Rumour GFC 2025 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt 2

[Footy_Fan2007]

Butters should be number 1 target

 

[foxdog50]

Other than TDK and possibly Cadman, who else of quality would be on the radar apart from bottoming out and securing early picks? Ugle-Hagan is an option but he could destroy a young team with his behavior.
We have no options now but to back in what we have.

At least midfielders are a dime-a-dozen and we can pinch one or two from other clubs.

Yeah JUH is the player.. pure Football Key Forward 100%. But it's the off field I'm not so sure..

 

[FishGutz]

Possibly the wrong forum for my reply - But i noticed paricularly early that GWS started many of their attacks from the defensive 50 with 3-4 players runing parallel to each other and they sliced us up through the middle - this got them such a good early start (and ultimately won them the game)
Also I dont think I've seen so many "uncontested" marks in the middle of a pack as i did today (i know this is an oxymoron) - but the amount of times a kick come into the Giants F50 and only one giants player went for (and took) the mark was quite considerable - resulting in a handful of shots on goal.
That said - i cant knock our endeavour - simply our finishing and slow start - Also cant help but wonder if the tipping point in terms of our defense was reached today given we effectively lost Blitz (to the ruck) and Humpries this week in addition to Stewart, Henry and Kolo

Yep, spot on. And this is what scares me about Port. They’ve done this exact play to us at Adelaide oval many times. It’s brutal.

 

[D BRIDGE]

That Bowes deal starting to look bad, we're now stuck with Bowes and Clark.

I said at the time of taking Clark in the draft that we might have lost that trade.

 

[small 4wards]

And after today, I hope my intel is wrong and we are in for Worpel. Never been convinced but we lack grunt so badly it’s crazy. We also lack class in the midfield though, which makes it a conundrum. The perfect scenario would be Butters + Worpel as FA. And JUH as DFA or a contract dump situation. But I’m thinking if we could pull off Reid + Worpel + JUH, which is more realistic, I’d still be stoked. Would plug so many holes.

These are just reactionary comments after a brutal loss. Nothing to do with my intel.

Oh… and if we can get TDK as well. Add him in the mix as well.

I am steaming. Can’t believe how easy we are to score against at the moment. It’s bizarre.

with all due respect because I genuinely love your ITK posts but we're missing 4 out of our starting back 6, I don't think it's bizarre that our defense is weak. Once we get that cohesion/players back, I think we'll look remarkably different.

 

[Cataholic]

with all due respect because I genuinely love your ITK posts but we're missing 4 out of our starting back 6, I don't think it's bizarre that our defense is weak. Once we get that cohesion/players back, I think we'll look remarkably different.

Our inability to execute basic kicks, passes, handballs and shots on goals isn't due to anyone missing.

This is the best of the best in the footy world.

That we can't execute basic skills is bizarre.

Especially given we have a coach lauded as the best in the land.

 

[My Tilly]

with all due respect because I genuinely love your ITK posts but we're missing 4 out of our starting back 6, I don't think it's bizarre that our defense is weak. Once we get that cohesion/players back, I think we'll look remarkably different.

On the flip side to that, you could argue the reason why we lost to Brisbane, Carlton and St Kilda was solely on the midfield inadequacy.
If it's a trend early on in the season, envision what it will be later in the year when Smith & Holmes are fatigued from carrying the load.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Our inability to execute basic kicks, passes, handballs and shots on goals isn't due to anyone missing.

This is the best of the best in the footy world.

That we can't execute basic skills is bizarre.

Especially given we have a coach lauded as the best in the land.

You're not wrong, but it's still a depth issue.

Every injury to a best 18 player pushes another middling footballer up the totem pole.

Take someone like Bowes. In our absolute best side, he's probably player 16 or so. No world beater, but can play a role and the expectations are low.

I won't count TB or CG or any of the kids, so we'll just take Humphries, Stewart, Stanley, Henry, and Kolo out.

Suddenly player 16 is now player 11, and we're in a bit of trouble, and the same goes for all the players below him. It's a chain reaction.

Basically what I'm getting at is you go from having 1 weak link (even the best sides have one) to 2, and then it's 3, and suddenly it's 4...and you've got holes everywhere then, especially when you're already playing extras at certain areas to cover like we do.

In a pressure filled game like today, you just can't afford that, and it's why we see the skill level drop so heavily.

It's a game now where one fumble at half forward leads to a goal down the the other end in seconds (looking at you Ollie Henry).

Now imagine that you've got 4 or 5 players doing that all over the ground, and you see what we saw today.

 

[FishGutz]

with all due respect because I genuinely love your ITK posts but we're missing 4 out of our starting back 6, I don't think it's bizarre that our defense is weak. Once we get that cohesion/players back, I think we'll look remarkably different.

Nah I understand. I was steaming after the game so bizarre might be a bit strong but it’s not just this week we’ve been easy to score against. Even with Stewart in he has been down on form dramatically especially for his standard. I love our fast ball movement but how vulnerable we are through the corridor on a turnover is concerning. Watching us live Adelaide it felt like we got away with one there because of their lack of experience.

The only teams we’ve been able to really control have been Melbourne Hawthorn.

Anyway, bit off topic with this discussion but yeah, venting and impatience to fill the holes already lol.

At least Della won the title today. That’s my solace.

 

[Mr Meow]

You're not wrong, but it's still a depth issue.

Every injury to a best 18 player pushes another middling footballer up the totem pole.

Take someone like Bowes. In our absolute best side, he's probably player 16 or so. No world beater, but can play a role and the expectations are low.

I won't count TB or CG or any of the kids, so we'll just take Humphries, Stewart, Stanley, Henry, and Kolo out.

Suddenly player 16 is now player 11, and we're in a bit of trouble, and the same goes for all the players below him. It's a chain reaction.

Basically what I'm getting at is you go from having 1 weak link (even the best sides have one) to 2, and then it's 3, and suddenly it's 4...and you've got holes everywhere then, especially when you're already playing extras at certain areas to cover like we do.

In a pressure filled game like today, you just can't afford that, and it's why we see the skill level drop so heavily.

It's a game now where one fumble at half forward leads to a goal down the the other end in seconds (looking at you Ollie Henry).

Now imagine that you've got 4 or 5 players doing that all over the ground, and you see what we saw today.

The inexcusable part was the goal kicking. Our senior heads did stuff that part up. None of that was really personnel related.

As for general cohesion around the ground, including attacking/defensive running patterns and transition - absolutely that exposes those bottom 5 to 6 players. And mistakes creep in to others as everyone feels under the pump. So that is where our absentees were badly missed.

 

[Footy Smarts]

I'd pass on Worpel unless he's very cheap. He's ok but not good enough to really change our fortunes.

Keep our powder dry and go at Reid or Butters who can really move the needle.

 

[Cataholic]

You're not wrong, but it's still a depth issue.

Every injury to a best 18 player pushes another middling footballer up the totem pole.

Take someone like Bowes. In our absolute best side, he's probably player 16 or so. No world beater, but can play a role and the expectations are low.

I won't count TB or CG or any of the kids, so we'll just take Humphries, Stewart, Stanley, Henry, and Kolo out.

Suddenly player 16 is now player 11, and we're in a bit of trouble, and the same goes for all the players below him. It's a chain reaction.

Basically what I'm getting at is you go from having 1 weak link (even the best sides have one) to 2, and then it's 3, and suddenly it's 4...and you've got holes everywhere then, especially when you're already playing extras at certain areas to cover like we do.

In a pressure filled game like today, you just can't afford that, and it's why we see the skill level drop so heavily.

It's a game now where one fumble at half forward leads to a goal down the the other end in seconds (looking at you Ollie Henry).

Now imagine that you've got 4 or 5 players doing that all over the ground, and you see what we saw today.

I don't disagree, and understand your point.

But still, even with depth issues our basic skill with the ball shouldn't decline as sharply as it does. This competition is the best of the best.

What we've seen defies that. We can't stick tackles, we can't execute simple passes by hand or foot, and our ability to kick simple goals is questionable.

We don't give up, I admire that, but I'll be damned if we don't sabotage ourselves with B grade skills and decision making.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

The NGA kids won't be that hard to get. Even if they are selected early, it's not that hard to stack up late picks to pay for them.

If we have one go top 10 then we may have a bit of work to do, but there is no indication of that at this stage. Rongdit is being talked about as 2nd/3rd round, and Mellor might shoot up the rankings if he keeps playing like he did last game but that's a big if.

Plus history says that NGA kids tend to not get bid on until later than they should. Whether clubs know they can't get them and don't want to bother, or something else, I'm not sure.

Think twomey or someone on a podcast once basically just said recruiters have finite resources and won't waste them on a player they can't draft. So when a kid slides in the draft they don't really know enough about them anyway and will instead use the pick on the kid they've done the homework on so the kid keeps sliding

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I'd pass on Worpel unless he's very cheap. He's ok but not good enough to really change our fortunes.

Keep our powder dry and go at Reid or Butters who can really move the needle.

I would not pass on Worpel as a free agent

He may be the Chad Warner you have when you're not having a Chad Warner

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I don't disagree, and understand your point.

But still, even with depth issues our basic skill with the ball shouldn't decline as sharply as it does. This competition is the best of the best.

What we've seen defies that. We can't stick tackles, we can't execute simple passes by hand or foot, and our ability to kick simple goals is questionable.

We don't give up, I admire that, but I'll be damned if we don't sabotage ourselves with B grade skills and decision making.

I just think it's perceived pressure, which comes a from a hot contest like today. Plus the point earlier about depth.

We're a list in transition. We just don't have the quality to afford to lose players when the soldiers coming in either A) cooked/kids B) won't make it.

You just can't cover that at AFL level against a quality side anymore in this system based era of football.

It's not man on man anymore. One spud f**ks something up and it's over, let alone when you've got three doing it all over the ground.

I totally agree with Stengle, Blitz, and Henry misses. That's inexcusable, and can only really be put down to a bad day (or in Ollie's case, an alarming trend).

The around the ground stuff though, we just have players who aren't up to handling AFL standard pressure.

I liken to the NBA. Every player in the league will shoot 9/10 3 point shots under no pressure in an empty gym. They're the basics.

You put them on a court against an opponent, and even the GOAT Steph Curry is going at 42%.

The basics aren't basics anymore under pressure, particularly when you're carrying players who aren't AFL standard.

 

[Baudolino]

What we've seen defies that. We can't stick tackles, we can't execute simple passes by hand or foot, and our ability to kick simple goals is questionable.

Goal conversion aside, I thought our ball movement and disposal execution was mostly fine today. Disposal efficiency of 73.9% (up on our season average), won the inside 50 count 61-46, and had fewer turnovers than our season average. It was our off the ball stuff (zoning, defensive positioning and ability to stick tackles) that cost us. Plus SDK hasn't developed as we'd hoped and COS is still a kid, so they both got wrecked which didn't help us contain GWS's scoring.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Yep, spot on. And this is what scares me about Port. They’ve done this exact play to us at Adelaide oval many times. It’s brutal.

We need better pressure inside our f50 to force a dump kick which shuts down that chain you talk about before it starts. This is why Dempsey and Henry who can both be half assed at times need to pull their fingers out.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I said at the time of taking Clark in the draft that we might have lost that trade.

We didn't really. Bowes after this year will be a reasonably cheapish depth player (which is what he is and that's ok) and the 2022 draft in general was crap. Most players picked after Clark that were options are just as bad.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I'd pass on Worpel unless he's very cheap. He's ok but not good enough to really change our fortunes.

Keep our powder dry and go at Reid or Butters who can really move the needle.

We won't get butters though. Reid is a maybe. Worpel on the other hand is eminently gettable and much better than a lot of guys in our 22-yes he's not an elite but it's still an improvement we need.

 

[sleep]

We won't get butters though. Reid is a maybe. Worpel on the other hand is eminently gettable and much better than a lot of guys in our 22-yes he's not an elite but it's still an improvement we need.

Other ITK posters are saying the exact opposite. Do you actually have any information suggesting he won’t come, or are you just working off the assumption that Port will match, etc.? Genuinely curious.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Other ITK posters are saying the exact opposite. Do you actually have any information suggesting he won’t come, or are you just working off the assumption that Port will match, etc.? Genuinely curious.

Assume he means this year.

They're not going to let him go, and by all reports, he's classy enough to not leave while contracted anyway.

If we want to improve it this offseason, Worpel and Rowell are the only real options, with Reid being the pie in the sky ideal if WC are willing to come to the table.

 

[PorcelainBus]

Please not JUH . . .

 

[sleep]

Assume he means this year.

They're not going to let him go, and by all reports, he's classy enough to not leave while contracted anyway.

If we want to improve it this offseason, Worpel and Rowell are the only real options, with Reid being the pie in the sky ideal if WC are willing to come to the table.

Right. He probably should clarify that. It's well known that Butters is waiting to become an RFA.

Worpel doesn’t move the needle, and I wouldn’t be throwing money at him if it costs us a shot at Reid and Butters. There are 50 players like Worpel — and about 10 RFAs like him each year — but there’s only one Reid and one Butters.

Rowell bought a house in Kew. He’s not GFC-bound.

 

[Larry Donohue]

This is all so reactionary after a 4 point loss to a team filled with developed 1st round picks and stars from other clubs.
We have effectively our most experienced a dctalented defenders missing
You cannot expect OSullivan and dekonning to hold up against that without Stewart, Henry, kolo and humphries. We may yet also add Guthrie and Martin, Conway or Stanley.
Still believe with our run home if managed well we will contend

 

[FishGutz]

This is all so reactionary after a 4 point loss to a team filled with developed 1st round picks and stars from other clubs.
We have effectively our most experienced a dctalented defenders missing
You cannot expect OSullivan and dekonning to hold up against that without Stewart, Henry, kolo and humphries. We may yet also add Guthrie and Martin, Conway or Stanley.
Still believe with our run home if managed well we will contend

I get what you’re saying to agree. But saying, “to a team filled with developed 1st round picks and stars from other clubs.” Is a cop out. Giants have been struggling and any good side will fit the profile you put up. It’s just to emphasise your point but doesn’t really mean anything.

I think what myself and other posters are worried about is how easy we get sliced up from clearances and turnovers.

The ball slingshots from the oppositions half back and we are scrambling. This isn’t one week in isolation. I mean, Saints did it to us. And that side had Henry, Stewart and Humphries. It is definitely a concern however you cut it.