Recruiting AFL Trade & Free Agency XIII

[Lore]

Spoiler: 2025 Draft Order

Spoiler: 2026 Draft Order

Spoiler: 2027 Draft Order

 

[Keystone agony]

What you described is a great outcome but I’m not sure we get the FAs if we also move on our three best performing senior players

FAs want near term success as well as money

Agree,

But maybe a player thats purely focused on home and financials

Or thats already had success and just wants $$

But it is limitng you

TBH your right, if i was getting any of Walsh, King, Butters, Bailey ect then id be keeping those 3 for a tilt

 

[Keystone agony]

Wasn’t that clear in my post but the salary dump would be us taking on a bad contract for a pick.

It’s also not about cap management but about creating best 22 spots for the younger guys who deserve them who’ve been in the system a few years

It was not

Doing a salary dump is different to what you described. Ie pies did a salary dump/fire sale back in the Grundy/Treloar times

 

[jdstorm]

we are already an exponentially young list, who are we creating opportunities for?

In defence for example

Current best 6

McKay Reid Ridley Redman Roberts McGrath

You have Hayes who’s been here 4 years ready for a KPD opportunity and Gerryn will be year 3 next season.

Angus Clarke, Farrow, Johnson, Nguyen, SEH. All pushing for those smaller defender spots

If we can get a good asset/fair value for one of our older players and create a list spot for our younger guys it’s a win win.

 

[faible]

In defence for example

Current best 6

McKay Reid Ridley Redman Roberts McGrath

You have Hayes who’s been here 4 years ready for a KPD opportunity and Gerryn will be year 3 next season.

Angus Clarke, Farrow, Johnson, Nguyen, SEH. All pushing for those smaller defender spots

If we can get a good asset/fair value for one of our older players and create a list spot for our younger guys it’s a win win.

No point getting younger just for the sake of it, or opening up space for opportunity just because.

There needs to be a plan or purpose behind it. If someone isn't likely to be there when we're in a window of contention then that's a spot that should be considered. None of our defenders really fit that, they're all an age bracket that will still be around in 3 - 5 years.

Ridley is the one that sticks out due to his injury history, if you get offered a decent trade offer for a guy who's quite likely going to continue to struggle with injury, then you can move him.

 

[Yoda_]

In defence for example

Current best 6

McKay Reid Ridley Redman Roberts McGrath

You have Hayes who’s been here 4 years ready for a KPD opportunity and Gerryn will be year 3 next season.

Angus Clarke, Farrow, Johnson, Nguyen, SEH. All pushing for those smaller defender spots

If we can get a good asset/fair value for one of our older players and create a list spot for our younger guys it’s a win win.

No point getting younger just for the sake of it, or opening up space for opportunity just because.

There needs to be a plan or purpose behind it. If someone isn't likely to be there when we're in a window of contention then that's a spot that should be considered. None of our defenders really fit that, they're all an age bracket that will still be around in 3 - 5 years.

Ridley is the one that sticks out due to his injury history, if you get offered a decent trade offer for a guy who's quite likely going to continue to struggle with injury, then you can move him.

agreed, if anything, that back 6 (7) is probably the most stable group on the ground (when fit). The next gen of EFC players can be afforded the opportunity to develop at VFL level &/or develop in other positions.

 

[jdstorm]

No point getting younger just for the sake of it, or opening up space for opportunity just because.

There needs to be a plan or purpose behind it. If someone isn't likely to be there when we're in a window of contention then that's a spot that should be considered. None of our defenders really fit that, they're all an age bracket that will still be around in 3 - 5 years.

Ridley is the one that sticks out due to his injury history, if you get offered a decent trade offer for a guy who's quite likely going to continue to struggle with injury, then you can move him.

The issue is guys who think they deserve opportunities tend to go look for them if they are stuck in the VFL. They don’t wait around forever.

They also tend to have less trade value than proven afl players. So if you think guys are ready to contribute then sometimes the best thing to do is create an opportunity for that to happen

 

[King Patty]

it's not like the hooker, Fletcher, Hurley, Carlisle period.

don't need to trade Ridley out as depth isn't there.

it would be only due to injury issues.
You got to back inness in to get him right

 

[Keystone agony]

Lewis Hayes is one of the main ones i see in this debate, as to not being able to get games in the 22 if no injuries

But departing Ridley, may mean the 3 200cm+ wont work either, we would need to see it work.

There is usally plenty of injuries. Hes fortunate that all 3 talls ahead of him are heavily injury prone, so should see him get plenty of opportunity.

I agree though if its shown to work and hes absolutely smacking the door down and someones offering a 1st for Ridley then it needs to atleast be considered

It also depends alot on what were getting in with quality players vs also if a guy like Zerrett is wanting to depart. Zerrett ask to leave then your probably happier to move on guys if they bring top end picks in return and we have guys in the background that have shown their ready. L.Hayes as a 3rd tall at 22 is ready to go in regards to maturity for that role

If we can convince a King, Butters or Bailey level player than im not getting rid of anyone

 

[Vindicater]

Nowhere else to post this but picking up Prowse while still holding a top ten pick was a good trade period for the Dons.

 

[faible]

The issue is guys who think they deserve opportunities tend to go look for them if they are stuck in the VFL. They don’t wait around forever.

They also tend to have less trade value than proven afl players. So if you think guys are ready to contribute then sometimes the best thing to do is create an opportunity for that to happen

If you're shedding AFL standard guys because your other players are better, that's not the worst problem to have. Sydney and Geelong have both lost AFL standard guys looking for more opportunity and still been fine.

Hayes is probably the only one that fits that niche at the moment, and he's only a McKay, Reid or Ridley injury away from the AFL (once he himself has rehabbed from injury) who are all traditionally injury prone to varying degrees.

Are you trading out McKay to play Gerryn though? That would very much be doing something for the sake of it, not for the benefit of the club.

Otherwise why wouldn't we just trade everyone at 23 - 25 to create opportunities for the young guys, who when they're 23-25 we can trade to make opportunities for the next set of young guys.

 

[Keystone agony]

Do we assume Zerretts salary got raised to 1.2 over the 900k pre hawks meeting?

 

[King Patty]

Do we assume Zerretts salary got raised to 1.2 over the 900k pre hawks meeting?

I read during negotiations we offerred Zerrett more dollars, he rejected it said still wanted Hawks then missed out.

He would have been front loaded IMO, so maybe not on that much on the latter years of his contract. Hence the move being appealing to his bank balance.

But on still choosing to go in the Hawks direction and missing out, well he's on his contract pre Hawks drama (assume 900k as you said above).

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Do we assume Zerretts salary got raised to 1.2 over the 900k pre hawks meeting?

from memory he was already on 1.2m, that was part of last years extension negotiations (when he was courted by the saints).

 

[joey_jo_jo]

I read during negotiations we offerred Zerrett more dollars, he rejected it said still wanted Hawks then missed out.

He would have been front loaded IMO, so maybe not on that much on the latter years of his contract. Hence the move being appealing to his bank balance.

But on still choosing to go in the Hawks direction and missing out, well he's on his contract pre Hawks drama (assume 900k as you said above).

Makes me think the rumours about hawks offering $1.4m a year for 5 years may have some truth to it. Explains why he was so adamant on going there and didnt entertain other club offers (no other contender has advertised that they have a war chest and are in the hunt for a big fish).
IMO he or his manager wouldve taken the Hawks offer to Vozzo/Rosa hoping for a counter offer, having already used this stunt last year its possible they rejected him initially and then his manager and him decided to go scorched earth in reaction to being knocked back.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Still really enjoy thinking back to Petroro losing his mind ha ha

 

[jdstorm]

If you're shedding AFL standard guys because your other players are better, that's not the worst problem to have. Sydney and Geelong have both lost AFL standard guys looking for more opportunity and still been fine.

Hayes is probably the only one that fits that niche at the moment, and he's only a McKay, Reid or Ridley injury away from the AFL (once he himself has rehabbed from injury) who are all traditionally injury prone to varying degrees.

Are you trading out McKay to play Gerryn though? That would very much be doing something for the sake of it, not for the benefit of the club.

Otherwise why wouldn't we just trade everyone at 23 - 25 to create opportunities for the young guys, who when they're 23-25 we can trade to make opportunities for the next set of young guys.

I think this is where nuance is important.

In the case of Geelong/Sydney their greatest need was to maintain a successful side, so moving on young players was an unfortunate byproduct of their success.

In the case of Essendon there has been no success, the goal is talent acquisition. Specifically A level talent.

If you aren’t an A level talent or an important scaffolding player that’s helping the young guys develop. If you also have some trade value then let’s cash out and try and do better with the next player developed in that role.

Especially when we need bulk future firsts to try and get Bewick

 

[Keystone agony]

With the small forward situation, there are some decent lesser known small forward free agents. Not exactly what we need but id be happy to get either

Switkowski (29 now)
Kade Chandler

37

Kade Chandler

Age

25

Ht

175cm

Wt

79kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

9.0

5star

CL

1.0

3star

No current season stats available

D

7.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

9.0

5star

CL

1.0

3star

But hopefully Unwin, HEA and maybe even Perkins can fix the need within

 

[Call Me Cake]

If we don't go hard at FA from 2026-27 Tassie will win a final before us.

 

[jdstorm]

If we don't go hard at FA from 2026-27 Tassie will win a final before us.

Have to be a club professional enough that guys want to play here.

Thats the next step

 

[Yoda_]

If we don't go hard at FA from 2026-27 Tassie will win a final before us.

id hope we develop our own stars before filling in with role players what we need. If anything pick purchasing or overpaying for depth FA's to gain decent picks should be our MO

 

[fairbump_playon]

Have to be a club professional enough that guys want to play here.

Thats the next step

Very much agree

There’s some in built protection

We won’t be spending massive free agent money until we are close to the right time to do that.. because no guns will come until we show distinct progress

In the end you have to pick the right time to leave rebuild mode and just see how far you get. Can’t rebuild for 20 years. They need to aim to be consistently going deep in finals by the end of the decade.

We have an interesting group of young talent now but still lack a quality experience / leadership layer. Massive fan of the Fiorini pick up for that reason. We could use a couple more moneyball leaders this year and then hopefully we are ready for some elite talent too.

 

[faible]

I'd say there's a decent chance Merrett still wants to go at the end of this season, plus we're still likely to finish inside the bottom half dozen sides, so could have another couple of picks inside the Top-10 or so this draft.

2027 is the Bewick draft so TBC what the currency requirements will be there, but I'd think 2027 - 2028 are when we'd be targeting a high quality FA. Brisbane basically nailed their timing when they finish bottom 4 in 2018 then brought in Neale as their draftees were ready to go and jumped straight in to the top-4 in 2019. McCluggage was the 2016 draft for reference, so coming in to his 3rd season.

For Sharp / Robey / Farrow that would be the 2028 season.

 

[Yoda_]

Spending free agency money over the next few years needs to be on strong leaders (Fiorini a good start) and not strong role players (Gresham has been a bust, McKay a solid enough role player but wont be a star that we're paying him over the journey)

 

[faible]

Spending free agency money over the next few years needs to be on strong leaders (Fiorini a good start) and not strong role players (Gresham has been a bust, McKay a solid enough role player but wont be a star that we're paying him over the journey)

McKay was heavily front loaded by all reports, he'll be on pretty average dollars for the latter years of his contract.

 

[Yoda_]

McKay was heavily front loaded by all reports, he'll be on pretty average dollars for the latter years of his contract.

im not going into semantics but he is, over the journey, being paid handsomely and probably not up to the level or remuneration he will receive. Might not even be a level below