2026 Trade / FA Thread

[stormskye]

That's what I have been saying. We are looking at 2 season of being in the 7-12 ladder position before we will be ready to shoot back up again.

I can't fault our list decisions too much until this point because we made it to last years prelim , only losing to the eventual premiers.

What's concerning is the precipitous drop in talent and skill of a whole host of senior players.

Jaicos, moore, sidebottom, lippa, Elliot(has had his moments,but those have been outweighed by his copious mental errors), Beau, shoota(not short of effort but his skills have been bad).

Fortunately we are starting to turn things around with our drafting. Our last 2 draft classes look promising.

Trying to trade in players will be more difficult due to the inflation of player value, simply because of the recently introduced rule being able to trade picks 2 years into the future. We have already seen that with mid level players like simpkin being valued as 2 first round picks. The prise we payed for schultz was too high.

I think Collingwood will be very cautious when it comes to trading for players due to our recent history in giving up first rounders too easily. Craig kelly even alluded to that fact recently.

When was Simpkin valued at 2 first rounders?

 

[satty]

When was Simpkin valued at 2 first rounders?

There were numerous reports during last years trade period that reported north were asking for 2 firsts for simpkin.

 

[stormskye]

There were numerous reports during last years trade period that reported north were asking for 2 firsts for simpkin.

Leppa confirmed we weren’t even interested in offering 1 it was all bs

 

[Chrispiesssss]

This was annoying to see

 

[satty]

Leppa confirmed we weren’t even interested in offering 1 it was all bs

I was talking about the value North placed on him, not what we were prepared to offer.

 

[satty]

This was annoying to see

Just have a mental picture of the 2023 cup over his smug face.

 

[SchuPie]

I just don't want to finish mid table
Or worse, a run of mid table finishes

Hope and belief makes me watch football whether its AFL, VFL or local

I like being at the pointed end and the hope of winning a flag
I like when we are building a young team and I have belief in the future

 

[HFF]

I just don't want to finish mid table
Or worse, a run of mid table finishes

Hope and belief makes me watch football whether its AFL, VFL or local

I like being at the pointed end and the hope of winning a flag
I like when we are building a young team and I have belief in the future

Finishing in the dead zone whilst playing the same tried and tested is disaster.

I’m not sure this coaching group has the cojones to make the tough calls

 

[MoreMoore]

Seems like a waste to delist Schultz.

I knew I had forgotten someone
Would be 32

 

[swoop42]

The brutal reality is if your side is realistically not good enough to play off in a preliminary final and give themselves an opportunity to play in a GF, you are probably better served being at the opposite end of the ladder for a few years, have access to the best junior talent and/or the capital for high end trade.

The worst place to be is the mid table of death and that's what we're currently facing this season and potentially for many seasons to come if we don't act.

While we were always getting priority access to Nick, if he didn't exist we would have retained our 2021 1st round selection and that would have delivered an unexpected pick 2. That could have gained us Callaghan or a Rachele.

While neither are as good as Nick they would have still proven to be a handy acquisition for McRae in the subsequent years and been worth that one season of pain. We might still have won the 2023 Premiership.

So my question is this?

If forced to choose between playing in and potentially losing a wildcard "final" or tumbling down the ladder in 2026 due to changing selection priorities what would you prefer?

Currently we're 6pts ahead of 5th last Port Adelaide and I find it hard to argue that our list wouldn't be better served in the medium term by gaining an unexpected top 5 pick (and now bonus start of 2nd round selection after inevitable bid) this off season and prior to the entrance of Tasmania.

Throw in a F/A or two that costs salary cap space only and it's the type of list refresh that could provide a bounce in 2027 and help strengthen the list transition in coming seasons.

We need access to more talent and we'll need it bloody soon.

 

[TradeDraft]

The brutal reality is if your side is realistically not good enough to play off in a preliminary final and give themselves an opportunity to play in a GF, you are probably better served being at the opposite end of the ladder for a few years, have access to the best junior talent and/or the capital for high end trade.

The worst place to be is the mid table of death and that's what we're currently facing this season and potentially for many seasons to come if we don't act.

While we were always getting priority access to Nick, if he didn't exist we would have retained our 2021 1st round selection and that would have delivered an unexpected pick 2. That could have gained us Callaghan or a Rachele.

While neither are as good as Nick they would have still proven to be a handy acquisition for McRae in the subsequent years and been worth that one season of pain. We might still have won the 2023 Premiership.

So my question is this?

If forced to choose between playing in and potentially losing a wildcard "final" or tumbling down the ladder in 2026 due to changing selection priorities what would you prefer?

Currently we're 6pts ahead of 5th last Port Adelaide and I find it hard to argue that our list wouldn't be better served in the medium term by gaining an unexpected top 5 pick (and now bonus start of 2nd round selection after inevitable bid) this off season and prior to the entrance of Tasmania.

Throw in a F/A or two that costs salary cap space only and it's the type of list refresh that could provide a bounce in 2027 and help strengthen the list transition in coming seasons.

We need access to more talent and we'll need it bloody soon.

Problem is that Tassie coming in so they take lot of the Top Picks

 

[stormskye]

The brutal reality is if your side is realistically not good enough to play off in a preliminary final and give themselves an opportunity to play in a GF, you are probably better served being at the opposite end of the ladder for a few years, have access to the best junior talent and/or the capital for high end trade.

The worst place to be is the mid table of death and that's what we're currently facing this season and potentially for many seasons to come if we don't act.

While we were always getting priority access to Nick, if he didn't exist we would have retained our 2021 1st round selection and that would have delivered an unexpected pick 2. That could have gained us Callaghan or a Rachele.

While neither are as good as Nick they would have still proven to be a handy acquisition for McRae in the subsequent years and been worth that one season of pain. We might still have won the 2023 Premiership.

So my question is this?

If forced to choose between playing in and potentially losing a wildcard "final" or tumbling down the ladder in 2026 due to changing selection priorities what would you prefer?

Currently we're 6pts ahead of 5th last Port Adelaide and I find it hard to argue that our list wouldn't be better served in the medium term by gaining an unexpected top 5 pick (and now bonus start of 2nd round selection after inevitable bid) this off season and prior to the entrance of Tasmania.

Throw in a F/A or two that costs salary cap space only and it's the type of list refresh that could provide a bounce in 2027 and help strengthen the list transition in coming seasons.

We need access to more talent and we'll need it bloody soon.

If all the teams bar Syd, Freo, Geel, hawks and Brisbane gave up the season after 9 rounds and just blooded kids because they can’t make a prelim we’d have a very poor competition

 

[HFF]

If all the teams bar Syd, Freo, Geel, hawks and Brisbane gave up the season after 9 rounds and just blooded kids because they can’t make a prelim we’d have a very poor competition

Unfortunately those teams had access to top end talent in the drafts across many seasons for different reasons anyway

 

[sideswipe]

The brutal reality is if your side is realistically not good enough to play off in a preliminary final and give themselves an opportunity to play in a GF, you are probably better served being at the opposite end of the ladder for a few years, have access to the best junior talent and/or the capital for high end trade.

The worst place to be is the mid table of death and that's what we're currently facing this season and potentially for many seasons to come if we don't act.

While we were always getting priority access to Nick, if he didn't exist we would have retained our 2021 1st round selection and that would have delivered an unexpected pick 2. That could have gained us Callaghan or a Rachele.

While neither are as good as Nick they would have still proven to be a handy acquisition for McRae in the subsequent years and been worth that one season of pain. We might still have won the 2023 Premiership.

So my question is this?

If forced to choose between playing in and potentially losing a wildcard "final" or tumbling down the ladder in 2026 due to changing selection priorities what would you prefer?

Currently we're 6pts ahead of 5th last Port Adelaide and I find it hard to argue that our list wouldn't be better served in the medium term by gaining an unexpected top 5 pick (and now bonus start of 2nd round selection after inevitable bid) this off season and prior to the entrance of Tasmania.

Throw in a F/A or two that costs salary cap space only and it's the type of list refresh that could provide a bounce in 2027 and help strengthen the list transition in coming seasons.

We need access to more talent and we'll need it bloody soon.

Maybe ask yourself the question - what is the hit rate and length of time it has generally taken for teams that drop down to float back up into final 4 contention.

I have no idea but my guess is that most teams that “bottom out” don’t bounce back anytime soon.

 

[gouki88]

Maybe ask yourself the question - what is the hit rate and length of time it has generally taken for teams that drop down to float back up into final 4 contention.

I have no idea but my guess is that most teams that “bottom out” don’t bounce back anytime soon.

It would have to be very infrequent. I remember both Melbourne and us being lauded for jumping back to contention from poor ladder positions quickly in the last 5 years

 

[BigVic]

I think we can
Spend our war chest on King, Neale and Butts
Trade Cameron to WA
Compo pick for Mcreery
High first round pick this year

2028.
B. IQ. Butts. Maynard
HB. Perryman Frampton. Houston
C. Steele. Degoey. Jaicos
HF. Hill. Buller. Hayes
F. Saxena. King. West

R. Steene. Naicos Neale

Int. Anderson. Allan. Howes HH Moore(ruck)

We can get West Coast's pick 1 or first rounder for the melts out west in a Cameron trade. Neale for nothing then he can go into coaching

Which WA club will Cameron go to?

 

[BigVic]

Compo pick
A first rounder (West Coast's)
Our own high first round 2026 pick

Will be happy with this

 

[sr36]

The brutal reality is if your side is realistically not good enough to play off in a preliminary final and give themselves an opportunity to play in a GF, you are probably better served being at the opposite end of the ladder for a few years, have access to the best junior talent and/or the capital for high end trade.

What teams are you basing this off? Melbourne did manage to rise all the way from the bottom to a flag - it was a decade at the bottom though. Tiges had ages at the bottom. A long time in the middle and then they're awesome run. Cats obviously not. Us not. You've got to go back to the Hawk 2012-2014 team who managed to pull it off with only being shit for a coupl e of years, but that was when you got two top 5 picks if you had a really bad year.

 

[Roverjg]

The brutal reality is if your side is realistically not good enough to play off in a preliminary final and give themselves an opportunity to play in a GF, you are probably better served being at the opposite end of the ladder for a few years, have access to the best junior talent and/or the capital for high end trade.

The worst place to be is the mid table of death and that's what we're currently facing this season and potentially for many seasons to come if we don't act.

While we were always getting priority access to Nick, if he didn't exist we would have retained our 2021 1st round selection and that would have delivered an unexpected pick 2. That could have gained us Callaghan or a Rachele.

While neither are as good as Nick they would have still proven to be a handy acquisition for McRae in the subsequent years and been worth that one season of pain. We might still have won the 2023 Premiership.

So my question is this?

If forced to choose between playing in and potentially losing a wildcard "final" or tumbling down the ladder in 2026 due to changing selection priorities what would you prefer?

Currently we're 6pts ahead of 5th last Port Adelaide and I find it hard to argue that our list wouldn't be better served in the medium term by gaining an unexpected top 5 pick (and now bonus start of 2nd round selection after inevitable bid) this off season and prior to the entrance of Tasmania.

Throw in a F/A or two that costs salary cap space only and it's the type of list refresh that could provide a bounce in 2027 and help strengthen the list transition in coming seasons.

We need access to more talent and we'll need it bloody soon.

Our list profile has clearly been built around a premiership window that peaked in 2023. Our core veterans are aging.

The club pushed chips in for experienced talent rather than accumulating early draft picks, and that strategy worked — we won a flag and made another prelim.

So the idea of a temporary “reset” period is reasonable. Most premiership windows don’t stay open forever unless there’s elite young depth underneath.

You are right, finishing around 7th–12th is difficult because we are not seriously contending, but we are not accessing elite draft talent.

When the new Tasmania Devils enter the competition, draft access will become tighter, and talent will get diluted for a few years. Clubs wanting to regenerate their lists before that happens will need to do it sooner rather than later.

However, for every successful “bottom out then rise” story, there are clubs that spent a decade+ rebuilding:

• Carlton Football Club,
• Gold Coast Suns for most of their existence,
• Brisbane Lions from 2006 to 2018
• St Kilda 2012 to current
• Essendon forever
• Richmond 1996-2012
• Fremantle 2016 to 2024
• North Melbourne Football Club currently.

Simply getting picks 1-8 does not guarantee a premiership window. Meanwhile, clubs like Geelong and Sydney that stay competitive often regenerate on the run.

So, in answer to your question I hope that our goal is targeted regeneration while remaining competitive.

That would involve:

• aggressively moving aging depth players
• drafting every year
• using free agency smartly
• avoiding emotional loyalty selections
• giving games to younger players, but still maintaining a winning environment
• move on the list cloggers
• do not have multiple project players on our list

 

[satty]

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.

Midfield. That's where it starts and ends.

 

[legendstatus]

We just need to make tough decisions, example move out a bunch of the older guys like Howe, Sidebottom, McStay and Pendles (maybe) etc, trade some players that may have capital, Lipinski, Cameron and Allan to WA, McCreery (Tas) or back to SA, I think everyone outside Naicos is tradable so we need to be super aggressive

We either get to top 4 or we drop down to bottom 6, anything in the middle is another bullet in the heart for the draft

 

[Drought Break]

Well our Drafting from 2019 been pretty shit

Since 2006

They traded in Tanner Bruhn while Holmes, Dempsey and Atkins were drafted with similar picks that we chose Ryan, HDM and Allan.
Really cool story otherwise.

we could have picked Holmes twice but stuffed up both times with Finn macrae and Ollie Henry

 

[WanderingDude]

There were numerous reports during last years trade period that reported north were asking for 2 firsts for simpkin.

The pies were offering a 2nd. There was no middle ground.

 

[manicpie]

We just need to make tough decisions, example move out a bunch of the older guys like Howe, Sidebottom, McStay and Pendles (maybe) etc, trade some players that may have capital, Lipinski, Cameron and Allan to WA, McCreery (Tas) or back to SA, I think everyone outside Naicos is tradable so we need to be super aggressive

We either get to top 4 or we drop down to bottom 6, anything in the middle is another bullet in the heart for the draft

I reckon Port would love McCreery. Even Adelaide. Maybe we could use him to help get butters

 

[sideswipe]

We just need to make tough decisions, example move out a bunch of the older guys like Howe, Sidebottom, McStay and Pendles (maybe) etc, trade some players that may have capital, Lipinski, Cameron and Allan to WA, McCreery (Tas) or back to SA, I think everyone outside Naicos is tradable so we need to be super aggressive

We either get to top 4 or we drop down to bottom 6, anything in the middle is another bullet in the heart for the draft

You’re panicking. Take a Bex