Rumour Speculation, Rumours, Lies Thread 2025

[Scorpus]

Rumour Summary October 1st

• Adelaide expects a decision from Christian Petracca
  3

  Christian Petracca

  Age

  29

  Ht

  187cm

  Wt

  94kg

  Pos.

  M/F

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  19.4

  5star

  K

  9.5

  4star

  HB

  9.8

  5star

  M

  3.5

  4star

  T

  3.0

  5star

  CL

  2.5

  4star

  D

  24.4

  5star

  K

  10.4

  4star

  HB

  14.0

  5star

  M

  3.5

  3star

  T

  3.6

  4star

  CL

  3.4

  4star

  D

  19.0

  5star

  K

  7.8

  3star

  HB

  11.2

  5star

  M

  3.0

  3star

  T

  3.8

  5star

  CL

  2.0

  4star

  by Saturday, according to a poster (link)
• Christian Petracca's decision between Adelaide and Gold Coast is a 50/50, according to Tom Morris (link)
• Taylor Walker will sign a one-year contract extension, according to Josh Money (link)
• Adelaide have been working on the Petracca trade for months, compared to Gold Coast who have joined the race more recently, according to a poster (link)
• Christian Petracca is meeting with Gold Coast in person (link)

Rumour Summary October 2nd

• Melbourne are open to trading Clayton Oliver
  13

  Clayton Oliver

  Age

  28

  Ht

  189cm

  Wt

  88kg

  Pos.

  Mid

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  27.8

  5star

  K

  9.5

  4star

  HB

  18.4

  5star

  M

  3.2

  3star

  T

  6.3

  5star

  CL

  6.3

  5star

  D

  25.1

  5star

  K

  11.1

  4star

  HB

  14.0

  5star

  M

  3.6

  4star

  T

  5.6

  5star

  CL

  5.9

  5star

  D

  19.2

  5star

  K

  4.6

  2star

  HB

  14.6

  5star

  M

  2.0

  3star

  T

  4.4

  5star

  CL

  3.8

  5star

  , according to Sam Edmund (link)
• Clayton Oliver expects to be told to explore his trade options, according to Tom Morris (link)

 

[dazzledavey36]

Carey was out of the game for over a year. His body was shot to pieces and he was a shadow of his former self. Gibbs was top end player in a very poor team. We got an above average season from him and then "other" factors saw him quickly fall off thr cliff.

Trac is clearly Melbourne's 2nd best player. Has single-handedly torn apart games this year, and is 29 which is well in the prime for this generation of footballer.

No he hasnt.

He has played some really good games and some shockers. Watch the last two minutes of the kings birthday game and St Kilda one where he completely loses all his composure in the heat of the moment and butchers opportunities to win those games off his own boot.

No doubt Trac had a good year and there was certainly a surprise amongst fans he finished 2nd in our best and fairest ahead of Bowey but best and fairest are usually funny anyhow.

The days of him tearing game apart were certainly not there anyhow. When I think of those games my mind takes me back to 2021-2023 where I felt that was his peak.

He still has plenty of good footy ahead of him and perhaps a fresh start may do him good but I think you could tell there were signs this year where he was a step behind the play and especially the glaring part was him pulling out of contests because of the fear of his previous injury.

I think for both parties its best to part ways. You still get a good player who will add to your midfield stocks.

 

[Slim258]

Has anyone mentioned the rachele and trac relationship? Trac is kinda a mentor of some sort?

Don’t know about a relationship as such, but I’ll try speak to my guy today to put the “Rach’s name raised in trade scenarios to bed”

 

[adelaidecrows]

Don’t know about a relationship as such, but I’ll try speak to my guy today to put the “Rach’s name raised in trade scenarios to bed”

you dont need to put something to bed that was a playstation trade. thats just giving a rumourmongering credit it doesnt deserve.

 

[spenze]

If he was to have decent breaks of 3-4 games at least twice during the season maybe his finals efforts would be better.

He will miss 3 games max and won't play a game of SANFL. Hate to say it but we needed to cut the cord

I also don't get why we should play a player who will voluntarily miss 8 games of the season, it is too disruptive to a forward line. The only way it would work was for Tex to play SANFL and come in for injury to a KPF

 

[Crows I Am]

Carey was out of the game for over a year. His body was shot to pieces and he was a shadow of his former self. Gibbs was top end player in a very poor team. We got an above average season from him and then "other" factors saw him quickly fall off thr cliff.

Trac is clearly Melbourne's 2nd best player. Has single-handedly torn apart games this year, and is 29 which is well in the prime for this generation of footballer.

I agree, Petracca is a much better player than Gibbs was when he came to us. And he has been a genuine superstar of the comp. Just have to compare their stats to see the difference, Gibbs was a good solid player, but Trac has been a gun.

 

[Huntercrow]

$400k to break his contract

Something must have gone very wrong to bail out for that coin. I know he was unhappy with the club but what could his former agent have done to push the fallout?

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Cursed. You need your top players for the top games.

Roo killed us in 2005. Otherwise we have Sydney at home in the prelim.

2006 - losing Ben Hart was massive. Then we lost our two best goal scorers in Roo/Hentschel and having a half fit Welsh/Burton as next best killed us.

Unfortunately - 2025 will go down as the year Rankine cost us.

It's not really a curse when for, two of those years, our own players' stupidity cost us. '06 was horrible luck, but the other two were self-inflicted.

 

[pjcrows]

No he hasnt.

He has played some really good games and some shockers. Watch the last two minutes of the kings birthday game and St Kilda one where he completely loses all his composure in the heat of the moment and butchers opportunities to win those games off his own boot.

No doubt Trac had a good year and there was certainly a surprise amongst fans he finished 2nd in our best and fairest ahead of Bowey but best and fairest are usually funny anyhow.

The days of him tearing game apart were certainly not there anyhow. When I think of those games my mind takes me back to 2021-2023 where I felt that was his peak.

He still has plenty of good footy ahead of him and perhaps a fresh start may do him good but I think you could tell there were signs this year where he was a step behind the play and especially the glaring part was him pulling out of contests because of the fear of his previous injury.

I think for both parties its best to part ways. You still get a good player who will add to your midfield stocks.

Excellent! So just Pick 14 for him then?

 

[Redline]

If he was to have decent breaks of 3-4 games at least twice during the season maybe his finals efforts would be better.

Tex really wanted 300 games so he was always going to play through in 2025.

With that achieved he will probably sit more games out in 2026. We really need a more dynamic forward line and we can't allow teams to use him as a way of starting run from defence.

 

[Redline]

Excellent! So just Pick 14 for him then?

It will be more than that but there is no way I would be putting next year's first on the table. That's the one Melbourne will want because the draft is stronger and I think most clubs would have us dropping down the ladder in 2026.

Alot will come down to what the salary arrangements are. I would think we have enough space to take it on, not lose anyone and still have a go at Zac Bailey and others but who knows.

 

[Slim258]

Tex really wanted 300 games so he was always going to play through in 2025.

With that achieved he will probably sit more games out in 2026. We really need a more dynamic forward line and we can't allow teams to use him as a way of starting run from defence.

Best case would 2 AFL games, a week off, 1-2 games in the SANFL, repeat.

Unfortunately, if he’s available Nicks will pick him because if he’s in and out all the time it completely changes the dynamics and make ups of our forward line.

Round 1 should be

ANB Thilthorpe Keays
Rachele Fogarty Ah Chee

With Pedlar on the bench and Dawson, Rankine and Peatling swapping through there on midfield rotations - so who misses out of that group? Probably Pedlar but, you’re going from a very fast forward line to a pretty tall one with that one change

 

[moogerfooger]

I really hope Tex calls it a day. There was a time when champions retired rather than faced playing in the reserves.

Brisbane is going to be the side we have to beat to win a flag in the next five years. I don't see Tex being able to impact against an opposition like that in 12 months time.

Make him the forwards coach, as he has been on field for the last few years. That's where his value is now.

 

[Thrillthorpe7]

It just has all the hallmarks of being an ugly ending rather than a fairytale one. The consistency of Tex's performances aren't going to get any better and he certainly was found wanting in the finals. It's not going to get any better from here.

Tex was probably our best player against Collingwood, where did this idea come that he was poor in both finals? With the way the midfield got smashed against the Hawks, it was hardly a night for key forwards to dominate.

He had a good season (23rd in the Coleman) and if it weren’t for his age, no one would be questioning his spot in the team next year.

 

[1970crow]

But he didn't, when it counted most.

Given the only opportunities he's ever been given to perform in finals, youd have to say he was one of our better players for both.

Consistency is great and if he can get that during the season then awesome, but I think his finals performance gave us a glimpse of the true competitor inside, especially considering it was his first taste of it.

He's one I'm keeping 100 percent.

Pedlar had 4 possessions in the Hawks game. Wasn’t near being passable.

 

[radiojake]

Yeah Melbourne is amazing...
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecr...t/news-story/d7aca39fff631365e6594085d4f8b860

That car passed me on Swantson St (I was driving the tram) as it turned left into Bourke St Mall

Was a surprise as you don't really get cars down Swanston St

Atleast they held down the horn to let the pedestrians know it was running the red light in a no car thoroughfare

 

[UcantCme]

Tex was probably our best player against Collingwood, where did this idea come that he was poor in both finals? With the way the midfield got smashed against the Hawks, it was hardly a night for key forwards to dominate.

He had a good season (23rd in the Coleman) and if it weren’t for his age, no one would be questioning his spot in the team next year.

View attachment 2441690

My concern is - will this be another situation when a champion plays one year to long and it because an awkward selection issue that needs to be managed

Yes, Tex had a good year and I don’t worry about round 1 Tex, I worry about round 15 Tex, round 23 Tex and finals Tex.

If we do get Petracca and AhChee - this allows us to be more dynamic ahead of the ball. No doubt in my mind - the longer the season went the more suspect our 3 KPF structure become. Two KPF with the likes of Rachelle, ANB, Rankine, Pedlar, Achee, Dawson and Petracca roaming forward is the right mix for me.

This could become very awkward next year

 

[CROUCH #2]

I personally feel we will have to give up a player & 14 for Trac if it happens but it wont be anyone we drafted in the top 10 surely.

Taylor with a small extension might be a sign of a tactical move as steak knifes? Thoughts

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

He will miss 3 games max and won't play a game of SANFL. Hate to say it but we needed to cut the cord

I also don't get why we should play a player who will voluntarily miss 8 games of the season, it is too disruptive to a forward line. The only way it would work was for Tex to play SANFL and come in for injury to a KPF

Spot on

"Tex will get strategic rests. He won't play every game."

Wait... isn't continuity your One Commandment?

 

[croweater 41]

Anyone got the ability to read?

Just Pedlar or what trade radio and others were pushing with Rash, Pedlar and picks?

 

[pjcrows]

That's The Advertiser noticing how many clicks the Trade Radio tweet generated, and piggy backing off it for their own clicks.

That's all the trade period is, until the last day.

 

[UcantCme]

Spot on

"Tex will get strategic rests. He won't play every game."

Wait... isn't continuity your One Commandment?

I don’t trust this - this was the narrative this year and I think we over-played him

 

[Jibroni]

Excellent! So just Pick 14 for him then?

Have you ever watched The Castle?

 

[pjcrows]

Have you ever watched The Castle?

Rissoles, love.

 

[Elder van Berlo]

croweater 41

Nothing really new.

Melbourne want GC involved because they have better picks.

GC want Petracca.

Crows deal could involve 14 + future. Tense negotiations ahead - trade off between taking on salary vs trade capital

Petracca’s intentions to become clearer by the end of the week.

Pedlar interested in more midfield opportunity.

Crows have not shown interest in trading Pedlar or Butts and would try to do deal with picks only.

 

[jbanger]

Anyone got the ability to read?

Just Pedlar or what trade radio and others were pushing with Rash, Pedlar and picks?

Might just be something in this. Aren't Peds & Kozzie old school mates?