7 hours ago, Macca said:

Contracts are binding in these sorts of scenarios. If a realistic trade isn't forthcoming, contracts have to be honoured

For that reason, I can see May suiting up again for the Demons. Which club is going to give a 34yo $800k for one season?

But maybe say $600k each for 2 seasons.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Redleg

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

But maybe say $600k each for 2 seasons.

The other clubs see the same player (May) that we do. Right now, it's hard to see him getting through another season (and playing well)

We've ruled a line through him and all the other clubs have seen what we've done

Still, what you've said is still an outside chance of happening, as clubs sometimes overpay

11 hours ago, manny100 said:

Flanders plus???

GC need picks and list spots for Academy picks so they will not want to lose picks.

Maybe the plus is a very quick 24 year old Rosas??? or a future together with Flanders. Depends on what our list managers want - pace is preferred?

Its been said many times any Tracc movement will be without 'fanfare'. If it happens it will just be done quietly without the ' last minute ho ha' on the last day.

We are in transition.

2 hours ago, Dees1911 said:

We finished 14th with Trac, finishing last is no worse, if we are gunna rebuild now is the time, not in 2/3 years

We also had the Goodwin game plan and players being played out of position, I don’t think a full rebuild is needed. But yes if Petracca is to go now is the time.

I agree that if we can’t get a good deal for him then we shouldn’t trade him.

The problem is that once you set a price you have started to negotiate and from that point on it’s hard to come back from if the player makes it clear he wants to go and the club confirms it will allow him to leave for the right price.

Rarely does one side feel like they have won with at least 2 of the 3 parties normally needing to compromise

You’re right! If there is compromise then the felt experience is one of resentment because of inequity. However if it’s collaboration then it feels more equal. Just remember - the industry is a closed loop - trades one year don’t always quite match up with both parties are entirely satisfied - but future trades between the same to parties aim to address this.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by Engorged Onion

10 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

I suspect it will be a fair deal that leaves a lot of us disappointed but is clearly more than a firesale.

I'd also suggest that we pay a chunk of Tracc's wage for the year to improve the draft compensation. And likely pick up the tab on a chunk of May's deal too. Anything left over should go to frontloading Gawn, Viney, Oliver, Lever and getting our cap in great order so we can make a move to bring in some quality ourselves.

That's all well and good, but we haven't been able to attract a player of quality since May. Despite winning the flag and being in a premiership window, we haven't been a destination club. And once Trac leaves, most would see us as being in a rebuild and even less of a destination club.

40 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

We also had the Goodwin game plan and players being played out of position, I don’t think a full rebuild is needed. But yes if Petracca is to go now is the time.

If he doesn't go this off season he never will.

Clubs know what they have to pay in terms of salary and draft picks, so we will wait and see the outcome in 3-4 weeks time.

2 minutes ago, mo64 said:

That's all well and good, but we haven't been able to attract a player of quality since May. Despite winning the flag and being in a premiership window, we haven't been a destination club. And once Trac leaves, most would see us as being in a rebuild and even less of a destination club.

And again i go back to the basic question... are we setting out to create a champion team or a team with a few champions.

Invariably there are teams ( playing well ) where quite a few on their list were relative unknowns a few years ago.

A top team has more than a smattering of good players, playing their role well topped off with a relative handful of very good players and often a standout or two. The gameplan and coaching is super important. It's about marrying up all of this into a cohesive effective unit.

The idea that the panacea to an ailing team is some sort of silver bullet in the form a defecting champion is imho an absolute furphy.

We need to worry more about our 'system'... how we play more than this bloke or that.

11 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

How have you not figured

This is why having Adelaide involved makes sense.

GC gets points from picks to be used for NGA bids

Adelaide gets Trac and gives picks

MFC get Flanders and picks and loses Trac.

It’s arguably a win -win- win. Everyone gets what they want.

Here's an estimate of the Suns Academy selections requirements this year with the new draft points scheme.

Here's the new draft points scheme (scroll to the bottom):
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1223455/the-draft-change-adding-another-element-to-upcoming-trade-frenzy

Here's Cal Twomey's September Draft Ranking that came out today, it's a ranking not a Phantom draft but I think it's the best guide we have on their players:
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1427257/cal-twomeys-phantom-form-guide-top-draft-prospects-september-ranking

2 - Zeke Uwland = 2481
4 - Dylan Patterson = 1962
26 - Beau Addinsall = 561
Total = 5004 with 10% discount 4504 points

Gold Coast's current Draft hand:
https://www.draftguru.com.au/years/2025/provisional-draft-order/final-before-draft

6 = 1659
13 = 1080
16 = 924
31 = 429
Total = 4092 points

Currently GC are short 412 points for their Academy players, that's equivalent to pick 31.

They really need to retain pick 6 or get greater pick value from trading it. They can get more points from trading Flanders to make up the deficit. People think they are the ideal trading partner for Petracca but that's simply not true, they're short of points.

IMHO Adelaide are a much better trading partner in a 3-way with GC, as suggested by @GS_1905 :

MFC - Out: Petracca + 23, In: 6 + Flanders
Adelaide - Out: 14 + 41 + F1st, In: Petracca
GC - Out: 6 + Flanders (1659pts), In: 14 + 23 + 41 + F1st (1915pts)

That gives GC very close to enough points to cover their Academy players with a very small 2026 deficit (all they need is for Uwland or Patterson to be bid a pick later and they're fine) and Adelaide's F1st for Flanders. I think the other two deals for MFC and Adelaide are pretty fair, I know some won't agree.

13 minutes ago, mo64 said:

That's all well and good, but we haven't been able to attract a player of quality since May. Despite winning the flag and being in a premiership window, we haven't been a destination club. And once Trac leaves, most would see us as being in a rebuild and even less of a destination club.

We're down to 3 x A grade players as everyone else near that mark previously, has dropped down accordingly

And you need top players and lots of them to contend

So if Petracca goes, it's down to an aging Gawn and Kozzie

Viney, Langdon, Salem, Lever, Fritsch, Oliver, May et al. are no longer top players. Decent and not poor by any means, but not great

The only one of those 7 who can get back to being A grade quality is Clarrie, but that remains to be seen

We've got some up and comers, but that will take time

So we either get a great deal for Petracca, or he stays and continues to produce (by his own standards, he wasn't great this year, but once his confidence returns ........)

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Macca

11 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

It's not win win win. It's not a win for us what picks are we going to get from Adelaide? They have none? When has Flanders become a star like Trac? I fear we could win the spoon the way the Trac trade is going.

Trac hasn’t been the difference this year in any of the games we have won. He played his role well most of the time but never ripped a game apart and willed us across the line as he has done in the past. Maybe he builds up to it next year or maybe he doesn’t , BUT he will not be the difference between us finishing 14th and last. That’s just absurd.

7 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

Trac hasn’t been the difference this year in any of the games we have won. He played his role well most of the time but never ripped a game apart and willed us across the line as he has done in the past. Maybe he builds up to it next year or maybe he doesn’t , BUT he will not be the difference between us finishing 14th and last. That’s just absurd.

Clarity, Perspective and Intelligent understanding.

Also if we are trading any of our players with strong currency we could consider a swapping of 2026 and 2027 first as part of the deal and add more A grade talent via the draft before Tassie comes in. Assuming they do come in.

1 hour ago, Colm said:

I agree that if we can’t get a good deal for him then we shouldn’t trade him.

The problem is that once you set a price you have started to negotiate and from that point on it’s hard to come back from if the player makes it clear he wants to go and the club confirms it will allow him to leave for the right price.

Rarely does one side feel like they have won with at least 2 of the 3 parties normally needing to compromise

Where did you hear that we are "at a price" level of negotiation please?

Cal Twomey reporting that Trac is open to a move to Gold Coast

Just now, demoncat said:

Cal Twomey reporting that Trac is open to a move to Gold Coast

Excellent result if true

Just now, demoncat said:

Cal Twomey reporting that Trac is open to a move to Gold Coast

Perfidious fantasising

5 minutes ago, adonski said:

Excellent result if true

GC. doesn't make sense... leave the food capital of Australia, to play in front of 10/20k every week and hurt the off field business he created... FWIW i think King will change his mind

2 minutes ago, Willmoy1947 said:

Perfidious fantasising

Why do you suppose such ?

Willful thinking Willmoy ?

This time last year he was open to a move. I really dont think much has changed.

I can certainly accommodate the idea there's a bit of 'pushing the envelope of credibility' when it comes to 'footy news' but I do often suspect the font of much knowledge, well scuttlebutt often emanates from the poorly plumbed fountains owned by player managers.

Just now, Rednblueriseing said:

GC. doesn't make sense... leave the food capital of Australia, to play in front of 10/20k every week and hurt the off field business he created... FWIW i think King will change his mind

Traccs world is the internet... apparently it exists outside of Melbourne.

10 minutes ago, Rednblueriseing said:

GC. doesn't make sense... leave the food capital of Australia, to play in front of 10/20k every week and hurt the off field business he created... FWIW i think King will change his mind

Plenty of foodies on the Gold Coast.

47 minutes ago, demoncat said:

Cal Twomey reporting that Trac is open to a move to Gold Coast

Doesn't he want to play in front of bigger crowds?

8000k is enough of a crowd to appease him now?

40 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Why do you suppose such ?

Willful thinking Willmoy ?

This time last year he was open to a move. I really dont think much has changed.

I can certainly accommodate the idea there's a bit of 'pushing the envelope of credibility' when it comes to 'footy news' but I do often suspect the font of much knowledge, well scuttlebutt often emanates from the poorly plumbed fountains owned by player managers.

In laymen's terms "pulling the pudd"

31 minutes ago, KozzyCan said:

Plenty of foodies on the Gold Coast.

Waiting for the Tracc version of Surf and Turf which is the signature culinary dish of the Gold Coast.