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
​

 

[stavro#4]

The official rules doc (Feb 2025) says 2, I believe it has been that way ever since list sizes were reduced to 44

https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2025/02/13/b37f8086-9a25-44de-9c9d-ba7df30004ba/AFL-Rules-effective-14-February-2025-Final-.pdf

View attachment 2469619-

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but then the draft guide (Nov 2025) says 3

https://play.afl/sites/default/files/2025-10/2025%20Telstra%20AFL%20Draft%20Booklet.pdf

View attachment 2469620

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in the absence of any change being communicated, I am more inclined to believe the first document, but who knows?

Hypothetically speaking, if they have committed a Rookie spot to Tex - then they wouldn’t be any shorter on numbers if the below comes into play, which would mean:

38 senior listed players (2 vacancies)
3 rookies cat A (1 vacancy)
3 rookies Cat B (no vacancies)
1 indigenous Rookie (1 Vacancy - Tex)

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

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

Well, we do need a good small back-pocket to take on the oppo small damaging forwards.
But going by his video package, he likes to get forward.
We need to become successful in recruiting a good Irishman.
We've only had flops uptil now.

 

[Parkysp]

We are now a club that is attractive to both indigenous and Irish talent.

I think it’s absolutely fantastic.

We’ve carved a recruiting strategy that is strategic, logical but requires limited draft capital.

If it comes up trumps then we have fast tracked our progression.

Patience is required with the Irish lads. It’s a long term investment.

LOC looked very promising early in the season. Tough as nails too. With another season I'd expect of mainly VFL games in 2026 then hopefully he's a walkup replacement for Jimmy who I think we'll continue to miss enormously next year.

 

[nikkig98]

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

tbf he's only 17 as well. Eamonn Armstrong has gone from 191 to 194 since we picked him. Hopefully Kobe is 181-184cm by the time he develops

 

[g_TRAIN]

One of these Irish lads is bound to make it sooner or later. With the amount we've had were due a gun soon.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Them's some proper wheels on that kid.

Good poise & composure too, to slot that goal after that run.

 

[stfan]

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

His Dad, Ciarán McDonald was 183cm.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

tbf he's only 17 as well. Eamonn Armstrong has gone from 191 to 194 since we picked him. Hopefully Kobe is 181-184cm by the time he develops

Hopefully your right about Eamonn being 194cm.
He's quick & a bull at it.
That bald nut of his will put a hole in someone.

 

[kosifantutti]

Can we start trolling Geelong by saying we now have the Irish Daicos?

He’s better than that. He’s the Irish NWM.

 

[g_TRAIN]

He’s better than that. He’s the Irish NWM.

Imagine the two of them on a 10 bounce length of the field 1-2 ing it all the way.

 

[stfan]

Hopefully your right about Eamonn being 194cm.

Reported on 12 June.

"Armstrong is understood to have grown an inch this year and is now 194cm and 95kg."

Gaelic young gun winging his way to Saints

After signing with St Kilda last year Eamonn Armstrong has finished studies and is heading to Moorabbin

www.afl.com.au

 

[stfan]

That bald nut of his will put a hole in someone.

According to his Mum, his hair has started growing back since he arrived in Melbourne. First hair growth in his head since before puberty.

 

[DougalHoward]

According to his Mum, his hair has started growing back since he arrived in Melbourne. First hair growth in his head since before puberty.

Must be the sunlight

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Reported on 12 June.

"Armstrong is understood to have grown an inch this year and is now 194cm and 95kg."

Gaelic young gun winging his way to Saints

After signing with St Kilda last year Eamonn Armstrong has finished studies and is heading to Moorabbin

www.afl.com.au

Maybe he can be the cover for King then.
The couple of times I've seen him, he kinda looked better as a forward.
Small package though.

 

[austinnn]

According to his Mum, his hair has started growing back since he arrived in Melbourne. First hair growth in his head since before puberty.

(Hunter Clark has entered the conversation)

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Reported on 12 June.

"Armstrong is understood to have grown an inch this year and is now 194cm and 95kg."

Gaelic young gun winging his way to Saints

After signing with St Kilda last year Eamonn Armstrong has finished studies and is heading to Moorabbin

www.afl.com.au

Was listed as 191cm when we first recruited him

 

[TheJackal]

Maybe he can be the cover for King then.
The couple of times I've seen him, he kinda looked better as a forward.
Small package though.

Poor bloke, being outed on an internet forum. If you're reading this Eammon - its not the size mate, its what you do with it that matters (or at least all my partners have told me that).

 

[SainterinSydney]

Poor bloke, being outed on an internet forum. If you're reading this Eammon - its not the size mate, its what you do with it that matters (or at least all my partners have told me that).

I mentioned awhile back when I attended the training session after our famous win over Melbourne that I spoke at length with Eamonn after the training session. A ripper kid and you could see he was really happy to be down here in Australia. Has good muscle definition already but will get even better with a couple of pre-seasons under his belt. Very exciting to see our Irish brigade grow.

 

[Irishman abroad]

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

He is from my home county back home so I have been watching this closely , have watched him play when he was a young cub. He is at least 190cm ( 6ft 3 ) as a gaelic footballer he has it all , pace , skill and vision and most important of all work rate so hopefully all those skills transfer over to afl. A huge loss to my county back home , but i wish the lad nothing but the best with his new career , hope it goes great for him . I will be keeping a close eye on his progress as I do with all the irish who play over here .

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Poor bloke, being outed on an internet forum. If you're reading this Eammon - its not the size mate, its what you do with it that matters (or at least all my partners have told me that).

Well, yeah l agree with ya, but wasnt actually my point

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

He is from my home county back home so I have been watching this closely , have watched him play when he was a young cub. He is at least 190cm ( 6ft 3 ) as a gaelic footballer he has it all , pace , skill and vision and most important of all work rate so hopefully all those skills transfer over to afl. A huge loss to my county back home , but i wish the lad nothing but the best with his new career , hope it goes great for him . I will be keeping a close eye on his progress as I do with all the irish who play over here .

Good to have you on board Kobe!

 

[Joffaboy]

We are now a club that is attractive to both indigenous and Irish talent.

I think it’s absolutely fantastic.

We’ve carved a recruiting strategy that is strategic, logical but requires limited draft capital.

If it comes up trumps then we have fast tracked our progression.

Patience is required with the Irish lads. It’s a long term investment.

I would be amazed to see Armstrong before 2027 in the seniors and this kid 2028.
Certainly a slow burn.

 

[Irishman abroad]

Good to have you on board Kobe!

 

[gringo2011]

Next Trade Period, I think the Suns will do what they did this trade period, trade off a player, or players, who is good but fringe Best 23 to them, or just talent youth that cannot crack their Best 23, so that they can bring in someone who should improve their Best 23. ie Petracca.

This draft they get two Top 5 picks at a discount. Both players are good enough to play many games in 2026 at most clubs, but who will struggle to edge into a stellar midfield.

Given that leaping rucks are now advantaged in the centre and Witts is 33, I could see them wanting a leaping ruckman next trade period.

Moyle looks a ready to go ruck and Knobel is a pretty good back up. I think monsters like Witts will still have a place too. He's huge and combative.

Definitely will have players bleeding out as they get access to more anymore talent.

 

[gringo2011]

Yes I was surprised, reckon he goes alright

He's very good but injury prone. I think they are going to re rookie him anyway.