The AFL need to stamp down on this. There is no way a club that has not offered a player a contract should have the ability to match another clubs offer for compensation purposes.
If clubs haven’t offered a contract to listed players by a specific date this should forgo compensation talks. Should then be open slather and on the player to choose his destination.
Blitz is making the same mistake it always does, getting sucked into a “named” player instead of one we need. Gresham is more of a mid than a forward IMO. By bringing him in, we are not actually fixing our small forward issue, we are just increasing the small midfielder issue.
We need small forwards like Walla at his prime. What we are getting is an overpaid Jye Menzie. Gresham kicked 21 goals from 23 games and was often criticized by the media for now working hard enough. Menzie kicked 24 goals from 21 games and was sub in a game also.
There is a reason that there doesn’t appear to be a bidding war going on for Gresham.
You can only laugh at this level of revealing journalism.
Unfortunately, tall defenders are low in supply and high in demand.
It may have actually been a good idea to draft so many talls across a few drafts and get that part out of the way. Unfortunately, we’ve struggled to keep them on the park and develop them. And we’re losing one to boot. So we need to grab one back.
I’m not too worried how long the contract is. The length means very little as long as the contract is front loaded. A 7 year contract will run past two broadcast rights (and PA agreements). And we’re locking in before two of them. It’s likely, Ben will want to be traded before this contract is done.
For me, I think we can get the deal done by leveraging off his ‘was a fan as a kid’.
It’s not the end of the world if we miss out, but it also isn’t too bad if we get him.
If we are stacked with defenders, that’s a good thing. We may be able to get another Jake Carlisle for a top 10 pick like trade for one of them.
Weird thing is, you get more trade value and return from tall players (including rucks) than midfielders.
Maybe Rosa will look at Freo players Sam Sturt (Dandenong) or Lachlan Schultz (Williamstown) as ready made small forward options, with a bit of experience under the belt and could come home to VIC at little cost and offer as much goals wise as Gresham.
He is more a high half forward that pushes up into the midfield. Which is the Snelling role. Clear upgrade and a need in modern footy.
He isn’t a pure small forward. Lohmann is more that type that we are also after.
If they match they can keep. We shouldn’t feel compelled to trade for him if they match. It’s stupid that the media makes out that if you offer a FA deal you should then be compelled to trade for someone with the “you pursued him, you have a responsibility to get it done” line. That isn’t how it works.
And if matching stuffs StKs cap all the better, then come for someone else.
It’s ok though, they got the word “circling” in the article.
And the footy media is saying that esava is worth more than BZT, who played every game this year. It’s madness
Sturt. 14 games, 17 goals in 2023. 189cm. The Big Bodied Small Forward (BBSF ™ ) we’ve been looking for.
The Age
The Bombers are waiting to learn if North Melbourne key defender Ben McKay nominates them as his free-agent destination. Fellow North Melbourne free agent, ruckman Todd Goldstein, is also weighing up an offer to join the Bombers.
Coach Brad Scott’s relationship with the pair from his time as North Melbourne coach is hoped to be persuasive.
The Bombers are also in discussions with the management of another free agent, St Kilda small forward Jade Gresham, but have not made an offer for him.
They are interested in Melbourne midfielder James Jordon, who is available as a free agent after previously being delisted and rookie-listed by the Demons. Recruiting sources who cannot be named due to the state of negotiations said Sydney were front-runners to secure Jordon along with his teammate Brodie Grundy.
Essendon defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher has asked for a trade to Port Adelaide for family reasons, with the Bombers seeking a second-round draft pick in exchange. That deal is complicated by the fact Esava Ratugolea from Geelong has also asked for a trade to the Power and would command similar compensation in a trade
If Port manage to keep their future first and bring in Zerk and Esava their recruitment team deserve a gold medal!
Personally I’m not sure Zerk improves Port anymore than playing Jonas, and Esava has huge talent but still raw. Clearly confident in current list as they won’t have decent draft hand until 2025.
The life of an AFL journalist.
Have absolutely 0 news to share but just mention Essendon a bunch of times.
Jonas has retired and barely played this year. So I would say BZT is an improvement over Jonas simply because of that 
Swans out of McKay race according to Cal
mate, Dean Wallis would eat both mckay’s for breakfast.
Its that time of year when my sauces shine.
I love the lead-up to trade week, particularly the trade wireless show. Its a better time than the actual footy season for us long-suffering Essington fans.
At least during trade week, and the draft, we have hope. Until our shiny toys get broken pre season.
Here is the rumour from up here:
My sauces tell me McKay has been offered a lifetime deal at Essington. However he is weighing up the Hawks life time plus offer.
Make of this what you will.
Time will tell.
Bet your house on this!
More to come. This has a long way to play out yet.
Probably because of Grundy. Can’t / won’t afford both.
Either can’t afford both him and Grundy or baulking at the 6 years
Don’t think he was ever leaving VIC and swans were just used as a pawn to increase contract