Not the diggler I'm gutted

Is Kelly O’Donnell still at the club in his role as pro scout. He must be under scrutiny and deservedly so. Backflip on Derksen another cross.

Not sure Dersken would have been better than Sestan as both players never played seniors. However if we cannot off load May , the coach could play him as a forward .

We could get Dersken for cashews or peanuts.

Cal Twomey: Melbourne had interest in Wade Derksen but that's now gone is there a spot for Wade in 2026?

Adrian Caruso (GWS list manager) : there's a potential. We have to get through trade period and see where things land. We have a couple of open rookie spots that we working to see how we use them. It might be delisted players, or a draft pick or someone like Wade. I think what happened though is because we went and replaced Wade with Jayden Laverde, given that we had the expectation that Wade was leaving... Potentially the need isn't there as much for us with Wade.

I can't help but feel sorry for Wade.

Wanted to leave at the end of 2024 when we had serious interest in him but GWS held him to his contract saying he's a 'required player'

Spends 2025 still playing VFL footy while Melbourne retains their interest.

GWS are resigned to losing him and bring in Laverde as defensive depth.

The 2025 trade week arrives amid a period of significant change for the MFC and we are reported to have cooled on our interest after over a year, leaving Wade uncontracted and without a home in 2026.

Footy is a cruel game.

Gee wiz thank god for that, my heart wouldn't stand it having a matchwinner like Wade Derkson at the club!

31 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

I can't help but feel sorry for Wade.

Wanted to leave at the end of 2024 when we had serious interest in him but GWS held him to his contract saying he's a 'required player'

Spends 2025 still playing VFL footy while Melbourne retains their interest.

GWS are resigned to losing him and bring in Laverde as defensive depth.

The 2025 trade week arrives amid a period of significant change for the MFC and we are reported to have cooled on our interest after over a year, leaving Wade uncontracted and without a home in 2026.

Footy is a cruel game.

Any chance we change our minds if May is moved on?

6 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Any chance we change our minds if May is moved on?

This could also likely signal our intention to move Petty back into defence, even with May departing (here's hoping).

52 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

I can't help but feel sorry for Wade.

Me too.

"We simply won't trade him" followed next year by "There may not be a spot for him on our list" is incredibly cruel.

There's a lot of howling about peripheral stuff during trade week. Here's a bloke being treated like garbage and the 'industry' just shrugs.

Cooled off on Derksen hey. I'm surprised thought he'd be part of the Oliver deal. No great loss. Do they think Sinnema will be selected in the draft? I can't see us using our picks above 50 on anyone except White and Sinnema. What pick will we have to give for Heath? I'm thinking the Spargo compo. Is that too much?

1 hour ago, roy11 said:

Any chance we change our minds if May is moved on?

I remember we did the same thing with Matty Bate in the Neeld era.
Bulldogs came hard but we held him to his contract with hopes of turning him into a big bodied mid.
Delisted 12 months later if memory serves correctly.

I don’t really get why people are sad for the guy.

He’s not good enough for their firsts.

He’s not good enough for ours.

Unfortunately, that’s life.

Loads of great people in the world who aren’t good enough.

What I do think is sad is that players who don’t quite make it, and never made enough money, and never got educated before playing, have a rough road ahead of them.

I feel the AFL should and maybe they are and I’m not aware, be teaching players things along the way, such as assisting with online learning etc. At least if they don’t make it then they have a skill or degree etc they can fall back on.

32 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Cooled off on Derksen hey. I'm surprised thought he'd be part of the Oliver deal. No great loss. Do they think Sinnema will be selected in the draft? I can't see us using our picks above 50 on anyone except White and Sinnema. What pick will we have to give for Heath? I'm thinking the Spargo compo. Is that too much?

There is an inkling Sinnema may fall to us as a rookie if there is no bid which seems very unlikely it will come.

After watching Sinnema in some of his Dandenong games and the Casey game this year i reckon Rookie selection is a steal imo.

If we get Wade for nix wood be good. I think he would be better than Jefferson at this point in time. Jefferson has got next year to prove himself, with a new coach in King who knows what could happen.

We may have lost interest in a trade for the Derk if we can pick him up as a DFA or we may have lost interest because we have a higher priority for a small defender (thanks Judd) etc.

6 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

I don’t really get why people are sad for the guy.

He’s not good enough for their firsts.

He’s not good enough for ours.

Unfortunately, that’s life.

Loads of great people in the world who aren’t good enough.

What I do think is sad is that players who don’t quite make it, and never made enough money, and never got educated before playing, have a rough road ahead of them.

I feel the AFL should and maybe they are and I’m not aware, be teaching players things along the way, such as assisting with online learning etc. At least if they don’t make it then they have a skill or degree etc they can fall back on.

Just looking at the human side, he's got 3 young kids - We were offering more security to him but GWS played hardball and now potentially he has nothing for 2026. That's why I feel sad for him

1 minute ago, roy11 said:

Just looking at the human side, he's got 3 young kids - We were offering more security to him but GWS played hardball and now potentially he has nothing for 2026. That's why I feel sad for him

Where is the media condemnation of the Giants for this behaviour?

Disgraceful playing with a guy’s life, who is trying to support a family.

I wonder why we have gone off him.

7 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Just looking at the human side, he's got 3 young kids - We were offering more security to him but GWS played hardball and now potentially he has nothing for 2026. That's why I feel sad for him

I get that, totally.

But also can’t offer everyone a contract.

It’s a shame he got lost in the wash.

9 hours ago, BAMF said:

Potentially the need isn't there as much for us with Wade.

Geeze GWS burnt this kid last year by holding onto him

1 hour ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

I remember we did the same thing with Matty Bate in the Neeld era.
Bulldogs came hard but we held him to his contract with hopes of turning him into a big bodied mid.
Delisted 12 months later if memory serves correctly.

Yep, we would only trade him for a first round pick from the Doggies, but they were only prepared to offer a second rounder IIRC.

1 hour ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

I feel the AFL should and maybe they are and I’m not aware, be teaching players things along the way, such as assisting with online learning etc. At least if they don’t make it then they have a skill or degree etc they can fall back on.

I think the AFLPA do drive this to an extent, but these guys are what 20 - 22yo as well. They should have enough brains and life direction about them to work it out for themselves as well. I'd say alot of these guys on the frindges do have a plan B and are also well served by being well displined motivated individuals to make it to AFL level.

It's probably more the ones that have got more of taste of superstardom and might take it for granted, but then somehow fall off the list that could struggle a bit more. Still most would be earning a sufficient wage as an 18-22 yo that they should have enough surplus to have saved enough to go back and re-train. I wish I'd earnt the sort of cash these guys do straight out of high school.

Comment around Derksen on trade radio that Dees’ interest in Diggler may have cooled because of a late-season foot/toe issue…

On 07/10/2025 at 10:59, Coolx2 said:

If we get Wade for nix wood be good. I think he would be better than Jefferson at this point in time. Jefferson has got next year to prove himself, with a new coach in King who knows what could happen.

With no Wade, I'd like to see jefferson do the off season as a defender. He's behind Kentfield in potential and with Mihocek coming his chances as a forward are limited. He filled in at CHB a couple of times at casey and did ok. He has good hands and is reasonably quick for his size, so might become a good interceptor.

57 minutes ago, stinga said:

With no Wade, I'd like to see jefferson do the off season as a defender. He's behind Kentfield in potential and with Mihocek coming his chances as a forward are limited. He filled in at CHB a couple of times at casey and did ok. He has good hands and is reasonably quick for his size, so might become a good interceptor.

I agree but would swap with JVR. I feel like Jefferson adds a point of difference up forward to Mihocek and Kentfield more than JVR does. JVR played as a defender as a junior too

Just a supposition but if King has plans for Petty back then that makes the depth chart pretty stacked.