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
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[Yawkey way]

You are bending stats to suit your argument again. CMac had 4 games of 20 possessions or above. He's had 5 games of over 10 contested possession. His stats are skewed by some games where he got 10 CPs and only 3 uncontested.

Flanders last year had 8 games over 10 contested possessions including a couple over 15. He played 20 games where he had over 25 possessions including a couple over 40. Even this year Flanders has had 4 games with over 10 CPs.

If you use percentages of **** all touches it sounds like he's peak Dangerfield. Bizarre that you suggest everyone else puts up misleading stats while doing exactly that.

I know who I’m taking and it isn’t Cmac.

 

[Hayes4PM]

He's one of our best shots for goal too so I'd prefer a 50/50 split between midfield and forward unless he has a twin just as good.



As funny as it would be to see Merrett walk out on Essendon and screw them I still don't want to see him go to the Hawks.

The Bombers would still be shit if they keep Merrett but the Hawks would be back to premiership contenders if they get him.

I think it depends what Hawthorn have to give up to get him. Chances are Essendon would ask for a good young player as well as a top 10 pick. CMac and pick 8 might get it done. Or pick 8 and Hawthorn have to trade to get another top 10 pick. I think Hawthorn will be right up there int he next few years but could have their window close if they don't get in some more good top up players. Sicily is 30, Barrass is about to turn 30, Impey is 30, Gunston is 33.

That backline is going to need transforming in 12 - 24 months most likely. They brought Battle over which is a good get, but they've got 3 of their backline all on the wrong side of 30 and likely to drop off in the next few years. I think the Hokball hype is a little overrated.

 

[beside the seaside]

Flanders has shown that he can be an absolute ball pig. I haven't watched a lot of CMac but he looks really classy, but he hasn't exactly dominated at either level yet.

Flanders will be cheaper, looks the safer option for mine.

Just on CMac being linked to Merrett, the issue is it seems very unlikely Essendon will trade Merrett, but also they just don't need picks. The only way it would really work is if they can convince some guys like CMac and CJ to join them.

I just don't see CMac being a viable option for us.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Flanders has shown that he can be an absolute ball pig. I haven't watched a lot of CMac but he looks really classy, but he hasn't exactly dominated at either level yet.

Flanders will be cheaper, looks the safer option for mine.

Just on CMac being linked to Merrett, the issue is it seems very unlikely Essendon will trade Merrett, but also they just don't need picks. The only way it would really work is if they can convince some guys like CMac and CJ to join them.

I just don't see CMac being a viable option for us.

Pass on both
And go Jevan Pou
Cheaper still

 

[Moquo]

Can we please have a one week respite from any stats relating to Flanders or CMac?

My guess is no

 

[Plugger35]

I would be going with Flanders ahead of CMac if I had the choice.

Flanders is struggling to break into a strong Suns midfield while CMac is struggling to break into a pretty average Hawks midfield.

 

[CursingFijian]

Can we please have a one week respite from any stats relating to Flanders or CMac?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed I recommend a quiet evening with a glass of your preferred drop and some good music.

 

[stfan]

Have we ever been as ****ed as Essendon or Carlton???

You must be young. I remember once going to three 100+ thrashings in a row.

 

[Remboy]

You must be young. I remember once going to three 100+ thrashings in a row.

If you’re as old as me you’d remember going to the curtain raiser and seeing two thrashings in the one day. Oh for the good old days.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

If you’re feeling overwhelmed I recommend a quiet evening with a glass of your preferred drop and some good music.


View attachment 2424151

So let me guess...

LR is the Traffic Controller, JS is the Community Service Officer, TDK is the Electrician and LA is a future villain in a Mike Myers movie?

Who's the Indian?

 

[saxond74]

I would argue an elite ball user should be measured by how many scores they’re able to create, rather than how many targets they can hit

Nope!! That stat would be score involvements not disposal efficiency!!

 

[Plugger35]

If you’re feeling overwhelmed I recommend a quiet evening with a glass of your preferred drop and some good music.


View attachment 2424151

There's talk on the street, it sounds so familiar.

Great expectations, everybody's watching you.

 

[bird_man]

Flanders has shown that he can be an absolute ball pig. I haven't watched a lot of CMac but he looks really classy, but he hasn't exactly dominated at either level yet.

Flanders will be cheaper, looks the safer option for mine.

Just on CMac being linked to Merrett, the issue is it seems very unlikely Essendon will trade Merrett, but also they just don't need picks. The only way it would really work is if they can convince some guys like CMac and CJ to join them.

I just don't see CMac being a viable option for us.

Flanders is older than Mackenzie so not surprising he has shown more.

I'd be going Mackenzie over the two.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

You must be young. I remember once going to three 100+ thrashings in a row.

I’ve been younger

 

[RWB4life]

Flanders is older than Mackenzie so not surprising he has shown more.

I'd be going Mackenzie over the two.

I'd push for both. Both likely better than a mid to early teens pick this year. 26 draft might be better than this one but I'd hope with all if our in our 1st pick will be later.

 

[StCicatriz]

Have zero respect for any player that shifts club purely in the hope of picking up a premiership medal.

It would be about as fake and meaningless as $10 "Faberge" egg.


View attachment 2423911

this!

the tom lynch medal

 

[SainterinSydney]

Merrett well and truly out the door if rumours are to be believed. Apparently he's been told not to come to the B & F night after he was confronted by Essendon's leadership group and gave a spray to Nick Martin referring to him as "chinless".

At this stage he's gone and Essendon are just posturing for trade value.

PS:

Spoiler

Chinless LOL

 

[_Maximus_12]

Flanders is older than Mackenzie so not surprising he has shown more.

I'd be going Mackenzie over the two.

Mackenzie was starting to play some really good AFL footy before breaking his hand. Struggled to break back in but that can happen when other players perform in your role in your absence.
I truly believe he is an All Australian calibre mid, if we can nab him it would be a huge get.

 

[gringo2011]

Classic gringo putting words in people's mouths. Never change

You could just say that you love McKenzie and don't rate Flanders. You come across as a turkey when you say that everyone using stats as evidence is an idiot and then do it yourself.

 

[austinnn]

There's talk on the street, it sounds so familiar.

Great expectations, everybody's watching you.

He's Mitchell's holding her Zach and you're The Bombers are still around

 

[_Maximus_12]

Wouldn’t be surprised if the crows come hard for Marshall if they bow out of finals.

 

[gringo2011]

Flanders is older than Mackenzie so not surprising he has shown more.

I'd be going Mackenzie over the two.

Definitely. One is ready made and potentially goes up another gear. One is 3 year younger so may have a higher ceiling. I'd take both if available.

 

[BrutThough]

Wouldn’t be surprised if the crows come hard for Marshall if they bow out of finals.

I could see them go for Oliver again too

 

[austinnn]

CMac and / or Flanders please, I don't really mind which, seems like they are both useful to us for different reasons.

Happy for us to capitalise on Merrett forcing his way to Hawthorn, but I'd say what is more likely that Cmac goes to Bombers as part of the Merrett deal. However what is even most likely is Essendon force Merrett to stay by threatening to end his career rotting in the reserves until he eats shit and apologises to Essendon fans and teammates and they let him go next year instead. I don't care if they both win as long as we win as well.

But if they are hungry for an extra early pick, I would be happy with us giving our 1RDP to Hawks for CMac and them passing it on to Dons plus steak knives to get Merrett the Ferrett.

What's great is the upgrade in calibre of names we bandy around to bring in. No longer are we forced to contemplate toxic campaigners like Thomas, Oliver, JUH and so on because they are affordable and this hopeful "we can fix them" mentality. We don't have to stuff our ranks with any player desperate enough to want to play for us, we have fixed our club's culture and bolstered our depth and can now focus on true difference-makers without all the freaky baggage.

I still think the coaching aspect is one area where AB and the top dogs of the club need to review just as they did with Ratts and check that we're keeping the standards up. It would be a concern how we played at times for most of the middle of the season, and I don't think you can only put that down to an inexperienced/shallow list. One thing that worries me is if we do find that RTB is not the guy anymore, getting rid of him or SOS will be catastophic for the club. Let's hope it will never come to that!

 

[austinnn]

I read somewhere on this thread that Sam Butler wants out of the Hawks.

I wonder if we can look to trade his brother Dan as way of facilitating one of our trades for Flanders, Cmac or Ryan. I do like the pressure that Dan gives our forward line, but other than that, he seems fairly expendable and still has a bit to offer the right team.

Maybe we can orchestrate it so they end up at the same club.