List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion - Part IV

[Hubnester]

2025 List Management Discussion - Part 4

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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[my name was taken]

Flanders has committed to Saints.

It appears a deal has been worked out between St Kilda and Gold Coast in case this happened.

We won’t get cute now by fiddling around with draft picks. Just get the deal done and move on.

I think it might drag out with demons involvement

 

[chris_h_11]

Tell me your top six staring mids at St Kilda going into 2026. From most valuable to 6th most valuable. Isn’t Jack Steele in there?
(Not talking about pinch hitting, part-timers, I’m talking starting mids)

Macrae
Nas
Garcia
Windy
Flanders
Boxshall

With Hall, Pou, Wilson rotating through

Steele doesn't displace any of the top 5. He's probably ahead of Box but that's only a matter of time.

Steele needs another string to his bow, because the days of him and Macrae at 90% CBA is over.

 

[ARCHIE66]

7 and butler for Flanders and Ainsworth?

 

[phantom13]

He wanted out last year before TDK.

It’s a very easy argument to make to say it’s TDK.

If anything, TDK makes it allowable to let Marshall go. But it doesn’t explain why Rowan has wanted out for 2 trade periods now and it has nothing to do with money.

Stand to be corrected but I don’t recall him specifically requesting a trade, which is a step up from exploring options.

There’s a clear link here. Number 1 ruck gets supplanted by a younger guy on big money. It’s hardly some shocking revelation, it also says nothing about the fabric of the club or TDK or whatever. It’s just a fact of life and list management

 

[phantom13]

The fact that at no stage last year did we try Marshall as a genuine forward option when King was injured absolutely convinced me that once it became obvious that TDK was joining the Saints Marshall would be leaving.

No space for both.

100%

 

[St Neil]

It's very clear that this is now a changing of guard moment in the football club. The previous nice & comfortable (Ratten) environment along with the former senior players / leaders are officially out, in are the new wave of young players who's hungry for success and enjoy the hard work that comes with it... go ya mighty saints!! bring on 2026.

Quality post.

 

[jwikked]

Bailey Humphrey was the Captain of Gippsland Power in 2022, just sayin'...

If we land Bailey Humphrey as well, we're not just winning this trade period. We end up with the greatest trade period haul of all time.

In the constitution, has to be replaced in two years. Reckon he will do a Putin and replace himself with an acolyte and stay on the board.

I'm not a fan of constitutions being modified, or ignored lol, but for the love of god can we please keep Bassatt in the position. Hopefully in 2 years time the club is in the best shape it's ever been in, and there's no worries if Bassatt leaves.

But I'd like him to stay on, at least until Ross is done working his magic. This is the best I've felt about the club in (obviously) 16 years. I don't want this combination to be broken up because of the club constitution.

 

[Hysteria]

In 2009 and 2010 I began to experience a level of hatred towards our club by opposition fans.
It was a new experience for me because up until then I had only noticed a patronising level of apathy towards the club that I loved.

I soon realised that that is what happens when you are a successful club. The hatred and jealously from the wider football world will inevitably follow.

Unfortunately after coming so close to the ultimate goal in those years the apathy quickly returned and I knew we would never be on the right track until I felt that hate once again.

Over the last few months, With all the signing news, the player exodus that never happened and now players one by one rejecting other clubs to be part of what we are building i'm starting to feel it again.

People... We might be back!

 

[Half Back Pocket]

The confidence I have in the current management (board, coaches and staff) could not be higher.

12 months ago I was questioning what Gubby Allen and team were bringing to the table. But it is clear now that they’ve been doing a lot, behind the scenes with engineering the salary cap and player contracts to get it to this point. Now the more visible things are manifesting.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re now perceived as the gold standard for list management in club land if this turns into more on field success next year and beyond.

How exciting!

Think I’ve mentioned it before on here, but Gubby’s pitch to both Ed Richards and Matt Rowell was first class. Word is, if either was enticed to leave it would have been to Saints

 

[Yawkey way]

Paradox Question: So the vibe has been that Steelo Is well down on his greatness era, and is a reluctant leader, and that we desperately lack on field leadership. And so no surprise that Jack steps down - and perhaps a touch surprisingly , is told that he won’t be guaranteed a spot in the midfield next year.

Paradox is, I still think Jack Steele is well and truly still in our top three mids, even way below his 2021 best!

Which isn’t a great thought to be honest.

So please Saints fans.

Tell me your top six staring mids at St Kilda going into 2026. From most valuable to 6th most valuable. Isn’t Jack Steele in there?
(Not talking about pinch hitting, part-timers, I’m talking starting mids)

Easily, you have to dethrone the champ in my book.

I’m thinking a fit Jack with his ability to go forward is too good to let go and any of the kids who want his spot need to step up. Ross Lyon isn’t usually the sort of guy to gift games, he seems to have softened that a bit. I wouldn’t trade him unless a team made my eyes pop and that simply won’t happen

Screw the second rounder in this draft, if he stays I’d put money on him playing round one.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Is that Henry on the left? In reasonable nick. Ah well, triple cheesey toastie for a snack, I’ll catch up later.

 

[Yawkey way]

In 2009 and 2010 I began to experience a level of hatred towards our club by opposition fans.
It was a new experience for me because up until then I had only noticed a patronising level of apathy towards the club that I loved.

I soon realised that that is what happens when you are a successful club. The hatred and jealously from the wider football world will inevitably follow.

Unfortunately after coming so close to the ultimate goal in those years the apathy quickly returned and I knew we would never be on the right track until I felt that hate once again.

Over the last few months, With all the signing news, the player exodus that never happened and now players one by one rejecting other clubs to be part of what we are building i'm starting to feel it again.

People... We might be back!

I’m glad they hate us again and trust me I hate them.

 

[jwikked]

Something about this guy that doesn’t sit well with me.

The iconography of that image will be studied for centuries.

COPE

 

[Remboy]

Just cautioning that until the trade is done the dees are still a live chance for Flanders.

The want a player in return for Petracca, and while Humphrey is target number one, but Flanders is still very much still in their line of sight.

They will continue to work on him in the background.

A fair bit to play out here still, but we’re obviously in the box seat.

Unless Flanders spontaneously combusts he'll be at StKilda by the end of trade week.

 

[RBW_007]

Seeing as we have quite a few indigenous guys maybe the AFL can also give us the Dreamtime game over Essendon just to rub the salt in.

 

[ronnysnodgrass]

Steelo and Macrae will never both be selected again will they? Barring injuries. Not bad depth.

yes they will, just most likely when the saints play the eagles next year.....

 

[RBW_007]

The iconography of that image will be studied for centuries.

COPE

How to make sure Naicos never gets a brownlow in one sentence.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Macrae
Nas
Garcia
Windy
Flanders
Boxshall

With Hall, Pou, Wilson rotating through

Steele doesn't displace any of the top 5. He's probably ahead of Box but that's only a matter of time.

Steele needs another string to his bow, because the days of him and Macrae at 90% CBA is over.

It’s only match practice until Pou goes past many of those too. He’s a mid. Was in there all PS. Needs some body luck and some confidence that comes with that.

 

[Yawkey way]

Flanders has committed to Saints.

It appears a deal has been worked out between St Kilda and Gold Coast in case this happened.

We won’t get cute now by fiddling around with draft picks. Just get the deal done and move on.

I expect something back but you’re right, when you chase contracted players and offer big money you pay up.

When you don’t you’re the bulldogs who are just kidding themselves.

 

[Fehring]

Do you think the Cats would’ve preferred to have landed TDK or Marshall?

TDK's contract would have bankrupted Cotton On.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

If Steele leaves to the Crows what are we going to ask for or get in a trade?

 

[Fehring]

In 2009 and 2010 I began to experience a level of hatred towards our club by opposition fans.
It was a new experience for me because up until then I had only noticed a patronising level of apathy towards the club that I loved.

I soon realised that that is what happens when you are a successful club. The hatred and jealously from the wider football world will inevitably follow.

Unfortunately after coming so close to the ultimate goal in those years the apathy quickly returned and I knew we would never be on the right track until I felt that hate once again.

Over the last few months, With all the signing news, the player exodus that never happened and now players one by one rejecting other clubs to be part of what we are building i'm starting to feel it again.

People... We might be back!

I agree. When people tell me the Saints are their second favourite, or they really hope we win a flag soon, I say - my dream is that you will one day hate the Saints more than anything else in your life.

 

[Moquo]

In the constitution, has to be replaced in two years. Reckon he will do a Putin and replace himself with an acolyte and stay on the board.

I have a vague recollection of there being a way around it.

 

[kick it lace out]

Is that Henry on the left? In reasonable nick. Ah well, triple cheesey toastie for a snack, I’ll catch up later.

TDK & Ro arm in arm is interesting.

 

[PoppedCorn]

The crows have nothing
No picks
And won't give up half decent players