Houston

[B.M]

Anyone know why we pulled out of that race?

We now have the money and draft capital to secure him

Would we do
Houston + 2025 second rounder
For pick 9 + 2025 First Rounder

900 over 4 with a trigger for a 5th

[cwrcyn]

Forget Houston. Use our good draft hand this year and go hard with free agency next year

Option 1

Go for Houston this year and give prized draft picks


Option 2

Go for LDU next year and give up nothing

[StNoodles]

28 next season

Why would we? Do we think we’re challenging for a flag in the next 2-3 yrs?

Rather take the draft route

[B.M]

I think Houston has a minimum of 5 and as many as 7 years left - half back is an good position to play for longevity

He is a dual AA and would immediately make us better (by plenty)

Although we currently have two gun HBs and it is not a position of need - unless Sincs goes inside

[Big Max]

I'd happily give away the compensation pick we got for Battle for Dan Houston.

[diddley]

Forget Houston. Use our good draft hand this year and go hard with free agency next year

Option 1

Go for Houston this year and give prized draft picks


Option 2

Go for LDU next year and give up nothing

I would love LDU for nothing, but if he is a RFA, North will put up a fight and match the bid, and force a trade.
I don’t see him being let go for FA compo. They will want 2 x First rounders.

[B.M]

Would you consider trading for LDU this season

Pick 9 and a future 1st
For LDU and a future second

[diddley]

Would you consider trading for LDU this season

Pick 9 and a future 1st
For LDU and a future second

I would, but that is too cheap.
North will just say no to the contracted player leaving for that.

[B.M]

What if he requested a trade?

Run the risk of losing him as a FA for 1 DP compensation (if there is compo next year after the furore this season)

For two First Round Selects in the next 2 drafts

It also gives them the ability to secure Houston

[diddley]

What if he requested a trade?

Run the risk of losing him as a FA for 1 DP compensation (if there is compo next year after the furore this season)

For two First Round Selects in the next 2 drafts

It also gives them the ability to secure Houston

North won’t let him go for 1 pick FA compo (unless it was pick 2)
They will match, and force a trade, pocketing more than 1 pick.
Look up the Jeremy Cameron trade. Copy paste that.

[B.M]

Battle was drafted 2016
Was an unrestricted FA

LDU was drafted in 2017
wont he be an unrestricted FA next year

Therefore whether they match or not it’s up to LDU

[The_Dud]

We don’t need more flankers.

We need pure mids.

[diddley]

Battle was drafted 2016
Was an unrestricted FA

LDU was drafted in 2017
wont he be an unrestricted FA next year

Therefore whether they match or not it’s up to LDU

No.
Battle was UFA because he was not in the top 25% paid players by the saints in 2024.
LDU would be in the top 25% at North for sure.

“A restricted free agent is a player who has served eight or more years with one club, is out of contract, and is in the top 25 per cent of wage earners at their club”

[SaintPav]

We don’t need more flankers.

We need pure mids.

You know you like them

[bobmurray]

Would you consider trading for LDU this season

Pick 9 and a future 1st
For LDU and a future second

We can't offer pick 9, we don't have it, we won't have it during the entire trade period.

[B.M]

It is basically pick 9 everyone knows that

[bobmurray]

Not in the trade period, everyone knows that, including the AFL.

[magnifisaint]

I think Houston has a minimum of 5 and as many as 7 years left - half back is an good position to play for longevity

He is a dual AA and would immediately make us better (by plenty)

Although we currently have two gun HBs and it is not a position of need - unless Sincs goes inside

bulls***. No way he makes it to 35. He won't last until 33 and by that time will be no where near good enough. Take it to the draft where that player will be in their prime in 5 years time.

[B.M]

5 years = 32
7 years = 34

Why wouldn’t he last that long?

Patrick Dangerfield is an inside bull who battered and he’s playing at 35

[Yorkeys]

When did Dangerfield last play a full season. Now week by week proposition and has got to the point where he play dirty to make up for diminishing powers.

Houston now has a poor suspension record, dubious team loyalty and not a spring chicken. A team with as good a defence as ours doesn't need to go after him or if he fell in our lap pay much transfer currency.

[Big Max]

When did Dangerfield last play a full season. Now week by week proposition and has got to the point where he play dirty to make up for diminishing powers.

Houston now has a poor suspension record, dubious team loyalty and not a spring chicken. A team with as good a defence as ours doesn't need to go after him or if he fell in our lap pay much transfer currency.

Houston doesn't have a poor suspension record.

He's only been reported once in his career, and his penalty was unjustly harsh.

[D.B.Cooper]

Anyone know why we pulled out of that race?

We now have the money and draft capital to secure him

Would we do
Houston + 2025 second rounder
For pick 9 + 2025 First Rounder

900 over 4 with a trigger for a 5th

Interesting question.

If we are to be a contender, we will need a couple of decent free agents in 2025/2026.
Imperative to get a couple of guns without spending draft capital.

If we remain middle of the road we won’t attract any high end talent like LDU as free agents.

Houston and McCrae make us immediately better. Houston down back, Sinclair into the midfield with McCrae and Phillipou & Steele looking much stronger.

Do you give up the Battle compensation pick?

Backs:
Sinclair, Stocker, Webster, Hastie
NWM, Houston, Shoenmaker, McLennan
Wilkie, Caminitti, Howard, Cordy

Plenty of small, medium and tall options.

Wilkie Camanitti Howard
(Stocker/Webster) Houston NWM

Looks very decent.

[StNoodles]

5 years = 32
7 years = 34

Why wouldn’t he last that long?

Patrick Dangerfield is an inside bull who battered and he’s playing at 35

33 and 35

He’s 28 at the start of next season

I’d guess maybe 2-3% of AFL players play at 33+

Don’t like those odds personally

[Sanctorum]

As good as Dan Houston might be I would not consider joining the queue for his services as his price is way too high.

Trading away St Kilda's early draft picks, this year's or next, for one A grade player who turns 28 next year is not the way to build for the future.

St Kilda's back six has been the team's ace for several years and will continue next year even without Josh Battle, who's spot I imagine will be adquately filled by Arie Schoenmaker.

Apart from anything else, Houston will more than likely prefer to play for a Victorian team whose premiership window is wide open, with Collingwood leading the race.

[D.B.Cooper]

I’d rather take #8 & #9 to the draft, however if we did want Houston, how about.

#7 #8 #27 & #46 to Suns = 4229 points
#6 #13 #23 & #49 to Saints = 4065 points

#13 & something from 2025 to Port for Houston
#49 to WB for McCrae
#6 & #23 to the draft

Probably not enough upside for GC to do the deal.

I’d rather keep 8&9 and hit the draft.

What about #9 & #46 to WB for Smith & McCrae & #35? WB will want more but they are not getting a top 10 from Geelong for Smith.

Again, I’d rather keep 8&9 and go to the draft.