2026 Trade / FA Thread

[PiesHateU2]

Walters may get to Ess, Butters to Rich - money often is the decider.

Whoever chooses Essendon for the money, they frankly deserve everything coming their way

 

[Pistol Night]

Didn't Benny Cuz say something similar - but he might have been talking about day 7 - like "I'm not going to put all this good work to waste by going to sleep".

Day two is better than day one. And day three is better than day two. I can see where Benny may have run into a few issues with this theory

 

[sideswipe]

Day two is better than day one. And day three is better than day two. I can see where Benny may have run into a few issues with this theory

Think it was usually around about day 12

 

[nickyds35]

Hi guys,

Got some news to report.

I have been very negative on the clubs list management over recent years....however.

To my understanding, we are well and trully in the Butters race, def in front of Richmond and at this point in front of Geelong.

Its already been mentioned in the media that Butters met the club/Naicos last week. These reports are correct. The meeting was set up my a current player on our list who is quite close to Butters (not Houston).

Not saying we will get him, but its not the 2-horse race the media made it out to be.

 

[satty]

Hi guys,

Got some news to report.

I have been very negative on the clubs list management over recent years....however.

To my understanding, we are well and trully in the Butters race, def in front of Richmond and at this point in front of Geelong.

Its already been mentioned in the media that Butters met the club/Naicos last week. These reports are correct. The meeting was set up my a current player on our list who is quite close to Butters (not Houston).

Not saying we will get him, but its not the 2-horse race the media made it out to be.

Even if butters nominates us , the trade price is simply way too much for us at this stage.

We have so many holes across the entire list that need to be filled.

We need a lot of midfield talent and depth, need more defensive depth and definitely need a true no 1 key forward.

If essendon asked 3 firsts for merrett, port will definitely ask for value that is equivalent to 4 firsts.

Unless we can convince a player of value to agree to go to port, we simply aren't in a position to compete with other teams to satisfy port.

Butters became a free agent at the wrong time for us.

 

[Pistol Night]

Hi guys,

Got some news to report.

I have been very negative on the clubs list management over recent years....however.

To my understanding, we are well and trully in the Butters race, def in front of Richmond and at this point in front of Geelong.

Its already been mentioned in the media that Butters met the club/Naicos last week. These reports are correct. The meeting was set up my a current player on our list who is quite close to Butters (not Houston).

Not saying we will get him, but its not the 2-horse race the media made it out to be.

Get the welcome thread ready Dave.

 

[Bianconeri]

Even if butters nominates us , the trade price is simply way too much for us at this stage.

We have so many holes across the entire list that need to be filled.

We need a lot of midfield talent and depth, need more defensive depth and definitely need a true no 1 key forward.

If essendon asked 3 firsts for merrett, port will definitely ask for value that is equivalent to 4 firsts.

Unless we can convince a player of value to agree to go to port, we simply aren't in a position to compete with other teams to satisfy port.

Butters became a free agent at the wrong time for us.

If Butters nominates us, we’ll find a way to stump up the currency.

 

[HFF]

If Butters nominates us, we’ll find a way to stump up the currency.

We would stump it up for sure
There’s no doubt about it

But it’s a massive cost

 

[PiesHateU2]

Even if butters nominates us , the trade price is simply way too much for us at this stage.

We have so many holes across the entire list that need to be filled.

We need a lot of midfield talent and depth, need more defensive depth and definitely need a true no 1 key forward.

If essendon asked 3 firsts for merrett, port will definitely ask for value that is equivalent to 4 firsts.

Unless we can convince a player of value to agree to go to port, we simply aren't in a position to compete with other teams to satisfy port.

Butters became a free agent at the wrong time for us.

100%. The price would not justify the holes it would leave all over the list.
We are not just one gun midfielder shy of contention. There are other key gaps.
If the club and naicos are indeed courting him, I'm clearly missing something in terms of what we think the trade collateral would be. This will not be a Houston style trade. Butters is Ports' best player and they will and should extract fair value for him

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Hi guys,

Got some news to report.

I have been very negative on the clubs list management over recent years....however.

To my understanding, we are well and trully in the Butters race, def in front of Richmond and at this point in front of Geelong.

Its already been mentioned in the media that Butters met the club/Naicos last week. These reports are correct. The meeting was set up my a current player on our list who is quite close to Butters (not Houston).

Not saying we will get him, but its not the 2-horse race the media made it out to be.

So going into next season with a midfield rotation of Daics, Butters, Neale, Jordy and Allan?

Went from 6 to midnight over here.

 

[Dtennent94]

Can we get him to sit out the year and get 200% cherry ripe for us like Geelong did with Bailey Smith?

 

[Pistol Night]

We would stump it up for sure
There’s no doubt about it

But it’s a massive cost

Massive talent. And the age bracket we need to target

 

[Bianconeri]

100%. The price would not justify the holes it would leave all over the list.
We are not just one gun midfielder shy of contention. There are other key gaps.
If the club and naicos are indeed courting him, I'm clearly missing something in terms of what we think the trade collateral would be. This will not be a Houston style trade. Butters is Ports' best player and they will and should extract fair value for him

A midfield with Neale feeding the ball out to Naicos and Butter would go a long way on mitigating the impact in the rest of our holes.

 

[Bianconeri]

We would stump it up for sure
There’s no doubt about it

But it’s a massive cost

I think not investing in a midfield partner for Daicos is a bigger cost

 

[yeah man]

Hi guys,

Got some news to report.

I have been very negative on the clubs list management over recent years....however.

To my understanding, we are well and trully in the Butters race, def in front of Richmond and at this point in front of Geelong.

Its already been mentioned in the media that Butters met the club/Naicos last week. These reports are correct. The meeting was set up my a current player on our list who is quite close to Butters (not Houston).

Not saying we will get him, but its not the 2-horse race the media made it out to be.

The meeting was clearly arranged by Billy Frampton. He's truly a wonderous man

 

[HFF]

Are we handing out a 3yr deal to Neale?
2 I can understand but 3?

Daniel Wells

Daniel Wells

Age

41

Ht

181cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.3

5star

K

11.7

4star

HB

7.5

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.6

4star

G

0.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

10.6

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.6

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.6

4star

G

0.6

3star

vibes surely?

 

[HFF]

I think not investing in a midfield partner for Daicos is a bigger cost

That’s where Neale comes in for free ? No?
But 3 yr deal is very weird

 

[Do_Beta_Rapport]

I’d be trying to get Calsher Dear out of Hawthorn, he’s put talks on hold.

Not getting a game.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

That’s where Neale comes in for free ? No?
But 3 yr deal is very weird

The message it sends Nick is that we’re paying xx amount so he has a running mate for the next 7-10 years.

You wonder if someone like Neale would take less knowing he’ll be playing with Nick and Butters. That’s probably where the 3 years comes into it.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

I’d be trying to get Calsher Dear out of Hawthorn, he’s put talks on hold.

Not getting a game.

Neale, Butters, Ballard and Dear. Any rucks available? We’re building a good spine.

 

[tmpies01]

The deal for Neale should be 2 with a trigger.

But if 3 gets him to sign the dotted line then go for it.

 

[Roverjg]

Anyone for unsigned GWS 2026 NFA key forward Max Gruzewski?

• 2022 pick #22 (Oakleigh Chargers).
• Lightly raced colt with 19 games, 27 goals.
• 4th among rising stars in Goals Per Game in 2025
• 4th among rising stars in Marks Inside 50 Per Game in 2025.

Max Gruzewski AFL Tables Link

I can't imagine GWS would want to let someone that can play at both ends of the ground go, but they have a lot of height in their forward line with Riccardi, Cadman, Hogan and Stringer. GWS tabled a two-year offer to veteran Hogan and a multi-year deal to Riccardi.
Post a slew of their future colts resining's last year, Gruzewski remains unsigned and what might appear to be on GWS terms, and not his. Looks to me he'll be back in Victoria next year. Our pick 34 or future 2nd?
Did he play with Nick Daicos at Oakley Chargers?

Does it pave the way for the PPP ~ Polish Power Pairing of Gruzewski and Podhajski in 2027....

It was reported on one of the Footy Classified Shows recently that it was Gruzewski who has parked contract talks. They reported that his future is directly linked to that of Hogan. If Hogan stays, Gruzewski will seek a trade back to Victoria. Gruzewski has done well with Hogan out

 

[GreekLunatic]

hawks want both Humphrey and merret how are they going to afford both

 

[stormskye]

hawks want both Humphrey and merret how are they going to afford both

I’d be asking what capital have they got for Humphrey? Without offering up a player can’t see them having the picks

 

[sr36]

Imagine how much better ND’s performance would need rise to win a brownlow, with Neale and Butters in the same team taking votes.

At least Flags will be a consolation.

Taking votes is a myth. Voss,Aker,Black, Ablett,Bartel,Judd,Cousins - they're won in pairs.
Top teams get a heap more votes divvied up amongst the star mids and whoever of them has a vote catching year goes really well.