Lil_red_fire_engine

I don't think he'll nominate until he knows there is a path to get there that we are willing to unlock. I suggest part of that will be dependent on Flanders intent and/or convincing Humphrey and Suns openness to it. I also wonder how quickly Merrett declares Hawks (or not) and whether that throws a late spanner in the works.

Assuming we have a thorough understanding of his toe injury agree with this. I can't see how you play him and Melksham in the same forward line though.

A good listen from Tim Lamb. If I was to guess listening to Lamb and filling in the blanks Heath (developing ruck) and Mihocek (experienced key) a given to us as expected. May interest sounded luke warm at best. Trac will only go if he can meet what we want. We are in control here. We are p!ssed over McVee and sounds like will push very hard including West Coast (no mention of Freo just WA). Doubt we will try and get into this years first round. Maybe more so next (which fits being allegedly better and we do like to bring through in batches).

So three picks likely between 10-18? No thanks.

According to Chat GPT over the last 10 years out of contract players traded of similar age who had played 50-75 games and requested a home state trade. Tom Mitchell + pick 57 - received pick 14 and 52 Ed Langdon + pick 26 + future 4th - received pick 22, 79 and future 2nd Jake Lever + pick 35 + future 3rd - received Pick 10 + future 1st+ future 4th Jordon Dawson - received Pick 17 Based on this precedent 29 certainly feels like unders in a weak draft. 11 on it's own even pushing out slight overs but with some later swaps likely reasonable. I suggest Freo will push for 29 but wonder how hard we work to bring WC into play and threaten a PSD path rather than a pick we likely don't use/need.

McVee. Disappointing but not the end of the world. For a player we picked when everyone else passed (WA clubs chose 10 players before we took him in 2021) and developed into a quality role player. To repay the club by demanding the role you want to play and by the looks of it taking them for a ride all year with little intent but to return home is poor. His small runs in a higher productive half back and midfield role did not show me he is a given to be better than the quality stopper with good skills he had shown. Lets do our best to maximise the return and move on. Thanks to those who shared information throughout the year on how this was progressing. Always appreciated even though its never fact and over until the contract is signed or the trade period closed.

Murphy Reid is a worthy winner but I would have had Langford ahead of Curtin and Ashcroft. I think his consistency and impact covers both and that's before you take into account the data. I sometimes think too much credibility is given to those who hold their spot in a finals side.

I agree here. Flanders and 6 (which will likely slide to 9) is fair trade. Has Flanders reached the heights of Petracca or will he, no. But he will play A grade football for 6-8 years with attributes we need and give opportunity for JT to jag another elite youth. Then don't discount the value of cap $$$ saved in future years and moving on a player who appears to not be fully invested in a group Kings needs to galvanise for the road ahead. Will Trac play topline footy there for 2-3 years sure but this could be a win win. I find the ability for Adelaide to craft a trade of similar value in player and picks much more difficult. As mentioned maybe there 2025 or 2026 F1 unlocks Flanders? It will be interesting to hear rumours of what is proposed either way if interest progresses. What people need to understand is when it was nuclear last year we held our ground. If we deal this year WE (not he) have decided that what we receive nets the value we require to be better off moving forward.

He re-signed less than a month ago and extended til the end of 2028. Mitchell is wining and dining players who are wanting to leave not those who have just re-signed. Shanahan looks like a key you can build a team around in the future. I suggest that is why the Eagles have locked him in asap. That for a good quality half back and a small mid we refuse to play in season is not going to get you close even if he was interested.

To be fair I have only seen the highlights packages. I just dont see that something special that a smaller players requires to make it at the next lebvel. Particularly with an inside 30 selection. in saying that finding the ball is half the battle.

West Coast would laugh at you. They know what they have with Jobe and he recently re-signed a contract extension.

He looks like he lacks any major AFL attribute which is necessary for a 177cm player and particularly one expected to cost a top 30 investment. A no from me.

Ot at worst if Trac wants to leave Sam Mitchell realises he needs a Trac more than a Merrett when September 2026 comes around.

I suggest after watching Danger bulldoze the hawks they need a Trac more than they need a Merrett.

2024 VFL Henderson has 17 games with 20+ possessions and 10 games with 5+ tackles. 2025 He has 1 and 2 and lacked any of the zip and agility he showed in spades the year before. I suggest the groin problem that finished his season were present for a lot longer. If the case and if confident his groin issues are passed him I can get why they might retain him.

If only Sestan had Kynan's speed or Kynan had Sestans boot we would have found an AFL player.

Or all of the above. Being he missed out on West Coast I dont think you want to miss two in a row (even if it is to Bucks). If you didnt have high confidence Im not surprised. I doubt its item 3 being he went through the process with the hot mess of the Weagles last year.

Agree here. The Henderson of last year VFL and 2025 preseason had zip and agility. That disappeared early in the season. I suspect his groin issues started alot earlier than was reported and he played through them way passed the point of value and impact.

Agree here. Between picks 45 and 55 you have the following likely success rate: 1 game = 55% 50 games = 15% 100 games = 5% Picks outside of the first 2 rounds are highly overrated. They should be used on players where you can see some mature potential whether trade in or mature age from VFL, WAFL, SANFL etc where you can see their potential attributes and fit more clearly. Worth having a swing when you have picks there but it should be secondary to finding a higher confidence way to put them to use during trade period.

Why? Pick 23 which will push closer to 30 in a weak draft? Do you take the 22 year old proven player who already has 75 games under his belt that provides attributes we need and would be immediate best 22. Or do you bet on an unproven kid who based on the numbers would have a 30% chance of reaching 75 games in his career (players in the 30-35 range).

We have midfielders but don't have a Windhager. He is one of the hardest 2 way running mids in the game. He has the discipline to both defend stoppage and lay a hard tag. When allowed to play his natural game through there he is a natural connector. His uncontested possession % over his last month was 75%. 84%, 65%, 74%. His ball use at worst is generally high 70% and into the 80%. At 22 he is about to go next level in the right role at the right team. Will be a fantastic complement to our current set up or if we make change to our midfield mix.

I want Buckley for a variety of reasons CV, hunger to win a flag, media acumen, to lead and unite. If assistant coach x pips him my view will be how impressive must x have been for us to take the higher risk, less expected road. The only thing that will not sit well with me on a decision is if Buckley chooses to not proceed at a point and the perception we are then left with next best.

But he doesn’t win the ball enough and outside of that lacks the speed or size to be a danger in any other way nor any positional flexibility.

As reported exit interviews (including those still playing VFL finals) have occurred and allegedly no one has requested a trade at this point. To my knowledge those out of contract are aware of the likelihood of where they sit whether definite delist or wait and see subject to trade period.

I wish Charlie the best of luck elsewhere and hope he gets his body right to regain the little speed the had. We though need to go passed extending contracts for players like him and find new players to take us forward.