Rumour Speculation, Rumours, Lies Thread 2026 - Part 2

[CrowinNT]

I expected us to look at our list and improve it. We haven't.

We have had 5 plus years to make sure we have the midfield talent necessary and someone has to be responsible for a lack of ability to get it done.

Go and look at our trade and drafting journey over the years
Who could have we landed ?
Midfield this year via trade who exactly ?

 

[1970crow]

I call this as BS

How many if our trades fall-over? - not many

GWS don’t like us because we marched Harley through to PSD and Sydney know we pants them in Dawson deal - knowing PSD was an option we used before

Being hard to deal with wouldn’t necessarily make him bad at his job. We’ve had a couple of trades fall over, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t do a great job in those negotiations.

 

[GreyCrow]

Not sure what you expected, not much really happening for every team this year

Yep not much at all

Here's how we are faring compared to the clubs around us. 10 games required to feature as a retirement

Adelaide
In: Ah Chee, Pick 16
Out: Smith (retired)

Geelong
In: Worpel, Pick 19, (Marshall?), (Curnow?)
Out:

Brisbane
In: Allen, Draper, Annable (early draft)
Out: Starcevich, Ah Chee, Robertson, Day (retired), McInerney (retired)

Collingwood
In: Buller, (Simpkin?)
Out: Mihocek, Hoskin-Elliott (retired)

GWS
In: Oliver, Pick 14
Out: Wehr, Ward (retired)

Fremantle
In: McVee, Pick 20
Out: Reidy, Brodie

Gold Coast
In: Petracca, Uwland (early draft), Patterson (early draft), (Ugle-Hagan?)
Out: Rosas Jr., Flanders, Fiorini, Ainsworth, Budarick

Hawthorn
In: Pick 9, (Merrett?)
Out: Worpel, Serong

Western Bulldogs
In: Budarick, Pick 12
Out: Khamis, (Ugle-Hagan?)

Sydney
In: Rosas Jr., Serong, Pick 11, (Curnow?)
Out: Buller, (Rowbottom?)

Carlton
In: Reidy, Ainsworth, Khamis, Chesser, Dean (draft), (Rowbottom?)
Out: De Koning, Silvagni, Durdin, Docherty (retired), (Curnow?)

St Kilda
In: De Koning, Silvagni, Flanders, Ryan
Out: Heath, Webster (retired), (Marshall?)

Port Adelaide
In: Durdin, Brodie, Wehr
Out: Rioli (retired), Boak (retired), (Soldo?)

 

[Betts are off]

Crows: Hey Will Days m...

Manager:

Crows: Hello, Is this Will Days Manager? I was enquiring about his....
Will Days Manager:

 

[Crowboto]

Lol

 

[Swan97]

Something tells me that was a short conversation.

I 100% percent agree with you they would be stupid to let him go but could that be the player Jarman was talking about?

 

[Cromulant]

Crows: Hey Will Days m...

Manager:

I doubt it.

You forget the commission he would stand to make from the enormous contract we'd have to give him.

 

[Pugsley]

Lol

Delete your account Orange team.

 

[Cromulant]

I 100% percent agree with you they would be stupid to let him go but could that be the player Jarman was talking about?

Believing anything Jarman says it a bit silly really

 

[kirky]

He becomes a RFA in 2027 - no harm in asking the question.

It is his management team not Hawthorn.

 

[Scorpus]

What a shit trade period. The failure to bring in anything to bolster our mid field is a complete disaster.

Nearly 30 years without a flag - that's just going to keep getting further and further away unless we take some risks.

Honestly, I think the "trade in some more midfielders" plan is just papering over the cracks

The players we were rumored to target all had significant flaws to the deal. Petracca's age and massive contract, Steele is cooked, Oliver is maybe cooked (physically and mentally), Sanders is inexperienced

We have enough midfielders on the list, we're just not getting enough out of them. The sum of the parts we have is operating below peak capacity by a large amount.

The reason we think we need to trade in midfielders is because we have failed to develop ours. That's what needed fixing. Those players listed above are stopgaps at best and not a long term solution. We only need to trade in because we can't develop them at the club.

A new set of midfield structures, new coaches, new development coaches. That's a lot more disappointing than the trade situation.

We should be developing our side towards a 2027 peak with four elite midfielders (Dawson, Rankine, Draper, Curtin) and some solid complementary pieces (Soligo, Peatling, Edwards, etc.). A multi All Australian in there, a potential All Australian mid forward, a top 5 draft pick, and a top 10 draft pick. That sounds like a fantastic set of building blocks.

But our coaches suck

 

[kirky]

Honestly, I think the "trade in some more midfielders" plan is just papering over the cracks

The players we were rumored to target all had significant flaws to the deal. Petracca's age and massive contract, Steele is cooked, Oliver is maybe cooked (physically and mentally), Sanders is inexperienced

We have enough midfielders on the list, we're just not getting enough out of them. The sum of the parts we have is operating below peak capacity by a large amount.

The reason we think we need to trade in midfielders is because we have failed to develop ours. That's what needed fixing. Those players listed above are stopgaps at best and not a long term solution.

A new set of midfield structures, new coaches, new development coaches. That's a lot more disappointing than the trade situation.

We should be developing our side towards a 2027 peak with four elite midfielders (Dawson, Rankine, Draper, Curtin) and some solid complementary pieces (Soligo, Peatling, Edwards, etc.). A multi All Australian in there, a potential All Australian mid forward, a top 5 draft pick, and a top 10 draft pick. That sounds like a fantastic set of building blocks.

But our coaches suck

Well you have Head of Development, Michael Godden. Enough said.

 

[Crow till I die]

Crows: Hello, Is this Will Days Manager? I was enquiring about his....
Will Days Manager:

Reid: 10 years @ $3million/year is what we want to offer
Will Day's manager: Ahahahaha........ah..wait, what...Reidy ol buddy pal how are you, hold up a minute while i get young crow Will..I mean young Will on the line

 

[Thrillthorpe7]

After our discussion, that's how I see it too. Looking to the back of next year and there aren't many big important contracts to extend either. Max and Taylor, maybe go at extending Rankine a year early but its not pressing.

Regardless, there should be ample salary cap space for a big front load in 2026 and even 2027 if its necessary to carry out a legit PSD threat.

I would be surprised if they aren't looking to extend Curtin next year and we are going to need a heap of cash for that

 

[Scorpus]

Well you have Head of Development, Michael Godden. Enough said.

Midfield coach in 2019 and 2020, sacked for 2021, brought back two months later to lead the SANFL side then shuffled into head of development

In that period, we've failed to develop a single midfielder into a top line AFL player despite taking several of them in the first round of the draft.

Is it entirely on him? Not sure. But I also know Nicks has been there since 2020, Van Berlo since 2021 as midfield coach and Scott Burns since 2021 (for a period as senior assistant). Very little midfield development has happened under those four coaches.

 

[Shuestar13]

Hopefully after year of assessment, Davis can have some influence on the midfield next year You do have a lot of the pieces already…

 

[Burtonsgottago]

Honestly, I think the "trade in some more midfielders" plan is just papering over the cracks

The players we were rumored to target all had significant flaws to the deal. Petracca's age and massive contract, Steele is cooked, Oliver is maybe cooked (physically and mentally), Sanders is inexperienced

We have enough midfielders on the list, we're just not getting enough out of them. The sum of the parts we have is operating below peak capacity by a large amount.

The reason we think we need to trade in midfielders is because we have failed to develop ours. That's what needed fixing. Those players listed above are stopgaps at best and not a long term solution. We only need to trade in because we can't develop them at the club.

A new set of midfield structures, new coaches, new development coaches. That's a lot more disappointing than the trade situation.

We should be developing our side towards a 2027 peak with four elite midfielders (Dawson, Rankine, Draper, Curtin) and some solid complementary pieces (Soligo, Peatling, Edwards, etc.). A multi All Australian in there, a potential All Australian mid forward, a top 5 draft pick, and a top 10 draft pick. That sounds like a fantastic set of building blocks.

But our coaches suck

This is exactly our problem. You my friend deserve a standing ovation for articulating it so thoughtfully. To you I give a hearty “Bravo”.

 

[Swan97]

Believing anything Jarman says it a bit silly really

Not really did have the Cal Ah Chee rumour before anyone so has that to his name

 

[CrowinNT]

Honestly, I think the "trade in some more midfielders" plan is just papering over the cracks

The players we were rumored to target all had significant flaws to the deal. Petracca's age and massive contract, Steele is cooked, Oliver is maybe cooked (physically and mentally), Sanders is inexperienced

We have enough midfielders on the list, we're just not getting enough out of them. The sum of the parts we have is operating below peak capacity by a large amount.

The reason we think we need to trade in midfielders is because we have failed to develop ours. That's what needed fixing. Those players listed above are stopgaps at best and not a long term solution. We only need to trade in because we can't develop them at the club.

A new set of midfield structures, new coaches, new development coaches. That's a lot more disappointing than the trade situation.

We should be developing our side towards a 2027 peak with four elite midfielders (Dawson, Rankine, Draper, Curtin) and some solid complementary pieces (Soligo, Peatling, Edwards, etc.). A multi All Australian in there, a potential All Australian mid forward, a top 5 draft pick, and a top 10 draft pick. That sounds like a fantastic set of building blocks.

But our coaches suck

Absolutely correct
Our midfield development has been horrendous
Then AFL midfield inclusion
Hi VB ? Got any new strategies?

 

[MarcusP2]

Midfield coach in 2019 and 2020, sacked for 2021, brought back two months later to lead the SANFL side then shuffled into head of development

In that period, we've failed to develop a single midfielder into a top line AFL player despite taking several of them in the first round of the draft.

Is it entirely on him? Not sure. But I also know Nicks has been there since 2020, Van Berlo since 2021 as midfield coach and Scott Burns since 2021 (for a period as senior assistant). Very little midfield development has happened under those four coaches.

It's been a longstanding problem. We haven't had an elite mid since Dangerfield and Sloane for half of 2016.

 

[hidden]

Gee it is so easy to sit on the sidelines and take potshots at people.
From what I have read on here over the past 2 to 3 years, there are many here who should be putting their hands up to take over almost every position in our Club as they believe that they could do a better job (the proof of the pudding is in the eating so would be interested to see how that goes - not!!).
Let's be honest, yes, we have a number of areas right across the Club that need addressing. But other than employing the guys who continually on here imply they can do a better job, it is not an easy task. Reidy has shown over the past few years he is a good operator.
This year it seems all Clubs are becoming harder to deal with as they are trying to take back some of the ground that the players have taken over the past few seasons.
Coaching and gaining new players is a team effort. To me the team has a few weak links but to find the right people to replace those links is difficult in a VFL controlled system.
I think it about time all on here started attacking the ball rather than the man!!!!

 

[daniel_4tw]

Nathan Van Berlo

Nathan Van Berlo

Age

39

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

9.7

4star

HB

8.5

5star

M

4.3

4star

T

3.3

5star

MG

250.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

6.4

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

1.4

2star

M

1.8

2star

T

0.6

3star

is a huge problem. Surely it’s worth getting a highly rated midfield coach. We have the Burgess soft cap money to burn.

 

[steve9798]

Expensive deal for a 29 YO Petracca ...

It’s an expensive deal for most clubs but I’m sure the Gold Coast will have numerous top 10 academy picks coming their way in the next few years.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

It’s an expensive deal for most clubs but I’m sure the Gold Coast will have numerous top 10 academy picks coming their way in the next few years.

Which simply makes the Academy system a rort ....until now, use backend picks to get Top 10 players, freeing up their 1st round picks, which GCS use like Monopoly Money

 

[Scorpus]

Just remember that this is our investment into the midfield. This theory we haven't spent picks on the midfield during our rebuild is false.

Jordan Dawson

12

Jordan Dawson

Age

29

Ht

190cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.0

4star

K

11.4

4star

HB

5.7

4star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.8

4star

CL

0.6

3star

D

15.7

4star

K

10.9

4star

HB

4.9

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

2.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

D

11.8

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

5.0

5star

T

3.0

5star

CL

0.6

3star

- 2x All Australian
Izak Rankine

23

Izak Rankine

Age

26

Ht

179cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.0

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

CL

1.7

4star

D

13.0

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

CL

1.7

4star

D

13.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

5star

CL

1.7

4star

- Pick 3, AA squad, traded in for pick 5
Sid Draper - Pick 4
Josh Rachele (maybe) - Pick 6
Dan Curtin (maybe) - Pick 8
Chayce Jones

1

Chayce Jones

Age

26

Ht

180cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.6

3star

M

1.7

2star

T

1.9

4star

CL

1.3

3star

D

8.9

2star

K

4.9

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

1.4

2star

T

1.6

3star

CL

1.1

3star

D

9.4

3star

K

4.4

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.8

4star

CL

0.8

3star

- Pick 9
Luke Pedlar - Pick 11
Charlie Edwards - Pick 21
Sam Berry - Pick 28
Jake Soligo - Pick 36
James Peatling - traded in, mid-season pick

We could play as many as five top 10 picks in the midfield if we wanted to. We have at least two top 10 pick mid-forwards and a top 5 pure midfielder

Hawthorn's midfield that smashed us was

Josh Ward - pick 7
James Worpel

29

James Worpel

Age

27

Ht

186cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.5

5star

K

12.2

5star

HB

11.3

5star

M

2.9

3star

T

4.5

5star

CL

5.1

5star

No current season stats available

D

15.6

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

9.4

5star

M

1.0

1star

T

3.2

5star

CL

1.8

4star

- pick 45
Jai Newcombe - AA squad, mid-season pick
Conor Nash

11

Conor Nash

Age

27

Ht

198cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

3.9

2star

HB

4.8

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

3.1

5star

CL

0.3

2star

No current season stats available

D

8.4

3star

K

4.2

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

4.0

5star

CL

0.2

2star

- international pick
(Cam McKenzie - pick 7, did not play)
(Will Day - pick 13, did not play)