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

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I see Ollie Henry is this year’s version of the player nobody rates but everyone thinks has meaningful trade value.

Isn't that just how Carlton supporters look at their whole list?

We're learning. Albeit slowly.

 

[Lana]

So just reflecting on - “how do we get better”.

And whether we will be embarrassed or have a set back if we fail to get Marshall or Curnow in the door?

We tend to mark the grand final loser hard - given history of performance after a bad loss. But I think the Cats are different (going from a really really bad prelim loss in 2020 to flag in 2022) and we can get better.

I think we are rare as a club that we can have a swing at some “big name” players and if we miss, we just get on with getting better…

We have Bruhn already as a “new recruit”. He can play people and will be hungry and better.
Warps can play - is he better than Atkins or bruhn not sure but unbelievable insurance for those two players and if he is better then all good.
Kolo was probably our best defender in 2024 - a year where I think we should have won the flag (more so that 2025!)

Then we have some seriously good young players who should get better…

Neale could make a big leap (again)
Dempsey was much better (if maybe less hyped) this year than last despite the risk of “2nd year blues”. What if he makes the same leap again?
Max is still young. Imagine if his kicking improves!
Smith still young and now a year after recovery from ACL
Humphries I think had a tougher “year 2” but finished with promise that he could also make a leap?
SDK I reckon might build and surprise people
COS wow! No reason why he wont be our best interceptor next year

I think miners, close, mannagh, Stengle, zuthrie should all be better (maybe at slower rate than above but all in peak)

Ok. So we could get a decline from Blitz, Danger, Stewart which would hurt us. But I reckon they have 1-2 years still ok?

If I look at above, combined maybe with some tweaks to game plan from a super coach who will be hurting from things (strategic) that went wrong on GF day, I think we will get better regardless of any additional talent.

Of course if we get either Marshall or Curnow, we will be better again. But don’t think make or break for us in terms of top 4…. The most important thing is that first list of 24 and below group getting better. From what I am hearing of those close to those players, some of the young ones are already back training hard and wanting to get better…we are in good hands

I think it is almost greedy looking for improvement, but we have well defined holes on our team that got exploited. And we can patch them with sub elite talent to get disporportionate improvement.

I think the really challange is getting everyone fit and motivated to compete again. We hit finals in good nick and were quite banged up three games later. Danger, Blicavs, Cameron, Stewart and Stanley if we don't get Marshall have to get through another pre-season fight through 23 rounds and then finals.

Our VFL group is a bit bare, to my eyes the only really potential squad changer in our VFL is Mitch Edwards, everyone else is more incremental (or perpetually injury) rather than potentially revolutionary. Big ask for this to be his year. Would be fantastic. Plan A was for Conway to be the guy by now.

 

[Lana]

The Aleer situation got worse for me when this morning I was reading comments from his manager and how no one from St Kilda had actually reached out to Aleer himself to let him know they were withdrawing their interest

They told his manager a deal was off the table and left it at that

Ross Lyon is too busy this time of the year, he has to put in the drop in pitch for the start of the cricket season down at Seaford and Moorabbin, do the office stocktake and update the membership database.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

About a future 2nd rounder, in a year where Tasmania can pull 6-12 players from the draft pull. In an era of 65 player national drafts. When they've just topped up their list meaning they'll be less opportunity for drafted players to break through. And they torched their rep infront of the entire competition(players clubs player managers) when they worked so hard and got so close to rebuilding their clubs image. To maintain a pick with a net expected games of around 50.

This kind of decision should be so far below the resolution of the board, they shouldn't have even discussed it.

It is so insane to me that the board would not empower its list managers to make list manager decisions.

Even worse it's pulling the handbrake on future 2nd round picks. You couldn't craft a stronger message that the board thinks this playerv influx will fail if you tried.

Then there's the messaging that it sends to potential recruits that the saints word is worth less than a late lottery ticket that isn't even being drawn this year.

The trade period isn't even over and they've already likely damaged the club more than they built it despite adding tdk and Flanders

 

[Jumping Jack]

My 24 hours off I was able to reflect upon my actions.
My hero and fellow confidant Jumping Jack didnt defend me…

I’m hurt, I’m blindsided and I’m offering the Geelong mods a Future 3rd to let me have 24 hour immunity so I can really say my true thoughts

Wait …..What did I miss?

I’ll provide full support and defensive cover from gunfire if and when required. Sorry I was absent in your time of need.

I was in hospital for a small procedure and some recent posts may have been whilst on strong sedatives.

 

[Lana]

I see Ollie Henry is this year’s version of the player nobody rates but everyone thinks has meaningful trade value.

It is like buying a lottery ticket, someone has to be the admission cost for the dream.

 

[allrighty]

Ollie Henry trade talk. Not sure if posted already

 

[Pollywaffle]

Ollie Henry trade talk. Not sure if posted already

Can’t see him contributing much to our setup going forward. Makes sense to try and leverage some value while it is there.

 

[ChrisLOA]

Can’t see him contributing much to our setup going forward. Makes sense to try and leverage some value while it is there.

Apparently in his u18s days he played on the wing a bit a was sensational. It would be good if we could re-ignite his passion for running so he works on his fitness and is more able to make something of his career before it becomes too late.

 

[lettheboysplay]

Can’t see him contributing much to our setup going forward. Makes sense to try and leverage some value while it is there.

I think he has a lot of talent, we all watched the 2024 Prelim and how he nearly dragged us over the line in a way. He's a very good athlete, good runner. My big worry is his physical intensity. There are no frightened players who make it to the AFL and get a consistent game, but he doesn't love the hard stuff, he doesn't seem like he's much of a chase-tackle guy, and he's not big enough to be a key forward. So right now, he's in football's no man's land. I think we would have identified a positional shift early in the year when he was struggling and I believe he was playing HBF in the VFL. Can anyone confirm this? I do think there's a real chance for two Ollies to play on the wing, but I'm not sure if he fits our structure unless he adds some hardness, which watching his brother, you'd think would a natural improvement for a Henry, but they are very different players.

Definitely worth another shot, but a poor year next year and you're looking at a bloke with zero value and huge concerns over his longevity.

 

[D BRIDGE]

I think he has a lot of talent, we all watched the 2024 Prelim and how he nearly dragged us over the line in a way. He's a very good athlete, good runner. My big worry is his physical intensity. There are no frightened players who make it to the AFL and get a consistent game, but he doesn't love the hard stuff, he doesn't seem like he's much of a chase-tackle guy, and he's not big enough to be a key forward. So right now, he's in football's no man's land. I think we would have identified a positional shift early in the year when he was struggling and I believe he was playing HBF in the VFL. Can anyone confirm this? I do think there's a real chance for two Ollies to play on the wing, but I'm not sure if he fits our structure unless he adds some hardness, which watching his brother, you'd think would a natural improvement for a Henry, but they are very different players.

Definitely worth another shot, but a poor year next year and you're looking at a bloke with zero value and huge concerns over his longevity.

I don't buy this.

He has a good spring... that is about it.

Looks like he is running on a trampoline when moving, with little forward momentum.

 

[Commando]

Danger took O Henry forward spot
Once Danger retires we have a definite need for him

 

[Warhorse]

How does one know if someone is a late developer if it hasn’t actually happened yet?

Started late to football. Exploded as a mature age player. And main reason. My opinion

 

[The Unforgiven]

Danger took O Henry forward spot
Once Danger retires we have a definite need for him

I agree, but then Jay Polkinghorne might be giving Henry some stiff competition for that position with any luck.

 

[smotherking]

I personally don’t see the value in letting SDK go.

I feel like the defensive end of the ground is where we have players you can build around for 5years to near on a decade around. So I’d be reticent to let him go as I feel he is a key cog in that mix.

He also seems to be a) very close with Dempsey and others b) big portion of his family live down the coast and c) a massive surfer. So I’d be surprised if he wanted to leave.

I still think there is quite a bit to be excited about for next year, especially with the players some have mentioned (Bruhn/Worpel)

If we can get a Marshall in that would really add quite a bit to the team imo. Anything else beyond that is a bonus. But we’ll see how it plays out.

We all love this club and I’m just about as excited for a season as I have been since the turn of the decade

Edit: if I had my ultimate wish it would absolutely be Butters. Absolute top of the wishlist

 

[The Unforgiven]

I personally don’t see the value in letting SDK go.

I feel like the defensive end of the ground is where we have players you can build around for 5years to near on a decade around. So I’d be reticent to let him go as I feel he is a key cog in that mix.

He also seems to be a) very close with Dempsey and others b) big portion of his family live down the coast and c) a massive surfer. So I’d be surprised if he wanted to leave.

I still think there is quite a bit to be excited about for next year, especially with the players some have mentioned (Bruhn/Worpel)

If we can get a Marshall in that would really add quite a bit to the team imo. Anything else beyond that is a bonus. But we’ll see how it plays out.

We all love this club and I’m just about as excited for a season as I have been since the turn of the decade

Edit: if I had my ultimate wish it would absolutely be Butters. Absolute top of the wishlist

I just don't think Butters will come our way. I am pretty sure he'll go to the Bulldogs.

If we don't get Curnow this year (or next year), I think we should have a crack at Sam Walsh.

 

[CoolCat75]

A bit of a tangent, but since the father son bidding system was introduced in 2008, in reaction to [PLAYERCARD]Tom Hawkins[/PLAYERCARD], have we ever had a father son or academy player bid upon?

We’ve had father sons Bews, Brownless, Riccardi go as rookies or end of draft. Couple of academy kids like Clohesy listed as rookies. So for 18 years, we’ve have no free hits and just one regular senior player in Bews. They may be another clubs similar to us, not sure (St Kilda, Freo?).

Yet some like the Bulldogs lucked out with Libba, Wallis, Hunter, West, Darcy, Jamara.

Collingwood with Daicos x 2, Moore, Quainor. Brisbane, Sydney, Gold Coast with academies.

 

[AM]

Danger took O Henry forward spot
Once Danger retires we have a definite need for him

He'll need to change the way he plays.

 

[thegerman]

I just don't think Butters will come our way. I am pretty sure he'll go to the Bulldogs.

If we don't get Curnow this year (or next year), I think we should have a crack at Sam Walsh.

Given he was a dogs fan, more so, they’ll have the cap space to go above our offer, writing is on the wall

 

[Oisin_the_Goat]

Stuff this trade period, let's hit the draft and pick up some more Connor O'Sullivan's. Curnows a has been. Marshall's old.

 

[FootyLad0]

I personally don’t see the value in letting SDK go.

Bump

Mackie said this arvo on TR that no players have asked to leave and he will only trade players who ask for a trade.
Make of that what you will.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Bump

When you think about it in practice, it was never going to happen.

We're effectively asking happy successful footballers if they'd like to uproot their careers and move to the worst club of the 21st century, or the worst club of the 20th century.

Both of which are in significantly worse situations than the club they're at in terms of list, coaching, and culture. What a great sell. Mackie would have to channel his inner Belfort to be any chance.

Unless they really, really, really like money (and if they did, they probably wouldn't be at Geelong in the first place) then it was never going to happen.

 

[Larry Donohue]

I wonder if Tanner would benefit from a fresh start away from Geelong

 

[CHAWKS2]

I think it is almost greedy looking for improvement, but we have well defined holes on our team that got exploited. And we can patch them with sub elite talent to get disporportionate improvement.

I think the really challange is getting everyone fit and motivated to compete again. We hit finals in good nick and were quite banged up three games later. Danger, Blicavs, Cameron, Stewart and Stanley if we don't get Marshall have to get through another pre-season fight through 23 rounds and then finals.

Our VFL group is a bit bare, to my eyes the only really potential squad changer in our VFL is Mitch Edwards, everyone else is more incremental (or perpetually injury) rather than potentially revolutionary. Big ask for this to be his year. Would be fantastic. Plan A was for Conway to be the guy by now.

Agree with that. In short for me, those gaps as you say were in the Ruck (which yes we have never rated but frankly Marshall would have been helpful!) and depth in the midfield with any injuries (currently Stevens, Knevitt and Ted). Worps and Bruhn I think genuinely “fill” the midfield depth gap (and we need max and smith to keep improving) but I am with you that Marshall would be a key add if we could make it happen

 

[Generalissimo]

I wonder if Tanner would benefit from a fresh start away from Geelong

No thanks, we've stuck by him this long, we're not about to cut him loose now.