2026 Trade / FA Thread

[Harry O]

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...

Good points. I re read a draft profile on Sam Swadling though that highlighted his disposal as a major area for improvement and why he wouldn’t be taken early

 

[Drought Break]

3 top 10 picks probably.

We could have had him for a lot less.

Direct swap for HDM?

 

[gouki88]

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

He’s going to draw some serious coin on the table from Tassie

 

[Harry O]

He’s going to draw some serious coin on the table from Tassie

Morris and Caddy as their year 1 key forwards

 

[Bussie]

I reckon we'll see a bit of an exodus at the end of the year.
Sidey, Pendles, Howe, Elliott to retire. At their choice, I wouldn't force any of them to retire though. Sidey and Howe would almost be a guarantee.
Might see the end of a few this year.
De Mattia (contracted or not), Ryan, Jiath, Allan and maybe Smit.
Eight changes, plus any that may want a trade.

 

[Dtennent94]

I reckon we'll see a bit of an exodus at the end of the year.
Sidey, Pendles, Howe, Elliott to retire. At their choice, I wouldn't force any of them to retire though. Sidey and Howe would almost be a guarantee.
Might see the end of a few this year.
De Mattia (contracted or not), Ryan, Jiath, Allan and maybe Smit.
Eight changes, plus any that may want a trade.

Elliott and HDM won’t go anywhere due to their contracts.

 

[Harry O]

I reckon we'll see a bit of an exodus at the end of the year.
Sidey, Pendles, Howe, Elliott to retire. At their choice, I wouldn't force any of them to retire though. Sidey and Howe would almost be a guarantee.
Might see the end of a few this year.
De Mattia (contracted or not), Ryan, Jiath, Allan and maybe Smit.
Eight changes, plus any that may want a trade.

I think we should be quite aggressive with some of the younger ones. Should be fairly clear by years end on whether TJ HDM and Ryan have any afl future

Would delist HDM and if no takers could re rookie. Or delist and cop the salary cap hit

 

[WanderingDude]

I reckon we'll see a bit of an exodus at the end of the year.
Sidey, Pendles, Howe, Elliott to retire. At their choice, I wouldn't force any of them to retire though. Sidey and Howe would almost be a guarantee.
Might see the end of a few this year.
De Mattia (contracted or not), Ryan, Jiath, Allan and maybe Smit.
Eight changes, plus any that may want a trade.

Elliott and HDM won’t go anywhere due to their contracts.

Contracted; Elliott, Jiath, HDM
Veterans: Missing Membrey from that list. Has struggled with form and now injury. Membrey looks like a definite May casualty . Today West kicked 4 goals against the best VFL team. He did it multiple ways with IQ and class.
Sidey wants to play on.
Crisp will trigger next year. That leaves 13 OOC players. A good MSD selection would reduce that.

 

[MoreMoore]

Possible 2028 lineup

B. IQ. Frampton. Maynard
HB. Perryman . Howes. Houston
C. Steele Anderson. Jaicos
HF. Hill McStay. Saxena
F. Shultz. King West

R. Steene. Naicos Neale

Int. Parker Swadling Moore Hayes HH

Still looking pretty solid

 

[footballsack35]

I doubt McStay will be getting games in 2028

 

[MoreMoore]

I doubt McStay will be getting games in 2028

True
Would be turning 33
Hopefully McCarthy will have filled out

 

[frizzle]

Boy do we need to get talent on the list. Because our midfield & forward line are close to the worst in the comp. Especially if Nick is well held like tonight. De Goey plays well about 1 in 5 or 6 games.

 

[Chrispiesssss]

Either Neale or Butters please. Both would be better

 

[satty]

Don't want to hear any word about being in flag contention. We have had our arses blown out by the serious teams , should have been blown out by the hawks as well.

We need to infuse a lot of speed into the side.

 

[Chrispiesssss]

Even on the siren we gave up a goal

 

[TradeDraft]

Either Neale or Butters please. Both would be better

No way we get Butters

Neale maybe

 

[nickyds35]

Other teams recruit what they need (Smith to Geelong, Lynch to Tigers, Daniher/Neale to Lions), we just recruit what falls into our lap in trade week (Houston, Perryman, Schultz).

Small club mentality from the biggest club in the land….

Our best midfielder (Naicos) was handed to us as a freebie, our second best mid was drafted 21 years ago, next best 18 years ago. Rest of midfield were junk picks/leftovers….

Negligent list management.

 

[TradeDraft]

Other teams recruit what they need (Smith to Geelong, Lynch to Tigers, Daniher/Neale to Lions), we just recruit what falls into our lap in trade week (Houston, Perryman, Schultz).

Small club mentality from the biggest club in the land….

Our best midfielder (Naicos) was handed to us as a freebie, our second best mid was drafted 21 years ago, next best 18 years ago. Rest of midfield were junk picks/leftovers….

Negligent list management.

Well our Drafting from 2019 been pretty shit

 

[footballsack35]

We better keep our first pick this year. Hoping its in the top 10

 

[Stuart1966]

Don't want to hear any word about being in flah contention. We have had our arses blown out by the serious teams , should have been blown out by the hawks as well.

We need to infuse a lot of speed into the side.

A Key Forward and midfield speed
We were cut to shreds tonight in transition we couldn’t run with likes of Smith Holmes and others
Our midfield other than Nick is very one paced
Its time for Josh to play midfield full time
The backline is still solid even without Howe

 

[TradeDraft]

We better keep our first pick this year. Hoping its in the top 10

Could be a Top 5 Pick

 

[UcantCme]

Either Neale or Butters please. Both would be better

Won’t get either - bookmark it

Butters to WB is a certainty

Neale won’t go to a VIC club

take this to the bank

 

[satty]

Speed speed and then some more speed.

There are a lot of old worn out legs we are carrying in this side that are no longer able to cover the ground quickly and pressure the really good teams who have plenty of speed to transition quickly.

 

[Piestration]

Who knows where we start to our rebuild needs. We are desperately lacking in the middle, have a small forward line and our undersized backline continually has to man up on Monsters.

 

[satty]

Need to draft more midfielders and have to look for atleast 2 young KPD via trade or draft.