Rumour GFC 2025 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt 1

[catters_28]

Hearing this third hand, but apparently the Reid's next door neighbour was in the MCC on Easter Monday spruiking that Harley is a certainty to come to the Cats next year.

Of course this could've been any old buffoon claiming to be their next door neighbour so don't get your hopes up yet. At any rate, someone was certainly spruiking.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Worpeedo as a FA is a fantastic plug and play for us.

He is an upgrade on Bruhn.

Chances are we could be saving some extra cap room if Bruhn's finger is really bad.

Maybe that is budgeted in with potentially getting Worp, maybe we already had budgeted for Worp and all of Bruhn's salary is bonus $$$ to help put towards a dip at TDK.

Getting Worpel should stop us from needing to go down the Oliver direction for a big-bodied grunt mid.

With all the talk of these elite players linked to us, getting just Worpel would be a bit of a let down... but still better than nothing as a FA and then maybe next year is the year we land a Reid or Butters.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Hearing this third hand, but apparently the Reid's next door neighbour was in the MCC on Easter Monday spruiking that Harley is a certainty to come to the Cats next year.

Of course this could've been any old buffoon claiming to be their next door neighbour so don't get your hopes up yet. At any rate, someone was certainly spruiking.

Sounds good to me... Lock it in Eddie!

 

[standupand]

Worpeedo as a FA is a fantastic plug and play for us.

He is an upgrade on Bruhn.

Chances are we could be saving some extra cap room if Bruhn's finger is really bad.

Maybe that is budgeted in with potentially getting Worp, maybe we already had budgeted for Worp and all of Bruhn's salary is bonus $$$ to help put towards a dip at TDK.

Getting Worpel should stop us from needing to go down the Oliver direction for a big-bodied grunt mid.

With all the talk of these elite players linked to us, getting just Worpel would be a bit of a let down... but still better than nothing as a FA and then maybe next year is the year we land a Reid or Butters.

Supposedly the hawks haven't offered him a contract? Seems odd.

 

[Warhorse]

Neale a bust and JUH the answer? Seriously? At the say time in their careers, Neale has JUH covered. After 22 games JUH had kicked 25 goals and was miles away from the player he was at the end of last season. Give Neale two more years to get to where JUH is now in terms of games played and I doubt that you'll be saying he's a "bust". That's before you even factor in that there is a good chance that JUH never plays AFL again. There are 4 forwards ahead of Neale for contested marks this season but yep, bust. Best to de-list him now so we can have a go at a bloke that is so off the rails they have given up on getting him to even front occasionally at training.

Brain dead take. JUH very first season as an 19 year old is statistically equal to Neales current season and he turns 23.

 

[goyoucatters]

So he'll be resigning with the Hawks any day now I guess?

Even if he is out the door, I would have thought he'll be canny enough to wait until the end of the season before he tells them he's leaving.

And there's still a chance he decides to re-sign with them instead at this point.

 

[goyoucatters]

Hearing this third hand, but apparently the Reid's next door neighbour was in the MCC on Easter Monday spruiking that Harley is a certainty to come to the Cats next year.

Of course this could've been any old buffoon claiming to be their next door neighbour so don't get your hopes up yet. At any rate, someone was certainly spruiking.

Well, whether this person is actually their neighbour or not, we can certainly be sure that they are a buffoon.

You would have to be seriously out of touch with any sense of decency to be carrying on like this about someone else's private business in such a public setting.

In the end, the whole thing sounds like a fair furphy to me.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Look, I'd usually agree, but gave you noticed Geelong's form issues have coincided with a lack of fire crotches in our best 22?

We need a Rohan replacement from the eyes up

"Hey Chris, what's this late night meeting at the Kardinia park bathrooms for? And why is Rory Lobbs hair stylist here with a ton of orange dye?"

"Get in the chair Bailey"

 

[frggr]

"Hey Chris, what's this late night meeting at the Kardinia park bathrooms for? And why is Rory Lobbs hair stylist here with a ton of orange dye?"

"Get in the chair Bailey"

sound of hair clippers intensifying

 

[frggr]

Worpeedo as a FA is a fantastic plug and play for us.

He is an upgrade on Bruhn.

Chances are we could be saving some extra cap room if Bruhn's finger is really bad.

Maybe that is budgeted in with potentially getting Worp, maybe we already had budgeted for Worp and all of Bruhn's salary is bonus $$$ to help put towards a dip at TDK.

Getting Worpel should stop us from needing to go down the Oliver direction for a big-bodied grunt mid.

With all the talk of these elite players linked to us, getting just Worpel would be a bit of a let down... but still better than nothing as a FA and then maybe next year is the year we land a Reid or Butters.

Dunno how much budgeting we'd need to do with C Guth and Stanley getting off the books at the end of the year, you'd reckon. That said, a career-ending finger injury does free up a little bit of cash.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Oliver will be a Jack Steven mk II. We either bring an A-grader in via FA/trade or don't bother.

At least we gave up nothing for Jack Steven and extended to flatten his wage. This would be like locking in Jack Steven as your highest paid player until the winner of the coming election faces their next election in 4 years

 

[CatToTheFuture]

sound of hair clippers intensifying

Hey hey, don't clip, just make them cheeto coloured

 

[fpm84]

That said, a career-ending finger injury does free up a little bit of cash.

It's very unlikely that will be wrapped up this year, and unlikely said person would have their contract terminated without a finding of guilt.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

If the cost of getting TDK was to offer him a contract that the Blues cannot match due to thier cap issues then that seems like a great result. Obviously we would need him to accept less than St Kilda is offering but that might be possible.

Getting him without having to trade would be a real boost for Geelong. The same is true for Worpel who I think is underrated by Geelong fans.

Those 2 ins would make it a super trade period. It would also leave all our picks available for one of the fantacy trades for Reid or Butters.

On Oliver, Melbourne will need to pick up 50% of his contract or I doubt we look at him. If that was to happen he will be traded for a token pick.
On Jamara, I expect he will be a DFA at year end. If he agrees to a performance based contract on way less money I'd pick him up. He will get another go somewhere. I'd be happy if it was us.

I reckon Worpel and Oliver are both suffering the same issue on here: People still think they are what they were 3 years ago.

The only difference is Oliver is benefiting from it, while it's hurting Worpel.

Off the last 2 years of footy, it would insane to take Oliver ahead of Worpel, and that's without even getting into the contract.

 

[cats_09]

I reckon Worpel and Oliver are both suffering the same issue on here: People still think they are what they were 3 years ago.

The only difference is Oliver is benefiting from it, while it's hurting Worpel.

Off the last 2 years of footy, it would insane to take Oliver ahead of Worpel, and that's without even getting into the contract.

I think most around here have probably gathered by now that I'm firmly in the "pass on Oliver" camp, while I've got not particularly strong feelings either way on Worpel

What I do think is in Worpel's favour if we are seriously interested in him is that he's 2 years younger than Oliver, and his contract would likely be somewhere between half -> two-thirds of that of Oliver's - ie, not $1million+

At the right price, which to me would include being able to acquiring him as a FA with no trade required, Worpel could be a good addition

 

[Grimoz]

My issue with Worpel is he butchers the ball, do we need another butcher in the midfield?

 

[frggr]

My issue with Worpel is he butchers the ball, do we need another butcher in the midfield?

If his position is to get it out to better ball users, his own butchering might not matter so much

 

[Kobe Gryant]

My issue with Worpel is he butchers the ball, do we need another butcher in the midfield?

We need someone who can get the ball first, so Smith, Holmes, Dempsey and the mosquito fleet are the ones getting it in space and taking mileage.

Atkins has done an admirable job of it so far, but with PFD in his twilight years, that's genuinely it for us in terms of hands and knees ball winners.

If Worpel is the one delivering forward then we've got a problem, but that won't be his role.

Think of the Adelaide game and how different we looked with Atkins playing out of his skin.

That's what Worpel would provide most weeks.

 

[Mr Meow]

I'd say he'd be even worse due to the size of his contract - it's indexed to the CBA and will be ridiculous by 2030, especially based on current form

At least with Steven we only had to wear that for 1 year, but with Oliver it would be 5 years of pain

And for anyone arguing, "he's only playing poorly as he's heart isn't in it at Melbourne but it'll be different when he's at Geelong" - sorry but **** that, if anything that's the biggest red flag and reason to skip on the player

We all knew that Kelly was going to return to WA after the 2019 season but you can't question his attitude & output in his second year with us - top 5 finish in the Brownlow shows how he attacked the season

If Oliver's head or heart isn't in it now, does that mean it hasn't been for the last couple of seasons also, and why does one think that suddenly turns around at the new club. Regardless of where he's playing next year he will be set up for life with his contract and why I question if he really has the drive to return to the form that saw him earn that deal

It's not even about drive or heart. He's just no longer a good footballer. He still has a crack but the game has gone past him.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Neale a bust and JUH the answer? Seriously? At the say time in their careers, Neale has JUH covered. After 22 games JUH had kicked 25 goals and was miles away from the player he was at the end of last season. Give Neale two more years to get to where JUH is now in terms of games played and I doubt that you'll be saying he's a "bust". That's before you even factor in that there is a good chance that JUH never plays AFL again. There are 4 forwards ahead of Neale for contested marks this season but yep, bust. Best to de-list him now so we can have a go at a bloke that is so off the rails they have given up on getting him to even front occasionally at training.

Another post fudging “where a player is at” based off games.

Again, compare age as well. Why are you ignoring seasons in a professional full time AFL club? Neale is currently into his 4th afl season. At the same age and year in the system JUH kicked 43 goals.

Why are we pretending development is 100% playing AFL games? That is silly.

They are night and day apart

 

[FishGutz]

In this context, if Geelong had traded out all their future picks this year then going into next years trade period (which is the one being referenced here) they'd only have a 2027 2nd and 3rd rounder to trade, even the 2028 first rounder would be off the table due to the 2 in 4 rule.

There's no practicable way to trade for a better hand than a band 1 compensation pick in that situation unless the other party can convince an equivalent player to ask for a trade. Geelong (or any club in that position) has no reason to push them out either. If the players you want to keep are all signed you just say "sorry, required player".

The club losing the player still gets the compo pick, but you're effectively making the restricted free agent an unrestricted free agent by taking away any incentive to match.

I don't see what is strange

In this context, if Geelong had traded out all their future picks this year then going into next years trade period (which is the one being referenced here) they'd only have a 2027 2nd and 3rd rounder to trade, even the 2028 first rounder would be off the table due to the 2 in 4 rule.

There's no practicable way to trade for a better hand than a band 1 compensation pick in that situation unless the other party can convince an equivalent player to ask for a trade. Geelong (or any club in that position) has no reason to push them out either. If the players you want to keep are all signed you just say "sorry, required player".

The club losing the player still gets the compo pick, but you're effectively making the restricted free agent an unrestricted free agent by taking away any incentive to match.

I don't see what is strange about that

In this context, if Geelong had traded out all their future picks this year then going into next years trade period (which is the one being referenced here) they'd only have a 2027 2nd and 3rd rounder to trade, even the 2028 first rounder would be off the table due to the 2 in 4 rule.

There's no practicable way to trade for a better hand than a band 1 compensation pick in that situation unless the other party can convince an equivalent player to ask for a trade. Geelong (or any club in that position) has no reason to push them out either. If the players you want to keep are all signed you just say "sorry, required player".

The club losing the player still gets the compo pick, but you're effectively making the restricted free agent an unrestricted free agent by taking away any incentive to match.

I don't see what is strange about that

Explained perfectly.

 

[Strange Cat]

I'm sold on Worpel if there's no trade cost. Would provide the defensive stuff Atkins does while getting 20+ touches a week. He's no superstar but is definitely good enough to be a third or fourth string mid in a premiership side. With the futures of Bruhn and Guthrie in doubt, we desperately need to bolster that midfield now instead of waiting for Clark/Knevitt to play 70 games to decide whether they're any good.

Yeah I’m all for it as it provides a big body in the middle and more rotation..free hit too so why not

It’s not a superstar but we badly need a big body in there and with Bruhn gone and Guthrie not coming back there isn’t a lot of options to protect the developing kids as Danger can only do short bursts these days

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Yeah I’m all for it as it provides a big body in the middle and more rotation..free hit too so why not

It’s not a superstar but we badly need a big body in there and with Bruhn gone and Guthrie not coming back there isn’t a lot of options to protect the developing kids as Danger can only do short bursts these days

Worpel is not without weaknesses but if it's Bruhn out for Worpel in that's a pretty sizeable upgrade in everything other than kicking ability i would say.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I suppose with a TDK it would not only allow Blitz down the back but allow another rotation in the middle

Thing is Blitz only has a year or two left I’d say and Stewart probably in the same boat

Blitz is about to be 34. So if we are recruiting talls it's to plan for life after him not with him.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Hearing this third hand, but apparently the Reid's next door neighbour was in the MCC on Easter Monday spruiking that Harley is a certainty to come to the Cats next year.

Of course this could've been any old buffoon claiming to be their next door neighbour so don't get your hopes up yet. At any rate, someone was certainly spruiking.

Even if Reid requests to come to here wce won't trade him this year. It's the same as Tim Kelly 2018. See you next year re a trade.
2026 i think we are a big shout though.

Worpeedo as a FA is a fantastic plug and play for us.

He is an upgrade on Bruhn.

Chances are we could be saving some extra cap room if Bruhn's finger is really bad.

Maybe that is budgeted in with potentially getting Worp, maybe we already had budgeted for Worp and all of Bruhn's salary is bonus $$$ to help put towards a dip at TDK.

Getting Worpel should stop us from needing to go down the Oliver direction for a big-bodied grunt mid.

With all the talk of these elite players linked to us, getting just Worpel would be a bit of a let down... but still better than nothing as a FA and then maybe next year is the year we land a Reid or Butters.

Geelong tried to get worpel last time in 2023 so they would be keen on him regardless but I agree especially if we are worried bruhn won't be back then worpel is an obvious in. So long as we think hawthorn won't match he gives us a durable bigger body to protect some of the kids while they develop. Yes I'd rather someone elite but it's still a no brainer to me.