Recruiting AFL Trade & Free Agency XII - 💰💰💰

[Lore]

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Spoiler: 2024 Draft Order

 

[jdstorm]

Caldwell?

I’ll preface this by saying I really like Caldwell. It wouldn’t be my preference for him to leave.

However if Essendon finish in the bottom 3 and having picks 1/2/3, 2/3/4 or 3/4/5 becomes a possibility. I think that’s a gift that you have to accept.

I’d say that as many players as possible who might get band 1 would be encouraged to seek other opportunities under these circumstances

 

[Duckworth]

I’ll preface this by saying I really like Caldwell. It wouldn’t be my preference for him to leave.

However if Essendon finish in the bottom 3 and having picks 1/2/3, 2/3/4 or 3/4/5 becomes a possibility. I think that’s a gift that you have to accept.

I’d say that as many players as possible who might get band 1 would be encouraged to seek other opportunities under these circumstances

Caldwell would have to be traded as he is contracted until 2028. Players have to also have played enough games to become restricted (or unrestricted) free agents if a club is to receive 'banded' compensation. At Essendon, we have Draper and Laverde.

Who's on the table? Updated list of 2025 free agents revealed

Almost 100 players are eligible for free agency following list moves during the exchange window

www.afl.com.au

 

[jdstorm]

Caldwell would have to be traded as he is contracted until 2028. Players have to also have played enough games to become restricted (or unrestricted) free agents if a club is to receive 'banded' compensation. At Essendon, we have Draper and Laverde.

Who's on the table? Updated list of 2025 free agents revealed

Almost 100 players are eligible for free agency following list moves during the exchange window

www.afl.com.au

Then scratch that nevermind the last contract thing I saw was that he was out of contract this year.

 

[bombreys]

The compo for Draper will depend on this season. The same level Draper will not be band 1 but an improved Draper who can play forward and kicks goals probably will. Personally I do not see a lot of improvement available in Sam's ruck game other than being about to cover a bit more ground if he is injury free. I do think he has scope to improve as a forward and possibly be a player that can play second ruck / FP and kick 40 odd goals.

I really like Draper, but we'd have to be mad not to let him go if it netted us a 1st rounder, wouldn't we (assuming his 2025 is similar to his 2024)?

A lot will ride on Bryan I think - and whether he can take the next step forward. If he does, we should be comfortable enough moving into 2026 with him as our primary ruck as a 24 year old.

 

[jdstorm]

I really like Draper, but we'd have to be mad not to let him go if it netted us a 1st rounder, wouldn't we (assuming his 2025 is similar to his 2024)?

A lot will ride on Bryan I think - and whether he can take the next step forward. If he does, we should be comfortable enough moving into 2026 with him as our primary ruck as a 24 year old.

Think it depends how well we finish.

If he’s a 40+ goal KPP and we finish high up the ladder and win a final I wouldn’t give that up for a pick in the 20s after all the academy kids.

If we stink it up and it’s a top 5 pick then it’s an easy decision the other way. Gets tricky if we finish middle

 

[cavalcade]

Are we expecting 40+ goals from Draper. LOL. Good luck with that.

 

[dank420_]

Are we expecting 40+ goals from Draper. LOL. Good luck with that.

He could kick 15.67 imo

 

[jdstorm]

Are we expecting 40+ goals from Draper. LOL. Good luck with that.

Expecting. Not at all.

but hypothetically if he did that we’d be a pretty good side

 

[FrankGrimes]

Are we expecting 40+ goals from Draper. LOL. Good luck with that.

exactly, who was the last ruckman/forward to kick 40 goals.. doesnt happen

 

[faible]

exactly, who was the last ruckman/forward to kick 40 goals.. doesnt happen

Depends how much time he spends forward I guess, if Bryan can solo ruck >80% then Draper is basically a FF who chops out some ruck minutes similar to guys like McKay (Harry), Wright, Dixon etc...

McKay had > 10% CBA attendance, as high as 20% some games.

 

[rusman]

There aren’t many rucks in the league worth matching a salary of $800k (or the equivalent of a first-round pick).

Personally, I believe in having a competitive, low-cost ruck. Every few years, there’s a solid ruck available who’s good enough to challenge top-tier rucks but doesn’t cost much.

Right now, if we lost Draper and Bryan, Pittonet would be an ideal target.

That way, you can use the money saved on improving the rest of your list

 

[eth-dog]

There aren’t many rucks in the league worth matching a salary of $800k (or the equivalent of a first-round pick).

Personally, I believe in having a competitive, low-cost ruck. Every few years, there’s a solid ruck available who’s good enough to challenge top-tier rucks but doesn’t cost much.

Right now, if we lost Draper and Bryan, Pittonet would be an ideal target.

That way, you can use the money saved on improving the rest of your list

I doubt we lose both but if we do, Ivan Soldo almost moved end of last season. No world beater but okay.

 

[rusman]

I doubt we lose both but if we do, Ivan Soldo almost moved end of last season. No world beater but okay.

Yeah agree on both points

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

We’ve spoken to Rowell

Pies and Bombers chasing the Sun: Big Victorian clubs in the hunt for Rowell

Collingwood and Essendon head the list of clubs in pursuit of Gold Coast star Matt Rowell, who also met with Geelong in spring.

www.theage.com.au

 

[TheUnicorn]

We’ve spoken to Rowell

Pies and Bombers chasing the Sun: Big Victorian clubs in the hunt for Rowell

Collingwood and Essendon head the list of clubs in pursuit of Gold Coast star Matt Rowell, who also met with Geelong in spring.

www.theage.com.au

View attachment 2214187

F**k YER!

 

[ant555]

We’ve spoken to Rowell

Pies and Bombers chasing the Sun: Big Victorian clubs in the hunt for Rowell

Collingwood and Essendon head the list of clubs in pursuit of Gold Coast star Matt Rowell, who also met with Geelong in spring.

www.theage.com.au

View attachment 2214187

Thankfully we have some decent draft picks
Personally I do not see him leaving.

 

[jdstorm]

We’ve spoken to Rowell

Pies and Bombers chasing the Sun: Big Victorian clubs in the hunt for Rowell

Collingwood and Essendon head the list of clubs in pursuit of Gold Coast star Matt Rowell, who also met with Geelong in spring.

www.theage.com.au

View attachment 2214187

Another small mid that can’t kick. Good that we’re doing due diligence. But not a great fit on the list.

 

[Call Me Cake]

We'll save money on the lawn

 

[JayJ20]

Another small mid that can’t kick. Good that we’re doing due diligence. But not a great fit on the list.

I hear you, but he's also a contested beast. Likely will become the best contested player in the league. With Tsatas tracking to be a dominant clearance player, I think a midfield containing Rowell, Tsatas and Durham will be elite in a few years. We'd be very suspect by foot unfortunately, but we'd also dominate clearances and contested possession.

I wish Harley Reid was available because he'd most fit our needs, but I'd be happy with Rowell. I doubt he'd nominate Essendon over Geelong and Collingwood though.

 

[jdstorm]

I hear you, but he's also a contested beast. Likely will become the best contested player in the league. With Tsatas tracking to be a dominant clearance player, I think a midfield containing Rowell, Tsatas and Durham will be elite in a few years. We'd be very suspect by foot unfortunately, but we'd also dominate clearances and contested possession.

I wish Harley Reid was available because he'd most fit our needs, but I'd be happy with Rowell. I doubt he'd nominate Essendon over Geelong and Collingwood though.

We already have Merrett, Caldwell, Hobbs, and Parish

He’s a great player but spending real assets to compound our biggest list flaw. Hard pass.

 

[fairbump_playon]

I hear you, but he's also a contested beast. Likely will become the best contested player in the league. With Tsatas tracking to be a dominant clearance player, I think a midfield containing Rowell, Tsatas and Durham will be elite in a few years. We'd be very suspect by foot unfortunately, but we'd also dominate clearances and contested possession.

I wish Harley Reid was available because he'd most fit our needs, but I'd be happy with Rowell. I doubt he'd nominate Essendon over Geelong and Collingwood though.

Rowell is next gen Clayton Oliver. Rough kick but true competitor and match winner. Hobbs is our version. There’s a solid class gap.

I reckon the suns will make finals this year and Rowell will stay

Harley Reid would be better but maybe if we get creative within a few years we could have it all? Rowell, Reid and a reformed Jamarra.

 

[ant555]

We already have Merrett, Caldwell, Hobbs, and Parish

He’s a great player but spending real assets to compound our biggest list flaw. Hard pass.

He is different level contested compared to anything we have. The fact we rated 17th in stoppage clearance last year I would say real contested football is an issue.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Rowell is next gen Clayton Oliver. Rough kick but true competitor and match winner. Hobbs is our version. There’s a solid class gap.

I reckon the suns will make finals this year and Rowell will stay

Harley Reid would be better but maybe if we get creative within a few years we could have it all? Rowell, Reid and a reformed Jamarra.

Yeah was thinking if we go after Rowell then writing is on wall for hobbs. Which is a shame as I still have hopes for him, but no denying Rowell is an upgrade.

Rowell may be on shorter side but he is the definition of midfield bull, built like a brick shit house, caldwell is tough but he was pretty beaten up by 2nd half playing a run with role on Rowell late last season.

I would still prefer we go after a more dynamic goal kicking mid but think Rowell would be a good addition to our midfield set up (especially if hobbs doesn't step up this year).

 

[Agronomus]

I really like Draper, but we'd have to be mad not to let him go if it netted us a 1st rounder, wouldn't we (assuming his 2025 is similar to his 2024)?

A lot will ride on Bryan I think - and whether he can take the next step forward. If he does, we should be comfortable enough moving into 2026 with him as our primary ruck as a 24 year old.

There's no way on gods green earth the AFL would give Essendon 1st rounder for Draper unless he ended up with about 10 Brownlow votes. The Josh Battle pick proves they'll never do us any favours

 

[Agronomus]

We already have Merrett, Caldwell, Hobbs, and Parish

He’s a great player but spending real assets to compound our biggest list flaw. Hard pass.

Our only 190cm+ midfielder is Setterfield so I'd be looking at Duursma, Riley Onely or Oliver Greeves