List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion

[StevoJenkins]

I’d be gutted to lose Starce. Such a dependable player. Can’t see him as a midfielder though. If he were to go to WCE he’d be in their top 4-5 players.

I am baffled we are after the likes of Draper and ROB before him. Just far too immobile / inflexible for a modern ruck.

It's not that the club are not after him, he's got deals of multiple different lengths in front of him. He just doesn't want to sign them.

 

[Squizz89]

Without going over old ground because no one really knows what happened, but there were "rumours" at the time that something happened with Starce around the time that the 'Vegas' trip issue reared its head. Now who knows whether or not that is true, and quite frankly it's probably no one's business, but I did find it odd that he only extended for the 1 year around the same time (during that pre season), so maybe he was never going to stay beyond this year from then.

His body language since he's returned from the concussion hasn't been great, and people have commented that he's seemed 'distant', so whilst I hope he does stay, given we're nearly in August and there seems to be no sign of an imminent extension I'd be very surprised if he does.

 

[p4p1]

I’d be gutted to lose Starce. Such a dependable player. Can’t see him as a midfielder though. If he were to go to WCE he’d be in their top 4-5 players.

I am baffled we are after the likes of Draper and ROB before him. Just far too immobile / inflexible for a modern ruck.

I don't think we have chosen those players above him. All clubs need to have multiple balls in the air to both recruit and retain players.

I'm not sure how Starce would go as a mid either. He is clearly a talented player and would probably be expected to play a Dunkley like role. Starce's biggest problem with us though, is that we have other players on the list who can do a better or as good job as Starce in the midfield (again I haven't seen him as a mid but even if he is brilliant we have other players who are brilliant mids) while the list is very short, if not only a list of himself, of players we have on the list who can do as good of a job as he does in his lockdown defensive role.

 

[p4p1]

Without going over old ground because no one really knows what happens, but there were "rumours" at the time that something happened with Starce around the time that the 'Vegas' trip issue reared its head. Now who knows whether or not that is true, and quite frankly it's probably no one's business, but I did find it odd that he only extended for the 1 year around the same time (during that pre season), so maybe he was never going to stay beyond this year from then.

His body language since he's returned from the concussion hasn't been great, and people have commented that he's seemed 'distant', so whilst I hope he does stay given we're nearly in August and there seems to be no sign of an imminent extension I'd be very surprised if he does.

Outside of the contract decision probably weighing on his mind a bit, there would also be a sense of impending doom that with one more head knock within in the next couple of year, his career is more than likely over. He wouldn't even be able to play community for a local team if he was medically retired I would assume. Being a footballer is such a large part of any footballers identity that I would imagine it would be really hard to come to terms with.

 

[Warwick]

We’re a team with a lot of important, young pieces we’ll need to lock up over the next 2-3 years. Spending a significant lump on a slow ruckman who can’t move up forward seems foolish to me. I would dare say Draper and ROB are the most, or one of the most, maligned players at Essendon and Adelaide respectively.

If we feel we need a ruck that’s fine. I’d rather we look for someone cheaper capable of competing in the ruck, without it being a significant strength, while remaining competitive when the ball hits the turf. Or have the ability to go forward.

Save the money for Starcevich, Ah Chee, Bailey, etc.

 

[p4p1]

Rucks will also become far less important if the quick ball up/throw in is bought in by Greg Swann as expected.

Or will having two rucks often on the field at the same time become needed?
IE you're resting ruck up forward takes care of everything in the front third to half of the field, while the ruck that is playing in the middle does the rest and doesn't roam into the forward 50?

 

[p4p1]

We’re a team with a lot of important, young pieces we’ll need to lock up over the next 2-3 years. Spending a significant lump on a slow ruckman who can’t move up forward seems foolish to me. I would dare say Draper and ROB are the most, or one of the most, maligned players at Essendon and Adelaide respectively.

If we feel we need a ruck that’s fine. I’d rather we look for someone cheaper capable of competing in the ruck, without it being a significant strength, while remaining competitive when the ball hits the turf. Or have the ability to go forward.

Save the money for Starcevich, Ah Chee, Bailey, etc.

Who else of AFL quality is available that we wouldn't have to trade for? I think lack of availability is a huge issue and why some guys (think the Essendon McKay) are able to demand huge money because the talent pool of AFL level players at that side is so small.

 

[Jimmy Two Hands]

We’re a team with a lot of important, young pieces we’ll need to lock up over the next 2-3 years. Spending a significant lump on a slow ruckman who can’t move up forward seems foolish to me. I would dare say Draper and ROB are the most, or one of the most, maligned players at Essendon and Adelaide respectively.

If we feel we need a ruck that’s fine. I’d rather we look for someone cheaper capable of competing in the ruck, without it being a significant strength, while remaining competitive when the ball hits the turf. Or have the ability to go forward.

Save the money for Starcevich, Ah Chee, Bailey, etc.

You have to grade rucks on a curve due to scarcity in the position. We are looking for a ruckman whose age profile fits our mids, has forward nous and can play as sole/primary ruck. That aint cheap.

 

[Tom14]

Without going over old ground because no one really knows what happens, but there were "rumours" at the time that something happened with Starce around the time that the 'Vegas' trip issue reared its head. Now who knows whether or not that is true, and quite frankly it's probably no one's business, but I did find it odd that he only extended for the 1 year around the same time (during that pre season), so maybe he was never going to stay beyond this year from then.

His body language since he's returned from the concussion hasn't been great, and people have commented that he's seemed 'distant', so whilst I hope he does stay, given we're nearly in August and there seems to be no sign of an imminent extension I'd be very surprised if he does.

I don't really have much/any inside info on anything but I do not think he had anything to do with the 'Vegas' situation. I don't think he was even on that trip.

Certain other players though...

 

[briztoon]

I’m not sure Starcevich really fits in at WC.

They have Hough and Ginbey already playing the same role in defence, and both have shown they average at best, when played through the midfield.

And they’re wanting to add a third similar player.

 

[briztoon]

They’d need to trade to avoid stuffing their compo for Allen. Wonder if we could get one of their picks in the late teens there. Although probably gets swallowed up in the Annable bid. A future pick ?

Would still prefer he stays myself, but I think it’s unlikely now.

They’d walk him through the PSD, before trading a pick of any value for Starcevich.

 

[Perrip]

Without going over old ground because no one really knows what happens, but there were "rumours" at the time that something happened with Starce around the time that the 'Vegas' trip issue reared its head. Now who knows whether or not that is true, and quite frankly it's probably no one's business, but I did find it odd that he only extended for the 1 year around the same time (during that pre season), so maybe he was never going to stay beyond this year from then.

Bit odd if true. If he was considering leaving already because of the Vegas drama, why wouldn't he just see out his contract last year and get traded to another club instead of extending before he was OOC?
The decision to extend him for a year is more so down to him getting to free agency more than anything, in my opinion.

 

[Sproj]

So I guess as things stand, it looks like:

Out: Starcevich, Ah Chee
In: Draper, Allen

I really hope the two outs becomes re-signings but I guess it is what it is.

FB: Zorko, Payne, Lester
HB: Wilmot, Andrews, Answerth
C: Fletcher, McCluggage, Berry
HF: Cameron, Hipwood, Ashcroft
FF: Rayner, Allen, Morris
Fol: Draper, Dunkley, Neale

Int: Coleman, Ashcroft, Marshall, Bailey, Annable

 

[KissKiss]

I’m not sure Starcevich really fits in at WC.

They have Hough and Ginbey already playing the same role in defence, and both have shown they average at best, when played through the midfield.

And they’re wanting to add a third similar player.

And they drafted Bo Allen that they also seem to be playing more off the backline rather than as a mid. Actually they seem allergic to actually bringing actual pure mids as I dont think Baker is one either.

Going after Dev, Tunstill, Davies, Knevitt, Brew, DeMattia, etc. Plenty of pure mids around the VFL who cant crack their AFL teams would be a better fit than another backline player who might want to play midfield

 

[StevoJenkins]

So I guess as things stand, it looks like:

Out: Starcevich, Ah Chee
In: Draper, Allen

I really hope the two outs becomes re-signings but I guess it is what it is.

FB: Zorko, Payne, Lester
HB: Wilmot, Andrews, Answerth
C: Fletcher, McCluggage, Berry
HF: Cameron, Hipwood, Ashcroft
FF: Rayner, Allen, Morris
Fol: Draper, Dunkley, Neale

Int: Coleman, Ashcroft, Marshall, Bailey, Annable

Ah Chee is the weird one of the two.

We've heard a decent amount about Starce with the whole concussion thing, wanting to be a mid, etc., but have heard nothing about Ah Chee.

No contract he's pondering on, no deals offered, not even rival clubs inquiring, nothing.

Either means he's trying to keep building his value, the club hasn't offered him anything, or he might just retire for some unknown reason.

 

[Squizz89]

I don't really have much/any inside info on anything but I do not think he had anything to do with the 'Vegas' situation. I don't think he was even on that trip.

Certain other players though...

Just as an aside the rumour that I was referencing wasn't to do with the trip itself, but popped up at the same time as the rumours around the 'Vegas' trip.

It may not have anything to do with it and as Perrip said it may be it was as simple as taking the extra year to take him through to FA (certainly feasible and likely), or perhaps something more private, which we will never know.

In either which way, the end result is the same and it's looking increasingly likely that he is going to leave. As others have said it leaves a big hole down back especially next year with Noah out for at least the first few months you'd think.

 

[Lace Out]

They’d walk him through the PSD, before trading a pick of any value for Starcevich.

When was the last time a club played that trick ?

 

[Tom14]

When was the last time a club played that trick ?

Adelaide with Jackson Hately immediately comes to mind.

 

[pod17]

When was the last time a club played that trick ?

I hear you, but there is no reason for them to pay fair market price.

They’ve got cap space, have the first pick in the PSD and won’t sign him as an FA to preserve their compensation for Allen.

It’s certainly an option that’s in play, whilst admittedly not overly common.

 

[Dalions]

I hear you, but there is no reason for them to pay fair market price.

They’ve got cap space, have the first pick in the PSD and won’t sign him as an FA to preserve their compensation for Allen.

It’s certainly an option that’s in play, whilst admittedly not overly common.

After we hand them pick 2 on a platter, we will get reasonable compensation for Starce, but it most certainly won’t be a first round pick.
A pick in the 30’s would probably be reasonable under the circumstances.

 

[twhowler]

After we hand them pick 2 on a platter, we will get reasonable compensation for Starce, but it most certainly won’t be a first round pick.
A pick in the 30’s would probably be reasonable under the circumstances.

Yeah i can't recall a situation where a club does the PSD thing while also getting a juicy pick for a FA from the same club.

Starce at his best - 26yo peak of his powers elite small / mid defender - is what pick 15? Given the concussion, and the fact we get Allen free of charge, pick 30 or so is going to be something both clubs can live with

I wonder if Ah Chee is a product of all the irons in the fire - Allen, Draper, Strace. And he is waiting to see the money left. He is 28yo by end of year, last big contract and at the peak of his powers, so he is entitled to get a good payday.

That said the zero we are hearing about him is weird. Love cal, hope he stays

 

[T Rick]

Lingering contract uncertainty seems to affect player performance in many cases. Neither Ah Chee or Starce seem to be bubbling over in their enthusiasm for the game at the moment and neither of them are in peak form. It must be unsettling...

 

[rye]

I’m not sure Starcevich really fits in at WC.

They have Hough and Ginbey already playing the same role in defence, and both have shown they average at best, when played through the midfield.

And they’re wanting to add a third similar player.

the essendon / carlton approach to list management

draft a bunch of flankers and then wonder why the ass falls out of your midfield most weeks.

 

[JasRulz63]

the essendon / carlton approach to list management

draft a bunch of flankers and then wonder why the ass falls out of your midfield most weeks.

The irony is now Essendon have a bunch of midfielders that can't play other positions (Hobbs, Tsatas, Caldwell, Setterfield, Parish etc.)

 

[briztoon]

When was the last time a club played that trick ?

Carlton with the forward from GC, think it was Martin.