Trade Rumours 2025

[Critter]

I’m beginning to doubt Buss would succeed as a KPD. Too many clangers, too dithery in ground ball contests. He needs to add significant body strength and be cleaner in disposal to be useful.

I think JOD could be useful as a third tall, nothing more. Also lacks body strength.

Sellwood might be a chance but his left foot disposal and body strength worry me. Walker is two to three years away.

Should Cal Wilkie prove ungettable, Tyler Young is where I think we should be focussing.

[GVGjr]

I’m beginning to doubt Buss would succeed as a KPD. Too many clangers, too dithery in ground ball contests. He needs to add significant body strength and be cleaner in disposal to be useful.

I think JOD could be useful as a third tall, nothing more. Also lacks body strength.

Sellwood might be a chance but his left foot disposal and body strength worry me. Walker is two to three years away.

Should Cal Wilkie prove ungettable, Tyler Young is where I think we should be focussing.

You've normally been very positive regarding Busslinger, was it his games in the senior or at Footscray that sowed some seeds of doubt?

[jeemak]

Just to clarify, I don’t disagree we didnt have great options at HF this year, considering our injuries in the front half. But my point is still he’s playing there because he can’t crack our midfield, not because he’s very good at the role.

Kennedy is our forward half grunt and rotational mid. No room for two, we need half forwards who can cover the ground, pressure & defend. Dolan will absolutely go past his impact at Half forward in the very near future. Hynes more of a longer term Kennedy replacement but much more forward sense & craft.

Sanders did good considering his skillset but it’s absolutely not his spot and we lose nothing by him not playing half forward - hell I’d be surprised if he’s even in the 22 next year if he doesn’t win a midfield spot, he’s there because he can’t crack the midfield. I’m quietly confident with another preseason he takes the next step and wins a genuine midfield spot. In the hypothetical that Butters came in as we were talking about, he wouldn’t get a game.

The club would be giving absolutely zero consideration to what we’re losing from half forward by giving up Sanders, they’d only be considering what we lose from our future midfield

The conversation has moved on so I don't really want to rehash things too much, though I don't think we're that far apart outside of me thinking (and agreeing none are perfect for the role) Sanders is still going to be better as a half forward than Dolan and Hynes next year and foreseeably (it's a hard place in modern footy to get hands on the footy - Sanders can actually do this and I don't know if these guys can get their productivity up but we'll see). If I could be pleasantly surprised by huge leaps from the latter two then it's all upside for us.

As for Sanders in the midfield, I think he's dreadfully important to our future plans as I don't trust Treloar's body or Liberatore's concussion history, knees and/or ability to maintain the level. I agree he's not really in competition with the established Kennedy for now, but things can change quickly. Kennedy wasn't Kennedy until he was Kennedy, with more strength and fitness Sanders could challenge the status quo a bit. We're aligned on the possibility of Sanders putting in a huge show and even if Butters comes along there will be a spot in the mix up for grabs in 2027 after Treloar and Liberatore depart. I just really don't want to trade Sanders at all.

Anyway, good discussion, cheers.

[1eyedog]

I’m beginning to doubt Buss would succeed as a KPD. Too many clangers, too dithery in ground ball contests. He needs to add significant body strength and be cleaner in disposal to be useful.

I think JOD could be useful as a third tall, nothing more. Also lacks body strength.

Sellwood might be a chance but his left foot disposal and body strength worry me. Walker is two to three years away.

Should Cal Wilkie prove ungettable, Tyler Young is where I think we should be focussing.

Buss has played 7 games and is 21 years old. He also smashed probably the most in form full forward at the time in his first game.

He needs some more time.

[Bornadog]

Mason Cox told to look elsewhere for next year

[GVGjr]

Mason Cox told to look elsewhere for next year

He's had a good career and he might be an option for a team looking for some ruck support. Tom Mitchell got the same message

COLLINGWOOD ruck Mason Cox has been encouraged to explore his options at other clubs for 2026, with no guarantee that the Magpies will offer him a new contract.
And Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell could be on the hunt for a fourth club as the Pies look to refresh their playing stocks on the run.
Cox, 34, played 10 senior games this year including the Pies' two finals.

Former Sun on Eagles' radar, Dogs land ex-Lion, chase for Boak
Despite expectations from some rival clubs that Cox was a lock to remain at Collingwood next year, he was asked to consider looking at a new home during his exit meeting earlier this week.

"There's no guarantee of a contract for next year. He's been set out the possibility of playing a fair bit of VFL footy if he did stay but has been encouraged to look at his options if there are clubs offering more guarantees of senior football next year," Twomey said on Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio on Friday.

"At this stage, Mason Cox is in contract limbo, despite playing in the Pies' finals series and being recalled for that qualifying final against Adelaide where he played a pretty good game.

"Given the scarcity of ruck options, it will be a watch to see if a club goes for him. He's an unrestricted free agent so if he has a taker, he can walk there."

[GVGjr]

Sam Edmund

@Sammy__Edmund
The Sam Flanders sweepstakes has exploded. Saints in the box seat with a contract offer worth $900k a year for 5 years. The Saints also have offered pick 7 in a bid to tempt the Suns. Flanders has met with multiple clubs as he ponders his future. Contracted till 2027 at Gold Coast.

[GVGjr]

So the Saints have plenty of money for Flanders so must have some more for Wilkie

[Bornadog]

So the Saints have plenty of money for Flanders so must have some more for Wilkie

or they are using the Wikie money because they know he is gone

[Critter]

see below

[Critter]

You've normally been very positive regarding Busslinger, was it his games in the senior or at Footscray that sowed some seeds of doubt?

There have been performances during his stint of AFL games from Rounds 20 to 24 that concern me, and which have lead me to question my opinion of his potential. He played two reasonable games during this period but were against sub-standard opposition - Essendon & WC. We monstered both of them, resulting in little backline pressure during either match. Accordingly, he had comfortable games. But in the other three games, against stronger opposition, he struggled.

Against GWS his underperformance was covered up by the likes of Dale, JJ, and a wide-roaming, all-marking Tim English. He was even poorer against Melbourne and Freo, so much so that he was subbed off in both games. The clangers in his game against Freo were particularly concerning. In the VFL, he had a good game against Box Hill but his second quarter against Southport in the GF was a nasty echo of his second quarter against Freo in the AFL a few weeks earlier.

It planted the seed in my mind that he really struggles when the opposition midfield is able to bring the ball quickly into their forward line. He then finds himself one out, in a contest where he often lacks the speed and strength to match his opponent. One troubling stat for his seven games this year is that he laid only two tackles during the entire year, both in Round 7 against GWS.

He needs to build his attributes around his capabilities. He is not fast and he doesn't have a great leap. So, he needs to build his strength, to compete better in contested marking situations or when tackling. He needs to get in the weights' room and build muscle. The latest data I could find says that he is 198cm and weighs 85kg. I'm not sure about the accuracy of the weight but surely anything under 95kg is unacceptable if he wants a career as a KPD. He needs to become a much better kick, a more reliable kick. He needs to improve his handball skills so that it becomes a weapon rather than an exit route from trouble.

He was touted as a standout in his draft year. But he's in the big league now, against the big bodies, and he no longer has natural advantages that his height gave him over his opponents. In order to achieve his potential, he has to work out how to develop strength and attributes that overcome his weaknesses and give him advantage over his opponents.

[GVGjr]

Thanks Critter

I agree with a lot of what you have said re Buss.
To me he needs to improve his kicking under pressure and stop going from side to side. Taking the game on just a bit more with more purpose in his kicking will help.
You would have seen at training how they work with him to improve him sprinting but it hasn't really shown up in his game yet.
Lets hope he has a good summer and a few things click for him

[Bornadog]

According to Sammy Edmund, the Bulldogs are still a live chance at recruiting Cal Wilkie out of St Kilda this year.

[Happy Days]

According to Sammy Edmund, the Bulldogs are still a live chance at recruiting Cal Wilkie out of St Kilda this year.

Edmund is our new Stevo, he might as well be a club mouthpiece. This means nothing.

[jeemak]

Edmund is our new Stevo, he might as well be a club mouthpiece. This means nothing.

Grouchy Smurf. Don't make me tap the sign, nothing good ever happens to me so give me Smith in the Rocco sweep, Edmund's opinion which never meant anything now all of a sudden means less than nothing...........

I'm stuck between wanting to ask if you're OK and egging you on.