List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion

[mpal6]

If he goes, it means the club gives McKenna another deal. Got Shagga and McCarthy in for another year as well, but two ACL's mean we will not come back to what he once was.

Can't give any of the older mob any big/long-term deals anymore, with Ashcrofts x 2, Bailey, Morris, Kai, Marshall, Kiddy and Annable coming up in a few years.

We'll slot McLachlan in on a permanent basis if Ah Chee goes.
Same with Starce, It'll be Brain or Beecken's spot if they want it. Not to mention Answerth coming back mid 2026.

 

[Bucking Beads]

We will almost certainly pick up a few players that will come cheap looking for a premiership. We also have enough young talent to keep competing if we get the right guys in.

 

[lionshine]

If Ah Chee were to request a trade to the Crows I’d be seeing if we could nab Oscar Ryan in return, particularly if Starcevich also leaves.

Really hoping Ah Chee stays though. One of my favourites.

 

[Clarkythelion]

This, in my opinion, is a cop-out.

Most AFL players who make it through their first and second contracts and who effectively become long-term players are, in this era, afforded exceptional off-field opportunities that most people could only dream of. These arise not just from their public profile but through the vast professional and alumni networks that AFL clubs, the AFLPA, and sponsors enable them to access. Just look at someone like Matthew Pavlich, now the CEO of an AFL club, despite only a modest business background. That kind of post-footy role isn’t an anomaly; it’s increasingly the norm for well-established players.

Much of the commentary around these 7+ year players entering the back end of their careers seems to rely on the assumption that if they don’t get a final ‘big contract’, they’ll be financially stranded, scraping together a living for the rest of their lives. That’s just not reflective of the reality. Even in the unlikely scenario that a former player only lands a so-called ‘menial’ job after retiring, the fact remains that if they’ve managed their finances responsibly they should be well-positioned. Many will have paid off, or be close to paying off, their mortgage. Considering that housing costs typically make up 30–50% of an average household's expenses, having a home already paid off puts them at a significant financial advantage with substantially higher disposable income than most Australians.

I just don’t buy into this narrative that AFL players are victims of a harsh post-career economic reality, or that they need one last inflated pay day as a matter of fairness. To me, the justification that chasing top dollar at the end of a career outweighs loyalty or the like, feels like a distortion of both their privilege and their responsibility. The “he’s earned his superannuation” line is, frankly, a bit of a croc. These are elite athletes with elite access, most of whom will continue to do just fine.

The AFL, NRL any contact sport is littered with fallen soldiers, to pick out Pavlich and say "look at him" is picking the top of the tree - what about the concussions, the arthritis, the suicides, the player that only get 2 years on a list - for every Pavlich there is a Frawley.

If Starc was on $500k for 7 years he earns $3.5 mill less 48% tax. A worker on $80k for 40 years $3.2 mil less about $28% tax. The only difference Starc is one concussion away from his livelihood being taken away. I know an ex-Footscray player now in his 50's, trying to get some compensation from the AFL, he hasn't worked for many years and is now non-verbal from multiple concussions. His wife has held the family together and her wage alone pays their way and his medical costs.

Yes they chose to play, you choose to watch, comment, sometimes but mostly enjoy and comment, your life is affected positively from their actions, many of them even the likes of Justin Clark whom was a Lion for just a fleeting moment.

All players deserve what they can get from a game they once, and hopefully love in retirement. I wish them all well, even the permanently injured that are not Pavlich, Buckley, Tom Harley but are home bed ridden or worse.

 

[Sunny Land]

The AFL, NRL any contact sport is littered with fallen soldiers, to pick out Pavlich and say "look at him" is picking the top of the tree - what about the concussions, the arthritis, the suicides, the player that only get 2 years on a list - for every Pavlich there is a Frawley.

If Starc was on $500k for 7 years he earns $3.5 mill less 48% tax. A worker on $80k for 40 years $3.2 mil less about $28% tax. The only difference Starc is one concussion away from his livelihood being taken away. I know an ex-Footscray player now in his 50's, trying to get some compensation from the AFL, he hasn't worked for many years and is now non-verbal from multiple concussions. His wife has held the family together and her wage alone pays their way and his medical costs.

Yes they chose to play, you choose to watch, comment, sometimes but mostly enjoy and comment, your life is affected positively from their actions, many of them even the likes of Justin Clark whom was a Lion for just a fleeting moment.

All players deserve what they can get from a game they once, and hopefully love in retirement. I wish them all well, even the permanently injured that are not Pavlich, Buckley, Tom Harley but are home bed ridden or worse.

Love this. I wish more people who get so much enjoyment from the game would appreciate what they do for us.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

The AFL, NRL any contact sport is littered with fallen soldiers, to pick out Pavlich and say "look at him" is picking the top of the tree - what about the concussions, the arthritis, the suicides, the player that only get 2 years on a list - for every Pavlich there is a Frawley.

If Starc was on $500k for 7 years he earns $3.5 mill less 48% tax. A worker on $80k for 40 years $3.2 mil less about $28% tax. The only difference Starc is one concussion away from his livelihood being taken away. I know an ex-Footscray player now in his 50's, trying to get some compensation from the AFL, he hasn't worked for many years and is now non-verbal from multiple concussions. His wife has held the family together and her wage alone pays their way and his medical costs.

Yes they chose to play, you choose to watch, comment, sometimes but mostly enjoy and comment, your life is affected positively from their actions, many of them even the likes of Justin Clark whom was a Lion for just a fleeting moment.

All players deserve what they can get from a game they once, and hopefully love in retirement. I wish them all well, even the permanently injured that are not Pavlich, Buckley, Tom Harley but are home bed ridden or worse.

I can see both sides of this.
The example you give of the ex-Footscray player is the bottom of the so called tree, at the other end of the scale to the Pavlich example.

I expect the vast majority of ex-AFL players would be employable based on the life skills they've learnt from being in the system long enough to get to AFL level football, and provided they've not retired permanently disabled then at least have the physical attributes to perform blue collar work.
And they are definitely going to have a fair network advantage. That happens even at the local footy level.
Basically, being employable means being reliable, punctual, polite and not a DH.

 

[M Malice]

I look at sportsmen as entertainers, similar to singers, actors, musicians only they have a much shorter career in most cases.

Make hay while the Sun shines.

 

[irel]

I've always had empathy for Grave Diggers. Imagine the health issues associated with that profession.
Grave digging may seem like a quiet profession, but it comes with a surprising range of health and safety risks. Grave digging is far more than just digging holes—it demands physical resilience, emotional strength, and strict adherence to safety protocols.

Physical Hazards

- Manual Labor Injuries: Repetitive digging, lifting heavy caskets or memorial stones, and setting up gravesites can lead to musculoskeletal injuries.

- Slips, Trips, and Falls: Uneven terrain, wet grass, and open graves pose serious fall risks.

- Trench Collapse: Graves deeper than 5 feet must be shored properly to prevent cave-ins, which can be fatal.

Environmental Exposure

- Sunlight and UV Radiation: Long hours outdoors increase the risk of sunburn, heat stress, and skin cancer.

- Extreme Weather: Working in rain, cold, or heat can cause hypothermia, dehydration, or heatstroke.

Chemical and Biological Risks

- Hazardous Chemicals: Exposure to fertilizers, pesticides, and embalming chemicals can cause respiratory or skin issues.

- Infectious Diseases: Handling remains or working near decomposing bodies may expose workers to pathogens.

Psychological and Social Stress

- Exposure to Trauma: Constant proximity to death and grieving families can lead to emotional fatigue or stress.

- Workplace Violence or Aggression: Though rare, grave diggers may encounter emotionally volatile situations.

Equipment and Machinery Risks

- Heavy Machinery: Improper use of excavators or lifting devices can cause accidents.

- Electrical Hazards: Faulty equipment or underground utilities pose electrocution risks.

THANK YOU AI

 

[Perrip]

Was wondering when someone in the media would report on it.

Trade talk: Crows make offer to out-of-contract Lion

The Crows have a proven Lion in their sights.

www.sen.com.au

“If Brisbane match it, I believe he will stay, but it’s significantly better – he’s paid unders up there at the moment – (if they don’t match) you will see him in an Adelaide jumper next year.”

 

[mpal6]

Was wondering when someone in the media would report on it.

Trade talk: Crows make offer to out-of-contract Lion

The Crows have a proven Lion in their sights.

www.sen.com.au

May be keeping Ah Chee is tied to Starce decision.
If Starce goes then we might want the stability to continue with Ah Chee.

 

[Perrip]

May be keeping Ah Chee is tied to Starce decision.
If Starce goes then we might want the stability to continue with Ah Chee.

If given the choice, I'd much rather use the money to keep Starce than Ah Chee.

 

[mpal6]

If given the choice, I'd much rather use the money to keep Starce than Ah Chee.

You Sir are thinking like our list management team now.
Let me find a seat on their table for you.

 

[M Malice]

Was wondering when someone in the media would report on it.

Trade talk: Crows make offer to out-of-contract Lion

The Crows have a proven Lion in their sights.

www.sen.com.au

I don't think Callum will be staying with us, IMO the club will prioritise upgrading(if needed) the current contracts of our younger players to lock them in long term eg. Jaspa Fletcher(2030), Darcy Wilmot(2027), Kai Lohmann(2027), Logan Morris(2027), Will Ashcroft(2026)... Zac Bailey and Noah Answerth both OOC next year.

If Callum leaves I would wish him well (except no more flags) and thank him for his fantastic service to the Lions cause.

 

[Thomasno]

Do would look at another free agent/cheap trade in if both Ah Chee and Starcevich move on?

Or do we hope someone like Brain, Beecken, Reville step up and demand the role/s?

Might have put this in the wrong thread, but for what it’s worth IF they both decide to go I’d be using that money on our many young guns and fill holes that way; especially if we’re going to pick up both Allen and Draper this year probably don’t need to be splashing too much more cash around on other FAs.

As you said above would rather use that extra cash on the likes of Fletcher, Wilmot, Morris, and potentially Bailey as well. You’d imagine the club will already have money squirrelled away for the Ashcrofts, so this would be better put to use on the guys over performing and earning more money.

 

[M Malice]

I went to a Lions v Giants VFL game at BHA earlier in the season, we gave the Giants a hiding but I said to my son gee who is that bloke for the Giants, he looks so bloody good, it was Max Gruzewski.

3rd forward type(Ah Chee role?), OOC 2026, no idea what he would be worth trade/salary wise.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Be really disappointed to see Callum go but he's gotta do right for his family and we've gotta do right by our salary cap management. I have faith in our footy department to make the right call.

 

[M Malice]

Be really disappointed to see Callum go but he's gotta do right for his family and we've gotta do right by our salary cap management. I have faith in our footy department to make the right call.

That is one thing that is often forgotten, it is OK to ask for loyalty from a player to a club.

The big mitigating factor is clubs are mostly not loyal to their players, the large majority of players do not leave the game on their own terms, they are either delisted, traded out when they don't really want to go, forced out via offering under value contracts, taped on the shoulder and told it's time to retire ie you're past it/too old.

 

[mpal6]

I don't think Callum will be staying with us, IMO the club will prioritise upgrading(if needed) the current contracts of our younger players to lock them in long term eg. Jaspa Fletcher(2030), Darcy Wilmot(2027), Kai Lohmann(2027), Logan Morris(2027), Will Ashcroft(2026)... Zac Bailey and Noah Answerth both OOC next year.

If Callum leaves I would wish him well (except no more flags) and thank him for his fantastic service to the Lions cause.

Played 163 in total out of which 45 is for Suns.
118 with us - we're in front in terms of father son. All good.

 

[dlanod]

I went to a Lions v Giants VFL game at BHA earlier in the season, we gave the Giants a hiding but I said to my son gee who is that bloke for the Giants, he looks so bloody good, it was Max Gruzewski.

3rd forward type(Ah Chee role?), OOC 2026, no idea what he would be worth trade/salary wise.

He's had moments - but he's a second/third tall, he's definitely not a versatile Ah Chee role. If it wasn't for Logan's explosion, we'd probably be saying we've already got someone in that role.

 

[Nathan Barley]

The addition of Annable and a mid spending more time forward probably covers Ah Chees role with Kai back in the team as well and potentially Linc

 

[Bucking Beads]

The addition of Annable and a mid spending more time forward probably covers Ah Chees role with Kai back in the team as well and potentially Linc

It's the defensive capabilities that Ah Chee brings that this team lacks.

 

[Nathan Barley]

It's the defensive capabilities that Ah Chee brings that this team lacks.

I don't think it's been there this year

I think we can cover for it

 

[M Malice]

The addition of Annable and a mid spending more time forward probably covers Ah Chees role with Kai back in the team as well and potentially Linc

A fully fit Kai would be great in that role, good endurance, great pressure and can certainly mark around the ground.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I don't think it's been there this year

I think we can cover for it

He certainly hasn't been as good this year

 

[Nathan Barley]

He certainly hasn't been as good this year

Even Charlie averages more tackles and pressure acts