Rumour GFC 2025 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt 3

[cats_09]

2025 AFL Draft and Trade Dates:​

Fri Oct 3 - Fri Oct 10: 2025 Free Agency Period
Mon Oct 6 - Wed Oct 15: 2025 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period
Wed Nov 19 - Thu Nov 20: 2025 Telstra AFL Draft

 

[#6 Thorp #7 Selwood LOL]

I think the GFC should flag this with the AFL. Unfair trade practices comes under the AFL's purview. Granted, here, it cannot be proven beyond reasonable doubt. The AFL should be able to review the Club's inner deliberations. They probably do it when they suspect collusion etc.

Nah, that's weak sauce. Saints (or any other club) are under no obligation to deal with us if they don't want to. Whether that is a viable strategy long term is none of our concern.

 

[Warhorse]

I'm happy not to get curnow and Marshall. We put good offers for both of them and walked away when they wanted overs.

I'm more concerned on the lack of activity improving other parts of the list. Did we throw 3 x first round picks for any other players?

There were players available who didn't move clubs in the end that I would have grabbed.

 

[iameviljez]

I'm happy not to get curnow and Marshall. We put good offers for both of them and walked away when they wanted overs.

I'm more concerned on the lack of activity improving other parts of the list. Did we throw 3 x first round picks for any other players?

There were players available who didn't move clubs in the end that I would have grabbed.

Draper is the one I would have loved to have gotten. That said, FA moves are usually two years in the works, and I can understand why the club didn't want to give up on Conway in mid-2024.

 

[dudusmaximus]

Nah, that's weak sauce. Saints (or any other club) are under no obligation to deal with us if they don't want to. Whether that is a viable strategy long term is none of our concern.

For a market to be efficient and effective, the AFL should regulate. They probably already ensure that teams don't collude with each other to the detriment of the marketplace. Teams are obliged to do what the AFL tells them.

 

[rapidfire7]

Seems we pissed them off and then they shut up shop.
Probably just should have traded our future 1st like they wanted in the first place. Instead we refused and started telling the football world that we thought they had a salary cap squeeze.
Wells would have just done the deal I'm sure.

 

[catempire]

Not sure how anyone could watch Harris Andrews absolutely destroy us yet again and think adding an elite tall forward wouldn't help.

Because I saw Max Holmes and a brigade of others kick it to Andrews all day.

 

[catempire]

It was very important not to trade our future first or any future firsts given our greatest area of need is an elite midfielder and none were on the market this year but some may be next year.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Seems we pissed them off and then they shut up shop.
Probably just should have traded our future 1st like they wanted in the first place. Instead we refused and started telling the football world that we thought they had a salary cap squeeze.
Wells would have just done the deal I'm sure.
View attachment 2458334

They weren't doing a deal. We offered solid overs in the end but they wanted to keep him because they think he and TDK together can work and they're all in for the next few years.

 

[Mac Chappy]

We need Butters next year, get it done Cats

 

[CoolCat75]

I’m generally an optimistic supporter so here goes

In 2026 we have new recruits Worpel, Bruin and Kolo. And maybe by some medical miracle, Conway. Plus Buckley as a coach.

We have our full suite of future draft picks to target “I can’t believe it’s not Butters”. Or just draft.

Am not concerned with age drop offs of +30’s Stewart, Atkins, Jezza.

Continued improvement from the under 23s.

Possible decline in Danger, Blitz and Stanley. Danger is the interesting one as he almost won three games of his own boot when he went into cheat mode against Adelaide, Collingwood, Hawks PF.

In the last 3 years we have transitioned out of the team the following players and still remained at the pointy end : Selwood, Duncan, Hawkins, Guthrie, I.Smith, Tuohy, Rohan and Bews.

Bring on 2026 – although those two Queensland teams are going to be bloody hard to beat.

 

[dazbroncos]

I think the GFC should flag this with the AFL. Unfair trade practices comes under the AFL's purview. Granted, here, it cannot be proven beyond reasonable doubt. The AFL should be able to review the Club's inner deliberations. They probably do it when they suspect collusion etc.

Not at all. Player is contracted and St Kilda have every right to hold their player.

It’s just that they asked for more.. after 19 was rejected.. and it ended up being well over 19 and they still said no.

That’s what I’m getting at. - we surpassed request levels from them and they still declined. IMO that leaves trade values behind and introduced a “ we won’t strengthen Geelong at any price”

When you are not making valued trades in their favoured that’s the sign of a club with no conscience in their own selves.. but more worried about hamstringing others lol

Go Catters

 

[Mac Chappy]

I’m generally an optimistic supporter so here goes

In 2026 we have new recruits Worpel, Bruin and Kolo. And maybe by some medical miracle, Conway. Plus Buckley as a coach.

We have our full suite of future draft picks to target “I can’t believe it’s not Butters”. Or just draft.

Am not concerned with age drop offs of +30’s Stewart, Atkins, Jezza.

Continued improvement from the under 23s.

Possible decline in Danger, Blitz and Stanley. Danger is the interesting one as he almost won three games of his own boot when he went into cheat mode against Adelaide, Collingwood, Hawks PF.

In the last 3 years we have transitioned out of the team the following players and still remained at the pointy end : Selwood, Duncan, Hawkins, Guthrie, I.Smith, Tuohy, Rohan and Bews.

Bring on 2026 – although those two Queensland teams are going to be bloody hard to beat.

Don’t forget the two full-strength Sydney teams who just got better aswell, all the Northern teams could easily be your top 4 next year.

 

[Gee Class Loco]

My2BobsWorth
The best trade was the non trade for Marshall IMO.
No lube needed as we didn't bend over.
Would he have been nice?? Yeah he would.
Was it a desperate need? Nah far from it.
Did we want to spend another 2 picks on a ruck??.
A 1st and a 2nd rounder on a ruckman that we have already spent the last 3 years of 2nd rounders on the same position?
Conway, Edwards and Molier... not even including Pike in that group.
I thought we'd won the trade period when the icing landed on top of the cake.
That being.
Nathan FIGJAM Buckley!!!
With the inclusion of WORPEL.
The returns of KOLO & Bruhn.
The natural progression of a youngster or two.
I am very Bullish on Molier and Edwards.
Things are going OK.
Enjoy the draft week boys as we have a curve ball or two to throw.
Have a feeling we are taking a VFL player this year.
Cheers!!

 

[rapidfire7]

We need Butters next year, get it done Cats

We can hope, but I don't see how our picks will be good enough compared to others. Port will surely match and force a trade.

 

[Mac Chappy]

We can hope, but I don't see how our picks will be good enough compared to others.

They might have to bite the bullet and try to involve a player, Butters is too good to miss out on and is exactly what we need.

 

[dudusmaximus]

Not at all. Player is contracted and St Kilda have every right to hold their player.

It’s just that they asked for more.. after 19 was rejected.. and it ended up being well over 19 and they still said no.

That’s what I’m getting at. - we surpassed request levels from them and they still declined. IMO that leaves trade values behind and introduced a “ we won’t strengthen Geelong at any price”

When you are not making valued trades in their favoured that’s the sign of a club with no conscience in their own selves.. but more worried about hamstringing others lol

Go Catters

My concern is if all teams start doing that (i.e. shadow-banning Geelong). For the AFL to flourish it should ensure that unfair trade practices are regulated.

 

[Seeds]

Geelong just needs to go after free agents and uncontracted players. Stop going after contracted players. You either dont get them or pay too much. Mackie failed this trade period.

 

[Cataholic]

Not at all. Player is contracted and St Kilda have every right to hold their player.

It’s just that they asked for more.. after 19 was rejected.. and it ended up being well over 19 and they still said no.

That’s what I’m getting at. - we surpassed request levels from them and they still declined. IMO that leaves trade values behind and introduced a “ we won’t strengthen Geelong at any price”

When you are not making valued trades in their favoured that’s the sign of a club with no conscience in their own selves.. but more worried about hamstringing others lol

Go Catters

I also think was an element of clubs holding players accountable to their contracts this year, just to swing the pendulum back towards the clubs a little.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Not sure how anyone could watch Harris Andrews absolutely destroy us yet again and think adding an elite tall forward wouldn't help.

The best defense against Harris Andrews is not kicking it to him

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Elite talls can’t eat if they aren’t fed at all well

Go Catters

If Ollie Henry has a huge summer, some may be surprised… he has talent.

 

[Mr Meow]

Don’t forget the two full-strength Sydney teams who just got better aswell, all the Northern teams could easily be your top 4 next year.

We'll be top 4 again.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

I also think was an element of clubs holding players accountable to their contracts this year, just to swing the pendulum back towards the clubs a little.

I also think teams in all honesty are losing faith in the compromised draft systems and how unfair they are and would rather keep players than end up with picks.

Too much of the draft is inaccessible now and makes picks half redundant.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Merrett is a franchise level midfielder, as in he can hold up an AFL midfield entirely on his own with minimal support.
He was their captain, he is contracted for two years, at a level the Essendon is happy to hold onto.
Also Hawthorn's conduct in this chase was gross, and Merrett tried to force his way out in way that showed a lack of class.

Not all firsts are equal. Pick 1 to 3 have an expected games of around 200, by pick 20 it is closer to 80. like money in investements there is a value of having a good player now rather than having to draft and develop them and wait the 7 years for them to hit their peak. Even more now where players are inclined and have easy mechanisms to move from poor teams to good teams, if your list quality drops you risk creating a torent of players leaving one after the other, creating a positive feedback loop, resulting in you overpaying to hold onto talent.

This years picks will drift, the pick 10 will be closer to 14, the 22 closer to 28,

Hawthorn finished top 4 this and they'd be gaining a franchise level midfielder, so the 2026 first rounder would probably be rated around a pick 18-20.

The first round pick in 2027 is devalued 30% due to Tasmania's picks, more if Tasmana hit pre-list heavily. Probably turns a mid table finished into an early 20s pick.

Fair value is hard to determine but Hawthorn was trying to buy a premiership, in a direct trade would you trade three first round picks to get a 50% chance of winning a permiership?

Fully agree with this and yes to the bottom question.

Im really surprised Hawthorns cheaped out in the end and didn’t
get it done fora guy that really stuck his neck out for them.

Looks like plenty but in reality, it’s a bunch of iffy picks that maybe you’d snag 1 or at best 2 ok players with…

Thank god they did cheap out, because Merrett perfect for them.

If the Dons want revenge on the Hawks for this, they can trade Merrett to us next year for an R2

 

[PzBlinky]

My2BobsWorth
The best trade was the non trade for Marshall IMO.
No lube needed as we didn't bend over.
Would he have been nice?? Yeah he would.
Was it a desperate need? Nah far from it.
Did we want to spend another 2 picks on a ruck??.
A 1st and a 2nd rounder on a ruckman that we have already spent the last 3 years of 2nd rounders on the same position?
Conway, Edwards and Molier... not even including Pike in that group.
I thought we'd won the trade period when the icing landed on top of the cake.
That being.
Nathan FIGJAM Buckley!!!
With the inclusion of WORPEL.
The returns of KOLO & Bruhn.
The natural progression of a youngster or two.
I am very Bullish on Molier and Edwards.
Things are going OK.
Enjoy the draft week boys as we have a curve ball or two to throw.
Have a feeling we are taking a VFL player this year.
Cheers!!

Yeah, Molier and Edwards will be the ones to watch over the pre-season and the early rounds. Tipping Edwards to make his debut, barring no further injuries. Happy for Molier just to get a consistent season of VFL into him. He looked good in those last few rounds (though very raw), and him doing a Neale-like apprenticeship for a couple of years should serve him well.

 

[Cataholic]

If Ollie Henry has a huge summer, some may be surprised… he has talent.

Yes, he has talent, but he has a problem between the ears.

He can't choose when to go. He can't become invisible like he too often does.

He needs a harder edge.