List Mgmt. 2025 Draft/Trade/FA Thread – everything must go!

[Scythe]

Just pinning this, as per previous years. Thanks as always to Lore.

Final trade/FA period results
Out:

• Charlie Spargo
• Judd McVee
• Christian Petracca
• Clayton Oliver
• Picks 28, 42 and 61
• Melbourne Second-Rounder (2026)
• Melbourne Third-Rounder (2026)
• Melbourne Fourth-Rounder (2026)
• Melbourne Fourth-Rounder (2027)

In:

• Jack Steele
• Changkuoth Jiath
• Brody Mihocek
• Max Heath
• Oscar Berry (Rookie)
• Picks 7, 8, 37 and 71 (2025)
• GC First-Rounder (2026)
• GWS Third-Rounder (2026)
• GC Third-Rounder (2027)

 

[schmuttt]

I think Petty can be a serviceable, perhaps good KPD. He and Turner might eventually be a strong 1-2 combo.

Petty has really been undermined by constantly swinging back and forwards. Can't help his progression when he's forever switching roles.

Yep, trading him would be incredibly dumb as we aren't going to get much in return and he's a solid AFL player. I'm all for trading to improve the list or rebuild but moving Petty is insanity.

 

[ray_purchase]

I preferred Curtin over Windsor pre-draft, but you can see what we were trying to do. Curtin isn't exactly blessed with any kind of leg speed, which is something we so desperately lacked (and still do mind you). We would have probably crucified the bloke so much by now that he'd have gone home at the first opportunity.

This is without even mentioning that Windsor's drop in form / stagnated development has been really since he's moved to the backline. Meanwhile Curtin's recent step up aligns with him moving from playing mostly forward to up on the wing, so..

That all being said, Tholstrup is a hard sell for me.

I think Tholstrup will be a player. He missed a couple of months with a stress reaction in his back... so what does the genius Goodwin do? He brings him immediately into the senior team instead of easing him back through Casey. What a ridiculous thing to do to a 2nd year player.

The kid has had no continuity after a long layoff, and all the VFL byes only make it worse.

 

[TheBoss]

Yep, trading him would be incredibly dumb as we aren't going to get much in return and he's a solid AFL player. I'm all for trading to improve the list or rebuild but moving Petty is insanity.

Retaining him was incredibly dumb.

Adelaide offered us their 2023 first round pick for him despite him having a broken foot! An absolute blunder!

 

[TheBoss]

I think Tholstrup will be a player. He missed a couple of months with a stress reaction in his back... so what does the genius Goodwin do? He brings him immediately into the senior team instead of easing him back through Casey. What a ridiculous thing to do to a 2nd year player.

The kid has had no continuity after a long layoff, and all the VFL byes only make it worse.

What three traits have you seen that make you think he will be a valuable contributor at AFL level? I haven't seen anything that makes me think he is worth persisting with, I expect to see more promise from a 2nd year player taken in the first round.

 

[Lord Nev]

no it's not. We overlooked a clear key position jet for a 191cm Josh Ward.

There's no point investing in the spine? The spine is the first thing that should be sorted out. Midfielders grow on trees.

Completely disagree. Midfield is the first thing you sort out. What year is this??

 

[I Love Lamb]

Completely disagree. Midfield is the first thing you sort out. What year is this??

No point drafting mids when they don’t even get runs in the guts.

 

[Deelighted]

Retaining him was incredibly dumb.

Adelaide offered us their 2023 first round pick for him despite him having a broken foot! An absolute blunder!

This may be true but it doesn't mean we should trade him now, his value is completely in the mud after the last 2 seasons. He's not a star obviously & definitely not a forward but we'll likely need him in the backline in future more than we need a nothing pick.

If we want good draft selections we'll have to trade some of the big names (although tbh, the time may already have passed where they net us much in a trade either).

 

[Dancing Potato]

Completely disagree. Midfield is the first thing you sort out. What year is this??

Agreed, though we should almost be able to do that with current personnel. Just need to shift a couple of players out of there.

Maybe get one midfielder back in trades, but that's possibly not even necessary.

Rivers, Pickett, Langford, Lindsay, Windsor and just one of Trac/Oliver/Viney.

 

[TheBoss]

I think Windsor might be a good midfielder (eventually) but no way am I throwing him in there while he can't hack it playing as a rebounding defender!

Plenty of good midfielders cut their teeth at half-back. Him failing is a player issue, nothing to do with being out of position.

 

[Lord Nev]

I think Windsor might be a good midfielder (eventually) but no way am I throwing him in there while he can't hack it playing as a rebounding defender!

Plenty of good midfielders cut their teeth at half-back. Him failing is a player issue, nothing to do with being out of position.

TBF, plenty of good midfielders would be rubbish at half back, don't think it's as simplistic as this.

Imagine peak Clarry (when he was good and racking up coaches awards instead of miscellaneous) playing at half back. Doesn't work for everyone and clearly hasn't worked at all for Windsor.

 

[TheBoss]

Comparing Oliver to rebounding defenders is a bad faith argument. He's a see-ball-get-ball player that will not succeed at any other role.

This is a a snapshot of Windor's strengths from Rookie Me https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/caleb-windsor/:



Reads like he has a lot of traits you would want in a half-back flanker. Why can't he make it work? Continuing to say that he is not playing his favoured position is such a cop out. No one makes the same allowances for Sparrow or Salem when they have a shit game.

Besides, Windsor would be the 4th best winger at the club now.

 

[I Love Lamb]

TBF, plenty of good midfielders would be rubbish at half back, don't think it's as simplistic as this.

Imagine peak Clarry (when he was good and racking up coaches awards instead of miscellaneous) playing at half back. Doesn't work for everyone and clearly hasn't worked at all for Windsor.

Clarry is a special case. We see midfields go back successfully fairly commonly - if anything sometimes they go back there to adjust to AFL before moving into the midfield. Merret, Rozee, Holmes, Martin, Zorko, Brayshaw, Salem, Sheezal, Mckercher, Crisp, Ginbey ect

More seem to be able to do it, than not.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Agreed, though we should almost be able to do that with current personnel. Just need to shift a couple of players out of there.

Maybe get one midfielder back in trades, but that's possibly not even necessary.

Rivers, Pickett, Langford, Lindsay, Windsor and just one of Trac/Oliver/Viney.

Exactly. I was all for keeping Oliver but he's gotta go. Probably gotta look at moving Trac on as well. Looks a shadow of his former self and most likely still has currency. Flick those two, and the midfield spots open up to Riv, Langford, Lindsay, Koz. Lacking depth but its a start. Frees up a heap of $$ as well. Club wont have the balls though.

 

[Lord Nev]

Comparing Oliver to rebounding defenders is a bad faith argument. He's a see-ball-get-ball player that will not succeed at any other role.

This is a a snapshot of Windor's strengths from Rookie Me https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/caleb-windsor/:

View attachment 2361119

Reads like he has a lot of traits you would want in a half-back flanker. Why can't he make it work? Continuing to say that he is not playing his favoured position is such a cop out. No one makes the same allowances for Sparrow or Salem when they have a shit game.

Besides, Windsor would be the 4th best winger at the club now.

It's pretty simple.

Played on the wing - Was spoken about as a potential Rising Star winner.
Played in the backline - Kicking has absolutely tanked. Has been dropped.

A pre-draft shortlist of strengths by a website that also has him says "Some have labelled Windsor the best wingman in the country" isn't a definitive argument for him being a successful backman.

It's pretty clearly not a cop out given the weight of evidence, it's fact that is backed up by data now.

Not sure what Sparrow and Salem have to do with anything? Neither have had much of an impact in any position they've been tried in, so it's not a like for like comparison at all - ie: Sparrow wasn't a gun centre clearance mid who then bottomed out when played as a half forward.

Comparing Oliver is not a "bad faith argument" at all. He has the runs on the board as a certain type of player and has failed in other roles. Windsor was an absolute highlight of our year last year on the wing and is now playing VFL after struggling as a backman. It's no different at all other than you don't like it.

In conclusion, here's some quotes from that analysis you linked to:

"The speedy wingman showed early promise in his preferred role"

"Windsor's most pertinent and eye-catching attribute is his speed. It suits his style of play to a tee, with the wingman often holding his width outside of packs"

"Despite showing a hunger for hunting opposition ball carriers, Windsor very much plays to his outside role. He spent some time at the centre bounces, but ended with an uncontested possession rate of nearly 74 per cent during the National Championships. His ability to work into space is unrelenting, constantly providing an outlet to chain play between the arcs."

 

[schmuttt]

Probably would actually keep May for one more year if there are no cultural issues, he has been a bit better since the Port game. Still want to turf Lever/Oliver/Trac/Fritsch though.

 

[Scythe]

Probably would actually keep May for one more year if there are no cultural issues, he has been a bit better since the Port game. Still want to turf Lever/Oliver/Trac/Fritsch though.

May was really good today, but has still (apparently) conceded more goals than any other defender in the comp this year.

 

[ray_purchase]

What three traits have you seen that make you think he will be a valuable contributor at AFL level? I haven't seen anything that makes me think he is worth persisting with, I expect to see more promise from a 2nd year player taken in the first round.

I think you have stumped me there mate.

He was a witches hat today.

 

[Daemon]

Yeah I don't get all this talk about playing Windsor in the guts. He's a great winger but Goody doesn't want to play him there.

 

[Daemon]

When we went on that run today in my mind that solidified my view we mostly have the cattle and don't need to blow up the list. A few very obvious positional changes (including trading out at least Oliver), a half decent key forward, and a coach with a modern game plan (plus more contact hours actually training skills rather than love), and I think we can be contending again fairly quickly.

 

[TheBoss]

Played on the wing - Was spoken about as a potential Rising Star winner.

Who spoke about him as a potential Rising Star winner???

He finished equal 10th spot. With 1 vote. Might not have even got a vote at all if Harley Reid and Sam Darcy were eligible!

If Windsor needs to play on the wing then he can do it at Casey. Langdon, Langford and Lindsey all do it better. Hell, you could even make an argument for Sharp because at least he runs two-ways some of the time.

 

[ray_purchase]

Cant wait to land another player the ilk of Billings, McAdam, Dunstan, Schache...

Do your thing, Tim Lamb!

 

[Lord Nev]

Who spoke about him as a potential Rising Star winner???

He finished equal 10th spot. With 1 vote. Might not have even got a vote at all if Harley Reid and Sam Darcy were eligible!

If Windsor needs to play on the wing then he can do it at Casey. Langdon, Langford and Lindsey all do it better. Hell, you could even make an argument for Sharp because at least he runs two-ways some of the time.

"Harley Reid will stare down one of his biggest challenges to the AFL’s Rising Star crown, Melbourne speedster Caleb Windsor, when they meet at Optus Stadium on Sunday."

Harley will face Rising Star stare-down in Dees test

Harley Reid will stare down one of his biggest challenges to the AFL’s Rising Star crown, Melbourne speedster Caleb Windsor, when they meet at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

thewest.com.au

"...and Demon Caleb Windsor seem set to fight it out to be this year’s recipient."

Horne-Francis is emerging, but not yet ready to come to grips with Cripps

In key takeouts this week: Carlton’s big dog hands Port’s young pup a lesson, the race for this year’s Rising Star award gets blown wide open and forget the premiership for the moment; Melbourne simply need to focus on making the finals.

www.theage.com.au

"Reid, 19, claimed the award ahead of St Kilda’s Darcy Wilson and Melbourne’s Caleb Windsor"

AFL players hail Harley Reid as top first-year player

He couldn’t claim the Rising Star nod, but Harley Reid has joined an illustrious group of West Coast stars to be voted by fellow players as the AFL Players’ Association’s Best First-Year Player.

thewest.com.au

Lol Sharp is better on the wing than Windsor. Alright mate, I'm tapping out of this one after that.

 

[Daemon]

Who spoke about him as a potential Rising Star winner???

He finished equal 10th spot. With 1 vote. Might not have even got a vote at all if Harley Reid and Sam Darcy were eligible!

If Windsor needs to play on the wing then he can do it at Casey. Langdon, Langford and Lindsey all do it better. Hell, you could even make an argument for Sharp because at least he runs two-ways some of the time.

Langdon does it better, and so he should he's been doing it all his career. Windsor was fantastic on the wing last year or do you just have recency bias about the other two young guys, neither of which had set the world on fire in that position and neither is it their natural position.

Play Langdon and Windsor on the wings. Not rocket science.

 

[TheBoss]

Do you read the articles that you link?

"Harley Reid will stare down one of his biggest challenges to the AFL’s Rising Star crown, Melbourne speedster Caleb Windsor, when they meet at Optus Stadium on Sunday."

Hyperbole to hype a match no one gives a shit about.

"...and Demon Caleb Windsor seem set to fight it out to be this year’s recipient."

Had to omit the 4 players named ahead of him in that sentence! Normally someone fancied would be the first one named!

"Reid, 19, claimed the award ahead of St Kilda’s Darcy Wilson and Melbourne’s Caleb Windsor"

This article is not even about the Rising Star award!

 

[The Dr]

Langdon does it better, and so he should he's been doing it all his career. Windsor was fantastic on the wing last year or do you just have recency bias about the other two young guys, neither of which had set the world on fire in that position and neither is it their natural position.

Play Langdon and Windsor on the wings. Not rocket science.

Yeah Langdon and Windsor are just the most obvious best wing duo we have.