Recruiting AFL Trade & Free Agency XIII

[Lore]

Spoiler: 2025 Draft Order

Spoiler: 2026 Draft Order

Spoiler: 2027 Draft Order

 

[Milanista28]

Crows missed Trac and won't pursue Oliver, I think they should consider Shiel as a stop gap for 1 year to fill that midfield hole, they struggle winning center clearances, he's still extremely capable in this area.

 

[ghostdog]

I think Fiorini fills a more useful niche, we don't have another player other than Duursma who can play wing properly and cover the amount of ground needed. I like Lual but I think AFL depth is his ceiling as a player. Jones isn't it on a wing. With Fiorini and Duursma you can still rotate a third player like Clarke or Roberts through a wing as part of rotations so he's not directly blocking anyone from the position.

Plus Fiorini can play on-ball if we need, whereas a mature ruckman can play in the ruck and that's about it, so a Fiorini has about 8-10 players worth of spots in an AFL side that he's covering, another ruckman has one (maybe two with the extended bench).

We disagree on Fiorini. We have plenty of coverage there and I would prefer Clarke gets the bulk of that time to learn the role. As you said, we're not winning a premiership in 2026.

For similar reasons, we don't necessarily need an experienced ruckman. Vigo, Blakiston and Wright is fine. Though as has been said, we might pick one up in the SSP anyway.

 

[wiltho]

I think Fiorini fills a more useful niche, we don't have another player other than Duursma who can play wing properly and cover the amount of ground needed. I like Lual but I think AFL depth is his ceiling as a player. Jones isn't it on a wing. With Fiorini and Duursma you can still rotate a third player like Clarke or Roberts through a wing as part of rotations so he's not directly blocking anyone from the position.

Plus Fiorini can play on-ball if we need, whereas a mature ruckman can play in the ruck and that's about it, so a Fiorini has about 8-10 players worth of spots in an AFL side that he's covering, another ruckman has one (maybe two with the extended bench).

With the experimenting we've seen on our wings in the last few seasons, it will be nice to have 2 genuine wingers in the list - with a number who can rotate through.

As has been said, for a future 4th - it's an easy trade to like.

We already had one of the youngest lists, even with Goldy...so with him gone, we still need a few bigger mature bodies to balance the youth we're bringing in.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Why?

We're not winning a Premiership in 2026, what benefit does a seasoned ruck add that a Wright, Bryan, Visentini, Blakiston can't cover for a season?

Bryan is a genuine ruckman once he's fully fit again, and Visentini very much looks to be so in the future.

Rucks get injured all the time

Bryan is already injured

Visentini has played two games

Blakiston has never played in the ruck at AFL level and there’s a good chance he’s needed in the backline

Caddy looks a far better player with Wright next to him, gives the defence something else to think about.

There’s playing kids and then there’s throwing them to the wolves to get torn apart. Think a senior-ready ruck is a pretty obvious need - Goldstein played 16 games this year for a reason.

 

[thebigboy]

Crows missed Trac and won't pursue Oliver, I think they should consider Shiel as a stop gap for 1 year to fill that midfield hole, they struggle winning center clearances, he's still extremely capable in this area.

It's a reasonable shout TBH. Don't think any other club has interest in him, so the contract would be pretty cheap.

 

[FootyGuru]

I reckon we pick one up at some stage. Might be over the summer

I’d look at mason cox for a season or two as coverage with no guarantees of gameTime.

 

[eth-dog]

A 20-gamer coming off an ACL, a key back who’s never played ruck at AFL level and a kid who’s played 2 games.

Would think a seasoned ruck would have to be close to #1 on our shopping list… surely

We'd be morons if it were.

Blakiston was a very accomplished ruck at state league level.
Bryan was seen as #1 coming into last year and is likely to be back early.
Vigo is a kid who looked decent in his couple of games.

If another goes down long term the msd is there.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

We'd be morons if it were.

Blakiston was a very accomplished ruck at state league level.
Bryan was seen as #1 coming into last year and is likely to be back early.
Vigo is a kid who looked decent in his couple of games.

If another goes down long term the msd is there.

Are you saying we’re not morons?

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Assume now they’ve got rid of centre bounce it would benefit Bryan and maybe Vigo.

Would imagine Meek and Xerri value would decrease as well

 

[Snake Charmer]

Is the door closed on a Goldy return? I mean he never retired and it would make sense to cut him early with the idea we can add him over the summer if we have a spot. I wouldn’t be shocked.

 

[faible]

We disagree on Fiorini. We have plenty of coverage there and I would prefer Clarke gets the bulk of that time to learn the role. As you said, we're not winning a premiership in 2026.

For similar reasons, we don't necessarily need an experienced ruckman. Vigo, Blakiston and Wright is fine. Though as has been said, we might pick one up in the SSP anyway.

I don't think you can expect Clarke to run a wing full-time for 2026, I'd like to see him rotate between the HFF / Wing / HBF as needed which we can still do with Fiorini in there. Plus Fiorini brings two-way running and work-rate that we have too few guys doing atm, he's running 15km a game which is elite.

It probably means a guy like Hobbs gets pushed out, which I'm OK with given I think (unfortunately) Hobbs isn't going to be the player we'd hoped to get. Same situation with Tsatas but I think Tsatas' size gives him a bit more of a chance than Hobbs.

 

[Donflicted]

Think we should be asking the question would fit straight in

 

[ghostdog]

I don't think you can expect Clarke to run a wing full-time for 2026, I'd like to see him rotate between the HFF / Wing / HBF as needed which we can still do with Fiorini in there. Plus Fiorini brings two-way running and work-rate that we have too few guys doing atm, he's running 15km a game which is elite.

It probably means a guy like Hobbs gets pushed out, which I'm OK with given I think (unfortunately) Hobbs isn't going to be the player we'd hoped to get. Same situation with Tsatas but I think Tsatas' size gives him a bit more of a chance than Hobbs.

I didn't expect that at all. We have other options who could be part of a rotation and the sub is gone in favour of the bench. Lual has shown he can play the role. We already had the capacity to function and develop those players in the seniors without bringing Fiorini in.

But it is what it is, and as I've said elsewhere, I've pivoted to the positive side of this now and I'm looking to his leadership value.

We disagree. Stop trying to convince me.

 

[doug85]

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Looking at Hawthorn's list, I would be okay with any of the following as part of a deal with their R1;

Calsher Dear (19 yrs, forward, contract expires 2026, 25 goals from 17 games)
Josh Weddle (20 yrs, rebounding hb, contract expires 2026)
Josh Ward (21 yrs, inside/outside mid, accumulates touches, endurance, contract expires 2029 (so?))
Cam Mackenzie (tall defensive mid, contract expires 2026)
Wizard (20 yrs, micro forward, goals)

I really don't see the point in hypothesising you'd get Weddle or Watson, let alone their pick 8 as well.

I get the point you're making but be realistic for crying out loud. Hawthorn are trying to improve. You don't do that by trading away your best young talent for outside players in the autumn of their career

 

[bombreys]

To all the naysayers re the Fiorini signing/trade - you'd do well to remember that literally 14 months ago, we had a wing rotation of mid-sized defender Jake Kelly

29

Jake Kelly

Age

30

Ht

190cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.5

4star

K

8.3

3star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.6

4star

MG

157.8

2star

D

8.1

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.6

4star

MG

104.1

2star

D

14.8

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

5.8

4star

M

6.0

5star

T

4.2

5star

MG

107.0

2star

, tall-forward Harrison Jones and the corpse of Dyson Heppell.

 

[thebigboy]

Think we should be asking the question would fit straight in

Absolutely worth asking the question.

Interesting that the Suns have come off their best season, trending in the right direction and yet Humphrey, Ainsworth, Flanders, Fiorini and Rogers are all keen to look at options elsewhere. I get the list & role squeeze they face, but their retention is still somewhat of a concern.

 

[faible]

Absolutely worth asking the question.

Interesting that the Suns have come off their best season, trending in the right direction and yet Humphrey, Ainsworth, Flanders, Fiorini and Rogers are all keen to look at options elsewhere. I get the list & role squeeze they face, but their retention is still somewhat of a concern.

I think most of those guys (Humphrey excepted) are seeing the writing on the wall long-term that they'll likely be squeezed out, so are jumping ship for good offers now.

GCS have Uwland and Patterson likely inside the Top-10, plus another guy rated in the top-25ish in Addinsall. Petracca is looking to go up there as well. With Rowell and Anderson both being young there's not a lot of midfield minutes on offer.

 

[Lads23]

Absolutely worth asking the question.

Interesting that the Suns have come off their best season, trending in the right direction and yet Humphrey, Ainsworth, Flanders, Fiorini and Rogers are all keen to look at options elsewhere. I get the list & role squeeze they face, but their retention is still somewhat of a concern.

I also wonder what happened to the Alex Davies rumours that he wanted out?

Its already a tough midfield to break into + adding in Petracca

 

[faible]

I also wonder what happened to the Alex Davies rumours that he wanted out?

Its already a tough midfield to break into + adding in Petracca

Davies played the last block of games so perhaps that's convinced him to stick around another year?

 

[Milanista28]

Pretend Zach was open to swinging to the Pies. Would the below be of interest...?

Ess out - Zach, 20, 26, 29
Suns out - 14, 35, F2(27)
Pies out - F1(26), F2(26), F1(27)

Ess in - 14, 35, F1(26 Pies), F2(26 Pies), F1(27 Pies), F2(27 suns)
Suns in - 20, 26, 29
Pies in - Zach

2025 - 4, 5, 14, 35
2026 - 1st (Ess), 1st (Pies), 2nd (Ess), 2nd (Pies)
2027 - 1st (Ess), 1st (Pies), 2nd (Ess), 2nd (Suns)

Sets us up for bids for F/S and NGA players for the next 2 years, all for a player who doesn't want to play here, and it's not Hawthorne.

 

[wiltho]

Regarding another ruck, Matt Rosa stated on Trade Radio that the team are comfortable with their ruck stocks.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Pretend Zach was open to swinging to the Pies. Would the below be of interest...?

Ess out - Zach, 20, 26, 29
Suns out - 14, 35, F2(27)
Pies out - F1(26), F2(26), F1(27)

Ess in - 14, 35, F1(26 Pies), F2(26 Pies), F1(27 Pies), F2(27 suns)
Suns in - 20, 26, 29
Pies in - Zach

2025 - 4, 5, 14, 35
2026 - 1st (Ess), 1st (Pies), 2nd (Ess), 2nd (Pies)
2027 - 1st (Ess), 1st (Pies), 2nd (Ess), 2nd (Suns)

Sets us up for bids for F/S and NGA players for the next 2 years, all for a player who doesn't want to play here, and it's not Hawthorne.

No, we practically lose Zach for pick 14 and Future pick in the 40's.

 

[FootyGuru]

Absolutely worth asking the question.

Interesting that the Suns have come off their best season, trending in the right direction and yet Humphrey, Ainsworth, Flanders, Fiorini and Rogers are all keen to look at options elsewhere. I get the list & role squeeze they face, but their retention is still somewhat of a concern.

I thought Essendon was the only club with a mass exodus.

 

[Milanista28]

No, we practically lose Zach for pick 14 and Future pick in the 40's.

We'd lose Zach for 2 1sts and 2 2nds

20, 26, 29 for 14+35