Firstly, as usual, great summary Cru.

Your last point is spot on. Club will argue the point if it has to, plus the fact Battle had same contract offer as SOS which got the Saints a band 1 compo, and both players similar age.

Hard to see us not getting a band 1 compo given SOS’ pay is top 5% of players.

There’s another part here the AFL may (must) consider. Dean is touted as a top 10 pick by experts because he is the best KPD in the draft, despite the fact he isn’t KPD height (yet) and that SOS pick will be used on Dean if it’s pick 21, or pick 9, so may just save themselves a shit storm and give us picks 8 and 9.

AFL needs a strong Carlton, and feel some sort of relief the nepo baby got Dimma and made Finals for first time, and have a plethora of Academy players on their list for sustained success.

Will be really interesting what we do with picks 8 and 9, if we think after Academy picks matched, Dean is picked after pick 10.

I would bet we will receive picks 8 and 9, and realise AFL has form when it comes to Carlton… and IF things work out as they might with Charlie, we may get a star who is keen to consider moving to Carlton plus a first rounder.

Charlie has not been one of the 2 or 3 trouble makers at the club, and is truly open to surfing, I mean playing elsewhere, if it suits the club. But let’s be clear Curnow is happy to play for Carlton under Voss. The media crap is just the that. Carlton have been looking at lots of options for 3-4 months. Charlie will go IF it a deal suits us. He’s alright.

Can the usual posters stop the negativity towards the club. It’s really gross, disrespectful and so far from the truth coz where the real problem lies is with their imagination.

We do not and did not have a cap problem. Compared to other clubs we have not overpaid our stars, where teams would pay overs for the players we have on reasonable contracts…AND we are not a destination club because we are offering overs either. There are players happy to come to the club if we can make it happen.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Looks like I was wrong with my guess re ruck replacement. I’m happy about the ruck stocks in 2026. I’m hearing it won’t be Reeves. It’s easy to guess who we will likely sign up when season is finished. Have been working on deals for more than a year. Every name raised did have legs. Can’t get everyone onboard.

5 weeks before we hear anything. Depth will improve, as will cover for TDK, SOS and speed.

DFA a definite. Won’t cost us anything. Has speed. Some won’t like it, but I’m rapt.

Hollands won’t be with us. His return to vfl was more about raising his value. What an idiot. There’s interest, and we won’t lose by cutting him.

Great call by the club. Got him away from club when they should have. Innocent till proven guilty AFLPA has power. Well played Baggers.

Culture will improve. SOS was a pain in the arse in the locker room. Ulture will improve.
TDK wanted to stay but that offer was too good to refuse. Says something about the culture of club.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Obvious who’s interested in joining baggers Khamis, Reid, Petrocelli, Chesser, Rosas.

No idea who we would target with TDK compo. Would have to be big if we are trading that pick.

Gosh I heard a couple more names too, but nothing till season is complete.

One 32yo star is keen (use to barrack for us as a kid), depends on his current team’s plans. Would be great in midfield with Smith. Very similar to Smith, and when fit, a winner not a long term fix.

Melbourne and Richmond really keen on one of our mids for a first rounder. Not Walsh!!! Walsh is a Carlton man.

But the biggest name we are talking to next week, obviously not playing Finals is considering us. I doubt that will happen knowing his value to Swans, but the fact he’s considering…and Swans desperate for a KPF with “charisma” talent a d a drawcard. With a first rounder I would do that deal at the drop of a hat. Sorry BV.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Just the fact we got rid of SOS who wasn’t worth more than $650, and and an entitled pain, Elijah, who is a talent but bad influence, and the TDK circus is over, and will cover them is a bonus.

Kemp will be signing on till RFA, and Evans will be offered contract strengthens our depth, as will some of the names I mentioned.

If we end up with pick 8,9, plus 2 more first rounders, and a star for a star we have got some serious amo to trade with to get these players keen on us. We finished the year with no assets to trade with, but now looking like we are loading up… with a war chest too.

Add a fit Smith Newman Cottrell, McKay and Walsh, and another preseason into OKeefe, Lord, Carroll, Cowan, Hollands, Moir, Wilson and Campo twins, we have a new team for 2026 with depth.

Interesting there’s no news on Gov Motlop and F. Young

I am so excited to see the snippets I was hearing from a couple people and players and one ex player,

I expect Lord and Carroll to have break out year next year.

Did I mention Dean and ISON?

Off field we have really improved too since Sayers, Lloyd and Cook left.

I’m still jet lagged, but bloody excited about the club. Next 5 weeks are going to be even more exciting.

Glad to be back. Thanks to all of you for all the nourishment you gave me whilst I was away through your well thought, passionate posts. TC is a seriously good site. Good cross section. I miss Braithy. But I would like to tell him his mates at the Lions were wrong.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Keep em honest Galty.

The club doesn’t have to do anything posters and angry supporters say. They are a minority.

I do think dodo knows what he’s talking about re Elijah, and understand where he’s coming from, but the club is in good hands and playing their cards right at this stage. They made sure Elijah kept his distance whilst making him hungry to work hard, stay fit, and try save his arse. We can get something for him.

Austin and List Committee had me worried too at the end of last years trade/ draft period. And Voss ain’t going to let this last chance slip through his hand. Big summer coming up, onfield and off field.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Call me

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

If WCE & the Scum get band 1 for Allen & Draper, the De Koning pick will be #11 - 1,205 points. With the discount, we could match a bid at pick 10 before our next pick starts moving backwards.

Bids for Annable (clear #1 for me), Uwland & Patterson will move our first pick back to #13 - 1,080 points (GC surrender their first pick). We could match a bid at #11 with this pick.

If we’re still holding consecutive picks (13 & 14) & the bid comes from you-know-who at pick 8… we’ll need 1,299 points to match it, so all of #13 and #14 will move back 219 points to #19.

If the Silvagni pick isn’t band 1, and things pan out as per the example given, that pick probably isn’t on the clock until the late 20s.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

yeah, where is Braithy???? perhaps you should mention the two rucks, perhaps it will summon him???

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my last one was rubbish

Thanks bondi. Can you shed any more light on who the 2-3 troublemakers are, or have you already named them...

Re: Motlop, I read a snippet from Cal Twomey the other day saying he was in talks for a new deal but was waiting to make a decision. Sounds like he/they are waiting for some dust to settle.

I miss Braithy too!

I hope we sign F Young. I like his potential. Can kick a goal from outside 50.

I need to lie down.

Ooh, love this game.

I already figured from your previous post that you meant Reidy for ruck and Petruccelle as the underwhelming DFA, but then you posted the spoiler.

Now, for the 32 year old star, HMMMmmmm, that's a tough one! Here's the list of 32yo players according to zero hanger:

32 YEARS OLD
Sam Day, Jarrod Witts, Tom McDonald, Dion Prestia, Luke Parker, Tom J. Lynch, Jason Johannisen, David Swallow, Nic Newman, Brody Mihocek, Rory Lobb, Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar, Tom Stewart, Jeremy Cameron, Joel Hamling, Nathan Broad, Robbie Fox, Lachie Neale, Tom Mitchell, Jimmy Webster, Bradley Hill, Darcy Fort, Sam Frost, Will Hoskin-Elliott

I'm thinking you mean Treloar. Big footy says he supported Carlton as a kid, Google AI says Richmond. Google AI is ten times more full of shit than BF, so I'm going with Treloar. Fits the criteria of similar to Smith, a gun when fit, unclear future in current team.

Treloar the one who picked Collingwood over the team he barracked for as a kid.

The one they are saying is washed up.

Coming to us for some retirement money. Thats great. Dont know about this, hope we know what we are doing.

There's actually something ten times more full of shit than BF?

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#DonTheStash

Yep.

Steve Silvagni.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

Clubs don't get to argue point over compensation. They'll just get what they get.

Yep, plan and expect Band 2, hope for Band 1.
Save the lobbying for the father-son stitch-up.

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I just want my old club back ... (edit) maybe I have!

I like Treloar. Would be good for us. Was AA in 2024.

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Go Blues

Yes, it's all about dick-waving behind closed doors at the AFL HQ before they come to a decision, hopefully we're in there with a big'un right now, because once we get to the announcement it will be a done deal.