Training Pre-season 2026

[Yze does it]

I don't want to lose Hopper, but I agree with you.

He would be great for a team in contention. And him leaving would open up a spot for Lalor, Smillie, KMac etc.

Prestia out of contract 2026 too. keep him on the list and play him in the VFL be ideal. Like Bruest did. Lynch too?

Salary cap $18 mill Hopper taking .75 is hugely advantageous to RFC. . trade him paying all his salary.

We will have to front load every remaining player.

 

[DickieKnee]

Suspect you are right. But then it all depends on what happens this year - in terms of offers and interest. There was a rumour last year that Hopps had some interest in a trade. Whether the rumour was garbage I have no idea.

There would be a lot of interest in him.

 

[Charlie Pannam]

There would be a lot of interest in him.

Definitely.
Geelong would be in upto their balls. Fits their age criteria.
He’d be a good fit for the Hawks, who are in the premiership window and need a replacement for Worpel and Day who is permanently injured.
Number of other VIC clubs too.

 

[DickieKnee]

Definitely.
Geelong would be in upto their balls. Fits their age criteria.
He’d be a good fit for the Hawks, who are in the premiership window and need a replacement for Worpel and Day who is permanently injured.
Number of other VIC clubs too.

Melbourne would be desperate for an experienced mid after losing Oliver and Pettraca. West Coast and pies would have interest too.

 

[THE_GUN]

So we making a bet ?

Will Sonsie play more than 10 games in 2026
Will he get a contract extension ?

Bet is for $$$$ $500 and must be paid upfront


I dont trust Welchers

 

[Grrr]

Depends a lot on where Tanner Armstrong goes, and I believe we will trade Hopper end of 2026.

2027.....Taranto, McCauliffe, Smillie, Cumming, Lalor, Hotton, Armstrong, Campbell, Ross, Grlj, pick-5, free agent??, Sonsie?? MRJ?? ........ something has to give in regards to midfield rotations, and at his age Hopper is dispensable, and he will have decent trade value and clears out $750k of cap space.

Don't get me wrong, I've been a supporter of Hopper and think he's a good to very good player. But I'm also of the opinion Taranto is better and you can't have both as staples in our midfield, yet both are pure mids and will command a spot in the team every week. His trade would be a win-win as at least 1 x contending team will want a contested clearance bull (Cats, Hawks, Swans, Pies....).

Pick-5. Pick-23. Tanner Armstrong.

or

Pick-5. Tanner Armstrong (matched with 23), pick acquired for Hopper.


When you look at Port....having to play Wines on a wing etc... because they had to fit in Drew, JHF, Butters, Rozee...is what we will end up with.

I doubt there would be many suitors for Hopper. How many midfields would he walk into at 29 years old, much less trade for a good draft pick, not many I reckon. A few bottom clubs but they will go to the draft.

I think we will see our young mids start to become better players than him this year. His lack of pace I think will see him go the way of Caddy, who was a very good footballer, just too slow.

 

[THE_GUN]

I really dont get why people want to off load Hopper so quickly before any of the kids have actually proven the ability to do what hopper does ?

Our cap is probably the best in the league and Hopper/Taranto would have been front ended in 2025 and he would have SFA left to pay for the duration of the contract.

We need a strong 30-32 players to complete a season and most are replacing him with 18/19 year olds on the list and opening the door to become North like with our rebuild

Cop 3 maybe 4 injuries in the midfield then we are down to players like Short to play midfield
Keep him until his contract is done and lets see how we are going then and if he is surplus then wish him well and thank him for his help.

We would be lucky to get a pick#30+ for him so whats the point

 

[DickieKnee]

before any of the kids have actually proven the ability to do what hopper does ?

I think the worry is the kids won't get a real shot at midfield with both Hopper and Tarranto in the team.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

I doubt there would be many suitors for Hopper. How many midfields would he walk into at 29 years old, much less trade for a good draft pick, not many I reckon. A few bottom clubs but they will go to the draft.

I think we will see our young mids start to become better players than him this year. His lack of pace I think will see him go the way of Caddy, who was a very good footballer, just too slow.

I would support the club's decision either way if they keep or trade Hopper, but I expect they will keep him beyond 2026.

However, I think you would likely get a half decent pick for him, like a rd 2 pick if his contract is in the shape we might expect, ie minimal commitments remaining. If there was only say $1.2 over 3 years left to pay, another club could offer him $2m over the 3 years which would incentivise him to want to move, and be a cheap inside mid for the club acquiring him. You could easily get a pick between 20 and 30 in that type of scenario.

O'Meara for eg at 28yo got the Hawks Meek + pick 37.

 

[tropicaltiger]

Think our vfl will go through undefeated

 

[Dr Tigris]

I really dont get why people want to off load Hopper so quickly before any of the kids have actually proven the ability to do what hopper does ?

Our cap is probably the best in the league and Hopper/Taranto would have been front ended in 2025 and he would have SFA left to pay for the duration of the contract.

We need a strong 30-32 players to complete a season and most are replacing him with 18/19 year olds on the list and opening the door to become North like with our rebuild

Cop 3 maybe 4 injuries in the midfield then we are down to players like Short to play midfield
Keep him until his contract is done and lets see how we are going then and if he is surplus then wish him well and thank him for his help.

We would be lucky to get a pick#30+ for him so whats the point

My money would be on him staying. But there is a fairly clear path to a mutually beneficial trade at end 2026. However that relies on a few of he young guys really stepping up and other clubs having serious interest in Hopps. I reckon he wouldn't go to a bottom club like WC, why bother.

If we paid his salary i reckon the right club would pay well for him - if he stays ft and plays well this year.

lots of ifs etc. So he'll likely stay. I'm not fussed either way.


It's what we discuss in the off season before we have anything sensible to talk about.

 

[THE_GUN]

My money would be on him staying. But there is a fairly clear path to a mutually beneficial trade at end 2026. However that relies on a few of he young guys really stepping up and other clubs having serious interest in Hopps. I reckon he wouldn't go to a bottom club like WC, why bother.

If we paid his salary i reckon the right club would pay well for him - if he stays ft and plays well this year.

lots of ifs etc. So he'll likely stay. I'm not fussed either way.


It's what we discuss in the off season before we have anything sensible to talk about.

There is no way Hopper would accept to go to another club on what he is currently getting and we would have already paid most of it already.

If he is to leave it will be a totally new contract from the other club

 

[Timothy Luncheon]

I just realised Maric has been our ruck coach for 9 years now

 

[tigerfan1961]

I really dont get why people want to off load Hopper so quickly before any of the kids have actually proven the ability to do what hopper does ?

Our cap is probably the best in the league and Hopper/Taranto would have been front ended in 2025 and he would have SFA left to pay for the duration of the contract.

We need a strong 30-32 players to complete a season and most are replacing him with 18/19 year olds on the list and opening the door to become North like with our rebuild

Cop 3 maybe 4 injuries in the midfield then we are down to players like Short to play midfield
Keep him until his contract is done and lets see how we are going then and if he is surplus then wish him well and thank him for his help.

We would be lucky to get a pick#30+ for him so whats the point

The fact that many think a number of clubs would be keen to get him tells me we should be keeping him!

 

[nineteen eighty]

So we making a bet ?

Will Sonsie play more than 10 games in 2026
Will he get a contract extension ?

Bet is for $$$$ $500 and must be paid upfront


I dont trust Welchers

Paid upfront??

Does that mean both of you hand over $500 to each other at season start?

I’m sooo confused…

 

[THE_GUN]

The fact that many think a number of clubs would be keen to get him tells me we should be keeping him!

I think Hopper will be more value once our younger / outside players develop and become more attacking and he knows how to get the ball and gets it alot. We currently dont have any player on the list that has proven they can do this apart from Hopper & taranto

Lets see how we go in 2026 & 2027 before we start chopping good talent

 

[Dr Tigris]

There is no way Hopper would accept to go to another club on what he is currently getting and we would have already paid most of it already.

If he is to leave it will be a totally new contract from the other club

Quite possibly. If we paid his contract then the other club could top him up and make his salary $1mil fairly easily.

As I said I reckon he will stay. But it is a logical outcome if things fall a certain way. Anyway, we'll find out in 9 months-ish.

 

[lizard man]

This blast from the past features Brad helbig … not many highlights it’s mostly talking but it’s always good to reflect on past players who represented us

 

[Timothy Luncheon]

Since when did Trainor have a tattoo?

 

[prodigy]

I really dont get why people want to off load Hopper so quickly before any of the kids have actually proven the ability to do what hopper does ?

Our cap is probably the best in the league and Hopper/Taranto would have been front ended in 2025 and he would have SFA left to pay for the duration of the contract.

We need a strong 30-32 players to complete a season and most are replacing him with 18/19 year olds on the list and opening the door to become North like with our rebuild

Cop 3 maybe 4 injuries in the midfield then we are down to players like Short to play midfield
Keep him until his contract is done and lets see how we are going then and if he is surplus then wish him well and thank him for his help.

We would be lucky to get a pick#30+ for him so whats the point

So, I'm not saying we need to do it now or anything like that but the squeeze will inevitably come and I feel like Hopper is one that will get forced out to fit in the likes of Cumming/Smillie/Hotton if they come on how we expect them to.
Hopper and Taranto are currently starting midfielders but with Lalor now looking like being more midfield than forward the squeeze on Hopper and even Taranto won't let up anytime soon.
I fully expect Taranto to be our captain this year and for the next 2-3 years until one of a Lalor or a Banks is ready to take it over.

We're all not blind, we can clearly see that a lot of the kids we have picked up are odds on to be more than serviceable AFL players. Hopper has every reason to be concerned in my opinion.

 

[sante]

So Vlastuin no certainty to play Round 1.

 

[Drunken Wookie]

So Vlastuin no certainty to play Round 1.

cambell gay come on down

 

[Rubber Hips]

 

[Bojangles17]

I think the worry is the kids won't get a real shot at midfield with both Hopper and Tarranto in the team.

Correct a mondo

 

[THE_GUN]

West Coast E-Girl supporters are hating this

Brady Hough has been ripped off