Trade Rumours 2025

[hujsh]

Like what the actual **** are you expecting here?

We shake the tree, and Sam Taylor or Harris Andrews comes loose?

For a start a measured response from you.

I'm talking about the non-star players. Butts is a pretty good example of the type of player we should be looking at. My concern is more on talk about us not really sounding out more players, not that no one has nominated us. Alir's manager, for example, said the Saints have been in his ear for 2 years now. Are there no other key defenders in the league that show promise but maybe feel they lack opportunity at the moment? Unless the club is actually extremely confident in Buss' 26 stocks going through the roof it just sounds like we're being pretty passive, hence why I wonder if we're trying to hold onto our draft hand for next year.

Then on Butts, is a first round pick in a shallow, compromised draft really too high a price to pay? We've already split it for a later pick. After bids it will be an early second round pick I believe. Do we value our first round picks too highly if it's preventing us from bringing in talent now that would want to be here (and not go some contending club a few years down the track)?

Maybe I'm alone in feeling just a tad of frustration that after 4 years of stagnation and watching other clubs aggressively improve their lists, that we seem to be somewhat passive in our approach to trading. Sure we can bemoan the structural disadvantages we face, I sure do, but we have pretty consistently been the bridesmaids in just about every major trade we're linked to since 2020, arguably as far back as 2014. We seem to be happy for other clubs to offer more money to get their guy, or for others to approach our targets once they're on the market while we rarely if ever seem to do the same. If Silvagni was our guy, why were we hesitant to match St.Kilda's offer if we think he's a significant upgrade to our defence? We had more than enough cash (hence Wilkie) so why not try? Maybe we can't do that every time, but how about once or twice?

This is all feelings and vibes and rumours, so if it really offends you just move on. Or challenge me to elaborate. Or give a thumbs down emoji IDK. This is a discussion forum where people share their opinions afterall. Like what the actual **** are you expecting here?

[hujsh]

I would say Wilkie was the very definition of shaking the tree to see what comes loose. Elite defender, durable, under contract for 2 more years and about to be anointed the next captain of his current club. We were aggressive and very ambitious with an elite opposition target in an area of need.

I don't hate the move. It sounds like after him and Butts we sorta put the cue in the rack though. We can be opportunistic when other options come up but I guess we weren't interested in Alir (which is maybe fair I don't know him very well) and it's a bit late for much else to pop up you'd think

[hujsh]

Hopefully with some decent draft capital falling out after them so we don't cook any chance of having something to spend on Butters next year.........

Which was actually factored in to my original post, questioning if this is why we are maybe just hoping for Buss and JOD to be as good as anyone we'd recruit because we know we're locked into paying a lot next year.

[Mantis]

Whose asking for Andrews or Taylor lol, how about just a competent defender?

What we can’t expect the club to put plans in place to plug holes in the list? Whether we tried hard or not the facts are we’re potentially going into a season with 4 key defenders on the list of Lobb, JOD, Buss and Gardner. All of a sudden we have this confidence in Buss when he couldn’t even get a look in before Gardner early in the year?

We banked on a 34yo Jones not declining, even Lobb was a random free hit that wasn’t planned for in defence. Is that not mismanagement, across several offseasons?

Outside of key defenders we went into last year with Bramble & JJ still relied on in defence and this year we’ve picked up Budarick sure but it’s hardly doing much to fill the gaping holes we have behind the ball, of all shapes & sizes.

Then in the front half of the ground we’ve been going into seasons with VDM & MCneil key parts of the offence, surely we could have found a replacement in 3 years? It’s an extremely important part of the field that we’ve neglected.

Again no one’s asking for stars, just improve the 22 and we’re categorically not doing that. All well and good to “try” but you don’t get points for trying. Is it really asking to much to expect the list manager to improve the list?

I understand the frustration, but to think we’re sitting on our hands is a little disrespectful… I’m sure we’ve been looking at options, but it’s very thin unless you’re going to massively overpay.

The points you make are valid to the types of players we’ve been playing for little/ no return…. but we’ve hit the draft with a targeted approach over the past couple of years and I fully expect the likes of Dolan, Hynes, Jacques and Sellwood join Freijah, Jones & Croft become more permanent members of our team over the coming years… that’s (hopefully) where the improvement comes from.

I have faith that JOD and Buss become better players next year too… they both need massive preseasons in the gym, but I’m happy to back in ‘our’ players if we can’t bring in A grade talent.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

For a start a measured response from you.

I'm talking about the non-star players. Butts is a pretty good example of the type of player we should be looking at. My concern is more on talk about us not really sounding out more players, not that no one has nominated us. Alir's manager, for example, said the Saints have been in his ear for 2 years now. Are there no other key defenders in the league that show promise but maybe feel they lack opportunity at the moment? Unless the club is actually extremely confident in Buss' 26 stocks going through the roof it just sounds like we're being pretty passive, hence why I wonder if we're trying to hold onto our draft hand for next year.

Then on Butts, is a first round pick in a shallow, compromised draft really too high a price to pay? We've already split it for a later pick. After bids it will be an early second round pick I believe. Do we value our first round picks too highly if it's preventing us from bringing in talent now that would want to be here (and not go some contending club a few years down the track)?

Maybe I'm alone in feeling just a tad of frustration that after 4 years of stagnation and watching other clubs aggressively improve their lists, that we seem to be somewhat passive in our approach to trading. Sure we can bemoan the structural disadvantages we face, I sure do, but we have pretty consistently been the bridesmaids in just about every major trade we're linked to since 2020, arguably as far back as 2014. We seem to be happy for other clubs to offer more money to get their guy, or for others to approach our targets once they're on the market while we rarely if ever seem to do the same. If Silvagni was our guy, why were we hesitant to match St.Kilda's offer if we think he's a significant upgrade to our defence? We had more than enough cash (hence Wilkie) so why not try? Maybe we can't do that every time, but how about once or twice?

This is all feelings and vibes and rumours, so if it really offends you just move on. Or challenge me to elaborate. Or give a thumbs down emoji IDK. This is a discussion forum where people share their opinions afterall. Like what the actual **** are you expecting here?

I think we put a little too much faith in our own. Bevo probably influences that. Like VDM, McNeil etc should've been moved on a while ago. How we haven't recruited a genuine small forward in years is beyond me.

The jury is still out on JOD and Buss. But we knew Jones and Duryea were coming to an end so what was the replacement plan? As others have said, Lobb was pure luck so doesn't really fit into any potential "plans" the club may have had a couple years back.

I think as always with this stuff the truth lies somewhere in the middle. The club isn't incompetent. But they could probably have been more aggressive with long term planning. What's the plan if the faith in JOD and Buss doesn't work out?

[jeemak]

Which was actually factored in to my original post, questioning if this is why we are maybe just hoping for Buss and JOD to be as good as anyone we'd recruit because we know we're locked into paying a lot next year.

Yes, you did. I was just ganging up on you for fun.

I feel we sometimes neglect the impact of finishing mid-table and having to factor in securing concessional talents like JUH, Darcy and Croft over the years, whilst receiving poor compensation for quality players who have left us. With a bit more capital I think our ability to attract some players for the short to mid-term whilst keeping an eye on the longer term would have been better. Having said that we made the decision to get up the board to secure Sanders when we could have done something else in that scenario (I think we did the right thing).

To your response to Mantis, are we stagnating if we're clearly rebuilding the profile of the list and staying in the race for finals? You could make an argument either way I guess. I feel we're not far off the mark with our overall strategy though it does seem we're a little more conservative than others at times. A finals run next year says we've done the right thing, another finish outside of the eight says we've probably gotten it wrong but it's a flip of the coin on how another course might impact our prospects in 2027 to 2029 throughout a period of compromised drafts. Perhaps securing young talent now and trading later is the way to go.

A few posters have hit the nail on the head for mine regarding our attractiveness. Going over the bridge or through the tunnels ain't sexy for kids who grew up playing in the private school competitions and for players who want to be near to golf courses and the south eastern/beachside suburbs. I got laughed out of here a bit when I said that might have been a factor in our ability to land Leppitsch a year or two ago, I reckon there's something in it. That's all before we talk about the fixture and the fact we don't draw sufficiently to be considered for marquee games.

A full preseason will help Busslinger a lot. JOD has always worried me a little and it's now time to put some size on him, in fact, you could say that for both him and Busslinger who looks like he's afraid of the gym. I can live with not being able to land a big bodied defender. I can't live watching our guys not noticeably put on size as rapidly as other clubs seem to get their players to.

[ledge]

One out of left field McGovern has been very quiet . Could he be part of our backline , extremely cheap big bodied and if our system suits him . Is that a chance ?

[GVGjr]

One out of left field McGovern has been very quiet . Could he be part of our backline , extremely cheap big bodied and if our system suits him . Is that a chance ?

You never know but Voss wants him and he might was well stay unless he thinks Buku coming in potentially gums up the works

[GVGjr]

We can cross this one off the list

Callum Twomey
@CalTwomey Leek Aleer has agreed to a two-year deal at GWS. Big week for him but he is staying at the club.
@AFLcomau

@TradeRadio

[GVGjr]

Sam Edmund
@Sammy__Edmund
·
7m
Carlton and Western Bulldogs with plenty of work to do on the Buku Khamis deal heading into deadline day. Blues had 41 on the table for days (the Dogs wanted more) before using it to acquire Campbell Chesser. Now Carlton offering a F3 which the Dogs say won’t cut it either.

[azabob]

You never know but Voss wants him and he might was well stay unless he thinks Buku coming in potentially gums up the works

Surely if they wanted McGovern they would’ve played him on one of the two final games of the year to hit his contract trigger.

[kruder]

Buss was in a sling on the weekend, looks like he has had another shoulder reco....

[jeemak]

Sam Edmund
@Sammy__Edmund
·
7m
Carlton and Western Bulldogs with plenty of work to do on the Buku Khamis deal heading into deadline day. Blues had 41 on the table for days (the Dogs wanted more) before using it to acquire Campbell Chesser. Now Carlton offering a F3 which the Dogs say won’t cut it either.

I could understand the strategy if Buku was off-contract and had nominated Carlton.........we should be happy enough to keep him from here.

[soupman]

Sydney offer pick 11 a F1, Hayward and Florent for Curnow and a late pick.
Carlton should accept that and well done to Sydney for stumping up.
This opens up a few options for Khamis.
With two first rounders next year they might now be willing to part with a F2.

Am I crazy for thinking this is a horrible trade?

Pick 11 that will slide into maybe 14 in a "weak draft"? A F1 which will probably be late teens at best. A middling half forward who is a good player 18 but nothing more. And a flanker that isn't even in their best 22 and is on a big and long contract relative to his ability. And Sydney want a pick back?

They are basically sending two okish picks to upgrade an ok forward to a gun, and salary dumping another guy for a decent pick.

[jeemak]

Am I crazy for thinking this is a horrible trade?

Pick 11 that will slide into maybe 14 in a "weak draft"? A F1 which will probably be late teens at best. A middling half forward who is a good player 18 but nothing more. And a flanker that isn't even in their best 22 and is on a big and long contract relative to his ability. And Sydney want a pick back?

They are basically sending two okish picks to upgrade an ok forward to a gun, and salary dumping another guy for a decent pick.

Carlton's list needs Kennedy and Owies replacements desperately, so if they're going to pretend they don't need to rebuild after losing Curnow amongst their other problems they'll have to take the players available.

Agree on the rating of picks. If I was Carlton I'd be forcing a better deal than 11. It's always funny to see how draft picks are valued year to year, to me Curnow is worth two genuine top tens or at least a top seven and top fifteen, especially to a club like Sydney - his value is huge to them.