Who are we spending the money on?

[G-Mo77]

I'm late to this and the trade period ended the way I thought it would. We probably did the best we could with another pretty shitty hand dealt. The big positive is freeing up that $800 - $900k after getting rid of that complete waste of space.

We also cut out a huge chunk of money last season with the departures of some of our Grand Final heroes and Bailey Smith. So now what? We have a "war chest' where are we going to spend it? Who are we going to spend it on? What is the plan? It's been 3 straight seasons of losing significant talent and getting completely fleeced in every deal. When is this going to change? I just want to know a plan a direction? We just seem to be trying to stay afloat and that worries me

[chef]

It's got to be Butters, but Geelong and Hawthorn have kept all their future firsts so we're probs wasting our time.

[Mantis]

We just seem to be trying to stay afloat and that worries me

This year we re-signed our best 3 players to long term deals… if that’s just trying to stay afloat then sign me up to that.

I guess I might be getting old and calmer, but I have no idea what our supporters expect we could’ve done differently…. There was literally no players of need we missed out on without over-paying… and as we saw trying to get a contracted player is bloody difficult.

We simply have to improve from within, and have the assets to do so and then look to improve our list when in this position in 12 months.

[jazzadogs]

This year we re-signed our best 3 players to long term deals… if that’s just trying to stay afloat then sign me up to that.

I guess I might be getting old and calmer, but I have no idea what our supporters expect we could’ve done differently…. There was literally no players of need we missed out on without over-paying… and as we saw trying to get a contracted player is bloody difficult.

We simply have to improve from within, and have the assets to do so and then look to improve our list when in this position in 12 months.

I shudder to think what the saints would have asked for Wilkie if he had asked for a trade...

[ArsenalFC]

If we aren't all in for Butters, we need to relook at ourselves. Libba/Treloar will most likely be on their last contract meaning more open $$. If our faith in developing JOD/Buss in the backline pays off, our list should be healthy and young enoiugh to be competing for the big prize.

[jazzadogs]

To answer the OP, we have a great top rung of talent who should all be getting well compensated. Bont, Ed and Dale AA this year, and all signed new contacts this year. English and Naughton on good long term deals. Darcy surely on good coin.

I would guess it is all getting front loaded so that next year we can chase 1 or even 2 free agents.

Butters is the obvious one, but everyone's favourite defender Butts is also a free agent.

Most of the free agents are old but beyond Butters and Butts I'd also be interested in Zac Bailey, Noah Answerth and Justin McInerney.

[Dogs 24/7]

I'm late to this and the trade period ended the way I thought it would. We probably did the best we could with another pretty shitty hand dealt. The big positive is freeing up that $800 - $900k after getting rid of that complete waste of space.

We also cut out a huge chunk of money last season with the departures of some of our Grand Final heroes and Bailey Smith. So now what? We have a "war chest' where are we going to spend it? Who are we going to spend it on? What is the plan? It's been 3 straight seasons of losing significant talent and getting completely fleeced in every deal. When is this going to change? I just want to know a plan a direction? We just seem to be trying to stay afloat and that worries me

Confusing isn't it? From what I garner we will use some of the cap space created by moving Jamarra on to front load some contracts in 2026 to then open a bigger pool for 2027
Will that help us land Butters? Maybe?

We have signed some long term deals for Dale, English, Naughton, Bont and co to get some security when the mighty Tassie Devils come calling.
With Libba and Trelaor most likely finishing next season we will need to be cashed up to land those FA.

[MrMahatma]

I know you can bank salary cap if you don’t spend it, just for a few years. I’m pretty sure that’s what St K did.

i wonder if, even though we payed JUH this season, if there was any “banking” allowed by the AFL to compensate even a little bit. You’d like to think we got some sort of payback. Having a couple years of $800k banked would make us a big player next trade period.

[Rusty12]

I know you can bank salary cap if you don’t spend it, just for a few years. I’m pretty sure that’s what St K did.

i wonder if, even though we payed JUH this season, if there was any “banking” allowed by the AFL to compensate even a little bit. You’d like to think we got some sort of payback. Having a couple years of $800k banked would make us a big player next trade period.

Can bank 5% for 1 year.
They will just restructure more deals, more money in 2026, freeing up cap space for the following years.
They have so many levers to pull.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

It's got to be Butters, but Geelong and Hawthorn have kept all their future firsts so we're probs wasting our time.

I like to think they showed their hand this trade period. No way they offer those deals if they were a chance at Butters next year. But maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part

We have everything we need to land Butters next year. We have the capital and the cap space. He's from out our way and was a dogs fan growing up. We just have to get his signature.

I think essendon, Collingwood, Carlton, cats and hawks will be the major competition. I can't see why he'd pick the rabble from Tullamarine. That leaves the big players. We don't have a great track record against them.

[WBFC4FFC]

I like to think they showed their hand this trade period. No way they offer those deals if they were a chance at Butters next year. But maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part

We have everything we need to land Butters next year. We have the capital and the cap space. He's from out our way and was a dogs fan growing up. We just have to get his signature.

I think essendon, Collingwood, Carlton, cats and hawks will be the major competition. I can't see why he'd pick the rabble from Tullamarine. That leaves the big players. We don't have a great track record against them.

Stars are aligned for Butters to be at the Bullies.

The issue may be what happens if we can trade for a Defender that we want and need? Combined with Port NOT accepting an AFL Compo pick, the Bullies will have to do both and give up a lot in return.

Port should know this (given the compromised Drafts for Tassie) and therefore accept the Compo pick.

This brings me back to the original emails a few weeks ago on Butters and why would Port NOT trade Butters now, to get a better haul for Butters?!?!

[Grantysghost]

Stars are aligned for Butters to be at the Bullies.

The issue may be what happens if we can trade for a Defender that we want and need? Combined with Port NOT accepting an AFL Compo pick, the Bullies will have to do both and give up a lot in return.

Port should know this (given the compromised Drafts for Tassie) and therefore accept the Compo pick.

This brings me back to the original emails a few weeks ago on Butters and why would Port NOT trade Butters now, to get a better haul for Butters?!?!

Port can match the offer next year as he restricted.

So if they do, he can only move to us via a trade or the draft.

[WBFC4FFC]

Port can match the offer next year as he restricted.

So if they do, he can only move to us via a trade or the draft.

I know but why would Port wait a year to trade into what brings more compromised Future Draft Picks?

The only reason would be they somehow think they have a chance to keep Butters and hence it is a risk worth taking.

[dog town]

It's got to be Butters, but Geelong and Hawthorn have kept all their future firsts so we're probs wasting our time.

I’m pretty confident Butters will choose us if we have a finals finish.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

I’m pretty confident Butters will choose us if we have a finals finish.

My wishful thinking (which is always frought with danger as a doggies fan) is that he's already made his mind up and barring an event that would cause a sudden change, has already quietly comitted to that club.

Given the trade proposals this year from the 2 main competitors in Geelong and Hawthorn, I'm hoping they know he's committed to us.

But like I said. Wishful thinking.