List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion - Part 3

[Hubnester]

2025 List Management Discussion - Part 3

Now that our season is over, and news is starting to break - it's time for a fresh thread.

This thread is to discuss all things list management - trades, draft, free agency, delistings and more.
As we are now officially in our off-season, we'll be wanting to keep this thread more strictly on-topic than the previous iterations.
Be respectful. You are allowed to disagree with someone - but play the ball, not the man. Repeat offenders will have their posting rights revoked.

Thanks to Lore once again for this incredibly useful spreadsheet.

2025 KEY DATES
Free Agency Period: Friday, October 3rd - Friday, October 10th
Trade Period: Monday, October 6th - Wednesday, October 15th
AFL Draft: Wednesday, November 19th - Thursday, November 20th

See Also:
2025 Year in Review Rumours & Confirmed Movements 2025 Draft Discussion
​

 

[SG34]

The price you pay to retain a top 5 player in the league.

If Geelong pinch him in two years, they’ll have to offer him half of the western district to hide the secret salary.
Of course, he won’t leave, ever.

 

[Richter]

$4 million over 5 years for an almost 28-year old who's played 29 games in 3 years. Other clubs offered $2.6mil over 4 years.

I'm not filled with enthusiasm.

The strategy is clear - throw absolutely everything at a flag.

If we keep Marshall and add Ryan too, we're a good chance of finals in 2026. Maybe even winning a final like 2020. We've added quality and depth.

But I'm not convinced these moves are in our long-term interests. TDK uses loads of cap space over 8 years (whether the blindly optimistic fanatics on this board admit it or not), while Ryan and JSOS turn 30 in 2026 and 2027 respectively.

Assuming a fit list, going up in age, between Max King aged 25yr 1 month and Dougal Howard and Callum Wilkie at 29y 5m we have only Jack Higgins (26y 5m) as a definite starter (also Dan Butler, Hunter Clark, Paddy Dow and Liam Stocker as depth).

The (potential) new recruits start to fill in the 25-29yo hole in our list...

TDK is 26y 1m

JSoS is 27y 9m

Liam Ryan is 28yr 11m

Add to that Leek Aleer and Sam Flanders have both recently turned 24yo and are ready to go.

As you say, the strategy is clear... in order to aim for finals/a flag tilt now, you need more players in their mid/late 20s when theoretically players should be at their physical peak. Whilst not perfect players, the above list really aligns with that strategy.

 

[billings2paddy]

Assuming a fit list, going up in age, between Max King aged 25yr 1 month and Dougal Howard and Callum Wilkie at 29y 5m we have only Jack Higgins (26y 5m) as a definite starter (also Dan Butler, Hunter Clark, Paddy Dow and Liam Stocker as depth).

The (potential) new recruits start to fill in the 25-29yo hole in our list...

TDK is 26y 1m

JSoS is 27y 9m

Liam Ryan is 28yr 11m

Add to that Leek Aleer and Sam Flanders have both recently turned 24yo and are ready to go.

As you say, the strategy is clear... in order to aim for finals/a flag tilt now, you need more players in their mid/late 20s when theoretically players should be at their physical peak. Whilst not perfect players, the above list really aligns with that strategy.

Solid balance

 

[Yawkey way]

Nice thoughts. It's also nice for a smaller club get the drop on a powerhouse for a change, but don't let it fool you. Like TDK he came for the $$$ and years. But that's ok, we know the lay of the land and this reality had been coming for years.
Collingwood, Hawks, Geelong etc have the advantage of being successful and can attract players for less money, however the only way to become successful is to attract players, and then some may come to the club BECAUSE it is successful.
Anyway good luck in the finals. I am not a Collingwood hater and prefer you lot win than others.

If we don’t walk away from Carlton soon we’re going to get done for necrophilia.

Many years ago in what seems a former life Carlton were a powerhouse.

 

[projectv]

It's quite amusing seeing Carlton fans crow about nepotism, without any irony, when Jack was literally drafted as a father-son.

You can't make this stuff up.

 

[_Maximus_12]

In the next few years Wilkie, Sinclair, Marshall & Hill's contract will come off the books and we'll have ample cash to pay the young players coming through.

 

[Broski]

Lack of height absolutely killed us consistently throughout the season and that was acknowledged several times by Ross during his post-match pressers. We are addressing that in a big way. A taller team will have a massive impact on-field.

While I am not enamored with the reported salary of JSOS, I can acknowledge that he is a solid utility who uses the ball well by foot and rarely loses one-on-ones. If he can keep fit, he will be an immediate asset.

If we are able to acquire Aleer, Ryan and Flanders, then finals will be the minimum. Ross has mentioned that it is a privilege to have expectations placed on your to perform. Time to see if the team can handle the pressure. Exciting times.

 

[Donflicted]

ok saints fans hear me out

can you please pay Jade Gresham

11

Jade Gresham

Age

28

Ht

177cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

7.2

4star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

10.8

4star

HB

6.8

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

2.0

3star

G

0.5

4star

D

11.8

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

5.8

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

0.4

3star

50 million dollars a year so he can leave us?
























Please?

 

[projectv]

ok saints fans hear me out

can you please pay Jade Gresham 50 million dollars a year so he can leave us?
























Please?

Chuck in Merrett as steak knives?

 

[stavro#4]

 

[nikkig98]

I think its fair to speculate, we all do it with oppo clubs.

At a bare minimum were gonna have the two highest paid players in the league next year and both are making alot more than this years highest.

Yeah you're right, i should have phrased it better. Fine with the speculation and im absolutely fine with people calling it a risky gamble (which it is), just hate oppo supporters who for some reason, are angry and malicious about us being making moves and signing players.

I've dealt with some real condescending pricks at work and online (including bosses so i cant say anything back to aha) that support Carlton and Collingwood and have had to bite my tongue.

Like it pisses them off that we want to be better. Idk about you but i feel like we don't go out of our to way to mock oppo supporters to their face or message them about it if they sign or keep a player.

Bloke at work said collingwood dodged a bullet and they didnt want him anyway, but theyve got darcy moore giving up 6 goals to pat voss and a 35 year old jeremy howe as the saviour

Same with carlton, apart from weitering, that backline is choc full of holes.

 

[Donflicted]

Chuck in Merrett as steak knives?

Might have to

At first i was like we havent really got any decent HF or SFs so he should be alright but his even worse then what i thought

Disappears too often was a definite win for you guys getting rid of him

 

[DougalHoward]

I love SEN, but can’t listen to those two. Their fake petulant arguing drives me crazy. And the whole “Keith” thing

I only listen to Dwayne, Kane and Kingy.

 

[phantom13]

The build of any potential back 6 with Dougal will resemble what the crows Pies and Hawks have done this year. Which I believe are the top 3 defensive sides.

None have apes playing full back. All have versatile KP players and all excel at intercept marking.

Pies and Hawks have had Frampton and Barass. Thats the Howard/Camma role imo (Crows have Murray i think).

You still need a negator so the interceptors (Battle, Howe, Worrel) can do their jobs.

Were real tall regardless but Wilkie and probably Aleer can play both but im not sure we can have JSOS, Howard/Camma, Wilkie, Aleer and Tauru, thats 5 starting back spots by talls. So were at least one short to have to running back and the small defender IMO.

Tauru likely winds up forward IMO.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

**** listening to Andy Maher is hard work. He’s your typical small club basher, hoping the saints stay down so they don’t outgrow his incompetent club.

Hey Andy, don’t worry. Be happy

 

[Richter]

Nice thoughts. It's also nice for a smaller club get the drop on a powerhouse for a change, but don't let it fool you. Like TDK he came for the $$$ and years. But that's ok, we know the lay of the land and this reality had been coming for years.
Collingwood, Hawks, Geelong etc have the advantage of being successful and can attract players for less money, however the only way to become successful is to attract players, and then some may come to the club BECAUSE it is successful.
Anyway good luck in the finals. I am not a Collingwood hater and prefer you lot win than others.

Whilst of course we were obviously offering the most $$ and the most years... I think it is fair to say that in JSoS' case, he will also be coming because of the Ross Lyon factor. He's one of his Dad's best mates and he has known RTB all his life.

 

[_Maximus_12]

We are stockpiling some serious talent on our list.

 

[akaifu]

The build of any potential back 6 with Dougal will resemble what the crows Pies and Hawks have done this year. Which I believe are the top 3 defensive sides.

None have apes playing full back. All have versatile KP players and all excel at intercept marking.

Never a bad thing to have multiple players who can play on a range of different forward types

The importance of defensive system ultimately outweighs the importance of defensive individuals

 

[stavro#4]

 

[stavro#4]

Never a bad thing to have multiple players who can play on a range of different forward types

The importance of defensive system ultimately outweighs the importance of defensive individuals

It’s all about versatility and intercept marking so you can transition the ball quickly.

 

[Joffaboy]

I'm confused. When is the mass exodus happening? Before or after we get seven new players in?

They will call the players we delist a 'mass exodus'

 

[Moquo]

ok saints fans hear me out

can you please pay Jade Gresham 50 million dollars a year so he can leave us?
























Please?

He could win your b&f next season

 

[Minga]

It’s just good list management, I’ve felt that our jack stocks have been diminishing but this will hold the line for a good year or two. Good admin this.

 

[westernsainter]

Might have to

At first i was like we havent really got any decent HF or SFs so he should be alright but his even worse then what i thought

Disappears too often was a definite win for you guys getting rid of him

I think we really ****ed his development trying to turn him into a midfielder. Looked fantastic as a small forward.

 

[projectv]

Media seems quite adamant it's going to get Carlton band 1. Will be interesting to see how that plays out. They need all the help they can get.