2026 Trade / FA Thread

[Apex36]

He also doesn’t play in a bollocking inside mid style like Anderson.

Personally I don’t see his build hurting his chance of a debut. Hopefully we can ease him into the team in a half forward or wing role.

He’ll get midfield exposure around the ground that way. Away from the centre bounce.

I agree, for the role he’ll play his build won’t hurt him, he’ll debut on half back or a wing, most of his possessions are uncontested with the role he’s played in the VFL.

 

[Jen2310]

Swadling's body size.. he's bigger than you think when you see him up close. I don't think thats an issue.

 

[Ugene41]

I don't think we're in Richmond rebuild territory, or that we'll necessarily get there. Acquisitions like Perryman, Schultz and Houston should keep us from reaching those levels (on top of talent like Naicos, Jaicos, McCreery, IQ etc). That's not to say we don't have deficiencies, as we clearly do, but I'm not convinced they're as bad as some are making them out to be.

I thought in some ways we stole 2023 and were obligated to see how far we could take the list. Realistically, the mini rebuild should've commenced in 2024, but it's difficult to make a call like that after a premiership the season prior.

Agree we have a strong core that we shouldn't be doing a Richmond rebuild. Especially when we have Nick and coming into the Tassie draft years.

I think we were right in it last year given we were basically premiership favourites the majority of the season and lost a tightly contested prelim to the premiers. So it was probably the correct call not to do a mini rebuild from in 2024. If we did, we wouldn't have Houston and Perryman from that trade period and would've had no first round in the strong 2024 draft due to the prior year Schultz trade. We'd then have to rely on the weak 2025 draft to try commence the rebuild which wouldn't really have put us in much of a better position.

The good thing is that we didn't trade away our first round this year for a plodder like Simpkin that some posters were pushing for in the trade period last year.

 

[brysie]

Agree we have a strong core that we shouldn't be doing a Richmond rebuild. Especially when we have Nick and coming into the Tassie draft years.

I think we were right in it last year given we were basically premiership favourites the majority of the season and lost a tightly contested prelim to the premiers. So it was probably the correct call not to do a mini rebuild from in 2024. If we did, we wouldn't have Houston and Perryman from that trade period and would've had no first round in the strong 2024 draft due to the prior year Schultz trade. We'd then have to rely on the weak 2025 draft to try commence the rebuild which wouldn't really have put us in much of a better position.

The good thing is that we didn't trade away our first round this year for a plodder like Simpkin that some posters were pushing for in the trade period last year.

My take on last season was that we started incredibly well and had everyone second-guessing their predictions, however the season slowed down much like 2023 did. We were 2 years older and teams had begun to counter our manic burst football, so it didn't feel like a season to me that we were ever contenders (even though on an objective, statistical basis we were).

The rebuild in 2024 in my mind wouldn't have necessarily entailed a lot of trade activity, more just prioritising exposing younger players more frequently. But I take the point that 2025 could be viewed as a justification for not seeking to regenerate a little harder, earlier; equally, it may have just delayed the inevitable, which may be staring us in the face now.

 

[Ugene41]

I'd like to see Jaicos move back to the wing and for us to play much more through Houston at half back.

It's so infuriating watching Fly overload our half back line with talent which means they become less effective sharing the playmaking duties whilst running plodders through our wing/midfield which is dying for more x-factor.

FFS Jaicos was an AA wing and Houston was a double AA HBF. Play them to their strengths there!

 

[brysie]

It's so infuriating watching Fly overload our half back line with talent which means they become less effective sharing the playmaking duties whilst running plodders through our wing/midfield which is dying for more x-factor.

FFS Jaicos was an AA wing and Houston was a double AA HBF. Play them to their strengths there!

A lot of our good ball users are behind the ball when we win it, yet we're not playing a slingshot style anymore, so it negates their impact when entering forward 50 as the opposition have typically gotten numbers back.

People can talk about 'connection' all they like, and cite inside 50 counts, but inside 50 counts are a hollow statistic where a large number of those entries are of a lesser quality.

 

[footballsack35]

Unfortunately I think it is unlikely we will get King. I'd rather go after the no.1 ranked KPF in the draft if it is somewhere close to our pick range. On the other hand I think Walter from GC is a lot more feasible for us and he is only 20 years old.
I would rather spend the War chest on players like him and Butts maybe even Buku Khamis from the dogs (the list goes on). Because that way instead of getting one A-grader we can hopefully poach a couple B-graders to fill our needs who are a good age profile, and Walter has potential to be an A-grader with the talent he has.
Just my thoughts.

 

[SchuPie]

Swadling's body size.. he's bigger than you think when you see him up close. I don't think thats an issue.

Agree, Jen
I reckon he’ll be a unit in a couple more pre seasons

 

[Ugene41]

Unfortunately I think it is unlikely we will get King. I'd rather go after the no.1 ranked KPF in the draft if it is somewhere close to our pick range. On the other hand I think Walter from GC is a lot more feasible for us and he is only 20 years old.
I would rather spend the War chest on players like him and Butts maybe even Buku Khamis from the dogs (the list goes on). Because that way instead of getting one A-grader we can hopefully poach a couple B-graders to fill our needs who are a good age profile, and Walter has potential to be an A-grader with the talent he has.
Just my thoughts.

No more B graders. They are a dime a dozen. There's not much of an output difference between a Butts vs Frampton but there's a world of difference between a King and a McStay.

We can't afford to have our salary cap clogged up by B-graders again.

 

[soreplums]

No more B graders. They are a dime a dozen. There's not much of an output difference between a Butts vs Frampton but there's a world of difference between a King and a McStay.

We can't afford to have our salary cap clogged up by B-graders again.

Need to spend the money to get the right people in.

B graders can come in as the supporting acts, but match winners are match winners. You need them in your side.

 

[footballsack35]

No more B graders. They are a dime a dozen. There's not much of an output difference between a Butts vs Frampton but there's a world of difference between a King and a McStay.

We can't afford to have our salary cap clogged up by B-graders again.

That's because your comparing an A-grader to a C-grader which is nothing close to what I said. I'm saying go after the Harry Perryman's to fill holes in the list which ultimately means instead of blowing all our money on one need (king), instead go for a couple B-graders (Butts, Walter) to fill gaps as we have more than gap in our list.
Cant get them all

 

[nickyds35]

True it isn't looking good at this stage. Hindsight wise keeping noble would have been the smarter choice , but I think he was set on leaving because the 2023 GF omission still stings him.
Don't think he has forgiven the club for that, so I doubt we would have been able to keep him even if we were keen on it.

Cashing in on gold coasts pick 20 for noble was the play.

While getting Perryman as a free agent.

 

[Ugene41]

That's because your comparing an A-grader to a C-grader which is nothing close to what I said. I'm saying go after the Harry Perryman's to fill holes in the list which ultimately means instead of blowing all our money on one need (king), instead go for a couple B-graders (Butts, Walter) to fill gaps as we have more than gap in our list.
Cant get them all

Give me one King over a Butts and Walter anyday. Like I said, the output difference between Butts and Frampton is minimal whereas the hole that a 70 goal a season King would plug would dwarf whatever improvement a Walter would provide over McStay/Membrey.

 

[Seedsfan]

Give me one King over a Butts and Walter anyday. Like I said, the output difference between Butts and Frampton is minimal whereas the hole that a 70 goal a season King would plug would dwarf whatever improvement a Walter would provide over McStay/Membrey.

Walter would already be our best key forward. But I would still take King. It’s like chess when you look to fork two pieces so they are forced to give up one. We should target King and Walter as I feel King staying forces Walter out and King leaving will see Walter stay.

 

[gouki88]

Maybe.
Like everyone, I was excited to get Dan. But he has been a huge disappointment. I’d look at moving him on at the end of the year.

Moving someone when their value is low doesn’t really make sense. Especially when he’s played good games this year

 

[gouki88]

Give me one King over a Butts and Walter anyday. Like I said, the output difference between Butts and Frampton is minimal whereas the hole that a 70 goal a season King would plug would dwarf whatever improvement a Walter would provide over McStay/Membrey.

I do agree, but think we need to complement that with some midfield upgrades so that King gets good service

 

[Seedsfan]

Maybe.
Like everyone, I was excited to get Dan. But he has been a huge disappointment. I’d look at moving him on at the end of the year.

I was never excited about the move

 

[jmac70]

Moving someone when their value is low doesn’t really make sense. Especially when he’s played good games this year

Totally agree, but it didn’t make sense trading him in at his highest value either.

2025 first round, Noble, Richards and pick 39 for Dan and pick 58 is not looking great now.

 

[Seedsfan]

Totally agree, but it didn’t make sense trading him in at his highest value either.

2025 first round, Noble, Richards and pick 39 for Dan and pick 58 is not looking great now.

It didn’t look great at the time

 

[gouki88]

It didn’t look great at the time

He was supposed to be the 2nd best player on our list if he continued his 2x AA form. That’s a good trade target on any day

 

[Seedsfan]

He was supposed to be the 2nd best player on our list if he continued his 2x AA form. That’s a good trade target on any day

It was never a good trade we were always giving up too much

 

[Seedsfan]

The problem with trades everyone has this myopic view that who you are trading in will be just as good if not better as they were at their old club. Yet so many big name recruits never reached the same heights at a second club. Then there is a perceived devaluation in the draft pick due to the risk it carries of the player being a bust.

That second part isn’t helped by our performance in the national draft. Outside of father sons and academy players have been horrible over the last decade.

 

[No SPIN]

Good call. Ashton Circus is in need of a clown ... how much currency does our Limpdicksci have ! Thinking a soft vanilla cone ice cream should complete the deal

Give it a rest with the Lipinski bagging. We heard you the first 10 times.

 

[No SPIN]

I wonder if we can package up Schultz and Houston for Noble, Joe Richards and Ginnivan?

Based on your history I think you’re serious

 

[Seedsfan]

The drafting of Anderson shows that Obee has his fingers on the pulse and that we can look forward to a few more budget priced gems like Geelong have enjoyed in the past. Go get em Shane.

This is really what we need. Good clubs don’t load up on high picks that hardly works. They make the picks they have count and we just haven’t done that.

That’s what has lead us to overspend on trading in players as there is no growth from within. Last two years drafts give me some confidence.

Not like the disasters of 23 HDM and Jiath at 25 and 37. When Logan Morris went at 31, Joe Fonti at 44, Joel Freijah at 45, Archie Roberts at 54, Harvey Thomas at 59 and Lawson Humphries at 63. The point of this isn’t to say who we could have had but to highlight the talent there is later in the draft and the good sides tend to have a greater strike rate later on

To further highlight this both Schultz and Houston were later picks with Houston being taken in the rookie draft. Yet we gave first rounders for them, that’s purely a reflection of their growth in value and not a comment on the trade