Rumour GFC 2025 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt 3

[cats_09]

2025 AFL Draft and Trade Dates:​

Fri Oct 3 - Fri Oct 10: 2025 Free Agency Period
Mon Oct 6 - Wed Oct 15: 2025 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period
Wed Nov 19 - Thu Nov 20: 2025 Telstra AFL Draft

 

[STPer18]

Next year's draft is the last 'clean' one before Tassie enters isn't it? 2026 1sts will probably be at a premium this time next year, so whether we trade it then or use it ourselves, I'm happy we've still got it. It was the one thing I didn't want us to lose this trade period unless it was for someone elite.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

Never thought we'd get Curnow or Marshall. The conspiracy theorist in me thinks that opposition clubs have agreed never to let us get their contracted players so that we can get even better. I can't prove that, but I feel it. Might just be all in my head, though.

 

[STPer18]

If Ollie Henry has a huge summer, some may be surprised… he has talent.

Hopefully this year puts a fire in his belly. Great first two seasons with us, he and Neale are still just 23 and both already managed 40+ goal seasons which is no easy feat in the modern game.

 

[dazbroncos]

I also think was an element of clubs holding players accountable to their contracts this year, just to swing the pendulum back towards the clubs a little.

Agreed - the ghosts of broken player contracts past have hurt current players wanting to move early - and the clubs needed to get some of the power back - and players and their managers need to stop swinging for the stands on the longest deal ever.

Go Catters

 

[Rockford]

My2BobsWorth
The best trade was the non trade for Marshall IMO.
No lube needed as we didn't bend over.
Would he have been nice?? Yeah he would.
Was it a desperate need? Nah far from it.

Exactly this.

Beyond that, there are some young players at some of these clubs that have gone big on contracts to either attract or retain "star" power that won't get the same consideration with the cheque book. And they've needed to splash the cash to get or keep their players. Target a player like Darcy Wilson who I'm pretty sure is out of contract end of this coming season.

And then Butters, obviously.

 

[cats_09]

I wonder how much we’d have to offer for them not to match

$10 million one year deal with everyone else playing for peanuts

 

[winxi]

From memory Buckley got a fair bit out of O Henry when he was at collingwood? Also would M. Cox be a option for ruck depth?

 

[kickazz]

From memory Buckley got a fair bit out of O Henry when he was at collingwood? Also would D. Cox be a option for ruck depth?

Would want to put him on the Man Shakes from yesterday to get him match fit!

 

[Jumping Jack]

From memory Buckley got a fair bit out of O Henry when he was at collingwood? Also would M. Cox be a option for ruck depth?

O Henry would be the least excited at GMHBA about Buckley's arrival. I don't think they were real happy when he walked out.

And if Mason Cox steps foot inside the Geelong postcode I think the club will see membership numbers fall.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Exactly this.

Beyond that, there are some young players at some of these clubs that have gone big on contracts to either attract or retain "star" power that won't get the same consideration with the cheque book. And they've needed to splash the cash to get or keep their players. Target a player like Darcy Wilson who I'm pretty sure is out of contract end of this coming season.

And then Butters, obviously.

The Saints have now paid way overs collectively for a number of their players with both TDK and NWM on outrageous annual payouts and they've only been allowed to do this because so many of their excellent promising young players are 'playing for peanuts' and at some stage in the near future 'something has to give'. And because of this, we'll see in the shorter term a group of their very young promising Saint players being offered excellent money by several other AFL clubs 'and the squeeze will be on', making life very difficult for no other reason than the Sainters have paid way overs with a small band of their players, stifling their cap with little room for future movement. So with this in mind, young players such as Darcy Wilson will be offered appealing contracts by rival clubs that will put the Sainters in a very awkward position.

The Cats did the right thing by not paying ridiculous overs for contracted players in the draft just passed as we're far better just waiting for players that are out of contract that want to come to our club and 'NOT get caught up in the bubble and hype of trade week'. Buy and large we have been such a competitive club for such a long time now, unprecedented and that's largely been attributed and contributed by our outstanding recruiting and development, along with players not been paid ridiculous overs on contracts which gives us a huge advantage but also 'stability' unlike the Sainters. Even now, we still have a great list of young players that have in no way reached their full maturity, so there's still much to love about the Cats going forward..... and GO CATTERS !!!

 

[GlenMiddlemissed]

Exactly this.

Beyond that, there are some young players at some of these clubs that have gone big on contracts to either attract or retain "star" power that won't get the same consideration with the cheque book. And they've needed to splash the cash to get or keep their players. Target a player like Darcy Wilson who I'm pretty sure is out of contract end of this coming season.

And then Butters, obviously.

Genuine question, for you and for everybody else – why “Butters, obviously”? I get it’s obvious that we would be in the very long queue that will be talking to him throughout 2026, but why does everyone here think Butters is such a strong chance to get to Geelong?

Has he got strong ties to GFC or the region- not that I can find?

Will we pay him as much as other clubs – no

Can we offer or would we offer the same or better deal to get him out of Port – no, we haven’t the picks, and we don’t force players to other clubs?

Can we offer a better chance to win a premiership – we are a chance, but all of the northern state teams can offer this too?

Non-GFC supporters seem to think he is most likely headed to Footscray if he doesn’t stay.

So, why Butters?

 

[joe444]

O Henry would be the least excited at GMHBA about Buckley's arrival. I don't think they were real happy when he walked out.

And if Mason Cox steps foot inside the Geelong postcode I think the club will see membership numbers fall.

Craig McRae was coach at the time. Indeed, Buckley selected Henry to play in the last 7 games he coached for the club - a pretty good expression of faith in the kid in his first season. In contrast, my sources tell me that it was McRae who played him as an unused substitute not once, but in both of Henry's last two games for the Pies.

The Mason Cox comment is baffling.

 

[Rockford]

Genuine question, for you and for everybody else – why “Butters, obviously”? I get it’s obvious that we would be in the very long queue that will be talking to him throughout 2026, but why does everyone here think Butters is such a strong chance to get to Geelong?

Has he got strong ties to GFC or the region- not that I can find?

Will we pay him as much as other clubs – no

Can we offer or would we offer the same or better deal to get him out of Port – no, we haven’t the picks, and we don’t force players to other clubs?

Can we offer a better chance to win a premiership – we are a chance, but all of the northern state teams can offer this too?

Non-GFC supporters seem to think he is most likely headed to Footscray if he doesn’t stay.

So, why Butters?

I'm not saying obviously as in, obviously we get him. I'm saying obviously as in, obviously we talk to him and try and get him onboard. He's a game changer, much like Bailey and makes our midfield significantly better and harder to stop.

 

[FootyLad0]

Next year's draft is the last 'clean' one before Tassie enters isn't it? 2026 1sts will probably be at a premium this time next year, so whether we trade it then or use it ourselves, I'm happy we've still got it. It was the one thing I didn't want us to lose this trade period unless it was for someone elite.

I already count over 11 NGA, Father Son or Northern Academy kids listed soo far.

No guarantee they are succeed but for anyone to say 2025 is compromised and 2026 won’t be is kidding themselves

 

[MisterMarcus]

O Henry would be the least excited at GMHBA about Buckley's arrival. I don't think they were real happy when he walked out.

And if Mason Cox steps foot inside the Geelong postcode I think the club will see membership numbers fall.

Surely professional sportspeople can get over some hurt feelings or sour grapes after 3 years?

 

[cats_09]

O Henry would be the least excited at GMHBA about Buckley's arrival. I don't think they were real happy when he walked out.

And if Mason Cox steps foot inside the Geelong postcode I think the club will see membership numbers fall.

Is that Buckley weren't happy with Ollie asking for a trade to Geelong, or that the Henry family wasn't happy with Buckley stepping down as Collingwood coach?

Ollie played all of 3 senior games as a Collingwood player, with Buckley stepping down as senior coach halfway through Henry's first year on the list - Henry was coached in more games by Robert Harvey than he was Buckley, so not why there'd be any real issues between the two

 

[Jumping Jack]

Craig McRae was coach at the time. Indeed, Buckley selected Henry to play in the last 7 games he coached for the club - a pretty good expression of faith in the kid in his first season. In contrast, my sources tell me that it was McRae who played him as an unused substitute not once, but in both of Henry's last two games for the Pies.

The Mason Cox comment is baffling.

Appreciate that Buckley wasn't coaching, but by his own admission he's stayed close to Collingwood since departing, so not sure if his view of Henry is tainted as a result of him leaving. It was just an observation but nothing to base it on.

The Mason Cox comment is a bit tongue in cheek. I'm just not a fan of the bloke but I'm sure if he ended up in the hoops we'd warm to him. More broadly I can't see Geelong going down that path. Only the club knows the full extent (and prognosis) of Conway's situation. It seems the surgery went well and it was not as bad as they had feared. We probably won't see him in the first past of the season, but they might be confident beyond that. If Pike remains on the list as back up - I think the club is probably ok running with a combination of Blicavs and Stanley, and see how quickly the likes of Edwards and Mollier develop over summer.

I'm sure Geelong will evolve and have some different plans going into next year. It wouldn't surprise me to see Neale spend more time in the ruck either.

 

[tiger_tough]

Doubt the Tiggies even know what Repco is. Not much need for auto parts when you take your cars out of other peoples' garages and then leave 'em in a ditch at the end of the trip.

 

[Mr Meow]

Genuine question, for you and for everybody else – why “Butters, obviously”? I get it’s obvious that we would be in the very long queue that will be talking to him throughout 2026, but why does everyone here think Butters is such a strong chance to get to Geelong?

Has he got strong ties to GFC or the region- not that I can find?

Will we pay him as much as other clubs – no

Can we offer or would we offer the same or better deal to get him out of Port – no, we haven’t the picks, and we don’t force players to other clubs?

Can we offer a better chance to win a premiership – we are a chance, but all of the northern state teams can offer this too?

Non-GFC supporters seem to think he is most likely headed to Footscray if he doesn’t stay.

So, why Butters?

If there was a Zak Margarine we'd be interested in him too. We're after a player that's good on the spread.

 

[standupand]

I'm definitely a bit confused about us looking to trade away our future-firsts, "if" Butters is a live option... which some here are strongly saying he is.

Snagging Butters as a FA would be like finding oil... but can't expect us to get that lucky "unlike most other teams".

At least we have those picks now to use if they are required.

As you can see with these 3x - 4x R1 demands for gun players... It's gonna be an expensive get if Port match any bid.

Can't just offer insane $$$ for him... you'd think unless Port flunk next year, they'll match anything.

Fingers crossed I guess.

It's not just about the dollars, it's about what they're likely to get out of a trade versus taking the compensation.

 

[joe444]

Bet they know what repo is.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I wonder how much we’d have to offer for them not to match

The money doesn't make a difference

 

[Mr Meow]

Repo/repossess - The term "repossess" means to take back possession of something.

Yes Dustin Martin did that to Rhys Stanley with the footy, shortly before shrugging off Dangerfield in the pocket to kick his 4th goal late in the 2020 grand final if I remember correctly.

Yawn.

 

[dudusmaximus]

Yes, he has talent, but he has a problem between the ears.

He can't choose when to go. He can't become invisible like he too often does.

He needs a harder edge.

If there's one positive from our failed Curnow acquisition, it is that OH will be training out of his skin.

 

[Tony Barber]

Genuine question, for you and for everybody else – why “Butters, obviously”? I get it’s obvious that we would be in the very long queue that will be talking to him throughout 2026, but why does everyone here think Butters is such a strong chance to get to Geelong?

Has he got strong ties to GFC or the region- not that I can find?

Will we pay him as much as other clubs – no

Can we offer or would we offer the same or better deal to get him out of Port – no, we haven’t the picks, and we don’t force players to other clubs?

Can we offer a better chance to win a premiership – we are a chance, but all of the northern state teams can offer this too?

Non-GFC supporters seem to think he is most likely headed to Footscray if he doesn’t stay.

So, why Butters?

Come on mate. His property is about 30 minutes from Kardinia Park.
He will take something like pick 2 and a player. And based on what's happened this year, $1.5 mil