Luke Hodge

But what players and what clubs need to do is actually sit down one-on-one and be honest.

That is where it is.

And I know sometimes for players, managers will say, don't be too honest because you still want to be getting a game.

But if it's a serious club who's pushing for a premiership or you look at Gold Coast who are pushing for a top eight, top four, and we all know their list can get there, sit down and have good old honest conversations to see can we push through this?

And then when it gets to the end of the season, hopefully we've had the success that we know that we can and we can move on and you either stay or you go, but we do it as a team and as a group.

And Hodgie assessed Collingwood's pursuit of Lockie Neal.

When it comes to family side of things, and Chris Fagan's...

probably got two thoughts there.

One is Lockie with his age, and he understands the list that's coming through.

So he might think it could be the best for Lockie to either move closer to his family or a contract that's obviously might not be able to say no to at his age.

But Faggs is also sitting here thinking, we've got so many young guys who might be able to come through, even though Lockie Neal is leading their, I'd say personally that he's leading their best and fairest by a long way at this stage.

But what's going to happen the next five or six years are these young guys can develop and turn into the next Lockie Neal.

The Zach Bailey one's a little bit different because I think he's had the most impact over the last three grand finals.

In big games, he stands up.

His speed, his burst from a stoppage.

He will add so much to that football club if he stays there just by he knows what to do on that turn of speed that we've seen him do it over the last three years.

And if Lockie does go, there's a void for him to go into that midfield as well.

The question is the money side of things.

And will the rest of the players be happy that he's on the touted 1.5, 1.6 over a seven-year contract?

That's the biggest question for the football club.