2026 Trade / FA Thread

[granniewolf]

All of the following guys are better or project better than Steene and were available the last 12 months. We chased Reeves, Adelaide landed McAndrew, Nobel is on the comeback trail with little chance of getting ahead of Moyle if he sticks around, Conway is getting his body right away from being the next big thing, the three I named in the post you quoted and Condon is a much better prospect than Steene (if he turns his back on the NBA/ Europe). To be abundantly clear I’d prefer to keep Steene and not have to chase one of the above types, but in the context of trading in the 3rd best player in the game you have to do whatever it takes. In terms of rocks in heads I’d stick to fanboiing Hayes because you’ve got NFI when it comes to the wider league.

We're all entitled to our opinions.

 

[Scodog10]

We're all entitled to our opinions.

Yet I apparently have rocks in my head for my informed opinion v your emotional one…

 

[granniewolf]

Yet I apparently have rocks in my head for my informed opinion v your emotional one…

I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.

 

[Scodog10]

Do we get an option to match the deal?

And if not, does that just mean the pick we get is band 1 (immediately following our first pick in the draft?)

Not sure about the bolded part. My guess though is that it’ll be arbitrary at the discretion of the AFL. Sort of like how Geelong received two picks for Ablett (a mid 1st and one after their first pick). At $1m pa over 7 seasons I wouldn’t expect anything before 15 because I don’t think that sort of deal will have him as one of their marquee signings (unless they’re in big trouble).

I’m pretty sure Jen has the right of it with our inability to match.

 

[BillyElliott]

All of the following guys are better or project better than Steene and were available the last 12 months. We chased Reeves, Adelaide landed McAndrew, Nobel is on the comeback trail with little chance of getting ahead of Moyle if he sticks around, Conway is getting his body right away from being the next big thing, the three I named in the post you quoted and Condon is a much better prospect than Steene (if he turns his back on the NBA/ Europe). To be abundantly clear I’d prefer to keep Steene and not have to chase one of the above types, but in the context of trading in the 3rd best player in the game you have to do whatever it takes. In terms of rocks in heads I’d stick to fanboiing Hayes because you’ve got NFI when it comes to the wider league.

McAndrew for Crows has been a revelation. What a fantastic pick up for them.

 

[10571z]

Never been a better time to get massive overs for your average players when Tassie comes in. If we lose blokes we’ll get well compensated

 

[WanderingDude]

manicpie this is the why of needing to be giving what it takes to get a Butters. We could be stubborn cut our nose off to spite our face only to see McCreery, Steene or Anderson bugger off for crazy money then be at the whim of the AFL’s compensation.

I admire the emotional connection some build in such small time frames, but I promise you there are half a dozen Anderson/ Steene types out there every year. Currently the likes of Madden, Moyle and Marshall are extremely gettable you then have the likes of Bice, Trembath, Murdoch, McCarthy and Scerri gettable every year from state league footy. If you have Butters on the hook you just get it done.

FWIW that’s no chance of getting it done for McCreery to Tassie. In our pay structure end of next year he’s likely a 5 x $800-900k player because he’s likely getting an even bigger midfield role (I assume that we’re no chance to land Butters).

There are some great mature age players out there. The problem is that there is a risk that the one you choose may not step up or their games are not rounded with too many weaknesses. Anderson has stepped up quickly and has promise, but there is a risk it does not eventuate. At pick 57 we were the first interested but there were apparently other clubs queued. In the most part these type of players are role players without elite qualities. You can have too many in a team.

 

[WanderingDude]

manicpie this is the why of needing to be giving what it takes to get a Butters. We could be stubborn cut our nose off to spite our face only to see McCreery, Steene or Anderson bugger off for crazy money then be at the whim of the AFL’s compensation.

I admire the emotional connection some build in such small time frames, but I promise you there are half a dozen Anderson/ Steene types out there every year. Currently the likes of Madden, Moyle and Marshall are extremely gettable you then have the likes of Bice, Trembath, Murdoch, McCarthy and Scerri gettable every year from state league footy. If you have Butters on the hook you just get it done.

FWIW that’s no chance of getting it done for McCreery to Tassie. In our pay structure end of next year he’s likely a 5 x $800-900k player because he’s likely getting an even bigger midfield role (I assume that we’re no chance to land Butters).

I have really liked the clubs approach to talls. Get them cheap and develop them in the club. The number of talls arriving and disappearing in the club is large. Begg, Eyre and so on. But the physical abilities of Steene and Smit are promising. The club appears to have the focus, patience and development to get a return. The lack of draft cost is very good.

 

[Scodog10]

There are some great mature age players out there. The problem is that there is a risk that the one you choose may not step up or their games are not rounded with too many weaknesses. Anderson has stepped up quickly and has promise, but there is a risk it does not eventuate. At pick 57 we were the first interested but there were apparently other clubs queued. In the most part these type of players are role players without elite qualities. You can have too many in a team.

I agree the devilish part is in finding the right one and what the correct balance is if they aren’t stars. Although the hit rate of AFL players is staggeringly high against the hit rate v 18yo’s.

The risk though for me resides with missing on Butters, if it’s on, much more so than the risk in being able to find another Anderson. They’re out there whereas Butters or the next Butters not so much.

 

[Chunky Steak]

A $7mil contract for Beau is crazy.

Not sure about the bolded part. My guess though is that it’ll be arbitrary at the discretion of the AFL. Sort of like how Geelong received two picks for Ablett (a mid 1st and one after their first pick). At $1m pa over 7 seasons I wouldn’t expect anything before 15 because I don’t think that sort of deal will have him as one of their marquee signings (unless they’re in big trouble).

I’m pretty sure Jen has the right of it with our inability to match.

Arbitrary discretion of the AFL. Sounds familiar.

Oh that's right... Every single bloody decision the AFL makes

 

[Carlthetruth]

**** me the guys basically a 3 year older version of Naicos and you’d dither over a couple of players with 7 matches total to their name?? They could quite legitimately ask for 4 top 10 picks + a best 22 player and I’d pay it. Butters would be as big an addition for us as Buckley was and with him alongside Naicos we’d potentially be premiership favourite Rd 1 2027.

FOUR top 10 picks AND a best 23 player! Why not make it five? No list manager would stump up that haul unless they were drunk.

 

[Harry O]

All of the following guys are better or project better than Steene and were available the last 12 months. We chased Reeves, Adelaide landed McAndrew, Nobel is on the comeback trail with little chance of getting ahead of Moyle if he sticks around, Conway is getting his body right away from being the next big thing, the three I named in the post you quoted and Condon is a much better prospect than Steene (if he turns his back on the NBA/ Europe). To be abundantly clear I’d prefer to keep Steene and not have to chase one of the above types, but in the context of trading in the 3rd best player in the game you have to do whatever it takes. In terms of rocks in heads I’d stick to fanboiing Hayes because you’ve got NFI when it comes to the wider league.

You do seem very knowledgeable and rarely wrong

 

[manicpie]

manicpie this is the why of needing to be giving what it takes to get a Butters. We could be stubborn cut our nose off to spite our face only to see McCreery, Steene or Anderson bugger off for crazy money then be at the whim of the AFL’s compensation.

I admire the emotional connection some build in such small time frames, but I promise you there are half a dozen Anderson/ Steene types out there every year. Currently the likes of Madden, Moyle and Marshall are extremely gettable you then have the likes of Bice, Trembath, Murdoch, McCarthy and Scerri gettable every year from state league footy. If you have Butters on the hook you just get it done.

FWIW that’s no chance of getting it done for McCreery to Tassie. In our pay structure end of next year he’s likely a 5 x $800-900k player because he’s likely getting an even bigger midfield role (I assume that we’re no chance to land Butters).

I'd give McCreery as a trade but not Steene as well. Essendon tried to get a ruckman last year and were unable to pick one up. Moyle is very average, Marshall has more concussions that Joe Frazier. Madden is a future star, I pointed him out from his under 18s days and you won't be getting him for less than a first rounder. I want butters but I don't want to be left with a side that has the 2 best midfielders and nothing else, which is what will happen if we persue butters. Butters will be at footscray or Essendon next year because they're probably the only 2 with enough collateral. King is the one we'll persue. Add the 3 first rounders that Port will want on top of McCreery and Steene and the loss of pendles, Howe and sidey to come and we'll be a 2 man team. I think the love affair some have with butters is worse than the love affair some have with losing players.

 

[Harry O]

What is this collateral the dogs have ? A bunch of late first round picks ?

 

[manicpie]

What is this collateral the dogs have ? A bunch of late first round picks ?

What have we got?

 

[sr36]

McAndrew for Crows has been a revelation. What a fantastic pick up for them.

He's a better tap ruck prospect than Steene, but hasn't shown as much scope outside of that.

I'm shocked how much more effective ruckwork has been with the new rule, but not convinced yet that that will stay the case as teams adapt.

 

[sr36]

What is this collateral the dogs have ? A bunch of late first round picks ?

Middling first round picks - they're pretenders.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

The point of FA from a club point of view is that you can save draft capital and spend cap space on a player you need. Blowing four firsts or whatever the **** AND nearly $2m/yr on Butters ain’t it.

That’s Carltank level messiah complex BS and it’s the fast track to oblivion.

 

[NoRebuilds]

Good player but low possession, big win if we get a pick inside top 10

Simple

Agreed, 16th for disposals this year, and that's in his prime, doesn't scream a million dollars.

 

[manicpie]

He's a better tap ruck prospect than Steene, but not as much scope outside of that.

I'm shocked how much more effective ruckwork has been with the new rule, but not convinced yet that that will stay the case as teams adapt.

Steene brings the ability to actually take a couple of contested marks up forward, something not many rucks do well

 

[Pistol Night]

Steene brings the ability to actually take a couple of contested marks up forward, something not many rucks do well

With DC getting on and what we’ve seen from Oscar he’s just about untouchable for me trade wise

 

[Pragmatic Shill]

With DC getting on and what we’ve seen from Oscar he’s just about untouchable for me trade wise

Can we start publicly stating that someone like Harry DeMattia is untouchable so it baits Tassie into offering a first-round compo worthy deal?

 

[manicpie]

With DC getting on and what we’ve seen from Oscar he’s just about untouchable for me trade wise

I want butters really bad but he's not worth the salary cap dent and 3 or 4 first round picks plus probably beau and steene. That's footy suicide. Not many ruckman out there who can take contested marks close to goal and only with a handful of games under his belt

 

[Go Woods]

No compensation. We trade him for one of their picks. Aren't they getting 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and are forced to trade 5, 7, 11 and 13.

So if they want him badly enough, they can give us pick 3 or pick 5.

We might make out like a bandit on this one.

We can't trade is me understanding.
Tassie get a free hit at one player per club who is/comes out of contract in 2027.

 

[Vankri]

Steene brings the ability to actually take a couple of contested marks up forward, something not many rucks do well

That’s definitely the ace up his sleeve. Centre ball up dominance tapping to Nick with ease is very satisfying to watch, and you can see direct scoring impact from it in our GWS and Carlton games, but on its own I don’t think it’s enough to mask a lack of impact around the ground (taps+clearances). I’m not sure which direction Steene goes from here, with more physical development and game maturity he could impact better around the ground and become a bona fide first ruck, but equally he may be more suited to being a 2nd ruck in a new CBu specialist role with extended forward minutes instead.