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

[gogeelongcats]

Oliver wants a fresh start at a new club...Easy!
Both parties need to agree to end the contract.
Oliver traded to Cats. Demons don't pay a cent.
Cats make small trade : negotiate new contract.
Demons gain trade + unencumbered salary cap.
Oliver shows: not playing for Money but the Game
Cats gain Oliver on a fair contract and trade.
Oliver gets his Fresh Start at club of his choice.

Everybody Wins.

Except Oliver from a pay perspective.

 

[Spearman]

Definitely, but I guess it's less noticeable when you were never an adonis to begin with.

Prime Oliver still just looked like your average 'gym bro' rather than someone like Bailey Smith, so it's far less of a concern for mine.

The whole things got red flags written all over it before you even get to the contract.

At least we could just see Steven out after one year.

This. Regardless of the salary, we would be married to him a long, long time. Do you go to the altar with a '?' ?

 

[FishGutz]

This year or after his contract ? I mean it would be hard to predict either way but I thought I would ask

This year.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

This year.

-
FishGutz: With Harley Reid hopefully landing at Geelong..... you're like Father Christmas to me, I'm a believer even if you're not real

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Butters is definitely coming. End of 2026.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

And I'll bet whatever anyone wants on it.

 

[FootyLad0]

I was asked what % chance I give Reid getting to us. After this weekend and more of what I’ve heard I’m going to say there’s an 80% chance of him getting to us. I am feeling that confident.

So Reid is where we are heading? Wow that’s gonna cause some insane melts if it happens.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Quick update:

It’s all happening this year, it’s madness…

Butters meeting confirmed. Basic indication is he is 100% leaving at the end of 2026. Race is on. (I personally think we should get Hinkley in some role to persuade).

Conversations with Reid’s management are strong and frequent. This is becoming more live by the day.

Conversation with JUH and his management occurred over the weekend. Lots of feeling out there but interest definitely not dead.

No updates on TDK.

No updates on Rowell.

No updates on Oliver.

Also, asked about Worpel. The news I’m hearing is he will go to Saints.

Hinkley dear God no he's a terrible coach.

I believe the Reid mail but wce aren't trading him to us this year. We don't have the currency (unless you are suggesting humphries goes which won't happen) and they wouldn't choose us as a trading partner even ud we did.

St kilda chase everyone and get no one-worpel won't want to go there.

 

[Interdimensional Bigfoot]

Butters is definitely coming. End of 2026.

Not if Reid is coming. I think Butters goes to the Dogs. Only way is if we come over the top of the dogs in pay, which we're probably not going to do. What would be the driving factor for him coming to us? All things being equal he goes to the club he supported as a kid?

Would we rather Reid for long term, probably won't impact right away or butters immediately impacts but won't have him as long. Do we choose an established top player in the game or player who's got the potential to be the next Dangerfield.

 

[FootyLad0]

Quick update:

It’s all happening this year, it’s madness…

Butters meeting confirmed. Basic indication is he is 100% leaving at the end of 2026. Race is on. (I personally think we should get Hinkley in some role to persuade).

Conversations with Reid’s management are strong and frequent. This is becoming more live by the day.

Conversation with JUH and his management occurred over the weekend. Lots of feeling out there but interest definitely not dead.

No updates on TDK.

No updates on Rowell.

No updates on Oliver.

Also, asked about Worpel. The news I’m hearing is he will go to Saints.

I reckon if we can somehow walk out with Reid and TDK we’d be set for a long time.

Thanks FishGutz for the update, we appreciate everything you do.

Worpel as a fall back isn’t bad, Saints throw money at everyone so if they are throwing the kitchen sink at him good luck to the bloke, he’s not worth that.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Not if Reid is coming. I think Butters goes to the Dogs. Only way is if we come over the top of the dogs in pay, which we're probably not going to do. What would be the driving factor for him coming to us? All things being equal he goes to the club he supported as a kid?

Jhye Clark 13 doesn't just say shit for no reason. Knows the Butters family IIRC.

As for why us vs Dogs, it's the same reasons any player has picked Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Richmond, and Carlton over the minnow Melbourne clubs throughout history.

Opportunities to play in front of big crowds at marquee games (Easter Monday/Anzac Day) play big finals, and have team and individual success with the bigger profile.

It's never a guarantee no matter where you go...but your track record counts for something, and the Dogs have a loooong history of never really putting it all together.

If you're inclined to work post football, the post career opportunities are night and day, too.

Lastly, Bazlenka would be a Hawk right now following your logic.

It's a nice story, and you're right if all things are equal...but they very rarely are.

 

[sleep]

We can sign Reid on a bridge deal to make room for the likes of Butters and others. It’s easily doable, given that our players are cost-controlled and our cap management is excellent.

Bowes, Stewart, Cameron, Danger and others will be coming off large contracts, moved to the veterans list, or Duncan + Rhys retired.

The AFL community will absolutely lose it when we land both Reid and Butters (and more) — and I, for one, will be loving every second of it. Suck it, losers

 

[sleep]

Butters is definitely coming. End of 2026.

Doggies supporters punching walls.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Bowes, Stewart, Cameron, Danger and others will be coming off large contracts, moved to the veterans list, or Duncan + Rhys retired.

The AFL community will absolutely lose it when we land both Reid and Butters (and more) — and I, for one, will be loving every second of it. Suck it, losers

Veterans list is still a thing?

 

[FishGutz]

Butters is definitely coming. End of 2026.

Your confidence gives me confidence. I’ve been told we are leading the race but it sounds like you have heard something more decisive which I love as you were onto this last year. We are going hard for him. Have you heard the details of the meetings and conversations? All I’ve heard is we are coming away feeling confident.

 

[FishGutz]

Hinkley dear God no he's a terrible coach.

I believe the Reid mail but wce aren't trading him to us this year. We don't have the currency (unless you are suggesting humphries goes which won't happen) and they wouldn't choose us as a trading partner even ud we did.

St kilda chase everyone and get no one-worpel won't want to go there.

Yeah I wouldn’t have Hinkley as a coach. But in some role mentoring the youth. Would be a huge motivator for Butters who has a strong relationship with him.

And we will see with West Coast. I don’t think they’ll be able to go another season of this Reid fiasco. Things are moving fast on this front.

 

[FishGutz]

So Reid is where we are heading? Wow that’s gonna cause some insane melts if it happens.

Yeah we are going hard. And it makes sense on all fronts. We have NGAs coming through this offseason we can take by matching with points. So that’s our draft crop sorted, so we don’t bottom out on guys to develop. We scoop Reid. And we can hunt FAs and bargains elsewhere.

I can’t emphasise enough how much is happening behind the scenes right now. It’s chaotic for this early in the year.

 

[Baudolino]

How would getting both Butters and Reid even be possible? Seems obviously crazy to me. They'd be worth a combined value of 5 first round draft picks. We're so far off having the trade capital to pull something like that off within two seasons it's not funny.

 

[sleep]

How would getting both Butters and Reid even be possible? Seems obviously crazy to me. They'd be worth a combined value of 5 first round draft picks. We're so far off having the trade capital to pull something like that off within two seasons it's not funny.

Butters 2026 is a FA. Doesnt cost us any picks.

 

[bulletproof]

Butters 2026 is a FA. Doesnt cost us any picks.

Restricted or unrestricted?

 

[sleep]

Restricted or unrestricted?

RFA

 

[dazbroncos]

And I'll bet whatever anyone wants on it.

When you go big and public like this .. your track record of being right is strong

Go Catters

 

[Del216647]

Not if Reid is coming. I think Butters goes to the Dogs. Only way is if we come over the top of the dogs in pay, which we're probably not going to do. What would be the driving factor for him coming to us? All things being equal he goes to the club he supported as a kid?

Jezza barracked for Pies and Smith the Hawks, I'm not sure it's as big a factor as some think.

 

[Catattack20]

Yeah we are going hard. And it makes sense on all fronts. We have NGAs coming through this offseason we can take by matching with points. So that’s our draft crop sorted, so we don’t bottom out on guys to develop. We scoop Reid. And we can hunt FAs and bargains elsewhere.

I can’t emphasise enough how much is happening behind the scenes right now. It’s chaotic for this early in the year.

Is there a chance the Reid move to us is announced or at least agreed in principle behind the scenes before the season is over? Seems like his management would be informing the WCE shortly…

 

[Cataholic]

Butters is definitely coming. End of 2026.

Wow!