List Mgmt. Trade & Free Agency 2025

[Daka]

Not sure why Reid keeps getting mentioned, great player but he will cost far too much let some other club pay 2m a year for him.
And I doubt he'd pick us anyway.

 

[Danog]

Looking at defensive stats for mids, I can see why so many clubs are keen on Matt Rowell. #1 in the AFL for tackles and pressure acts last year.

A few whispers that we have interest, but I think if he left GC it would probably be to a contender + we already have Taranto and Hopper in there who are also slow inside players.

In an ideal world we'd look to bring Rowell in, and then offload Hopper. That would give us a more balanced midfield group in the long term.

He's got the same issues as them though. Slow.

 

[Charlie Pannam]

Not sure why Reid keeps getting mentioned, great player but he will cost far too much let some other club pay 2m a year for him.
And I doubt he'd pick us anyway.

We could fit him into the cap no problemo, however I think our midfield is going to be stacked with A graders after multiple top 6 picks over the next 2 years.
Then you’re paying obscene money to a guy that’s only a couple of years older than Lalor/Smillie/Hotton etc…
And already we are seeing Reid spending a fair amount of time in the medical room. He plays a high impact style of football, so I reckon he’s the type that could be injured a bit.
Having said all that , there’s no denying the kids a gun.

 

[THE_GUN]

Reid wont be leaving at the end of 2025 and will most likely be end of 2026 if he decides to leave
by them we will have $12 mil in the cap to splurge on either a free agent or a trade

We did it with Lynch and that worked out well so why wouldnt we do it with a younger player like reid

 

[Daka]

We could fit him into the cap no problemo, however I think our midfield is going to be stacked with A graders after multiple top 6 picks over the next 2 years.
Then you’re paying obscene money to a guy that’s only a couple of years older than Lalor/Smillie/Hotton etc…
And already we are seeing Reid spending a fair amount of time in the medical room. He plays a high impact style of football, so I reckon he’s the type that could be injured a bit.
Having said all that , there’s no denying the kids a gun.

not only that we already have the big bodied players, Taranto, Hopper, Kane Mcauliffe, Josh Smillie and Sam Lalor running through there, we need speed, Zak Butters would be perfect idc what anyone says.

 

[Dr Tigris]

Not sure why Reid keeps getting mentioned, great player but he will cost far too much let some other club pay 2m a year for him.
And I doubt he'd pick us anyway.

Cause he is top end material. But, if we over pay for him then it's stupid. Right now we need as much talent as we can get.

In 24 we drafted 2 very talented physically imposing mids, a spine + X factor. This year we get best available. Hopefully Fred comes on and we get that fast super silky outside mid. After that we really need to fill holes. If Lalor and Smillie get to their ceiling then Reid isn't probably needed. But otherwise he'd be great.

Interesting trade situation. After last year I reckon Blair is likely to either get what he wants or not do the trade. Some clubs will probably jump through hoops in fire to get Reid, and screw themselves.

 

[Charlie Pannam]

not only that we already have the big bodied players, Taranto, Hopper, Kane Mcauliffe, Josh Smillie and Sam Lalor running through there, we need speed, Zak Butters would be perfect idc what anyone says.

I reckon we continue investing in the draft, the likelihood is we have pick 1 this year and something in that vicinity in 26. I mean you can trade away pick/s to bring in talent, but why do that when you have such early picks. There’s always FA , you give away nothing.
And you’re always paying overs to get players to swap clubs - $ and pick/s. You bring young talent in via the draft, look after them, and sell them a future, they’re likely to stay.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Reid wont be leaving at the end of 2025 and will most likely be end of 2026 if he decides to leave
by them we will have $12 mil in the cap to splurge on either a free agent or a trade

We did it with Lynch and that worked out well so why wouldnt we do it with a younger player like reid

Depends on Warner imo
If the Eagles want to pull the trigger on him Ried might be the domino that falls to make it happen
Gets them significant trade capital to get the deal done and if Ried does want to return to Melbourne anyway it would make sense to just get it out of the way

 

[Calcium Man]

Looking at defensive stats for mids, I can see why so many clubs are keen on Matt Rowell. #1 in the AFL for tackles and pressure acts last year.

A few whispers that we have interest, but I think if he left GC it would probably be to a contender + we already have Taranto and Hopper in there who are also slow inside players.

In an ideal world we'd look to bring Rowell in, and then offload Hopper. That would give us a more balanced midfield group in the long term.

Personally think Sharpe projects as a an elite defensive mid in the Rowell mould but bigger. Happily draft him instead as his timeline suits Lalor and co.

 

[sportshow]

Not sure why Reid keeps getting mentioned, great player but he will cost far too much let some other club pay 2m a year for him.
And I doubt he'd pick us anyway.

this 110%

too much both in trade and currency

 

[fargothegreat]

Personally think Sharpe projects as a an elite defensive mid in the Rowell mould but bigger. Happily draft him instead as his timeline suits Lalor and co.

Draft profiles have question marks on Sharp's disposal though, which has me concerned.

 

[Calcium Man]

Draft profiles have question marks on Sharp's disposal though, which has me concerned.

I don’t like his kicking mechanics, it’s ungainly and I also think he has a awkward running gait. Still he’s kicking is fine over short distances, but long kicks go up a long way.

It’s his attack on ball and man that’s awesome, plus he has a special ability, like Cotchin, to just somehow lift his team when they need it. There was like 3-4 SANFL games in row where the Dogs were looking gone and all of sudden he was at every contest winning the ball or laying the tackle and the team just lifted around him.

 

[SA_Tiger11]

Gee our midfield will look good when Butters comes over to play with his mate Lalor.

 

[Bojangles17]

Looking at defensive stats for mids, I can see why so many clubs are keen on Matt Rowell. #1 in the AFL for tackles and pressure acts last year.

A few whispers that we have interest, but I think if he left GC it would probably be to a contender + we already have Taranto and Hopper in there who are also slow inside players.

In an ideal world we'd look to bring Rowell in, and then offload Hopper. That would give us a more balanced midfield group in the long term.

He won't be coming our way and if hopper has a good year that'd be a strange move

 

[sregit]

Ward? Pass.

Why? Seems to have quality.

 

[richoatthedisco]

Why? Seems to have quality.

Meh.

 

[Delediodelight]

Ed Richards - while death riding noorf and watching Ed, I was keen to see the type of player he was. I would be keen to add him as a free agent front loaded contract, he adds speed, and a different look as a lefty.

If we hit the draft and got him as a free agent that would be a great offseason.

 

[Danog]

Ed Richards - while death riding noorf and watching Ed, I was keen to see the type of player he was. I would be keen to add him as a free agent front loaded contract, he adds speed, and a different look as a lefty.

If we hit the draft and got him as a free agent that would be a great offseason.

Wouldn't mind Ed. Can play mid or half back.

 

[Daka]

Ed Richards - while death riding noorf and watching Ed, I was keen to see the type of player he was. I would be keen to add him as a free agent front loaded contract, he adds speed, and a different look as a lefty.

If we hit the draft and got him as a free agent that would be a great offseason.

The problem I could see happening with Ed Richards is he probably end up having a really good season & his $ goes up to a point where it's not worth it. no doubt we should put pressure on the Dogs cap though it seems really tight you would imagine, it's good to keep other clubs honest & make them pay to keep their players.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

The problem I could see happening with Ed Richards is he probably end up having a really good season & his $ goes up to a point where it's not worth it. no doubt we should put pressure on the Dogs cap though it seems really tight you would imagine, it's good to keep other clubs honest & make them pay to keep their players.

We should be making a serious play for a player like this as a FA. Not $1.5m x 7 years serious but not too far below that. Really give him something to ponder. I doubt we get him though, even with a really big offer. But let people know we are about.

 

[THE_GUN]

Do we really need a player like Richards ?

Should we be going after players that might be similar to what we already have or might get in the next draft

Blair and our list management will know what type of players we will get in the draft and if say its Sharp & Fred
where does Richards fit into a midfield that includes
Lalor , Smillie , Hotton , Rodriguez , Sharp , Hopper , Taranto , Campbell , Clark , McAuliffe & Sonsie in 2026 and beyond

I think its too early to tell what we need in a free agent and want to save our $$$ for an elite A grade talent
that will fill a desperate need that we have not drafted

Patience

 

[SumTingWong]

If we can get the best out of just 2 of Blight, Miller, Grey and Gibcus we should let Balta go via free agency and have picks 1,2 and 5 this year

 

[Tonythetiger]

If we can get the best out of just 2 of Blight, Miller, Grey and Gibcus we should let Balta go via free agency and have picks 1,2 and 5 this year

We can't with Balta, he's signed until like 2032. We've got such an abundance of talls we are likely to lose a few in the coming years as we can't play them all. If they all come good or are atleast serviceable, you will probably have guys that stick around and are happy to play VFL unless we get injuries (probably Lefau and Young) or if we can't give Gray and Blight games they will probably move on.

 

[Danog]

Do we really need a player like Richards ?

Should we be going after players that might be similar to what we already have or might get in the next draft

Blair and our list management will know what type of players we will get in the draft and if say its Sharp & Fred
where does Richards fit into a midfield that includes
Lalor , Smillie , Hotton , Rodriguez , Sharp , Hopper , Taranto , Campbell , Clark , McAuliffe & Sonsie in 2026 and beyond

I think its too early to tell what we need in a free agent and want to save our $$$ for an elite A grade talent
that will fill a desperate need that we have not drafted

Patience

He doesn't have to stay in the midfield. He can play mid now and switch to half-back once our midfield kids mature.

 

[THE_GUN]

He doesn't have to stay in the midfield. He can play mid now and switch to half-back once our midfield kids mature.

I dont want to be paying $1 mill plus for a player that will end up being a HBF in 3 years time
I would rather pay that $$$ to a player that will be a game changer.

Very very nice player but thats all he is a nice player