I still think a contender will stay pay a bit for him if they think he will get them over the hump. But we’re not getting anything close to what the Hawks offered.
Trouble is most contenders by virtue of being a contender will have a first round pick in the 15+ range and we might just have to cop that.
Also Zach is supposedly still keen on the Hawks so we really need him to be happy to go to any number of suitors
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The club needs to step up and be an adult and stop the hardball stuff. Just say to Zach - we’re happy for you to go if we get xyz (e.g. you’re open to going to multiple clubs and they have the picks to satisfy us).
We will need to show Swagger and strength though.
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We tried that and how far did that get us 
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We’re obviously going to have a decent pick at the pointy end this year.
Plus whatever first the hawks offer for Merrett.
If we can snag another pick inside the top 8 or 9 we’ll be borderline flying.
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Offer was late from Hawthorn. We offered a trade to them on the last day and they turned it down. If they started negotiating a week earlier probably the deal goes ahead. We didn’t block the deal we offered a deal
Prior?
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Was looking at our lists year by year on Draft Guru - from 2019 onwards we’ve been in the bottom 5 for experience every year aside from 2024.
I think we should identify 5 or 6 players past their best; but still capable. Have them run around in the VFL and act like grownups on the training track. The Goldy role
x5. I think that’s what the club is going for with Fiorini. I think the Merrett trade is the ideal way to get a player like this from a successful team as well. Pick plus a vet likely forced out of their best 22 because of father time. Approach Collingwood GWS or Geelong.
We blocked the deal Hawthorn proposed. They blocked the one we proposed. At the end of the day, we could have simply accepted the Hawks deal sans Hustwaithe. History will indicate whether we should have accepted the deal, but I know where my money is.
Wouldn’t Port and Duursma count as a successful team? Certainly had many finals appearances.
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Next year we’ll add a top pick (for arguments sake, Arki Butler), a potential early 2nd, our own early 2nd, Blake Justice and Nic Martin will be back, the following year Bewick, Darwish and potentially Rodan. That’s a much different side in 2027-2029. We need to throw decent coin for some mature guns…it takes time but this is where we are going
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How will they do that?
They likely have picks ~5/6
Pick 10-12 (Merrett)
Pick 20 (end of first round - new rules)
I don’t know how they get another top 10. If Parish, Ridley, Langford decide to go, they will get a late 2nd round (or worse for Ridley).
That still looks like a good draft hand
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Doubtful we can afford Bewick, Darwish and Rodan with the current rule changes, without trading a number of senior players.
We’re not trading Ridley for less than a decent first + something decent. He’s contracted for three years, we don’t have to give him away.
Similar with the others. We’ll require a certain level of compensation for contracted players.
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Ridley is broken and worthless. Let’s be honest. He’s finished. If we got a 2nd rounder I’d take it in a second.
Rodan won’t cost much, Darwish mid pick, Bewick a top 10. Definitely manageable but yep, that might be our time to chop some deadwood
No way.
If he’s going to a Contender then the Pick wont be that good, even if its a 1st.
We pay part of his contract which is smart business when you have millions available in the Cap.
Its a Win/Win for both parties !
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Rodan nominate Port?
He hasn’t yet. I don’t know what to believe with him. Could be 50:50.