Red and Blue realist

I think this will be the thing that gets us back to the top quickly, and also explains the use of some of the younger guys. Early days, while implementing a new game plan, if you back it in you take the good (speed) with the bad (bomb-n-hope), but the finessing or finishing will be a major improvement with the end of the chain or the movement into FWD50, so limited bomb-n-hope. I think in our best quaters this year, it has stood out that they've actually looked to chanhe angles and find the open player with the last kick. I take it that it explains why Langford is playing more wing, and X still half backish with Kolt being given a run with role. They have to get their running right before being unleashed in the middle full time, Kossie now has the running right and seemed to spend as much time near the ball in the backline as the forward line now, but that running skill, mindset and continual application can take a few years for younger players to get right. I could see that as the game plan evolves we see more of Steele and Viney being used as the battering rams early in games, so we don't get blown out early, and Kolt as a tagger, then that reverse later in quaters or games, to get our run at these high intensities.

Agree with this, and it might even get another year or 2 from Max, turn him into a floating backman. Ensure we've got a good enough competitor in the ruck (Heath or other) to do all ruck contests in the forward 60, then have Max poistioned 40-50 meters from that contest. Try to have Lever or Disco on the other side of the feild so we stop any quick movement out of the opposition defense. Having said that I wouldn't start Heath in that role, wait until he has confidence in doing a full game (like the Nth practice game), then get him working in with Max from then on.

This is where the new proposeed or potential academy and F/S rules could come into our favour. If Gold Coast have a number of Academy players coming through over the next few years, we'll be able to move future firsts, which would have been pushed a long way down because of Tassie, to them so they have not just the points but the round requirements as well. So we might keep one or both of this years 1sts, but move 2028/29 1sts.

There would have been some settlement, he won't have got 100% of what was owing to him.

Good pick up for a few reasons, 1 hopefully he's a very handy player, but also, we have Melksham who is coming to the end of his career - surely it's his last season, so could be a replacement and gets to learn directly from him or even for Fritsch who will be 30 before next season and is also a free agent.

Assuming Tairon doesn't get picked up tonight or tomorrow, does he then qualify moving forward for our NGA as well? The new rules allow his brother - with the addition of Pacific regions and the age expansion to 21. There is a clause saying the aplication had to be submitted in their 15th year, but looks like we may have done that and been knocked back under the old rules? Looks like he could be someone who could mature into a player, needing to work on endurance, so another year in the system could really help.

Be very interesting to see if we use 2 picks tonight or just 1. We know White will be coming hopefully as a F/S rookie pick, and we have the potential to pick Sinnema as a NGA, but it looks like he has been offered a training spot rather than being picked up tonight or in tomorrow's rookie draft. So will there be 2 picks tonght - 30 & whatever 56 becomes. Will we take another slider and risk Sinnema being picked up elsewhere?

Yes, but they could be tempted to go for more high end talent, in particualr a local who won't be there at pick 13 (or whatever it becomes). 1, 5, 6 & 13 is a very handy reset, with additional asset for next year. Something like 2, 34, 41 (2026 4th) for 5, 6 & 2026 2nd. Essedon then could trade a combination of their picks to Cartlon for 11. West Coast then have 4 high end players, rather than 3.

I think you're right, Essendon are desperate for CDT, whereas West Coast would be happy with Farrow and one of Cumming or Sharp. Essendon would need to add additional future picks I would think to move the Eagles. Might upset their play for pick 11 from Carlton.

With all the players we seem to be linked with falling much lower than 7 or 8 in most phantom drafts/expert opinons, we could look to take the best at 7 (Robey, Taylor, Cumming, Sharp etc.) who falls through from earlier picks, but trade 8 out. Say 8 & 37 to GC for 15, 24 & F2nd (either 26 or 27 - ours or theirs). Then we could look at a Robey/Sharp/Taylor/Cumming, Pickett & Nairn combo, without over reaching for the later 2, while picking up an asset for the future.

Wow, that's a good way to wreck hours of work time!!

I wonder if the players we highly rate are off the board by 7 or 8, if we could look to manufacture another first round pick from next year. There are a few WA & SA players prjected to go around our pick, so could be something like the following (examples) trade 8 to Adelaide for 16 & F1; or 8 to Port for F1 & FF2; or 8 to WC for 13 & FF1; or 8 to Freo for 20 & F1 & FF2. See if we can tempt some teams into moving now. SA in particular have a strong field of projected players this year, while WA has Farrow which might end up around WC 13 anyway, but they might be tempted to jump early or Freo could try to move up.

The list of Free Agents for 2026 is out - it doesn't seperate free or restricted - but there could be a few names on here we could look at. We know we've got far less salary cap restraints after the recent trade period. From the list below the bigger names are obviously Butters, Walsh, Bailey and Ben King, but Mitch Lewis, Jordon Butts, Hinge, P.Voss, Amartey and B.Williams are all under 28 and could fill roles for us (talls at either end). Interestingly we have the most names on the list, but I think at least 4 of ours will retire (May, TMac, Melk & Campbell). Fox SportsQuartet headline 2026 out-of-contract stars as every AFL...Quartet headline 2026 out-of-contract stars as every AFL club’s list of free agents revealed

Not ranked in the top 40 or 50 from most online judges, such as Cal Toomey, Rookie Me, ESPN etc. So will be a late or rookie pick

The club has committed to White, but not certain that Sinemma has that commitment yet., it's very likely we do take him. Seems like Woey will be forced out at this stage.