2026 Trade / FA Thread

[gouki88]

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 and sure up our defence.

And we need a funny name to replace Cox with.

“In: Butts”

 

[sr36]

On the flip side 16 other football clubs wouldn't like that the reigning Premier secured Allen for nothing but salary. It's stuffed all around.

Another prime example of how FA impacts not only the 2 clubs involved is Richmond at the end of 2018 landing Lynch for no trade simply because of the finishing position of Gold Coast.

In 2019 Richmond win the flag, Lynch kicks 63 goals. Hardly seems fair to the rest of the competition in serious contention for the Premiership that season and in the near future that Lynch was obtainable for nothing but money and a list spot.

The AFL might actually be on to something by removing any compensation picks inside the top 10, as it could see more clubs matching bids and forcing trade. Personally though I'd take it a step further and make any club looking to acquire a band 1 FA pay an additional 1st round pick.

This would be to guard against inadequate compensation (and especially those circumstances where the financial terms are to great to match offer), it would also mean the club pursuing the player can't have a total free swing and be able to obtain an established player whilst maintaining the ability to take junior talent at that selection. No more double dipping.

As an example West Coast are offered a 2025 pick 11 and a Brisbane 1st round selection for Allen as compensation.

They can accept or force trade if able to match offer.

Brisbane had to originally decide whether pursuing Allen was worth parting with a 1st round selection at a minium. Last season the pursuit cost them nothing more than salary cap space. Now it could have been a decision between securing Allen or maintaining the points required for Annable.

Under this scenario a bottom placed team receive better compensation than a single 1st round selection aiding the rebuild, while a top team still receives value but at least has to pay some price.

The reality is the system is broken, it heavily favours the most successful teams when it comes to securing the premier free agents, whilst having a negative impact on those rebuilding because it either dilutes the value of draft selections or sees their better players being poached.

It's not aiding equalisation like hoped is it?

The current concept that getting a free agent reduces your compensation for losing a free agent is a good one. But that shouldn't be confined to within the same year. It should accumulate over years. If you get a star from FA one year, you shouldn't be compensated the next year if you lose a player to FA. You'd make it fairer and wipe out a fair few compensation picks that way - yet still compensate the teams who are overall losers from the rule.

 

[The Phantom]

If I was butters and it’s all about money, I’ll take as much as I can from port for two years and wait for the Tassie offer after that.

Say goodbye to a flag but hello to a fortune.

 

[Jen2310]

 

[manicpie]

Pretty sure I said this on multiple occasions. Get him out of your mind. He won't be coming to us. We have greater list needs than going all in on one player. I wouldn't be surprised if he stays

 

[stormskye]

Pretty sure I said this on multiple occasions. Get him out of your mind. He won't be coming to us. We have greater list needs than going all in on one player. I wouldn't be surprised if he stays

I’m on that train manic. We’ve got a lot of holes to fill. We need a house renovation, not blowing our budget on a kitchen. Don’t think spending 4 million on two mids is the way to go. IMO. Others will disagree

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Pretty sure I said this on multiple occasions. Get him out of your mind. He won't be coming to us. We have greater list needs than going all in on one player. I wouldn't be surprised if he stays

I'm not sure how good those kids are who are going to nominate Port but it sounds like they need points?

Maybe we could even ask the question of players like Drew or Marshall if Butters chooses to stay.

 

[Robroy22]

I’m on that train manic. We’ve got a lot of holes to fill. We need a house renovation, not blowing our budget on a kitchen. Don’t think spending 4 million on two mids is the way to go. IMO. Others will disagree

Whatever the situation (re build / renovation) Butters is not going to be available to us other than in the media's eyes. We'll get used (as we always do in these situations) to drive up the cost in trades and $$ but since Buckley...we've never been allowed to pursue and grab an absolute gun by the AFL and it's coffin chasers.

 

[stormskye]

Whatever the situation (re build / renovation) Butters is not going to be available to us other than in the media's eyes. We'll get used (as we always do in these situations) to drive up the cost in trades and $$ but since Buckley...we've never been allowed to pursue and grab an absolute gun by the AFL and it's coffin chasers.

Houston is a dual AA so whilst not butters level he is a handy player.

We’ve done pretty well in trades in recent years outside of grabbing an absolute gun. Lot of handy additions without breaking the bank to plug holes.

Drafting has been a bit of an issue. Not many high picks but I’d still expect a couple of players from the pick ranges of Macrae, poulter, McMahon, reef, Allan, HDM, Ryan. I was watching with a little bit of jealousy seeing MacDonald (pick 26- 2021) and Weddell (pick 18- 2022) running around last night

Positive is we’ve added o’bree who’s started well with Steele so far.

Make McRae look like an even better coach given the list he’s worked with and lack of upcoming talent. Compare the list he’s had to Brisbane, dogs etc.

 

[Jen2310]

I'm not sure how good those kids are who are going to nominate Port but it sounds like they need points?

Maybe we could even ask the question of players like Drew or Marshall if Butters chooses to stay.

Tassie has top picks they need to trade in 2027, so they probably can make some deals. Port have 2 off seasons to prepare for that.

 

[gouki88]

Houston is a dual AA so whilst not butters level he is a handy player.

We’ve done pretty well in trades in recent years outside of grabbing an absolute gun. Lot of handy additions without breaking the bank to plug holes.

Drafting has been a bit of an issue. Not many high picks but I’d still expect a couple of players from the pick ranges of Macrae, poulter, McMahon, reef, Allan, HDM, Ryan. I was watching with a little bit of jealousy seeing MacDonald (31) and Wendell (18) running around last night

Positive is we’ve added o’bree who’s started well with Steele so far

Some of our trading has been excellent. Bargain buys like Crisp & Cameron alongside nabbing young guns like Treloar and Adams have been great moves.

As much as I like Butters, the cost will simply be too dear. Would rather explore Bailey or King, with Humphreys as a long shot. There are plenty of other intriguing B-C grade options out there too, including:

• Jordon Butts
• Jake Riccardi
• Alex Davies
• Aliir Aliir

 

[stormskye]

Some of our trading has been excellent. Bargain buys like Crisp & Cameron alongside nabbing young guns like Treloar and Adams have been great moves.

As much as I like Butters, the cost will simply be too dear. Would rather explore Bailey or King, with Humphreys as a long shot. There are plenty of other intriguing B-C grade options out there too, including:

• Jordon Butts
• Jake Riccardi
• Alex Davies
• Aliir Aliir

Ricardi is one I’d consider. Still think he’s got potential as a defender. Decent size

Taken after Hines flanker specials rantall and bianco

Davies we were interested in from memory. Struggle to see him getting games with their list of mids. Potentially an upgrade on Long so def worth looking at.

Those are the kinds of moves we are good at. Couple of cheap trades. Someone like king with $ alone and taking a kid in the draft

 

[theprospector]

Tassie has top picks they need to trade in 2027, so they probably can make some deals. Port have 2 off seasons to prepare for that.

We need to get our hands on some of those Tassie picks. F all chance of that happening though.

 

[sr36]

I’m on that train manic. We’ve got a lot of holes to fill. We need a house renovation, not blowing our budget on a kitchen. Don’t think spending 4 million on two mids is the way to go. IMO. Others will disagree

It's not the money for me. **** knows how that all works. But we just can't afford to spend what he'll cost in trade. Problem for Zak - is anyone else going to value him as highly in terms of both salary cap and trade price as Port will? Massive salaries for a free agent might be understandable, but if you have to double up with a massive trade cost as well ...

 

[Rusty Beam]

Some of our trading has been excellent. Bargain buys like Crisp & Cameron alongside nabbing young guns like Treloar and Adams have been great moves.

As much as I like Butters, the cost will simply be too dear. Would rather explore Bailey or King, with Humphreys as a long shot. There are plenty of other intriguing B-C grade options out there too, including:

• Jordon Butts
• Jake Riccardi
• Alex Davies
• Aliir Aliir

Yep.

King is priority one.

Then Bailey as that extra midfielder (Butters is way too expensive).

Then a capable key defender like Butts.

Those 3 would absolutely transform our team.

 

[WanderingDude]

I’m on that train manic. We’ve got a lot of holes to fill. We need a house renovation, not blowing our budget on a kitchen. Don’t think spending 4 million on two mids is the way to go. IMO. Others will disagree

Manic and his trains confuse me. There are so many I don’t know if I am going north, south, east or west. I just got back from Sydney after trying to get on board with an overweight package. I am now back Werribee station sitting on the fence. The Butters train is here. It ain’t leaving yet. The cat ain’t purring, the bulldog ain’t barking and brown undies aren’t the full stink. Strange stuff can happen.

 

[granniewolf]

Manic and his trains confuse me. There are so many I don’t know if I am going north, south, east or west. I just got back from Sydney after trying to get on board with an overweight package. I am now back Werribee station sitting on the fence. The Butters train is here. It ain’t leaving yet. The cat ain’t purring, the bulldog ain’t barking and brown undies aren’t the full stink. Strange stuff can happen.

We can't afford him even if he wanted to come to us WD.

 

[Jen2310]

Manic and his trains confuse me. There are so many I don’t know if I am going north, south, east or west. I just got back from Sydney after trying to get on board with an overweight package. I am now back Werribee station sitting on the fence. The Butters train is here. It ain’t leaving yet. The cat ain’t purring, the bulldog ain’t barking and brown undies aren’t the full stink. Strange stuff can happen.

Manic's train station is full. Always comings and goings, but gets too crowded

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

Maybe we can find a real tall forward rather than getting Temu forwards

 

[Apex36]

Ricardi is one I’d consider. Still think he’s got potential as a defender. Decent size

Taken after Hines flanker specials rantall and bianco

Davies we were interested in from memory. Struggle to see him getting games with their list of mids. Potentially an upgrade on Long so def worth looking at.

Those are the kinds of moves we are good at. Couple of cheap trades. Someone like king with $ alone and taking a kid in the draft

Don’t remind me of him overlooking Riccardi for those two and then trading the pick we could have used on him to GWS who took him instead.

Never been so angry about a draft night move ever.

 

[Apex36]

It's not the money for me. **** knows how that all works. But we just can't afford to spend what he'll cost in trade. Problem for Zak - is anyone else going to value him as highly in terms of both salary cap and trade price as Port will? Massive salaries for a free agent might be understandable, but if you have to double up with a massive trade cost as well ...

I’m convinced that Port will dig their heels in too hard like Essendon did with Merrett and he’ll just sign for 2 years to take him to UFA. After the Houston debacle I have no doubt they’ll go too far the other way in their trading philosophy.

 

[Apex36]

Yep.

King is priority one.

Then Bailey as that extra midfielder (Butters is way too expensive).

Then a capable key defender like Butts.

Those 3 would absolutely transform our team.

Agree, if we could land those 3 we suddenly look really strong again, particularly if a couple of our 24/25 draftees can develop in to good players.

 

[stormskye]

Yep.

King is priority one.

Then Bailey as that extra midfielder (Butters is way too expensive).

Then a capable key defender like Butts.

Those 3 would absolutely transform our team.

Going to be interesting with Bailey and whether Bris can match. With Neale potentially moving might free up some cash but then they have bigger contracts for their younger stars to consider. Not to mention the reported 800-900k for Allen (don’t look great so far)

 

[Jen2310]

I’m convinced that Port will dig their heels in too hard like Essendon did with Merrett and he’ll just sign for 2 years to take him to UFA. After the Houston debacle I have no doubt they’ll go too far the other way in their trading philosophy.

Given their need for picks for their F/S, NGA this and next year - I kinda think they will let him go, but get as much as possible from it.

 

[stormskye]

Given their need for picks for their F/S, NGA this and next year - I kinda think they will let him go, but get as much as possible from it.

How good are the f/s and NGA kids? McGuane was rated a first rounder 12 months out. I’m cautious of them all now!