Rumour Speculation, Rumours, Lies Thread 2025

[Scorpus]

Rumour Summary October 1st

• Adelaide expects a decision from Christian Petracca
  3

  Christian Petracca

  Age

  29

  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)

 

[LoBu]

Is Stevens the most common surname we have had?

Mark, Scott, Linden, potentially now George and a Father-Son Mitchell

Three Jarmans

 

[George CantStandYa]

Leave it George CantStandYa

Now I had to unignore the messages to know what you were talking about, good one!

 

[cleanhands]

Now I had to unignore the messages to know what you were talking about, good one!

I’ll give myself 20 lashers

 

[Daniel6]

Pretty sure he is O/S atm.

Tex?

Yeah, they are in Singapore. Should be back next Wednesday and then in time, some type of announcement will happen.

 

[MrBarry]

Our midfield was miles behind the other finalists, even with Rankine it was behind the better midfields.

Curtin and Draper aren’t all of a sudden going to make a big difference in 2026, sure maybe in 27 onwards but not next year.

It’s great to be optimistic but you also need to be realistic, if we don’t bring in an A grade mid, don’t expect to go beyond winning a final if we are lucky, we could also easily miss the 8 altogether if we have a bad run of injuries.

Don't agree with this, the improvement of Curtin this year is one of the reasons we have moved up the ladder... It's not an insane suggestion to assume that he can continue improving and that Draper can also develop and make us better.

 

[George CantStandYa]

Don't agree with this, the improvement of Curtin this year is one of the reasons we have moved up the ladder... It's not an insane suggestion to assume that he can continue improving and that Draper can also develop and make us better.

Curtin had a good season for a second year player, he wasn’t A grade, doesn’t mean he won’t be.

If he’s playing midfield next year the chance of him being A grade in his first season of midfield is very very very remote.

I’m saying to compete with the better sides we need at least 1 A grade mid in 2026, can’t see how anyone can disagree with this after what we saw in the finals.

 

[1990crow]

If Brisbane win Saturday, should we come in at the 11th hour and offer Lachie Neale a 6 year deal?

He’s 32, so maybe a 2 or 3 year deal as an inside midfield player that will ultimately transition into an off field role.

Premierships player, Brownlow medal, All Australian player from deep country South Australian

No

 

[Daniel6]

No

That’s cool, so how do we get that midfield better?

I cannot see us getting Petracca or Merritt, so how do we get better.

 

[Grenville]

Don't agree with this, the improvement of Curtin this year is one of the reasons we have moved up the ladder... It's not an insane suggestion to assume that he can continue improving and that Draper can also develop and make us better.

The gulf between our midfield and the better sides is huge though. Curtain has had a great year and expect another step up from both these guys next year. Maybe enough to close the gap some but not get us to parity.

 

[Grenville]

Curtin had a good season for a second year player, he wasn’t A grade, doesn’t mean he won’t be.

If he’s playing midfield next year the chance of him being A grade in his first season of midfield is very very very remote.

I’m saying to compete with the better sides we need at least 1 A grade mid in 2026, can’t see how anyone can disagree with this after what we saw in the finals.

This.

 

[George CantStandYa]

Brisbanes moves are a lock, if Geelong add that, what’s the point? We will need a lot more than just Ah Chee

 

[GameofSloanes]

He's definitely an average player. Wouldn't add as much as any of last year's recruits

View attachment 2436550

Yikes. Slightly better than Pedlar. Pass

 

[Danger in Texas]

Yikes. Slightly better than Pedlar. Pass

His game to game consistency alone is a big upgrade on Pedlar

 

[Thrillthorpe7]

Maybe, but on the flip side, we lost our 1st final by 4 goals and the next one by just over 5 goals. Not a massive margin and we were ordinary in both games. Would AhChee and Stevens make a difference? maybe. Would a Draper with a full season under his belt coming off a big preseason? maybe. Would Dan Curtin with a season in the centre, maybe? Do Rankine and Rachele back in the side make a real difference? maybe. We don't have too many glaring holes other than in midfield, but if you can upgrade Smith, Berry, Taylor, possibly Cumming, replace a rapidly fading Tex with a mobile forward...there is improvement to be had and thats without adding in a Petracca for example.

How is the answer to Rankine and Rachele a maybe?

 

[Crow till I die]

How is the answer to Rankine and Rachele a maybe?

Some on these threads argue they are not midfielders (not me, i think they have to be for us to go the next step)

 

[PeterSalt]

Should go hard at Zac Bailey

33

Zac Bailey

Age

26

Ht

181cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.9

3star

D

12.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

5.6

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.4

3star

CL

0.7

3star

D

13.4

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

6.8

5star

M

3.2

4star

T

2.8

5star

CL

0.6

3star

this year before Neale falls off of a cliff or heads to WA for retirement contract, rather than wait for next year when he's out of contract and half the clubs will be throwing massive offers at him

 

[Thrillthorpe7]

Some on these threads argue they are not midfielders (not me, i think they have to be for us to go the next step)

They both played midfield this year, more so Rankine. People are forgetting that when both were available our midfield functioned just fine having them rotate through there. Laird never went into the middle when they were playing.

If Rankine is available we win that first final, no doubt in my mind; he adds at least 5-6 scores on whatever output a Taylor gives us (which is more than enough in a game like that). Removing a top 5 player in the comp could kill any team in finals; only hope we had of semi covering it was having a full fit Rachele and unfortunately that wasn’t the case.

 

[George CantStandYa]

They both played midfield this year, more so Rankine. People are forgetting that when both were available our midfield functioned just fine having them rotate through there. Laird never went into the middle when they were playing.

If Rankine is available we win that first final, no doubt in my mind; he adds at least 5-6 scores on whatever output a Taylor gives us (which is more than enough in a game like that). Removing a top 5 player in the comp could kill any team in finals; only hope we had of semi covering it was having a full fit Rachele and unfortunately that wasn’t the case.

Oh cmon, it’s very easy to rewrite history to make yourself feel better about the loss.

We lost that game easily and all over the ground, Rankine would not have won us that game.

Top 5 player in the comp now is he?

Hawks dismantled us without their best player and won another final. If your defence is we lost because Rankine wasn’t playing you’re delusional. The last time he played the Pies he didn’t do much, he had 3 score involvements. Taylor had 2 in the final.

 

[jackster83]

Oh cmon, it’s very easy to rewrite history to make yourself feel better about the loss.

We lost that game easily and all over the ground, Rankine would not have won us that game.

Top 5 player in the comp now is he?

Hawks dismantled us without their best player and won another final. If your defence is we lost because Rankine wasn’t playing you’re delusional. The last time he played the Pies he didn’t do much, he had 3 score involvements. Taylor had 2 in the final.

Hawthorn lost the previous time against us because they went in with the wrong structure (four talls up forward). That was a costly mistake by Mitchell, and one he rectified the next time we played them.

Rankine would have helped but it's the clear no. 2 midfielder we're missing. The Cotchin/Selwood/McCluggage equivalent.

 

[spenze]

If Brisbane win Saturday, should we come in at the 11th hour and offer Lachie Neale a 6 year deal?

He’s 32, so maybe a 2 or 3 year deal as an inside midfield player that will ultimately transition into an off field role.

Premierships player, Brownlow medal, All Australian player from deep country South Australian

Even with that, he'd say no to us. He was not happy at all he was overlooked by both teams in SA for his draft year. To think, we drafted Claude the Crow instead of Neale

 

[Mr_Moogle]

If Brisbane win Saturday, should we come in at the 11th hour and offer Lachie Neale a 6 year deal?

He’s 32, so maybe a 2 or 3 year deal as an inside midfield player that will ultimately transition into an off field role.

Premierships player, Brownlow medal, All Australian player from deep country South Australian

Good lord.

 

[Viva la Mattner]

George Stevens just about a done deal , surprised if doesn't end up at West Lakes
Ah Chee the same but thats well known

Oliver discussions ramped up again as the situation with Essendon/Merrett is clouding the Petracca move

Don't be surprised if Peatling style it just comes out the blue Clayton is Adelaide bound, certainly not a formality though so don't shoot me if doesn't happen

 

[Betts are off]

George Stevens just about a done deal , surprised if doesn't end up at West Lakes
Ah Chee the same but thats well known

Oliver discussions ramped up again as the situation with Essendon/Merrett is clouding the Petracca move

Don't be surprised if Peatling style it just comes out the blue Clayton is Adelaide bound, certainly not a formality though so don't shoot me if doesn't happen

TBH I think Trac will stay at Melbourne when its done because the Merrett stuff will take so long.

So this rumour doesnt surprise me all that much. TBH if we figured out a way to unlock prime Oliver again for 3 or 4 years then hes 100% the player we need.

Thats a big 'if' though

 

[Danger in Texas]

George Stevens just about a done deal , surprised if doesn't end up at West Lakes
Ah Chee the same but thats well known

Oliver discussions ramped up again as the situation with Essendon/Merrett is clouding the Petracca move

Don't be surprised if Peatling style it just comes out the blue Clayton is Adelaide bound, certainly not a formality though so don't shoot me if doesn't happen

Given Oliver still fills a clear need and would cost a LOT less, I’d be okay with this outcome (plus you get a long-term replacement in Stevens)

Of course it’s not the ideal ‘star mid’ outcome, but then you go chips in on Bailey next year

 

[Fud#3]

Should go hard at Zac Bailey this year before Neale falls off of a cliff or heads to WA for retirement contract, rather than wait for next year when he's out of contract and half the clubs will be throwing massive offers at him

Agree, he will be a RFA next year anyway so we will have to trade for regardless.

Brisbane would be silly to just accept a late teens pick for him, better force a trade and take our picks either year.