2026 Trade / FA Thread

[Johno9911]

Personally coming round to the Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

33

Ht

177cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

acquisition - I think he's got a lot more to offer than Titch and Ball, not taking anything away from either player, but I just feel like Neale in 2027 has more in the tank and trick bag than those 2 gents did at the same time they arrived at the Pies.

Additionally if Roan, Allan (finally!) and Angry can continue their recent growth at AFL level, and Swadling/Prindable at VFL level, than maybe our next generation midfield isn't too far away and we can turn our attention to the key position ends. Granted I still think we are another young "star" midfielder short, but Butters aside, I don't think there is anyone in the pool worth going hard after in 2026.
Neale as a tie over for a few years for those guys to continue to grow, then turn attention to guys coming out of contract in '27/'28 (such as Rowell, Anderson, Green, Lalor, Wardlaw, Reid etc).

The links to the likes of Jed Walter/Ben King

34

Ben King

Age

25

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.5

4star

T

0.5

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

/ Mitch Lewis/Nate Caddy is pleasing, as it indicates we are shopping in that area - but if Ridley arrives at the suns as predicted, I would love us to get in to the Charlie Ballard

10

Charlie Ballard

Age

26

Ht

196cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.9

3star

K

8.8

3star

HB

3.1

3star

M

4.7

4star

T

1.2

3star

MG

185.6

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

3.6

2star

M

4.9

5star

T

1.3

2star

MG

158.9

3star

D

9.4

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.4

4star

MG

156.0

3star

discussion. Body has limited him the last 12-18 months, but he is a very good KPD at 26 years old would fill another glaring hole in our '23.

 

[carndapies]

My prediction, not saying I agree with it or not but I think pies will go with:

In: Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

33

Ht

177cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

, Jed Walter
Out: Salary cap space, 1st round 2026 draft pick

Reason: Brings in a young top forward draft pick and a ready made mid to contend for the 2027 premiership. Next few drafts will be destroyed by Tasmania so the club won’t want to be rebuilding any time soon.

 

[#BallMagnet]

Personally coming round to the Lachie Neale acquisition - I think he's got a lot more to offer than Titch and Ball, not taking anything away from either player, but I just feel like Neale in 2027 has more in the tank and trick bag than those 2 gents did at the same time they arrived at the Pies.

Additionally if Roan, Allan (finally!) and Angry can continue their recent growth at AFL level, and Swadling/Prindable at VFL level, than maybe our next generation midfield isn't too far away and we can turn our attention to the key position ends. Granted I still think we are another young "star" midfielder short, but Butters aside, I don't think there is anyone in the pool worth going hard after in 2026.
Neale as a tie over for a few years for those guys to continue to grow, then turn attention to guys coming out of contract in '27/'28 (such as Rowell, Anderson, Green, Lalor, Wardlaw, Reid etc).

The links to the likes of Jed Walter/Ben King/ Mitch Lewis/Nate Caddy is pleasing, as it indicates we are shopping in that area - but if Ridley arrives at the suns as predicted, I would love us to get in to the Charlie Ballard discussion. Body has limited him the last 12-18 months, but he is a very good KPD at 26 years old would fill another glaring hole in our '23.

Could Ollie Wines be an option if Neale is unsuccessful?

 

[Jafo]

Anyone else hearing West Coast have Bobby Hill on their radar?

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Super keen to land Neale through free agency

As hesitant as I was at first, after seeing our midfield get absolutely made to look like a local league midfield on Saturday night? Absolutely bring him in

The beauty of Neale is that he's unrestricted. As long as he nominates us and we can give a contract he's happy with, he's ours

 

[gouki88]

My prediction, not saying I agree with it or not but I think pies will go with:

In: Lachie Neale, Jed Walter
Out: Salary cap space, 1st round 2026 draft pick

Reason: Brings in a young top forward draft pick and a ready made mid to contend for the 2027 premiership. Next few drafts will be destroyed by Tasmania so the club won’t want to be rebuilding any time soon.

Would rather keep our first than spend it on Walter.

Bring over Neale, bring in a top 10 pick (Drever/Texiera/Edwards), and see where we go.

 

[Johno9911]

Could Ollie Wines be an option if Neale is unsuccessful?

Personally it's a no for me, he was a good player but I think he's a bit too one dimensional and the game style has gone away from him a bit.

 

[yeah man]

Anyone else hearing West Coast have Bobby Hill on their radar?

Are you asking out if anyone thinks he's a chance to move there?

Or are you stating that you've heard that West Coast are interested in him?

 

[#BallMagnet]

Would rather keep our first than spend it on Walter.

Bring over Neale, bring in a top 10 pick (Drever/Texiera/Edwards), and see where we go.

So we have our 1st pick identified.
Who should we be targeting with our late 2nd round pick?
Who are we targeting with our late 4th round picks (x3)?

I can't help but think that we need to be trying to get a 3rd round pick in there somewhere by dealing with another club somehow.
Will be interesting to see what we do.

 

[WanderingDude]

Centre clearance is our biggest issue. Get Neale. Darcy Moore to take centre bounce. Keep Jordy fit. That'll sort it out.

We need to read the father son laws very carefully. Bring Peter Daicos back. I think Collingwood needs to go back to its roots.

 

[gouki88]

So we have our 1st pick identified.
Who should we be targeting with our late 2nd round pick?
Who are we targeting with our late 4th round picks (x3)?

I can't help but think that we need to be trying to get a 3rd round pick in there somewhere by dealing with another club somehow.
Will be interesting to see what we do.

I haven’t looked too deeply into 2nd round options and onwards - there are a couple of kids who look pretty good, but I think if we try and prioritise some leg speed we should be set up well.

 

[Jafo]

Are you asking out if anyone thinks he's a chance to move there?

Or are you stating that you've heard that West Coast are interested in him?

The latter

 

[SchuPie]

Would rather keep our first than spend it on Walter.

Bring over Neale, bring in a top 10 pick (Drever/Texiera/Edwards), and see where we go.

Please Pies, do NOT give our first for Walter
….Cadman however…

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Would rather keep our first than spend it on Walter.

Bring over Neale, bring in a top 10 pick (Drever/Texiera/Edwards), and see where we go.

How about future first?

 

[Apex36]

The latter

View attachment 2627065

Literally an opinion piece from one journo on what he thinks they should do, not an indication that WC are looking. So no not the latter.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

I stand on the fact that we realy don't need to be wasting our time looking for a key forward right now

• McStay has one more year
• Buller has two more years (although I'd still look at turning him into a defender)
• West will come along
• McCarthy is being developed
• We just picked up Podowski
• We can even extend Membrey if need be

We can worry about a young key forward next year maybe

Right now we need more quality mids and at least one YOUNG key defender to come through

Or maybe we could look at a restricted key defender from another club now

 

[Peters_Nuts]

I stand on the fact that we realy don't need to be wasting our time looking for a key forward right now

• McStay has one more year
• Buller has two more years (although I'd still look at turning him into a defender)
• West will come along
• McCarthy is being developed
• We just picked up Podowski
• We can even extend Membrey if need be

We can worry about a young key forward next year maybe

Right now we need more quality mids and at least one YOUNG key defender to come through

Or maybe we could look at a restricted key defender from another club now

I don’t quite get your reasoning here though I like the optimism.

Buller hasn’t shown much, West and McCarthy will come along though no guarantee and Pods has 6 months to show something.

Sounds to me that a key forward is a massive area of need. If we bring in a 33 year old Neale, I want him kicking it to a forward threat. Going into next season with an over reliance on McStay, Buller and Membrey would be a disaster, especially as we are probably losing Bobby and won’t have Elliott for at least the first 8-10 rounds

Our backline is solid and honestly reckon that’s an area we can address at a later stage.

 

[gouki88]

I stand on the fact that we realy don't need to be wasting our time looking for a key forward right now

• McStay has one more year
• Buller has two more years (although I'd still look at turning him into a defender)
• West will come along
• McCarthy is being developed
• We just picked up Podowski
• We can even extend Membrey if need be

We can worry about a young key forward next year maybe

Right now we need more quality mids and at least one YOUNG key defender to come through

Or maybe we could look at a restricted key defender from another club now

Tend to agree with the gist of this. If it’s not a gun (King this year, Georgiades next year) I’m not super desperate. I don’t want to overpay on the potential of someone like Walter simply because he’s a big former high draft pick. We’ve seen that go wrong innumerable times

 

[JLC]

Anyone else hearing West Coast have Bobby Hill on their radar?

There was an article in a Western Australian newspaper. Behind a paywall so didn't get to read the entire article.

It is not surprising. Freo are stacked. Whereas Bobby would be a replacement for Liam Ryan.

Wce have some decent younger players so might be able to get something decent. However, I don't want to be paying a cent of his contract

 

[soreplums]

I don’t think Nicky will like the fact that Morris also linked Humphries to the Hawks.

If we can get a deal done, he will come to us

 

[yeah man]

The latter

View attachment 2627065

That is an opinion piece written by a Western Australian, for the West Australian. Not sure much more needs to be said. At least until a genuine source of information kicks up the same kind of talk.

 

[manicpie]

Anyone else hearing West Coast have Bobby Hill on their radar?

Hopefully they find him because we sure as hell can't

 

[Doc1763]

i would gladly trade Hill and our first pick ( 8-12 range im guessing ) for WC second round pick and Shanahan
may need a sweetener

throw in Blair, that'll get it done

 

[Pragmatic Shill]

Ralphy reporting the Suns have offered Walter 2x $750k.

 

[manicpie]

Ralphy reporting the Suns have offered Walter 2x $750k.

We can trump that