He has star potential but is he a star player right now that a club should expend three first rounders on? He looked in ■■■■ shape returning from the break.
I’d probably be for it but it carries huge risk in my view. If he stars this year, sure I’ll buy into the hype. He’s clearly shown signs but I wouldn’t say he’s a star just yet.
A friend with Geelong connections has been told they’ve already signed him. I said that giving him some free Cotton On gear isn’t conclusive evidence.
How many times does it need to be said?
Clubs can’t just demand a player in exchange (especially players who are contracted).
The decision is up to the player.
Look, I’m gonna step away from this discussion now because I’m sure I’m annoying a number of Blitzers.
Let’s see what happens in the Trade period.
He wasn’t very good when he trained with them so we decided to pick him up. I’m glad we did.
Bravo. Good call.
Meanwhile l wonder if all those intent on pushing Draper out the door will call him traitor if he does decide to return to Radelaide. Draper is fit and from all reports is borderline flying at training. He is also coming into his own as a ruck. l also doubt he is going anywhere.
I think most people on here would prefer not to lose Draper.
However, Band 1 compo when we are likely to finish in the Bottom 6, most on the site would say that’s a decent outcome.
He may not want to leave at this moment, but if Adelaide offer him wheelbarrows of cash 
When he shanks one from 15 metres out there will be a chorus of people on here calling for him to leave. Me and @bltn are just ahead of the curve
I actually like Draper.
Prefer not to lose him.
It’s undeniable that he is a frustrating player and never shown significant improvement in any patch of his career.
Therefore, if we could get another selection in the Top 6 or 7, no one could say that’s a bad result.
UNLESS, of course, he’s able to mature his game in 2025.
FTR, I wouldn’t do an End of 1st Round.
I’m glad we did too but it had nothing to do with his form training with west coast.
Didn’t Martin tell West Coast to get stuffed? said they had an opportunity to draft him and they didn’t their loss.
Martin ain’t going back to Perth if WC came knocking imo
Yep, all this 100%. When you weigh up the likelihood of us contending anytime soon, Draper’s inconsistent form and the fact elite Rucks have become almost irrelevant to ultimate team success, we’d be stupid not to entertain the prospect of receiving band 1 compo should it arise.
Unlikely to happen but won’t hurt to let it play out.
Literally not possible
I know that, you know that, but Geelong believe that everybody is going there for the relaxed lifestyle and their wife’s career at Cotton On as a salary-collector.
Come off it
3 min read
February 4, 2025 - 6:47PM
News Sport Network
Matt Rowell is in demand and Victorian clubs are circling. Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick reveals what was discussed in a private meeting with the star onballer.
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick sat down with Matt Rowell this week to pitch a vision of future success to his superstar midfielder amidst heavy interest from a host of Victorian clubs.
Rowell, 23, is off-contract at the end of 2025 and has been linked to Geelong, Collingwood, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs with an arms race brewing for the services of arguably the best contested ball winner in the AFL.
The 2019 No.1 pick’s skillset makes him a hot commodity on the open market and given his Victorian roots the sharks are circling to tempt him away from the Glitter Strip, where he has established himself as a bonafide star of the competition.
St Kilda is another club that could come knocking given its significant cap space and desperate need for midfield firepower and the longer Rowell remains unsigned beyond this season, the more clubs will feel they can poach him.
Any move for Rowell would have to include a trade given he is not yet old enough to qualify for free agency and the Suns’ asking price would be steep.
Publicly and privately the Suns are confident Rowell will stay loyal to their cause but that has not stopped the head coach from stepping in to remind his star on-baller of his value to the side.
Hardwick told Code Sports he preferred “not to get involved in player contracts” but made an exception this time with Rowell, whose presence at the Suns was a big reason why the triple-premiership coach chose to take the Gold Coast gig.
“We caught up this week and just spoke about where we see this side going,” Hardwick told Code Sports.
“Sometimes we present to a (Daniel) Rioli or a John Noble and say, ‘this is what we’re about, this is what we’re trying to do’ but sometimes we can forget how important our own players are – we’ve got to tell them the story about what we see.
“We went through what our side is like, how we envisage it going forward and what that looks like.
“Hopefully the narrative we have is one of success.”
Hardwick said the onus was on the club to develop a winning culture and convince Rowell he would taste success at the Suns.
“I think you’re always concerned when one of your best players is talking to other clubs but it’s also the industry, we understand that,” the coach said.
“Every player is entitled, when they come out of contract, to make a decision whether it’s financially or for family reasons or whatever, to discuss that.
“What we have to do as a club and organization is hold up our end of the bargain. We have to provide Rowelly with the best place possible to play his best footy and we also have to win footy games – to this stage we probably haven’t delivered on the winning footy games.
“He had a great year last year but we have to make sure we win more games than we lose. Finals is what he’s all about. He’s a winner, this kid. He wants to win and that’s our challenge, to make sure we provide that opportunity for him.
“He’s loved by our players, he’s loved by our staff and he’s loved by our fans. We’re confident that he’ll stay but we also understand there is a responsibility from our football club that comes with that.
“I’ve been very lucky to be around a lot of successful footy clubs through my playing career and coaching career and I’m very excited about what this club has to offer. It hasn’t quite delivered on that yet, but we’ve built a fair base that we’re very excited about.”
We could have 2 top 20 picks one ceteranlly in the top 10 to trump all of Dogs,Pies,Geelong
I say this with the greatest of respect: contender for dumbest post of the off season
Don’t be so hard on yourself.
four way mega trade
Eagles: Warner, Dees first rd (Ess)
Essendon: H Reid, coll first rd (suns), Suns 4th round, rich r4th rnd (Suns)
Swans: Rowell
Suns: Ess 1 first rounder, ess second rounder, stk second rounder (ess) Haw sec round pick (Eagles)
Suns have academy players so likely need points over pics.