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Rumour Speculation, Rumours, Lies Thread 2025

Which rumours will come true?

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Rumour Summary October 1st

  • Adelaide expects a decision from Christian Petracca by Saturday, according to a poster (link)
  • Christian Petracca's decision between Adelaide and Gold Coast is a 50/50, according to Tom Morris (link)
  • Taylor Walker will sign a one-year contract extension, according to Josh Money (link)
  • Adelaide have been working on the Petracca trade for months, compared to Gold Coast who have joined the race more recently, according to a poster (link)
  • Christian Petracca is meeting with Gold Coast in person (link)

Rumour Summary October 2nd

  • Melbourne are open to trading Clayton Oliver, according to Sam Edmund (link)
  • Clayton Oliver expects to be told to explore his trade options, according to Tom Morris (link)
 
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Thrillthorpe7 said:
Stevens got 1 Brownlow vote for his debut game this year, for people not too familiar with his career so far. Had a record number of score involvements for a debut too with 14 (to go with 8 clearances, 21 touches at 85% and a goal). The classic type of player Geelong bring through their ranks slowly and without any fuss until one of their old blokes retire or is poached (like we are doing).

He is 100% an upgrade on Berry, just like we upgraded our fringe types with ANB, Peatling and Cumming last year.
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I'd take anyone over Berry at this stage. What's Steven's contract status?
 

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Mr MysteryGuest said:
Tbh I think his combo of skillset and athleticism leaves him in no man’s land at AFL level.
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Whilst I get the appeal of Taylor, I agree.

I think the only path he genuinely has at AFL level is to get super fit and transition into a high half forward, though being at Adelaide works against him there if we are going for Ah Chee (which could quickly spiral into give up on Taylor territory). At the moment he's just a good field kick in a game where careers are made or lost on ball winning/generating skills.

Even then, Taylor's body may work against that. Seeing how difficult it has been to build his endurance base.
 
Mutineer said:
www.foxsports.com.au

Suns might be Jamarra’s ‘only hope’ for new home in 2026; rival eyes Cats bull — Whispers

Jamarra’s ‘only hope’ for new home as trade price revealed; rival eyes Cats bull — Whispers
www.foxsports.com.au www.foxsports.com.au

CROWS EYEING STEVENS

Adelaide is eyeing second-year Geelong midfielder George Stevens after a lack a senior opportunities in Chris Scott’s team, according to Herald Sun’s Scott Gullan.

Stevens has managed only two AFL games for the grand finalists this season — including polling one Brownlow vote on debut — despite a strong VFL campaign, where he averaged 27 disposals and six tackles.

And the Crows, who are believed to be looking to beef up their midfield, could make a play for the 20-year old South Warrnambool product.


“He’s a ball magnet in the VFL. It’s a classic case, he’s in the best team in the comp and he’s the next midfielder up and not getting much of a go,” Gullan said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“Opposition clubs are watching the VFL going: ‘He’s a very good player, he gets mid-20s (disposals) every week, he’s a bull.’

“The Adelaide Crows want to strengthen their midfield, that’s clearly their issue, and this kid has a lot of talent.

“The Cats don’t want him to go, but I think they know he’s one of those ones who’s going to get too good an offer.

“With good will, I reckon you might see him at Adelaide.”
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Yummy GIF
 
FR0GGY said:
Bloke might have to play out his career at Melbourne You wonder how he feels about being our backup option.
From all reports seems happy to stay.
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I think Oliver would well aware that the contract is a bit of a barrier to him moving anywhere.

Poor bloke may have to see out his contract at Melbourne on $1.5m a year plus.

He signed the contract and it looks like a solid deal for him in hindsight.
 

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thebirdman 24 said:
Agree.

Geelong CBD is a hole but you can live 20-30 minutes away on the Bellarine Peninsula or the Surf Coast which are both lovely. You can grab an affordable good value place and live a relatively normal life away from the spotlight.

Players in Melbourne have to deal with astronomical house prices, traffic galore and being harassed everywhere they go.
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Yep, every time I go down that way I wish I did it more.

I might get labelled a Cats troll like Trigger with Port or a Pies fan like Drugs but I'll happily die on the hill that Geelong don't do anything suss with their salary cap. They're just a very well run football club, have constant success, in a good location, why wouldn't you want to go there and sacrifice a bit of coin for flags and lifestyle?
 
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skam85 said:
Yep, every time I go down that way I wish I did it more.

I might get labelled a Cats troll like Trigger or a Pies fan like Drugs but I'll happily die on the hill that Geelong don't do anything suss with their salary cap. They're just a very well run football club, have constant success, in a good location, why wouldn't you want to go there and sacrifice a bit of coin for flags and lifestyle?
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Sadly I also agree.

How many of the team they'll put out on Saturday would you pay a high trade/salary price for? Cameron, Smith, Holmes, Stewart and Danger maybe?

Meanwhile between Atkins, Blicavs, Bowes, Close, Henry, O'Connor, Neale, O'Sullivan, Guthrie (you can easily name a dozen here) there's a bunch of blokes who are all good, but not great players who you would be pleased to have on your side but wouldn't think are game changers.

Great at getting a few superstars and then making the balance of their side be more than the sum of its parts.

Super annoying.
 
So if we take stock of where the rumours are, we may have an off season something like this

IN:
AhChee
Stevens
(Maybe Petracca or Oliver)

If we don't land Petracca or Oliver, we may well be taking our 1st to this draft

It looks likely Butts stays which I think is very important.

If Stevens comes in, we should be looking at moving on Berry if any club is keen. It would be great to also move on Sholl and between these 2 we may get a couple of 3rd round picks. I'd rather the club explore a trade with Carlton for Hollands for Sholl if it were at all feasible.

But the key is if we can't land the big fish mid we crave, keep improving the floor and both AhChee and Stevens appear likely to do that and then hit the draft and get another good 1st round kid into the system.
 
Crow till I die said:
So if we take stock of where the rumours are, we may have an off season something like this

IN:
AhChee
Stevens
(Maybe Petracca or Oliver)

If we don't land Petracca or Oliver, we may well be taking our 1st to this draft

It looks likely Butts stays which I think is very important.

If Stevens comes in, we should be looking at moving on Berry if any club is keen. It would be great to also move on Sholl and between these 2 we may get a couple of 3rd round picks. I'd rather the club explore a trade with Carlton for Hollands for Sholl if it were at all feasible.

But the key is if we can't land the big fish mid we crave, keep improving the floor and both AhChee and Stevens appear likely to do that and then hit the draft and get another good 1st round kid into the system.
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If we don’t bring in a quality mid then next season isn’t going to end any better
 
jo172 said:
Sadly I also agree.

How many of the team they'll put out on Saturday would you pay a high trade/salary price for? Cameron, Smith, Holmes, Stewart and Danger maybe?

Meanwhile between Atkins, Blicavs, Bowes, Close, Henry, O'Connor, Neale, O'Sullivan, Guthrie (you can easily name a dozen here) there's a bunch of blokes who are all good, but not great players who you would be pleased to have on your side but wouldn't think are game changers.

Great at getting a few superstars and then making the balance of their side be more than the sum of its parts.

Super annoying.
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With our targetted recruiting of guys like Ah Chee, Stevens, Cumming, ANB, Peatling over the last couple of years and then back to the likes of Keays and Keane, I think we are trying to go down a similar path. All clubs need their superstars across each line (through trade or draft), but your good/solid players need to be deep into your 23 and further to continually be contending.
 

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Crow till I die said:
Its certainly going to put a lot of pressure and hope onto Draper becoming the mid we hope he will be. Edwards needs to step up too and Stevens will need to as well if we bring him in.
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Rankine and Rachele splitting their time between mid/forward will obviously help our midfield and ball movement as well, their impact on how we score is evident from their stats and our form when both were available. You would expect Draper to be far better with a full pre season under his belt and start demanding more midfield minutes.

Petracca would be great and certainly elevate our midfield significantly, but I don't think it makes our ability to win the flag impossible. Ah Chee could also allow Curtin to start getting more midfield minutes as well.
 
Thrillthorpe7 said:
With our targetted recruiting of guys like Ah Chee, Stevens, Cumming, ANB, Peatling over the last couple of years and then back to the likes of Keays and Keane, I think we are trying to go down a similar path. All clubs need their superstars across each line (through trade or draft), but your good/solid players need to be deep into your 23 and further to continually be contending.
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We still need another A grade mid and an A grade rebounding defender.

If we can't attract one via trade it's going to require a change in mindset by the coaches to develop the likes of Curtin/Draper/Edwards/Ryan/Stevens instead just backing in the incumbents.
 
jackster83 said:
We still need another A grade mid and an A grade rebounding defender.

If we can't attract one via trade it's going to require a change in mindset by the coaches to develop the likes of Curtin/Draper/Edwards/Ryan/Stevens instead just backing in the incumbents.
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As I explained in my next post, Rankine and Rachele playing together is very important as well. Our midfield was working fine until Rachele went out and it stopped us being able to rotate him and Rankine through forward/mid.

David King also mentioned recently that Rankine is very important to our ball movement off half back too, he gets a lot higher up the ground than people realise, even if he's technically playing as more of a forward.

Ah Chee allows flexibility with Curtin to play more midfield minutes if he pushes up to a wing for periods. Stevens pushes out Berry and allows us to better compete in the contest. I think Draper will be treated in a similar way to Curtin in his 2nd season (ie backed in even through quiet periods).

Petracca would be absolutely fantastic and give us way more flexibility with Dawson as well, but I also don't think it makes a flag push impossible IF we miss out.

Disagree on the need for an A grade rebounding defender. The Giants are fantastic at transition from D50 but are absolutely shit at defending the other way.
 
jackster83 said:
We still need another A grade mid and an A grade rebounding defender.

If we can't attract one via trade it's going to require a change in mindset by the coaches to develop the likes of Curtin/Draper/Edwards/Ryan/Stevens instead just backing in the incumbents.
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Not a change in mindset .....playing players B4 they're ready is not good for both player & Club

Did we not develop Curtin this year ?

Did we not give Draper prolonged exposure .....albeit as a sub ....we know he wasn't ready, when we were forced to play him at year's end

Worrell has stated he benefitted from being held back ....and learning how a pro acts

People need to get some patience .....these same people who demand they play, are also the first to stick the boots into them
 
Golumless said:
Whilst I get the appeal of Taylor, I agree.

I think the only path he genuinely has at AFL level is to get super fit and transition into a high half forward, though being at Adelaide works against him there if we are going for Ah Chee (which could quickly spiral into give up on Taylor territory). At the moment he's just a good field kick in a game where careers are made or lost on ball winning/generating skills.

Even then, Taylor's body may work against that. Seeing how difficult it has been to build his endurance base.
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I remember an interview with Lachie Neal about a hard conversation he had with his then coach, Ross Lyon in his early years.

I don't remember the details but on the topic of his fitness, effort and future, I can still remember clearly what Ross issued as a warning to him.

'If you're not careful son, you'll never be anything more than a fat little back pocket at... Glenelg '.

Taylor maybe needs to double down on his physical gains this year and grow his body to properly release his talent.
 
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