Rumour GFC 2026 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt 1

[D BRIDGE]

My early prediction is actually trading up the order to around pick 12-15 and get back something also in 30’s/40’s
Something like 19 and FR1 for
Pick 12-15 and 35

I don't mind Lindsay... If we love him I could imagine we might try to trade up a little if he slides into the teens.

In saying that, I don't know If we have an extra list spot to use and extra pick in the 30's if we get anything back.

If we do really like someone (whoever it is) and think we need to pull some moves to get up the order to snag them... It could be a chance.

 

[year of the cat]

My early prediction is actually trading up the order to around pick 12-15 and get back something also in 30’s/40’s
Something like 19 and FR1 for
Pick 12-15 and 35

To get who? Big call trading away our FF if we want to trade for Butters this time next year.

Edit: Btw, we don’t have the extra list spot so the second part of it would have to be a F2 or F3.

 

[calder_daddy]

I don't mind Lindsay... If we love him I could imagine we might try to trade up a little if he slides into the teens.

In saying that, I don't know If we have an extra list spot to use and extra pick in the 30's if we get anything back.

If we do really like someone (whoever it is) and think we need to pull some moves to get up the order to snag them... It could be a chance.

To get who? Big call trading away our FF if we want to trade for Butters this time next year.

Edit: Btw, we don’t have the extra list spot so the second part of it would have to be a F2 or F3.

I could’ve gone further into it but then we can trade our 2nd and 3rd pick to a club for points
It makes sense in my head I swear

I also firmly believe we are less than zero percent getting butters

 

[Kobe Gryant]

To get who? Big call trading away our FF if we want to trade for Butters this time next year.

Yeah, it's hard to tell who we'd like that much tbh.

In my far from expert opinion, I'd have it something like this in terms of Wells' history, and what Scott seems to value in his players.

Of those that are even vaguely realistic at our pick, and if we traded up:

Stephen Wells and Chris Scott's wet dream

• Harley Barker
• Aiden Schubert
• Jacob Farrow
• Sam Grij
• Oskar Taylor

Players with traits we tend to value, but don't feel like 'Geelong picks' (IMO)

• Jevan Phillipou
• Lachie Dovaston
• Noah Hibbins-Hargraves

Neither here nor there for various reasons

• Dyson Sharp
• Josh Lindsay
• Mitch Marsh

Chris Scott would rather be in a locked room with a group of vision impaired people than draft you with a first round pick.

• Oliver Greeves

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Yeah, it's hard to tell who we'd like that much tbh.

In my far from expert opinion, I'd have it something like this in terms of Wells' history, and what Scott seems to value in his players.

Of those that are even vaguely realistic at our pick, and if we traded up:

Stephen Wells and Chris Scott's wet dream

• Harley Barker
• Aiden Schubert
• Jacob Farrow
• Sam Grij
• Oskar Taylor

Players with traits we tend to value, but don't feel like 'Geelong picks' (IMO)

• Jevan Phillipou
• Lachie Dovaston
• Noah Hibbins-Hargraves

Neither here nor there for various reasons

• Dyson Sharp
• Josh Lindsay
• Mitch Marsh

Chris Scott would rather be in a locked room with a group of vision impaired people than draft you with a first round pick.

• Oliver Greeves

Neither here nor there on the vaccum? I reckon we won't get near him

Laugh react also clearly for the Greeves comment. I agree with it fully

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Neither here nor there on the vaccum? I reckon we won't get near him

He's a weird one. Some people have him as a #1 pick candidate, while others see him as a second rounder.

From what I can see, he's that classic low ceiling - but high floor - player that would have clearly been seen as the best player in the draft a decade ago, but with where the game has headed, coaches are falling out of love with his type.

That first possession animal who isn't great on the spread, and kicks it poorly, but never says die and just keep cracking in both offensively and defensively.

While these titles might sound good, they're also the same that have been given to Jhye Clark, Ben Hobbs, Will Phillips, and Deven Robertson in years gone by - that kiss of death "he's a certainty to play 200 games" tag.

I had him in that category as I could absolutely see us taking him if he slid, but he doesn't strike me as the type we'd trade up for IMO.

I feel he either ends up a Josh Dunkley type, which would be a great result, or he fades into obscurity a bit.

The fear though (so to speak) from some is that while that player is still great, you tend to be able to find him later in drafts.

 

[Lana]

That centre bounce ruck rule change could be a killer for us. Hurts the older ruckmen, makes it harder to pull an unathletic dinasaur from no where into the role. Not a early season concern but it hurts Conway. Might allow Edwards to be playable at a lower weight.

Competition wide teams are going to burn through ruckmen a lot quicker. You exepct to see an uptick in injuries.
The extra player on the interchange could allow for a centre bounce specialist 2nd ruckman. Might push that 3rd marking tall out of the team. With the ball no longer being bounced and the ruckmen being forced into a forward momentum, it might create an option where you don't field a ruckman at all at the centre bounce, you play a 4th midfielder. Who guards the defensive side of the stoppage since they're locked into position. The midfielders who can positon anywhere, give you heaps of flexability to create a +1 at the fall of the ball.

 

[And_ROOS]

That centre bounce ruck rule change could be a killer for us. Hurts the older ruckmen, makes it harder to pull an unathletic dinasaur from no where into the role. Not a early season concern but it hurts Conway. Might allow Edwards to be playable at a lower weight.

Competition wide teams are going to burn through ruckmen a lot quicker. You exepct to see an uptick in injuries.
The extra player on the interchange could allow for a centre bounce specialist 2nd ruckman. Might push that 3rd marking tall out of the team. With the ball no longer being bounced and the ruckmen being forced into a forward momentum, it might create an option where you don't field a ruckman at all at the centre bounce, you play a 4th midfielder. Who guards the defensive side of the stoppage since they're locked into position. The midfielders who can positon anywhere, give you heaps of flexability to create a +1 at the fall of the ball.

Shame Blicavs isn't 27 removing the nominations means we will see more non rucks go up because the umpires won't **** around waiting. Means a Blicavs who can cover the ground would get a crack at smaller, non rucks as a result.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

He's not exactly a low key player already having his own article on the front of the afl website. Would be surprised if he slips to 19.

If he had a different surname he might not get drafted. He will be there at 19.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

That centre bounce ruck rule change could be a killer for us. Hurts the older ruckmen, makes it harder to pull an unathletic dinasaur from no where into the role. Not a early season concern but it hurts Conway. Might allow Edwards to be playable at a lower weight.

Competition wide teams are going to burn through ruckmen a lot quicker. You exepct to see an uptick in injuries.
The extra player on the interchange could allow for a centre bounce specialist 2nd ruckman. Might push that 3rd marking tall out of the team. With the ball no longer being bounced and the ruckmen being forced into a forward momentum, it might create an option where you don't field a ruckman at all at the centre bounce, you play a 4th midfielder. Who guards the defensive side of the stoppage since they're locked into position. The midfielders who can positon anywhere, give you heaps of flexability to create a +1 at the fall of the ball.

Conway won't be rucking next year anyway. Sdk will be and the rule change might suit him.

 

[00VicWard001]

Conway won't be rucking next year anyway. Sdk will be and the rule change might suit him.

How do you think it would work?

So it’s pretty much like basketball at centre bounce?

And we just need to have mobile tall ruck style players in the 3 zones across the ground? We sort of have that already right? Neale in the forward zone, Stanley in the centre and SDK in the defensive, with Blicavs roaming?

 

[CatToTheFuture]

That centre bounce ruck rule change could be a killer for us. Hurts the older ruckmen, makes it harder to pull an unathletic dinasaur from no where into the role. Not a early season concern but it hurts Conway. Might allow Edwards to be playable at a lower weight.

Competition wide teams are going to burn through ruckmen a lot quicker. You exepct to see an uptick in injuries.
The extra player on the interchange could allow for a centre bounce specialist 2nd ruckman. Might push that 3rd marking tall out of the team. With the ball no longer being bounced and the ruckmen being forced into a forward momentum, it might create an option where you don't field a ruckman at all at the centre bounce, you play a 4th midfielder. Who guards the defensive side of the stoppage since they're locked into position. The midfielders who can positon anywhere, give you heaps of flexability to create a +1 at the fall of the ball.

I was just thinking it might allow us to.play Edwards at cbas but then he'd get thrown around around the ground.

 

[frggr]

People can disagree on it, it's a free country

I'm not sure about that

 

[frggr]

He had talent but you've got to wonder about his mindset.

His confidence looked completely shot by the time he finished at North. There were times he was an absolute liability.

Then he retires and decides to give it another crack 12 months later. There's no way I'd be backing him to have the mindset to do what's required of a full time footballer and then stand up in the biggest of stages.

To be fair, working at North would sap anyone's will to live

 

[And_ROOS]

He had talent but you've got to wonder about his mindset.

His confidence looked completely shot by the time he finished at North. There were times he was an absolute liability.

Then he retires and decides to give it another crack 12 months later. There's no way I'd be backing him to have the mindset to do what's required of a full time footballer and then stand up in the biggest of stages.

That Buddy Franklin kick in/goal where he completely switches off comes to mind EVERY time.

 

[Pollywaffle]

How do you think it would work?

So it’s pretty much like basketball at centre bounce?

And we just need to have mobile tall ruck style players in the 3 zones across the ground? We sort of have that already right? Neale in the forward zone, Stanley in the centre and SDK in the defensive, with Blicavs roaming?

No wrestling (and no bounce) I think you are right.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Conway won't be rucking next year anyway. Sdk will be and the rule change might suit him.

Yeah with Kolo back and SDK no longer getting bullied at CBA he actually might be good there.

Blitz can do some around the ground, Neale can do some forward. SDK can swap out with Kolo as deepest defender and Kolo can play some intercept. We could make the ruck position really unpredictable.

That unpredictability could be an advtage too in a faster game where sides with a conventional ruck set up are relying on their man to get to a contest and the umps are no longer waiting for the nominated ruck to get there. You might see something like a Knevitt ruck contest against Dunkley because no side has a big man in the area.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

How do you think it would work?

So it’s pretty much like basketball at centre bounce?

And we just need to have mobile tall ruck style players in the 3 zones across the ground? We sort of have that already right? Neale in the forward zone, Stanley in the centre and SDK in the defensive, with Blicavs roaming?

To me it sounds exactly like a basketball set up. The statement that they must contest the ball before engaging sounds like they are just vertical leaping for the tap or conceding a free. Edwards would be suited to that.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

No wrestling (and no bounce) I think you are right.

Wait they can’t wrestle?!!

That is going to look weird. Do they ballet dance around for front position??

 

[Pollywaffle]

Wait they can’t wrestle?!!

That is going to look weird. Do they ballet dance around for front position??

Not sure … I think it’s just centre ball ups

 

[D BRIDGE]

Not sure if I like the new shrug interpretation.

If you try to shrug, then you are deemed to have had prior opp.

It'll probably just take the shrug out of the game as players won't risk it after they start getting pinged, and they will just cop the tackle and create a ball-up.

It's not even the potential extra ball-up thing I don't like about it.. It's more that breaking tackles is part of the game.

I still absolutely hate the stand rule like hell!

 

[iameviljez]

Still in contention
No ruck depth
Further elite outside mid speed- not a fan of Stephenson? I know him well, and he's a forgotten talent that just might have seen the penny drop, finally. And he's a great young man.

No, not a fan of Stephenson.

given your personal connection to him I will never convince you of my viewpoint, which is fair enough. So there is really no point debating it.

Leopards can't change their spots?
Or you don't rate his talent at all?
I knew him well from 15-25, but have little knowledge of his current situation, other than what we read.

He had talent but you've got to wonder about his mindset.

His confidence looked completely shot by the time he finished at North. There were times he was an absolute liability.

Then he retires and decides to give it another crack 12 months later. There's no way I'd be backing him to have the mindset to do what's required of a full time footballer and then stand up in the biggest of stages.

Look, I'm sure that Jaidyn is a lovely young man, but he doesn't have the application/mindset to carve out a career at AFL level.

He started like a house on fire, and went backwards at not just one, but two clubs in succession. He just doesn't have that baseline drive to keep you training, working, and pushing when things get hard and you lose motivation. That's ok - professional sport isn't for everyone.

 

[bombersboy]

Look, I'm sure that Jaidyn is a lovely young man, but he doesn't have the application/mindset to carve out a career at AFL level.

He started like a house on fire, and went backwards at not just one, but two clubs in succession. He just doesn't have that baseline drive to keep you training, working, and pushing when things get hard and you lose motivation. That's ok - professional sport isn't for everyone.

Whilst not a big fan of Stephenson I think he is one of those players that needs to play in a good side. It may be worth a roll of the dice with the last rookie spot

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Whilst not a big fan of Stephenson I think he is one of those players that needs to play in a good side. It may be worth a roll of the dice with the last rookie spot

Isn’t he 27 next year and has been playing local level footy??

 

[cats_09]

Wait they can’t wrestle?!!

That is going to look weird. Do they ballet dance around for front position??

It's not so much that they can't wrestle, but rather that you can't simply run & engage your opponent to stop them jumping at the ball up:

CENTRE BALL-UP CONTESTS​

At all centre ball-ups, competing rucks will now be unable to cross the centre line before engaging with their opposition ruck. This is born from a desire to see the jumping rucks return to the game.

The AFL has said this rule would not have been possible without the end of the 'centre bounce', as opposed to the 'centre ball-up', due to the variables of which direction the ball can go from a bounce. The ball-up also gives the umpire extra time and ability to assess where the ruck is stationed when he engages his opponent.

The AFL's findings discovered that only 21 per cent of centre bounce ruck contests had at least one ruck jumping in the 2025 season. In 2023, just two years ago, that number was at 63 per cent.

There will still be an opportunity for the more physical wrestling rucks to impact the game at around-the-ground stoppages and boundary throw-ins.

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For those who want, you can read the full changes here

Watch examples of the seven rule changes that will impact 2026

www.afl.com.au