2026 Trade / FA Thread

[gouki88]

I could see Brisbane prioritising Bailey over Neale.

I think they’ll lose both

 

[Apex36]

Don't think its great too let Mihochek walk at 33 becaue we are tring to reduce our age demographic, only to recruit a 34 year old midfielder a year later.

Us going for Neale this early on, reeks that we have missed out on all our targets (Butters, Bailey, Humphrey) and are now looking to a stop gap.

We let go of Mihocek because his body is clearly declining and whilst serviceable he’s not worth the risk.

Neale has very little injury history, and is still in the top tier of mids in the competition. Your logic here is ludicrous.

 

[gouki88]

We have to do something to support Nick.

Lachie Neale isn't that thing. Too old.

When would we realistically challenge for a premiership? I'd say maybe, everything going right, in 3+ years.

So better to try to get early draft picks plus a 24-26 year old B+ player (Perryman was meant to be that), either a midfielder or a key position.

Neale is significantly younger than the bloke who has best supported Nick this year. Would be our 2nd best mid by a country mile. We realistically challenged for a premiership last year - add Neale and I think it’s realistic again immediately

 

[stormskye]

We have to do something to support Nick.

Lachie Neale isn't that thing. Too old.

When would we realistically challenge for a premiership? I'd say maybe, everything going right, in 3+ years.

So better to try to get early draft picks plus a 24-26 year old B+ player (Perryman was meant to be that), either a midfielder or a key position.

In 3 years all of Moore, degoey, Maynard, Elliot, Cameron, crisp etc will all be gone/close to gone as well. Who’s replacing them to challenge? It’s really not that simple and you can’t just kick the can down the road. We can continue to challenge and replenish the list at the same time.

 

[SwanBet]

Hawks won't let Lewis go if he stays fit. They need him.

Wouldn't be so sure. Of course if they offer a similar deal he will stay, but the Hawks would be reluctant to offer him a big money, long term deal because of the injury history and cap pressure that comes from a team overflowing with talent. They also have a desire to bring in a marquee mid on big money (EG: Merrett, Humphrey, Reid etc).

If you speak to Hawks fans they are really bullish on their young key forwards Dear, McCabe & Schubert. Dear has been injured a lot to start the season but he is really highly rated internally.

If we miss out on King, we will take the risk and offer him big money and a long-term deal as it will be our only method to really bring talent in given we need to prioritise the draft. For a player who has gone through a lot injury wise, he could be tempted by the extra years and money if the Hawks don't match it.

If someone like Collingwood offers big money, they get a first round pick and the cap space to add to their package to bring in a Bailey Humphrey or Harley Reid, while opening the door for Dear to play every week. Gunston will play on for another couple of years on current form too.

 

[gouki88]

In 3 years all of Moore, degoey, Maynard, Elliot, Cameron, crisp etc will all be gone/close to gone as well. Who’s replacing them to challenge? It’s really not that simple and you can’t just kick the can down the road. We can continue to challenge and replenish the list at the same time.

Yep. It’s a major aspect of how we challenged last year with diminishing input from Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Howe & Mihocek.

 

[stormskye]

Yep. It’s a major aspect of how we challenged last year with diminishing input from Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Howe & Mihocek.

List management is tough. Everyone says draft kids etc but by the time those kids come on, your next batch of seniors now need replacing. It’s a tough balance

 

[BillyElliott]

List management is tough. Everyone says draft kids etc but by the time those kids come on, your next batch of seniors now need replacing. It’s a tough balance

And Kelly has confirmed our strategy is to go to the draft AND also target FA's when available.

Seems the perfect balance to me, particularly if they're all successful

 

[brysie]

Don't think its great too let Mihochek walk at 33 becaue we are tring to reduce our age demographic, only to recruit a 34 year old midfielder a year later.

Us going for Neale this early on, reeks that we have missed out on all our targets (Butters, Bailey, Humphrey) and are now looking to a stop gap.

How does acquiring an unrestricted free agent reek of us missing out on all our targets?

There's a world in which we could acquire Butters/Bailey/Humphrey and add Neale on top, provided the money can be managed.

Neale is a dual-premiership player and Brownlow medallist with 4 All-Australian selections who fills an area of need for us. Obtaining a player of his calibre for no trade cost is shrewd list management. There's also no guarantee that we have the ability to acquire any of our targets for an acceptable price (both from a trade and salary perspective).

 

[WanderingDude]

Kelly said several years ago that supporters must accept players brought in towards the end of their careers for short stints. Mitchell and Membrey. Neale fits this existing approach. It isn’t just about how good Neale is. Our clearance issues are improved. Nick has support and is a better Nick. Go pies.

 

[nickyds35]

We let go of Mihocek because his body is clearly declining and whilst serviceable he’s not worth the risk.

Neale has very little injury history, and is still in the top tier of mids in the competition. Your logic here is ludicrous.

Ludicrous? Abit of a stretch. Outside of his pec injury in the back on 2024, mihochek has pretty much played full seasons. Played 22 games last year.

Neale literally did the old man (calf) injury in last years finals series.

Again, would be happy to have him. But hope we are also after others.

We need a long term partner for daicos in mid otherwise we will be back in the same position in 12 or 24 months.

 

[gouki88]

Ludicrous? Abit of a stretch. Outside of his pec injury in the back on 2024, mihochek has pretty much played full seasons. Played 22 games last year.

Neale literally did the old man (calf) injury in last years finals series.

Again, would be happy to have him. But hope we are also after others.

We need a long term partner for daicos in mid otherwise we will be back in the same position in 12 or 24 months.

Did you actually watch the games Mihocek played? Is your conclusion from watching them that he was healthy?

 

[Roverjg]

Free Agent, just a decent contract, 3-4 years on decent coin.
Hawks wouldn't offer more than 2 you would think.

It would not surprise me if we were to offer him 3-4 years on decent coin. We don't seem to heed the adage "Buyer beware" on injury prone players throughout out our history. I like the thought of Lewis but it will take a bit as you indicated to pry him out when he has stated he wants to stay at the Hawks. I don't want to pay him decent coin for 3-4 years when he averages less than 10 games per season. We bitch and moan on here about how often JDG is injured when we are paying him decent coin and he averages 16 games per season.

 

[Rorzza]

Oh yeah!

 

[Rorzza]

 

[Apex36]

Ludicrous? Abit of a stretch. Outside of his pec injury in the back on 2024, mihochek has pretty much played full seasons. Played 22 games last year.

Neale literally did the old man (calf) injury in last years finals series.

Again, would be happy to have him. But hope we are also after others.

We need a long term partner for daicos in mid otherwise we will be back in the same position in 12 or 24 months.

Mate he was playing on 1 leg for half a year last year, open your eyes

 

[gouki88]

Oh yeah!

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Can’t believe some would turn their nose up at this guy!

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Can’t believe some would turn their nose up at this guy!

I mean… his ex-wife…

 

[gouki88]

I mean… his ex-wife…

She clearly doesn’t rate clearances and contested possessions as much as she should.

That, or she’s a bit anti infidelity

 

[The Royal Sampler]

She clearly doesn’t rate clearances and contested possessions as much as she should.

That, or she’s a bit anti infidelity

Probably the former. And he doesn’t get enough hitouts.

 

[BillyElliott]

Ludicrous? Abit of a stretch. Outside of his pec injury in the back on 2024, mihochek has pretty much played full seasons. Played 22 games last year.

Neale literally did the old man (calf) injury in last years finals series.

Again, would be happy to have him. But hope we are also after others.

We need a long term partner for daicos in mid otherwise we will be back in the same position in 12 or 24 months.

I'm sure we'd be asking the question of most available FA's.

 

[Smackdos]

No brainer for mine.
Probably has 2 good years left after this one, still elite in the area thats our weakest and wont cost anything besides salary which we are in a good position to spend.
Steene palming down to Neale and Naicos yes please. Still need a genuine forward and good defender though if we want to seriously compete. Even a wingman like Darcy Wilson for extra pace and we will look a diffrent team.

 

[gouki88]

No brainer for mine.
Probably has 2 good years left after this one, still elite in the area thats our weakest and wont cost anything besides salary which we are in a good position to spend.
Steene palming down to Neale and Naicos yes please. Still need a genuine forward and good defender though if we want to seriously compete. Even a wingman like Darcy Wilson for extra pace and we will look a diffrent team.

Neale & Wilson would be some bloody offseason!

 

[Pragmatic Shill]

And Kelly has confirmed our strategy is to go to the draft AND also target FA's when available.

Seems the perfect balance to me, particularly if they're all successful

Kelly's comments have been extrapolated a bit too much really. He said we're going to hit the draft to take at least two kids each year... Which is exactly what clubs are required to do.

 

[Run n Spread]

I assume it would have to be a three year deal minimum, on good money, to get Neale to consider.

I'd do that in a heartbeat. He's got a great history with his body and is playing at an elite level. Since he joined Brisbane he's missed 9 of 165 games and 7 of those were due to back and ankle issues in 21.

Honestly I think the only thing that stops a deal would be the fact that his kids are in Perth. No small hurdle.

No that is excessive. The reason he is not cooked partly is the depth of lions midfield.
Dont get me wrong he is a fantastic player but with the guns they have he can just focus purely on his extractor role not pinch hitting foward or being fully involved in a defensive system. He just does the one role all be it very well.
Pass from.me. Just play Pendles for another year