2026 Trade / FA Thread

[Jelly Bean]

It was mentioned by Glen McFarlane a couple of years ago, and in one of the recent Gettable episodes by Cal Twomey.

Considering we chased Rowell pretty hard last year before he re-signed also tells me we have plenty of cap space.

Not to nitpick, but Glen McFarlane and Gettable are 'the media'.

 

[WanderingDude]

We could be doing the same right now.

In the HS this morning McGuane predicted St Kilda 9th, one position above Carlton. Talking better players from a crap team can place you above that crap team. Not a convincing strategy. We have been gradually getting established players. We need really top end to complement Nick. Not a heap of coulda players.

 

[Vankri]

Who says we didn’t? Bobby was adamant he wanted to stay, publicly on social media.

He wouldn’t be adamant to stay publicly for any salary.

 

[Dtennent94]

He wouldn’t be adamant to stay publicly for any salary.

What do you mean?

 

[Eric Shin]

Not to nitpick, but Glen McFarlane and Gettable are 'the media'.

I probably didn’t word that properly, but they are some in the media that still say we have a tight salary cap. People like Riley Beveridge, Jon Ralph, Jay Clark and Caroline Wilson.

 

[Vankri]

What do you mean?

I mean that the first signal a list manager would show a player that they are willing to let them go is to offer a salary that is below what they would get elsewhere. It’s not a case of ‘maybe we did float him as a trade but Bobby wanted to stay’. It’s a game of leverage and give and take. If we were very cut throat we would have assessed the list and its gap and realised we really only have 2-3 players we could have traded for significant currency (right age, right level but not the obvious no gos like Nick) and do that to balance the list and bring an elite mid. That’s what I personally was advocating for close to this time last year. During the year we had multiple opportunities with Cameron and Maynard. The first one I was very much in the keep camp, Maynard we could have replaced on the field by position but maybe not by heart, so Bobby should have been an option.

 

[Chrispiesssss]

AFL Out of Contract Players in 2026

List of AFL players coming out of contract at the end of 2026.

www.footywire.com

Not sure how correct this list is.

 

[WanderingDude]

AFL Out of Contract Players in 2026

List of AFL players coming out of contract at the end of 2026.

www.footywire.com

Not sure how correct this list is.

They seemed slow with Collingwood updates last year. It might be how they assess creditable sources. The club has caused issues by not making all extensions public. This includes the dreaded extra year trigger. Jen2310 has insights that are really good. The other teams, no real interest. All team lists tend to have errors.

 

[Mollythedolly]

They seemed slow with Collingwood updates last year. It might be how they assess creditable sources. The club has caused issues by not making all extensions public. This includes the dreaded extra year trigger. Jen2310 has insights that are really good. The other teams, no real interest. All team lists tend to have errors.

All contracts have to be submitted to the AFL so not sure a delayed announcement is a justification.

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

Think we need to brace ourselves to lose naicos to Tasmania

He won't be able to knock it back

In 4 years time Collingwood will be paying him well. Who knows how much money will be in the game by 2030.
He will more than likely be Collingwood captain, plus with the outside football brand sponsorships he has, he will be comfortable and not struggling for a dollar living in Melbourne.
Plus Melbourne has bigger opportunities for him outside of footy.....

 

[Ted Parker]

I'd be more than happy if we landed Sydney's Justin McInerney, SYD, 189cm Midfield / Forward. Will be 26 going into the 2027 season.

http://[B]https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-sydney-swans--justin-mcinerney[/B]

Of those off-contract in 2026 Out of contract players 2026, I wouldn't say no to a 2027 season 27 y/o Jake Riccardi either Jake Riccardi - Footywire.
If Buller doesn't fire, and Tim Membrey likely to call it a day, the hard-working Riccardi would be an ideal Mihocek forward type and more than handy developing Ruck back-up to a mid-2027 season 32 y/o Darcy Cameron.
Bayley Fritsch Bayley Fritsch - Footywire is a Membrey type mid-sized forward replacement. Despite that possum on his bonce, the Bloke can turn it on.
St.Kildas Darcy Wilson Darcy Wilson - Footywire is another I'd be picking up the phone to call is agent with a serious offer, bloke is a natural. Darcy Wilson | AFL Highlights 2025

In a money-ball scenario, Justin McInerney and Jake Riccardi wouldn't cost the earth.
Fritsch & Wilson are class players and are set to command big $$$ from a number of Clubs looking for high-quality finishers. We potentially had one in Oliver Henry, but he's rumoured to have been put on the Cats long-term injury list while the search goes on to find his ticker.

 

[Cyclops]

Of who's off-contract in 2026 Out of contract players 2026, I wouldn't say no to a 2027 season 27 y/o Jake Riccardi either Jake Riccardi - Footywire.
If Buller doesn't fire, and Tim Membrey likely to call it a day, the hard-working Riccardi would be an ideal Mihocek forward type and more than handy developing Ruck back-up to a mid-2027 season 32 y/o Darcy Cameron.
Bayley Fritsch Bayley Fritsch - Footywire is a Membrey type mid-sized forward replacement. Despite that raccoon on his bonce, the Bloke can turn it on.
St.Kildas Darcy Wilson Darcy Wilson - Footywire is another I'd be picking up the phone to call is agent with a serious offer, bloke is a natural. Darcy Wilson | AFL Highlights 2025

In a money-ball scenario, Justin McInerney and Jake Riccardi wouldn't cost the earth. Fritsch & Wilson are class players and are set to command big $$$ from a number of Clubs looking for a high-quality finishers. We potentially had one in Oliver Henry, but he's been put on the Cats long-term injury list while the search goes on to find his ticker.

Thanks for that, interesting suggestions. Riccardi I like, can play. I feel like GWS and Suns are overstuffed with talent, some good players get squeezed out of position eg Perryman.

Fritsch is proven quality, as you say we'd have to pay. I feel he is more of a "one-out" forward, maybe I am wrong and he would slot into our complex forward set up.

 

[Ted Parker]

Thanks for that, interesting suggestions. Riccardi I like, can play. I feel like GWS and Suns are overstuffed with talent, some good players get squeezed out of position e.g. Perryman.

Fritsch is proven quality, as you say we'd have to pay. I feel he is more of a "one-out" forward, maybe I am wrong and he would slot into our complex forward set up.

Turning 29 next season, I'd expect Fritsch would come significantly cheaper than a 27 y/o 2× AFL premiership player, 2025 All-Australian Zac Bailey.
Perhaps looms as our Jamie Elliott replacement.

 

[Cyclops]

Bailey would be the dream. Him and Joey kept them close when they had no right to be in 2023. Proven GF ace.

 

[Pistol Night]

Bailey would be the dream. Him and Joey kept them close when they had no right to be in 2023. Proven GF ace.

2 absolutely ridiculous goals

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Bailey would be the dream. Him and Joey kept them close when they had no right to be in 2023. Proven GF ace.

He would've been a worthy winner of the Norm Smith last season too. Loves the big stage.

 

[SchuPie]

Of those off-contract in 2026 Out of contract players 2026, I wouldn't say no to a 2027 season 27 y/o Jake Riccardi either Jake Riccardi - Footywire.
If Buller doesn't fire, and Tim Membrey likely to call it a day, the hard-working Riccardi would be an ideal Mihocek forward type and more than handy developing Ruck back-up to a mid-2027 season 32 y/o Darcy Cameron.
Bayley Fritsch Bayley Fritsch - Footywire is a Membrey type mid-sized forward replacement. Despite that possum on his bonce, the Bloke can turn it on.
St.Kildas Darcy Wilson Darcy Wilson - Footywire is another I'd be picking up the phone to call is agent with a serious offer, bloke is a natural. Darcy Wilson | AFL Highlights 2025

In a money-ball scenario, Justin McInerney and Jake Riccardi wouldn't cost the earth. Fritsch & Wilson are class players and are set to command big $$$ from a number of Clubs looking for high-quality finishers. We potentially had one in Oliver Henry, but he's rumoured to have been put on the Cats long-term injury list while the search goes on to find his ticker.

IMO, Wilson maybe
The other don’t seem like a real need and I personally wouldn’t chase any of them
I’d be inclined to look for speed / a mid jet
- think Humphrey / Bailey
If we did need a KPF, I hope we go chips-in on a game-changer

 

[Soups]

Wilson is a good young player, would have to give up a decent piece I reckon. With the amount of money The Saints have to lose someone surely?!

 

[WanderingDude]

Wilson is a good young player, would have to give up a decent piece I reckon. With the amount of money The Saints have thrown around someone surely has to leave.

Ross or SOS or Gubbster ?

 

[Exambolor]

Bailey would be the dream. Him and Joey kept them close when they had no right to be in 2023. Proven GF ace.

Should have kicked 10 goals in the Grand Final last year and won the Norm but inaccuracy hurt him

Feels like a player who’d thrive with more on ball time

 

[Soups]

Ross or SOS or Gubbster ?

long day.

All 3 though.

 

[soreplums]

2 absolutely ridiculous goals

Still think he ran too far for his first goal…

 

[Johno9911]

Wilson is a good young player, would have to give up a decent piece I reckon. With the amount of money The Saints have to lose someone surely?!

Yeah he looks like growing in to a really good AFL player. Good work rate, evasion and footy smarts to get in space and be part of chains

I'm big on targeting "AFL ready" mids in that 21-23 year old bracket to surround Nick with. I (like many) have really liked the development of Longy last year and hope to see him take another step, and the youngsters (Prindable, Swadling) have been impressive early but that's no certainty to make it. With HDM and Ed still having question marks hovering over their head, and the inevitable ends of Pendles, Sidey and even JDG (strikes me as the sort of guy to quietly bow out earlier than some would think) over the next few years - we need to build a crew to go with Nick as that "changing of the guard" in midfield!

 

[SchuPie]

I'm big on targeting "AFL ready" mids in that 21-23 year old bracket to surround Nick with.

Agree 100%

1-2 top line mids or mids with potential

 

[Johno9911]

Agree 100%

1-2 top line mids or mids with potential

Yep if a superstar like Zac Butters can walk in to the club, 25 year old - gun mid, then absolute happy days!

But if that "white whale" target isn't achievable, younger promising mids (like Wilson) should be the play. Raiding one of the Suns young mids, given their overflowing riches - could also be a nice fishing spot, Will Graham (out of contract '27) is one I really like, explosive and contested unit, missed out a bit given the talent pool and some injury issues.