2026 Trade / FA Thread

[Carlthetruth]

Very reactionary, but if your butters, what is more attractive:

- forming a 10 year partnership with the most dynamic player (Daicos) in the game in front of the biggest crowds.

- 2-3 years with bont, and an injury prone Darcy/Naughton.

Port are adamant they will match ANY bid so their trading starting point will be THREE first round picks. Butters isn't coming to Collingwood, it's just not going to happen.

 

[stormskye]

Port are adamant they will match ANY bid so their trading starting point will be THREE first round picks. Butters isn't coming to Collingwood, it's just not going to happen.

I hope he doesn’t. To much in both $ and draft capital for me

 

[GreekLunatic]

I would go after a key foward first then in the draft go for the best mid

 

[Rorzza]

IMO, CFC has an opportunity here to bounce relatively quickly....Fix the midfield end of year:

• 1 X UFA/RFA Mid/forward while keeping 2026 first round pick.
• 1 X Top Ten draft mid that will more than likely play round 1 based on current midfield talent.
• Finally, explore the new indigenous list position which I know little about....Bell from GWS midfield might be a candidate, player X (due diligence necessary) or some young indigenous player from the draft.

 

[Jen2310]

IMO, CFC has an opportunity here to bounce relatively quickly....Fix the midfield end of year:

• 1 X UFA/RFA Mid/forward while keeping 2026 first round pick.
• 1 X Top Ten draft mid that will more than likely play round 1 based on current midfield talent.
• Finally, explore the new indigenous list position which I know little about....Bell from GWS midfield might be a candidate, player X (due diligence necessary) or some young indigenous player from the draft.

We have two indigenous players on our vfl list. There was a rumour we are hiding one of them..

 

[No SPIN]

I’m just not a fan of Angus’ kicking. I really hope it improves. Just don’t think it will.

He can kick both sides with penetration - he had one errant kick. But the deep kick on his left to McStay in the pocket who then kicked a goal was excellent. Once he adjusts to the pace of the game he’ll improve.

 

[Dtennent94]

Take as many of King, Bailey, Butts that we can get for free. Keep 1st pick unless Humphrey still wants to come to us.

Retire Howe and Membrey. Keep Sidey and Pendles if they’ll play for chips, otherwise maybe offer a bit extra to one and retire the other, depending on form.

Cut Howes, Smit.

 

[No SPIN]

Take as many of King, Bailey, Butts that we can get for free. Keep 1st pick unless Humphrey still wants to come to us.

Retire Howe and Membrey. Keep Sidey and Pendles if they’ll play for chips, otherwise maybe offer a bit extra to one and retire the other, depending on form.

Cut Howes, Smit.

Why Howes?

 

[Roverjg]

Is 202cm Ben King

34

Ben King

Age

25

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.5

4star

T

0.5

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

Collingwood’s answer to its stagnant and dysfunctional forward line, which has in part been compounded by poor kicking I50. His stats suggest that if he doesn’t mark the ball then there is little else.

His career stats are as follows:
5.5 kicks; 2 HB; 0.5 T; 2.2 Goals; 1 BH; 60% kicking efficiency; 3.7 shots at goal; 59.2 goal kicking accuracy; 3.6 marks; 1 contested mark; 2.4 marks I50; 1 mark on lead

He is 26 in July. He has played 125 games out of a possible 141 games. His stats and player ratings significantly increased in 2025 & have increased again in 2026 thus far. Despite his kicks per game not changing since 2024, what has changed is his goal kicking accuracy – 2024: 56.1% goal kicking accuracy; 2025: 65.7% goal kicking accuracy and this year he is currently at 87.5% accuracy.

King is a plug and play pure key forward (rare and expensive). He is not a high-pressure forward, a big ground-level contributor, a heavy defensive runner, so if our ball movement and delivery stay poor, King risks becoming a high-efficiency finisher… who doesn’t get enough looks.

King will improve our forward line outcomes once the ball arrives well, but he doesn’t fix how the ball gets to him. He will be dependent on a flawed system.

GCS have reported they will match any offer made to King. Tom Morris has reported Gold Coast are still very much (the favourites) ... but, it’s not a football decision. This comes down to a lifestyle decision for he and his partner as well. “Gold Coast are at 60 (per cent). Then, equally divided, are Collingwood, Hawthorn and Geelong ... between 40 per cent, they’re the three other clubs.”

There have been unsubstantiated reports this week that King is a done deal (ala Daniel McStay

11

Daniel Mcstay

Age

30

Ht

195cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.6

2star

K

5.3

2star

HB

3.3

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

0.9

4star

D

8.6

2star

K

5.3

2star

HB

3.3

2star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

0.9

4star

D

8.4

3star

K

4.8

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

1.2

4star

except McStay was UFA) to arrive at Collingwood next year.

What will it cost us?

 

[SchuPie]

As a RFA, we offer what we can, then walk away if they match and there is trade cost
(Something we have been unable to do with our “shiny penny” trading in the past)

 

[Dtennent94]

Why Howes?

Allan, Ryan, HDM, etc are contracted.

 

[stormskye]

Allan, Ryan, HDM, etc are contracted.

Allan isn’t

 

[Eric Shin]

I hope we go hard for Rowell in 2027

 

[manicpie]

I hope we go hard for Rowell in 2027

King this year and Rowell next year and we're back in contention

 

[Rusty Beam]

Ben King

34

Ben King

Age

25

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.5

4star

T

0.5

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

has ten times more forward craft than any of our key forwards. Probably better than any of our forwards bar possibly Bobby and Elliott.

His leading patterns and ability to lose his opponents is elite.

Straight goal kicking makes him an even better prospect.

 

[No SPIN]

Allan, Ryan, HDM, etc are contracted.

And? Why should Howes be cut?

 

[Dtennent94]

And? Why should Howes be cut?

Nothing personal, but we probably have at least one too many talls on our list right now. Plus Condon looking more likely to make his way back to us eventually.

Gotta make a minimum amount of list changes. Maybe someone will request a trade and make it easier for us

 

[Rusty Beam]

I hope we go hard for Rowell in 2027

Don’t get me wrong he’s a contested beast. But he should get so many more frees against for holding the ball and incorrect disposal.

 

[BillyElliott]

Don’t get me wrong he’s a contested beast. But he should get so many more frees against for holding the ball and incorrect disposal.

Don't worry, if he came to Pies he'd be getting those frees against

 

[No SPIN]

Nothing personal, but we probably have at least one too many talls on our list right now. Plus Condon looking more likely to make his way back to us eventually.

Gotta make a minimum amount of list changes. Maybe someone will request a trade and make it easier for us

Kid is 20, has played maybe 8 games - picked in June. Has great hands, height bulk, could molded to play either end. It’s way too early to cut him with those traits knowing talls take time.

 

[Dtennent94]

Kid is 19, has played maybe 8 games - picked in June. Has great hands, height bulk, could molded to play either end. It’s way too early to cut him with those traits knowing talls take time.

What are your list changes for the end of the year, if you had to make them?

 

[No SPIN]

What are your list changes for the end of the year, if you had to make them?

Way too early for players not in the retirement window - let’s see how both VFL and AFL seasons unfold.

 

[footballsack35]

Why the f*** is HDM signed until 2027?
Cut Smit, Sullivan and one of Ryan/Jiath
Retire Howe, Pendles and Sidebottom.

 

[manicpie]

Why the f*** is HDM signed until 2027?
Cut Smit, Sullivan and one of Ryan/Jiath
Retire Howe, Pendles and Sidebottom.

I'd keep sidey one more year

 

[footballsack35]

I'd keep sidey one more year

I think his spot will be gone in the team by the likes of swadling, hayes, top 10 pick? etc