Did I read that right?
Sydney have Carlton’s first pick this year?!?
Not sure where you’re getting this little nugget of bullshit from?
It’s the other way round. Blues have Swan’s first
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If i recall Carlton got Nick Stevens from port this way when he was trying to get to Collingwood.
If that was all Port wanted, I’d offer to drive them both to Adelaide myself!! One at a time if need be!
He’s out of contract. Whether you believe threatening them with taking him in the draft or not is real; it does impact player value so they may ask for the world but he’s a free agent so if he wanted to come to us and we finished below them in the ladder then they won’t be getting two gun players and 49 top 10 picks for him. Not saying they won’t get a good return but it won’t be disgustingly over the top like you suggest.
If you could turn Merrett into Butters and maintain 2027 points for Bewick that would be good.
Tell Port as part of the deal we will make sure Rodan noms them.
Job done.
We hit the draft hard last year anyway.
Winds back the average age of the group and keeps the midfield competitive.
Assuming Butters doesn’t want hawthorn. I figure though they have got Merrett across.
Yeah nah they don’t have Carlton’s pick, Carlton had Sydney’s firsts for the next two years
Disagree fully.
It’s going to take something like 2 top 10 picks plus more and that could be a decent player or more picks.
Butters is also a RFA which also makes it a bit harder but from those that know him money isn’t the key.
So Port are stuffed for Cochrane in 2026, then Pilot and Salopek in 2027 as it likely stands. (Although surely the AFL reduce the cost in 2027, given the bloating of early picks for Tassie)
Think it means Port will be more desperate for a trade AND more willing to accept less for Butters (rather than risk nothing).
On Essendon’s side, (for mine) Butters should be Free Agent or nothing. We shouldn’t be willing to pay him a massive (overs) contract and trade for him, mortgaging our salary cap and draft capital/young talent is stupid and short-sighted. We’ll already have our own problems trying to match on FS and academy talent.
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End of the day, Butters is a FA. Port can ask all they want and end up with nothing. Ah Chee is an example of that who walked to the draft instead. Look at Oscar Allen, James Worpel, or TDK who were all restricted FA and all went to their desired clubs. If Butters wants to go (to Essendon), the deal gets done and Port would ultimately be hoping that it means draft picks, for their NGA bids or at least it will be an early compo pick should they not match. We don’t have to give them players.
It’s either Port match the bid and force a trade, or match the bid and keep him.
That’s how the rules are set. If we offer 7 years at 1.5mil per year, then that’s what Butters would be on at Port with a matched bid.
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So money isn’t the key; Port match the bid; no trade gets done…then what? Butters re-signs with Port? I think that is more remote than Butters going to the draft. Port despite their chest beating are not in a strong position. He is out of contract at the end of the season so if he doesn’t re-sign with them they will lose him and they won’t get exactly what they would think is fair value. You can’t argue that Merrett’s trade value diminishes every year as he gets close to being out of contract and then argue saying Port will get a King’s ransom for Butters.
You can because Merrett will be a UFA. He simply walks to the club of his choice regardless of what contract is offered and we can’t do anything about it and would be given whatever compo the AFL decides which would be probably a third rounder.
Butters being RFA makes it a little trickier as all indications here from everyone close to the club is that Port have a ton of money and will match any bid therefore forcing a trade. That’s where the fun will begin. Port want massive overs and any suitor will want to pay far less so up to his manager to get to work. Butters could head to the ND if he really wants to but doubt it comes to that. Port will get a very nice price for him even if it’s unders of what they want
It’s not like a club would keep someone that doesn’t want to be there anymore…
Maybe Port want some SWAGGER
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Merret is surely being traded at the end of this year.
It will be worth more to us this year as we need the draft picks.
Whoever trades for him won’t need to give up much more than hawthorn offered (if that ) because we will be a much more motivated seller.
Even if Durable, he is a year older from a buyers perspective.
From a sellers perspective he’s worth less too us as I assume we will be pumping games into the three mid prospects we just drafted and could do with 2027 picks for academy talent.
RFA doesn’t exclude him exercising his rights as an uncontracted player. Not suggesting he would but Port’s right to match any offer doesn’t mean Butters has to accept it.
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Would normally agree but after Silvagni got band 2 ■■■■ knows where a Merrett compo could land.
Absolutely he can but it’s not without risk which is why hardly anyone goes down that path. He could still end up signing an extension at Port
Just to be clear I agree with you 100% that Butters won’t end up in the draft. But that threat alone I think will help the side he nominates to play for. Port will get a good return for him but it won’t be close to 3 top 10 picks and more like some think.
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