Strategy Trade and List Management Thread Part 8 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)

[_Mike_]

Opposition supporters coming to troll , you have been warned

 

[Doggies7]

As I've said previously, between Lobb/JOD/Buss/Khamis/Williams/Walker/Coffield and the option to play two or even one tall defender depending on matchup, we are more realistically two strategic KPD injuries away from Gardner. Any team is stuffed if two first line KPDs go down.

That's fair but if our best team has 3 KPDs (still maybe to be determined) and that's Lobb, JOD, Buss, then the only one in reserve in case of injury is Gardner. Williams and Coffield aren't really KPDs in my eyes, more guys you throw on the medium forwards, and I don't think Walker will be ready for AFL footy yet. Love his development but still a skinny who hasn't done a pre-season yet and a fair bit to learn and grow as a defender. Khamis I think is probably better as a forward, and will be handy if Naughty or Darcy goes down, but I'm a bit lower on him than others and not really sure where the club sees him.

If we are looking to move to a two KPD model surrounded by third - fourth talls like Cleary, Coffield, Sellwood, Williams etc and be a bit better defending space and at ground level, then having say Buss as injury insurance in the VFL makes our depth look a bit better. I feel like that's more suited to a team who have rock solid KPDs like Hawthorn or Adelaide and can trust in their #1 and #2 guys to nullify.

Personally for this team I prefer the 3 KPD model for flexibility and cover, but we may not have the horses for it. Either way I'm interested to see which way things start shaking out over the pre-season.

 

[dogwatch]

This is also what I landed on. Very convoluted.

Could be a busy one next year. For reference these are our 2026 OOC players. A few of them would want to have a big year you’d think.

Adam Treloar	NFA​
Arthur Jones	NFA​
Buku Khamis	RFA​
Harvey Gallagher	NFA​
James Harmes	NFA​
Jedd Busslinger	NFA​
Joel Freijah	NFA​
Jordan Croft	NFA​
Lachie Jaques	NFA​
Lachlan Bramble	UFA​
Lachlan McNeil	UFA​
Lachlan Smith	NFA​
Luke Kennedy	NFA​
Michael Sellwood	NFA​
Rhylee West	RFA​
Ryan Gardner	UFA​
Ryley Sanders	NFA​
Thomas Liberatore	UFA​
Zac Walker	NFA​

Edit: Table taken from Footywire

AFL Out of Contract Players in 2026

List of AFL players coming out of contract at the end of 2026.

www.footywire.com

Agree with the list but we now have to add Baker and Coffield as 2026 OOC players.

I've posted the updated WB list in the Off-Season News and Facts thread. (PM me if any errors spotted, please)

 

[RedWhite&Blue]

We’ve never replaced Dunkley. Have to wonder if we put Dunks in the middle during that grand final onslaught if it would’ve made a difference.. don’t think Bont, Liber and Treloar have had a worse 5 minutes in their careers.

If you are referring to the Melb onslaught in the 2021 GF then Dunkley was right in the middle of it and didn’t influence anything.

 

[Lindsay_Gilbee]

If you are referring to the Melb onslaught in the 2021 GF then Dunkley was right in the middle of it and didn’t influence anything.

Tbf I have removed anything after Bont’s goal from my memory.

 

[Lindsay_Gilbee]

The 'he is a just slow developer' argument doesn't correlate with him being an U18 All Australian and a number 13 draft pick.

If you look at most of the top and promising developing KPDs in the league, they were drafted with later picks yet both debuted and established themselves quicker at AFL level, than Buss. I haven't checked the records of every KPD but I haven't found any of the top ones whose progress graph makes Buss's look good.

BTW JOD spent most of his junior years trying to make it as a cricketer.

Whichever way you look at it, Buss just hasn't come on anywhere near as quickly as everyone would have hoped when we drafted him.

Can you tell me who these key defenders are that have made noticeable contribution to their team early in their career? At the same stage of their careers Moore was a failed forward, Jeremy McGovern hadn’t played a game, Alex Rance had played 25 games and kicked 7 goals (so presume he was playing forward), Sam Taylor had been smashed by injuries in 2/3 seasons, Sicily had played 3 games in his first two years and a third season as a forward, Josh Battle was a failed forward, Josh Worrell had played 5 games, Aliir Aliir had played 13 games.

I’ve given you a few blokes who did stuff all at the same stage as Jedd and all but Worrell have become AA. Happy to hear who the key defenders are who made immediate impact?

 

[Lindsay_Gilbee]

If you wanna go even further back Dale Morris was stacking shelves at IGA! Incredibly harsh on a key defender who has hardly had a preseason due to shoulder issues.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

That's fair but if our best team has 3 KPDs (still maybe to be determined) and that's Lobb, JOD, Buss, then the only one in reserve in case of injury is Gardner. Williams and Coffield aren't really KPDs in my eyes, more guys you throw on the medium forwards, and I don't think Walker will be ready for AFL footy yet. Love his development but still a skinny who hasn't done a pre-season yet and a fair bit to learn and grow as a defender. Khamis I think is probably better as a forward, and will be handy if Naughty or Darcy goes down, but I'm a bit lower on him than others and not really sure where the club sees him.

If we are looking to move to a two KPD model surrounded by third - fourth talls like Cleary, Coffield, Sellwood, Williams etc and be a bit better defending space and at ground level, then having say Buss as injury insurance in the VFL makes our depth look a bit better. I feel like that's more suited to a team who have rock solid KPDs like Hawthorn or Adelaide and can trust in their #1 and #2 guys to nullify.

Personally for this team I prefer the 3 KPD model for flexibility and cover, but we may not have the horses for it. Either way I'm interested to see which way things start shaking out over the pre-season.

The fact the club chased a good KPD tells me that they agree with you that three KPDs is the best option. However, I don't think Frost is good enough to make him a better option than two KPDs + a medium, regardless of who that medium is.

 

[Libbaaaa]

If you are referring to the Melb onslaught in the 2021 GF then Dunkley was right in the middle of it and didn’t influence anything.

Dunks coming back from a full shoulder reconstruction in a little over 3 months was remarkable and very gutsy by him but he was severely limited.

 

[Proffessor]

Can you tell me who these key defenders are that have made noticeable contribution to their team early in their career? At the same stage of their careers Moore was a failed forward, Jeremy McGovern hadn’t played a game, Alex Rance had played 25 games and kicked 7 goals (so presume he was playing forward), Sam Taylor had been smashed by injuries in 2/3 seasons, Sicily had played 3 games in his first two years and a third season as a forward, Josh Battle was a failed forward, Josh Worrell had played 5 games, Aliir Aliir had played 13 games.

I’ve given you a few blokes who did stuff all at the same stage as Jedd and all but Worrell have become AA. Happy to hear who the key defenders are who made immediate impact?

You keep shifting the goal posts, presumably because you can’t find an example that is truly comparable, at least one that fits your argument.

There have been a few late developers that have done well after coming into the system late or spending a time on rookie lists e.g Jeremy McGovern, but please provide me with a list of early developing first round draftees that have then done as little as Buss in his first 3 years and still gone on to long successful careers.

BTW failed early forwards who have switched to belatedly become successful defenders don’t count.

I’m very interested to see this long list of temporarily stalled career unicorn defenders.

 

[Mofra]

You keep shifting the goal posts, presumably because you can’t find an example that is truly comparable, at least one that fits your argument.

There have been a few late developers that have done well after coming into the system late or spending a time on rookie lists e.g Jeremy McGovern, but please provide me with a list of early developing first round draftees that have then done as little as Buss in his first 3 years and still gone on to long successful careers.

BTW failed early forwards who have switched to belatedly become successful defenders don’t count.

I’m very interested to see this long list of temporarily stalled career unicorn defenders.

Sam de Koning played 1 game in his first two seasons.

Josh Worrall played 5 games in his first 3 seasons.

 

[Lindsay_Gilbee]

You keep shifting the goal posts, presumably because you can’t find an example that is truly comparable, at least one that fits your argument.

There have been a few late developers that have done well after coming into the system late or spending a time on rookie lists e.g Jeremy McGovern, but please provide me with a list of early developing first round draftees that have then done as little as Buss in his first 3 years and still gone on to long successful careers.

BTW failed early forwards who have switched to belatedly become successful defenders don’t count.

I’m very interested to see this long list of temporarily stalled career unicorn defenders.

Robbie Tarrant, Alex Rance, Phil Davis, Nick Haynes, Darcy Moore, Ben McKay. All top 20 picks from 2007-2017 who started very slowly and become guns besides McKay who is still an afl level full back.

Do you want to list your lot of players now?

 

[Proffessor]

Sam de Koning played 1 game in his first two seasons.

Josh Worrall played 5 games in his first 3 seasons.

Two swings, two misses.

SDK played 23 games in a premiership team his third season.

Worrell was drafted pick 28 as a forward.

 

[iambrilliant]

How does it work next year with butters as a free agent if port matches any salary offer and then butters selects a club and that club offers up what they believe is fair , for example he chooses us and we offer 3 first rounders what happens if port flat out says that’s not enough and refuses to trade him ? Does he then go to the pre season draft ?

 

[Libbaaaa]

How does it work next year with butters as a free agent if port matches any salary offer and then butters selects a club and that club offers up what they believe is fair , for example he chooses us and we offer 3 first rounders what happens if port flat out says that’s not enough and refuses to trade him ? Does he then go to the pre season draft ?

If Port match and Butters says sorry fellas I ain't staying then I believe it is pre-season draft and Port get nothing and the club he wants to go to clear an obscene amount of room to pay him in that first year.

 

[Mofra]

Two swings, two misses.

SDK played 23 games in a premiership team his third season.

Worrell was drafted pick 28 as a forward.

SdK didn't have the injury issues Buss had and was more physically developed and he still took a couple of years to get going.

Worrell played most of his draft year as an intercept defender, not a forward.

Maybe you'll get your wish and Busslinger won't kick on, but it's far too early to write him off. Most talls take time.

 

[JohnnySteel]

Feel like we’re a big chance of moving up to Carlton’s #9 - that would get us ahead of most for Dovaston or Farrow. Assuming they’re the ones we like & keeping a late pick for a Darcy bid.

 

[iambrilliant]

If Port match and Butters says sorry fellas I ain't staying then I believe it is pre-season draft and Port get nothing and the club he wants to go to clear an obscene amount of room to pay him in that first year.

So all this talk about 4 first rounders and 2 best 22 players means Jack and butters will basically get to wherever he nominates

 

[DueWest]

This is also what I landed on. Very convoluted.

Could be a busy one next year. For reference these are our 2026 OOC players. A few of them would want to have a big year you’d think.

Adam Treloar	NFA​
Arthur Jones	NFA​
Buku Khamis	RFA​
Harvey Gallagher	NFA​
James Harmes	NFA​
Jedd Busslinger	NFA​
Joel Freijah	NFA​
Jordan Croft	NFA​
Lachie Jaques	NFA​
Lachlan Bramble	UFA​
Lachlan McNeil	UFA​
Lachlan Smith	NFA​
Luke Kennedy	NFA​
Michael Sellwood	NFA​
Rhylee West	RFA​
Ryan Gardner	UFA​
Ryley Sanders	NFA​
Thomas Liberatore	UFA​
Zac Walker	NFA​

Edit: Table taken from Footywire

AFL Out of Contract Players in 2026

List of AFL players coming out of contract at the end of 2026.

www.footywire.com

and now adding Baker and Coffield to that list = 21 players

Freijah, Croft, West Sanders = priority signings

Cant wait for Gardiners next 4 year extension taking him out of reach of unrestricted free agency

 

[dergert]

Feel like we’re a big chance of moving up to Carlton’s #9 - that would get us ahead of most for Dovaston or Farrow. Assuming they’re the ones we like & keeping a late pick for a Darcy bid.

How would we with needing picks next year for Butters?

 

[Mofra]

Feel like we’re a big chance of moving up to Carlton’s #9 - that would get us ahead of most for Dovaston or Farrow. Assuming they’re the ones we like & keeping a late pick for a Darcy bid.

I'm always easy of trading up unless it's just to get ahead of a FS / NGA bid

 

[JohnnySteel]

How would we with needing picks next year for Butters?

I’d assume we’d use our first and second this year if we were keen on that.

 

[JohnnySteel]

I'm always easy of trading up unless it's just to get ahead of a FS / NGA bid

Yeah I’d rather stay where we are as well but I guess it depends on who we rate and the balance of list spots.

 

[BigFloppa]

The most important signing here is Freijah. He's already said he's looking to sign a new deal, and I don't think we have much to worry about. Would be happy to front load it with some of the cash we have at the moment.

Port will come after Freijah hard

 

[Lindsay_Gilbee]

So all this talk about 4 first rounders and 2 best 22 players means Jack and butters will basically get to wherever he nominates

I don’t think a player will ever get traded for four+ first rounders. It’s just way too much.

I get it happens in the nba, but that’s a totally different set of circumstances. 1/5 of your starting team compared to 1/18.

 

[Lindsay_Gilbee]

SdK didn't have the injury issues Buss had and was more physically developed and he still took a couple of years to get going.

Worrell played most of his draft year as an intercept defender, not a forward.

Maybe you'll get your wish and Busslinger won't kick on, but it's far too early to write him off. Most talls take time.

Chris Scott called SDK an “overnight success that took three years”, that’s what these key defenders are.

I’m still waiting for old man to give me a list of key defenders who had a significant impact in their first three seasons.