2023/2024 Gold Coast Draft & Trade periods

[The Kings Ransom]

Think we should be targeting a genuine small forward. Still not sure if rosas becomes the player we need but another gun small may make him play better anyway. Pickett would obviously be the dream but highly unlikely, gresham probably the most gettable, not sure what else is available but liam Ryan may be tradeable for west coast. Nick Watson the ideal one from the draft but he may go as high as no 2.

Would love Ryan.
How would we trade for him? 2024 pick plus sharp?

 

[The Kings Ransom]

Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

looked second rate against us.
Work cut out for him behind their midfield but still.

 

[GC2015]

Surprise club emerges in race for AFL free agent but ‘best mate’ looms large

The in-demand star has a big decision to make on his future.

7news.com.au

If the Lions are a chance to land Himmelberg because his family lives in Brisbane, then surely that means we are also a possibility? Himmelberg would be fantastic for our backline and can even go into the ruck or be swung forward if needed. Surely we're at least having a conversation with him...

 

[MarcLocksCrustySock]

Surprise club emerges in race for AFL free agent but ‘best mate’ looms large

The in-demand star has a big decision to make on his future.

7news.com.au

If the Lions are a chance to land Himmelberg because his family lives in Brisbane, then surely that means we are also a possibility? Himmelberg would be fantastic for our backline and can even go into the ruck or be swung forward if needed. Surely we're at least having a conversation with him...

Just like we were a chance at Dunkley, Daniher and Neale? LOL

 

[Supersuns]

Just like we were a chance at Dunkley, Daniher and Neale? LOL

More a chance of Campbell Brown coming out of retirement and playing for us.

 

[sunsofanarchy]

Loves a surf

 

[Jirik13]

Surprise club emerges in race for AFL free agent but ‘best mate’ looms large

The in-demand star has a big decision to make on his future.

7news.com.au

If the Lions are a chance to land Himmelberg because his family lives in Brisbane, then surely that means we are also a possibility? Himmelberg would be fantastic for our backline and can even go into the ruck or be swung forward if needed. Surely we're at least having a conversation with him...

Are we top 4 material with a chance winning it all? Yes, you can keep dreaming, nothing wrong with that. Although not sure we need Himmelberg.

 

[Southern Sun]

Would be keen on Whitfield if gws chipped in some of his salary still.

 

[Jirik13]

Would be keen on Whitfield if gws chipped in some of his salary still.

He struggles again this year.

 

[Southern Sun]

He struggles again this year.

Concussed rd1, missed a week, has been pretty good since. Anyone with elite skills should be worth looking at.

 

[GC2015]

Just like we were a chance at Dunkley, Daniher and Neale? LOL

Are we top 4 material with a chance winning it all? Yes, you can keep dreaming, nothing wrong with that. Although not sure we need Himmelberg.

Lack of on field success is obviously costing us otherwise we probably would be considered. Let's say, hypothetically, we get to July and we happen to be sitting inside the top 8. Does Himmelberg then start considering us?

FWIW I think we do need another experienced key defender in the 24-27 age bracket who can relieve in the ruck as well. We know Collins and Ballard will never end up in the ruck and once Casboult retires we really only have Chol who can chop out. Bonus that Himmelberg can play forward as well and that would also come in handy. A genuine tall utility that can play anywhere on the ground depending on the team's needs at any given time. That would be so handy right now and going forward.

 

[Supersuns]

Lack of on field success is obviously costing us otherwise we probably would be considered. Let's say, hypothetically, we get to July and we happen to be sitting inside the top 8. Does Himmelberg then start considering us?

FWIW I think we do need another experienced key defender in the 24-27 age bracket who can relieve in the ruck as well. We know Collins and Ballard will never end up in the ruck and once Casboult retires we really only have Chol who can chop out. Bonus that Himmelberg can play forward as well and that would also come in handy. A genuine tall utility that can play anywhere on the ground depending on the team's needs at any given time. That would be so handy right now and going forward.

No he doesn't consider us. We never get considered and being in the top 8 in July won't fix that.

 

[MarcLocksCrustySock]

Lack of on field success is obviously costing us otherwise we probably would be considered. Let's say, hypothetically, we get to July and we happen to be sitting inside the top 8. Does Himmelberg then start considering us?

FWIW I think we do need another experienced key defender in the 24-27 age bracket who can relieve in the ruck as well. We know Collins and Ballard will never end up in the ruck and once Casboult retires we really only have Chol who can chop out. Bonus that Himmelberg can play forward as well and that would also come in handy. A genuine tall utility that can play anywhere on the ground depending on the team's needs at any given time. That would be so handy right now and going forward.

Hypotheticals are great and all but my assumption was we were talking about our current chance based on current circumstance/result of luring Himmelberg just cos Brisbane are a chance. Of course it'd be different if we were winners.

 

[GC2015]

No he doesn't consider us. We never get considered and being in the top 8 in July won't fix that.

How about being inside the top 8 on September 1st? Will that change anything in your mind?

Hypotheticals are great and all but my assumption was we were talking about our current chance based on current circumstance/result of luring Himmelberg just cos Brisbane are a chance. Of course it'd be different if we were winners.

Fair enough. I probably should have been more specific.

I'll just add that players do change their mind late in the piece sometimes as we saw with Dunkley and O'Meara last year. Would O'Meara have joined Fremantle if they hadn't played finals last year? We'll never know for sure but I'd guess it definitely helped convince him to head west.

 

[TheSunGod]

Surely we’d at least be able to offer Himmelberg a lot more petrol money than Brisbane who couldn’t have that much free cap space available given they’re chock full of stars. If not, then our list management is still truly diabolical.

 

[Deleted member 2402071]

Lack of on field success is obviously costing us otherwise we probably would be considered. Let's say, hypothetically, we get to July and we happen to be sitting inside the top 8. Does Himmelberg then start considering us?

The club needs to undo a decade of negative stigma before any high profile player signs for us.

That will likely take repeated years of being a top 8 team and repeated re-signings of our potential A grade talent.

 

[Southern Sun]

If you believe what you hear there has been some interest already, but our salary cap mess has been a road block. Seems they are getting that sorted so time will tell.

 

[Stroppy]

The club needs to undo a decade of negative stigma before any high profile player signs for us.

That will likely take repeated years of being a top 8 team and repeated re-signings of our potential A grade talent.

Sounds like we have gone from 'laughing, no' to 'musing, maybe'.
Still a ways to go to 'get it done', but better than before.

 

[Jirik13]

Lack of on field success is obviously costing us otherwise we probably would be considered. Let's say, hypothetically, we get to July and we happen to be sitting inside the top 8. Does Himmelberg then start considering us?

FWIW I think we do need another experienced key defender in the 24-27 age bracket who can relieve in the ruck as well. We know Collins and Ballard will never end up in the ruck and once Casboult retires we really only have Chol who can chop out. Bonus that Himmelberg can play forward as well and that would also come in handy. A genuine tall utility that can play anywhere on the ground depending on the team's needs at any given time. That would be so handy right now and going forward.

Himmelberg is not a tall, big, strong KPD people here wish and talk about. He is essentially Collins height 195cm but nowhere near his strength. I think we are covered regarding forwards and more coming in.

 

[RowellAnderson12]

Himmelberg is not a tall, big, strong KPD people here wish and talk about. He is essentially Collins height 195cm but nowhere near his strength. I think we are covered regarding forwards and more coming in.

Himmelberg is basically a stronger Luko with a vertical.

Not the best defender, i owned him in AFL Fantasy last year so i did watch plenty of games, was outmarked by Rhylee West a few times who is like 20cm smaller. His rebounding is very good, his work up front is good too. But then again Luko & Himmelberg same team? With Chol & King

 

[MarcLocksCrustySock]

Himmelberg is basically a stronger Luko with a vertical.

Not the best defender, i owned him in AFL Fantasy last year so i did watch plenty of games, was outmarked by Rhylee West a few times who is like 20cm smaller. His rebounding is very good, his work up front is good too. But then again Luko & Himmelberg same team? With Chol & King

I don't think he is anywhere near the same skill level as Luko. I don't see the comparison personally.

 

[RowellAnderson12]

I don't think he is anywhere near the same skill level as Luko. I don't see the comparison personally.

Their role is the comparison.

Both have played as the rebounding third tall & high half forward role.

If we did land Himmelberg, he'd come in as a rebounding third tall (which right now is a massive upgrade on Mac Andrew)

 

[Supersuns]

Their role is the comparison.

Both have played as the rebounding third tall & high half forward role.

If we did land Himmelberg, he'd come in as a rebounding third tall (which right now is a massive upgrade on Mac Andrew)

Himmelberg is not a good defender. He also isn't as great a rebounder as his stats showed last season, I'd much rather have Powell or Weller do the rebounding out of d50. They are both much more likely to hit a target or break the game open compared to Himmelberg. Be too expensive for the role we'd want him for anyway.

 

[RowellAnderson12]

Himmelberg is not a good defender. He also isn't as great a rebounder as his stats showed last season, I'd much rather have Powell or Weller do the rebounding out of d50. They are both much more likely to hit a target or break the game open compared to Himmelberg. Be too expensive for the role we'd want him for anyway.

Which stats are you looking at? He played forward until Round 9. After that his switch down back, he produced some good numbers as a rebounder.
He wouldn't be keen on being a rebounder anyways he would wanna be a main target in the forward line.

As a rebounding defender Round 10 v WCE onwards, he posted better numbers than any rebounder we had last year;

(13 games) Averaged: 23.6 touches, 7.92 marks, 7.30 rebound 50s, 551.2 metres gained, 6.92 intercept possessions, 4.3 1%, 5.2 turnovers.

Compared to Lachie Weller 2023 who is looking elite off an ACL reconstruction.

(5 games) Averages: 26.2 touches, 8.2 marks, 6 rebound 50s, 624 metres gained, 4.6 intercept possessions, 1 1%, 5.2 turnovers.

I'm not keen on Himmelberg and don't think we're a chance but his numbers stack up. Better off spending elsewhere tho... unless we unleash Weller back into the guts which i'd love to see.

 

[briztoon]

Himmelberg wants to play forward.

Fox Footy probably only linked him to Brisbane because I bashed them on SM last week, when they mentioned he would most likely want to return home to Victoria in one of their podcasts.

I went on a bit of a rant that he was a GWS academy kid via Canberra (his family was from Wagga Wagga), and that his parents moved to QLD in late 2015.

HTF is Vic home?


We (the Lions) probably have a fair bit cap space available this offseason with Zorko and Rich coming off contract, and Adams retiring due to concussion.

The only player of note we need to re-sign will be Connor McKenna.

Everyone else that we possibly plan on retaining will be on base/minimum contracts or rookie contracts.