Strategy Trade and List Management Thread Part 8 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)

[_Mike_]

Opposition supporters coming to troll , you have been warned

 

[Angak]

The Bulldogs trade period (once again) reminds me of a saying that’s always stuck with me.

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

My read is that they weren’t going to trade for a defender unless they were clearly better than Buss. It seems they decided Butts wasn’t a big enough upgrade. I’m not sure I agree, but that’s likely the rationale for not going after him more aggressively.

Michael Regan also said on Trade Radio that they’re not planning to trade away future picks and might even look to bring some in. That suggests they’re positioning for something bigger, possibly a major trade next year.

 

[Golden_6]

Swans would want at least a second you’d imagine. Can he fit in our back 7?

I’d take him because he improves our bottom 6 but that’s a 3rd rounder sort of deal.

You can’t tell a player to explore his options and expect anything decent back. We’ve done the same before.

 

[BrisDog]

With Zac Jones coming into the club, I honestly think that there is little requirement for Sanders to be on the list next year. In fact I think the club knows that Sanders is gone, thus the acquisition of Zac Jones. Short term gain, but I am sure Rhylee will be a solid player at Adelaide or wherever he ends up before Tasmania. Every club needs a bloke to hand ball backwards and pass the responsibility of moving the ball forward to someone else. It actually builds your team mates decision making process and increases your own effective possession percentage at the same time.

 

[_Cerberus_]

With Zac Jones coming into the club, I honestly think that there is little requirement for Sanders to be on the list next year. In fact I think the club knows that Sanders is gone, thus the acquisition of Zac Jones. Short term gain, but I am sure Rhylee will be a solid player at Adelaide or wherever he ends up before Tasmania. Every club needs a bloke to hand ball backwards and pass the responsibility of moving the ball forward to someone else. It actually builds your team mates decision making process and increases your own effective possession percentage at the same time.

Where is the Jones talk coming from?

And why will we bring in a slow, injury prone 30 year old?

 

[Claudonious]

No problem — here’s what should be done differently, in concrete terms:

1. Actively pursue players who improve the best 22

Not just depth or “upside” types — players who would start immediately in key areas of need. That means going beyond “asking the question” and actually structuring deals that get completed.

2. Be willing to trade out to trade in

You don’t improve a list by guarding every mid-tier player. Other clubs create movement by moving pieces — we hold and hope. List spots and currency should be used, not protected.

3. Use salary cap space as leverage

If you want to compete with clubs who have more pull, you need to make offers that force decisions. That doesn’t mean reckless overs — it means being assertive instead of conservative.

4. Stop treating free agency as a waiting game

Waiting a year or two for players to “maybe” leave their clubs is not a strategy. If there’s intent to land someone, start putting pressure on well before the contract expiry.

5. Combine drafting with targeted mature additions

Drafting well is only one pillar. Every contending list uses both internal development and external recruitment. Development should complement trades — not replace them.

So if someone’s asking “what would you do differently?” — it’s simple:

Be proactive, not hopeful.
Initiate deals, don’t just monitor them.
Back your list build with meaningful additions, not depth placeholders.
And treat improvement as urgent, not optional.

That’s not rhetoric — that’s execution.

I suggest they are doing all of these things - plus many other things you have not listed. The process never guarantees an outcome, other factors are at play - many of which have been mentioned on this forum.

 

[Dogsfan1]

Where is the Jones talk coming from?

And why will we bring in a slow, injury prone 30 year old?

Lol are u Believing it

 

[MaxiBont]

Where is the Jones talk coming from?

And why will we bring in a slow, injury prone 30 year old?

From the fingertips of the one they call BigFloppa

 

[Hobdog]

Aleer gets interest, clubs go pick hunting, Dogs eye another father-son

Check out all the latest trade news from around the League

www.afl.com.au

DOGS EYE ANOTHER DARCY​

WESTERN Bulldogs father-son prospect Will Darcy is hopeful of joining brother Sam at the club as the Dogs eye another chapter to the Darcy legacy.

Will, a versatile tall, is eligible for this year's draft after a big growth spurt late in his teens, and attended this month's national Telstra AFL Draft Combine.

Older brother Sam is a superstar of the competition, father Luke a former gun ruckman and current board member of the Dogs, while Luke's dad David also played more than 130 games for the Bulldogs.

Will told AFL.com.au at the Draft Combine that he was keen to add to the family's links at Mission Whitten Oval.

"I've done a bit of the father-son Academy and that's been good fun. This year I went down there every few Wednesdays and did some light touch work, some recovery and watched some vision. It was good fun," he said.

"I've always barracked for them since I was younger so it's always been the dream club to go to with all the history."

Darcy said he had always leant on Luke and his siblings through his footy journey.

"We've always gone for kicks and [Luke] has always kicked up high balls, for me and my older and younger brothers and done a heap of that," Darcy said.
"It's been pretty good watching [Sam]. He started off a little bit slower as he grew and that's what I've expected if I ever get to a club, I know it's going to take some time.

"A lot of work gets into things like getting into the gym and being patient and he set the tone knowing you should keep working through setbacks and keep going."

The Western Bulldogs only hold picks 12 and 33 currently in this year's draft, with list manager Michael Regan saying on Friday the club would finalise its draft plans for Darcy after the trade period.
"We're working through all of our options. We need to make sure we cover ourselves through the draft, but Will is an exciting prospect, his football has some really unique and special attributes for a 198cm [prospect]," Regan told Gettable on Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio.

"The important part with Will is he has a long-term focus on his career, which we do as well. Will has had less exposure to the pathways than most players and he has a lot of developing to do, but he's a really exciting prospect in terms of what he can do on-field and a really good person off it from a good family.

"They're the things we factor in and care deeply about in terms of bringing good people in. We'll let the process play out and be in touch with Will and his family as the trade period finishes up." – Callum Twomey

Great that his growth spurt allowed him to be eligible for the draft.

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

From the fingertips of the one they call BigFloppa

Certified ITK with his elite Bramble call. We have no right to question the great one

 

[ossie_21]

When does trade period finish?

 

[_Cerberus_]

Lol are u Believing it

No, that's why I asked their source. I wasn't reading all of the last 50 pages of trade and list talk which were mostly about St Kilda and people complaining that the Dogs are not being reckless enough, or had no plans for the team.

 

[BrisDog]

No, that's why I asked their source. I wasn't reading all the last 50 pages of trade and list talk which were mostly about St Kilda and people complaining that the club isn't reckless enough, or has no plans.

My source is BigFloppa. He knows C4 pretty well, that’s what they are saying.

 

[Philthy1]

No, that's why I asked their source. I wasn't reading all the last 50 pages of trade and list talk which were mostly about St Kilda and people complaining that the Dogs are reckless enough, or had no plans for the team.

The source is the Bigfooty equivalent of Trade Radio.

It's funny tho.

 

[_Cerberus_]

My source is BigFloppa. He knows C4 pretty well, that’s what they are saying.

The source is the Bigfooty equivalent of Trade Radio.

It's funny tho.

Thank you. It all makes sense now haha.

 

[grassman75]

With Zac Jones coming into the club, I honestly think that there is little requirement for Sanders to be on the list next year. In fact I think the club knows that Sanders is gone, thus the acquisition of Zac Jones. Short term gain, but I am sure Rhylee will be a solid player at Adelaide or wherever he ends up before Tasmania. Every club needs a bloke to hand ball backwards and pass the responsibility of moving the ball forward to someone else. It actually builds your team mates decision making process and increases your own effective possession percentage at the same time.

Won Pridiss a Brownlow

 

[grassman75]

Lol are u Believing it

It’s Nahas all over again

 

[Mofra]

These are nonsense posts. Who did Collingwood pick up to win the premiership in 2023?

Mids win flags and systems that enhance your strengths and protect your weaknesses. If we do not improve how we play and utilse what we have and pick up we will not be going anywhere

The Norm Smith Medalist during the 2022 trade period. Bobby Hill.

Lipinski the year before.

 

[Mofra]

I may be on my lonesome, but I'm still a fan of Ballard from the Suns. Surplus to their needs, a real heart and soul type. Has played some ruck but I prefer him as a KPD.

Surely he's gettable too, RFA next year.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Certified ITK with his elite Bramble call. We have no right to question the great one

No that was scrag a completely different poster!

 

[The Inbetweener]

I may be on my lonesome, but I'm still a fan of Ballard from the Suns. Surplus to their needs, a real heart and soul type. Has played some ruck but I prefer him as a KPD.

Surely he's gettable too, RFA next year.

Rate him. Is he surplus to their needs though? Would be a great get.

 

[Mofra]

Rate him. Is he surplus to their needs though? Would be a great get.

Mac Andrew on a massive deal and Collins has won 2x B&Fs in recent years. I really think he would be.

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

Mac Andrew on a massive deal and Collins has won 2x B&Fs in recent years. I really think he would be.

Unless they really like Oscar Adams enough, I imagine they’d still prefer to keep Ballard. Adams was the MSD pick after Ballard did his ACL, and after about 4-5 weeks in their VFL side, he came into the seniors and played every game. Ballard would’ve been in that spot otherwise.

Maybe they’ll look to save some cap by keeping Adams instead, but Ballard definitely would’ve been playing if it weren’t for his injury

 

[Mofra]

Unless they really like Oscar Adams enough, I imagine they’d still prefer to keep Ballard. Adams was the MSD pick after Ballard did his ACL, and after about 4-5 weeks in their VFL side, he came into the seniors and played every game. Ballard would’ve been in that spot otherwise.

Maybe they’ll look to save some cap by keeping Adams instead, but Ballard definitely would’ve been playing if it weren’t for his injury

Possibly they would prefer to help him - but he'd be more 'gettable' than Wilkie at the very least, and he'd be a better chance if senior football with us than with the Suns.

He's the type we could 'sell' ourselves to well enough. He's also someone who wouldn't blow our cap or cost a first rounder.

If the faeces hit the after conditioning he could chop out in the ruck too. Seems the type his teammates would love to play with.

 

[Salad dog]

I may be on my lonesome, but I'm still a fan of Ballard from the Suns. Surplus to their needs, a real heart and soul type. Has played some ruck but I prefer him as a KPD.

Surely he's gettable too, RFA next year.

Clear best 23 for the Suns

 

[_Cerberus_]

Possibly they would prefer to help him - but he'd be more 'gettable' than Wilkie at the very least, and he'd be a better chance if senior football with us than with the Suns.

He's the type we could 'sell' ourselves to well enough. He's also someone who wouldn't blow our cap or cost a first rounder.

If the faeces hit the after conditioning he could chop out in the ruck too. Seems the type his teammates would love to play with.

How is he one on one vs the physical forwards in this league? We don't need someone who is AA level, just need someone who can more than hold their own vs the Curnows, Camerons and Thilthorpes of the game.