Recommitted Zac Bailey [OOC 2026] - name was floated for a move in 2025, stayed

[Golden_6]

But he'd literally be walking into the worst possible scenario. He could go to Essendon who would at least be finishing mid-table with the faint hope of making finals in the coming years.

Richmond might be earlier in their rebuild but if I'm a player I'm choosing to go there over Essendon who are about to have their captain walk out on them.

Essendon might be the least desirable place for a player right now in the whole competition. On and off the field.

 

[tiger_tough]

Why would he go from a premiership contender to a team who will be stuck bottom four for the next 4 years?

Hey buddy, long time no speak. Haven't heard form you since you stalked my post about Geelong on the Richmond board a couple of weeks back. Shame you couldn't come back and bump it after the GF result

As for Bailey, well I expect we'll finish bottom 4 next season, but there's next to no chance we will for 3 more years after that, only a moron would hold that opinion. Probably the same type that said we wouldn't win a game this year. Yze is on record saying we'll hit the draft again this year and start looking at trade and free agency for 2027 and beyond, so I expect us to start rising up the ladder from then on.

There's also plenty of other selling points. State of the art facilities underway, location, money, exciting youth, 100k members, big 4 club, MCG etc etc.

But he'd literally be walking into the worst possible scenario. He could go to Essendon who would at least be finishing mid-table with the faint hope of making finals in the coming years.

The same Essendon that finished 1 game above us this year and are likely about to lose their Captain and best player? As well as their best ruck is leaving, their 2nd best ruck has done an ACL. Their best defender wants out. No Nic Martin for the year. The board instability, injury management etc etc. Fair chance they will get worse, rather than better....

 

[My Tilly]

Hey buddy, long time no speak. Haven't heard form you since you stalked my post about Geelong on the Richmond board a couple of weeks back. Shame you couldn't come back and bump it after the GF result

As for Bailey, well I expect we'll finish bottom 4 next season, but there's next to no chance we will for 3 more years after that, only a moron would hold that opinion. Probably the same type that said we wouldn't win a game this year. Yze is on record saying we'll hit the draft again this year and start looking at trade and free agency for 2027 and beyond, so I expect us to start rising up the ladder from then on.

There's also plenty of other selling points. State of the art facilities underway, location, money, exciting youth, 100k members, big 4 club, MCG etc etc.


The same Essendon that finished 1 game above us this year and are likely about to lose their Captain and best player? As well as their best ruck is leaving, their 2nd best ruck has done an ACL. Their best defender wants out. No Nic Martin for the year. The board instability, injury management etc etc. Fair chance they will get worse, rather than better....

I may hit a nerve considering this response.

Sorry but when did I venture onto the Richmond board to stalk some nuffies post?
It is an automatic ban for starters and I don't even remember your username. You aren't worth my time in all honesty.
I presume you just made this up.

In regards to Bailey, again, Essendon will be playing finals much sooner than what Richmond will.
Their list is actually not too bad. It's managing to get them all remaining healthy so they can play out a season of footy.

Richmond going to be bottom four for a very, very, very long time.

 

[tiger_tough]

I may hit a nerve considering this response.

Sorry but when did I venture onto the Richmond board to stalk some nuffies post?
It is an automatic ban for starters and I don't even remember your username. You aren't worth my time in all honesty.
I presume you just made this up.

In regards to Bailey, again, Essendon will be playing finals much sooner than what Richmond will.
Their list is actually not too bad. It's managing to get them all remaining healthy so they can play out a season of footy.

Richmond going to be bottom four for a very, very, very long time.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

If any of the bottom 4 clubs are serious - they should be offering a bare minimum 7 year, 15 million contract to make Bailey even consider them.

Id shorten but frontload the **** outta the deal. If the terms put the 1st year at 3 mill then Brisbane cant match anyway

 

[mpal6]

Id shorten but frontload the **** outta the deal. If the terms put the 1st year at 3 mill then Brisbane cant match anyway

If he's going he'll have our blessing than we trying to match to keep him. You won't be in control to shorten the deal then as it'll be more like he'll name the price and a long line of clubs will be falling over each other to pay it and win him over.

That hypothetical aside, he's part of a group who were drafted and built their careers together. Rayner/McCluggage/Berry etc. Rest in that group have signed up long term. I won't be surprised if he puts his tight relationships ahead of $ and sign up this off season like the rest of them.

Our current run of success does help too and he's been a no-fuss person in past contract renewals.

 

[All_Things_SaFooty]

Can confirm he is gone end of year.
Crows or port but kore likely crom.
Source was a drunken twin brother

 

[boncer34]

Can confirm he is gone end of year.
Crows or port but kore likely crom.
Source was a drunken twin brother

Zac's twin brother?

 

[Ian Dunross]

He's just the sort of mid Crows need

 

[1990crow]

He's just the sort of mid Crows need

He's not really a mid though

 

[Chip Scab1]

What about us, surely we'd have money to pay him $2.25m, $2.25m, $875k, $875k, $775k, $775k, $750k, $750k.

My offer $9.4m over 7 years.

Don't care either way, but you gotta offer a lot and hope he uses your offer to gain a better offer from a competitor.

 

[1990crow]

What about us, surely we'd have money to pay him $2.25m, $2.25m, $875k, $875k, $775k, $775k, $750k, $750k.

My offer $9.4m over 7 years.

Don't care either way, but you gotta offer a lot and hope he uses your offer to gain a better offer from a competitor.

I imagine he'd rather stay at Brisbane for unders than go to North.

 

[Chip Scab1]

I imagine he'd rather stay at Brisbane for unders than go to North.

Probably. But why would he want to go to Adelaide? You guys are a good club, have heaps of fans, I could understand going to the Crows but why Port? They're more cooked than us, we only lost to them by a few kicks in Adelaide without a host of good kids. We'll be right whether he chooses us or not, but he'd be bloody excellent next to Curtis and Larkey.

 

[1990crow]

Probably. But why would he want to go to Adelaide? You guys are a good club, have heaps of fans, I could understand going to the Crows but why Port? They're more cooked than us, we only lost to them by a few kicks in Adelaide without a host of good kids. We'll be right whether he chooses us or not, but he'd be bloody excellent next to Curtis and Larkey.

Has family in Adelaide I think.
North needs to prove to prospective recruits they’re worth spending the best years of their career with and possibly winning a flag.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Has family in Adelaide I think.
North needs to prove to prospective recruits they’re worth spending the best years of their career with and possibly winning a flag.

Yeah got ya... He already has 2, 3 this year too probably. I am a closet Crow-fan, don't mind you campaigners.

Best of luck, if he chooses you I can see him winning one soon... however, if he came to us he could could be a $1.3-$1.5m a year nobody and every chance to win at least 1.

We're building a very decent list, sure we're young and you probably don't see it (which is fine) but we ran you pretty close in the final round and we'd be looking to emulate that from the off in 2026.

 

[1990crow]

Yeah got ya... He already has 2, 3 this year too probably. I am a closet Crow-fan, don't mind you campaigners.

Best of luck, if he chooses you I can see him winning one soon... however, if he came to us he could could be a $1.3-$1.5m a year nobody and every chance to win at least 1.

We're building a very decent list, sure we're young and you probably don't see it (which is fine) but we ran you pretty close in the final round and we'd be looking to emulate that from the off in 2026.

Not suggesting the list isn't building, but it's time to get the wins on the board. It's hard to convince players otherwise to come to you.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

He's not really a mid though

I know what you mean but if I was the crows it's exactly where i woupd play him. A great user that balances precisely what your rotation needs

 

[Chip Scab1]

Not suggesting the list isn't building, but it's time to get the wins on the board. It's hard to convince players otherwise to come to you.

They won't come to us unless they need a bump in their super.

We'll attract nobody from other clubs of note. It's ok, we probably won't need much.

We have a fair few 1st & 2nd Rounders yet to really played yet: Duursma, Goad, George, Goater, WDawson, MWhitlock, Thredgold, Mikunda, Dovaston...

 

[Ian Dunross]

He's not really a mid though

He's enough of a mid to be what the Crows need.

Besides, the days of 30+ stat padding midfielders are dying if not dead. It's about high impact possession mids who kick goals or assist goals.

He's literally the perfect modern mid, loves a goal, dynamic, can rest forward, evasive.

 

[1990crow]

He's enough of a mid to be what the Crows need.

Besides, the days of 30+ stat padding midfielders are dying if not dead. It's about high impact possession mids who kick goals or assist goals.

He's literally the perfect modern mid, loves a goal, dynamic, can rest forward, evasive.

Obviously you'd take him if he's the best on offer.
But from a crows perspective you'd be hoping Rachele, Draper and Curtin become midfielders too.

 

[blueiris]

Can confirm he is gone end of year.
Crows or port but kore likely crom.
Source was a drunken twin brother

Doubt it Very happy at the club and with Neale on the way out will stay

 

[All_Things_SaFooty]

Writing is on the wall, typically resigns in off season as per his last few contracts.
Heard it here