2026 Trade / FA Thread

[Seedsfan]

So you were never exited by Dan stitching up Sam Taylor in a final we won by a kick on the way to a grand final win. You're very hard to please and sound a tad ungrateful to boot!

We were talking about Dan Houston and not Dan McStay

 

[Pistol Night]

Just a question. Is Zac Bailey a knob?
It seems like every time that he kicks a goal he goes up to his opponent and pushes him or says something to him.
If that's the case, he can go somewhere else.

His head scares and confuses me. His nose doesn't fit properly and his head is a shape I've not seen in a human. Great player from the shoulders down though

 

[TradeDraft]

We've also got West, McCarthy and Buller on the list for that future key forward position.

We need a KPD more then a KPF

 

[sr36]

Just a question. Is Zac Bailey a knob?
It seems like every time that he kicks a goal he goes up to his opponent and pushes him or says something to him.
If that's the case, he can go somewhere else.

Good point. But being an obnoxious ****er is good when theyre on your team. We loved Ginnivan.

 

[Chunky Steak]

Good point. But being an obnoxious ****er is good when theyre on your team. We loved Ginnivan.

With the greatest of respect, I didn't. He's a flog.

 

[frizzle]

We've also got West, McCarthy and Buller on the list for that future key forward position.

Every single one of those players are unproven at AFL level. They might be stars & the might be chumps.

 

[TradeDraft]

Every single one of those players are unproven at AFL level. They might be stars & the might be chumps.

Same with all our Kids

 

[ksardog]

We need a KPD more then a KPF

Exact reason why Howes should be tried at CHB, he is behind a few as a key forward, his best bet would be to try nail down a defensive role, plenty of opportunities there in the next couple of years to lay claim as a a key defender
He is a great kick, good athlete and has the size and strength

 

[The Phantom]

I assume the 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

confirmed to Collingwood banter on Instagram is unconfirmed drivel?

Any insights?

 

[BillyElliott]

I assume the Ben King confirmed to Collingwood banter on Instagram is unconfirmed drivel?

Any insights?

This? I have no clue who this Joey gossip girl is..

 

[Eric Shin]

Just had a random thought.

Of course Western Bulldogs are the favourite to land Butters, but not many people are questioning how they can afford him.

Supposedly they’ve got a highly rated NGA prospect coming through the draft this year, and with their list demographic, they’re likely to be a top 4-6 side for the next 3 years.

I’m sure salary cap won’t be an issue, but how are they going to make it work?

 

[brysie]

Just had a random thought.

Of course Western Bulldogs are the favourite to land Butters, but not many people are questioning how they can afford him.

Supposedly they’ve got a highly rated NGA prospect coming through the draft this year, and with their list demographic, they’re likely to be a top 4-6 side for the next 3 years.

I’m sure salary cap won’t be an issue, but how are they going to make it work?

Trading of future picks, or a combination of picks and player(s)?

I suspect that if Port make the decisions to trade Butters, they will require a combination of picks and player(s).

 

[nickyds35]

I find the footy media funny these days...

Geelong/Western Bulldogs are front runners for Butters because they are contenders and Collingwood is on the way down..

But Richmond is also in it upto their eyeballs apparentely, because they will have no one else to pay for the next 3-4 years..

Collingwood is not good enough or too good. We cant win.

 

[Eric Shin]

Trading of future picks, or a combination of picks and player(s)?

I suspect that if Port make the decisions to trade Butters, they will require a combination of picks and player(s).

For argument sake let’s say they finish top 4 this year and for the next two years.

It’ll only net Port 3 x picks in the late teens/early 20s. It seems like unders for Butters.

Struggling to think what players they could shed to appease Port.

 

[Eric Shin]

I find the footy media funny these days...

Geelong/Western Bulldogs are front runners for Butters because they are contenders and Collingwood is on the way down..

But Richmond is also in it upto their eyeballs apparentely, because they will have no one else to pay for the next 3-4 years..

Collingwood is not good enough or too good. We cant win.

This is what I’m finding hard to wrap my head around. I still think Butters would prefer to go to a club like Western Bulldogs or Geelong for success and geographical reasons.

But how a club like Richmond is better placed than Collingwood to land him is baffling.

 

[Smackdos]

Anyone can say anything at this stage of the year regarding end of season trades, its 99% bullshit, content creators and "media experts" can just throw darts at the board for clicks and hope one sticks so they can revisit the 1 they got right to further validate their existence as a news breaker.

 

[The Phantom]

This? I have no clue who this Joey gossip girl is..

This.
It’s being reposted a bit.
Dandodoesdallas and others

 

[brysie]

For argument sake let’s say they finish top 4 this year and for the next two years.

It’ll only net Port 3 x picks in the late teens/early 20s. It seems like unders for Butters.

Struggling to think what players they could shed to appease Port.

Yeh, there aren't a heap that jump out straight away. One that might be offered is Bailey Williams, originally from SA.

Port's challenge is to obviously balance a tough stance and maximise their return with the possibility of retaining a disgruntled player on a significant amount of money for the next 2 years.

 

[nickyds35]

Yeh, there aren't a heap that jump out straight away. One that might be offered is Bailey Williams, originally from SA.

Port's challenge is to obviously balance a tough stance and maximise their return with the possibility of retaining a disgruntled player on a significant amount of money for the next 2 years.

The easy part of Port's draw is done. They are likely to lose their next 5 games straight.

They are looking more and more likely to finish bottom 2-3, meaning a compo pick of 3-4.

Nothing any club can offer (Geelong, Western Bulldogs or Collingwood), which is most likely 3 x first rounders (likely pick 15 to 25), will get anything close to that value. The fact that Port have a heap of academy/father sons this year makes the compo pick even more attractive.

 

[Scodog10]

This.
It’s being reposted a bit.
Dandodoesdallas and others

IDK King is a curious case. For all the world it seems a two horse race and the later in the year it gets the less likely he sticks around. All of the big three not even rumoured to be close to extending (at this stage) says all three are taking up FA and the only question is whether the offers are matched.

FWIW Dan’s reaction tells me it could actually be real and it’s a McStay type situation.

 

[UltraEgo]

IDK King is a curious case. For all the world it seems a two horse race and the later in the year it gets the less likely he sticks around. All of the big three not even rumoured to be close to extending (at this stage) says all three are taking up FA and the only question is whether the offers are matched.

FWIW Dan’s reaction tells me it could actually be real and it’s a McStay type situation.

what's a McStay type situation?

 

[nickyds35]

IDK King is a curious case. For all the world it seems a two horse race and the later in the year it gets the less likely he sticks around. All of the big three not even rumoured to be close to extending (at this stage) says all three are taking up FA and the only question is whether the offers are matched.

FWIW Dan’s reaction tells me it could actually be real and it’s a McStay type situation.

Yea, while I doubt they are happy for him to go, I think King would be easier to swallow (then say Anderson/Rowell leaving), because they have 2 x home grown future stars coming through to replace him in Ethan Read and Jed Walter.

I also think they picked up Jamarra, as an insurance, because they think King is a real chance to go home.

 

[stormskye]

l

what's a McStay type situation?

I’d suggest he means the fact is was known very early in the season which isn’t ideal for either club tbh. Problem is with deals etc family, friends talk..

 

[Carlthetruth]

Just had a random thought.

Of course Western Bulldogs are the favourite to land Butters, but not many people are questioning how they can afford him.

Supposedly they’ve got a highly rated NGA prospect coming through the draft this year, and with their list demographic, they’re likely to be a top 4-6 side for the next 3 years.

I’m sure salary cap won’t be an issue, but how are they going to make it work?

Who is the highly rated NGA prospect the Doggies have coming through this year? El Souki has some ability but I doubt he'll feature early in the draft if at all.

 

[Scodog10]

what's a McStay type situation?

The McStay situation was a HOA signed either late 2021 or early 2022 which I suspect came out through Dan’s family or his partners work. As Stormy pointed out it became an open secret a long way out. I’m agnostic on acquiring him because I still don’t think he’s a great fit, but it seems to have reached a point where we just need talent forward of the ball and it doesn’t matter beyond that.

It does highlight though how quickly it could turn in a best case scenario following a poor season. Sign King, draft an Ashcroft/ Smith/ Watson difference maker and one or two “moneyball” types (I like O’Driscoll and Marshall myself) you all of a sudden build out the list and probably still have the capacity to go to market (unless it’s costing $2.5m in 2027 beyond current projections across King and Naicos)