Recruiting AFL Trade & Free Agency XIII

[Lore]

Spoiler: 2025 Draft Order

Spoiler: 2026 Draft Order

Spoiler: 2027 Draft Order

 

[Duckworth]

he's going to cost Hawks more now regardless.

When he joins us will he change his name to Weddl?

 

[Tazdog]

Another thing to consider:
Hawks offered us 9 and Hustwaite. We said **** off. We ended up drafting 2 of the best mids in the draft and with the pick 9 they originally offered- drafted perhaps the pick of the bunch. Glad we stuck to our guns and ended up getting 3 great midfield prospects with high potential instead of a vfl merchant. This is so un-essendon and I love it

 

[Vindicater]

Reckon Merrett and his manager will spend most of the year sussing out as many options as possible for this off-season.

Langford and Wright are also ones I think could look at options for leaving, particularly if some of the younger guys come along quickly.

Wright uncontracted. Langford one more year so can't see then gaining us much however.

 

[Duckworth]

Reckon Merrett and his manager will spend most of the year sussing out as many options as possible for this off-season.

Langford and Wright are also ones I think could look at options for leaving, particularly if some of the younger guys come along quickly.

Wright uncontracted. Langford one more year so can't see then gaining us much however.

Wright 2027 as well, I think.

 

[Vindicater]

Wright 2027 as well, I think.

Yep. My bad. Either way likely not getting us much if he asks to leave.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Merrett for Weedle straight swap imo, just get it done and get him out of here.

Hopefully the horks have an underwhelming year and realise they need another good player

 

[Cup_o_Jobe]

Merrett for Weedle straight swap imo, just get it done and get him out of here.

Hopefully the horks have an underwhelming year and realise they need another good player

The sweetest outcome would be we finish 10th, they finish 7th, we play the wildcard round and beat them to steal their finals spot despite a clearly inferior H&A season. Merrett BOG with 40 and 3. The melts would result in a Chernobyl style elephant's foot over on the Hawks board.

 

[jdstorm]

The sweetest outcome would be we finish 10th, they finish 7th, we play the wildcard round and beat them to steal their finals spot despite a clearly inferior H&A season. Merrett BOG with 40 and 3. The melts would result in a Chernobyl style elephant's foot over on the Hawks board.

Sweetest outcome would be we make a jump into the top 4 (every year a bottom 6 team does it why not us) and win the flag

Hawks miss the 8

 

[JayJ20]

According to Twomey, we're chasing Jed Walter. Logical target given GC's surplus of KPPs.
I'm less interested in chasing Ben King

34

Ben King

Age

25

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.5

4star

T

0.5

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

given our age demographic.

 

[ghostdog]

According to Twomey, we're chasing Jed Walter. Logical target given GC's surplus of KPPs.
I'm less interested in chasing Ben King given our age demographic.

Walter FF and May HF, Caddy 3rd tall / high half makes so much sense to me.

 

[eDPS]

According to Twomey, we're chasing Jed Walter. Logical target given GC's surplus of KPPs.
I'm less interested in chasing Ben King given our age demographic.

King is 25, perfect age demographic really.

 

[JayJ20]

King is 25, perfect age demographic really.

He is 26 next year and turns 27 mid 2027. I cannot see us properly contend until at least 2030-2031 if we stick to building through the draft and gradually trading in players. King would be 30-31 by then.

Walter on the other hand is the same age as Caddy. Depending on how Walter performs this year of course.

King has also already done an ACL, which is always a risk factor for re-injuring an ACL. I'd rather not spend significant capital on him.

 

[jdstorm]

King is 25, perfect age demographic really.

Don’t see why Gold Coast Would let him go. Walter Reed and king feels like one tall too many so it seems they are moving on from the least important one to them while trying to recycle some value

 

[Call Me Cake]

I cannot see us properly contend until at least 2030-2031

Lmao.

 

[JayJ20]

Lmao.

So you think we can win a flag and or play in a grand final before 2030? I'd like that, but I don't think it's realistic.

We can hope to be playing finals by 2028-2029, but I don't think it's realistic to expect flags and grand finals before 2030.

 

[Keystone agony]

So you think we can win a flag and or play in a grand final before 2030? I'd like that, but I don't think it's realistic.

We can hope to be playing finals by 2028-2029, but I don't think it's realistic to expect flags and grand finals before 2030.

Its pretty hard to expect flags and grand finals tbh. Im talking for any side, no one can know

Id say most teams now just aim for top 4 and say that will put us in a position if everythings going well to go all the way

I think right now wed hope to be thinking of the above before the start of the next decade comes around, not much before. 2028 at the earliest when maybe Zerrett is still going ok, and maybe Langford is still able to use his smarts as a 3rd tall type out of the square. Then really if weve drafted well from draft 2023 onwards then it should be in amongst that top 6 for a bit of time

 

[ghostdog]

He is 26 next year and turns 27 mid 2027. I cannot see us properly contend until at least 2030-2031 if we stick to building through the draft and gradually trading in players. King would be 30-31 by then.

Walter on the other hand is the same age as Caddy. Depending on how Walter performs this year of course.

King has also already done an ACL, which is always a risk factor for re-injuring an ACL. I'd rather not spend significant capital on him.

King is also their first choice KPF and they're now in a premiership window. They won't let him go and he won't want to. Why would he?

 

[Vindicater]

I wonder if Merretts head could get turned by Gold Coast? He seems close with Petracca and they are in the window for his final few years at elite level.

Could a deal around Merrett for Walter work for both teams?

 

[King Patty]

Sounds like Butters - only interested in Dogs or Geelong. (Think Butters to Dogs and Cats might get Walsh)

We would need to show some success (finals) to change his mind IMO.

If we win a final, would Merrett stay? I think he would. If we miss finals I think he requests a trade again.

Bailey likely off to SA, possibly Crows.

Humphrey likely off to Melbourne - given they just drafted his best mate.


Pat Voss a free agent, Freo would want to lock him away early, and close his social media accounts.

I would be keen on Toby Greene

4

Toby Greene

Age

32

Ht

182cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

12.5

5star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.2

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

2.3

5star

D

26.6

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

14.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.0

1star

for a year or two as a free agent to play with Huss and Kako.

Make up for us losing Stringer and Laverde to Giants. Let Greene play in front of big crowds last couple years of his career.

Nick Vlastuin

1

Nick Vlastuin

Age

31

Ht

187cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.2

4star

K

9.6

4star

HB

6.6

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.7

4star

MG

269.3

4star

D

13.3

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

4.3

3star

M

4.9

5star

T

1.8

3star

MG

257.6

4star

D

20.2

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

8.8

5star

M

7.4

5star

T

2.8

5star

free agent, might be handy, depending how our defence is going, may not be required at all. have some good youth back there - Reid, Roberts, Johnson, Clarke etc plus MCGrath, Ridley, McKay

 

[Keystone agony]

Sounds like Butters - only interested in Dogs or Geelong. (Think Butters to Dogs and Cats might get Walsh)

We would need to show some success (finals) to change his mind IMO.

If we win a final, would Merrett stay? I think he would. If we miss finals I think he requests a trade again.

Bailey likely off to SA, possibly Crows.

Humphrey likely off to Melbourne - given they just drafted his best mate.


Pat Voss a free agent, Freo would want to lock him away early, and close his social media accounts.

I would be keen on Toby Greene for a year or two as a free agent to play with Huss and Kako.

Make up for us losing Stringer and Laverde to Giants. Let Greene play in front of big crowds last couple years of his career.

Nick Vlastuin free agent, might be handy, depending how our defence is going, may not be required at all. have some good youth back there - Reid, Roberts, Johnson, Clarke etc plus MCGrath, Ridley, McKay

Alot to play out

Where have you heard Zac Bailey to SA?

Humphrey imo under contract is going to cost a bomb and as much as hes looks pretty good hes yet to produce consistently but that may come this year

Big offers to:
Zak Butters (Seems dogs bound)
Zac Bailey
Sam Switkowski
Ben King
Mitch Lewis
Justin Mcirney

Should be the main targets

No doubt we end up with
L.Sholl
Bailey Scott


Edit: Cal seems less convicned Bailey was certain to stay than he did a few weeks/months ago

I think we should probably be upping this offer to 1.6-1.8 a year (if we have bulk cap room) and front end the deal. Id assume we have huge cap space in the near future. Pay Bailey 6 mill over years 1 and 2. Then 900k, years 3-6

 

[The Dustbin]

Teenager Cillian Bourke to become first Offaly footballer to make AFL move with Essendon deal imminent

Cillian Bourke is set to become the latest GAA player to sign a professional AFL contract with an imminent move to Essendon.

www.independent.ie

Offaly and Tullamore face up to likely departure of star emerging footballer to Australia

Bourke is the type of footballer Offaly has been crying out for

www.offalyexpress.ie

 

[Snake Charmer]

That’s awesome news.. absolutely no reason not to have both cat B spots filled at all times

 

[Snake Charmer]

Well we have a list spot now. Wonder if we train a few on over summer or save it for the MSD

 

[Donflicted]

Well we have a list spot now. Wonder if we train a few on over summer or save it for the MSD

Noah Hibbons please

 

[jdstorm]

Well we have a list spot now. Wonder if we train a few on over summer or save it for the MSD

Given years past we’ll bring in a few people for a train on spot and pick one if someone pops. Usually someone does.

Most likely a mid season spot will free up via injury or delisting an expiring player if there’s someone like in the draft/have a need