Recommitted Sam Berry [OOC 2026] - name was floated for a move in 2025, stayed

[Cleric]

Just thought this might be worth putting up here.
Berry is too good not to be playing in the AFL, and is getting limited time at Adelaide.
He has one year to go on a contract, but at this point in his career he needs to be playing every week, and with the roster at Adelaide, this isn't happening. I would hate for him to go, as I think he is going to be a very good mid, but for his career he might need to. If he does I think some club is going to get a bargain.

Would suit Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne, and even Sydney.

 

[Golumless]

We're not one for going early, are we?

 

[Cleric]

We're not one for going early, are we?

"Speculation" thread.
If he isnt getting regular games it is in his best interests to chase an opportunity to look somewhere else?
Who would you prefer the club puts time into? Berry or Draper?

 

[Crow till I die]

The way he is playing, i'd be keeping him

 

[Golumless]

"Speculation" thread.
If he isnt getting regular games it is in his best interests to chase an opportunity to look somewhere else?
Who would you prefer the club puts time into? Berry or Draper?

By that logic, Berry is screwed no matter where he goes. Most clubs have an up-and-coming midfielder or two they're convinced are going to be serious players moving forward.

I'm quite comfortable with Adelaide putting time into Berry this year, even at the expense of Draper. Everything Sid has done says he's a next year proposition, whereas, I think Adelaide's optimal midfield set up this year (with the idea to go into deep into finals as possible) is Rankine at 70-80% with Peatling/Soligo/Berry as the three rotational mids, with Dawson/Draper (as sub) going in for a burst or two.

 

[Cleric]

By that logic, Berry is screwed no matter where he goes. Most clubs have an up-and-coming midfielder or two they're convinced are going to be serious players moving forward.

I'm quite comfortable with Adelaide putting time into Berry this year, even at the expense of Draper. Everything Sid has done says he's a next year proposition, whereas, I think Adelaide's optimal midfield set up this year (with the idea to go into deep into finals as possible) is Rankine at 70-80% with Peatling/Soligo/Berry as the three rotational mids, with Dawson/Draper (as sub) going in for a burst or two.

So next year when Draper is getting his game, Berry is back in the seconds unless there is an injury. I'm happy to keep him as I really rate him, but he himself may want better opportunities.
He slots right into a number of clubs first 22 at this point.
With mids we have Dawson, Rankine, Soligo, Draper, Crouch, Peatling, Taylor, and Rachele all going through the middle. He is on the outside of that group as it stands when they are all fit.

At this point in his career, he would want to be starting every match.

 

[ABAB]

So next year when Draper is getting his game, Berry is back in the seconds unless there is an injury. I'm happy to keep him as I really rate him, but he himself may want better opportunities.
He slots right into a number of clubs first 22 at this point.
With mids we have Dawson, Rankine, Soligo, Draper, Crouch, Peatling, Taylor, and Rachele all going through the middle. He is on the outside of that group as it stands when they are all fit.

At this point in his career, he would want to be starting every match.

Crouch......

 

[Elite Pete]

Just thought this might be worth putting up here.
Berry is too good not to be playing in the AFL, and is getting limited time at Adelaide.
He has one year to go on a contract, but at this point in his career he needs to be playing every week, and with the roster at Adelaide, this isn't happening. I would hate for him to go, as I think he is going to be a very good mid, but for his career he might need to. If he does I think some club is going to get a bargain.

Would suit Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne, and even Sydney.

Yeah Eagles should be front of the queue. Exactly what they need.

Too good to be playing state league.

Would be guaranteed games every week.

 

[Cleric]

Yeah Eagles should be front of the queue. Exactly what they need.

Too good to be playing state league.

Would be guaranteed games every week.

He's that right age profile for WC. He's still young but not still coming to grips with entering the system. He would still be there when the rebuild is finished and they are playing finals.

 

[Elite Pete]

He's that right age profile for WC. He's still young but not still coming to grips with entering the system. He would still be there when the rebuild is finished and they are playing finals.

Yeah. We have a few Gippy boys on the list too. He’s good mates with one of our players too Chesser, it’s unsure if he will get a contract for next year though.

Isn’t it time for Berry over Crouch? Peatling above both imo. Nice issue to have. They have turned that midfield around.

 

[Cleric]

Yeah. We have a few Gippy boys on the list too. He’s good mates with one of our players too Chesser, it’s unsure if he will get a contract for next year though.

Isn’t it time for Berry over Crouch? Peatling above both imo. Nice issue to have. They have turned that midfield around.

Crouch is different to Berry.
Crouch gets shit on by alot of supporters who just don't understand the game.
He is an extractor. He has a genetic ability to know where the ball is. Same goes for players like McCrae, Mitchell, Andrew Jarman, Diesel etc.He gets 30+ nearly every game. His ability to find the ball in the contest and get it out to the runners is elite. You need those players. Berry isn't that type, and we don't have another of his type on the list.

He started to get shit on because we had a midfield that was slow. We needed some outside pace and linebreakers in the team, which we now have in players like Dawson, Rankine.
So he compliments those players in a big way. We now have balance when we didn't before.
What people forget is that speed of ball movement is greater than a fast runner.
Crouch can find the ball, and handball it out to someone with space better than anyone else in our team.

 

[Mutineer]

Behind Berry’s breakout: The silent grind powering the midfielder’s season

The 23-year-old enjoyed a career-high game against the Eagles

www.afc.com.au

 

[Golumless]

So next year when Draper is getting his game, Berry is back in the seconds unless there is an injury. I'm happy to keep him as I really rate him, but he himself may want better opportunities.
He slots right into a number of clubs first 22 at this point.
With mids we have Dawson, Rankine, Soligo, Draper, Crouch, Peatling, Taylor, and Rachele all going through the middle. He is on the outside of that group as it stands when they are all fit.

At this point in his career, he would want to be starting every match.

If those two are listed as "going through the middle", then Berry will have no issues whatsoever. Taylor is an odds-on delist right now, and the move into the midfield for Rachele has been made redundant due to Rankine (plus Rachele doesn't have the inside game to transition). Heck, Berry (alongside Peatling) has a window now to make Crouch redundant in our midfield set up; Berry is also an extractor, though a different (and potentially a more modern) type to Crouch.

As said, way to early to say he'll be looking for more opportunities, and if Sam can't make it at Adelaide from this situation? He doesn't have much of a future anywhere.

 

[Cleric]

If those two are listed as "going through the middle", then Berry will have no issues whatsoever. Taylor is an odds-on delist right now, and the move into the midfield for Rachele has been made redundant due to Rankine (plus Rachele doesn't have the inside game to transition). Heck, Berry (alongside Peatling) has a window now to make Crouch redundant in our midfield set up; Berry is also an extractor, though a different (and potentially a more modern) type to Crouch.

As said, way to early to say he'll be looking for more opportunities, and if Sam can't make it at Adelaide from this situation? He doesn't have much of a future anywhere.

I hope he does continue his form at AFL level. He is one I said on our board that I thought would have a breakout year
When he first came into the team after we drafted him he was a tacking machine, but didn't get alot of the ball himself. If you are getting a ton of tackles it can mean you are second to the ball more often.
He seems to have gotten better at finding the ball, and he has that break away speed that he didn't show alot of.

 

[Golumless]

I hope he does continue his form at AFL level. He is one I said on our board that I thought would have a breakout year
When he first came into the team after we drafted him he was a tacking machine, but didn't get alot of the ball himself. If you are getting a ton of tackles it can mean you are second to the ball more often.
He seems to have gotten better at finding the ball, and he has that break away speed that he didn't show alot of.

Likewise, my expectation is Berry will lock in a best 22 spot in the next 3-5 weeks. The game looks in a good place and on paper, Berry/Soligo/Peatling is the best supporting cast for a Rankine, or Dawson. That said, right now is put up or shut up time with Sam having an AFL career.

First year, sure, but that's also being a half forward flanker. By year two though, he looked like the standard second year inside midfielder prospect (well, standard with an excellent defensive game). Good inside game (noting Berry averaged 4.6 clearances a game), not much on the outside. Damn shame his game fell apart, as he would have been useful in 2023 and our "two midfielder era".

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Looks to be making the most of his opportunities in the middle.

Beautiful left foot goal on the run.

The biggest difference this year is he is not fumbling & appears to be stronger around the contest as well as having that burst of speed.

Taken Crouch's spot.

 

[Vindicater]

Odd thread?

Contacted for another year and in the best 22?

 

[PeterSalt]

Odd thread?

Contacted for another year and in the best 22?

He wasn't in the best 22 at the beginning of the year. Has had a decent shot at it since he came in when Crouch went out injured

 

[ArdentEagle]

I'd be making a pretty audacious offer for him...Like the cut of his jib, we're in dire need of a player like Berry.

 

[1990crow]

I could see him leaving if NWM chooses crows.

 

[ArdentEagle]

What's his trade value? (Crows supporters)

 

[Vindicater]

Playing well but I doubt he is cemented in long term. Could be swung by a big offer from a team maybe

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

If im Eagles id give him say 800k a year and see how he feels. I doubt it changes his mind at all but its the kind of hail mary we need

 

[Cursedsword02]

He's well entrenched in Adelaide's best 22 now, you'd think, so I doubt he'll be going anywhere.

 

[Soggy2112]

He's well entrenched in Adelaide's best 22 now, you'd think, so I doubt he'll be going anywhere.

He’s well entrenched currently, but I’d say he’s still behind Dawson, Rankine, Soligo and Peatling in the midfield pecking order. He would also know that the long term plan for Curtin is likely to bring him in to the midfield rotation at some point.

If I was Berry, and a club like West Coast came knocking with a big contract and essentially guaranteed opportunities I would be seriously considering it.

What's his trade value? (Crows supporters)

If it’s this year while he’s under contract I’d say we’d be pushing for a late 1st/early 2nd. If he asks out next year I’d probably anticipate some kind of pick swap where we end up with a pick in the 20s as the main part of it.