Mark Duffield - Four Thoughts (15.09.2026)

Mark Duffield (0:00)

And also, let's get on to Four Thoughts on Sport to get us rolling this morning. So, Thought 1 is Geelong's trade strategy. Now, I find this fascinating. On one hand, you've got to give the Cats credit because they've kept themselves more relevant for longer than any AFL rival. But they now have missed on Zack Butters, they're chasing Toby Green, and they may well chase Rowan Marshall for the second year in a row.

Let's look at some birth certificates here.

Marshall will turn 31 in a couple of months. Green will turn 33 this month. And before the end of April 2027, Jeremy Cameron and Tom Stewart will have turned 34 Mark Blitzas will have turned 36 And Patty Dangerfield will have turned 37

The Cats are smart, but there is a tipping point for everything, and that includes age. Thought 2 is on the AFL, which is set to issue a warning to clubs about secret side deals alongside free agency deals. The warning will come as the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide open talks about how Zach Butters might move from Port to the Bulldogs. And the Power, of course, are trying to shore up their own ability to take Dougie Cochran when they are likely to have to match a bid at pick one. There was talk there might be a deal for Todd Marshall to go to the Bulldogs for a first round pick and maybe a future first. That is going to have to be run by the AFL, and I can't see the AFL ticking off on that one. Thought 3 is on the value of the Butters contract. So Codesport and Foxtel are reporting it as $19.2 million over nine years. That's $2.2 million a year.

They were also reporting that the dogs offer was $5 million more than Geelong's offer, which given that the dogs are also the club that Butters barrack for, probably tells you the cats were never any chance of getting Butters there unless Cotton On got involved. And finally, Fourth Thought is on Jake Florenco, the 2026 Sandover Medalist. He polled 27 votes in a boil over. Peels, Jeremy Sharp and Lockie Tardrew probably cost each other the medal by polling 23 and 22 respectively. Stefan Giro and Charlie Constable also polling well 22 votes each. And well done to Jamie Henry, a clear winner in the WAFLW's Darra Kerm Medal ahead of Jamie Harkin. Your thoughts and questions please on any or all of that. 487 736 736 is the text line. 13 12 55 is the Barra and O'Day open line. Barra and O'Day because the little things are everything. After the break, we'll be talking to retiring freemantle docker Sam Switkowski. We've also got south freemantle coach Craig White and west coast eagles AFLW coach Daisy Kerr coming up later on in the show. Made in WA for WA. This is Mornings with Mark Duffield on SEMWA.