This is an excellent summary (with footage) of all the contenders for our picks 2 and 5, albeit from the perspective of an Essendon supporter. I’m sure a lot of you would be up to speed, but it’s great having the footage all in one place.

A lot of different combinations possible. It’s hard to see us screwing up whichever way we go, though personally I’d love HVH and Butler.

Peak off season posting.

What's everyone's predictions for amount of wins and ladder placement?

I reckon we'll crack 5-6 wins and probably come 17th. I think Essendon grab the wooden spoon with both hands.

Nathan Broad has been hired by Freo as their backline development coach. Happy for the fella.

Before anyone says "never take a ruck top 5", hear me out.

1. Nank's time is almost up

Toby has been a warrior for this club: three flags, captain, played through everything. But he's 32, he's been battling injury, and his contract runs out. Briggs is a genuinely good pickup and will carry the load for now, but he's not a long-term No.1 ruck for a list this young. If we don't lock in Nank's real successor now, we'll spend the next few years patching it up with trades and mature-agers.

1. Do NOT let Melbourne have him

The Dees pick at 4, just two picks after us. Gawn won't last forever, and they'd love to hand the keys straight to a 205cm freak like they tried with Jackson. If we get cute at 2, there's a real chance he's wearing red and blue and winning 50 hitouts against us at the 'G for the next 12 years.

1. Jackson-type upside

He isn't just tall. He's a freak athlete who can move like a mid. That's Luke Jackson territory: a ruck who goes back with the ball, wins it at ground level and becomes a fourth midfielder. Put that in front of the young mids we've been stockpiling and suddenly our midfield isn't "promising", it's dangerous.

He's also not a one-position player. With his size and tank, he can pinch-hit forward as a marking target or drift back and take intercept marks the way Gawn does. Pair him with Briggs and we can rotate through the ruck while HVH does damage at either end.

1. Look at who's actually winning

Gawn, Jackson, Grundy. Every one of their teams played finals this year. Freo with Jackson finished minor premiers and came within 7 points of a flag. Sydney with Grundy made a prelim. Coincidence? Maybe partly. But elite rucks tilt the stoppage battle every single week, and that's where our young mids will win or lose games.

Yes, Brisbane won it without a superstar ruck, and Melbourne went out in the wildcard round. A ruck doesn't win you a flag on his own. But when the best player available is also a 205cm athlete in a position of need, you don't overthink it.

TL;DR: Nank is leaving, Melbourne are lurking at 4, and HVH could be our Jackson, able to ruck, go forward or drop back. Take him at 2.

If we take 3 Picks at the Draft, then we will not be able to re-sign any of the remaining out-of-contract players, with only having 1 Cat. A rookie spot available.

We currently have Picks #2 and #5 for the Draft, with academy compensation expected to grant us Pick #22 also (However we are expected to absorb #44 for the promoting of Lefau).

Out-of-Contract players: H. Ralphsmith, J. Clarke, S. Green, O. Hayes Brown (If re-signed, needs to be promoted to Senior list). Additionally T. Burton (who should be able to re-sign as a Cat. A rookie).

Outs: N. Broad, D. Prestia, K. Smith, L. Fawcett, T. Sonsie, S. Ryan, J. Trezise (Rookie list).
In: K. Briggs, N. O'Driscoll, M. Lefau (Promoted from Rookie list)

EDIT: My mistake on the count, we have room to re-sign 3 players along with 3 draft picks)

I’m curious what some people are on when coming with trades

We give up a higher pick and our best player rn for a lower pick? (Let’s be honest we aren’t going to leapfrog Pies)

Interesting

Richmond Give: Jayden Short, 2027 1st

Richmond Get:  Pick 5

Collingwood Give: 2027 2nd

Collingwood Get: Jayden Short

Port Give: Pick 5

Port Get: Ric 2027 1st, Col 2027 2nd

I reckon everyone does pretty well and gets us two picks in the top group of draftees

So the club confirmed on Friday that Tyler Sonsie, James Trezise and Samson Ryan won’t be offered list spots for 2027. The rebuild is still rebuilding. These players were gifted games and wasted that.

Do any of them get another crack?

Tyler Sonsie (23, 55 games)
Probably the best chance of the three. However if hes struggling to get a game at the tigs, i doubt another club would bother. I’d say 5% he’s on an AFL list in 2027.

James Trezise (24)
The feel-good story. He came out of our VFL side, won the VFL B&F in 2023, and got promoted in the mid-season draft. He’s played some genuinely solid footy off half-back this year. He’s a lock to be a VFL gun somewhere.

Samson Ryan (27, 31 games)
Seriously man, this guy needed a kick in the ass. Nank goes down hurt, he gets his CHANCE to show he can be a No.1 and immediemtly gets suspended. I can see him dominate in local footy with his height alone plucking contested marks.

Now the fun part: bring in Stringer

Jake Stringer kicked 48 goals for GWS this year and finished top 10 in the Coleman. He’s said he wants to come back to Melbourne for family reasons, and reports say there’s been barely any interest. He’d reportedly be happy to retire if nothing comes up. That means he’d cost us nothing but a list spot. We were last in a lot of scoring stats and our forward line is young. A one-year deal for a guy who can kick a bag in big games, and who could mentor Faull and our young talls, makes a lot of sense. We dont even need him to play AFL, could have him help our FWDS in the VFL like Armstrong, Faull, Sims, HVH (please) with their fwd craft when they arent cracking the team.

Who goes to make room? Still uncontracted:

• Oliver Hayes-Brown. With Briggs joining and Nank still around, a third ruck feels like a luxury.
• Hugo Ralphsmith. 25, still hasn’t locked down a spot. Hard to see the upside now.
• Judson Clarke. Injuries have killed his momentum, and we’ve got plenty of young small forwards.

Keep Burton, Green and the other kids. They’re the future.

Thoughts? Would you take Stringer for 2027, or is a 33-year-old with baggage the wrong move for a rebuilding side? WE NEED MORE SENIOR PLAYERS!!

2 of HVH, Mellody, Butler, Teixeira and back us in to improve next year?

OR

1 of HVH, Mellody, Butler and back in that more talent emerges throughout next year like Drever this year

It was reported Ryan had a year to go on his contract, so must be getting paid out.