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

 

[Pollywaffle]

Other than a list spot and some cheap $$ What else is he taking up?

Medical room couch?

 

[Generalissimo]

Medical room couch?

Two medical room couches lined up end to end.

 

[cats_09]

 

[Matthew Jelley]

I hope we will finally see the Edwards/Conway team in tandem next season for majority of the season
If it works then the need to chase another ruck disappears
Holmes has found his spot in the middle so we need to find a dashing defender

 

[thegerman]

I hope we will finally see the Edwards/Conway team in tandem next season for majority of the season
If it works then the need to chase another ruck disappears
Holmes has found his spot in the middle so we need to find a dashing defender

Highly unlikely.

 

[Matthew Jelley]

Based on ?

Highly unlikely.

 

[thegerman]

Based on ?

His surgery. I’ve personally gone thru a similar path and it took nearly 18 months to recover, with continued loss in strength and agility. If he had an osteotomy, where the calcaneus is cut then screwed back into place after being moved towards the navicular side; he will have significant calf wastage that will take a long while to recover from.

Given he’s not a good healer, with his extensive injury list, I highly doubt availability at the very least until mid season if at all.

That would be extremely optimistic.

 

[Matthew Jelley]

Understandably so for Conway
Edwards still more hope I believe but I'll still cross fingers for both

His surgery. I’ve personally gone thru a similar path and it took nearly 18 months to recover, with continued loss in strength and agility. If he had an osteotomy, where the calcaneus is cut then screwed back into place after being moved towards the navicular side; he will have significant calf wastage that will take a long while to recover from.

Given he’s not a good healer, with his extensive injury list, I highly doubt availability at the very least until mid season if at all.

That would be extremely optimistic.

 

[Reg Hickey]

His surgery. I’ve personally gone thru a similar path and it took nearly 18 months to recover, with continued loss in strength and agility. If he had an osteotomy, where the calcaneus is cut then screwed back into place after being moved towards the navicular side; he will have significant calf wastage that will take a long while to recover from.

Given he’s not a good healer, with his extensive injury list, I highly doubt availability at the very least until mid season if at all.

That would be extremely optimistic.

Do we know he had an osteotomy? I’ve only seen very vague references to “surgery on a mid-foot injury” and expectation that he’ll be back early 2026.

His history is obviously concerning, but it sounds like we’re guessing here.

I loved hearing Max Gawn say recently that he’s been in contact with Toby to provide support, given he went through a lot of injuries early in his career as well. Before going 8x AA that is.

 

[calder_daddy]

People wanting to delist and take the risk of rookie drafting him is next level strange. No kid who plays ruck plays consistently while their body is still growing. This kid has shown he can be an elite ruckman, he still has time on his side
Look at Tom Campbell

29

Tom Campbell

Age

34

Ht

201cm

Wt

108kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.1

2star

K

4.2

2star

HB

4.8

3star

CL

1.6

4star

HO

17.0

5star

D

5.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

2.0

1star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

2.0

5star

D

7.2

2star

K

4.2

2star

HB

3.0

3star

CL

1.2

4star

HO

13.2

5star

, he’s a shocking player yet still managed 10 years on a list
If it takes Conway 10 years to come good, it will still be worth it

 

[foxdog50]

People wanting to delist and take the risk of rookie drafting him is next level strange. No kid who plays ruck plays consistently while their body is still growing. This kid has shown he can be an elite ruckman, he still has time on his side
Look at Tom Campbell, he’s a shocking player yet still managed 10 years on a list
If it takes Conway 10 years to come good, it will still be worth it

Like what you think
But
No one will pick up a player that basically won't play at all next year and pay his wage if his basically injured at a bloke his age.
I think 90% of us know the boy can play, and people say it took Max Gawn 5 or 6 years to become the player he is now. But that doesn't mean that's going to happen to Conway.
Yes you are spot on regards Campbell, but he would be on minimum chips and is insurance policy that what I would call as a 3rd party insurance on a Datsun 180 B .
Iv got alot more faith on Edwards then I do Conway.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I hope we will finally see the Edwards/Conway team in tandem next season for majority of the season
If it works then the need to chase another ruck disappears
Holmes has found his spot in the middle so we need to find a dashing defender

Edwards is at least 2 years off being ready for afl and Conway is likely cooked. Next year you will see blicavs and sdk and I hope thats enough to get us through the year.

 

[calder_daddy]

Like what you think
But
No one will pick up a player that basically won't play at all next year and pay his wage if his basically injured at a bloke his age.
I think 90% of us know the boy can play, and people say it took Max Gawn 5 or 6 years to become the player he is now. But that doesn't mean that's going to happen to Conway.
Yes you are spot on regards Campbell, but he would be on minimum chips and is insurance policy that what I would call as a 3rd party insurance on a Datsun 180 B .
Iv got alot more faith on Edwards then I do Conway.

I highly doubt Conway is on much more than a minimum chips. Plenty of other rucks have had their fair share of injuries. His for someone his size at 206+ they tend to get more. I have faith, we wouldn’t give him an extension if his body is completely stuffed

 

[cats_09]

I highly doubt Conway is on much more than a minimum chips. Plenty of other rucks have had their fair share of injuries. His for someone his size at 206+ they tend to get more. I have faith, we wouldn’t give him an extension if his body is completely stuffed

Don't forget the signed his extension in March and he was not far off training with the squad at that stage

He didn't do his most recent injury until August, and we may not know the more about the extent of the injury and surgery involved until next year

 

[foxdog50]

I highly doubt Conway is on much more than a minimum chips. Plenty of other rucks have had their fair share of injuries. His for someone his size at 206+ they tend to get more. I have faith, we wouldn’t give him an extension if his body is completely stuffed

I hope im wrong, I really do mate. But I don't think his body will let him play at the highest level

 

[thegerman]

I highly doubt Conway is on much more than a minimum chips. Plenty of other rucks have had their fair share of injuries. His for someone his size at 206+ they tend to get more. I have faith, we wouldn’t give him an extension if his body is completely stuffed

He was signed prior to this current injury though.

 

[thegerman]

Do we know he had an osteotomy? I’ve only seen very vague references to “surgery on a mid-foot injury” and expectation that he’ll be back early 2026.

His history is obviously concerning, but it sounds like we’re guessing here.

I loved hearing Max Gawn say recently that he’s been in contact with Toby to provide support, given he went through a lot of injuries early in his career as well. Before going 8x AA that is.

He’s had two stress reactions in the navicular area for the past two years. I’m unsure if the recent injury is the same foot as 2024.

The Addy reported in 24’s injury that he also had a foot injury in 23 and missed a lot of games as well.

Was sidelined in June 24 for surgery for a stress fracture to the navicular and the latest highlighted here by Ralphy, ‘to strengthen the bones around the navicular’.

Strengthening usually means locking down adjacent structures with screws and or plates. I tried a shorter timeframe option, however, to strengthen the surrounding area, it was best with an osteotomy of the calcaneus in creating more support around the navicular on the instep of the foot.

Yes we are guessing, however, when you have the same basic principles to surgery to support the navicular, there’s not many options other than that.

Given he’s had foot injuries where he’s missed most of the seasons for the past 3 seasons, I’m expecting nothing from him and if he gets up for anything, I’ll be amazed.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Gee it would be nice to have a regular boring ‘do the job’ ruckman at the cats so we could talk about other stuff.
I’d even say I would welcome back the days of Mark Blake

Mark Blake

Age

40

Ht

200cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.4

2star

K

2.5

1star

HB

6.9

4star

CL

1.7

4star

HO

19.1

5star

No current season stats available

D

7.0

2star

K

1.6

1star

HB

5.4

4star

HO

9.6

5star

.

 

[And_ROOS]

Gee it would be nice to have a regular boring ‘do the job’ ruckman at the cats so we could talk about other stuff.
I’d even say I would welcome back the days of Mark Blake.

I'd love a Trent West ruck please, as he knows how to kick the ball.

 

[Mr Meow]

He’s had two stress reactions in the navicular area for the past two years. I’m unsure if the recent injury is the same foot as 2024.

The Addy reported in 24’s injury that he also had a foot injury in 23 and missed a lot of games as well.

Was sidelined in June 24 for surgery for a stress fracture to the navicular and the latest highlighted here by Ralphy, ‘to strengthen the bones around the navicular’.

Strengthening usually means locking down adjacent structures with screws and or plates. I tried a shorter timeframe option, however, to strengthen the surrounding area, it was best with an osteotomy of the calcaneus in creating more support around the navicular on the instep of the foot.

Yes we are guessing, however, when you have the same basic principles to surgery to support the navicular, there’s not many options other than that.

Given he’s had foot injuries where he’s missed most of the seasons for the past 3 seasons, I’m expecting nothing from him and if he gets up for anything, I’ll be amazed.

When we're guessing (and we really are), no outcome is amazing or expected. So I won't be amazed no matter what happens.

 

[thegerman]

When we're guessing (and we really are), no outcome is amazing or expected. So I won't be amazed no matter what happens.

Given he’s had the same or similar injuries to his feet for the past 3 years though?

 

[Mr Meow]

Given he’s had the same or similar injuries to his feet for the past 3 years though?

Yep. You've made your stance clear a dozen times on this, and may be proven correct. But it doesn't mean much more than me saying I have a dodgy back and would be amazed if Sam Walsh ever returns to his best.

 

[dudusmaximus]

Yep. You've made your stance clear a dozen times on this, and may be proven correct. But it doesn't mean much more than me saying I have a dodgy back and would be amazed if Sam Walsh ever returns to his best.

Agree. We are not qualified and don't have access to Toby Conway's reports. thegerman can at best caution us on the potential this is a career-ending injury.

 

[Lingsface]

Yes, please. I hope we can snare him through academy late.

 

[Lingsface]

If we can get NHH, Marsh or Lindsay first pick and then Mellor with 40 that will be a huge win!