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
​

 

[SainterinSydney]

Misson moving on, Ken Hinkley available.

Butters close to Hinkley.

Coincidence?

Are you saying bring Kenny home?

 

[gringo2011]

Go and have a beer, watch the cane toad races and relax......

Definitely doing the relaxing and beer part.

 

[CursingFijian]

I often wonder how hard it must have been for operators like Andrew Basset to support St Kilda. Watching us roll around in a quagmire of mediocrity knowing you had the gumption, the connection and resources to do a better job.

He has done an amazing thing to get us to this point and I really hope his effort is rewarded with a premiership.

I knew change was needed but I’m not ashamed to say I bristled a little when they told me we were irrelevant.

But, I’m slowly starting to realise this is what relevance feels like. People aligning with your club on and off the field. Growth. Development. Leadership at an industrial level.

We aren’t just a topic of discussion nowadays. We are driving the narrative. Basset has become an industry leader and he continues to use his platform at the Saints to speak to power.

And there is still so much scope for improvement.

I hope we can find a way to give him the time to continue to forge a pathway ahead.

 

[Remboy]

The age -

“while they hope to trade for St Kilda ruckman Max Heath.”

Is there any chance he stays? I thought he was as good as gone but even that article says they 'hope' to trade for him.

 

[thekizzler]

Doesn’t sound like a guy who feels like he’s been booted to me.

To me, it sounds like Steele has been told he is no longer automatic first choice in midfield.

Because the club has so much respect for him as a previous long-term leader, he has been given the option to explore a trade to somewhere where he is guaranteed midfield time.

But the club is happy for him to stay and fight for his place in the midfield and team.

I don't take it as the club wants him out - or is trying to offload him respectfully.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Imagine if we had a crack at Butters and he nominated us (against conventional wisdom). This place would erupt.

Not sure how we’d get it done, and how he would fit him into the salary cap, but we seem to be getting things done like no other club.

I’m sure we are in there having a crack.

Poo+picks
Dunno how we’d raise the $2mill but.

 

[CursingFijian]

Steele could make a good replacement for Jimmy Webster in the back pocket if his time as a midfielder is over

Still think his lack of pace would see him exposed.

 

[St Neil]

Poo+picks
Dunno how we’d raise the $2mill but.

Our best play is to provide the capital for any nominated club in exchange for us trading-in a preferred played.

Build on what we have rather than diluting it.

 

[Remboy]

Theres no way right?

AFL superstar’s go-home wish looms large over trade period

The vice-captain asked the question and now rival clubs are preparing to launch.

7news.com.au

Flanders for Butters? Lol.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

I'm still thinking the extra player is Humphrey

 

[BigMonty]

Just on Marshall, it was stated on here that he talked with the Cats last year as well.
Judging RTB I think he has no issue telling players as it is. He would have said Roma we love what you bring heart spirit 110% commitment. But you are probably not going to be at the club you will be too old when we finish the rebuild. Also there are some shortcomings to your game which are your weaknesses that we need to address. Hence Roma looking at his options.
Moving Roma on is a win win win for all concerned. He stays the big cheese first ruck, he wants the responsibility thats goes with it, it is what he plays for, he has an ego all players do. Having been the go to guy at Saints he has been surpassed by a newer brighter model, he in reality does not want to be there.
When he signed the contract it never stated oh by the way we will bring someone in on double your money. It all made sense back then and it makes sense to move him on at a fair price.

I note the grandstanding clubs like Essendon in particular over draft picks have not faired to well by doing so. Geelong will offer a fair price I believe as they need a mobile marking Marshall in the ruck and a mobile Blicavs as a PoD, which they are. Geelong cannot afford to get it wrong as their time is running out.

Having an unhappy heart and soul type like Marshall at Saints in 2026 is not a result I would want to see.

Seems pretty obvious Cats frdp is the right deal and if we can do it swap of later picks our way.

Just get it done with respect shown by all parties before egos get involved and leave a nasty taste.

 

[Hayes4PM]

How funny would it be if after the last few months of Port Adelaide chodes coming over here talking about how Nas is going to them and offering up hypotheticals like Whitlock and a mid first round pick or Bergman and a mid first round pick etc. Butters comes out and requests a trade back to Victoria... or better yet specifically St Kilda hahahah

 

[John2010362340]

Jack Steele

9

Jack Steele

Age

29

Ht

187cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

8.7

3star

HB

12.2

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

6.8

5star

CL

3.6

5star

D

21.3

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

16.8

4star

K

5.0

2star

HB

11.8

5star

M

2.6

3star

T

6.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

is a realist, he knows he is slipping, he has to, those who are close to him would be saying this, and as Ross said “there should be no surprises at exit interviews.” So if I was Jack Steele

9

Jack Steele

Age

29

Ht

187cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

8.7

3star

HB

12.2

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

6.8

5star

CL

3.6

5star

D

21.3

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

16.8

4star

K

5.0

2star

HB

11.8

5star

M

2.6

3star

T

6.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

knowing this why would he go somewhere else where the likelihood of him playing VFL is reasonably high for the first time since being a Saints player. He would be in the same position at 17 other clubs, exception being West Coast and doubt he wants to leave Melbourne. He’s more valuable on our list then a second or third rounder I would suggest. He Stays!

 

[Armoooo]

I'm still thinking the extra player is Humphrey

He feels like he'd be a Ross favourite.

If we can snag him it would be incredible.

 

[Joffaboy]

It’s still sunk money.

If Roma and Steele are both on the books that’s gotta be a mill or close to it for depth players.

Free it up and one of those spots on a draftee there’s 800k plus available.

I get we don’t “need” the cap space but if we’re still active and pursuing players it’ll help.

This may be true, however I was making the distinction between 'exploring options' ( which he has declined by the looks) and a salary dump as has been mooted on here.
It's not a salary dump or a fire sale in my view. But an honest appraisal of where the club thinks Jack is at. It wasn't a Steven May situation basically saying get out.
Steele is still an AFL player, but seems past his peak. Injuries, form and matchups will come. He may get 10-15 games in the seniors and without the burden of captaincy and the pressure slightly off, he may regain his best form.
I like the fact it seems like he has the passion to fight for his spot and wants to stay. Shows he has character and the club communication and culture is strong.

 

[Geezington]

It is Ainsworth to, his management approached us apparently so we’ll see what happens take it with a grain of salt

 

[CaptainRisky]

Where does Jack Steele go? If he is not getting game time in late 2025 at bottom 8 side like Saints. I cannot see him going to a club bellow us for his own ego sake. North have Parker, Adelaide no Carlton Filth Dogs no....
I see the Cats and Filth trend of older player rotating will happen more. I am sure the club could almost guarantee that he and the club could be getting 12 to 15 top games out of both of MacRae and Steele works for me.
With our reserves side now in place we are going to need some old hands to maintain the playing culture and guide the young ones through, rather than going to football Siberia with Sandy.

Steele is the man for that role, selfless team first mentality. Would rather do that with a club respected senior than passed off to play slephing football for a non relevant side for the next two years like happened to Dal.

I think it his decision to make he has earned that right and we should respect his wishes.

Do we think it was form or was he injured why he had less game time ?

 

[sammm]

So what do we think our starting midfield will be? TDK, Nas, Flanders and ???. Windhager maybe? Philipou? Garcia? Feels like it's missing an in and under clearance specialist

Missing Macrea

 

[Joffaboy]

It is Ainsworth to, his management approached us apparently so we’ll see what happens take it with a grain of salt

Bad timing for him. Why do we need him when we have a range of small forwards and are bring on Ryan?

 

[mighty_sainters]

Think what we have is better than Ainsworth to be honest, Humphrey on the other hand. Highly unlikely so will wait for it to be disproven this week.

Quite happy with our haul regardless of a surprise 6th.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Pick 7, pick 17 (from Geelong for Roma) and our future first for Flanders and Humphrey?

Pick 7, F1st (from Geelong for Roma) & F2nd for Flanders & Humphrey
Means we get to keep our F1st for next year
Then we use R1st & F1st & other stuff on Butters next year

 

[TheJackal]

He’s restricted so they can still match and get full value can’t they?

Matching isn't always the ideal option though. Say Port finish bottom 4, a top 5 pick for not matching is probably better than 2 late firsts.

If he's gone next year, the should blow the thing up and see what they can get for him now.

I'd do something like this.

7, Marshall pick (19) and Butler (salary dump) for Flanders & 14.

14 & whatever we get for Steele for 16 & Liam Ryan

16, F1 (2026), F1 (2027) for Butters.

Steele, Butler & Marshall = Butters' salary.

Net loss: 7, Butler, F1 x2, Steele, Marshall
Net gain: Butters, Flanders, Ryan.

Go big or go home let's blow the AFL up!

 

[Armoooo]

Pick 7, F1st (from Geelong for Roma) & F2nd for Flanders & Humphrey
Means we get to keep our F1st for next year

We'd jump at that, Gold Coast would be getting destroyed. Not sure if the Gold Coast discount still applies, they actually seem to have gotten the best of Port last year.

 

[Sainter62]

Steele could make a good replacement for Jimmy Webster in the back pocket if his time as a midfielder is over

too slow for nippy small forwards

 

[tassiesaint2024]

Many on here don’t seem to, think we should just take a half chewed scotch finger for him.

Not saying we should, but after the club statement. If a club wants jack they will get him. For maybe one full and one half chewed scotch finger.

Underated biscuit too btw.