Lord Travis

I dispute this heavily. Just because he never got to Brownlow/MVP levels he could've, doesn't mean he wasn't a good player over a long period. He wasn't really up and down, and he was most definitely a big game player. He was amongst our best in nearly every final he ever played in for us. (Ignore my username) On McAdam, I doubt we'll see him play seniors again. Two games in two seasons and he's still not even fit heading into preseason number three as a 30 year old who has never got through a season before. He was a poor trade and isn't part of our future plans. Another Lamb special!

100% agree with this. Winding up with Laurie instead of Holmes was a killer. Same with trading a fortune to get up but then wind up with Tholstrup. There's trading into the first round and then there's trading into the first round... There is a big drop off point in most drafts, and we've botched judging it multiple times now. Trading into the first round twice and landing Laurie and Tholstrup has set us back considerably IMO. Unless we can trade up and get into the top 5-10 where there is always obvious and undeniable quality, then it's a strategy that has failed us and needs to stop.

Steven May was prior to those mentioned and came across in the 2018 trade period. Agree he would be the biggest acquisition we've had this decade so far. He'd give us 8-10 years of good football like Langdon will, and has versatility to perform to a high standard as a ball winning midfielder or flanker at either end. Big yes to this trade!

Disagree on most points. IMO he did start well and showed footy smarts with and without the ball. He struggled as the year went on though. He showed decent agility and ability to work his way in and through traffic, though he isn't overly quick. I don't expect him to play AFL seniors next year, but he's depth and insurance in a position we're low talent in (outside Kozzy, who is moving more midfield now also). In terms of list spot, we've already turned over a fair few with more to come. We've delisted the other 3 rookies. Signing him as the fourth on lowest possible wage won't impact our list at all. Sinnema will come to us via NGA onto senior list regardless of Henderson re-signing.

It's a hard pass on that sort of coin. I don't mind him as a player and think he could add something to our team, but not keen on him at that wage for that long.

With Spargo leaving and Kozzy shifting further into the midfield, this signing is insurance policy for smaller forward depth. Hendo appeared to start well last year. Hopefully he can build on that and have an impact. Seems a smart player, but probably limited long term.

This is a massive part of the solution in my view. Free agency was the big rock that started the landslide. It was supposed to give opportunity to all, so bottom clubs could over-spend a little to get quality talent in to help them rise back up. The opposite has happened - quality players are leaving bottom clubs, often taking a pay cut, for the top teams. Footballers get paid such a huge wage that losing a small bit of cash doesn't matter. Imagine making 1.5 million vs 1.2 million over 3 years. That is essentially the average wage of an AFL player and what's happening. Now imagine you get to play in a winning team most weeks and in front of huge crowds and have more opportunity post-career. That or you get an extra bit of cash but have to rock up to a negative environment where you get flogged harder, have to travel further to work, have worse facilities, lose every week, play infront of smaller and more hostile crowds, and have less opportunity post career. That difference in wage is meaningless, and it's obvious why it's happening. It's amazing most of the smaller unsuccessful clubs like North and St Kilda are even alive at this point. The same teams are always at the top and it's killing the league. Free agency rules need to be updated so the top 4-8 teams cannot have incoming free agents. If they can't entirely block that, then the top 4-8 teams need to pay a hefty premium that will actually impact them, something like 50% additional wage. That way if a star player like say Kozzy left where he's getting paid 12 million over 9 years, that then becomes 18 million, and gets indexed to TPP cap, so could wind up over 20 million etc. In essence, top clubs need to be significantly impacted, or barred entirely, when it comes to free agents for the good of the game. If anyone has the argument that players deserve more etc they can get stuffed. Most players get paid obscene amounts of money and would be working menial low paying jobs if they weren't born taller than average. They get paid more to run around and play sport than doctors who save lives and actually help the world. They are already better off than they need to be and should have less power, not more.

Richmond have come for Chaplin. They're his old club. Wouldn't be surprised if he moves after so long at the Dees. Watch this space.

Possibly the most stale final four in modern times. Footy is in a pretty dire place at the moment. Probably more rule changes to come and ruin the game further. It's getting really tough to keep watching at this point.

It's actually bullish*t how good Will Ashcroft is. The kid can do it all on the biggest stage and is still only 21 years old. Getting access to superstars like him and Nick Daicos completely changes a club.

I'm surprised with the result but very excited to have a new senior coach locked in. Welcome to the club Kingy! Let's hope success follows you!

They've got Rowell and Anderson - both superstar midfielders. Even Touk Miller has been squeezed out into a part time mid and part time flanker. Flanders broke the club record held by the GOAT Gablett Jnr for disposals last season and finished third in their best and fairest at 22 years old. Flanders would be a great get for us. That's obvious to anyone who watches football. Instantly improves our midfield and versatile enough to play/rest on flanks at either end too. Question is how do we get it done? He's worth a first rounder, which we don't have. A future first may be a top 5 pick, and that's too much...

23 year old who kicked 58 goals this season. He's Port's number 1 forward, young, and is contracted for another two seasons after signing extension. He would cost us draft currency we don't have, and that's if he was even interested. We've tried before and been rejected. No chance this happens this year sadly.

Went through a divorce, so yes was impacted. Hardly financially hardship though, he's loaded. He got half of cash from a house sold for nearly $14 million... Add that to all the money he's made throughout his playing career, coaching career, and media gigs, as well as other investments... he's doing more than ok. Money isn't a factor in his decision. He wants to coach because he's driven, loves the sport, and wants a premiership.

Why are people surprised Trac is finishing high? Everyone heaps [censored] on him because he's not at his peak of being the best player in the league, but he's still a good player and had a good year. He bettered all his main career average stats bar marking and was our best midfielder. Talk him down and hate him all you want - he's still better than most running round in red and blue, even at his current level.

Jeez this sums up how poorly run the club is and how much we've been missing proper leadership at all levels. Couldn't write this stuff!

Campbell has been signed to another one year contract purely as a break glass emergency option. He wouldn't get game time ahead of Health. He'd get a game if Gawn and other options went down injured. He's 34 next year, at his fourth AFL club, and has played a total of 33 AFL matches in the last decade. If we traded in Heath, then it's because we see him as the potential long term replacement for Gawn. Those speaking of Kalani White as long term ruck - he projects more as a key position player. He's excelled mostly as a key defender and shown glimpses as a key forward. With all the 200cm key talls around, he fits the modern moulding that.

Buckley said the game plan isn't important. He's right. Our game plan had us in nearly every game this year. As Max said, we lost x amount of winnable games. What's needed is a mindset shift. That's tied to culture. Culture is set by the leaders. When on field leaders like Viney day in interviews we've got comfortable, then the environment needs to change. There's only so many styles or game plans a football team can try. Mental strength and culture are what sets the winners apart, and that's where we've fallen down since 2021. If Buckley gets the job, I'm confident he understands that and will have success with our club. I'd argue it's personel too. Nothing drastic, but a few core players need to change.

Holmes and Smith slotting running goals from outside 50 were both class and skill. They're the exact sort of running midfielders we lack. Hoping Windsor and Lindsey can become that type. Pair that with a star tall up forward in Jezza and you've got a potential attack. Cats look bound for a grand final again.

Just goes to show stats can be pretty useless and cherry picked to suit any narrative. I don't dispute our three mids aren't great kicks, however Merrett and Horne-Francis are brilliant kicks. Merrett is amongst the best in the league. Trac, while he can be a butcher, has been amongst the highest score involvement in the league for about 5 years straight now.

Where's the riddler when you need him? Any bird related rumors this off season?

It hasn't. There's some people here hoping it will come to fruition.

Jacob Koschitzke delisted by Richmond at age 25. For some reason they were playing him in defence in VFL. We were keen on him a few years back as a key forward. Could be an option as delisted free agent on low salary as depth.

Difference being Harley Bennell performed at AFL level and was a match winner at the Suns before he went off the rails. He fulfilled his talent at the top level, even if only for 2-3 seasons. Elijah is nowhere near it and if it weren't for his draft pick number no one would be talking about him. The fact they're willing to pay out his contract just to keep him away from the other players speaks volumes to his negative impact on their culture. Considering we've had culture problems the past few years, we should be staying away.

Voss has said his off-field behaviour and lack of professionalism are disappointing and disruptive to the playing group. Too interested in the devils dandruff. He had potential as a draftee, but 24 years old next season and his AFL career basically has him at Tom Sparrow level impact and numbers wise. No disrespect to Tom, but you'd expect more from a pick 7 who's six years into a career. Add the off-field issues and it's a hard sell. A strong club like Geelong would take him as delisted free agent perhaps, but no club like ours should go anywhere near him.