Recruiting AFL Trade & Free Agency XIII

[Lore]

Spoiler: 2025 Draft Order

Spoiler: 2026 Draft Order

Spoiler: 2027 Draft Order

 

[faible]

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

None of which is particularly relevant given the salary cap floor means you have to spend the money irrespective. McKay helped us hit the cap floor, won't impact on our ability to pay the talented kids we've drafted in future, and has every chance of still playing a role as a KPD for another 5 years.

 

[Lore]

Role players are important when you don’t have reliably available ones.

 

[Yoda_]

None of which is particularly relevant given the salary cap floor means you have to spend the money irrespective. McKay helped us hit the cap floor, won't impact on our ability to pay the talented kids we've drafted in future, and has every chance of still playing a role as a KPD for another 5 years.

understandable,

Role players are important when you don’t have reliably available ones.

role players need to be able to play the role we are investing in.

 

[Vindicater]

We should be throwing big money at Bailey.

 

[Bjchan13]

We should be throwing big money at Bailey.

 

[Vindicater]

View attachment 2502731

 

[Duckworth]

Weddle AND Bailey.

 

[Keystone agony]

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.

What/how does leaving rebuild mode look like?

What are the requirements for that?

 

[Keystone agony]

We should be throwing big money at Bailey.

Big money at all the big free agents tbh

Mckay is worth every penny of 780k

Silvagni and Perryman are getting 120k more, Leek Aleer was offered the same

The big FA usually come with some form of leadership ability

 

[Hazardinho]

Weddle AND Bailey.

I’d absolutely love if we could pull this off and we have so much cap space to be able to achieve this, I do wonder if we could convince them to join us.

 

[jdstorm]

I’d absolutely love if we could pull this off and we have so much cap space to be able to achieve this, I do wonder if we could convince them to join us.

Depends on how many games we win this season.

If we win 26 I’d say it’s a certainty. Really any above 20 I’d say a certainty.

Question is probably what’s the lowest number of games we could win and seem desirable? I’d say probably 15 given our easy fixture.

 

[Hazardinho]

Depends on how many games we win this season.

If we win 26 I’d say it’s a certainty. Really any above 20 I’d say a certainty.

Question is probably what’s the lowest number of games we could win and seem desirable? I’d say probably 15 given our easy fixture.

We just don’t have goals in our team, maybe if Langford and Wright get back to their best, but you’d have to really depend on internal growth from Kako and Caddy, Perkins would need to step up.
I can see all our high end draftees getting games in our side and being regulars.

 

[ydc55]

Surely this year we act the role of disruptor and make teams pay more!
[PLAYERCARD]Zac Bailey[/PLAYERCARD] and Josh Weddle should both be offered more than a million.
Zac Butters is a waste of our time as stronger clubs will offer big money but be more attractive right now.
If May and Gerryn do not improve do we look at throwing money at Jordan Croft who will be stuck behind Darcy and Naughton?
Or if [PLAYERCARD]Ben king[/PLAYERCARD] stays at GC do we throw a mega contract at Jed Walter?
I would be excited by a Walter and Caddy combination who could be a Lucas and Lloyd deal.
Does the club look at Pat Voss which would be like eating a shit sandwich.
I think 2026 is about developing and retaining our young talent and having a massive crack at a grade talent or tall forwards with a grade potential. Knowing we are unlikely to be successful.

 

[Yoda_]

Surely this year we act the role of disruptor and make teams pay more!
Zac Bailey and Josh Weddle should both be offered more than a million.
Zac Butters is a waste of our time as stronger clubs will offer big money but be more attractive right now.

Edit. Just on this. I think we already started with this by showing our hand with the Weddle offer.
It wasn't just a lure for Josh but a big neon sign to the rest of the players in the comp that we have cap space. Furthermore, making Hawthorn pay up for Josh would be nice as well. Keep the cap space at Glenferrie, Waverley, Dingley tight helps the rest of the comp by not allowing them room to move for significant free agents (like Butters)

If May and Gerryn do not improve do we look at throwing money at Jordan Croft who will be stuck behind Darcy and Naughton?

Or if Ben king stays at GC do we throw a mega contract at Jed Walter?
I would be excited by a Walter and Caddy combination who could be a Lucas and Lloyd deal.
Does the club look at Pat Voss which would be like eating a shit sandwich.
I think 2026 is about developing and retaining our young talent and having a massive crack at a grade talent or tall forwards with a grade potential. Knowing we are unlikely to be successful.

we've got a lot of questions to answer before going after a KPF, dont we?

What do we have in Archer May?
Id like to look at Gerryn fwd again
How long do we trust 2MP?
Liam McMahon worth persisting with in 2027?

If we answer a bit then I dont mind the thinking of a top shelf fwd, or one with potential to be anyways. Caddy looks a very good player in the making, just need a sidekick for him now.

 

[eth-dog]

I want to target small forwards in particular, as well as medium defenders (if Farrow moves up the ground). The obvious one is [PLAYERCARD]Zac Bailey[/PLAYERCARD], but if we can get an Arthur Jones and turn him around that would be great as well

 

[ydc55]

Edit. Just on this. I think we already started with this by showing our hand with the Weddle offer.
It wasn't just a lure for Josh but a big neon sign to the rest of the players in the comp that we have cap space. Furthermore, making Hawthorn pay up for Josh would be nice as well. Keep the cap space at Glenferrie, Waverley, Dingley tight helps the rest of the comp by not allowing them room to move for significant free agents (like Butters)


we've got a lot of questions to answer before going after a KPF, dont we?

What do we have in Archer May?
Id like to look at Gerryn fwd again
How long do we trust 2MP?
Liam McMahon worth persisting with in 2027?

If we answer a bit then I dont mind the thinking of a top shelf fwd, or one with potential to be anyways. Caddy looks a very good player in the making, just need a sidekick for him now.

Agree with all you say.
I do think Walter is a fair bit ahead of our young forward players.
He is also a beast.
I reckon crafty is better too.

 

[Yoda_]

Agree with all you say.
I do think Walter is a fair bit ahead of our young forward players.
He is also a beast.
I reckon crafty is better too.

I see Walter as similar to Caddy tbh, a roaming, not - quite - KPF sized. If youre good enough, youre good enough though I suppose.

 

[ydc55]

I see Walter as similar to Caddy tbh, a roaming, not - quite - KPF sized. If youre good enough, youre good enough though I suppose.

Neither buddy or roughie were great pack marks.
Both mobile

 

[King Patty]

Does the club look at Pat Voss which would be like eating a shit sandwich.

Voss signed a 4 year extension at Freo

 

[Vindicater]

Projecting forward with what we have on the list now and potentially how I see some people perform/not perform.

Retire: Cox

Trade: Tsatas to Carlton for #31

Delist: El-Hawli, Setterfield, Gresham, MacMahon and Blakiston

Re-Sign: Gerryn, Hayes, Bourke, Johnson, Nguyen, Prior, Day-Wicks, Edwards, Perkins, Unwin and May

Free Agent: [PLAYERCARD]Zac Bailey[/PLAYERCARD]

Draft: #4, #22 and #31 - Potentially take Arki Butler with the first pick. Use the other two picks on runners and kickers again.

Rookie Draft: Take 2 selections. High upside players or potentially redraft Blakiston or El-Hawli if we want for coverage.

 

[jdstorm]

I think so much of how we attack next offseason will depend on how successful we are this season.

Likely best 23 going into next offseason is

McKay Reid Ridley Redman Roberts McGrath Farrow

Mids
A Martin Caldwell Durham
B Sharpe Johnson Roby

Wings
Dursma fiorini Clarke

Rucks:
Bryan Wright

Target forwards
Caddy Langford

Pressure forwards
Merrett* Kako ????

There’s a lot of talent in that group.

Another SF and a 2MP replacement as he ages seem the most pressing needs (assuming a [PLAYERCARD]Zac Bailey[/PLAYERCARD] FA offer has him replacing Zerrett)

 

[ant555]

Projecting forward with what we have on the list now and potentially how I see some people perform/not perform.

Retire: Cox

Trade: Tsatas to Carlton for #31

Delist: El-Hawli, Setterfield, Gresham, MacMahon and Blakiston

Re-Sign: Gerryn, Hayes, Bourke, Johnson, Nguyen, Prior, Day-Wicks, Edwards, Perkins, Unwin and May

Free Agent: Zac Bailey

Draft: #4, #22 and #31 - Potentially take Arki Butler with the first pick. Use the other two picks on runners and kickers again.

Rookie Draft: Take 2 selections. High upside players or potentially redraft Blakiston or El-Hawli if we want for coverage.

Just a couple of my thoughts.

If Tsatas can not nail down a spot then you will not be getting a draft pick under 45 for him. He is the ultimate boom or bust guy this season. I could easily see him being simply delisted if he does not break into the side.


I think Blakiston will surprise a few if he gets to play more ruck. Could be pretty handy to have him as a mobile ruck who can also cover in defence.

 

[Vindicater]

Just a couple of my thoughts.

If Tsatas can not nail down a spot then you will not be getting a draft pick under 45 for him. He is the ultimate boom or bust guy this season. I could easily see him being simply delisted if he does not break into the side.


I think Blakiston will surprise a few if he gets to play more ruck. Could be pretty handy to have him as a mobile ruck who can also cover in defence.

My feeling is that Tsatas will likely play some good footy this season but want more security which we still not give him. A team like Carlton might turn his head with a longer deal.

Blakiston is a strange one for me as I could see him being very good or very average. With Bryan, Vigo, Gerryn (assuming we re-sign) and Wright all under contract for 2026 he would be our fifth ruck.

But yes I could easily see both staying on.

Day-Wicks is touch and go for me. There is something there but I can't put my finger on it. I am hoping it becomes more noticable this year.

 

[eth-dog]

My feeling is that Tsatas will likely play some good footy this season but want more security which we still not give him. A team like Carlton might turn his head with a longer deal.

Blakiston is a strange one for me as I could see him being very good or very average. With Bryan, Vigo, Gerryn (assuming we re-sign) and Wright all under contract for 2026 he would be our fifth ruck.

But yes I could easily see both staying on.

Day-Wicks is touch and go for me. There is something there but I can't put my finger on it. I am hoping it becomes more noticable this year.

He'd be our second ruck. Gerreyn and Wright are primarily KPP's and he's ahead of Vigo at this stage, which is perfectly reasonable.

ADW I think gets one more year. He's a genuine flanker, and love his left peg.

 

[King Patty]

Projecting forward

Trade: Merrett to Giants for 2026 R1 + 2027 F1 + 2027F2
Perkins + Jones to Hawthorn for 2027 F1 + 2026 R2
Langford + 2028 F3 to Bulldogs for 2027 F2 + 2028 F2

Free agent
In: [PLAYERCARD]Toby Greene[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Ben King[/PLAYERCARD]
Out: Prior (Swans) McMahon (Carlton)


Delist: Gresham, Day-Wicks, Edwards, Tsatas, Guelfi
Re-Sign: Gerryn, Hayes, Bourke, Johnson, Nguyen, Unwin and May
Elevate: Nguyen to main list

Draft: #4, #22 and #31 -
Bid on Cochrane or Walker if on board.
#4 Archie Van Dyk ......would also have it up for trade for right offer. Future picks etc.
match Blake Justice Bid. add Naim to Cat B list

Rookie Draft: focus on Indigenous talent

Best 22 2027
b: McGrath McKay Ridley
hb: Johnson Reid Roberts
c: Fiorini Parish Duursma
hf: Martin Caddy KAKO
f: GREENE KING Wright
r: Bryan Caldwell Durham
int: Nguyen, ROBEY, Clarke, Redman, SHARP

VFL
b: kondogiannis Gerryn Rodan (jnr)
hb: Bourke Hayes Farrow
c: El-Hawli Justice Darwish (jnr)
hf: El-Achkar May Unwin
f: Van Dyk Blakiston Naim (cat B)
r: Vissentini Setterfield Bewick (jnr)
int: Draftees

2027 Picks
R1 Ess, Giants, Hawthorn
R2 Ess, Giants, Bulldogs
R3 Ess

Should be enough to get all of Bewick, Darwish + Rodan