Trade Rumours 2025

[jazzadogs]

I'm less concerned about what Wilkie possibly can't do, and more interested in what he has consistently shown over the last 3-4 years. I think he has the smarts to be effective against guys like Darcy and King, even though he gives up height - his positioning and body work is elite, similar to Dale Morris as others have said.

From an SEN article earlier this year...Jezza, Curnow and Hogan are all players we have struggled to find match ups for.

St Kilda’s Callum Wilkie is one of the best defenders in the competition, but even he finds the AFL’s best forwards a nightmare to match up on.
The 2024 Trevor Barker Medallist and 2023 All-Australian has been considered one of the best one-on-one defenders for a few years now, and he was asked which three forwards he’s had most trouble with in recent times by SEN’s Garry Lyon.

No surprise, but Wilkie quickly named three superstars of the competition who are all Coleman Medallists.

“Three is hard because there’s a lot,” Wilkie told SEN Breakfast.

“But Jeremy Cameron always keeps you on your toes, he runs up and down the ground. It’s his athleticism and his ability to kick goals from anywhere.

“Charlie Curnow is pretty hard to stop as well. I think the only times we have stopped him is because we’ve had that much support coming over the top. You don’t want to be left one-on-one with him.

“Those two are obvious, Jeremy Cameron and Charlie Curnow, they’re just bloody hard.

“Another is Jesse Hogan, who is just incredible. Last year I found him very tough to compete against.

“His contest work is just next level.”

Disclaimer: I think it is highly highly unlikely that Wilkie is a bulldog next year.

[Bornadog]

I'm less concerned about what Wilkie possibly can't do, and more interested in what he has consistently shown over the last 3-4 years. I think he has the smarts to be effective against guys like Darcy and King, even though he gives up height - his positioning and body work is elite, similar to Dale Morris as others have said.

From an SEN article earlier this year...Jezza, Curnow and Hogan are all players we have struggled to find match ups for.

St Kilda’s Callum Wilkie is one of the best defenders in the competition, but even he finds the AFL’s best forwards a nightmare to match up on.
The 2024 Trevor Barker Medallist and 2023 All-Australian has been considered one of the best one-on-one defenders for a few years now, and he was asked which three forwards he’s had most trouble with in recent times by SEN’s Garry Lyon.

No surprise, but Wilkie quickly named three superstars of the competition who are all Coleman Medallists.

“Three is hard because there’s a lot,” Wilkie told SEN Breakfast.

“But Jeremy Cameron always keeps you on your toes, he runs up and down the ground. It’s his athleticism and his ability to kick goals from anywhere.

“Charlie Curnow is pretty hard to stop as well. I think the only times we have stopped him is because we’ve had that much support coming over the top. You don’t want to be left one-on-one with him.

“Those two are obvious, Jeremy Cameron and Charlie Curnow, they’re just bloody hard.

“Another is Jesse Hogan, who is just incredible. Last year I found him very tough to compete against.

“His contest work is just next level.”

Disclaimer: I think it is highly highly unlikely that Wilkie is a bulldog next year.

I guess in the end there aren't many fullbacks that can stop the best FF. Darcy Moore at his best is good as is Sam Taylor. It is a struggle to find many, whereas there are alot of big FF.

I would like to see Croft trained as a running CHB in the mould of Weddle at Hawks or Blakey at Swans, which gives you the edge in the backline. If we can have JOD and Buss developing as well, along with Wilkie as the leader, we could have a pretty good backline. Lobb could then go back to Second ruck/Forward, assuming Marra is not there.

We are desperate for leadership in the backline since Duryea finished up and Wilkie would give us that.

[Sedat]

I didn't say I didn't rate him, I said he is not a KPP that can handle the gorilla forwards. He is an excellent backman and as another poster said, Lobb can take on the gorillas like Ben King.

I love the move of Lobbovich to defence but this year he has proven he struggles to defend 1-on-1 without having an anchor point (ie: Jones before he fell off a cliff) helping him out in D50. Lobb will never be the big dog and it actually has detracted from his ability to intercept and go 3rd man up by forcing him to be our key lockdown defender.

Despite his size, Wilkie has shown for many seasons in a row that he can put stay-at-home gorilla key forwards to sleep - this would free up Lobb to do what he does best and intercept. It is highly unlikely to eventuate, but I love that we have targeted someone who can actually defend one-out against his opponent.

[Sedat]

If we have huge $$$ to throw at one marquee player, who would you prefer we throw it at? Wilkie or Butters?

I don't see this as an either/or option - we have the cap space to be able to do both deals. Wilkie is absolutely worth $1.125m a season on merit, and Butters would be worth a TDK size contract on merit as well when he becomes a free agent next season. We have already put away almost all of our key signings, and we off-loaded a lot of $$ off the books last year (Smith, Macrae, Daniel). We shouldn't go too heavy on Butters (over $2m a season) but I'd be fine with $1.75m or thereabouts. We need to keep some coin for Freijah and others coming through.

[1eyedog]

Yep we just need to buy a premiership like we did for 2016 and like most of the other premiership teams do.

We're on the cusp just need to splurge a couple mill for two players of need.

[Sedat]

Yep we just need to buy a premiership like we did for 2016 and like most of the other premiership teams do.

We're on the cusp just need to splurge a couple mill for two players of need.

I fully agree that we need to bring in senior personnel of genuine talent in the back half, but we also need to tweak the game plan and better defend the entire ground - we started doing this in 2024 but we went backwards this year.

I don't want us to fall into a trap thinking that a couple of gun recruits are the panacea we need to win a flag - there are a lot of exceptional teams ahead of us at present, and none of them look like falling off a cliff any time soon.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

I don't see this as an either/or option - we have the cap space to be able to do both deals. Wilkie is absolutely worth $1.125m a season on merit, and Butters would be worth a TDK size contract on merit as well when he becomes a free agent next season. We have already put away almost all of our key signings, and we off-loaded a lot of $$ off the books last year (Smith, Macrae, Daniel). We shouldn't go too heavy on Butters (over $2m a season) but I'd be fine with $1.75m or thereabouts. We need to keep some coin for Freijah and others coming through.

For the record I don't see it as an either or. Just wanted the gauge the forums opinion on priority. Butters is an elite talent but in an area we're not currently desperate for reinforcements. Wilkie is great and in an area we desperately need quality in.

I'm still taking Butters if in a hypothetical we were cash strapped and could only fit one.

[Grantysghost]

I didn't say I didn't rate him, I said he is not a KPP that can handle the gorilla forwards. He is an excellent backman and as another poster said, Lobb can take on the gorillas like Ben King.

Worked well v Treacy !

Lobb is less a monster handler than Wilkie.

[Bornadog]

Worked well v Treacy !

Lobb is less a monster handler than Wilkie.

What worked well?

[Grantysghost]

What worked well?

Lobb v Treacy. He was smashed in that game. No ability to defend. I know you like the heights, but Wilkie is more a stopper than Lobb will ever be.

[Bornadog]

Lobb v Treacy. He was smashed in that game. No ability to defend. I know you like the heights, but Wilkie is more a stopper than Lobb will ever be.

Yeah Lobb has been out of form.

I only like Height if they can play. Give me a fullback with height that can defend compared to a short FB that can play.

Note: Treacy also kicked 3 v Wilkie in their clash

[Grantysghost]

Yeah Lobb has been out of form.

I only like Height if they can play. Give me a fullback with height that can defend compared to a short FB that can play.

Note: Treacy also kicked 3 v Wilkie in their clash

Treacy is an amazing player.

[NAUGHTY100]

I'm not saying we can't. But IF only 1 could be fit, which would you prefer?

Ok sorry i missread your post , but if i had to choose between the 2 i think the logical choice would be Butters , but his a mid a great mid mind you but we are crying out for a top of the line back , so id seriously consider Wilkie .
But to be honest if the opurtunity comes up that you can recruit Butters , you have to take him dont you , he would lead the line when Bont and Libba are gone for 5 or 6 years , his quality you take butters every day of the week .

[DOG GOD]

Butters will go to Geel. Their selling point ? 10 prelims in the 15 years under Scott. That would sell me.
wilkie will stay at saints

[Grantysghost]

Butters will go to Geel. Their selling point ? 10 prelims in the 15 years under Scott. That would sell me.
wilkie will stay at saints

We will have to sell the farm to get him...! Boom boom. I naively think we are chance with Butters. But we probably aren't. We still suck at attracting players. In Melbourne only North have a bigger stink.