List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion - Part V

[Hubnester]

2025 List Management Discussion - Part 5

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
​

 

[CHBench]

Jon Ralph -

Essendon is unlikely to secure St Kilda captain Jack Steele

9

Jack Steele

Age

30

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

given his desire to remain at Moorabbin as the stalemate continues over Zach Merrett.

Essendon has admired Steele from afar for his hard nut approach and leadership but has not met him and has been told he wants to stay at St Kilda.

There is enough time for the Dons to make a pitch to lure him across but their view is that he is more likely to stay.

Hawthorn has made clear it is not interested in trading No. 7 draft pick Cam Mackenzie and there has been no discussion on other players like Hawks tall forward Mitch Lewis.

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www.heraldsun.com.au

Somewhat relieved about McKenzie tbh - would be buying at a high on potential

 

[stavro#4]

Jon Ralph -



Somewhat relieved about McKenzie tbh - would be buying at a high on potential

Ralph also the guy who made up a rumour about De Goey

 

[magd2992]

St Kilda: put in best offers to trade for Flanders and Ryan quickly in the first part of trade period
Media: they paid overs
Media: why didn’t they get something coming back the other way for Flanders?
Media: Flanders is worth a 2RDP
Media: Why are St Kilda in such a rush to get a deal done for Ryan? They should draw out negotiations and get a better deal
Fans: ahahaha! Ripped off!

St Kilda: take the same approach to the Aleer trade
GWS: no
St Kilda: ok. We’re out.
Media: WAR CRIMINALS. TRY THEM IN THE HAGUE!
McCartney: My middle name is empathy.
Gubby: … and who are you?

 

[SaintersUnite]

Jed Walter anyone?

 

[Hayes4PM]

Jed Walter anyone?

 

[CHBench]

Ralph also the guy who made up a rumour about De Goey

That's true. Where did the Ivan Soldo rumour come from? Ralph? Because I'm convinced that's made up too

 

[stavro#4]

That's true. Where did the Ivan Soldo rumour come from? Ralph? Because I'm convinced that's made up too

Tom Morris.

 

[bird_man]

All he has to do is be as good as keeler as a fwd (and keep him in the vfl) and it's a win for us.

You're the only one saying he needs to be a big threat up forward.
All he has to be is decent (as i said in my first post)

Keeler was able to average a goal a game which three times TDK's average

Whether it's a "decent" or "big" threat you are after, TDK has not managed to be either in his 100 games.

We'd be mad to play him 50% of the time forward after the evidence he has shown us as a forward.

The only way I can see it work is if Marshall plays majority of the game as a forward and just pinch hitting in the ruck.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

He's worth a future second, was worth that when he was touted for us and is still worth that

Not theirs

 

[Yawkey way]

Blues fans said the same for years before finally giving up and realising he's not a forward. Not even close.

In the games he played along side Pittonet this year he averaged 14 disposals, 14 hit outs and 0.16 goals a game. Every stat dropped dramatically when Pittonet came into the side.

He's also not that good of a pack mark other than taking the odd one now and then. He sits equal 80th in the comp this year for contested marks.

No idea why you think things are going be so different for him at our club than it has been at Carlton for years.

We’ve just bought a Leyland P76 then ?.

If he’s so poor why did we want him ? Why are we paying him huge money ?.

My son in law is a mad Carlton fan and he loved him and really rates him. The guy was playing injured for most of the season, when Pittonet playing they didn’t need him up forward with two big forwards.

This is just one of those arguments that makes zero sense imo. A 200cm plus, mobile, athletic marking player with a good kicking action can’t rest forward. It’s like saying he can’t drop back and help out in defence, what’s the difference except he’s not kicking at goal after he marks.

Roma gets back and takes quite a few saving marks, he still has to read the ball off the boot, in flight, position himself and mark under pressure.

I know the games changed but I remember when a resting ruck was standard fare and a good big man could dominate a game. We’ve been too small and weak in the air for years. I fancy a ruckman a kick behind the play forcing teams to avoid them with riskier kicks etc.

Roma and TDK wouod have to be the strongest combination in the league, I say find a way to smash teams with it.

 

[BrutThough]

Jon Ralph -



Somewhat relieved about McKenzie tbh - would be buying at a high on potential

I love that Steele is backing himself in to perform next year and earn a spot.

 

[mighty_sainters]

Jed Walter anyone?

Willing to sell my soul to make this happen.

 

[Yawkey way]

I love that Steele is backing himself in to perform next year and earn a spot.

I’d love to see him fit and back to his best.

I’d put money on a fit steele playing every game, he gets so little respect on here. If our midfield was ordinary it’s worth remembering he was our best for years. Maybe with some help he’d have been even better, maybe we’ll find out.

 

[bakes10]

I love that Steele is backing himself in to perform next year and earn a spot.

Same here. I really respect his want to stay and this will only help our culture

 

[bird_man]

We’ve just bought a Leyland P76 then ?.

If he’s so poor why did we want him ? Why are we paying him huge money ?.

My son in law is a mad Carlton fan and he loved him and really rates him. The guy was playing injured for most of the season, when Pittonet playing they didn’t need him up forward with two big forwards.

This is just one of those arguments that makes zero sense imo. A 200cm plus, mobile, athletic marking player with a good kicking action can’t rest forward. It’s like saying he can’t drop back and help out in defence, what’s the difference except he’s not kicking at goal after he marks.

Roma gets back and takes quite a few saving marks, he still has to read the ball off the boot, in flight, position himself and mark under pressure.

I know the games changed but I remember when a resting ruck was standard fare and a good big man could dominate a game. We’ve been too small and weak in the air for years. I fancy a ruckman a kick behind the play forcing teams to avoid them with riskier kicks etc.

Roma and TDK wouod have to be the strongest combination in the league, I say find a way to smash teams with it.

I have never said I don't rate him. He is a quality mobile ruck.

But he's not a forward.

Why are we paying him big money? I presumed it was to get a younger possible upgrade for Marshall, which would then give us the opportunity to trade Marshall if a good deal came our way. Effectively paying for draft picks while hopefully getting an upgrade.

I also never said he couldn't rest forward. Of course he can, it's just a matter of how effective he is there.

Both are good footballers, but I'm not sure both are needed in the same side. I only see it working if Marshall plays as key forward. And if that's the case I think he's worth a lot more to Geelong than he is for us. He'd likely just be a goal a game key forward that you can find cheaply or even off our list. I think we could fill some more needed holes with what we could get for him.

 

[Yawkey way]

Willing to sell my soul to make this happen.

Not quite but he’s a brute and will be a very good player for someone.

 

[saintmike65]

If Steele goes, and Macrae is in the midday show I think we’re going to need a player like Rowbottom who is happy to do the grunt work against the oppositions contested players

Boxshall, Macrae, Windhager & Garcia all capable of grunt work...plus Steele for that matter

Cox and soldo can heck right off
Chuck mitch in as back up and tell him to hunt the pill
Throw hammer in
Titanic even
Keeler would be fine cmon he isn't made of glass ffs
Back Godson in

Pussy footng about with soldo and his bimbo is laughable
Cox is just a flat out no.

 

[ScrappyDo]

We’ve just bought a Leyland P76 then ?.

If he’s so poor why did we want him ? Why are we paying him huge money ?.

My son in law is a mad Carlton fan and he loved him and really rates him. The guy was playing injured for most of the season, when Pittonet playing they didn’t need him up forward with two big forwards.

This is just one of those arguments that makes zero sense imo. A 200cm plus, mobile, athletic marking player with a good kicking action can’t rest forward. It’s like saying he can’t drop back and help out in defence, what’s the difference except he’s not kicking at goal after he marks.

Roma gets back and takes quite a few saving marks, he still has to read the ball off the boot, in flight, position himself and mark under pressure.

I know the games changed but I remember when a resting ruck was standard fare and a good big man could dominate a game. We’ve been too small and weak in the air for years. I fancy a ruckman a kick behind the play forcing teams to avoid them with riskier kicks etc.

Roma and TDK wouod have to be the strongest combination in the league, I say find a way to smash teams with it.

I'm of the same opinion. Find a way to make it work and it's party time.

 

[saintmike65]

I’d love to see him fit and back to his best.

I’d put money on a fit steele playing every game, he gets so little respect on here. If our midfield was ordinary it’s worth remembering he was our best for years. Maybe with some help he’d have been even better, maybe we’ll find out.

He'll need to play close to his best to justify his salary

 

[beside the seaside]

Jed Walter anyone?

 

[BrutThough]

I’d love to see him fit and back to his best.

I’d put money on a fit steele playing every game, he gets so little respect on here. If our midfield was ordinary it’s worth remembering he was our best for years. Maybe with some help he’d have been even better, maybe we’ll find out.

Every side need a hard tackling mid. I like that it puts pressure on Garcia and Boxshall to perform.

And without the captaincy, we might be able to manage him throughout the season better.

Same here. I really respect his want to stay and this will only help our culture

He might not be captain anymore but it's his form of leadership.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Jed Walter anyone?

 

[The_Steadier]

We'd be mad to play him 50% of the time forward after the evidence he has shown us as a forward.

The only way I can see it work is if Marshall plays majority of the game as a forward and just pinch hitting in the ruck.

Well strap yourself in to watch us be mad I guess

 

[_Maximus_12]

Boxshall, Macrae, Windhager & Garcia all capable of grunt work...plus Steele for that matter

Boxshall and Garcia are unproven, Macrae doesn’t have a great deal of versatility to play other roles and Windhager has never had high impact as a contested footballer.

If we’re going to push into the finals mix, we need someone who can do that at a high level.

 

[Yawkey way]

I have never said I don't rate him. He is a quality mobile ruck.

But he's not a forward.

Why are we paying him big money? I presumed it was to get a younger possible upgrade for Marshall, which would then give us the opportunity to trade Marshall if a good deal came our way. Effectively paying for draft picks while hopefully getting an upgrade.

I also never said he couldn't rest forward. Of course he can, it's just a matter of how effective he is there.

Both are good footballers, but I'm not sure both are needed in the same side. I only see it working if Marshall plays as key forward. And if that's the case I think he's worth a lot more to Geelong than he is for us. He'd likely just be a goal a game key forward that you can find cheaply or even off our list. I think we could fill some more needed holes with what we could get for him.

The part two to the TDK deal was always trading Marshall.

I think we’ve had a rethink because we see the possibilities and want some cover against king not standing up with his injury history. Also Geelong are hard to deal with and have lowballed us yet again despite what they say. A late first in this draft just isn’t worth it.

He’s contracted and his contract was front loaded, add a player, add another pick, then maybe it becomes more tempting. They 100% aren’t getting Curnow, again they could make that trade work but don’t want to give up players.

We’ve done the right thing saying yeah nah click. This mobs mo is to get you talking in good faith only to refuse to shift off their original offer. Getting locked into talks with them raises the expectation of the player and they feed the media constantly. We’re dumbfounded, player x wants to come, we’ve made a fair offer Wah Wah, we’re honest as the day is long.

Get caught cheating the cap and the league just shrugs, stop helping them for goodness sake.