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

 

[Art Vandelay_]

I would have delisted both and brought in a mature ruck.

Oh dear. Still keen on the list clogger.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

If we can get NHH, Marsh or Lindsay first pick and then Mellor with 40 that will be a huge win!

I'd be happy with any except Marsh, and that's only positionally. On talent, he'd be a solid pickup.

My only fear is that's three third talls in Polk, Henry, and Marsh who can't play midfield, or anywhere else really.

Mellor at least is a bit more of that Rayner/Stringer style player who can pinch hit at stoppages with a bit of dynamism, so he's not in that category for me.

Point being though, you can only really carry one of those tweener players who isn't key position height, but doesn't have the ground-ball game of a smaller type, and some clubs don't even carry one all.

If they do it though, it could spell the end for Ollie Henry, or potentially Polkinghorne getting trialled down back, which I feel would be a waste of his talent personally.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I would have delisted both and brought in a mature ruck.

Who they won't play at AFL level, so what's the point?

Hitouts don't mean anything, unless you're getting somone like Gawn who is an artist of the craft who can get by on sheer volume too. We're not getting that with a state league ruck.

In terms of contesting around the ground (I.e when the game isn't at stoppage) that state league ruck isn't going to provide anything more than Stanley, and especially De Koning and Blicavs either. The plodders available are liabilities in that regard.

Like Art Vandelay_ said the other day, you've been on this for like 5 years and it never happens, because it's pointless.

Going by their history, the club obviously want a mobile top 6 ruck (Goldstein, Grundy, Marshall) or they don't want one at all.

List spots are tight, we're not picking another plodder for the rainy day that never comes.

 

[dudusmaximus]

..
In terms of contesting around the ground (I.e when the game isn't at stoppage) that state league ruck isn't going to provide anything more than Stanley, and especially De Koning and Blicavs either. The plodders available are liabilities in that regard.
..
List spots are tight, we're not picking another plodder for the rainy day that never comes.

I agree. Rather than a lumbering ruck (struggling to reach ball-ups/throw-ins), best to have multi-purpose rucklets sprinkled all over. Ruck is no longer the offensive weapon it once was. Midfields rove-off opposition rucks routinely. It is now a defensive nil-all play at ball-ups/throw-ins.

Also rucks were the only giants ("They don't get shorter, come Finals"). Now plenty are tall enough to take those relieving marks.

Granted, Chris's prophesied ruck extinction has taken a little longer than he expected.

 

[Lana]

Yes, please. I hope we can snare him through academy late.

I can't see him getting an early bid. I worry his natural play doesn't translate to a higher level.

 

[Vdubs]

Who they won't play at AFL level, so what's the point?

Hitouts don't mean anything, unless you're getting somone like Gawn who is an artist of the craft who can get by on sheer volume too. We're not getting that with a state league ruck.

In terms of contesting around the ground (I.e when the game isn't at stoppage) that state league ruck isn't going to provide anything more than Stanley, and especially De Koning and Blicavs either. The plodders available are liabilities in that regard.

Like Art Vandelay_ said the other day, you've been on this for like 5 years and it never happens, because it's pointless.

Going by their history, the club obviously want a mobile top 6 ruck (Goldstein, Grundy, Marshall) or they don't want one at all.

List spots are tight, we're not picking another plodder for the rainy day that

I agree. Rather than a lumbering ruck (struggling to reach ball-ups/throw-ins), best to have multi-purpose rucklets sprinkled all over. Ruck is no longer the offensive weapon it once was. Midfields rove-off opposition rucks routinely. It is now a defensive nil-all play at ball-ups/throw-ins.

Also rucks were the only giants ("They don't get shorter, come Finals"). Now plenty are tall enough to take those relieving marks.

Granted, Chris's prophesied ruck extinction has taken a little longer than he expected.

So no interest in Mason Cox?
And another ex GF Pie- Jayden Stephenson?
In our predicament, those 2 could be handy.

 

[calder_daddy]

Don't forget the signed his extension in March and he was not far off training with the squad at that stage

He didn't do his most recent injury until August, and we may not know the more about the extent of the injury and surgery involved until next year

He was signed prior to this current injury though.

I understand that but it’s not like his injuries are a new thing, the bloke did his back sneezing in bed.
He would be on 200-300k which is stuff all

 

[Mr Meow]

I can't see him getting an early bid. I worry his natural play doesn't translate to a higher level.

I think it will, so it appears we're at a gridlock.

 

[Warhorse]

I hope we will finally see the Edwards/Conway team in tandem next season for majority of the season
If it works then the need to chase another ruck disappears
Holmes has found his spot in the middle so we need to find a dashing defender

Hofmann. Was tearing it up then got injured. Nearly as fast as Holmes

I can't see him getting an early bid. I worry his natural play doesn't translate to a higher level.

I think he is good enough 1v1 and Mark to be developed somewhere. I really like him as a prospect

 

[Phill Hendo]

I am not excited about our trade period and our draft potential. First a positive, getting Worpol was very good.

Otherwise we missed on everything, although Marshall was the only one we went for. So now we find ourselves with no solution to our Ruck problem and our first pick in the draft will be in the twenties.

On the Ruck, Conway's best case is he is available in 2027. Same with Edwards and Pike. This year its SDK or Blitz, that's a key back and a 35 year old. This is better than Rhys who just cannot do the job in the finals these days. (2 years of evidence of this.) I'd rather not make the Prelim or GF if we are going to play Rhys. Using SDK is unfair to Sam, who is not a natural Ruck. He is a very good key defender and using him has a Ruck has seen him go backward as a defender.

Looking for positives, if the club has chosen to tip Clohesy out, they must see some potentil in the draft. Having said this, I am still mystified on the motivation for keeping Wiltshire.

Hoping big years from our second year players, the return of Bruhn and bringing in Worpol give us some positives. But jee-wiz it would be nice to have a Ruck so we don't start every single Ruck contest on the defensive.

 

[cats_09]

I understand that but it’s not like his injuries are a new thing, the bloke did his back sneezing in bed.
He would be on 200-300k which is stuff all

I'm not sure anyone is saying his body was stuffed at the time of signing his latest contract extension - I actually had timing wrong as he was already back training with the senior squad & partaking in ruck scenarios work before signing on for 2 more years



The back injury obviously wasn't ideal but seems the delay on returning from our end was more out extra caution rather than him simply not being available

I get the idea of a slow burn and that big guys can take longer but at some stage the repeated foot injuries and required surgeries have to become a concern, because at this stage he's really shown no durability even at VFL level

Only once since being drafted has he backed up over 4 consecutive weeks and that was the last 4 weeks of our 2022 VFL season. Since then he's only played 3 consecutive games once and even then he was subbed out for a rest in the second game of that streak

I was one of his biggest supporters at the start of the season and how we shouldn't write him off due to the back issue setback. And as promising as those couple of VFL games back looked, yet another foot injury & one that sounds quite serious, I'm now moving into the "anything we can get from him is a bonus" camp, rather then looking to him as our future #1 ruck carrying the load

 

[Hinkley29]

So no interest in Mason Cox?
And another ex GF Pie- Jayden Stephenson?
In our predicament, those 2 could be handy.

Predicament? What predicament is that?

Cox is likely washed. Personally I can’t see him ever playing for us, but I guess if you squint really hard you may see a scenario where he may play the odd game.

Stephenson is just a hard no. And a baffling suggestion if I am being honest.

 

[thegerman]

Yep. You've made your stance clear a dozen times on this, and may be proven correct. But it doesn't mean much more than me saying I have a dodgy back and would be amazed if Sam Walsh ever returns to his best.

The issue is, he’s had the same or similar foot injuries over the past 3 years and has not strung together 3 games at VFL level before breaking down yet again.

Giving actual advice about the recovery of a similar surgical procedure highlights what he’s up against. Totally indifferent to your ridiculous comparison.

If you think that isn’t worthy of a discussion, you can always ignore.

 

[Generalissimo]

Stephenson is just a hard no. And a baffling suggestion if I am being honest.

Has he even indicated he wants to come back to the game?

 

[dudusmaximus]

The issue is, he’s had the same or similar foot injuries over the past 3 years and has not strung together 3 games at VFL level before breaking down yet again.

Giving actual advice about the recovery of a similar surgical procedure highlights what he’s up against. Totally indifferent to your ridiculous comparison.

If you think that isn’t worthy of a discussion, you can always ignore.

With the utmost of respect, you're making a big pronouncement based on the sample size of 1. Mr Meow did acknowledge that you might very well be right. We are not disputing what happened with you. We're disputing that the very same thing will happen with Toby Conway. Reasons
1) He has the best Medical experts (worldwide) on tap.
2) He has near unlimited budget (best insurance).
3) He will have better support/equipment to help with the recovery.
4) He probably is in better physical shape to get through this all.

No one is disputing your predicted time-frame. It is the predicted outcome that is being challenged.

 

[Mr Meow]

The issue is, he’s had the same or similar foot injuries over the past 3 years and has not strung together 3 games at VFL level before breaking down yet again.

Giving actual advice about the recovery of a similar surgical procedure highlights what he’s up against. Totally indifferent to your ridiculous comparison.

If you think that isn’t worthy of a discussion, you can always ignore.

I'm fine with you speculating. I'm merely highlighting the guesswork element based on not having all the particulars of his case and medical expertise of those involved in his surgeries/rehab plans.

Much like some players can move past back issues or recover post-ACLs while some can't, young ruckmen and feet issues can go either way. The ultra conservative approach is always the smart one but it doesn't guarantee anything. It doesn't rule anything out either.

dudusmaximus summed it up well in the post above.

There's no need for me to ignore you as I am fine with conversing in a civil way on the matter.

 

[Hinkley29]

Has he even indicated he wants to come back to the game?

not that I am aware

 

[dudusmaximus]

..
There's no need for me to ignore you as I am fine with conversing in a civil way on the matter.

For the record, far from engaging friendly fire, Mr Meow is known to patrol the badlands (ominously named "The Main Forum") neutralising hostile threats. We WANT him on that wall. We NEED him on that wall.

 

[thegerman]

With the utmost of respect, you're making a big pronouncement based on the sample size of 1. Mr Meow did acknowledge that you might very well be right. We are not disputing what happened with you. We're disputing that the very same thing will happen with Toby Conway. Reasons
1) He has the best Medical experts (worldwide) on tap.
2) He has near unlimited budget (best insurance).
3) He will have better support/equipment to help with the recovery.
4) He probably is in better physical shape to get through this all.

No one is disputing your predicted time-frame. It is the predicted outcome that is being challenged.

Agree to everything, however the reality is he’s had that same care, same availability to the best surgeons, all for free as you put it (so was mine by the way), also in peak condition yet hasn’t strung together 3 games in 3 years.

So we’ll just agree to disagree and have to look at hindsight in a year or so.

 

[Mr Meow]

Agree to everything, however the reality is he’s had that same care, same availability to the best surgeons, all for free as you put it (so was mine by the way), also in peak condition yet hasn’t strung together 3 games in 3 years.

So we’ll just agree to disagree and have to look at hindsight in a year or so.

Technically he did string together 3 AFL games in a row in 2024 and 3 VFL games in 2025 (round 19 Geelong didn't play). 4 has been the barrier.

Anyway I'm not predicting any amount of games next year, I'm just not convinced in ruling his career out altogether (quite yet). We'll see how things progress.

 

[Lingsface]

I can't see him getting an early bid. I worry his natural play doesn't translate to a higher level.

I disagree, he seems to have great leading patterns a contested mark and a size that will be hard to match up on. In a few years with endurance built as well a pinch hitting midfielder as well.

 

[Lingsface]

I'd be happy with any except Marsh, and that's only positionally. On talent, he'd be a solid pickup.

My only fear is that's three third talls in Polk, Henry, and Marsh who can't play midfield, or anywhere else really.

Mellor at least is a bit more of that Rayner/Stringer style player who can pinch hit at stoppages with a bit of dynamism, so he's not in that category for me.

Point being though, you can only really carry one of those tweener players who isn't key position height, but doesn't have the ground-ball game of a smaller type, and some clubs don't even carry one all.

If they do it though, it could spell the end for Ollie Henry, or potentially Polkinghorne getting trialled down back, which I feel would be a waste of his talent personally.

Marsh is a flawless talent, he reminds me of Gunston so smart, leads to all the right places is one touch and an amazing kick. Moves very well too, people see him as a person who could develop into a wing or back flank as well. I like him as a player that is so exceptionally skilled he could be a kpp player. He could be the Logan Morris of this draft, slips down the order because of a couple of cm's then is a star as a kpp.

 

[thegerman]

Technically he did string together 3 AFL games in a row in 2024 and 3 VFL games in 2025 (round 19 Geelong didn't play). 4 has been the barrier.

Anyway I'm not predicting any amount of games next year, I'm just not convinced in ruling his career out altogether (quite yet). We'll see how things progress.

I’m also extremely happy if he comes good. Just cannot see how given history and current injury.

Fingers crossed I guess.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

No for Marsh from me. Hes ok but I dont think hes a genuine mid at the next level and the last thing we need is a 3rd tall fwd when we are struggling to fit henry and polkinghorne in already. We either need a kpf (depending on how long you think Cameron goes for and whether neale ends up in the ruck) or we need genuine mids. If a kpf someone like ludowyke would appeal otherwise i would prefer someone who will be a good mid at the next level like robey but he goes early now. Small forwards and medium forwards are the 2 things we absolutely dont need.

Tbh that list emphasises my lack of enthusiasm about this pool-theres a lack of top end class prospects and the depth isnt there. I think a few mature age state league guys go this year off the back of it. Us only having 2 picks limits what we do (obviously we dont rate this pool which is why we kept a lot of fringe guys). I would try to trade 19 into next year if we can get a decent offer (we probably wont though). If we keep it someone like Barker or Taylor is probably who I expect (Lindsay wont get through to us).

If it’s an explosive medium/small who has elite speed then you take them in a heartbeat. The modern game specially finals footy values these types highly. We don’t have an explosive medium/small on our list either, they are all endurance types.

If a Gary Rohan clone was available at our pick, you would be crazy to not select them

 

[Generalissimo]

If it’s an explosive medium/small who has elite speed then you take them in a heartbeat. The modern game specially finals footy values these types highly. We don’t have an explosive medium/small on our list either, they are all endurance types.

I wonder if we could mould Oisin Mullin into that kind of player eventually. He's proven to have at least some capacity for kicking big goals in finals, just saying.