2026 Trade / FA Thread

[sideswipe]

I feel like I’ve been reasonably clear in my views on Naicos of late. He’ll be captain in 2027 and the longer term vision of the club is that both he and Zac Butters are fronting the media together in mid October to discuss their long term futures in the black and white.*

Any themes from my posting that could be taken on Naicos are purely on the basis of him becoming the next Petracca in terms of focus on brand and engagement. I’m ice cold on that because it puts self ahead of club, IMO. It’s up to others to decide though whether they see it the same way and I don’t expect a single person will agree with me because of the BF cohort in 2026. Point blank if you asked me where he ends his career without a shadow of a doubt I’d say Collingwood, but you’d have to be blind to not consider the alternatives if you aren’t getting those vibes in private.

*I personally don’t share the vision for reasons stated re Butters although I’m hoping to be wrong.

Hope you had your seat belt on when you did that J turn

 

[Scodog10]

Go back and read my post - a key qualifier is "before".

I was more focused on the during. To address the before it’s not that hard when asked a question at one of the dozens of pressers he’ll do this year to laugh it off and say “I’m contracted until 2029 moving from Collingwood and my future beyond that is the furthest thing from my mind” rather than following the Devils insta page and allowing his management to say they’re open to discussions with the Devils.

Daicos camp open to Tassie talk as Devils target big names

As you’re well aware there’s nuance to this discussion which the club is no doubt navigating, but we need to keep in mind that a will he won’t he narrative being built in the media could destabilise our chase of star talent. As much as we want to ignore it the media don’t operate in a vacuum and neither do managers.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Realistically, how many kids need to show promise this year in order to relieve some of the concerns about our depth? 3-5?

Steele looks like a mainstay in our 23 now and could own the wing for the next few years.

Parker is getting closer, disposal a worry but his defence is good so hopefully we can tick him off.

Realistically our next cabs off the rank are West, Reef, Steene, Harrison and Allan. You would hope at least 2 are playing regular senior footy by years end. If not, we'll have to seriously evaluate how we approach the trade / FA period because I'd be hesitant to go chips in on Butters if we have minimal to support him.

 

[sideswipe]

I was more focused on the during. To address the before it’s not that hard when asked a question at one of the hundreds of pressers he’ll do this year to laugh it off and say “I’m contracted until 2029 moving from Collingwood and my future beyond that is the furthest thing from my mind” rather than following the Devils insta page and allowing his management to say they’re open to discussions with the Devils.

Daicos camp open to Tassie talk as Devils target big names

As you’re well aware there’s nuance to this discussion which the club is no doubt navigating, but we need to keep in mind that a will he won’t he narrative being built in the media could destabilise our chase of star talent. As much as we want to ignore it the media don’t operate in a vacuum and neither do managers.

Jake saying they would be remiss not to discuss things with Tassie is, as described previously, a fast bowler's loosener. Don't get your head turned Scoey.

 

[VinnieB]

It would be madness for Nick's management to discuss an extension. 2029 is a long way away, and who knows what $$ players are being paid at that time? It will be at least a couple of years before they will be serious enough to sit down and evaluate what Nick should be asking for.

I don't understand why people are concerned when certain people in the media are attempting to find a story for something to talk about.

 

[nickyds35]

Just realised Jordan Butts is a free agent this year.

Has been in and out of team over the last few years, but every time I have watched him, he has shown to be very capable as a shutdown defender.

Literally the perfect player for us to complement Darcy Moore

30

Darcy Moore

Age

30

Ht

203cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.1

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

169.1

3star

D

13.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

0.7

1star

MG

182.0

3star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.2

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.8

4star

MG

87.4

2star

and sure up our defence.

 

[Vankri]

I am with Scodog10 I think most people are being too dismissive about the possibility of Nick leaving. We need to make it an easy choice for him by remaining in contention and no better way than bringing a Butters or Humphrey with the cash we have to splash.

On another note, let’s hope Gruzewski doesn’t find a best 22 position at GWS this year because he is absolutely the right target for us and we don’t want him happy over there nor for his stocks to go up too much.

 

[Scodog10]

Realistically, how many kids need to show promise this year in order to relieve some of the concerns about our depth? 3-5?

Steele looks like a mainstay in our 23 now and could own the wing for the next few years.

Parker is getting closer, disposal a worry but his defence is good so hopefully we can tick him off.

Realistically our next cabs off the rank are West, Reef, Steene, Harrison and Allan. You would hope at least 2 are playing regular senior footy by years end. If not, we'll have to seriously evaluate how we approach the trade / FA period because I'd be hesitant to go chips in on Butters if we have minimal to support him.

For me it largely depends on how much best 23 quality we can acquire through trade and FA.

If we can add 2-3 best 15 options in the 24-28 age bracket Steele and Parker* might eke us through. Ticking off West and Cochrane/ McInnes as long term options would probably ease any concerns I have for the long term (in addition to the other additions).

*I share your concerns. If he can sort out his ball use or move into the midfield he could be a belter, but until then his ceiling is more Sam Wicks than Liam Baker/ Tom Atkins.

 

[stormskye]

I am with Scodog10 I think most people are being too dismissive about the possibility of Nick leaving. We need to make it an easy choice for him by remaining in contention and no better way than bringing a Butters or Humphrey with the cash we have to splash.

On another note, let’s hope Gruzewski doesn’t find a best 22 position at GWS this year because he is absolutely the right target for us and we don’t want him happy over there nor for his stocks to go up too much.

I don’t believe any of the media bs, but. If the pies being in contention is a main reason for nick staying then good luck to him. Pendles didn’t leave when things got tough. I certainty don’t think nicks like that either.

 

[riddick78]

I don’t believe any of the media bs, but. If the pies being in contention is a main reason for nick staying then good luck to him. Pendles didn’t leave when things got tough. I certainty don’t think nicks like that either.

He's gonna be disappointed if he goes to Tassie then.

 

[TradeDraft]

I am with Scodog10 I think most people are being too dismissive about the possibility of Nick leaving. We need to make it an easy choice for him by remaining in contention and no better way than bringing a Butters or Humphrey with the cash we have to splash.

On another note, let’s hope Gruzewski doesn’t find a best 22 position at GWS this year because he is absolutely the right target for us and we don’t want him happy over there nor for his stocks to go up too much.

IF we are not good then we could get a Shitload of Picks from a Nick Trade to get Highly Rates Youngsters in then

 

[Scodog10]

I am with Scodog10 I think most people are being too dismissive about the possibility of Nick leaving. We need to make it an easy choice for him by remaining in contention and no better way than bringing a Butters or Humphrey with the cash we have to splash.

On another note, let’s hope Gruzewski doesn’t find a best 22 position at GWS this year because he is absolutely the right target for us and we don’t want him happy over there nor for his stocks to go up too much.

Sorry Vank, but I’m more in the camp of dismissing the likelihood of him leaving than not.

My angle is much more about how the current mood around him makes splashing the cash to bring in a Butters or Humphrey more challenging to navigate (to what degree I have no idea). The first question I have of Leppa if I’m Peter Lenton or Michael Oakes is “before we go anywhere with this what’s happening with Nick? Because there’s no chance my client is joining Collingwood if there’s even a sniff that he could move”. It would be much easier if they were with CDG like King.

Consider it a spectrum between his management openly talking about discussing his future with Tassie and being imbecilic to commit to Collingwood before or during any negotiations. I’d just like to see him edge further on the spectrum towards being an imbecile and away from his management discussing his future away from the club while he has 4 years to run on his contract. He doesn’t need to commit to being an imbecile fully like I have, but a little stronger public commitment to the club, at the expense of engagement, wouldn’t hurt our chase of stars this offseason, IMO.

 

[granniewolf]

If the AFL did something about players with long contracts wanting to weasel their way out of them for more money or glory elsewhere then clubs would surely be more settled.
If players want more money halfway through their contract maybe the answer is to have shorter contracts.
3 years and then re-negotiate but no way out of contract unless both player and club want it due to exceptional circumstances.
Players need to honour their contracts that are made in good faith by clubs.

 

[Jen2310]

On Gettable this morning, Cal revealed they while trading of MSD picks (or trading ND picks to move up the MSD draft) has been ruled out this year. The AFL has realised there is already so much change with bidding and the upcoming drafts, this would added too much in this point in time.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

If the AFL did something about players with long contracts wanting to weasel their way out of them for more money or glory elsewhere then clubs would surely be more settled.
If players want more money halfway through their contract maybe the answer is to have shorter contracts.
3 years and then re-negotiate but no way out of contract unless both player and club want it due to exceptional circumstances.
Players need to honour their contracts that are made in good faith by clubs.

There should be a no-trade clause for that is club initiated e.g. if Merrett does sign an extension, he is unable to request a trade for the first 3-4 years of the next contract. So the longer the contract, the more power to the club.

If a player requests a trade with multiple years left on the contract, the club has the right to trade to the best offer available e.g. if a player wants to move back home, they cannot nominate a specific club. Players have a right to nominate clubs if under 2 years remaining on deal or if mutual agreement between club and player.

Something like that but I'm a Temu lawyer and there's probably 100 loopholes or contradictions in there.

 

[yeah man]

you’d have to be blind to not consider the alternatives if you aren’t getting those vibes in private.

I've tried to make this point multiple times in this thread already and it's been laugh reacts and complete unwillingness to even acknowledge the possibility.

 

[sideswipe]

There should be a no-trade clause for that is club initiated e.g. if Merrett does sign an extension, he is unable to request a trade for the first 3-4 years of the next contract. So the longer the contract, the more power to the club.

If a player requests a trade with multiple years left on the contract, the club has the right to trade to the best offer available e.g. if a player wants to move back home, they cannot nominate a specific club. Players have a right to nominate clubs if under 2 years remaining on deal or if mutual agreement between club and player.

Something like that but I'm a Temu lawyer and there's probably 100 loopholes or contradictions in there.

All that needs to happen is more clubs put on their big boy pants and be staunch on holding players to contracts.

The more episodes we have like Essendon holding Merrett to his deal, the better.

 

[Scodog10]

If the AFL did something about players with long contracts wanting to weasel their way out of them for more money or glory elsewhere then clubs would surely be more settled.
If players want more money halfway through their contract maybe the answer is to have shorter contracts.
3 years and then re-negotiate but no way out of contract unless both player and club want it due to exceptional circumstances.
Players need to honour their contracts that are made in good faith by clubs.

The AFLPA will never agree to contract term limits. I doubt there’d be interest from the clubs as well because list management is conducted over a 3 year cycle and losing the flexibility of having some singed long term and others short term would be too disruptive, IMO.

I don’t really have a solution, but if you’re looking at options to take power from players/ managers then trading without consent is the best I have (I’m not even really a fan of that). I think Sidey’s view is the guts of it.

 

[Vankri]

I don’t believe any of the media bs, but. If the pies being in contention is a main reason for nick staying then good luck to him. Pendles didn’t leave when things got tough. I certainty don’t think nicks like that either.

Pendles was tempted by the Hawks from his own admission.

We’re both trying to read the mindset of someone we don’t personally know but I do actually think Nick is like that, much more so than Pendles. That’s why I buy the money/Tassie angle a lot less than a contending team. Gary Ablett is the massive case and potential deterrent he would have front of mind.

Sorry Vank, but I’m more in the camp of dismissing the likelihood of him leaving than not.

My angle is much more about how the current mood around him makes splashing the cash to bring in a Butters or Humphrey more challenging to navigate (to what degree I have no idea). The first question I have of Leppa if I’m Peter Lenton or Michael Oakes is “before we go anywhere with this what’s happening with Nick? Because there’s no chance my client is joining Collingwood if there’s even a sniff that he could move”. It would be much easier if they were with CDG like King.

Consider it a spectrum between his management openly talking about discussing his future with Tassie and being imbecilic to commit to Collingwood before or during any negotiations. I’d just like to see him edge further on the spectrum towards being an imbecile and away from his management discussing his future away from the club while he has 4 years to run on his contract. He doesn’t need to commit to being an imbecile fully like I have, but a little stronger public commitment to the club, at the expense of engagement, wouldn’t hurt our chase of stars this offseason, IMO.

I think that’s fair. If I had to bet I say he’s not leaving either but I’m using our recent experience in resetting our list as evidence we don’t have to linger the bottom.

It’s a funny chicken and egg because him sounding committed allows us to be attractive and us finding him partners to build with would make him committed.

I agree he has been very specifically directed by management to not make it look like a done deal he’d be a Pie for life.

 

[Eric Shin]

I'd be looking at:

Jed Busslinger (WB) KPD out of contract

Harry Rowston (GWS) M out of contract

Max Gruzewski (GWS) KPF out of contract

Straight swap Ed Allan for Elijah Tastes (ESS) M

Phoenix Gothard (GWS) SF out of contract

Will Dawson (NM) KPD 20yo 200cm out of contract

Oliver Hannaford (GWS) F

Ryan Angwin (GWS) M

Jack Ough (GWS) M 194cm

Alex Davies (GC) M 192cm out of contract

Ben Jepson (GC) - M UFA 24yo 184cm

Oscar Adams (GC) KPD UFA 22yo 198cm

Toby Pink (NM) KPD UFA 27yo 194cm

Lachlan Bramble (WB) M UFA 27yo 182cm

Lachlan McNeill (WB) F UFA 24yo 184cm

Ryan Gardner (WB) KPD UFA 28yo 197cm

Jake Kolodjashnij (GEE) KPD 30yo 193cm

I stopped reading when I got to straight swap Allan for Tsatas

 

[Peters_Nuts]

I stopped reading when I got to straight swap Allan for Tsatas

If we traded Allan for Tsatas, I'd be expecting more in return. He's horrible.

 

[Soups]

If we traded Allan for Tsatas, I'd be expecting more in return. He's horrible.

People pulling out their hair about Allan, imagine them watching Tsatas

 

[nickyds35]

Apparently Demons and Tigers are a better fit for Butters then Collingwood.

Obviously an article by dumb dumb John Ralph and Scott Gullen.

Contender ‘all chips in’ for Butters; $12m payday... that’s a sacrifice — Vic clubs’ chances ranked 1-10

$12m plot blows rivals away; contender goes ‘chips in’: Clubs ranked in free agent frenzy

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Chunky Steak]

I know this is rolling out the old cliche, but whether we take the possibility of Nick leaving for Tassie seriously or not is entirely academic right now. It's not like we can make supporter plans in preparation.

Therefore I'm very content to ignore "Gettable in March", appreciate Nick the Collingwood player and just chill.

I've learned this lesson the hard way in life: Anxiety is paying interest on a debt you may never owe.

 

[VinnieB]

I'd be looking at:

Jed Busslinger (WB) KPD out of contract

Harry Rowston (GWS) M out of contract

Max Gruzewski (GWS) KPF out of contract

Straight swap Ed Allan for Elijah Tastes (ESS) M

Phoenix Gothard (GWS) SF out of contract

Will Dawson (NM) KPD 20yo 200cm out of contract

Oliver Hannaford (GWS) F

Ryan Angwin (GWS) M

Jack Ough (GWS) M 194cm

Alex Davies (GC) M 192cm out of contract

Ben Jepson (GC) - M UFA 24yo 184cm

Oscar Adams (GC) KPD UFA 22yo 198cm

Toby Pink (NM) KPD UFA 27yo 194cm

Lachlan Bramble (WB) M UFA 27yo 182cm

Lachlan McNeill (WB) F UFA 24yo 184cm

Ryan Gardner (WB) KPD UFA 28yo 197cm

Jake Kolodjashnij (GEE) KPD 30yo 193cm

Not sure about Toby Pink.