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
​

 

[pluggeranddoc]

The new Gws contract for Aleer was 2 years @ 200k per season l believe.

Which poses the question “ what did we see that made us offer similar $$(alleged) to Wilkie?”

I don’t see walking away as the problem , more the ridiculous chase/offer in the first place.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Not too much pressure

Given this write up, the pressure on him might be less if he moves to Australia.

McDonald proves the future has arrived - GAA - Western People

Every county has its prodigies, its whispered names who might one day step into the breach. But Kobe McDonald seems to have no interest in taking the ...

www.westernpeople.ie

On the basis of his "step" - yes please

 

[pluggeranddoc]

Watters went and bought in an asisstant coach with out talking to anyone

if Lyon did the same it would be OK
Watters didn’t have runs on the board yet and was taking advice from Malthouse

 

[ScrappyDo]

if Lyon did the same it would be OK
Watters didn’t have runs on the board yet and was taking advice from Malthouse

Watters and Naeld both from under Malthouse and both went about trashing their new clubs and never got another gig. You can argue the points but they were clearly poisonous.

 

[pluggeranddoc]

Watters and Naeld both from under Malthouse and both went about trashing their new clubs and never got another gig. You can argue the points but they were clearly poisonous.

Watters’ Malthouse-like attitude probably guaranteed hid downfall by alienating the remaining senior players

 

[Moral Decay]

Watters made appointment(s) without board's approval. Board sat down with him and the agreement was reached. No more without approval. Watters immediately (next day?) got on a plane for the assistant coach. Really left the board with no other option, he'd agreed to oversight then..............

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

Watters made appointment(s) without board's approval. Board sat down with him and the agreement was reached. No more without approval. Watters immediately (next day?) got on a plane for the assistant coach. Really left the board with no other option, he'd agreed to oversight then..............

Was walking around Seaford introducing Ashley Prescott as the new assistant while the board were sacking him.

Watters had alienated more than the senior players, there was going to be a walk out of staff across the club if he had stayed.

An abrasive little turd was how he was described to me.

 

[Joffaboy]

He's described by his manager Colin Young as an Irish Paddy Dangerfield

So he is an Irish ball butcher?

 

[Joffaboy]

if Lyon did the same it would be OK
Watters didn’t have runs on the board yet and was taking advice from Malthouse

Not under this regime. He reports to Dilena who reports to the board. If the correct processes and due diligence has not been followed the board would not sign off.
As opposed to what you are led to believe Lyon is not Beveridge and has a strong CEO and board in place. Currently there is simpatico between board, admin and football department
The reason why we are very strong and stable off field

 

[akaifu]

So I think Kobe McDonald is 178cm (correct me if I'm wrong) - contrary to our other 2 Irish guys who are 189cm+

He must have some really nice athleticism + some serious upside with his AFL skills to have captured interest from 3+ AFL clubs

A midfielder in Gaelic - probably a mid/HB in AFL? A bit shorter than Hanley/Tuohy but hopefully could still project to having their sort of rebound from defence

 

[thekizzler]

I know it's a bit of a crazy idea, but If Max King performs really well next year and it's certain the injuries are not persistent, I'd love to investigate the possibility of getting his brother Ben to St Kilda as a free agent.

I reckon that the club is working on it, but if Max ends up a bust, I'd hope we'd just move on.

Just the sight of the two twin towers in Saints colours roaming our F50 would be box office for the AFL and us.

I know the thought and romance of this sounds amazing.

And many teams have multiple tall forwards that successfully function together.

But I just can't see a world where the club would go for this or even Ben King would go for this.

It would be difficult to sustain two low-possession key forwards, that don't pinch hit ruck or provide much forward pressure.

This isn't a slight on either King - as at their best they kick 50-plus goals but I think they would struggle to play together and the team system would struggle as a result of it.

You look at Adelaide's key forward setup and each tall has their own different role that suits their attributes.

And finally, rightly or wrongly, Max was always seen as the king of the King's. That's probably changed because of Ben's results while Max is injured. But with both King's having tasted the status of the being the no.1 key forward, you wouldn't see many players bump themselves down to No.2 when they are still to reach their prime.

We can spend our money better elsewhere than Ben - assuming Max gets up and going again.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Haven't been keeping a close eye on things - didn't realise Byrnes and Jones had been delisted.

Understand it with Jones but I'll be surprised if we don't relist Byrnes in SSP

​

St Kilda​

In: Tom De Koning

12

Tom De Koning

Age

26

Ht

201cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.0

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.0

4star

CL

0.5

2star

HO

1.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.0

4star

CL

0.5

3star

HO

1.5

5star

and Jack Silvagni

1

Jack Silvagni

Age

27

Ht

194cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.9

4star

MG

176.9

3star

D

5.3

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

1.3

1star

M

1.7

2star

T

0.7

1star

MG

91.0

2star

D

9.2

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.8

5star

MG

131.4

3star

(Carlton/free agency), Sam Flanders (Gold Coast/trade), Liam Ryan

1

Liam Ryan

Age

29

Ht

181cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

2.7

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.3

5star

D

9.9

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.3

3star

T

1.6

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

11.4

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.6

5star

(West Coast/trade)
Out: Harry Boyd (delisted), Ryan Byrnes

13

Ryan Byrnes

Age

24

Ht

181cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

5.0

1star

K

2.0

1star

HB

3.0

3star

M

0.0

1star

T

2.0

4star

MG

1.0

1star

D

5.0

1star

K

2.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

0.0

1star

T

2.0

3star

MG

1.0

1star

D

5.0

1star

K

2.0

1star

HB

3.0

3star

M

0.0

1star

T

2.0

4star

MG

1.0

1star

(delisted), Zaine Cordy

21

Zaine Cordy

Age

29

Ht

195cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

180.4

3star

D

8.1

2star

K

6.4

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

2.9

3star

T

1.9

3star

MG

180.4

3star

D

6.8

2star

K

3.8

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.8

4star

(delisted), Max Heath (Melbourne/trade), Zak Jones

3

Zak Jones

Age

30

Ht

182cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.8

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

3.0

5star

CL

1.7

4star

D

19.1

4star

K

10.6

4star

HB

8.6

4star

M

3.4

3star

T

3.1

4star

CL

4.9

5star

D

7.0

2star

K

2.8

1star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.0

1star

T

1.6

4star

CL

1.0

3star

(delisted), Angus McLennan (delisted), Arie Schoenmaker (delisted), 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

(Melbourne/trade), Jimmy Webster

29

Jimmy Webster

Age

32

Ht

188cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.7

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

6.8

4star

M

3.7

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

288.1

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.2

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

3.6

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.8

4star

(retired)
Contracted: 39 (two category B rookies)
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 50, 65, 86, 104

Jack Silvagni

1

Jack Silvagni

Age

27

Ht

194cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.9

4star

MG

176.9

3star

D

5.3

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

1.3

1star

M

1.7

2star

T

0.7

1star

MG

91.0

2star

D

9.2

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.8

5star

MG

131.4

3star

and Tom De Koning

12

Tom De Koning

Age

26

Ht

201cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.0

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.0

4star

CL

0.5

2star

HO

1.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.0

4star

CL

0.5

3star

HO

1.5

5star

have both left the Blues, bound for St Kilda.Credit: Getty Images

The retooled Saints will make up to two selections at the national draft, with one or two rookie upgrades to satisfy league requirements. Byrnes will have the chance to train with the club in the pre-season in a bid to potentially return via the pre-season supplemental selection period.

 

[akaifu]

 

[akaifu]

Haven't been keeping a close eye on things - didn't realise Byrnes and Jones had been delisted.

Understand it with Jones but I'll be surprised if we don't relist Byrnes in SSP

​

St Kilda​

In: Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni (Carlton/free agency), Sam Flanders (Gold Coast/trade), Liam Ryan (West Coast/trade)
Out: Harry Boyd (delisted), Ryan Byrnes (delisted), Zaine Cordy (delisted), Max Heath (Melbourne/trade), Zak Jones (delisted), Angus McLennan (delisted), Arie Schoenmaker (delisted), Jack Steele (Melbourne/trade), Jimmy Webster (retired)
Contracted: 39 (two category B rookies)
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 50, 65, 86, 104

Jack Silvagni and Tom De Koning have both left the Blues, bound for St Kilda.Credit: Getty Images

The retooled Saints will make up to two selections at the national draft, with one or two rookie upgrades to satisfy league requirements. Byrnes will have the chance to train with the club in the pre-season in a bid to potentially return via the pre-season supplemental selection period.

So Ralphy has reported that Byrnes will be selected in the rookie draft, then corrected it saying he will be selected in the national draft, and now apparently he won't be selected at either draft

Wtf is wrong with this guy

 

[Diehard Saint]

Watters made appointment(s) without board's approval. Board sat down with him and the agreement was reached. No more without approval. Watters immediately (next day?) got on a plane for the assistant coach. Really left the board with no other option, he'd agreed to oversight then..............

Think the final straw was a radio appearance he made when he was told not to.

 

[XhazzafootyX]

So Ralphy has reported that Byrnes will be selected in the rookie draft, then corrected it saying he will be selected in the national draft, and now apparently he won't be selected at either draft

Wtf is wrong with this guy

It’ll be a rookie draft selection

 

[Joffaboy]

So we beat out another couple of clubs for a signing.
Colin Young has Armstrong as a client plus four of our indigenous players. So much for agents not wanting to deal with us after Aleer.
Like our clubs out of the box thinking. We can't get access to fake northern clubs NGA's so we pick the eyes out of the best Irish players.
Good long term strategy. LOC seems a player, Armstrong is the right size, this kid apparently can play.
Good stuff

 

[Diehard Saint]

So we beat out another couple of clubs for a signing.
Colin Young has Armstrong as a client plus four of our indigenous players. So much for agents not wanting to deal with us after Aleer.
Like our clubs out of the box thinking. We can't get access to fake northern clubs NGA's so we pick the eyes out of the best Irish players.
Good long term strategy. LOC seems a player, Armstrong is the right size, this kid apparently can play.
Good stuff

Was always going to come to us with our two other Irish guys I think. Helps with homesickness.

 

[TheJackal]

Yeeeeha! Must've been my sneaky insta follow last night the got him over the line. BTW, what exactly is the legal drinking age in Ireland anyway? Shame we delisted Arie, could've bought him him his beers over here

But honestly, his Dad was a star, I'm pretty excited by what he might become! Great get by us!

 

[SainterinSydney]

I love this by us. At least one of these kids will be a gun. Our Irish Academy!

 

[Broski]

Do you reckon the club is tired of winning this offseason?

 

[akaifu]

That's a half back if I've ever seen one

 

[akaifu]

Was always going to come to us with our two other Irish guys I think. Helps with homesickness.

Brisbane have 2 other Irish guys and 3 girls in their AFLW program

The premiers still couldn't beat us to this signing

We're doing something right...

 

[CaptainRisky]

Which poses the question “ what did we see that made us offer similar $$(alleged) to Wilkie?”

I don’t see walking away as the problem , more the ridiculous chase/offer in the first place.

Yep , never understood why they were even after him , all show and no go

 

[ScrappyDo]

So Ralphy has reported that Byrnes will be selected in the rookie draft, then corrected it saying he will be selected in the national draft, and now apparently he won't be selected at either draft

Wtf is wrong with this guy

Very likely a shifting narrative from the club also.
Makes you think possibly 2 players in the ND, but a bit rough on Monty. He'd be looking for a new club right now if it's true. Being amongst the SSP pool at your existing club basically says you're not a want.