List Mgmt. Contract, Trade and Draft Discussions - 2024 Edition

[Keys]

Quick links:
Player contract status
Draft prospect video highlights (thanks to noobermensch)
AFL retirements and delistings

---

Latest news and rumours:

• Tom Barrass officially requests trade to Hawthorn
  • Duffield: Eagles want two first round picks - "It may have to be in this year’s draft rather than a future pick."
  • Morris: Josh Battle is set to join Barrass at Hawthorn in 2025 - Ralph: Unclear if Hawks will pay enough for Band 1

• Kysaiah Pickett interested in a trade
  • "Club and management are confident they can work through his concerns"
  • Daniels: Pickett’s preference is Fremantle. Fremantle are keen, but Bolton the priority. Getting both “not impossible”. West Coast “an option if things get complicated.”

• Jai Culley, Coen Livingstone, Loch Rawlinson in line for one-year deals (The West)
  
  
• Liam Baker and Shai Bolton
  15

  Shai Bolton

  Age

  26

  Ht

  176cm

  Wt

  77kg

  Pos.

  M/F

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  12.3

  3star

  K

  6.9

  3star

  HB

  5.4

  4star

  M

  2.8

  3star

  T

  2.9

  4star

  CL

  1.4

  4star

  D

  12.7

  3star

  K

  9.2

  4star

  HB

  3.5

  2star

  M

  3.0

  3star

  T

  2.7

  4star

  CL

  1.8

  4star

  D

  9.2

  3star

  K

  4.6

  2star

  HB

  4.6

  4star

  M

  2.0

  3star

  T

  2.6

  4star

  CL

  0.0

  1star

  officially request trades to WA
  • Daniels: Bolton is Fremantle’s priority

 

[amazingjoshy]

If they know for sure that he's gone they won't pick him all year. All rumours coming out of the WB board say that he is going.

As far as I'm aware if he was getting games (or was clear on what he needed to do to get a game) he'd be happy to stay

Bevo played Lobb after he said he wants a trade so would be weird if him not signing yet is the reason, but Bevo gonna Bevo

 

[Hook461123]

I just hope we try and make some moves to improve. We've hit the draft for the last few years and since the Kelly trade in 2019 we've only traded in Brockman for a 3rd and Langdon & Witho for 4th rounders.
Hard to rise purely by the few draft picks we get a year plus a couple of cheap free agents.

Would love to see the club go all out and try to bring in Busslinger and Warner even if it takes a future pick or trading a player like Barrass. Understand Warner is out of contract next year but if the opportunity is this year and he wants to come home we may not get another chance. The lack of quality WA mids being drafted at the moment means the go home factor may be a little thin in a couple of years.

I'd do Barrass and a swap of firsts for Warner and a second rounder for Busslinger.

 

[noobermensch]

A solid first Champs outing for Joe Berry who show cased the exiting and damaging package of skills he brings to a forward line. Started strongly in the first half, regularly leading up to the wings to get involved. Was quieter in the second but made the most of his opportunities to snag a couple of crucial goals and finish with three for the game.

 

[sharps24]

If we lost Barrass, kept Yeo, brought in Busslinger, a decent free agent and had pick 9, 12, 15 and 2 future firsts plus our own I would be very happy with that. Future second for Buss.

This is some seriously sexy stuff.

 

[ziad]

Busslinger will be a very, very good Key defender, he still needs to put on about 7-8kg's of muscle and add to his core strength. He would be my number 1 priority trade target.

Do not want Baker, he's not great with the ball. He's agile, he's good and clean on the pickup and has a great little burst of speed but he's not and never will be anything more than a roleplayer. If he was 23 and it was an early second round pick i'd be half interested but to pay for in a trade at his age, no thanks.

Isaac Cumming is a moneyball type free agent who would be a good pick up if he can show he is over his injuries by the end of the year.

Do not want to lose Yeo. He wants security but there is definitely more to this than just his agent. There were rumours he was very annoyed at how the club handled his injuries over the previous seasons and he was the only one of the 3 players that the club paid for everything for the overseas specialist trip. Him leaving would royally **** the club in regards to chasing free agents. His combative aggression and style on the field is great for the young mids.

Barrass I don't know. I wouldn't be happy to lose him, I just know what I was told and that at trade time last season he wouldn't have passed Sydney's medical at the time. He might now. The guy is very much an intellectual and not 'one of the boys' if you will. The swans biggest need moving forward is a Key defender. I didn't think McCartin would make it back from the last concussion. Rampe is 34. I would only look at the trade if they or we could trade their first rounder plus the north priority pick for whichever of GC picks is closest to pick 10 and a future first.

I still think Richmond will leapfrog us and the club finishes 17th.

I don't think Fremantle would want to trade but they are probably looking for cream. As of right now I would entertain trading pick 2 and our future second for 2 of their first rounders (including whichest is lowest) and their future first. I see a lot of very good players at the next level but no huge standouts at the very top of the draft.

If we lost Barrass, kept Yeo, brought in Busslinger, a decent free agent and had pick 9, 12, 15 and 2 future firsts plus our own I would be very happy with that. Future second for Buss.

I worry about core strength, DNA is more important than training. But we can all improve!

 

[TerryFilk]

The way this board talks about Liam Baker

3

Liam Baker

Age

26

Ht

173cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.7

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

7.9

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.6

4star

MG

222.2

3star

D

14.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

7.9

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

3star

MG

191.9

3star

D

14.4

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

224.2

4star

as if he’s just some sort of mediocre role player is hilarious.

He’s a guaranteed 20 touches and a goal per game and can play at a high level in any area of the ground.

I’m not saying I’d split our first for him, but if there’s a chance you get him with just our 2nd and change, you absolutely do it.

 

[Obeanie1]

Collingwood need key position players, although they are managing quite well with one or two plus Frampton.

Barrass is one of our major assets who is contracted for several years. He is an outstanding experienced key position player which makes him very valuable and in high demand. We have to leverage a significant return if he was to go.

I don’t think a low first and a mid range second round player does it. They coughed up more than this for Schulz.

Time for the soft bargaining to cease.

Happy to push hard.

In contract we could also pay some of his salary for a year or two in order to increase what we get back.

Ben Miller is an UFA.

Busslinger another tall defender we have been linked to.

Barrass is one of the few players we could get a decent trade return from. And if we bring in a Busslinger or a Miller and retain Harry Edwards we still have several tall defenders.

Would need Gov to keep going as long as he can to help bridge the gap between kids and experience.

 

[Obeanie1]

The way this board talks about Liam Baker as if he’s just some sort of mediocre role player is hilarious.

He’s a guaranteed 20 touches and a goal per game and can play at a high level in any area of the ground.

I’m not saying I’d split our first for him, but if there’s a chance you get him with just our 2nd and change, you absolutely do it.

Baker isnt mediocre he is a solid utility / role player with leadership qualities..

He isnt a kp tall or first ruck.

He isnt a skillfull damaging mid who accumulates.

He isnt a top shelf dangerous small forward.

He isnt a damaging rebound defender.

In what way does a club build a list with Baker as a pivotal corner stone of a rebuild?

Isnt that the point plus he is 26, 27 next season?

 

[Ridge Renegade]

Carlton have shown you can fit two good forwards in your forward line - they just need to work together.
OA and JW just need to learn how to play together like JK and JD did
Saying they cant fit into the same forward line is madness

I see what you’re saying. Darling to the midfield….

 

[pantskyle]

The way this board talks about Liam Baker as if he’s just some sort of mediocre role player is hilarious.

He’s a guaranteed 20 touches and a goal per game and can play at a high level in any area of the ground.

I’m not saying I’d split our first for him, but if there’s a chance you get him with just our 2nd and change, you absolutely do it.

He'd be a nice addition but not sure he is a crucial addition. More than happy to spend a second rounder whether future or current but nothing more.

 

[mat11]

Fwiw I don't wanna see barass gone but if he did definitely not to Collingwood, pies have a horrible draft hand it'd have to be dogs or syd, busslinger + a f1 minimum considering hes got 3 years to run chuck in arty jones as well. If syd, I'd want their pics 18+19 or try luring warner or pic18+ sheldrick.Worst case scenario we try get Josh.battle as a FA to cover for barass

Pies- no way

Wb- barass for buss+ f1+ Jones?

Syd- 18+19
- 18+sheldrick
-Barass + r2 for warner

 

[eaglevision]

Baker will be 27yo in January, that’s too old to be spending an early 2R for our list state IMO. Give me the highly rated 20yo KPD or pick 23 in a draft that bats deep any day.

I’d be open to a player swap of Petch and BWilliams for Baker and Kaleb Smith if all parties were on board, but not our draft capital. If he’s absolutely desperate to come to WCE and not Freo then he can sign a 1 year deal at the tigers with player options for more years so he has some security and can come to us via FA next year with Band 2 compo.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

The way this board talks about Liam Baker as if he’s just some sort of mediocre role player is hilarious.

He’s a guaranteed 20 touches and a goal per game and can play at a high level in any area of the ground.

I’m not saying I’d split our first for him, but if there’s a chance you get him with just our 2nd and change, you absolutely do it.

This is the first season he's averaged more than 0.5 goals per game, and he's at 0.9.

This is also only his second season averaging over 20 touches a game. He doesn't have a history of being a clearance winner, or a goal assist provider. He has atrocious disposal.

I'm yet to see one thing he is elite at other than being energetic.

Coupled with the fact he's undersized and will be 27 next year. Surely we can spend our money elsewhere. Should not be giving away good picks for him.

EDIT: The clanger merchants. Marked in red are the rucks who accrue clangers by giving away free kicks in ruck contests, at the back end are the high possession midfielders who average a lot more touches / clearances / contested possessions. Do not want.

 

[Cornelius Roy]

If we lost Barrass, kept Yeo, brought in Busslinger, a decent free agent and had pick 9, 12, 15 and 2 future firsts plus our own I would be very happy with that. Future second for Buss.

I really hope you’ve just set our recruitment team a fantastic blueprint here.

It’s going to be hard enough, if not impossible, to compete with the academy clubs in coming years. I don’t think there’s any chance it’s possible just taking a pick 1-5 and what inevitably ends up closer to pick 30 with our second.

Really think something along the lines of what you’ve set out is needed or we’re going to have to become the best at landing free agents with a lot going our way with fortunate timing.

This is pretty much how I see it too. Only thing is I'd like to have a top 6 pick to pretty much guarantee a Lalor/Hotton

might not need top 6 for lalor. Thought I read something on here that Hotton might fall into the wardlaw/sheezel category in it being Vic only.

 

[WCErevival]

Baker would be ok as a free agent but dont really want to trade for him considering we don't hold a good draft hand.

 

[ArdentEagle]

I really hope you’ve just set our recruitment team a fantastic blueprint here.

It’s going to be hard enough, if not impossible, to compete with the academy clubs in coming years. I don’t think there’s any chance it’s possible just taking a pick 1-5 and what inevitably ends up closer to pick 30 with our second.

Really think something along the lines of what you’ve set out is needed or we’re going to have to become the best at landing free agents with a lot going our way with fortunate timing.


might not need top 6 for lalor. Thought I read something on here that Hotton might fall into the wardlaw/sheezel category in it being Vic only.

It's the might part that has me worries mate. We're a long way out of course but some tiers seem to be happening.

I heard the same thing about Hotton too. Not sure if it's to the level of Sheezel though.
Hopefully he'll start to soften his stance a little bit. Or he deserves to get Northed otherwise

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Baker would be ok as a free agent but dont really want to trade for him considering we don't hold a good draft hand.

He's not a free agent.

 

[noobermensch]

The wet conditions made it tough for flair players like Kako, but he still managed to flash moments of his talent, and was relatively clean with the slippery ball.

 

[eaglevision]

Haven’t seen any announcement of a Busslinger debut… If he doesn’t play this week I don’t know how he gets a game this year, would have to be WCE injury list of 2022-2023 for him to play…

 

[ArdentEagle]

Harvey Langford looks pretty good.

Maybe not the quickest but I like his game from the vids.

 

[eaglevision]

Harvey Langford looks pretty good.

Maybe not the quickest but I like his game from the vids.

Had a great game and looks like a player but have read his testing is pretty ordinary.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Haven’t seen any announcement of a Busslinger debut… If he doesn’t play this week I don’t know how he gets a game this year, would have to be WCE injury list of 2022-2023 for him to play…

He's not going to get a game because he told the Dogs he's leaving at the end of the year and going to West Coast, for either a 4th round draft pick or the PSD where West Coast will hold the first WA pick.*





/*may be entirely made up and wishful thinking.

 

[Wooshaaaa]

If Buss is likely out the door and we're a destination for him it does make sense that the Dogs would be keen on Barrass.
From what I understand Hawks are balls deep into Baily Smith. What is his value?

If we work on current draft order.
Hawks Pick 7 for Smith
Barrass for pick 7 and Buss

Throw around some second rounders to land at those getting needing more.

That's nice. Pick 7 and buzz for Barrass.

Trade 2nd rounder (which will drop to pick 30 again) for baker.

Cummings for F3rd

Picks 2 FO or sid draper.

Pick 7 split to get 2 later firsts - Travaglia and Murphy Reid/o'farral,

Baker/buzz/Cummings


On Pixel 6 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Wooshaaaa]

Baker will be 27yo in January, that’s too old to be spending an early 2R for our list state IMO. Give me the highly rated 20yo KPD or pick 23 in a draft that bats deep any day.

I’d be open to a player swap of Petch and BWilliams for Baker and Kaleb Smith if all parties were on board, but not our draft capital. If he’s absolutely desperate to come to WCE and not Freo then he can sign a 1 year deal at the tigers with player options for more years so he has some security and can come to us via FA next year with Band 2 compo.

It won't be early second round. It will be pick 30 again!! Draft is cooked.

On Pixel 6 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Yippy Yi Yeo]

As we reach the halfway point of the season, I wanted to take a moment to review our players' performances compared to last season.

Positive = Chess, Waterman, and J.Williams stand out as our top three most improved players.
Negative = Only 10 of the 34 (29%) players that played both this year and last year, have improved.

While some players have faced injuries either this year, last year, or both, and others have transitioned from different clubs or made their debut this season.

Optimistic about seeing further improvements in the second half of the season.

*Data is based off 'Player Ratings' (https://www.afl.com.au/news/453167/player-ratings-frequently-asked-questions)


View attachment 2018295

The fact hough has somehow regressed according to this makes the whole thing questionable