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)

 

[CatToTheFuture]

The Cats are stacked with potential
Giving the Kittens games is essential
But spaces are tight
Team rotation is right
Expanding the squad is preferential

Creative player management is the way to go
Expand the squad from best 22 to best 30

Hands down best post I've seen in months

 

[Kitcat]

The Cats are stacked with potential
Giving the Kittens games is essential
But spaces are tight
Team rotation is right
Expanding the squad is preferential

Creative player management is the way to go
Expand the squad from best 22 to best 30

Creative posts are good too.

 

[And_ROOS]

Creative posts are good too.

As creative as our midfield was last season.

 

[Kitcat]

As creative as our midfield was last season.

And our forward line.

 

[jnrburger]

Going early on best guess for end of season changes:

Retirements - Hawk, Tuohy, Smith and one of Stanley / Ceglar
Trade out - Ratugolea for 3rd round draft pick from port
Trade in - TDK for our future first round pick
Free agent - Parish - RFA - but we’ll have no trade capital to spare so ESS will have to take compensation pick
Rookie Upgrade - Dempsey
Draft - two live picks - our R1 pick, R3 (Port)
Rookies x 2 (otherwise just 1 rookie pick if we use the empty list spot in mid season draft on a key def, etc)
All the kids given another year to mature unless can’t get clear run through injuries (or if Simpson gets concussed again).


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[Pure_Ownage]

Going early on best guess for end of season changes:

Retirements - Hawk, Tuohy, Smith and one of Stanley / Ceglar
Trade out - Ratugolea for 3rd round draft pick from port
Trade in - TDK for our future first round pick
Free agent - Parish - RFA - but we’ll have no trade capital to spare so ESS will have to take compensation pick
Rookie Upgrade - Dempsey
Draft - two live picks - our R1 pick, R3 (Port)
Rookies x 2 (otherwise just 1 rookie pick if we use the empty list spot in mid season draft on a key def, etc)
All the kids given another year to mature unless can’t get clear run through injuries (or if Simpson gets concussed again).


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I dont think tdk is worth a r1 and id rather trade in a cheaper ruck for a future 3rd (there will be options).
Agree on the retirements and i think rohan might go too (we will probably try to convince stanley to stay on). Menegola will probably leave as an FA so theres 6 or so vets gone.
Agree on dempsey.
Simpson is gone if he doesnt get regular games, ditto sav (he will decide to go).
I think all the other kids are safe as we will have list spots with retirements.
Need to sign neale.

I dont think we need parish as much as we did 12 months ago our mids are strong. If we use our cash on an FA id want it to be a tall ideally a ruck or key back like mckay (assuming neale stays).

 

[MacStradbroke]

I dont think tdk is worth a r1 and id rather trade in a cheaper ruck for a future 3rd (there will be options).
Agree on the retirements and i think rohan might go too (we will probably try to convince stanley to stay on). Menegola will probably leave as an FA so theres 6 or so vets gone.
Agree on dempsey.
Simpson is gone if he doesnt get regular games, ditto sav (he will decide to go).
I think all the other kids are safe as we will have list spots with retirements.
Need to sign neale.

I dont think we need parish as much as we did 12 months ago our mids are strong. If we use our cash on an FA id want it to be a tall ideally a ruck or key back like mckay (assuming neale stays).

There’s always room for players as good as Parish if the price is right, but agree he is not a pressing need.

 

[jnrburger]

I dont think tdk is worth a r1 and id rather trade in a cheaper ruck for a future 3rd (there will be options).
Agree on the retirements and i think rohan might go too (we will probably try to convince stanley to stay on). Menegola will probably leave as an FA so theres 6 or so vets gone.
Agree on dempsey.
Simpson is gone if he doesnt get regular games, ditto sav (he will decide to go).
I think all the other kids are safe as we will have list spots with retirements.
Need to sign neale.

I dont think we need parish as much as we did 12 months ago our mids are strong. If we use our cash on an FA id want it to be a tall ideally a ruck or key back like mckay (assuming neale stays).

Agree Neale very important signing.

Assuming our R1 pick is late again, I’d pay it for TDK (might get something back, or a pick swap, etc to sweeten). He and Conway as a future pairing would be ideal - if Conway develops as hoped.

Don’t see McKay leaving north - they have the cap, adding Logue gives him a big hand with corr then playing third banana, they will become progressively more competitive as their kids come on - might start to surprise a few. Their biggest hole now is another key forward. Their new coach helps a bit too. But enough on them!

On Parish - try to build a starting 22/23 from our current list of players who are currently 27 or younger. That highlights the need for a quality midfielder around 25yo and given our ongoing lack of draft capital (the one negative of being so successful), FA is one of the few ways we can get one at this point. Given the age of our quality mids, we need more backfill. Only time will tell if the likes of bowes, bruhn, knevitt, and Clark can rise to the level required to be a match winning midfield. We have Selwood, danger, cuthrie, smith, Duncan, menegola, etc all to replace in next couple of years. At the moment, we have holmes, Parfitt and atkins.

Rohan has another year in him if body holds up. Would allow o Henry a little more time to develop. And we’ll have the list spots to carry a few into 2024 anyway.

Menegola turns 31 in march - not sure how much interest there’ll be for him, and if smith retires, he’s got a wing / HF role still there. Think we’ll be rotating our midfield a lot this year to rest the oldies and give the kids a run anyway. Back to full fitness - he’ll be right in the mix.




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[Pure_Ownage]

There’s always room for players as good as Parish if the price is right, but agree he is not a pressing need.

I do agree on that but i think with holmes bruhn and now clark coming through spending 800k on parish is not a need (dons would match unless we offer him enough to trigger band 1). I think spending that cash on spine players given how many older talls we have is smarter.

 

[Turbocat]

I dont think tdk is worth a r1 and id rather trade in a cheaper ruck for a future 3rd (there will be options).
Agree on the retirements and i think rohan might go too (we will probably try to convince stanley to stay on). Menegola will probably leave as an FA so theres 6 or so vets gone.
Agree on dempsey.
Simpson is gone if he doesnt get regular games, ditto sav (he will decide to go).
I think all the other kids are safe as we will have list spots with retirements.
Need to sign neale.

I dont think we need parish as much as we did 12 months ago our mids are strong. If we use our cash on an FA id want it to be a tall ideally a ruck or key back like mckay (assuming neale stays).

I can see your logic. We tend to put our cap into other areas not ruck. I guess its who is available... is Neale a permanent forward. In a post Hawkins era , is our tall in our forwardline more the resting ruck, Neale/Conway and guys like OH are the true replacements for Hawkins goal scoring.

I do feel if Tom Dek said he wanted to come and Geelong liked him..Geelong would trade an R1 for him. Worth is hard to define but we have shown before a willingness to just get a deal done. Considering his position, years in the system id say we would look at him like Stanley and or Bruhn and just pay for some who is ready to play especially if we again hold a late R1.

If we did trade it out..it would mean a very thin draft.. almost like the Danger year. It would also start to squeeze us in 2024 for the 2 in 4 rule but we have been there before. I doubt it would worry us too much.

I guess we look at all FA's this year

Parish is an interesting one. Would he be in our best 22? What is he worth in dollars on our list? Would Ess match? If he was available for a decent price would just DHouse him... ? If the players we have brought in all look good , him might just be like Dhouse, a nice addition but not a key player.

Doedee.. he is another but not really a position of need.

I bet Brisbane do all they can to sign Hipwood.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Agree Neale very important signing.

Assuming our R1 pick is late again, I’d pay it for TDK (might get something back, or a pick swap, etc to sweeten). He and Conway as a future pairing would be ideal - if Conway develops as hoped.

Don’t see McKay leaving north - they have the cap, adding Logue gives him a big hand with corr then playing third banana, they will become progressively more competitive as their kids come on - might start to surprise a few. Their biggest hole now is another key forward. Their new coach helps a bit too. But enough on them!

On Parish - try to build a starting 22/23 from our current list of players who are currently 27 or younger. That highlights the need for a quality midfielder around 25yo and given our ongoing lack of draft capital (the one negative of being so successful), FA is one of the few ways we can get one at this point. Given the age of our quality mids, we need more backfill. Only time will tell if the likes of bowes, bruhn, knevitt, and Clark can rise to the level required to be a match winning midfield. We have Selwood, danger, cuthrie, smith, Duncan, menegola, etc all to replace in next couple of years. At the moment, we have holmes, Parfitt and atkins.

Rohan has another year in him if body holds up. Would allow o Henry a little more time to develop. And we’ll have the list spots to carry a few into 2024 anyway.

Menegola turns 31 in march - not sure how much interest there’ll be for him, and if smith retires, he’s got a wing / HF role still there. Think we’ll be rotating our midfield a lot this year to rest the oldies and give the kids a run anyway. Back to full fitness - he’ll be right in the mix.




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Some good points there.

Look i agree tdk would be a good fit with conway (because he can play fwd also) but his form has been very up and down-even a late 1st for him i think is overs unless he has a very good year. But i was clear in my post i can see why the club will likely go after him it just wouldnt be my preference. I can think of another 6 or so tradeable rucks that i would prefer.

Im a massive mena fan so id love him to stay im just being realistic that he might find it hard to be best 22 this year and beyond at his age and bc we have a lot of wing options-yes this might be smiths last year but holmes will get one wing and guys like duncan tuohy can play that role and i think bowes might run through there also.thats probably also where knevitt starts (and i rate him) until he gets physically stronger and even dempsey has been playing wing a bit in the vfl so we have a lot of options. So if hes not getting games and another club offers him a better contract (remember this is his last contract and he hasnt made the money others have as he was fringe until he was 25) i think he will go with our blessing. I hope he doesnt but im a realist.

Rohan i agree we will have enough list spots (and lack of picks) not to push him so it will depend on how much progress ollie henry makes this year and whether rohans body holds together.

Agree on neale-i am concerned about the WA clubs and we need to get him signed.

With parish i can see where you are coming from and i agree theres a midfield transition but i rate the next tier. I think parfitt has a critical year ahead but is decent, atkins is a good middle tier player and i think holmes clark and bruhn will all be very good and i rate knevitt. Thats a good core. Whereas in key defence i think sav will probably go this year and that leaves us no one in reserve behind sdk. So i think spending money on a key defender, plus a ruck (whether its tdk or someone else) and a key fwd (if neale goes) is more important than parish. Although if we get lots of retirements we might have the cap to do both.

On mckay your arguments are sound but im also aware this is a very good draft pool and if north will get a top 5 compo pick for mckay then they may well let him go.

 

[dont stop me meow]

There’s always room for players as good as Parish if the price is right, but agree he is not a pressing need.

I've never liked him as a player, seems to rack up possessions behind the ball but is rarely damaging and not overly constructive in the flow of play towards goal (imo). But even worse than that he gives me mad Zuckerberg vibes

Maybe it's just me?

 

[Kitcat]

Some good points there.

Look i agree tdk would be a good fit with conway (because he can play fwd also) but his form has been very up and down-even a late 1st for him i think is overs unless he has a very good year. But i was clear in my post i can see why the club will likely go after him it just wouldnt be my preference. I can think of another 6 or so tradeable rucks that i would prefer.

Im a massive mena fan so id love him to stay im just being realistic that he might find it hard to be best 22 this year and beyond at his age and bc we have a lot of wing options-yes this might be smiths last year but holmes will get one wing and guys like duncan tuohy can play that role and i think bowes might run through there also.thats probably also where knevitt starts (and i rate him) until he gets physically stronger and even dempsey has been playing wing a bit in the vfl so we have a lot of options. So if hes not getting games and another club offers him a better contract (remember this is his last contract and he hasnt made the money others have as he was fringe until he was 25) i think he will go with our blessing. I hope he doesnt but im a realist.

Rohan i agree we will have enough list spots (and lack of picks) not to push him so it will depend on how much progress ollie henry makes this year and whether rohans body holds together.

Agree on neale-i am concerned about the WA clubs and we need to get him signed.

With parish i can see where you are coming from and i agree theres a midfield transition but i rate the next tier. I think parfitt has a critical year ahead but is decent, atkins is a good middle tier player and i think holmes clark and bruhn will all be very good and i rate knevitt. Thats a good core. Whereas in key defence i think sav will probably go this year and that leaves us no one in reserve behind sdk. So i think spending money on a key defender, plus a ruck (whether its tdk or someone else) and a key fwd (if neale goes) is more important than parish. Although if we get lots of retirements we might have the cap to do both.

On mckay your arguments are sound but im also aware this is a very good draft pool and if north will get a top 5 compo pick for mckay then they may well let him go.

North are years off being competitive in finals, so McKay might fancy joining a team always in the finals for the sake of his career. It is likely the AFL would give them a good compo pick. We don't have much to trade for him anyway.

If we lose Esava, or he isn't up to being a KPD, then we need another tall back there. It would also let try being creative with SDK.

 

[CatsDoItBetter]

TDK is going to be interesting this year on what he’s shown so far I wouldn’t be that keen to trade for him and certainly not a round 1. But he could have a really good year and then that might not be enough.
If you’re going to pay a higher price for a ruck I’d want them to be a genuine number 1 ruck. Tom seems more suited to a second ruck roll and hasn’t shown a lot as a forward.
It would also be a big indication to Neale that he should look elsewhere.

McKay would be a great addition to play alongside Dekoning. I’m not a big fan of Kolo even though he has improved a lot. If he could be replaced with a defender with more height it would be ideal.

There was some talk on here about who will replace Stewart when he retires which I don’t think will be for a while yet. But surely that player is Henry, Jack had an inconsistent year last year mostly due to injury and positional changes. But he’s shown he can play a key role down back both defending and intercepting.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

TDK is going to be interesting this year on what he’s shown so far I wouldn’t be that keen to trade for him and certainly not a round 1. But he could have a really good year and then that might not be enough.
If you’re going to pay a higher price for a ruck I’d want them to be a genuine number 1 ruck. Tom seems more suited to a second ruck roll and hasn’t shown a lot as a forward.
It would also be a big indication to Neale that he should look elsewhere.

McKay would be a great addition to play alongside Dekoning. I’m not a big fan of Kolo even though he has improved a lot. If he could be replaced with a defender with more height it would be ideal.

There was some talk on here about who will replace Stewart when he retires which I don’t think will be for a while yet. But surely that player is Henry, Jack had an inconsistent year last year mostly due to injury and positional changes. But he’s shown he can play a key role down back both defending and intercepting.

CatsDoItBetter: Completely disagree with the notion of not targeting TDK for 2023 and beyond for as far as I'm concerned Sam's older brother Tom is one serious football talent, much more so than 70% of players in the AFL and if he was to become available on the open market at seasons end when his contract with Blues expires and Geelong was his point of destination, then I think the Geelong hierarchy in Mackie and Wellsy would be negligent in the very least at not considering taking him on board, the kid is also capable of playing potentially in a number of varying roles such is his talent.

All the way with TDK

 

[Pure_Ownage]

TDK is going to be interesting this year on what he’s shown so far I wouldn’t be that keen to trade for him and certainly not a round 1. But he could have a really good year and then that might not be enough.
If you’re going to pay a higher price for a ruck I’d want them to be a genuine number 1 ruck. Tom seems more suited to a second ruck roll and hasn’t shown a lot as a forward.
It would also be a big indication to Neale that he should look elsewhere.

McKay would be a great addition to play alongside Dekoning. I’m not a big fan of Kolo even though he has improved a lot. If he could be replaced with a defender with more height it would be ideal.

There was some talk on here about who will replace Stewart when he retires which I don’t think will be for a while yet. But surely that player is Henry, Jack had an inconsistent year last year mostly due to injury and positional changes. But he’s shown he can play a key role down back both defending and intercepting.

Tbh because conway is a ruck who has shown limited ability playing anywhere else having a fwd/ruck is structurally good because they can provide support to conway as he grows into afl (or play as the no1 ruck if needed which tdk has done) but without blocking his path (whereas if you get 2 rucks neither of whom can play fwd then one misses out).

In a post hawk and stanley world (which could be as early as 2024) you can fit all of conway neale and tdk in the side (bear in mind i also think sav will be gone after this year) so i can see the fit. My issue is more i dont think tdk is worth a r1 but i think he will cost that.

I do agree with you on our need for a kpd though both short and long term its definitely an area i want us to address now.

 

[D BRIDGE]

As far as any of these decent RFA's are concerned... I'll happily take them if we can get them without contracts being matched and us then having to trade for them.

It's weird that I just feel that we will always have the contracts matched from opposition clubs, when in reality it doesn't seem to happen to any other club.

Anyway... McKay clearly would be a great get... Huge get IMO.
North may even get a top comp for him walking, which would likely be a top 4 pick and thus gives me hope that if we are gunning for him (and plenty of clubs would be) that he actually could go as a FA. Surely he would be considering going to a good club and getting out of North.

Parish... I'd take him with open arms if we were only paying for him and not trading... In saying that I'd at least still consider trading aswell (can't see the Dons letting him go though unless the team or Parish has a real bad year and they are happy just to change it up).
Parish gets a bad wrap... He is a very good footballer.

Any decent FA we can get in and not lose draft capital for is a big bonus... They might not be the perfect fit and be on a big contract but it's still a good result for any of the names that have been mentioned.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

As far as any of these decent RFA's are concerned... I'll happily take them if we can get them without contracts being matched and us then having to trade for them.

It's weird that I just feel that we will always have the contracts matched from opposition clubs, when in reality it doesn't seem to happen to any other club.

Anyway... McKay clearly would be a great get... Huge get IMO.
North may even get a top comp for him walking, which would likely be a top 4 pick and thus gives me hope that if we are gunning for him (and plenty of clubs would be) that he actually could go as a FA. Surely he would be considering going to a good club and getting out of North.

Parish... I'd take him with open arms if we were only paying for him and not trading... In saying that I'd at least still consider trading aswell (can't see the Dons letting him go though unless the team or Parish has a real bad year and they are happy just to change it up).
Parish gets a bad wrap... He is a very good footballer.

Any decent FA we can get in and not lose draft capital for is a big bonus... They might not be the perfect fit and be on a big contract but it's still a good result for any of the names that have been mentioned.

On the matching part of it is where the current club finishes on the ladder and what compo pick they will get. Eg neither ess or nth would let their player go for p15 but if they finish bottom 5 and its a top 5 compo pick then they wont match. The other part is what picks the new club has and whether that gets them a better deal than matching. We were unlucky that we had 3 r1s in 2020 and therefore gws matched to try and get them.

This year we have a r1 then nothing so everyone knows we arent trading for an RFA so theres less reason for an oppo club to match a bid if a player picks us.

I do think parish is a very good player and underrated but two things dissuade me-one the idiot dodoro ie i think they are more likely to match than NM are and two while hes a good player hes not an absolutely elite mid and there will be other good mids in FA in coming years. Given the age of our talls and how hard they are to get i think its more important we reinforce that area.

 

[Lana]

At this stage we can't rely on Conway to be plan A for the post Stanley Ruckman. If we're not careful we could find us in a situation similar to GWS who used a burnt up Mumford or WB using a burnt Martin, or Brisbane taking Fort into a final.

I'm not concerned with involving a late 1st round pick to solve that issue.

 

[D BRIDGE]

On the matching part of it is where the current club finishes on the ladder and what compo pick they will get. Eg neither ess or nth would let their player go for p15 but if they finish bottom 5 and its a top 5 compo pick then they wont match. The other part is what picks the new club has and whether that gets them a better deal than matching. We were unlucky that we had 3 r1s in 2020 and therefore gws matched to try and get them.

This year we have a r1 then nothing so everyone knows we arent trading for an RFA so theres less reason for an oppo club to match a bid if a player picks us.

I do think parish is a very good player and underrated but two things dissuade me-one the idiot dodoro ie i think they are more likely to match than NM are and two while hes a good player hes not an absolutely elite mid and there will be other good mids in FA in coming years. Given the age of our talls and how hard they are to get i think its more important we reinforce that area.

Yes, you agree with all that I'm saying and I agree with you agreeing with me.

North is more likely to finish lower than Dons and therefore more likely not to match.
I also think that McKay could get a bigger offer than Parish and probably be worth top compensation (Chip Frawley style) and Parish probably not as much, so Dons would be more likely to match).

Agree that a good key tall should be a higher priority and that's why I said Mckay would be a great get.

I'll happily take Parish if it's a possibility but I see it as being less likely.

I have no idea who we are eyeing off but Mckay as a RFA and TDK as a trade both seem to make sense and look possible to me... Time will tell.

Teams don't bring in one gun FA every year so I'll be happy with paying minimum chips for any of the decent ones... any would be better than none, even if they are not a perfect fit or the best player in the pool.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

CatsDoItBetter: Completely disagree with the notion of not targeting TDK for 2023 and beyond for as far as I'm concerned Sam's older brother Tom is one serious football talent, much more so than 70% of players in the AFL and if he was to become available on the open market at seasons end when his contract with Blues expires and Geelong was his point of destination, then I think the Geelong hierarchy in Mackie and Wellsy would be negligent in the very least at not considering taking him on board, the kid is also capable of playing potentially in a number of varying roles such is his talent.

All the way with TDK

View attachment 1591044View attachment 1591045

He’s a talent that’s for sure Gazza Greatness
IIRC they were going along nicely with him as the main ruck then surprisingly dropped him when Pittonet was fit.
Didn’t work though as their midfield indicators dropped off and TDK languished in the 2’s- not Vossy’s finest moment

 

[Drunkcat]

Parish and McKay no thanks, not what we need and that will show by the end of the year

 

[allrighty]

Going early on best guess for end of season changes:

Retirements - Hawk, Tuohy, Smith and one of Stanley / Ceglar
Trade out - Ratugolea for 3rd round draft pick from port
Trade in - TDK for our future first round pick
Free agent - Parish - RFA - but we’ll have no trade capital to spare so ESS will have to take compensation pick
Rookie Upgrade - Dempsey
Draft - two live picks - our R1 pick, R3 (Port)
Rookies x 2 (otherwise just 1 rookie pick if we use the empty list spot in mid season draft on a key def, etc)
All the kids given another year to mature unless can’t get clear run through injuries (or if Simpson gets concussed again).


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Good post.

But I know Darcy's family well and I can't see a place for him at the Catters ATM.

 

[Phipppppa]

A past it midfielder and a forward who only kicks snaps from no matter what angle?

I think I’d rather Clark and Neale.

 

[Shadow89]

Good post.

But I know Darcy's family well and I can't see a place for him at the Catters ATM.

Out of curiosity, has Darcy expressed any interest in us, anyone else, or haven't heard anything as of yet?