GS_1905

So it seems Collingwood are coming 2nd in the pursuit of Clarry. I have firm mail that if this does come to fruition the Pies will approach the AFL to request a change to trading rules where coming 2nd actually trumps the team that have reached an agreement and automatically secures the contract. The AFL are now contemplating what to call this new rule exclusively available to the Pies. Thoughts?

Two words when used together that I don’t want to hear again for a long time.

oh please, we know there was more and a deal was brokered behind the scenes. The Blues arguably never recovered from their sanctions during the Elliot days. Cant have that happen to the Cats now can we...

Curious what did you say about the mole at the club? I had my suspicions on who this maybe.

I think in time, we will all come to realise how our club was mismanaged at the board and at footy department level. We had a unreal playing list who managed to put all differences aside and win a flag. We definitely had dynasty potential , but it’s clear it wasn’t the required environment to succeed. I’m not suggesting it was a complete train wreck, but Goody was in over his head IMV.

If we get 3 first round picks for Trac, I’m picking up the phone to Butters straight away OR pick up the phone to WC and see if Pick 1 is up for grabs. Pick 6/7, Future 1st and a couple 14. They already have Pick 2.

People will not take this seriously, but the Pies are in for a very rude awakening with their age profile. They are trying to do a Geelong but have landed very poor picks in Shultz and Houston for their 1st round picks. There midfield once Zoe does and Sidebottom retire is really in trouble. De Goey can’t get going and their young talent is not good enough. Then are going to bottom out right when Tassie come to the forefront and hence will almost have to trade Daicos to get in some picks to rebuild.

It was never going to be pretty and he isn’t the most mature bloke going around, but those around him need to support him better, there is a life after footy and being welcomed back to the club is important. He is a life member too.

Pick 23 confirm d for Judd. Lamb, pack your bags mate.

Assuming we get 6 and something for Trac Do you chase Butter’s wih 6, F1, 2nd rounder?

I don’t think it’s that bad. Judds departure is just a move back home that was probably accelerated by his time under goody. In all likelihood, it would have eventually happened.

Given how worthless 38 is, walking him to the PSD would amount to the same outcome. So in our case may just be an option. This is where the AFL needs to provide some type of compensation I can’t believe this loophole has not been covered already. Nevertheless we make sure Freo don’t get him and that is worth the sacrifice. If WC didn’t take him, Richmond or North might and McVee would probably want to avoid that outcome and hence chose to say with us. Even getting pick 12 doesn’t feel like a victory. I’d rather Freo offer a F1 - I quite enjoyed the Freo death ride in 2024.

The media really tests my resolve. A whole discussion on how 2025 is the year of player swaps/trades. They (Cooney / Adams) go on for a solid 10 mins talking about clubs like Sydney/Geelong/ Hawks need to cough up another player in the pursuit of Curnow and Merrett because picks this year will be next to worthless. I am speechless how no mention of Petracca was made. I just understand dont understand how we continually get underrepresented in the media. Im realistic and dont think a 1st round plus BH for Trac is doable. Id love for it to happen as that is fair value in my book, but know that at best its a straight swap. If it was Cripps or L.Neale, they'd be talking 3 first rounders and Rowell for either of these players. I know its early days, but i just dont see a world where we walk away from this trade with BH. Now GCS maybe playing hardball as they ultimately want a straight swap whereas i can imagine, we are asking for 7 and BH for Trac. But my instincts tell me it is unlikely and the media seem to have made up there mind too suggesting that BH should stay and yet they dont talk about what is fair for MFC with Trac, it just gets pushed to the side. Fn annoys me something chronic.

Agreed. You need to put an offer on the table to get that interest up. If he nominates first, then theoretically we hold the upper hand in negotiations, which a good manager will not allow. His manager would ask each club to put forward their best offer, take that to BH and ask him what he wants to do. Also i wouldnt be taking too seriously what GCS are saying about BH, they are not going to tip their hand until they absolutely have to....the art of negotiations.

I think its a management strategy designed to create an untenable situation. Its really the only tactic contracted players have. Make it public that he wants to leave, get a few reporters to write stories like "Melbourne have to trade him, there is no coming back from that etc etc".

why would he do that?

It just depends on how bad he wants the move. He clearly has a part of him that wants to come back to Victoria. We can 'grow' that part of him by offering him some decent wages. So hopefully that is what we are putting together. I just hope its something like a $5 million x 5 year deal or thereabouts. I don't want us throwing silly money at an unproven player that has some potential.

Just listened to his interview... I think Andy baited me with this selective use of X posts.

Thats a pretty gutless and pathetic response if im being honest. He should have added ..."and we have been clear that Trac is a required player at our club and we will only entertain offers that turn our head". ... retracted - i see he has said additional things to that affect. Good on ya Lamb

I remember the player cameos from before the premiership when asked who the most annoying player is from our team. 9/10 would say Trac. Easy to understand how that annoyance turned to irritation then to borderline dislike.

Thought about this somewhat and concluded that If Clarry was ever going to get back we would have seen something - by now. We haven’t really even had a dominant quarter or half from memory. I remember watching him in 200th and thinking he is really trying in RIs game and it was having little to no impact. I don’t think it’s his MH or fitness either. I just think he’s body is letting him down and he has lost mobility and agility to the extent where he comes back to the field of midfielders. I doubt he’ll ever tear it up.

The rhetroic around the Suns finals capability is a little OTP. They haven't proven anything yet in my opinion. They had a strong H&A season, but they really had some poor games throughout the season including finals. A lot in the media are carrying on that they are firmly in the window. I'm not all-in on them yet. They are missing key players and i think Trac definitely gives them something more to work with ahead of the ball. He is more valuable to GCS than Humphrey is to us so we need a pick on top to complete the deal.

I’d say it’s a question of game style and his fit into it so probably more of your first assumption on lack of his -AA form

This is the absolute reality. We are not in a salary dump type of dilemma to accept a 3rd rounder coming back for 700k.

I don’t believe the signalling either. I reckon someone slipped in furphy. We would have said something along the lines of we would consider taking on some salary to get some picks coming back our way. The specifics of up to half is media hype - it would be a massive rookie error from a negotiation standpoint point so refuse to believe we would have said much more than we are open to explore salary concessions.