Rumour GFC 2023 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt1

[cats_09]

As we are now getting into the season and we are starting to get a bit more serious with discussion, seems a suitable time to post the following as it's repeatedly shown itself to be a value reference tool in trade & draft discussion

And as per normal, thanks to Lore for putting this together - always a fantastic reference tool



And yes this post is now stickied - makes it easy to keep track of (can easily reverse this though if needed)

 

[Kitcat]

Yeah 2016-2021 he was a 6 or 7 out of 10 performer with the odd sprinkling of 5s (the odd memorable 4) and 8s. And I'd say with incremental improvement on those ratios each year.

Last year he did take a leap and became a 7-8/10 player who didn't dip, and even went beyond for the last two finals.

This year has been a quantum leap back and he's become a 5 out of 10, week in, week out. Where 4s aren't even that rare.

So I do think it's unfair to say he's simply reverted to pre 2022 levels. He's really struggled even in the areas he used to be capable at.

So the club is probably thinking this season was an aberration for Kolo. And he wasn’t the only one to drop away.

 

[Turbocat]

I'd be happy to trade pick 7 or 8 for Smith.

Picks 6-10 have an average of 122 games played. Given that Smith is 22 years old, he should easily surpass that number with Geelong. With around 90 games under his belt, he's just entering his prime. Although his performance this year was subpar, there could be reasons behind that dip, or it might just be a down season. Last year, he averaged 30 possessions per game and won the Best and Fairest award the year before. He was picked for the 22 Under 22 team three seasons in a row (at ages 20, 21, and 22), which shows consistent good form. He would also fulfill a dire need for a quality midfielder, which Geelong must address if we want to contend again any time soon.

Bringing him in wouldn't be a seismic shift like bringing in Dangerfield, but it would be a coup. He is player with a lot of football ahead of him.

There is a degree of logic to your point. It does remind me a bit of Caddy. P7 ..21 ..24 games ..and played 70 odd for Geelong.

In theory.. one might be able to trade your R1 each year for a 22/23 year old and get a player that will have plenty of game ahead of him... except for the 2 in 4 rule. We could trade our R1 this year and still be in compliance but then in 2024 we will need to go to draft.

It certainly seems consistent with the way we have approached trades in the recent past. Bring Smith in as a trade. Bring in Parish and another mature pnp fa like Crouch. Try to instantly turn the performance around ... and by keeping us relative , we are stlll a destination club.

Not saying i want it but it resonates as what we have done in the past

 

[Mr Meow]

So the club is probably thinking this season was an aberration for Kolo. And he wasn’t the only one to drop away.

Yeah we can still function with 2020 edition Kolo. We can't with the faulty 2023 patch.

Maybe he will play better without Sav? Maybe he was struggling post concussion this season? Does he need another speedy small or two beside him, as a quicker backline in 2022 seemed to get the best out of him.

I guess we'll see. But I still think we should go after Doedee anyway. Competition is good and injuries will happen.

 

[TheCatStevensExperience]

Probably late to the table but Essendon are throwing big money at McKay, so they may not want Sav?

 

[TheCatStevensExperience]

Wonder if either Hawthorn or Port also withdraw their interest:

Esava Ratugolea (Geelong)

“It’s down to Hawthorn, Port Adelaide or staying at Geelong, though I believe the Cats scenario is the least likely.

“I think he’s going to Port or Hawthorn. They’ve both got good deals in front of him.

“Essendon is no longer in the hunt and after doing his hamstring on Saturday night, Ratugolea may have played his 75th and last game for the Cats.”

Ah this is the post I was looming for.


Apparently Essendon have thrown down big dollars to McKay, enough to get North band 1 compo. Ergo, no huge need for Sav.

That may hint at Parish being gone, too.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Just about the last thing I want is the Dons having a crack at McKay.

He honestly might as well stay at Norf... Dons are a rabble and Norths kids are going to be unreal in a couple of years.

 

[Gazzathegoat]

We just need to bolster our midfield next year with 1 of Parish / Smith. Both would be great.

We relied too much on too few this year.

Guthrie, Blicavs, Parish/Smith starting mids.

Atkins / Holmes/ Danger / Bruhn / Bowes rotating through.

I really hope the rumors around Holmes to Collingwood are false, we must secure him long-term.

Holmes can go back to the Wing where he plays his best footy with Smith retiring.

Will be nice to have a fit Ruckman on our list to complement our mids. Perhaps we go after Grundy?

Danger can be managed throughout the year, playing primarily forward with some small bursts in the middle.

Duncan with full pre-season under his belt, can be managed as well.

I genuinely think we have 1 more year of competing at the highest level. Too many things went wrong this year. The hunger wasn't quite there. The injuries kept piling up. A softer draw next year, a healthier list, and a full pre-season will do us a world of good.

No doubt we will be written off (too old, too slow etc). Let's prove them wrong again.

It will likely be the final season for the much loved Tomahawk and Duncan - the last remaining from of our 2011 premiership team.

Go Cats.

 

[TheCatStevensExperience]

Just about the last thing I want is the Dons having a crack at McKay.

He honestly might as well stay at Norf... Dons are a rabble and Norths kids are going to be unreal in a couple of years.

Yeah but in the meantime he gets paid a shitload which he wouldn't get at Nor....oh :/

At least he'll get to play in front of a crowd (who will be calling for his head more often than not)

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Just about the last thing I want is the Dons having a crack at McKay.

He honestly might as well stay at Norf... Dons are a rabble and Norths kids are going to be unreal in a couple of years.

The talent is redundant if the club is incompetent in every other area. You should hear some of the rumours coming out of that place.

It's a tale as old as time in football. They're Mark Neeld's Dees for me, and they're a good 5-6 away from their 2021, or even 2018.

 

[Iago]

I wonder if we look at splitting the first rounder with the Crows' 19 and 23.

 

[moond0g]

Yeah we can still function with 2020 edition Kolo. We can't with the faulty 2023 patch.

Maybe he will play better without Sav? Maybe he was struggling post concussion this season? Does he need another speedy small or two beside him, as a quicker backline in 2022 seemed to get the best out of him.

I guess we'll see. But I still think we should go after Doedee anyway. Competition is good and injuries will happen.

I think it's as simple as he's not that good.

I don't mean that in a derogatory way, I just mean his game has some severe limitations. At best he is a serviceable role player, at worst he is a liability.

 

[moond0g]

I wonder if we look at splitting the first rounder with the Crows' 19 and 23.

Might depend how many people pull the pin (or get pushed)

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

I wonder if we look at splitting the first rounder with the Crows' 19 and 23.

I'd rather the Swans 12 and 22.

 

[Turbocat]

Wonder if either Hawthorn or Port also withdraw their interest:

Esava Ratugolea (Geelong)

“It’s down to Hawthorn, Port Adelaide or staying at Geelong, though I believe the Cats scenario is the least likely.

“I think he’s going to Port or Hawthorn. They’ve both got good deals in front of him.

“Essendon is no longer in the hunt and after doing his hamstring on Saturday night, Ratugolea may have played his 75th and last game for the Cats.”

Link ?...


The one issue I could see with Haw is the could take him OOC PSD

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I think it's as simple as he's not that good.

I don't mean that in a derogatory way, I just mean his game has some severe limitations. At best he is a serviceable role player, at worst he is a liability.

True, but every side has those players and it's been that way for over 150 years.

In today's era, probably more than ever. The benchmark side has Dan McStay, Billy Frampton & Oleg Markov playing crucial roles.

Kolo will never be a superstar, and he's easily replaceable, but I just don't see him as a huge problem.

We've got an ordinary player in our bottom 6...so does everyone else.

 

[Footy Smarts]

We just need to bolster our midfield next year with 1 of Parish / Smith. Both would be great.

We need to be a bit careful we don't do a Richmond and unbalance our list towards midfielders. We're thin for young key position players and they're hard to develop so we want to be able to target a free agent or trade in future.

The contracts need to be reasonable (5 years max and not making them our best paid players). And the the trade cost must be ok too. 1 first rounder for Smith and Parish as a free agent and absolutely we should pull the trigger on both. Much more than that and I think we stick to one only.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

I can't see us getting either Smith or Parish.

 

[Turbocat]

I'd rather the Swans 12 and 22.

Would a side pay 22 to jump from12 to 8? Huge points disparity. Even substituting 31 for 22 ..is 300 ahead pre bids.

You get 12 and 22 done ..id be all on for that.

 

[cats_09]

Link ?...


The one issue I could see with Haw is the could take him OOC PSD

Tom Morris’ trade and contract update on Bulldog, Lion, Hawk and Cat

The latest on four players.

www.sen.com.au

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Would a side pay 22 to jump from12 to 8? Huge points disparity. Even substituting 31 for 22 ..is 300 ahead pre bids.

You get 12 and 22 done ..id be all on for that.

You generally pay a price to jump up the order so it depends if Sydney are after someone specifically.

 

[Turbocat]

I can't see us getting either Smith or Parish.

Thats been my instinct from the start but the Dogs form is certainly throwing me a bit. If the crowd start cheering every time he gets a possession on Sat night ..then I will start to think its real

 

[Turbocat]

You generally pay a price to jump up the order so it depends if Sydney are after someone specifically.

Agreed.

 

[Jumping Jack]

I can't see us getting either Smith or Parish.

We're a sneaky chance on Smith I think. If Beveridge stays it helps our chase as the relationship between those two is very average it seems. The coaches ego will win out and they'll move him on I reckon. I think there's also a bit more to Smith's indiscretions than what the media has gone with, so it might be that a change of scenery is what he and his manager thinks is needed.

Parish won't be at Geelong I don't think. We went hard but the door was closed recently by player and manager.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Agreed.

Regardless, I think we'll look to split anyway given what picks we have this year and what's likely heading out the door.

 

[moond0g]

True, but every side has those players and it's been that way for over 150 years.

In today's era, probably more than ever. The benchmark side has Dan McStay, Billy Frampton & Oleg Markov playing crucial roles.

Kolo will never be a superstar, and he's easily replaceable, but I just don't see him as a huge problem.

We've got an ordinary player in our bottom 6...so does everyone else.

Agree 100%.

My only issues with Kolo this year were
1. at times he dipped to become a little more liability, and a little less solid role player.
2. I personally would have picked Esava over him when all defenders were available. I think Esava showed ability to be a good afl player, rather than just role player. but this is personal preference, and also not an issue with kolo's performance per se - he's not the one selecting himself.