List Mgmt. 2025 Trade/FA Thread (Cont’d)

[ant22]

McCreery biggest issue is not stamina/fitness. He is an athlete.
He just doesn't have any footy smarts. He can't find the ball. Doesn't kick enough goals as a permanent forward. He is only good for tackling and pressure. That's it.

I think you are selling him short

I’d love to see a % for number of centre clearances won v number of clearances attended. I suspect it would be right up the v other players in the league. Whilst I agree he isn’t the greatest reader of the play he is proving to be quite a weapon at centre bounces when he can use his strength and speed to hunt the ball.

I hope he attends a lot more centre bounces next year.

 

[SchuPie]

Thats who I'm thinking of.
But otherwise, I think we'll look to from within our own list.

Now that Rowell is out of the picture for this year, surely we keep the powder dry until at least the end of 2026
We also need to get back on track with our first rounders
Then we can work out if we draft or trade.
Cull $$ from our existing playing list.
Go hard at FA as well.
2027 get rid of Grundy contract

Hopefully we can somehow manage to get a pick ahead of our NGA this year

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Steven May would arguably be our best defender if he joins us. Let’s be objective for a second, is what he has done off the field any worse than what Swan, Heater, Didak, Krack (to name a few) have done?

We get May, less pressure on Darcy, less reliance on Howe, Perryman goes into the midfield, Josh goes into the midfield, Houston gets to play his quarterback role. Suddenly we look a much better team.

It’s our last roll of the dice with Pendles, Side and Howe. Get the best players. “Culture” is great and all honestly it’s getting overrated. It sure didn’t prevent the Bobby situation from derailing our season, and that flog Zorko is celebrating his second flag.

Culture has always felt like a somewhat overrated concept within football clubs

Melbourne won a flag with arguably one of the worst cultures seen in the game in recent history
Brisbane have just gone back to back with some of the biggest flogs in the game in their side
Despite our alleged "great culture" we've had issues with Bobby, players reportedly looking elsewhere and most big name free agents aren't looking to come to us


Quite ironically, the clubs with "bad boys" have quite often been flag winners.

Hawthorn 3 peated with their hard nosed edge and we all heard many stories about off field stuff with that group on top of what has come out with Rioli and the racism allegations

2010/2011 and Collingwood's infamous rat pack

West Coast's team of coke fiends

Even Brisbane's 3 peat side was littered with bad boys, players who famously didn't like each other and all sorts of...ahem...chemical based activity

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

McCreery biggest issue is not stamina/fitness. He is an athlete.
He just doesn't have any footy smarts. He can't find the ball. Doesn't kick enough goals as a permanent forward. He is only good for tackling and pressure. That's it.

Sorry but Beau's centre clearance work is arguably the best in our side

Not sure on the stats but from the eye test, he seems to get a centre clearance almost every time he goes in there.

 

[Bramax]

McCreery biggest issue is not stamina/fitness. He is an athlete.
He just doesn't have any footy smarts. He can't find the ball. Doesn't kick enough goals as a permanent forward. He is only good for tackling and pressure. That's it.

Sounds like we have the perfect stopper.

 

[MooreDaicos]

Agree. Footy doesn't allow for logical connectives.

It's hard to finish top 4, let alone make a GF.

They were sensational in '25, but we don't know how the Lions will fare next year, even if most punters will have them up there.

Not sure about you guys but Brisbane 2001-2003 would beat todays Brisbane.
Isn't Neale going home? Is Zorko going to retire? There's 2, not there next year, then there's the others that leave via trade/FA.
I think we'll be fine. Hard to do a 3 peat, let alone a 4 peat to beat our record.

 

[jmac70]

Culture has always felt like a somewhat overrated concept within football clubs

Melbourne won a flag with arguably one of the worst cultures seen in the game in recent history
Brisbane have just gone back to back with some of the biggest flogs in the game in their side
Despite our alleged "great culture" we've had issues with Bobby, players reportedly looking elsewhere and most big name free agents aren't looking to come to us


Quite ironically, the clubs with "bad boys" have quite often been flag winners.

Hawthorn 3 peated with their hard nosed edge and we all heard many stories about off field stuff with that group on top of what has come out with Rioli and the racism allegations

2010/2011 and Collingwood's infamous rat pack

West Coast's team of coke fiends

Even Brisbane's 3 peat side was littered with bad boys, players who famously didn't like each other and all sorts of...ahem...chemical based activity

Fly has nurtured a family based culture that is at the heart of our recent success. It is crucial.

I’m not a fan of May, and would prefer we don’t bring him in. However, if Fly wants him I’ll accept it, and support the player.

Our culture is so strong that I don’t believe May would have a negative impact. It might just help him become a better person.

 

[sr36]

Hope you’re right but other than blind hope there has been close to zero evidence of this!

hope isn’t a plan !

Hope is central to all clubs future planning. The reality is the draft is hope. We take 3 every year and hope that 1 of them develops into a long term senior player. We hope that the senior players continue to improve and that the blokes we're chasing choose us.

 

[Mick F]

I didn't think I was catastrophising, I was just suggesting a gun player to try and add to our midfield, we should have been 1 goal behind with 10 minutes to go in a prelim against what turned out to be the dominant premier, it's hardly panic stations but we still need to improve if we want to win it

We have already used our 2025 trade capital improving our squad.

 

[JuniorB]

From yesterday's game, it's clear that we need more quality midfielders, both big bulls and speedy players.
Brisbane had a wealth of top shelf players they could rotate through stoppages.
We only really have one, and he needs more help.
When Nick gets held, we don't really have a plan B.
The same thing happened to Dangerfield yesterday, and Geelong didn't cope.

 

[yeah man]

McCreery biggest issue is not stamina/fitness. He is an athlete.
He just doesn't have any footy smarts. He can't find the ball. Doesn't kick enough goals as a permanent forward. He is only good for tackling and pressure. That's it.

I recall a very smart kick in the 2023 grand final that McCreery delivered inside our forward 50. He's done many more just like it. I strongly disagree with your description of his footy intelligence.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Fly has nurtured a family based culture that is at the heart of our recent success. It is crucial.

I’m not a fan of May, and would prefer we don’t bring him in. However, if Fly wants him I’ll accept it, and support the player.

Our culture is so strong that I don’t believe May would have a negative impact. It might just help him become a better person.

Let's hope!

 

[manicpie]

We need another quality midfielder if you want to compete with Brissy and GC next year. We probably need another 2 minimum. Geelong was clearly the number 2 side this year but they didn't have the midfield depth to go with brissy. Tagging 2 midfielders obviously isn't going to work either.

 

[Jen2310]

So this is either
1. He's def moving on and going elsewhere
2. Not getting a contract even if he doesnt find anywhere else
3. Retirement?

 

[VinnieB]

As always, there's a lot of catastrophising over a loss. We were bloody close this year, but things went array in the midfield on PF day. A fit Pendles and fully fit Jordy and things might have been different. We'll lose Pendles soon, but add in the continued growth of Nick and Long.

No one has the midfield depth of the Lions, but they're still beatable - their talls aren't great outside of Andrews.

The only thing that cost us were the goals from stoppages in their forward line in the 3rd. Otherwise I strongly feel we would be premiers.

I think what was most disappointing was that without Pendles, the midfield couldn’t position themselves to stop it.

Maybe Mitchell’s experience in close could have helped, but we were close.

In the end, we need to continue to improve the list. If we can save some $$ and take a slight step back in order to give our kids more game time, it could mean we get an A grade midfielder in Butters or a quality goalkicker in King.

Not interested in Petracca who is no longer an A grade player and his contract could prevent us in targeting the other 2.

 

[GCPie]

As much as I hated May at GC and the Dees I think he could be just what we need - some extra physicality in the back line as I don't think the opposition talls don't fear Maynard as they have height on him.
Fly and the others may be able to get May back in line and that would be a huge plus for the Pies.
If we can come away from Trade period adding May and Buller anything else would be a bonus - we lose Checkers but if we can keep Billy and Bobby we are good.
We missed Bobby 2nd half of the year as he always makes at least 1 defender stay home or he will burn them with his pace.

 

[jmac70]

So this is either
1. He's def moving on and going elsewhere
2. Not getting a contract even if he doesnt find anywhere else
3. Retirement?

I think Mason’s time at Collingwood is over.

 

[sr36]

I didn't think I was catastrophising, I was just suggesting a gun player to try and add to our midfield, we should have been 1 goal behind with 10 minutes to go in a prelim against what turned out to be the dominant premier, it's hardly panic stations but we still need to improve if we want to win it

Apologies. I was more just responding to the general vibe. I think our midfield was fine - stronger than many of the finalists, but things went wrong on PF day. And there is hope for improvement from Long, Nick, Jordy. Plus potential additions of McCreery, Josh and Perryman.

Forward line is a bigger concern.

 

[MooreDaicos]

Im talking about a 21 year old in his 3rd season having already won 2 Norm Smith medals. You have to admire the talent of this guy.
The game has been fortunate to see Naicos and Ashcroft come in over the last few years, because these two will be dominant for many seasons to come..

The difference is the heavy tag, the whole opposition team gets into Naicos and he still performs, what does the other one get? Nada!

 

[Roverjg]

So you can still punch the ball out?

No - Swan has stated in interviews that what is being considered as part of this rule is that a deliberate punch out will constitute a free

 

[BillyElliott]

So you can still punch the ball out?

Yes. It's only the last disposal (handball or a kick) which will constitute a free kick to the oppo. A spoil is not a disposal.

Coaches unsure as 'last disposal' rule debate continues

Greg Swann is set to recommend a 'last disposal' rule to the AFL Commission but coaches aren't sure the change is necessary

www.afl.com.au

 

[pugsville]

Sorry but Beau's centre clearance work is arguably the best in our side

Not sure on the stats but from the eye test, he seems to get a centre clearance almost every time he goes in there.

Actually 25% which is good f 15.8 % of center square , best in league of those attend 10% or more Center Square

(notably Josh Diacos 43% but only attends 1.8)
Nick Diacos 72,1 % attend 13.0% gets clearance
Ned long. 60.5 for 6.5
Pendlebury 61.6 for 12.6
Sidebottom 34.1 for 9.7
Crisp. 19.4 for 10.2
Degoey 43.1 for 8.3

best in league (attend at least 10% )

Taj Hotten 23.5 (only 7 games)
Brockman 22.4
Wanagenned miliria 20%
Freijah 20.3
Raynor 20
Sam Dracy 19.1
Tsaiatas 18.7
Zac Bailey 18.7
Dangerfield 19.7

But the think is this is not looking at roles, who make the best mix for the team getting the clearance, so Nick or Pendlebury might spend % time at clearance not being designated clearance winner, where beau when he is bought in is the aggressive player almost elusively

First possession to clearance McCreey at the lower end (though it's 67.7 and the bests are around 75 Nick JDG, Crisp, Sidebottom and Ned)

Like everything there's a lot of factors, how do you win decisively versus the opposition doing so, the mix of players and roles, overall effectiveness is never going to be captured by one stat.,


Schultz has 100% attendance. to winning clearance but attend 0.1% so it;s like 2 for 2 ever.

 

[manicpie]

Apologies. I was more just responding to the general vibe. I think our midfield was fine - stronger than many of the finalists, but things went wrong on PF day. And there is hope for improvement from Long, Nick, Jordy. Plus potential additions of McCreery, Josh and Perryman.

Forward line is a bigger concern.

We tried to take on Brisbane's midfield and Geelong tried to stop it. Both failed miserably. I understand where you're trying to come from but our midfield is no where near it. Same with Geelong which is why they went the double tag after mid season. We're going to need meteoric rises from our mids. Their forward line didn't seem a concern yesterday and prelim day.

 

[jathanas]

Not sure about you guys but Brisbane 2001-2003 would beat todays Brisbane.
Isn't Neale going home? Is Zorko going to retire? There's 2, not there next year, then there's the others that leave via trade/FA.
I think we'll be fine. Hard to do a 3 peat, let alone a 4 peat to beat our record.

Agree.

2001-2003 Brisbane had Jono Brown, Voss, & Aker.

Jonathan Black, Leppitsch, & Lynch were stars in their own right.

Let's not forget Ashcroft, Mal Michael, & Lappin.

Imagine if Bucks had chosen to stay there.

 

[Run n Spread]

I have been thinking about how we can improve our midfield if we want to still be right up there next year and the only player I can think of that is probably available and good enough to make a proper difference is Petracca, i know he is also getting old, I'm talking about having another crack at it next year though.

What do.you give up?
There are cheaper options.