2026 Trade / FA Thread

[soreplums]

Absolutely, but if you look at most premiership midfields they are stacked with A grade talent. We really only have Nick as a full timer in that under 30 category. I guess what I’m saying is we are further away from completing our midfield than we are our forward line. You can get away with one key forward gun, our big issue will be replacing Elliott when he retires.

I think if we could land Butters that should be the priority, then a toss up so best available option between mid and key forward. I don’t think we can manage both King and Butters in this trade period with the picks we have to trade.

I don’t think GC will be able to match a Ben King offer without shedding others.

With the players we have coming out of contract from 2026-2030 we will have cash to pay all of King, Butters and Nick.
There wouldn’t be too many current players on our list requiring a significant pay increase

 

[FAIRANDBALANCED]

I think Butters is the second best player in the comp - so definitely.

But I think you're underestimating what King could do to our forward line. He'd slot into Elliott's deepest forward role and Elliott wouldn't have to wrestle in the hotspot. He'd get to free wheel a heap more. We'd be stronger in the air and stronger at ground level.

Are you saying he is better than Naicos? Or Bont? Because either is absurd to me. Mind you he is an absolute superstar and firmly in the conversation for number 3. Reckon the top 2 are a fair way in front.

 

[Scodog10]

Interesting observation…

The best group of young forwards in the compo were all drafted outside the top 30 of the draft or in the mid season drafts over recent years:

- Morris, Trembath, Shanahan, Dear

EFA

Obviously depending on what you class as “young” because if it’s 22U22 eligible then I’d have Cadman as the best young forward in the game (marginally ahead of Morris).

 

[nickyds35]

EFA

Obviously depending on what you class as “young” because if it’s 22U22 eligible then I’d have Cadman as the best young forward in the game (marginally ahead of Morris).

Sorry - Morso my point is that there are a heap of young quality talls found either later in the draft or via other avenues.

It feels like this is more prevelant now (finding a good tall outside a high-end draft pick) then in it was 5 or 10 years ago.

There is always going to be stars at the top of the draft, but its good to know you can still find quality via other avenues.

 

[sr36]

Sorry - Morso my point is that there are a heap of young quality talls found either later in the draft or via other avenues.

It feels like this is more prevelant now (finding a good tall outside a high-end draft pick) then in it was 5 or 10 years ago.

There is always going to be stars at the top of the draft, but its good to know you can still find quality via other avenues.

It's because teams used to overpay and burn a lot of early picks on anyone who was half a chance, so they never slipped. Now it's like any other position. They only go early if they're really likely with junior runs on the board and athletically strong this some decent prospects go later.

 

[sr36]

Are you saying he is better than Naicos? Or Bont? Because either is absurd to me. Mind you he is an absolute superstar and firmly in the conversation for number 3. Reckon the top 2 are a fair way in front.

When comparing the elite. It just depends on what your biases are. He's not as damaging as Bont and Heeney, but he turns chaos into control more often. Nick does both so clear number 1 for me.

 

[Scodog10]

Sorry - Morso my point is that there are a heap of young quality talls found either later in the draft or via other avenues.

It feels like this is more prevelant now (finding a good tall outside a high-end draft pick) then in it was 5 or 10 years ago.

There is always going to be stars at the top of the draft, but its good to know you can still find quality via other avenues.

I agreed with your point I just wanted to highlight some minor differences of opinion. Personally Dear>>>May who has a lot of work to do to be considered a peer to the likes of Trembath, Dear and Morris, IMO. The curiosity of it all for me is that we’ve been applying this drafting method for nigh on 15 years and it’s never really reaped any benefits. Despite all that the three best KPF’s in the game were all top 6 picks…

 

[Bianconeri]

Attempting to take off the Collingwood blinders for one second, how many here actually believe we're a genuine chance of getting Butters?

Because I'm not sure how we could pull it off.

The only possible scenario I see Port Adelaide even remotely entertaining (and not necessarily accepting), is:

• This year's first, whatever that may be
• Next year's first
• Beau McCreery

The reason I say this is because I expect Port to match any offer we throw at Zac, forcing us to trade.

I don't think Hawthorn and the Bulldogs will have any better draft hand than we would? (unless I'm forgetting something) given they will both most likely finish higher than us this year.

We also seemingly have more cap space than both.

I think we’d need to add both Anderson and Steene to the deal.

 

[PiesHateU2]

I think we’d need to add both Anderson and Steene to the deal.

Butters for 2 firsts plus McCreery is a high enough price to pay; with your suggested additions (Anderson and Steene -- clearly both towards the top of our limited young talent stocks) we should be getting Butters plus Georgiades, and maybe old mate Richards back.

 

[Bianconeri]

Butters for 2 firsts plus McCreery is a high enough price to pay; with your suggested additions (Anderson and Steene) we should be getting Butters plus Georgiades, and maybe old mate Richards back.

If you want to second best player in the comp you’d need to pay more than two mid-late first rounders and a solid role player.

 

[PiesHateU2]

If you want to second best player in the comp you’d need to pay more than two mid-late first rounders and a solid role player.

I would suggest Zak Butters is not worth that kind of price for where we are. We finally unearth some young players who look like they are up to the level and can be part of our team for the next 10 years... and we immediately look to ship them off (plus our current and future FR picks, plus one of the only speedy runners in our team)? I think that would be utterly ridiculous list management.

 

[Dtennent94]

I would suggest Zak Butters is not worth that kind of price for where we are. We finally unearth some young players who look like they are up to the level and can be part of our team for the next 10 years... and we immediately look to ship them off (plus our current and future FR picks, plus one of the only speedy runners in our team)? I think that would be utterly ridiculous list management.

3x firsts (who cares about other pick swaps, etc). Anything more than that and I don’t wanna hear about it tbh.

 

[Bianconeri]

I would suggest Zak Butters is not worth that kind of price for where we are. We finally unearth some young players who look like they are up to the level and can be part of our team for the next 10 years... and we immediately look to ship them off (plus our current and future FR picks, plus one of the only speedy runners in our team)? I think that would be utterly ridiculous list management.

You don’t get the out and out stars of the comp by paying peanuts.

It’s a lot to pay but I think our role players are replaceable especially if we have a Nick/Butters combo carrying the midfield.

 

[UltraEgo]

You don’t get the out and out stars of the comp by paying peanuts.

It’s a lot to pay but I think our role players are replaceable especially if we have a Nick/Butters combo carrying the midfield.

Steene is untouchable

 

[PiesHateU2]

My thought is, instead of selling the farm to land one big fish (who may or may not work out immediately anyway if the struggles of Schultz, Houston etc. are anything to go by), focus on free agents who are either:

• Not getting consistent runs within their clubs due to list depth (e.g. key forwards at the Dogs, Giants) or
• Who clearly belong at AFL level but are currently playing for smaller clubs and would like the opportunity to come to the Pies and become competition-wide stars and build their brand and off-field value (e.g. some players at North Melbourne, St. Kilda etc.)

Either way, each player we bring in should be better than the person they will replace on the Pies list, which shouldn't be that difficult frankly given the number of ageing stars who will retire imminently, or the number of list cloggers who we have had for the last 4-5 years.

 

[PiesHateU2]

3x firsts (who cares about other pick swaps, etc). Anything more than that and I don’t wanna hear about it tbh.

Agree. Picks I can cop because we don't seem to (historically at least) select the good ones anyway. Sell away our emerging young talent (when that's our greatest area of scarcity)... no way

 

[granniewolf]

You don’t get the out and out stars of the comp by paying peanuts.

It’s a lot to pay but I think our role players are replaceable especially if we have a Nick/Butters combo carrying the midfield.

Oscar not going anywhere !

 

[PiesHateU2]

You don’t get the out and out stars of the comp by paying peanuts.

It’s a lot to pay but I think our role players are replaceable especially if we have a Nick/Butters combo carrying the midfield.

mate, sounds awesome in theory. But Nick/Butters combo will need 2-3 other midfielders around them... who will that be in a year or two's time? No Pendles (retired), no Sidey (retired), no Gus (traded, in your scenario), no DeGoey (retired or traded with some currency, ideally). Ned Long, De Mattia and Ed Allan are not the answer. No, not Lipinski either

 

[nickyds35]

mate, sounds awesome in theory. But Nick/Butters combo will need 2-3 other midfielders around them... who will that be in a year or two's time? No Pendles (retired), no Sidey (retired), no Gus (traded, in your scenario), no DeGoey (retired or traded with some currency, ideally). Ned Long, De Mattia and Ed Allan are not the answer. No, not Lipinski either

A lot easier to recruit/develop 3-4th bananas in midfield once you have the core stars (Naicos/Butters) in place.

 

[PiesHateU2]

A lot easier to recruit/develop 3-4th bananas in midfield once you have the core stars (Naicos/Butters) in place.

This goes to fundamental list management philosophy. I don't think we need Superman to stand next to our Batman. I think we need to find a few really good Robins.

Without necessarily pointing at the actual individuals I am about to name, I am talking about the Colby McKerchers, Ryley Sanders, Joel Freijah types... there are a few if we look hard enough across the other clubs. They'll probably cost one first rounder each (or a few later picks plus depth players), and can with Nick become one of the most feared young midfields for the next 10 years.

 

[No SPIN]

Butters for 2 firsts plus McCreery is a high enough price to pay; with your suggested additions (Anderson and Steene -- clearly both towards the top of our limited young talent stocks) we should be getting Butters plus Georgiades, and maybe old mate Richards back.

Why do we need Richards back?

I’d take the high quality, high IQ, tall, who can play either end and would be cheap - Tod Marshall

Especially now that he has filled out and added bulk.
But not sure of contract status.

 

[BillyElliott]

Why do we need Richards back?

I’d take the high quality, high IQ, tall, who can play either end and would be cheap - Tod Marshall

Especially now that he has filled out and added bulk.
But not sure of contract status.

Five more years for Marshall

Forward Todd Marshall has signed on until the end of 2029.

www.portadelaidefc.com.au

 

[Bianconeri]

Steene is untouchable

For Butters, definitely not

 

[Bianconeri]

mate, sounds awesome in theory. But Nick/Butters combo will need 2-3 other midfielders around them... who will that be in a year or two's time? No Pendles (retired), no Sidey (retired), no Gus (traded, in your scenario), no DeGoey (retired or traded with some currency, ideally). Ned Long, De Mattia and Ed Allan are not the answer. No, not Lipinski either

Perryman as the defensive mid, Long is good enough as a rotation for them and hope one of Swadling/Prindable come on and/or find another Tom Mitchell type bargain. Can always look for mature depth in state leagues as well.

 

[Scodog10]

I would suggest Zak Butters is not worth that kind of price for where we are. We finally unearth some young players who look like they are up to the level and can be part of our team for the next 10 years... and we immediately look to ship them off (plus our current and future FR picks, plus one of the only speedy runners in our team)? I think that would be utterly ridiculous list management.

**** me the guys basically a 3 year older version of Naicos and you’d dither over a couple of players with 7 matches total to their name?? They could quite legitimately ask for 4 top 10 picks + a best 22 player and I’d pay it. Butters would be as big an addition for us as Buckley was and with him alongside Naicos we’d potentially be premiership favourite Rd 1 2027.