2026 Trade / FA Thread

[gouki88]

Hopefully I'm not the only one on this island but I just hope we don't go for him.

He's a very good 3rd tall. If we pay for him to line up at CHF or FF then we'll regret it.

I can't imagine we'd be super keen. He's a bit redundant with McStay aroud (neither are particularly good), and if we somehow can get King I would rather have him play with West and Buller next season as his #2 and #3

 

[SchuPie]

Pies, please stop trading for NQR forwards

Either

• Get a really high pick and draft one
• Pay the full whack and trade for top shelf

Thanks

 

[gouki88]

I reckon that'd be a compounding mistake. Their list management has been at the root of their problems; he hasn't been in charge of that. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Similarly, take Naicos out of our list and see how well Fly does in comparison once the supporter base turns sour stemming from on field demise.

Voss has had multiple Coleman medallists, a Brownlow medallist, an All-Australian fullback, multiple #1 draft picks and more in his sides. I don't think a lack of individually talented players is their issue

 

[Ted Parker]

I can’t see Voss being there and Butters wanting to go there unless they offer him $3million per year

Where do you pluck $3m from?

 

[sr36]

Hopefully I'm not the only one on this island but I just hope we don't go for him.

He's a very good 3rd tall. If we pay for him to line up at CHF or FF then we'll regret it.

He'd be an interesting target as to me it'd suggest a significant game plan change, as he's very lead and mark.

 

[soreplums]

Where do you pluck $3m from?

My backside really.

Don’t see the attraction of going to Carlton at the moment unless they pay him significantly more than what other clubs are offering

 

[Harry O]

Amartey has outplayed Curnow this season. Would be good as a free agent acquisition

 

[Eastern Magpie]

Amartey has outplayed Curnow this season. Would be good as a free agent acquisition

Hes just another Jesse White, Q stick or Dan Mcstay

We need to aim higher

 

[UltraEgo]

As a second/third tall forward I'd be okay with it ie. if we also recruit 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

 

[Robroy22]

Amartey has outplayed Curnow this season. Would be good as a free agent acquisition

He's fragile ( was trying to avoid saying "soft" but there you go) and therefore would not adapt to our game style.
Waste of $$$ if we go there.

 

[BillyElliott]

 

[Apex36]

He’s a decent size, but that doesn’t equate to strength. I’d still give him a go though… couldn’t do much worse than Lippa, who just can’t keep up with the pace of the game now. Likewise Saxena could replace De Goey, to provide a spark. And why not give west a go…provided his foot is ok. Sidey also on notice.., whilst hoping that Prindable can start to show some signs

In: Saxena, West, Swadling
Out: JDG, Lipinski, Membrey

IDC how much you want to play the kids, replacing 600+ games of experience with 3 newbies is never going to end well. Try for a little bit of balance.

 

[sr36]

He's fragile ( was trying to avoid saying "soft" but there you go) and therefore would not adapt to our game style.
Waste of $$$ if we go there.

He'd indicate a big change of tack in game style.

 

[Ted Parker]

Voss has had multiple Coleman medallists, a Brownlow medallist, an All-Australian fullback, multiple #1 draft picks and more in his sides. I don't think a lack of individually talented players is their issue

One could argue the Blues flag window was open in 2022, when Patrick Cripps won the Brownlow and another sublime year in 2023 - all under Voss. But they're now a mile off that form, just as we were in the years post 2018.
Post their last finals campaign Curnow didn't warm to the internal scrutiny, McKay sleeps with the light on and TDK simply went for the $$$. #1 pick Walsh hasn't come on as hoped. Weltering has secured 1 All-Australian: 2024.

Voss era - He took over in 2022, draft picks under his watch Carlton Show All-Time List Build Picture –

• 2022 National 11 Carlton Oliver Hollands
• 2023 National 29 Carlton Ashton Moir (Trade Carlton Elijah Hollands - Traded from Gold Coast to Carlton for #2#26 #2#2024R3Essendon) (with #2#28 #2#2024R4Gold Coast))
• 2024 National 3 Carlton Jagga Smith, National 40 Carlton Harry O'Farrell
• 2025 National 3 Carlton Father-Son (Peter Dean) Harry Dean, Campbell Chesser Traded from West Coast to Carlton for #4#41National 45 Carlton Talor Byrne, Oliver Florent Traded from Sydney to Carlton for #2#2026R3Carlton), Will Hayward Traded from Sydney to Carlton for #3#31 #4#42 #2#2027R2Carlton) + Curnow (with #1#11 #2#2026R1Sydney) + #2#2027R1Sydney))
• 2026 Carlton 8, 9, 21, 31, 54, 62 3,962 points

Now unpack their current list. Which of their current draft picks made under Voss would walk onto any Clubs list or still retain equivalent top 10 pick currency? Or top 50 player in the league currency?
I'd say 2. Jagga Smith and Harry Dean (F/S), who are emerging stars would retain top 10 pick currency if the draft was re-done.

Which of their current draft picks made before Voss would walk onto any Clubs list or still retain equivalent top 10 pick currency? Or top 50 player in the league currency?
I'd say two, Jacob Weitering and Charlie Curnow.
Harry McKay is a shell of his former self but would still find a list spot. Sam Walsh would find a spot but is a B grade midfielder, he simply doesn't hurt sides given his poor disposal. He wouldn't make the top 10 if the draft was re-done.

• Harry McKay Coleman (58 goals) in 2021 (11 of those goals were against bottom 3 Suns, Pies & North - no finals)
• Charlie Curnow's Colemans in 2022, 2023 were far from great years (in 2023, 25 of those goals were against WCE & North and he failed in 3 finals)

Outside of champion Cripps and Weitering, the balance of their list has been / are consistent C graders with a handful of B grade performances.

Pre-Voss

• 2013 National 13 Patrick Cripps
• 2015 National 1 Jacob Weitering, National Draft pick 10 Harry McKay National Draft pick 12 Charlie Curnow, National 23 David Cuningham, National 53, (F/S) Jack Silvagni
• 2016 National 6 Sam Petrevski-Seton (traded 2021), National 27 Zac Fisher, Caleb Marchbank Traded from Greater Western Sydney to Carlton for #2#2017R1Geelong) + #4#45 #5#58with #2#2017R2GWS) + Pickett)
• 2017 National 3 Paddy Dow (traded 2023), National Draft pick 10 Lochie O'Brien (de-listed)
• 2018 National 1 Sam Walsh, Traded for #1#13 #2#2019R5Carlton) + McAdam (with #4#40 #2#2019R3Adelaide) Mitch McGovern, National Draft pick 19 Liam Stocker
• 2019 National 17 Brodie Kemp
• 2020 Adam Saad Traded for #8#8 #8#87with #4#48 #7#78
• 2021 Adam Cerra Traded for #6#6 #2#2022R3Carlton)

So, I think those potting him on wasted talent could review that call a little more objectively.

But may their demise continue ad infinitum.

Mods, feel free to move this / linked discussion into - The New Carlton Thread: 31st season without a flag for the eternal dickheads

 

[Apex36]

what's a McStay type situation?

Was locked in early in the year. If mainstream media gets hold of it watch the reported offer go from $1.8m to $2.7m over the course of the next 6 months.

 

[Apex36]

Amartey has outplayed Curnow this season. Would be good as a free agent acquisition

Armatey had out performed Curnow because Curnow has taken significant heat off him in terms of defensive priority. He wouldn’t have that luxury at the pies, he’d just be another McStay.

 

[No SPIN]

Hopefully I'm not the only one on this island but I just hope we don't go for him.

He's a very good 3rd tall. If we pay for him to line up at CHF or FF then we'll regret it.

Too Inconsistent and flaky for me. Hard pass.

 

[No SPIN]

I reckon Butters is every chance to end up at the Blues. Vossy coached him at Port and Trav Boak is the Blues Performance and Culture Manager. GWright will be acutely aware of what Butters could bring to the Club to re-set sentiment on and off the field going into 2027.
The Blues have pick currency with #8 & #9. Even with F/S concession adjustments coming through, the Blues might not have to burn both early picks to secure F/S and AFL Academy Cody Walker.

While Essendon at pick #4 and Port at pick #6 are ahead of them, they'll have their own 1st round F/S & NGA picks to secure.
Even WCE at pick #1 have an AFL Academy & NGA prospect in Garrison Kenh, who is likely to attract early interest.
Richmond at pick #2, North Melbourne at pick #3, Melbourne at pick #5 and St Kilda at pick #7 remain a possibility to throw a spanner in the works should they elect to bid on any 1st round Club linked NGA prospects.

Point being, while we'll have the $$$, in order to get a seat at the table we can't compete with any of those Clubs on the trade front on current & future draft picks alone.
Pick wise, we'll still sit outside the top 10, and even if bundled with a future 1st, we'd need to bundle a player of the ilk of Beau McCreery back across the border in order to be in the conversation.

Indicative 2026 AFL Draft Order - Before Trade Period

The only positive here is that the fancied flag contenders speculated as Butters’ destination Clubs won’t get stronger.
This could be the equivalent of Judd wasting his career.

 

[Chunky Steak]

I reckon that'd be a compounding mistake. Their list management has been at the root of their problems; he hasn't been in charge of that. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Similarly, take Naicos out of our list and see how well Fly does in comparison once the supporter base turns sour stemming from on field demise.

There's truth to that in terms of their recruitment record.

But in 9 years of senior coaching, Voss has demonstrated many times that he's trying to stitch together a purse using a brick and his own spit.

 

[Tista7000]

Players id look into that would come cheap.
Charlie Edwards, not getting a game at crows despite great performances in SANFL last few years, good speed and kick. Can play mid and hb, only 20 years old.

George Stevens big body inside mid who can't get a game at geelong

Jake Rogers, small but lots of upside and last year his manageement made it clear he was unhappy.

Henry Hustawaite another big inside mid who isn't getting a lot of senior time but worth taking a punt on

Jedd Buslinger to take a gamble on young key defender who is proven at vfl level but not gotten a lot of afl exposure

 

[The Royal Sampler]

If Buslinger can play he’d be a no-brainer for us. But the lack of AFL exposure says he ain’t all that.

 

[gouki88]

One could argue the Blues flag window was open in 2022, when Patrick Cripps won the Brownlow and another sublime year in 2023 - all under Voss. But they're now a mile off that form, just as we were in the years post 2018.
Post their last finals campaign Curnow didn't warm to the internal scrutiny, McKay sleeps with the light on and TDK simply went for the $$$. #1 pick Walsh hasn't come on as hoped. Weltering as secured 1 All-Australian: 2024.

Voss era - He took over in 2022, draft picks under his watch Carlton Show All-Time List Build Picture –

• 2022 National 11 Carlton Oliver Hollands
• 2023 National 29 Carlton Ashton Moir (Trade Carlton Elijah Hollands - Traded from Gold Coast to Carlton for #2#26 #2#2024R3Essendon) (with #2#28 #2#2024R4Gold Coast))
• 2024 National 3 Carlton Jagga Smith, National 40 Carlton Harry O'Farrell
• 2025 National 3 Carlton Father-Son (Peter Dean) Harry Dean, Campbell Chesser Traded from West Coast to Carlton for #4#41National 45 Carlton Talor Byrne, Oliver Florent Traded from Sydney to Carlton for #2#2026R3Carlton), Will Hayward Traded from Sydney to Carlton for #3#31 #4#42 #2#2027R2Carlton) + Curnow (with #1#11 #2#2026R1Sydney) + #2#2027R1Sydney))
• 2026 Carlton 8, 9, 21, 31, 54, 62 3,962 points

Now unpack their current list. Which of their current draft picks made under Voss would walk onto any Clubs list or still retain equivalent top 10 pick currency? Or top 50 player in the league currency?

I'd say 2. Jagga Smith and Harry Dean (F/S) who are emerging stars retain top 10 pick currency if the draft was re-done.
Which of their current draft picks made under Voss would walk onto any Clubs list or still retain top 50 player in the league currency?

Which of their current draft picks made before Voss would walk onto any Clubs list or still retain equivalent top 10 pick currency? Or top 50 player in the league currency?
I'd say two, Jacob Weitering and Charlie Curnow.
Harry McKay is a shell of his former self but would still find a list spot. Sam Walsh would find a spot but is a B grade midfielder, he simply doesn't hurt sides given his poor disposal. He wouldn't make the top 10 if the draft was re-done.

• Harry McKay Coleman (58 goals) in 2021 (11 of those goals were against bottom 3 Suns, Pies & North - no finals)
• Charlie Curnow's Colemans in 2022, 2023 were far from great years (in 2023, 25 of those goals were against WCE & North and he failed in 3 finals)

The balance of their list has been / are plodders.
Pre-Voss

• 2013 National 13 Patrick Cripps
• 2015 National 1 Jacob Weitering, National Draft pick 10 Harry McKay National Draft pick 12 Charlie Curnow, National 23 David Cuningham, National 53, (F/S) Jack Silvagni
• 2016 National 6 Sam Petrevski-Seton (traded 2021), National 27 Zac Fisher, Caleb Marchbank Traded from Greater Western Sydney to Carlton for #2#2017R1Geelong) + #4#45 #5#58with #2#2017R2GWS) + Pickett)
• 2017 National 3 Paddy Dow (traded 2023), National Draft pick 10 Lochie O'Brien (de-listed)
• 2018 National 1 Sam Walsh, Traded for #1#13 #2#2019R5Carlton) + McAdam (with #4#40 #2#2019R3Adelaide) Mitch McGovern, National Draft pick 19 Liam Stocker
• 2019 National 17 Brodie Kemp
• 2020 Adam Saad Traded for #8#8 #8#87with #4#48 #7#78
• 2021 Adam Cerra Traded for #6#6 #2#2022R3Carlton)

So, I think those potting him on wasted talent could review that call a little more objectively.

But may their demise continue ad infinitum.

I appreciate the analysis, but doesn't this same argument hold up for Fly given where many of the players who have contributed to our success over the last few years arrived before he did?

I think you're giving Voss far too much credit for his second stint of abject failure

 

[gouki88]

If Buslinger can play he’d be a no-brainer for us. But the lack of AFL exposure says he ain’t all that.

Could be, although Jai Serong (who I did not think would be half this good) is a good counter example

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I think you're giving Voss far too much credit for his second stint of abject failure

I think anyone who can produce a second stint of abject failure deserves a ton of credit though. It can be so draining trying to follow up that first stint of abject failure, and the sheer weight of expectation that inevitably comes with it.

 

[Robroy22]

He'd indicate a big change of tack in game style.

To what? A Hawthorn style? we don't have the kickers. And though Gunston and Chol aren't contested players, Gunston in particular is "Mitchell level smart" when it comes to his craft. His little nudges under the ball and sly sneaks out the back get him so many goals that Amartey would never even think of.