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
​

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Who do we get linked with today?
#DestoClub

 

[Saintbloke]

If King is able to get on the field next season, it will be as if we recruited a 25yo injury-prone forward, who has been out of the game for long periods.

 

[Moquo]

If King is able to get on the field next season, it will be as if we recruited a 25yo injury-prone forward, who has been out of the game for long periods.

...or like a potential superstar has overcome setbacks

 

[Leap of Faith]

Can’t seriously be frustrated with the club for taking a cautious approach with King after trying to rush him back 3 times last year. I’d rather he not come back til Easter if it means we’re setting him up up for a career.

Nah not frustrated with the club. Frustrated with Max King. Not his fault I know. But when the marquee 'generational talent' that a flag quest was supposed to be built around can't get on the park with multiple serious injuries over multiple years - and he just looks fragile and without durability - I start to question building a forward line around him and think we should be looking elsewhere.

 

[thekizzler]

If King is able to get on the field next season, it will be as if we recruited a 25yo injury-prone forward, who has been out of the game for long periods.

Interested to know what people think is King's best role when he does return.

There has been the recent opinion, and when he last played, that he would be better suited to being CHF and pushing up the ground/wheeling back to goal.

But then you have also got what Ben King is doing closer to goal - and you would think a fit Max could do that too.

Thoughts?

 

[Ricmel]

Marshall could be like blicavs. Think its super important we have him in the best 22 next year.

Will be make us a better side. Far more important than a junk end of first rounser which is all geelong will offer.

He has no where near the pace of Biclavs. Biclavs was in 400m qualifying trials for Australia for 2012 Olympics. And that is Biclavs major strength, his ability to get around the ground quickly. Marshall would be lucky to win an egg race.

 

[bakes10]

Nah not frustrated with the club. Frustrated with Max King. Not his fault I know. But when the marquee 'generational talent' that a flag quest was supposed to be built around can't get on the park with multiple serious injuries over multiple years - and he just looks fragile and without durability - I start to question building a forward line around him and think we should be looking elsewhere.

I'm not frustrated with his injuries because something that cannot be controlled. What can be controlled is to lead up at the ball carrier consistently, try and burn your opponent off, and to show some outward grit.

 

[bakes10]

Interested to know what people think is King's best role when he does return.

There has been the recent opinion, and when he last played, that he would be better suited to being CHF and pushing up the ground/wheeling back to goal.

But then you have also got what Ben King is doing closer to goal - and you would think a fit Max could do that too.

Thoughts?

I think we look worst when he plonks himself near goals and calls for the ball on top of his head. His best role is to roam everywhere from FF to Wing.

 

[TheJackal]

I’d say the difference is. Tim actually wanted to stay. We know the situation. He went on and was all Australian and brownlow contender. Cats got rewarded. I’m not sure Marshall playing off the bench out of position most games and ticking over 30 next year is going to land you the same haul. He might be worth a late second rounder in 12 months that’s if any interest at all

Well the Lyon quote said he didn't want to stay, which based on his compelling reasons I tend to believe.

Since you enjoy going onto other boards uninvited, I implore you to use the 'over 30' argument on Essendons board for Merrett. Oh, and playing off the bench? You clearly don't know our plan because he'll spend SFA time on the bench.

Did you know that Marshall was the highest Brownlow vote getter of any non-midfielder just 12 months ago? Did you also know that in that year, St Kilda played Geelong twice and Marshall got 3 votes both times - BOTH TIMES! Do you know why? Because you have no rucks, and the average rucks you do have are among the oldest players in the AFL.

Your team is desperate for a ruckman, you chose to chase our contracted player.

Run along now, only come back if you want to report on how you went on the Bombers board. Otherwise, good riddance, I never want to see you in these parts again.

 

[Lightsxo]

Billings to appear on trade radio. Keen to keep playing.

Tf was #Cho doing retiring him randomly at the Melbourne B&F then ffs.

 

[puppy_dog7]

After watching the very short vid of King running, I can see why they recruited Aleer/JSOS. Fair chance Caminiti will be needed as a full time fwd next year.

Its October.

 

[SainterinSydney]

Totally agree, a few ifs, but I think you could mount the case for another dozen that might move the needle.

Correct, we now have depth across every line. Even someone like Keeler nipping at Kings heels with a big preseason.

Do I genuinely think we win the flag next year? No, but I do think we could end the season with a significant number of players who are rated elite in their role that can take us much deeper than the list we’ve had for 15 years has.

I expect top 8 next year. I think that's a reasonable expectation.

 

[SainterinSydney]

They also require salary to be dumped…

And we want to keep Ro unless we get a good deal. Salary dump makes absolutely no sense. You salary dump a player you don't really want who is on big coin.

 

[SainterinSydney]

Looked proppy AF

I think that's just how he runs.

 

[AaronSCHQ]

I just want to get to round 1 with a fully fit list. A big pre season in everyone.

This is it. We’ve improved the list, that’s the main thing. All we can hope for is 44 odd blokes all fit for round 1. The best 23 and rotations and player positions will work themselves out if we have a full, healthy list to pick from.

Might be one for the Santa list.

 

[Anythings_sipposible]

Geelong's first and second would be equal enough in points to Gold Coasts pick 14. Geelong's Future First seems better not just because it's a better draft but also because we get to death ride Geelong, but if we can't get that I'd be pretty comfortable with, say, Butler and Marshall for 14. Puts us in the Pou, Dovaston, Ludowyke, Farrows territory, all of whom would be well suited. Extra points for Ludowyke because the last key forward we drafted who had a name that was hard to spell turned out alright

 

[Hayes4PM]

Billings to appear on trade radio. Keen to keep playing.

Tf was #Cho doing retiring him randomly at the Melbourne B&F then ffs.

He must hate the site of Cho(de).

 

[SainterinSydney]

The three big tests for us to show that we are a serious threat, in my opinion, are:

1) beat Lions anywhere;
2) beat the Dogs;
3) beat Crows in Adelaide.

 

[MrFoster]

Billings to appear on trade radio. Keen to keep playing.

Tf was #Cho doing retiring him randomly at the Melbourne B&F then ffs.

Because Richo finally realises that Billings wasn’t just underperforming in a poor St Kilda side (he was the coach at the time mind you). Billings should have been our Papley or Toby Green, but he became a vanilla half forward that doesn’t kick goals and can’t get the ball himself.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Billings for one of those extra rookie spots at the Eagles?

 

[saintmike65]

7 years must be all about spreading the celery cap.

It's how the cats and tigers were able to bring in cameron and lynch on a million a year while having maxxed out caps with a top 2 list.

More years on big money deals means more ability to shuffle money back and fwd

Starcevich is a ticking time bomb with his concussion issues.

Indeed, offering a 6 year deal to a guy that's had multiple head knocks seems ludicrous

 

[Remboy]

Just ignore the media.

Yesterday they posted an article clearing up a rumour that no one had heard. They have too much air time to fill and not enough to talk about so most of what they talk about is nonsense.

Spot on. 99% of the stuff they bring up is never going to happen.
So are we getting DeGoey today or what?

 

[AFaiL]

I just want to get to round 1 with a fully fit list. A big pre season in everyone.

with 1000000000000000000 pages of this thread, this is the comment that matters more than ANYTHING else

We have always has some good talent (not GF worthy), but never see it come r1, there are damn well ALWAYS rubbish pre-seasons injuries

I dont care who is on the park come r1, i just want the club to be able to select from a fit list. There is no excuses for pre season injuries

 

[Yawkey way]

Honestly… if the dogs give a **** about having a proper crack before Libba retires, Treloar’s hammies explode and Bont ages out…

The smarter play is probably to hold Sanders for Tassie and fleece them for the picks they have to trade but they need a key defender probably more than any club has ever needed anything

Tassie aren’t the bears, there’s no way teams are going to fleece them with c graders for top picks.

The only way Sanders will get them one of the high tradable picks is to play like someone who’s worth it that they don’t want to loose.

Then of course the player still has to want to go to Tassie and that’s not a given these days.

If trading him to Adelaide with get them Butts then that’s the right play imo.

 

[Hayes4PM]

Billings for one of those extra rookie spots at the Eagles?

Would be a good get for them in a way. Been at 2 different clubs and would have some insights from different players and coaches. Also, stick him in your reserves side and he’d be one of the best at that level, or just plonk him off half back in the 1’s for a year while you develop. He’s a good kick… just not for goal.