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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[Mav3rick]

Windhager went next level and is now one of our highest paid players- that's what has changed since we got macrae.

When we were deciding whether to bring in macrae or not 12-18 months ago, we would have hoped windy would go next level... but it was far from certain then.

Hope is not a strategy for success.
So we made the call to bring in macrae.

Plus now we have TDK who unlike roma can jump and win a hitout- presumably we will have more fast clearances now (less need for 3 defensive slower mids)- another new factor we would have hoped for 12-18 months ago, but could say with any certainty would happen.

It wasn't a terrible call bringing macrae in with what we knew at the time.
In fact- the way steele seems happy to stick around regardless makes it an even better decision.
We will go into 2026 with some genuine top quality midfield depth- instead of wheeling out zac jones

Will Windy play full time mid next year then? Ended up roughly 50% mid this year, but a lot of his high disposal games came from wing and half back.

His versatility probably hurts him in this regard as he can play outside better than Macrae, Steele and Garcia

 

[Joffaboy]

I used wrapped instead of rapt talking about Misson (Mission wraps) the other day in a group chat, over all but one of their heads

My God you are edgy with your italics and word play

 

[Armoooo]

Mine is 'referred pressure'. While maybe technically sort of ok in terms of the meaning and context, I am convinced that originally someone fairly literate (maybe Whately) said 'inferred pressure' and then a bunch of other commentators got it wrong and everyone now runs with the wrong expression.

I thought of it more like referred pain. As in, like when you've got a pinched nerve in your neck and it makes you feel pain in your shoulder.

When two players have just been pressured and forced get away a quick handball and by the time it gets to a third player who is open and they still shank the kick, inthink referred, inferred or perceived pressure are all fine.

 

[Joffaboy]

Higgins came to the Saints for midfield time. I remember him saying that when he was traded. He's got a lot fitter under Ross, and I'm guessing that Ross has thrown him the challenge - get fit enough to play mid and I'll give you a crack.

Told Milney the exact same thing.

 

[akaifu]

Gubby Allan will speak with trade radio

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Has Wilks actually announced he’s staging yet??

Ginnivan won’t even announce he is so I doubt Wilks will.

 

[stavro#4]

Cmac… come on down

 

[stavro#4]

So I’m assuming we want Hawks to get one of Merret/Butters/Humphrey’s etc so that helps us get Cmac.

Assuming we get Flanders and change for 7, would change and what we get for Marshall be enough for Cmac?

No idea.

But yeah they need to get a big fish to shake loose Cmac.

He won’t see game time with them

 

[HillToKing]

Completely agree which begs the question… why did we bring in McRae and what has changed.

I think people are forgetting how solid Macrae was before his injury. Was our most proficient mid.

 

[Mat Mann]

Rosa (Essendon) not ruling out Jack, but hasn't put any time into it yet

 

[saintmike65]

Quite a handy player in my view, but they have loads of depth and so he’s just not going to get time in the midfield. He’s not someone you’d rush out and pay big money or draft picks for, but I’m not sure Flyin is any different. It will be interesting to see who has taken their interest.

Ryan has X factor..

 

[Sainter62]

'Wrapped' instead of 'rapt'. The word is derived from 'rapture' and 'enraptured'. I cringe every time.

a...... and " 's " for plurals or when a player's name ends in s (eg "Higgin's") uggghh

 

[Rogue Warrior]

I do not understand why we’d consider playing Higgins through the middle. The guy is an elite small forward, a proven and deadly goal kicker. Very very hard to replace his goal output. And can’t imagine he’d be anything more than an avg. mid. Just let the Cobblers cobble.

 

[bird_man]

Pigs might fly too , just cant see it happening myself

Ratten tried using Higgins in the midfield at times. It didn't work.

I can't see Ross going down that path.

 

[stavro#4]

akaifu post your shit here man.

 

[Sainter62]

So I’m assuming we want Hawks to get one of Merret/Butters/Humphrey’s etc so that helps us get Cmac.

Assuming we get Flanders and change for 7, would change and what we get for Marshall be enough for Cmac?

Maybe but Hawks aren't getting Humphrey's.

 

[Sully111]

I actually think Higgins would surprise a few if he spent some time in the midfield.

I'm not saying I want it to happen... but he'd go alright. Very smart footballer. Good field kick... makes good decisions.

 

[Armoooo]

So I’m assuming we want Hawks to get one of Merret/Butters/Humphrey’s etc so that helps us get Cmac.

Assuming we get Flanders and change for 7, would change and what we get for Marshall be enough for Cmac?

If Humphreys is available surely we want him to come to us, not hope he goes to another team so we can get the bloke he forces out.

 

[bird_man]

I reckon the Flanders deal will be our first to get done

 

[akaifu]

Craig Cameron saying Flanders deal is getting to a comfortable position - just a couple things to iron out

 

[Tommy Wigs]

No idea.

But yeah they need to get a big fish to shake loose Cmac.

He won’t see game time with them

I know Cmac is still young, but it’s kind of why I’m not into him at a reasonably significant cost.

 

[Joffaboy]

Gold Coast seem pretty comfortable with the Flanders deal.

 

[stavro#4]

Sounds like Flanders is nearly done according to GC

 

[stavro#4]

what a shit show

 

[akaifu]

Fiorini decision imminent today - may affect Steele if Bombers aren't picked