2025 List Management

[Dow]

We will get rolled, 2nd round pick at best

Straight swap for Rowell ???? lol, Yeah that’s what worries me 2nd at best, being honest would he even get a game at Gold Coast ? I don’t know why they would do this deal

[KSAS]

So, I usually dismiss a lot of trade chatter as nonsense, but something got my attention this weekend. Brian Taylor mentioned briefly on radio the prospect of Rowie heading to the Gold Coast. Given his family ties, it had me curious.

Could it be part of the merry go round needed to get Curnow?

Just read transcript of the radio interview this rumour originated from. BT being James Rowbottom's uncle does add some weight to it.

Rowbottom is contracted till 2028. If there's any truth to this, my first thoughts are is it James or the club pushing this? Is he a good fit for GC?

We are interested in their out of contract Malcolm Rosas jr, surely he is unders as just straight swap for Rowey?

IF he is part of a 3 way plan for Curnow as suggested by uninformedtwo, wondering if it could possibly involve Flanders going to Carlton instead of St Kilda? Plus offloading pick 9 to Carlton? Effectively Rowey & pick 9 for Curnow? May even require adding our 2026 first rounder?

Sad if there's any truth to this. I personally think Rowey is important in helping Chad, Heeney & Gulden play their attacking styles.

[liz]

Doesn't seem to make any sense for Rowbottom himself. Possibly the club he's least likely to get a game at. (Maybe after their cousins up the road in Brisbane.)

[lwjoyner]

surely we wont let JR go. Curnow want to go to COTTON ON cats, so let him go there maybe se should go back to JUH with a 1 yesr contract and extension if he settles down. Dont want to loose players for Curnow. Strill seething about Buller. Seems like we need a beter recruitment manager instead of maths expert Keane. Being good at maths doesnt equate to recruitment of afl footballers.

[lwjoyner]

back to rowie and jordan. One is an in and under player (see ball try to get) the other a tagger or attacking winger

[imuninformedtwo]

So, I a) don't think Carlton will or should for their own sake let Curnow go, b) have any idea if the Rower rumour is true, and c) come to this as a Rowey fan.

But, if you want to make a case for something like this it's approximately as follows.

The club is right to think laterally and act aggressively. We have at least a two year window and it depends from there. I have always felt we needed to nab a flag while Isaac, Mills and Paps are at their peaks and whilst injuries cost the latter two this year (and last year with Mills), they're still young enough to lead the younger elite brigade to a premiership in the right circumstances. But we just don't know post-2027 - does Chad stay or go, how long can Isaac and Grundy play at such a stellar level as they go through their 30s, etc etc.

Next is our forward set up. The only one we can count on for good long-term production is McDonald, who'll be fine to go again next year and is at a minimum, a 40+ (and potentially more) goal player. Amartey is crucial to our fortunes at his best, but has had one injury free year on the list, and Hayden is no more than serviceable. (Plus, it looks like we botched the retention of Buller). Whether it's a priority compared to other parts of the ground is a legit question, but it's an issue.

Then there is our midfield mix. You can't play Rowie, Jordon, Gus and Mills in the one midfield. And I'd play Mills there every day of the week. I get the Peter-Paul argument about his best position. But his two best years were '21 and '22 when he played permanent mid. He won a B&F and an AA. He's an elite two way midfielder. He's better than Josh Dunkley - who rightly gets a bucket of plaudits for his two way work. Jordon is flexible and he'd always be best 22 for me. I totally get what Rowie does for the other players and think there's times he's been asked to sacrifice too much of his own ball-winning instincts, but Mills is still better at it by a fair margin.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not pushing for Rowie to leave. I want to keep him. And there'd be downside risks on culture and team balance when a co-captain (as he effectively was in the first half of the year), selfless and well-liked player moves along (voluntarily or otherwise), and as Liz points out, not convinced GC is the best avenue for him.

But as part of a merry-go-round trade involving Flanders and Curnow, I could see why it's being looked at.