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)

 

[space_cowboy]

AFL list managers saw the 2024 draft crop as one of the best in years, prompting teams to open up additional slots at the expense of fringe and developing players at their club.
But fast forward another 12 months and the lack of quality depth in this class has list managers cautious to cut their lists too deep.
One development coach said he expected a “complete 180” on approaches from clubs around the competition.
“I think you’ll see there will be a real shift from last year, it won’t look anything like it did,” they said.
“It’ll be night and day if you compare last year to this year, there’s going to be guys who don’t deserve another chance get held onto.
“Last year it was the opposite; players were getting delisted so clubs could take swings in a strong draft.”

Anyone have a summary of what's behind the paywall?

 

[MarcMaverick]

Is the MFC being the typical colander self or you have some great inside scoops.

 

[Lord Nev]

Anyone have a summary of what's behind the paywall?

Goes through our list of players and basically they're all out of form and unhappy but they're all staying anyway apart from Billings, Fullarton, Hore, Brown, Woey and Henderson.

 

[Bluelegs]

Every one of these articles about him and Oliver has a caveat like this:

According to Morris, no trade possibility was discussed between Petracca and the Demons

This all feels totally confected based on last years mail. The strongest indication that Petracca will actually be on the move I've seen was Guerra saying he 'hopes' Trac will be here next year.

I reckon it would be very bold for a new coach to come in and move on these big names if they don't already have one foot out the door, but if they do, they've done a great job keeping it under wraps.

Either we have completely shut down the leaks at the club, or we're probably not going to see a major list shake up this year.

 

[Lord Nev]

Every one of these articles about him and Oliver has a caveat like this:


This all feels totally confected based on last years mail. The strongest indication that Petracca will actually be on the move I've seen was Guerra saying he 'hopes' Trac will be here next year.

I reckon it would be very bold for a new coach to come in and move on these big names if they don't already have one foot out the door, but if they do, they've done a great job keeping it under wraps.

Either we have completely shut down the leaks at the club, or we're probably not going to see a major list shake up this year.

Thing is, the teams I see potentially involved in either the Trac or Oliver trades are out of Hawthorn, Collingwood, Geelong & Adelaide, so can't imagine a lot will be done right now. The managers of both will 100% be making calls and trying to arrange things, but we know players don't actually request a trade until it's all been setup anyway.

 

[Bluelegs]

Thing is, the teams I see potentially involved in either the Trac or Oliver trades are out of Hawthorn, Collingwood, Geelong & Adelaide, so can't imagine a lot will be done right now. The managers of both will 100% be making calls and trying to arrange things, but we know players don't actually request a trade until it's all been setup anyway.

Yeah, but usually there's a bit more actual smoke. Take Curnow for example. Nothing has been said publicly but a number of journos have reported that he's unhappy and wants to make a move. All the reports around our guys have been more like "probably feels like it's time".

 

[Lord Nev]

Yeah, but usually there's a bit more actual smoke. Take Curnow for example. Nothing has been said publicly but a number of journos have reported that he's unhappy and wants to make a move. All the reports around our guys have been more like "probably feels like it's time".

Pls don't say this, trade period is all I have man, don't take it away from me...

 

[Bluelegs]

Pls don't say this, trade period is all I have man, don't take it away from me...

 

[Lord Nev]

Another one off to the Saints. Stupid Flanders.

 

[Topkent]

Fellow Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph reported trading in Petracca would be a significant risk for Hawthorn.

“Christian is a magnificent player, but his salary will hit $1.7 million at one stage … and he’s the most inaccurate forward in the competition this year: 18.24 and 15 total misses,” Ralph told Midweek Tackle.


The most inaccurate at 1.7 million lol. We ****ed up everything so badly so quickly lol

 

[Bluelegs]

Fellow Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph reported trading in Petracca would be a significant risk for Hawthorn.

“Christian is a magnificent player, but his salary will hit $1.7 million at one stage … and he’s the most inaccurate forward in the competition this year: 18.24 and 15 total misses,” Ralph told Midweek Tackle.


The most inaccurate at 1.7 million lol. We ****ed up everything so badly so quickly lol

His goalkicking has somehow gotten way worse.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Fellow Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph reported trading in Petracca would be a significant risk for Hawthorn.

“Christian is a magnificent player, but his salary will hit $1.7 million at one stage … and he’s the most inaccurate forward in the competition this year: 18.24 and 15 total misses,” Ralph told Midweek Tackle.


The most inaccurate at 1.7 million lol. We ****ed up everything so badly so quickly lol

30%

 

[Topkent]

His goalkicking has somehow gotten way worse.

I can only think he doesn't love footy the same way anymore.

 

[Topkent]

30%

Over 3 million for him and Oliver to absolutely suck is amazing

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Worse than Ben Simmons at the free throw line.

 

[Topkent]

Only Melbourne could win 21' and within 4 years have May, Oliver, Brayshaw, Petracca, Viney, Fritsch all suck, retire or need to retire

 

[schmuttt]

I can only think he doesn't love footy the same way anymore.

Yeah his head has been all over the place this year. Is even worse than Oliver at just banging it forward.

 

[mrmonkey]

I think more recently Trac's set shots seem a bit more accurate, could just be my imagination. Trac kicking for goal and inside 50s definitely seem worse. No doubt he needs to hit the scoreboard and 50 more effectively to justify his contract. I reckon the new coach (Buckley) will want to work with these players so doubt he'll get traded.

 

[melbun]

I think more recently Trac's set shots seem a bit more accurate, could just be my imagination. Trac kicking for goal and inside 50s definitely seem worse. No doubt he needs to hit the scoreboard and 50 more effectively to justify his contract. I reckon the new coach (Buckley) will want to work with these players so doubt he'll get traded.

Good interview question:
"Would you trade Trac and/or Oliver?"

Any answer other than "yes, both of them" disqualifies the applicant.

 

[Bluelegs]

Good interview question:
"Would you trade Trac and/or Oliver?"

Any answer other than "yes, both of them" disqualifies the applicant.

Melbourne to be the first team ever to go into a season without a coach.

 

[Lord Nev]

I think more recently Trac's set shots seem a bit more accurate, could just be my imagination. Trac kicking for goal and inside 50s definitely seem worse. No doubt he needs to hit the scoreboard and 50 more effectively to justify his contract. I reckon the new coach (Buckley) will want to work with these players so doubt he'll get traded.

Nah, you're on the money. Because everyone loves and completely understands expected scores, let's use that....

Set Shot Rating
2025: -0.06
Last 5 games: 0.85

Ironically, his overall expected score was worse though because his general play shots were worse.

Gen Shot Rating
2025: -0.81
Last 5 games: -1.87

 

[melbun]

Melbourne to be the first team ever to go into a season without a coach.

I think not.
One of the big problems for an incoming coach is what to do with the previous coach's "favourites".

May, Lever, Oliver, Trac, Viney are all potential trouble.

 

[Bluelegs]

I think not.
One of the big problems for an incoming coach is what to do with the previous coach's "favourites".

May, Lever, Oliver, Trac, Viney are all potential trouble.

As I mentioned before I don't see a coach moving on big name players unless those players actually want to go.

Recently, Leigh Matthews said that any coach would need a year to assess the list before making any major decisions.

Adam Simpson also said that he would leave the list management to the club and the only caveat was that he would move on any player that didn't want to be there.

I think if you asked most prospective coaches about list management decisions they'd make, they'd answer pretty diplomatically.

 

[Lord Nev]

As I mentioned before I don't see a coach moving on big name players unless those players actually want to go.

Recently, Leigh Matthews said that any coach would need a year to assess the list before making any major decisions.

Adam Simpson also said that he would leave the list management to the club and the only caveat was that he would move on any player that didn't want to be there.

I think if you asked most prospective coaches about list management decisions they'd make, they'd answer pretty diplomatically.

Doesn't really apply to us, but the exception to this recently has been Sam Mitchell. Had the advantage of being there as an assistant at the time, but his first offseason as coach he made some big, crucial list calls that helped turn them around.

We're not in the same exact boat, but I would hope an incoming coach would look at the examples of Hawthorn, Pies and Crows who managed to turn things around quickly with bold but correct calls. Pies back up your theory though as Fly did his big moves at the end of his first year.

 

[Bluelegs]

Doesn't really apply to us, but the exception to this recently has been Sam Mitchell. Had the advantage of being there as an assistant at the time, but his first offseason as coach he made some big, crucial list calls that helped turn them around.

We're not in the same exact boat, but I would hope an incoming coach would look at the examples of Hawthorn, Pies and Crows who managed to turn things around quickly with bold but correct calls. Pies back up your theory though as Fly did his big moves at the end of his first year.

Yeah, Mitchell helps my point as he was there for 12 months already so he had the benefit of getting a full perspective from the inside.

I think it would be hard for someone to make these massive calls in like a month. They could potentially delegate those decisions to the current list management team if they wanted, or the club could tell any prospective coach that there were going to be some hard calls made on certain players when they join. Thing is we've made it pretty clear we are keen to get the new coaches opinion before we do anything.

Collingwood had a solid enough trade period in 2021. Didn't move anyone on and they already had Naicos coming in so did a lot of pick swaps. Picked up Lipinski and Kreuger for cheap though who have both been great recruits for them.

Can't remember the exact timeline with the Crows exodus but there were certainly still a lot of scars being carried from the camp, so it's no surprise those guys wanted out.

Never say never though. The coach might meet some of the players and really eyeball them about whether they want to be there and it might get those guys to finally fess up, which might get some movement going. Equally they might just pitch their vision to those guys and try and get buy-in.