2026 Trade / FA Thread

[Go Woods]

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

Absolutely, King is a game changer!

 

[Jafo]

What’s better, free agent no draft picks but higher chunk of salary cap or sacrificing a couple of first rounders etc and mixing with lower $ contract?

Let’s say 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

vs Logan Morris. Not saying land either. Just a comparison.

 

[Harry O]

Absolutely, King is a game changer!

He is a tall Jack Higgins

 

[manicpie]

Blamires is one we should have gone after. Having a good season so far

 

[Go Woods]

Nick will end up being the highest paid at the club

Surely he is already.

 

[TradeDraft]

Blamires is one we should have gone after. Having a good season so far

Went for Anderson instead

 

[manicpie]

Went for Anderson instead

I would have loved both. Blamires can play in multiple positions.

 

[TradeDraft]

I would have loved both. Blamires can play in multiple positions.

Had no list spots left after Anderson

 

[Jen2310]

Had no list spots left after Anderson

given we had decided we would take Saxena in the rookie draft.
And we werent gonna take 4 mids.

 

[sr36]

I would have loved both. Blamires can play in multiple positions.

All clubs draft too many very speculative kids. The hit rate on mature state league players is so much higher - plus you don't have them parked on the list for years guessing about whether they'll even become good state league players let alone AFL.

 

[granniewolf]

given we had decided we would take Saxena in the rookie draft.
And we werent gonna take 4 mids.

I'm happy we got Saxena.

 

[Jen2310]

I'm happy we got Saxena.

same
He looks exciting

 

[manicpie]

All clubs draft too many very speculative kids. The hit rate on mature state league players is so much higher - plus you don't have them parked on the list for years guessing about whether they'll even become good state league players let alone AFL.

I would have loved both Anderson and Blamires.

 

[sr36]

I would have loved both Anderson and Blamires.

I was stoked with Anderson as I knew he had a Schultz style attack and could play, but had never seen Blamires - I did watch the Frankston VFL loss last year but they were all the same bloke beating us to me.

However, I'm always happy when we recruit a good state league player who hasn't had an opportunity before - lots of them become senior players and they're never far away. Sullivan is about as big a miss as you get and he's not far away. And they're a good story as well.

 

[Bramax]

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

A couple will need to leave Hawks. They have an enviable glut of key forwards.

 

[Rusty Beam]

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.

100%

At the game it was so obvious. Something that you see on TV, but don’t truely appreciate.

The craft and leading patterns of our forwards is horrendous. They are their own worst enemies.

No wonder they never get hit up on the lead. No one manages to lose their opponents, no tick leads (bar Jamie occasionally) and no blocking for each other.

 

[legendstatus]

I too have B King concerns - we need a stronger big forward like Walter who instead

 

[footballsack35]

I too have B King concerns - we need a stronger big forward like Walter who instead

I agree, and am also bullish on Walter. I can't see Walter ever being the no.1 option down forward though. I can see him being 2nd or 3rd option, along with West.

 

[Go Woods]

I'm happy we got Saxena.

Big future, love to see Saxena and Bobby roaming our forward line together over the next couple of years.

 

[Go Woods]

A couple will need to leave Hawks. They have an enviable glut of key forwards.

Yep, no way they can play Gunston, Lewis, Chol & Deer in the one team.
Gunston looks like he'll play another couple of seasons.

 

[frizzle]

I too have B King concerns - we need a stronger big forward like Walter who instead

Concerns? lets look at the facts. He is still trending upwards each year & will be 26 when he becomes a RFA next year. Plenty of elite footy still in front of him.

2023 - 40 goals (20 games) Average 2.0
2024 - 55 goals (22 games) Average 2.5
2025 - 71 goals (25 games) Average 2.84

2026 - Currently leads the Coleman with 26 goals @ 4 goal average per game & has a better accuracy than any of the guns this season. kicking for goal @ 82.8 per cent

Man I sure would like that concern in our forward line.

 

[frizzle]

100%

At the game it was so obvious. Something that you see on TV, but don’t truely appreciate.

The craft and leading patterns of our forwards is horrendous. They are their own worst enemies.

No wonder they never get hit up on the lead. No one manages to lose their opponents, no tick leads (bar Jamie occasionally) and no blocking for each other.

Goldy needs to get them moving more.

 

[Harry O]

Yep, no way they can play Gunston, Lewis, Chol & Deer in the one team.
Gunston looks like he'll play another couple of seasons.

Bit like Ginni had to leave due to our big number of small forwards

 

[Ugene41]

Goldy needs to get them moving more.

Goldie is such an uninspiring forward coach hire. Probably just all about forward pressure like it was when he played as a forward under Buckley

 

[nickyds35]

I think this weekend taught us……..We need to get Naicos and Butters in the same team…their games seem to complement eachover perfectly.

Both almost single-handedly willed their teams to the finish line…

If we can somehow make this happen, then I am confident we can find/recruit the right role players around them (which we have a strong track record of doing) to make us a force for the next 6-8 years.