannagh & Miers aren't your traditional goal kicking small forwards, especially with the latter two playing further up the field

 

[MisterMarcus]

I dunno, Dempsey is getting bigger every year and shirking contract less and less. Holmes too. Clark i dunno

Do I remember rightly in reading that Clark hasn't yet had a full pre-season (due to lingering injuries and other setbacks)?

There's plenty of positives if he can just get some clear air to build the body to match his game style

 

[cats_09]

Been fairly ordinary since 22 and we could get a recent 2 time coleman winner

He was actually pretty good this season - the following is taken from my post last week regarding Stengle's season and updated to reflect his after the grand final

In 2022 he was averaging:

• 14.4 disposals
• 3.3 marks
• 2.6 tackles, of which 0.9 were inside forward 50
• 2.1 goals & 0.5 goal assists, totalling 2.6 goals contributed per game

In 2025 he's averaged

• 12.4 disposals (so down a little)
• 3 marks
• 3 tackles, with 1.6 inside forward 50
• 1.4 goals & 1 goal assist, totally 2.4 goals contributed per game

His impact has been there this season, just in a slightly different way to previous years

 

[fpm84]

I don't like the idea of Curnow, not only getting a deal done but how he would even fit in our best 22?

Maybe I need to go and look at some YouTube highlights of him at his peak, but in my mind our forward line is not the issue. We need midfielders and a ruckman.

Yes, this. Our forward line is arguably the best in the comp, we don't need Curnow the way a team like Pies/Swans need a star forward.

We need a ruck and more midfielders. The forward line and backline are already set.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Do I remember rightly in reading that Clark hasn't yet had a full pre-season (due to lingering injuries and other setbacks)?

There's plenty of positives if he can just get some clear air to build the body to match his game style

I think he had most of a preseason last year but I think that was the first time he came close.

Clohesy came onto the list with the same build at time of draft and look at him now.

 

[D BRIDGE]

General Question for Cats fans:

If we had to trade ONE current best 22 player to obtain a good draft pick, either for a trade or for bringing in a young talent, who would be the best bang-for-buck player?

In terms of maximum currency with minimal impact on our structure and game style?

You playing with fire here lol.

Imo, one of the forwards.
Close, Stengle, Henry, Neale, Mannagh… and maybe SDK but obviously losing a small would hurt less.

Each have different values so none of them would get the same return.

If we have all those guys + a fit Charlie Curnow lined up against a wall and you gotta pick one… I reckon I’d take Curnow every time without fail.

You dont nearly win 3x Coleman’s in a row if you aint a gun.

 

[Interdimensional Bigfoot]

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Yes, this. Our forward line is arguably the best in the comp, we don't need Curnow the way a team like Pies/Swans need a star forward.

We need a ruck and more midfielders. The forward line and backline are already set.

I would much rather try build a midfield that wins contest, finds space, and elects to not kick it to Harris Andrews, than go all in on Curnow beating Andrews.

 

[Jumping Jack]

Things won't stay the same with our list and nor can they. As the saying goes, if you stand still you fall behind - absolutely true from an AFL perspective as we know. There will be changes to our list composition and also changes to the roles played by those on our list as compared to this season.

Shannon Neale is 203cm. If Geelong were lucky enough to trade for Curnow I would not be surprised to see Neale develop more as a ruck / forward. His height / mobility and running attributes are all weapons. If the 5 interchange bench comes in (and sub rule is gone) there seems to be a popular view that clubs will move more to a 2 ruck set-up. Marshall and Neale might become a pretty good combination punch if that's the case (assuming we get Marshall). Even without Curnow coming to Geelong I can see that combination working well. Still leaves Blicavs to deploy where needed, and I agree that we'll start to see him played more in defence from next season.

I could see this working well and would much prefer to see Neale develop his ruck craft than throw SDK in there.

 

[Mad_Hatter]

View attachment 2440895

I'd love to do it, can't see it happening though unless he again asked to be traded to the Cats AND king is happy to see him go.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

General Question for Cats fans:

If we had to trade ONE current best 22 player to obtain a good draft pick, either for a trade or for bringing in a young talent, who would be the best bang-for-buck player?

In terms of maximum currency with minimal impact on our structure and game style?

For Curnow specifically it'd have to be Neale. It would be a like for like and 0 impact on our structure and game style.

 

[Commando]

Can anyone explain why we'd want to trade Stengle?

We don't want to
We're looking for currency

I'd trade Stengle before SDK

 

[Jumping Jack]

For Curnow specifically it'd have to be Neale. It would be a like for like and 0 impact on our structure and game style.

I think we're all just guessing at the minute and the Curnow talk might get closed down by Carlton really quickly.

The other thing in play with this is the talk about unrest at Carlton and a few fractured relationships going back to around the time McKay had some time out from the game. Not sure how much to believe but where there's smoke there's fire, and Curnow's name kept coming up.

Carlton might be talking tough but if you've got a player like Curnow coming out publicly saying he wants out, and to a specific club, then I think there's clearly something going on. Whilst Carlton won't admit it, the longer this drags on, the more likely they'll think about whether the player is better to stay or go - for all parties concerned. If it were Geelong would we be excited at the thought of Max Holmes running around next year if he came out and said publicly that he wants to leave.

 

[Phill Hendo]

The GF was disapointing after a couple of good finals wins. I felt we were exposed by a lack of inside mids, a good ruck and a 3rd marking forward. I am totally on board with getting Worpel to help with the inside, hopefully Marshall as a Chris Scott

Chris Scott

Age

49

Ht

182cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

11.2

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.2

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

2.8

5star

G

0.4

3star

style ruck. Both those look achievable. Hopefully our young mids continue to develop.

Talking about getting Curnow as a marking forward is pure fantasy and I really hope Mackie and Wells are being realistic about this.

I would love us to add JUH to our list. I dont care about his issues, I care that he can play and could fit into a forward line with both Scratch and Jez. I realise there is plenty of people who think he will be a train reck. But not everything posted on the internet, including this site, is true. Geelong seems a better fit for him the the Gold Coast or Sydney. Landing JUH seems a much more realistic project than pretending we can get Curnow, no matter how much he wants to come.

 

[MacStradbroke]

SDK a getting a lot of air time off the back of one Big Footy poster mentioning his name as a possible trade option.

I’d be bitterly disappointed if a Sam DeKoning trade was entertained. As previous posters have mentioned, we have one of the very few defenders capable of matching up on the giant forwards of the competition (Darcy, Kings, etc).

Just kept his highly promising opponent goalless in a GF drubbing too for those ready to tell the world he’s been a bust since 22.