Just need Synbad to come back now. Some newbies might be in for a feast....

time for a poem?????

I'll be disappointed if we don't reward Ethan Phillips with a list spot. We recruited him to our VFL squad with an opportunity to show his abilities as a key defender. He was this week named in the VFL team of the year (our only representative) and won our VFL B&F easily. 50% more votes than the second place recipient. He can't be expected to do any more than that.
Personally, I love the philosophy of rewarding our VFL players for performance. What greater VFL recruiting tool can you have than providing a pathway with integrity?
It's not like we don't have a glaring deficiency in the role at AFL level.

Carlton gets: Pick 2, Sam Flanders, Jed Walter, Chesser.
Gold Coast gets: Charlie Curnow, Geelong's first pick
West Coast gets: Picks 7, 11, 48, Brandon Starcevich.
Brisbane gets: Pick 24, McGovern.
Geelong gets: Gold Coast future first pick

If we assume the Dean bid comes in around pick 9 - JSOS compo is probably about pick 22 and the pick we got from Brisbane is around 34, so we'd need about another 180 points to match the bid. A third rounder for Motlop would cover that, and clear a list spot for Isun later in the night.

Suns probably pay overs, but would want that pick off the books before a Uhland bid, and get the extra pick from Geelong to cover their other academy picks.

Can probably do McGovern - Chesser - Brisbane later pick separately but Brisbane get adequate compensation for Starcevich, shore up their bid for Annable, and a like for like defender.

Eagles get rid of pick 2 and manage to get two first round picks and a first team defender in Starcevich.

C

If we assume the Dean bid comes in around pick 9 - JSOS compo is probably about pick 22 and the pick we got from Brisbane is around 34, so we'd need about another 180 points to match the bid. A third rounder for Motlop would cover that, and clear a list spot for Isun later in the night.

Pick #9 = 1355 points
Pick #22 = 686 points
Pick #34 = 360 points

So 309 points short which would normally mean we would require pick #36 (317 points) as well however we get a 10% discount on father sons so a mid 3rd rounder should be enough.
Remember that teams can go into deficit up to 1723 points however we would want to avoid this with Cody Walker coming through next year.

Do we know this guy and is he any good?

West Coast youngster Campbell Chesser has officially requested to leave the club, nominating Carlton as his club of choice.

The 22-year-old midfielder showed plenty of promise within his 36 games with the Eagles, however struggled to break into the side following a series of injury concerns.

Playing just four games in 2025, Chesser featured in all of the club’s final fixtures, averaging 17 disposals and two clearances and kicking two goals within that time.

Taken with the 14th pick in the 2021 AFL draft, Chesser’s talents are evident, and following interest from Carlton, the young midfielder has requested to return home, per AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey.

I'm clearly referring to the context of that hypothetical trade, which would involve us exchanging 9 (which would become 11) for 2.

Irrespective of whether we can get a Curnow deal done - we should be looking to offload that pick given the likelihood of bids coming from Essendon** and St Kilda immediately before it.

Gut feeling is:

if we can lure a young AA mid (a RFA this year, or next year) to Carlton for season 2026, we will need to use our pick 9 (TDK compo), and trade a mid for a 1st round pick to add to that deal.
ie 2 first rounders for an AA mid, to add to Walsh, Smith and Lord.

Then we add Walker in the 2026 Draft.

Pick 9 for Dean is worse case situation imo.
I don't think SOS will bid on Dean, firstly because they don't need him, and secondly it will look like SOS is targeting Blues in fit of vengence, when he's trying to distance himself from such stigma.

I do not expect Dean to be picked before pick 12 or 13, and only because he's the best 18yo 190cm defender. He's not a KPD....at this stage. He may grow to be one, but for now, he's the best Defender in the TAC albeit 190cm. You can see height is against him for a KPD, but a very good defender. There's plenty of Academy players and better midfielders and KPfs ahead of him. The media draft order is purely speculative, and to a degree, controversial for click bait. It was made so far out from Draft day, they have months before their final submission. I bety he's not in the top 10 when media guesstimators submit their final prediction on their sites.

The SOS compo pick may be 22 or a compromise between pick 10 and 22 (courtesy of the AFL Commission), plus picks for Motlop and McGovern for Dean.

Lets focus on our targets and worry about Deam later.

Charlie adds another layer to our opportuniy rather than loss. Clubs will pay overs for Charlie. That's a fact.

Gut feeling is:

if we can lure a young AA mid (a RFA this year, or next year) to Carlton for season 2026, we will need to use our pick 9 (TDK compo), and trade a mid for a 1st round pick to add to that deal.
ie 2 first rounders for an AA mid, to add to Walsh, Smith and Lord.

Then we add Walker in the 2026 Draft.

Pick 9 for Dean is worse case situation imo.
I don't think SOS will bid on Dean, firstly because they don't need him, and secondly it will look like SOS is targeting Blues in fit of vengence, when he's trying to distance himself from such stigma.

I do not expect Dean to be picked before pick 12 or 13, and only because he's the best 18yo 190cm defender. He's not a KPD....at this stage. He may grow to be one, but for now, he's the best Defender in the TAC albeit 190cm. You can see height is against him for a KPD, but a very good defender. There's plenty of Academy players and better midfielders and KPfs ahead of him. The media draft order is purely speculative, and to a degree, controversial for click bait. It was made so far out from Draft day, they have months before their final submission. I bety he's not in the top 10 when media guesstimators submit their final prediction on their sites.

The SOS compo pick may be 22 or a compromise between pick 10 and 22 (courtesy of the AFL Commission), plus picks for Motlop and McGovern for Dean.

Lets focus on our targets and worry about Deam later.

Charlie adds another layer to our opportuniy rather than loss. Clubs will pay overs for Charlie. That's a fact.

Ok, so this is what I’ve been told:
We’re in deep discussions with Butters.
McGovern gone.
Hinkley a big chance to come on board.

Ken Hinkley to be at Carlton in some capacity soon trying to work out role. Butters likely to follow as he loves Ken. Watch this space
⁠the Clubs stance on CC going is just talk. They also want him gone now, too disruptive and not committed
⁠Buku coming McGovern going
⁠Walsh has stood up in recent meeting and said if you don’t want to be here ****en leave and grow up and let us do what we want to do. Strong chance of replacing Cripps. He or Weitering, players to vote
⁠President has made decision on Elijah. Some wanted to work with him but he’s had too many chances and decision is final.
⁠SOS will bid on Harry Dean and trying to convince him to join st Kilda - club very dirty
⁠Motlop 50/50. Stays if we can’t land Butters

Keep an eye on Nigel Lappin.

Wont hear anything until Cats season is finished.

Strong source re: Charlie

Purely in his court and up to his Management to do a deal. It is genuinally a 50/50 bet as to what will happen.

He wants out. Many reasons

Carlton will just sit back and wait for offers and if it suits we will do it. If not, he stays. It's that simple

Wright wants a group of 22-28 year olds that can improve our depth and competition for spots. Good handy players. Draft will be Dean, Ison unless we get a Top 3 pick. SOS bidding on Dean is BS

Happy to move on any "fringe" players we can. Names like McGovern, Motlop offered basic deals with incentives to see if serious. No more over paying without performance. So many balls in the air and we are speaking with many many players. Many not mentioned on here. Looking for a KPD like Phillips or Blight but very possible SSP options

Believe we have great youth and with good cheap additions SC will be great for next few years to add "stars" if needed. Power a loss

Possible New Asst coaches involved in finals. Will be announced after season over. Want people from successful programs. I haven't heard anything re Hinkley at all. I doubt it will happen. Butters will stay at Port

There is a major shift happening across the entire football department and finals in 26 is still very much the belief with a good off season. Whatever happens it will be a very different Blues side in 2026

Told reports from Innes and comments from Haynes about some player standards/attitudes for AFL football were damning.

PS Wright identified 3 major issues in Football Department

1. Consistent Standards needed to be Great club
2. Lack of balance in coaching skills and success
3. List imbalance. Too much youth plus top end. Nothing in the middle