2026 Trade / FA Thread

[Roverjg]

Brayden Cook was exceptional - hardly wasted a disposal.

The more I watch Berry the more I like him as he carries the ball from stoppage.

But what would we have to give up to get either or both?

Cook would be great. He is OOC this year. Great size (191cm) and pacy, gut runner and very versatile being able tto play HB, wing, and forward (and juniors as an outside mid).

He would have been worth two packets of chips last year having only played 30 games in the past 5 years. I feel he is no chance to leave. He is SA born and bred. He is playing for the team he grew up barracking.

His move to the wing this season has resulted in a breakout season thus far. His kicking has been sublime. He was great against us several weeks ago and against STK last night.

Past 5 years: 6.8K, 4.3HB, 2.4M, 68%TOG; 74.4%DE; 1.6 I5O; 1.4 R50, 0.2goals
This yr. 11.2K, 5.5HB, 5M, 81%TOG, 78%DE, 2.8 I50; 2.5 R50, 0.5goals

 

[nickyds35]

Love the idea of 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

.

But a bit concerned that while he is a goal kicker, he is a low possession player that is not really a good contested mark…

Seems to get a lot of goals at Gold Coast because he has space to lead into. And has very good conversion to capitalise on his few touches.

Concerned this wouldn’t work in our system as our forward line is constantly clogged up.

 

[gouki88]

Cook would be great. He is OOC this year. Great size (191cm) and pacy, gut runner and very versatile being able tto play HB, wing, and forward (and juniors as an outside mid).

He would have been worth two packets of chips last year having only played 30 games in the past 5 years. I feel he is no chance to leave. He is SA born and bred. He is playing for the team he grew up barracking.

His move to the wing this season has resulted in a breakout season thus far. His kicking has been sublime. He was great against us several weeks ago and against STK last night.

Past 5 years: 6.8K, 4.3HB, 2.4M, 68%TOG; 74.4%DE; 1.6 I5O; 1.4 R50, 0.2goals
This yr. 11.2K, 5.5HB, 5M, 81%TOG, 78%DE, 2.8 I50; 2.5 R50, 0.5goals

He's been a banger for my Supercoach too

 

[gouki88]

Love the idea of Ben King.

But a bit concerned that while he is a goal kicker, he is a low possession player that is not really a good contested mark…

Seems to get a lot of goals at Gold Coast because he has space to lead into. And has very good conversion to capitalise on his few touches.

Concerned this wouldn’t work in our system as our forward line is constantly clogged up.

He constantly finds space because he has great forward craft. His relative lack of contested marks is because he is great at shaking key defenders and is constantly leading. He is a fine contested mark when he needs to be.

Our forward line is clogged up because besides Elliott (and an absent Hill) we are sorely lacking in forward craft, especially without Mihocek.

 

[Harry O]

He constantly finds space because he has great forward craft. His relative lack of contested marks is because he is great at shaking key defenders and is constantly leading. He is a fine contested mark when he needs to be.

Our forward line is clogged up because besides Elliott (and an absent Hill) we are sorely lacking in forward craft, especially without Mihocek.

Our kicking and decision making going forward is the main issue

 

[gouki88]

Our kicking and decision making going forward is the main issue

I think it's a lack of connection as much as decision-making. We're kicking to space when our forwards are doubling back, or we're spoiling each other whilst defenders stay down and rebound it with less pressure, for example. Obviously our entries could improve, but I think King would straighten us up a lot. He also draws a lot of defensive attention, unlike any of our forwards besides Elliott

 

[Harry O]

The McRae game plan not suited to a hit up forward like King

 

[gouki88]

The McRae game plan not suited to a hit up forward like King

I think if we went after him it would indicate otherwise

 

[well left]

I think if we went after him it would indicate otherwise

I think if we had Ben King you change your system to maximise having Ben King in your system.

 

[Soups]

I think if we had Ben King you change your system to maximise having Ben King in your system.

Especially for someone that’s going to be on roughly 2 mil.

 

[Doc1763]

Especially for someone that’s going to be on roughly 2 mil.

I'd rather give 2 mil to Nick

 

[gouki88]

I'd rather give 2 mil to Nick

They aren't mutually exclusive

 

[soreplums]

They aren't mutually exclusive

Nick will end up being the highest paid at the club

 

[Doc1763]

They aren't mutually exclusive

no, but no one should be getting more than Nick. I know you have to pay overs to get top talent in, but Nick should be the highest paid player at Collingwood.

 

[BillyElliott]

no, but no one should be getting more than Nick. I know you have to pay overs to get top talent in, but Nick should be the highest paid player at Collingwood.

Yep. Even if we just pay Nick $1 a year more, he should be our highest paid player.

 

[Eric Shin]

King & Butts end of 2026

Rowell & Ash end of 2027

 

[gouki88]

no, but no one should be getting more than Nick. I know you have to pay overs to get top talent in, but Nick should be the highest paid player at Collingwood.

I don't think that would be a problem. I'm sure Nick's management would agree, and will ensure as much

 

[Roverjg]

Love the idea of Ben King.

But a bit concerned that while he is a goal kicker, he is a low possession player that is not really a good contested mark…

Seems to get a lot of goals at Gold Coast because he has space to lead into. And has very good conversion to capitalise on his few touches.

Concerned this wouldn’t work in our system as our forward line is constantly clogged up.

I agree with your analysis. Our forward line game plan would need to change if we get King.
.
Ben King is a space-dependent key forward whose game is built around leading patterns, separation, and set-shot finishing. He suits Gold Coast because their ball movement tends to get the ball in quickly, create space ahead of the play, and isolate defenders. In that environment, King gets to play to his strengths: lead, mark, and convert.

Our current forward structure asks for something different. We need a key forward who can compete in the air in congestion, bring the ball to ground when the entry is poor, and create repeat stoppages inside 50. King is not that type. He is not an especially strong contested-mark, chaos-forward compared to players such as Tom Lynch, Sam Darcy, Mitch Lewis, or Mihocek at his best.

That is why King is not a simple personnel upgrade. He would require a systemic change. To maximise him, we would need to redesign the forward line around faster entry, more space, and deeper one-out isolation — essentially a modern version of Pagan’s Paddock. Without that shift, we would be asking a lead-mark-and-finish forward to operate in a contest-chaos-repeat environment that does not naturally suit him.

The key distinction is that players like Jeremy Cameron and Charlie Curnow can help solve congestion by roaming high up the ground, getting involved in general play, and then surging forward again. King does not naturally play that way. So while he is clearly a high-quality tall forward, he is not the right stylistic fit for our current forward-half game plan, which depends on messy contests and imperfect delivery.

The numbers broadly support that stylistic point. King’s output is strong in the areas you would expect from a lead-and-finish forward: 2.2 goals per game, 3.7 shots at goal, 2.4 marks inside 50, and 59.2% accuracy. But his broader involvement and contest profile are more modest: 5.5 kicks, 2 handballs, 3.6 marks, 1 contested mark, and 1 mark on the lead.

By comparison, the more adaptable or contest-capable tall forwards tend to give you more in one or both of two areas:

1. Greater aerial contest strength

• Tom Lynch: 2 contested marks, 5.3 marks, 5 shots
• Sam Darcy: 2.3 contested marks, 4.9 marks
• Mitch Lewis: 1.5 contested marks
• Mihocek: 1.2 contested marks in a more contest-oriented role

2. Greater ground involvement and roaming impact

• Jeremy Cameron: 10 kicks, 3.6 handballs, 5.5 marks, 2.6 goals
• Charlie Curnow: 10 kicks, 2.7 handballs, 5.7 marks, 1.9 contested marks

King is effective when the game gives him room to separate and finish. But if we continue with forward-half entries that is built around dirty ball, repeat contests, and imperfect delivery, then the better fit is a forward who can either dominate aerial chaos or escape it by roaming and re-entering. King does neither at the same level as the best examples in those categories.

Ben King: 5.5 kicks; 2 HB; 0.5 T; 2.2 Goals; 1 BH; 60% kicking efficiency; 3.7 shots at goal; 59.2 goal kicking accuracy; 3.6 marks; 1 contested mark; 2.4 marks I50; 1 mark on lead

Cameron: 10K; 3.6HB; 5.5M; 1 CM; 3.5 M50; 2.6 G; 4.7 shots at goal; 51.5% accuracy

Neale: 5K; 3HB; 3.8M; 1.4CM; 2 MI50; 1.6 G; 2.6 shots at goal; 61.9% accuracy

Mitch Lewis: 7K; 3.6HB; 4.6M; 1.5 CM; 2M50;1.7 G; 1 BH, 3.5 shots; 57.2%

Mihocek: 7.5K; 3HB; 4.6M; 1.2 CM; 1.9 M50; 1.7 G; 1.1BH; 3.3 shots; 50% accuracy

Larkey: 6K; 3HB; 3.9M; 1CM; 2M50; 2.1G; 0.7BH; 3 shots; 66% accuracy

Tom Lynch: 8.4K; 4HB; 5.3M; 2CM; 2.5M50; 2.1G; 1.3BH; 5 shots; 51% accuracy

Max King (hasn’t played for 2 yrs).6.5Kl 3HB; 4.3M; 2CM; 2.4 M50; 1.9G; 1.4BH; 3.2 shot; 49% accuracy

Curnow: 10K; 2.7HB; 5.7M; 1.9CM; 2.2M50; 2.1G; 1.4BH; 54% accuracy. Just under 1G per game from free kick

Sam Darcy: 8K; 4HB; 4.9M; 2.3CM; 2.2M50; 2G; 1.1BH; 3.5 shots; 55.8% accuracy

 

[Harry O]

Mitch Lewis might suit us more then 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

 

[HFF]

Mitch Lewis might suit us more then Ben King

If we are going to be serious …it’s King who is our man

 

[granniewolf]

I agree with your analysis. Our forward line game plan would need to change if we get King.
.
Ben King is a space-dependent key forward whose game is built around leading patterns, separation, and set-shot finishing. He suits Gold Coast because their ball movement tends to get the ball in quickly, create space ahead of the play, and isolate defenders. In that environment, King gets to play to his strengths: lead, mark, and convert.

Our current forward structure asks for something different. We need a key forward who can compete in the air in congestion, bring the ball to ground when the entry is poor, and create repeat stoppages inside 50. King is not that type. He is not an especially strong contested-mark, chaos-forward compared to players such as Tom Lynch, Sam Darcy, Mitch Lewis, or Mihocek at his best.

That is why King is not a simple personnel upgrade. He would require a systemic change. To maximise him, we would need to redesign the forward line around faster entry, more space, and deeper one-out isolation — essentially a modern version of Pagan’s Paddock. Without that shift, we would be asking a lead-mark-and-finish forward to operate in a contest-chaos-repeat environment that does not naturally suit him.

The key distinction is that players like Jeremy Cameron and Charlie Curnow can help solve congestion by roaming high up the ground, getting involved in general play, and then surging forward again. King does not naturally play that way. So while he is clearly a high-quality tall forward, he is not the right stylistic fit for our current forward-half game plan, which depends on messy contests and imperfect delivery.

The numbers broadly support that stylistic point. King’s output is strong in the areas you would expect from a lead-and-finish forward: 2.2 goals per game, 3.7 shots at goal, 2.4 marks inside 50, and 59.2% accuracy. But his broader involvement and contest profile are more modest: 5.5 kicks, 2 handballs, 3.6 marks, 1 contested mark, and 1 mark on the lead.

By comparison, the more adaptable or contest-capable tall forwards tend to give you more in one or both of two areas:

1. Greater aerial contest strength

• Tom Lynch: 2 contested marks, 5.3 marks, 5 shots
• Sam Darcy: 2.3 contested marks, 4.9 marks
• Mitch Lewis: 1.5 contested marks
• Mihocek: 1.2 contested marks in a more contest-oriented role

2. Greater ground involvement and roaming impact

• Jeremy Cameron: 10 kicks, 3.6 handballs, 5.5 marks, 2.6 goals
• Charlie Curnow: 10 kicks, 2.7 handballs, 5.7 marks, 1.9 contested marks

King is effective when the game gives him room to separate and finish. But if we continue with forward-half entries that is built around dirty ball, repeat contests, and imperfect delivery, then the better fit is a forward who can either dominate aerial chaos or escape it by roaming and re-entering. King does neither at the same level as the best examples in those categories.

Ben King: 5.5 kicks; 2 HB; 0.5 T; 2.2 Goals; 1 BH; 60% kicking efficiency; 3.7 shots at goal; 59.2 goal kicking accuracy; 3.6 marks; 1 contested mark; 2.4 marks I50; 1 mark on lead

Cameron: 10K; 3.6HB; 5.5M; 1 CM; 3.5 M50; 2.6 G; 4.7 shots at goal; 51.5% accuracy

Neale: 5K; 3HB; 3.8M; 1.4CM; 2 MI50; 1.6 G; 2.6 shots at goal; 61.9% accuracy

Mitch Lewis: 7K; 3.6HB; 4.6M; 1.5 CM; 2M50;1.7 G; 1 BH, 3.5 shots; 57.2%

Mihocek: 7.5K; 3HB; 4.6M; 1.2 CM; 1.9 M50; 1.7 G; 1.1BH; 3.3 shots; 50% accuracy

Larkey: 6K; 3HB; 3.9M; 1CM; 2M50; 2.1G; 0.7BH; 3 shots; 66% accuracy

Tom Lynch: 8.4K; 4HB; 5.3M; 2CM; 2.5M50; 2.1G; 1.3BH; 5 shots; 51% accuracy

Max King (hasn’t played for 2 yrs).6.5Kl 3HB; 4.3M; 2CM; 2.4 M50; 1.9G; 1.4BH; 3.2 shot; 49% accuracy

Curnow: 10K; 2.7HB; 5.7M; 1.9CM; 2.2M50; 2.1G; 1.4BH; 54% accuracy. Just under 1G per game from free kick

Sam Darcy: 8K; 4HB; 4.9M; 2.3CM; 2.2M50; 2G; 1.1BH; 3.5 shots; 55.8% accuracy

For me, you have just given reasons why King wouldn't be a good fit for us.
I hope he stays with GC.

 

[Apex36]

I think if we went after him it would indicate otherwise

Harry out here acting like Fly hasn’t adapted the game plan to move fast and have an open forward line before

 

[sr36]

Our forward line is clogged up because besides Elliott (and an absent Hill) we are sorely lacking in forward craft, especially without Mihocek.

I think it's more about pace and height than craft. We play Elliott as that deepest forward in a position to mark on the lead within range a few times a game -as he's fast enough to maintain separation and can convert. But the issue is that he has to stand on someone's head to provide a contest when it isn't uncontested on the lead. And that's stupidly low percentage. Whereas King gives you the leading and a much more realistic competition in the air.

 

[sr36]

I'd rather give 2 mil to Nick

I think we will.

Reading between the lines of the Tassie stuff, the way he and manager have responded and talk in the media about us wanting to extend him:

I think Nick has asked for a pay rise and we've said yes as long as you extend for the term of your natural life. And that's where the negotiation is at.

 

[Roverjg]

Mitch Lewis might suit us more then Ben King

Ben King is hopefully our man. Not hard to change the game plan. Lewis isn't leaving the Hawks