Demonland

Whether or not it’s the right move for the club, perhaps the Suns, as an interstate team, want to send a message to their own players that they won’t entertain mid-contract “homesickness” requests. It could just as easily be a warning to others on their list. That’s not to say they won’t eventually relent, but they likely don’t want to appear as pushovers to their own players or to rival clubs looking to lure young talent back home.

A general reminder: if you refer to any “issues” a player may have or had, please keep it general and simply use the word “issues.” Do not include specific details or make comments that could reflect negatively on a person’s character.

The media interviews and posturing we are talking about are the public face. I’m sure a more honest game is being played out behind closed doors. There is porbably still plenty of posturing and playing of ducks and drakes, but the backroom talks are likely to be a little more genuine than the bravado we’re seeing being played out on the radio.

The one difference is that Petracca has publicly stated a desire and destination to leave and we have given him our blessing to explore. Bailey Humphrey & GC have not.

see you day 1 Trac

I would assume they will still be standing firm publicly. This one will be a late trade. We’ll either come away with two high picks and change, Bailey (and an exchange of picks high and low) or see you at Gosch’s on Day 1 Trac.

Hi Mitch Keating. 👋 Gold Coast young gun Bailey Humphrey's social media activity has done little to settle the ongoing rumours that link the Gippsland product to a move back to his home state of Victoria. The third-year Suns sensation flew into Melbourne last week before meeting with multiple clubs, one of which being the Demons, who are in conversations with Gold Coast over a deal that sees Christian Petracca head north. Humphrey was pictured in discussions with new Melbourne coach Steven King and club icon turned assistant Nathan Jones just hours after his manager denied his client meeting with clubs. The 21-year-old, who is under contract at Carrara until the end of 2028, posted on Instagram on Wednesday with the oh-so subtle John Denver tune Take Me Home, Country Roads attached. Humphrey, who hails from Moe in Victoria's central-east, captioned the post, which included an array of images with Suns teammates, "I'M FROM MOE", a reference to an iconic Street Talk segment from The Footy Show, which ceased in 2019. While Humphrey's management and the Suns have denied the concept of a trade, the powerful midfield-forward post is sure to spark further speculation. Suns list lead Craig Cameron stood firm when quizzed on the future of the former Pick 6 selection on Monday. "It's unusual [the situation], but we won't be trading Bailey Humphrey," Cameron said. "It doesn't matter how many clubs he meets; we won't be trading him. He understands he's contracted for three more years." Negotiations between the Suns and Demons over Petracca's future are likely to involve one or both of Gold Coast's two top 10 picks. A trade that saw Sam Flanders join St Kilda on Wednesday saw Pick 7 head the other way, adding to Gold Coast's selections of Picks 8, 15, 18, 36, 52, 70 and 74. The trade period deadline is set for 7:30pm (AEDT) on Wednesday, October 15.

Oh boy. I hadn't thought of that. Going to need to make a couple of changes to that in the off-seasons.

Done Deal

Unfortunately I don't think it is possible anymore to get Pick 13 for Oliver. We'd probably have to pay his entire salary to get close to a deal like that. 😭

What are you suggesting? That he lives in Moe and then drive the 1 hr and 15 minutes to Casey Fields or lives in inner suburban Melbourne and drive 1 hr and 15 mins to Casey Fields. Then there is factoring in travel from Moe to Gosch's (1 hr and 30 mins). Same time from Moe to the G. Moe to Caulfield is 1 hr and 30 minutes when he is on the verge of retiring. Take public transport to Caulfield Racecourse you say? 2 hrs and 30 mins from Moe.