Calls to ‘warehouse’ TWO teammates who want out; what Suns must ‘rip shut’ as double exit fears grow

As the AFL season heads into its final quarter before finals, questions over the futures of a host of players continue to dominate the competition’s off-field agenda.

In the latest episode of the Midweek Tackle digital-only show ‘Tackle The Headline’, panellists Lauren Wood, Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane have their say on the futures of six stars who are firmly expected to inform their club of a desire to play elsewhere in 2027.

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BAILEY HUMPHREY

Jon Ralph says: “I reckon there’s a little wriggle room that Gold Coast are really trying to rip shut. They’re saying to Bailey: ‘You’re not going anywhere, we don’t care’. I think from the club’s football boss and the club’s CEO down, I think this is going to be a ‘Zach Merrett-style line-in-the-sand — at least that’s what I’ve been told.

“Clubs can obviously say one thing, and then they can change their mind. If I’m Gold Coast: ‘No, he’s not going anywhere’. He was better against Adelaide (last weekend) ... if you open that door just a little bit ajar, he rips it open. And so, I think keep playing him and backing him in. Keep saying ‘you’re not going anywhere’. Keep saying: ‘Get your head around playing here for the rest of your football career.

“I think that decision (to possibly drop him) was three weeks ago, and they backed him in. He’s been better since then, and if you’re dropping him, you’re probably dropping half the side. I think it’s a philosophical thing to say to him: ‘Whatever your issues are, whatever your challenges are, we’re here to work with you. As soon as (they) start planting the seed, that’s really dangerous... slam that door shut really hard on Bailey.”

BEN KING

Glenn McFarlane says: “We thought he was staying not that long ago, Gold Coast thought he was staying not that long ago. But, now it looks like he’s not staying ... it’s an awkward situation with Gold Coast thinking now he’s probably going to leave and play out the rest of the year.

Jon Ralph says: “How much do you think Max King influences this (a move to Victoria)? Max gets to go to the christenings, the birthdays, the weddings — all those different things. And even though he hasn’t played any football recently, how challenging would that be for Ben to look at all those things he’s missing out on right now?

McFarlane says: “Can he do another two years away from the stuff like that? It’s really hard, and it looked like he was going to get through those two years, but he’s not. I don’t want him to come out and say: ‘I’m leaving this club now’, I’m old school in that regard.

Ralph says: “I’m not sure they (Gold Coast) can win the premiership next year. They’ve basically gone to a little list pivot to bring a lot of young kids in. Let’s face it: if he stays, he’s going to leave as an unrestricted free agent in two years. They might get something for him, but nowhere near as much. We’re not writing off next year, but if you put all the investment in Ethan Read, hopefully Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, and of course Jed Walter who just signed up... I think the right thing right now, is say: ‘Ben doesn’t want to be here; we maximise our return.”

McFarlane says: “In fairness, he has stayed around while others have left. So, I’m pretty comfortable if he makes that decision to come back (to Victoria).

Lauren Wood says: “I haven’t really thought of it like that. You spend the early part of your career missing 18th’s and 21st’s that maybe aren’t all that big of a deal. But, as you say, you start missing babies and weddings as well.”

ZACH MERRETT

Lauren Wood says: “He’s an interesting one to say the least with what played out last year — and then even what’s played out this year. We saw position-wise on the weekend. Where do they play him from here? What do they do with him? I think we all think that Hawthorn is sitting there and waiting for Round 23 to come, and then they can start really pushing their case to Essendon. What are they doing with Merrett at the moment?

Jon Ralph says: “My view is: Whatever happens in the next six weeks, is completely irrelevant. The clubs out there that know him and want him, they know exactly how good he can be. They know how good his season was early on, they know he’s probably not trying now for all the right reasons. The best thing for Essendon would be for him to get through the next two weeks and get a little hamstring ... Hawthorn and Sam Mitchell are not saying he’s not trying right now. So, if he could play the next two weeks and get a little hamstring... that’d be perfect. I’m not suggesting he fakes it; I’m just saying that’s the best outcome.

Wood says: “Surely you do (that); particularly when that value has dropped away than what it was last year. You don’t want to let it drop any further with a more major sort of injury. Could we potentially see that? With the way Essendon’s playing at the moment, it’s dire on many fronts... do they shelve him?

Ralph says: “If they said to him: ‘We want to warehouse you’, I think he would still say: ‘I’m an Essendon player, and I want to finish my career off in the right way here ... I think he gets a farewell game ... even though a few other very good Essendon players didn’t get that.”

JORDAN RIDLEY

Jon Ralph says: “Ridley is fascinating. Part of me feels they need to warehouse him, because he’s made of crepe paper. And then part of me feels like, if they do that, well people will say he’s no good anymore. He played that one amazing game against Melbourne (in Gather Round) when he came back from his calf issues, and we said to ourselves: ‘this bloke’s a star’. But right now, he’s played a couple of okay games and then he’s been managed again. So, I’m stuck right in the middle — because if he plays great football, it maximises his worth. And if he gets injured again, well it diminishes.

Glenn McFarlane says: “I’d be warehousing him, absolutely. The bottom line is, for all parties, if he came up and did another injury, that’s just too much of a stretch. So, I’m happy to warehouse him at this stage, if he’s happy to do that.”

LACHIE NEALE

Jon Ralph says: “If he plays and wins a third premiership, that would be three flags, four best and fairests, two Brownlows - everything you could ever want in this football club — he’s just a megastar. He’ll go and give us some amazing line on the premiership dais, and then he’ll go to Collingwood...

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