Rumour Speculation, Rumours, Lies Thread 2025

[Scorpus]

Rumour Summary October 1st

• Adelaide expects a decision from Christian Petracca
  3

  Christian Petracca

  Age

  30

  Ht

  187cm

  Wt

  94kg

  Pos.

  M/F

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  19.4

  5star

  K

  9.5

  4star

  HB

  9.8

  5star

  M

  3.5

  4star

  T

  3.0

  5star

  CL

  2.5

  4star

  D

  24.4

  5star

  K

  10.4

  4star

  HB

  14.0

  5star

  M

  3.5

  3star

  T

  3.6

  4star

  CL

  3.4

  4star

  D

  19.0

  5star

  K

  7.8

  3star

  HB

  11.2

  5star

  M

  3.0

  3star

  T

  3.8

  5star

  CL

  2.0

  4star

  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
  10

  Clayton Oliver

  Age

  28

  Ht

  189cm

  Wt

  88kg

  Pos.

  Mid

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  27.8

  5star

  K

  9.5

  4star

  HB

  18.4

  5star

  M

  3.2

  3star

  T

  6.3

  5star

  CL

  6.3

  5star

  D

  25.1

  5star

  K

  11.1

  4star

  HB

  14.0

  5star

  M

  3.6

  4star

  T

  5.6

  5star

  CL

  5.9

  5star

  D

  19.2

  5star

  K

  4.6

  2star

  HB

  14.6

  5star

  M

  2.0

  3star

  T

  4.4

  5star

  CL

  3.8

  5star

  , according to Sam Edmund (link)
• Clayton Oliver expects to be told to explore his trade options, according to Tom Morris (link)

 

[GrommoT]

 

[bmac84]

Draper to Adelaide is done.

 

[cleanhands]

Draper to Adelaide is done.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

 

[1970crow]

Guess we’re keen to keep the 3 tall forward setup going. No way Draper will be playing full time 1st ruck minutes next year. Interested to see whether ROB sticks around. Draper would be more a Tex substitute in 2026. Assuming it ends up happening.

View attachment 2372671

 

[Trigger13]

Draper can piss right off. Just when you think the club is sorting its shit out, it pulls a stunt like this (if true)

 

[Trigger13]

Guess we’re keen to keep the 3 tall forward setup going. No way Draper will be playing full time 1st ruck minutes next year. Interested to see whether ROB sticks around. Draper would be more a Tex substitute in 2026. Assuming it ends up happening.

Swapping Tex for Draper is simply vomit-inducing

 

[Mostyn]

Well, I hope they're a lot smarter than me, because I do not see how that improves us.

 

[Doctor B]

I'd like to watch this Draper in the AFL side.

 

[Crow till I die]

Draper to Adelaide is done.

Well lol, we drafted him last year at pick 4, thats yesterday's news

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Well lol, we drafted him last year at pick 4, thats yesterday's news

 

[Velvet George]

Well, I hope they're a lot smarter than me, because I do not see how that improves us.

But you think the same

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

Guess we’re keen to keep the 3 tall forward setup going. No way Draper will be playing full time 1st ruck minutes next year. Interested to see whether ROB sticks around. Draper would be more a Tex substitute in 2026. Assuming it ends up happening.

I think the club sees Draper as a number 1 ruck target, which is definitely concerning but I think the alternative is an even worse idea

 

[Crows I Am]

Are you suggesting they trade their '26 first out and get a '25 first back and that '25 first goes to Saints?

That won't work. That still leaves them with no first in '25 or '26. They need to use one at the draft in either year.

If they get and use (at the draft) a first this year then they can trade their '26. If they dont use a first this year they can't trade their '26 first.

They used a first rounder last year with Berry, so they will need to manufacture one next year if they dont use one this year. This will be either by Butters leaving, or trading 2027 R1 pick into 2026.

 

[Carmo]

I'm happy with Draper. I think the club doesn't see much difference between ROB and Draper when both are fit and so we consider them interchangeable, this will allow us to drop ROB if he's not performing or rest him if he needs it and still be competitive. Since Draper should have several more good years in him, whereas ROB has maybe 4, Draper can fill the gap while we develop our next young ruckman.

 

[Mutineer]

I'm happy with Draper. I think the club doesn't see much difference between ROB and Draper when both are fit and so we consider them interchangeable, this will allow us to drop ROB if he's not performing or rest him if he needs it and still be competitive. Since Draper should have several more good years in him, whereas ROB has maybe 4, Draper can fill the gap while we develop our next young ruckman.

ROB I doubt stays if Draper comes in and I can't see us playing both in the same team.

What makes people think Draper is a KPF let alone coming of a quite serious injury, will he even be ready to do a full preseason?

 

[Crows I Am]

Draper can piss right off. Just when you think the club is sorting its shit out, it pulls a stunt like this (if true)

Feels a bit like the Petty situation for me. We were keen because he wanted to come to us. We told him we were keen and committed to trading for him if we can. But then with his injury and ROBs form this year, you have to think we are reconsidering this decision, hence the interest from Brisbane now.

 

[ams4crows]

Draper to Adelaide is done.

 

[Tex Danger]

I’m hopeful Draper will thrive given the number 1 mantle

not many rucks show a lot when in a genuine dual ruck setup Essendon have always rolled with.

Hes not at an age where a ruck would gave peaked by.

Thought pre Achilles he was showing signs this was going to be his best season yet

I can see why we’re interested even if it’s no guarantee

 

[GrommoT]

 

[Peter Doherty]

They used a first rounder last year with Berry, so they will need to manufacture one next year if they dont use one this year. This will be either by Butters leaving, or trading 2027 R1 pick into 2026.

Are you suggesting they can not use one this year, have no first next year and hope to bring one in next year with Butters leaving or trading in a future '27 pick into '26?

I'm not sure it works like that. You can't go into a year where you must use a first with no first rounder.

I'm not sure you can say to the AFL during this off season, 'I know we need to use one either this year or next and we've traded both, but we'll bring one in next year, trust us'.

 

[1970crow]

Swapping Tex for Draper is simply vomit-inducing

Bugger all difference between their 2025s. Very few players could replace peak or career Tex, but his 2025 isn’t anywhere near as difficult. The other aspect is that it keeps TT 100% key forward. Draper as a 3rd tall kicking a goal and a half a game whilst second rucking is easily as useful as Tex’s season.

Reservations are serious though. Firstly, Draper’s 2025 is only a 5 game sample size. 2nd, and more importantly, coming back from an Achilles is a negative only variable. That said, what Tex would bring in 2026 would be heavily discounted against this year.

 

[1970crow]

Well, I hope they're a lot smarter than me, because I do not see how that improves us.

I do, and it’s not that difficult. But it assumes that Draper returns and performs at the same level pre his injury. That is the risk. It probably also assumes ROB signs on for a further year or his average form can be replaced by someone else.

 

[Scorpus]

Draper is a perfect like for like Tex replacement, if Tex was an unskilled buffoon

 

[1970crow]

I think the club sees Draper as a number 1 ruck target, which is definitely concerning but I think the alternative is an even worse idea

How? They’ve both averaged a goal and half and Tex is done, regardless of Draper, he’s 90% likely off the 2026 list anyway. And Draper has kicked his goal and a half whilst being a genuine second ruck. Averages 21 hitouts to TTs 6 and only 1 goal per game behind and all but equal to Tex’s season.

It’s absurd the amount of emotion in here. Draper coming in as a 3rd tall second ruck can make us even more powerful than this year’s 23. And time comes for everyone and their replacement is never a competitor to their career. But it’s not their career being replaced, it’s the bottom end of it. Otherwise no player would retire.

And look who’s still around, Boak, Pendles and Tex. He’s in rare air having gotten this many years out of his body and only a couple of seasons ago having a career year. But it can’t go on forever and eventually the body fails the mind.

That all said, Draper comes with risk and I get that concern. But if he was to repeat 2025 in 2026 as a 3rd tall forward and second ruck, we’ll be an improved 23.