2026 Trade / FA Thread

[sr36]

He is taller than Serong, Lachie Neale, Zac Merrett, Sam Berry & Touk Miller to name a few. He is not explosive quick but he is not very slow has you claim. He has had a running coach over the past two seasons and his pace has increased.

Yep. Height doesn't matter for stoppage. Watson and Pickett are as dangerous as they come. It's only really an asset if it means you can carry a heap more bulk like Cripps and Green.

 

[Pedro]

From Geelong board re: Jhye Clark:
"Just on Clark I was told today he’s not happy with the club and thinks he should be playing.
Pretty pissed off he hasn’t even been making the extended squad and wants out at the end of the year, being uncontracted is a blessing “his words apparently”
Grew up a massive pies fan but open to playing interstate.
Abit tongue in cheek I reckon but has apparently already had a look at the rental market in NSW and SA"

Its pretty hard to fault the way Geelong do things. Instead of sooking it up, perhaps Clark just needs to get better. If he was good enough, he'd be playing.

 

[soreplums]

Yep. Height doesn't matter for stoppage. Watson and Pickett are as dangerous as they come. It's only really an asset if it means you can carry a heap more bulk like Cripps and Green.

Still too early to tell, but my observations on the new ruck rule sees the hitting zones being bigger/longer, that favours the fleet footed more than the slower bulkier inside mids.
I reckon in time you’ll hear a change of language from inside mids to clearance mids when referring to centre bounces.

 

[sr36]

Still too early to tell, but my observations on the new ruck rule sees the hitting zones being bigger/longer, that favours the fleet footed more than the slower bulkier inside mids.
I reckon in time you’ll hear a change of language from inside mids to clearance mids when referring to centre bounces.

Agree that the fleet footed guys have gone up in value, but I think it's more that the throw up and no contact makes the result way more predictable. So you can set up much better when you know you're going to win most of the hitouts and get it in front of someone with dash.

Then add in the 6/6/6 rule creating a heap more space and the good ones having such clean hands these days, it's just so much more dangerous.

 

[No SPIN]

You are right, the knock on him was his athleticism. However, he is killing it in the VFL. Playing off HB he is averaging 30 disposals and 5 tackles per game. Rumour down here is that Scott doesn't rate him.

So who do you think we should chase Stevens Clarke or neither.

 

[Jafo]

I wonder how big a cost it would be for Lions to even consider trading Logan Morris at the moment

 

[Do_Beta_Rapport]

I wonder how big a cost it would be for Lions to even consider trading Logan Morris at the moment

3 top 10 picks probably.

We could have had him for a lot less.

 

[Jafo]

3 top 10 picks probably.

We could have had him for a lot less.

And that’s the sad reality

 

[Chrispiesssss]

Rowell defs coming back to Melbourne in 2 years. He’s literally eating dinner in Thornbury right now

 

[unplugged]

Definitely been watching Neale with a different lens the last couple of weeks.

Hell, I'll even sacrifice my own wife to get him across.

 

[soreplums]

Rowell defs coming back to Melbourne in 2 years. He’s literally eating dinner in Thornbury right now

Straight to the Pies!

 

[unplugged]

Rowell defs coming back to Melbourne in 2 years. He’s literally eating dinner in Thornbury right now

Just because you're stalking him, doesn't mean he's moving back.

 

[Jen2310]

Just because you're stalking him, doesn't mean he's moving back.

Not that its mothers day on sunday or anything. Prob having early dinner then flies to Darwin as he'll push to play next week. His ankle didn't recover enough for tomorrow.

 

[unplugged]

Not that its mothers day on sunday or anything. Prob having early dinner then flies to Darwin as he'll push to play next week. His ankle didn't recover enough for tomorrow.

Not to mention he can't possibly spend more than 2 days in the Darwin sun! Not sure how Nobes will cope.

 

[Jen2310]

Not to mention he can't possibly spend more than 2 days in the Darwin sun! Not sure how Nobes will cope.

I can imagine how much sunscreen those two have packed away.

 

[Roverjg]

So who do you think we should chase Stevens Clarke or neither.

I can't comment about Stevens. I haven't seen Stevens play - What I know of him is what I have been told by friends & what I have read in the Geelong Advertiser. Stevens’ VFL form has been excellent — huge contested possession numbers, clearances, tackles, and stoppage work almost every week. The Geelong Addy acknowledges he is dominating at VFL. It states the issue is he is competing against Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Atkins, Max Holmes, Tanner Bruhn (and Jhye Clark). These players have elite spread and run. Something which Stevens reportedly lacks.

I have seen Clark multiple times - pace isn't an issue. His disposal is deplorable. He can't hit a target by hand or foot. I was at the Round 1 game Geelong vs Fremantle with a group of Cats supporters. He had 5-6 kicks with every kick directly to the opposition. Friends stated this was a normal game for Clark. Geelong supporters were very vocal about Clark. As Pedro said earlier about Clark.... if he was any good he would get a game.

 

[Chrispiesssss]

Not that its mothers day on sunday or anything. Prob having early dinner then flies to Darwin as he'll push to play next week. His ankle didn't recover enough for tomorrow.

Looked like friend/girlfriend.

 

[PieBeast]

Rowell defs coming back to Melbourne in 2 years. He’s literally eating dinner in Thornbury right now

Sightings of players linked to us don't count unless it's in Derrimut.

 

[Harry O]

I can't comment about Stevens. I haven't seen Stevens play - What I know of him is what I have been told by friends & what I have read in the Geelong Advertiser. Stevens’ VFL form has been excellent — huge contested possession numbers, clearances, tackles, and stoppage work almost every week. The Geelong Addy acknowledges he is dominating at VFL. It states the issue is he is competing against Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Atkins, Max Holmes, Tanner Bruhn (and Jhye Clark). These players have elite spread and run. Something which Stevens reportedly lacks.

I have seen Clark multiple times - pace isn't an issue. His disposal is deplorable. He can't hit a target by hand or foot. I was at the Round 1 game Geelong vs Fremantle with a group of Cats supporters. He had 5-6 kicks with every kick directly to the opposition. Friends stated this was a normal game for Clark. Geelong supporters were very vocal about Clark. As Pedro said earlier about Clark.... if he was any good he would get a game.

Yep Clark and Tsatas are very ordinary kicks for early picks

 

[cityslick1]

Mitchell had suffered some cataclysmic injuries through his career though. As much as he was a professional in preparation throughout his career, they definitely had a lasting impact.

Was just too slow. Easily the slowest mid in the league. Game has passed him by sadly

 

[cityslick1]

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?? What, when we’ve lost all of Moore, Crisp, Maynard, Frampton, sidey, Pendles, McStay, howe, Elliott and JDG?

I disagree

 

[Rorzza]

Yummy laksa! Saturday morning pickup Parap market, a Darwin institution. I can still smell it.

 

[sr36]

In 3+ years?? What, when we’ve lost all of Moore, Crisp, Maynard, Frampton, sidey, Pendles, McStay, howe, Elliott and JDG?

I disagree

We'll just keep adding. Might not work, but it'd be nuts to just let ourselves plummet with some strange theory that we'll nail the draft way better than teams with better picks than us.

 

[Roverjg]

Yep Clark and Tsatas are very ordinary kicks for early picks

I don't know if a player's poor disposal is overlooked or glossed over at TAC/Coates League Level because their strong attributes that hide it or because there is less opponent pressure?. Or if AFL recruiters believe they can fix it?

But if you read Tsatas' draft profile they were comparing his skills and ability on par with that of Will Ashcroft. There is no mention of his disposal or if his kicking needed work.

Clark was supposed to be the second coming of Joel Selwood. Clark's profile read "An outstandingly consistent inside midfielder from Geelong Falcons who was able to crack in and showcase high-level contested ball-winning ability and clean skills. It almost seems fitting that as Geelong premiership skipper Joel Selwood heads off into the sunset following a glittering career, that a teenager who embodies the retiring Cat enters the league. The Geelong Falcons skipper is one of those players you can just lock in to 250 games without a second thought"

Part of his reported strengths were "Clean skills and dual footed" There was no reporting at all that his disposal needed work"

Elijah Hewett's draft profile read "An explosive and hard-nosed midfielder, Hewett’s blend of athletic power and silky skills have led him to be one of the leading midfielders in this year’s draft crop" Yet the profile noted his biggest area for improvement was his kicking. His career stats to date suggest it remains a significant issue

I believe the draft profile called him as having silky skills because his movement patterns and touch were elite.

But maybe what Tsatas, Clark's and Hewett's profile should have read = They look unbelievably smooth in congestion, they have outstanding ball winning ability, but whose actual kicking and handballing output is only average or below average.

It could be that some players regardless of how good they were at under age level may need for time to develop their bodies to cope with the rigours of senior AFL football and adjust to the tempo of AFL football. Or maybe recruiters got it wrong...

 

[Roverjg]

Yummy laksa! Saturday morning pickup Parap market, a Darwin institution. I can still smell it.

Oh yes, or similarly at the Mindil Beach sunset markets on Thursday nights during the dry season.