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
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[SainterinSydney]

Bitter sweet seeing the news with Steele. We’re clearly being a serious football club, but it sucks to see Jacks career at St Kilda end in this fashion, in fact he does leave. A shining light for all of us through some shocking years, including Covid.
A respected footballer and a decent man.

Would love to see him part of the flag if he could find a different role in the team.

 

[Joffaboy]

Also explains the no captains speech at the B&F. We had no captain.

 

[Southeastsainter]

Hope Steele stays! Some people on here happy to toss him away like he’s some spud.

I rate that we have told him you’re not a guarantee to play midfield anymore. Could add something different to our forward line, at least we know he will bring elite tackling/ pressure.

If he does go I hope it’s not in Victoria, I’d be sick watching him run out for Collingwood etc.

 

[The_Steadier]

A Jack Steele unburdened by captaincy and performance expectations is the Jack Steele I want at the Saints

Would tip him to go up a cog or several next year

I think his bung knee has equally been a burden.
He's had patches where he has been running with far more freedom- and looked like the steele of old.

Eg- he started 2024 like a house on fire (last column is SC scores):


I'm sure the captaincy has had some effect on his performance- but it's just a sideshow to the main cause which has been his body imo.

 

[Silkie]

If Butler goes there's room for Steele to play that similar high pressure tackling forward role. Obviously totally different players but rotating Steele through the forwards does provide a bit more defensive balance.

 

[SainterinSydney]

If Butler goes there's room for Steele to play that similar high pressure tackling forward role. Obviously totally different players but rotating Steele through the forwards does provide a bit more defensive balance.

Question is if Steele is quick enough?

 

[Anythings_sipposible]

If the worse case is Steele stays on and replaces Zac Jones as midfield depth, then that's a pretty good position to be in!

 

[Hayes4PM]

Just fell to my knees in Jayco… talking about him as a hypothetical trade and then seeing a club statement are 2 very different things

 

[Silkie]

Question is if Steele is quick enough?

It would have to be a different role, more of a lock down defensive forward that can still take an overhead mark. Scenes if he had a Geary on Daniel-esque performance in our return to finals!

 

[The_Steadier]

Question is if Steele is quick enough?

No. But not due to lack of sprint speed... jack runs in straight lines these days cos his knee wont let him change direction quickly.

If steele is going to play in the fwd line- it would be in competition with owens for a marking fwd spot, not butler etc as a small pressure fwd.

 

[bird_man]

Hope Steele stays! Some people on here happy to toss him away like he’s some spud.

I rate that we have told him you’re not a guarantee to play midfield anymore. Could add something different to our forward line, at least we know he will bring elite tackling/ pressure.

If he does go I hope it’s not in Victoria, I’d be sick watching him run out for Collingwood etc.

Owens - Sharman - Hall
Ryan - King - Higgins

Fair chance we play a forward/ruck with 5 on the bench

Add in the mid forwards like Pou, Wilson etc that will be rotating through there. I'm not sure how we fit Jack in that forward line.

 

[joydivision22]

Think we've handled it pretty well with that statement.

Happy either way but we'd have to assume he would've been front loaded as well given he's a player with medium-long term contract. If we owe him anything over 750k though next year it wouldn't upset me to see him move on.

Still think he can play a role for us though but not as an inside mid with his body.

 

[SainterinSydney]

Shows how far we have come in last few years. Back then if you had said St Kilda would put out a statement on Steele where we basically are saying he isn't needed for the midfield anymore, you would have been put in a straight jacket.

 

[SaintlyHymns]

I think he stays. I don't think that many clubs in a premiership window would be chasing him (maybe C'wood if he comes cheap).

He'd get starting mid at WC or GWS and that might be it.

Other than that I love if he takes the challenge head on and finds another spot. Boak did it at Port - split his time between half forward, wing and mid and was great for three seasons.

 

[SainterinSydney]

If we land Flanders and Trac goes to GC, I think Melbourne and Bombers will enter the chat regarding Steele.

 

[Aces High]

Reads like the club is trying to do the best thing by Jack in a tough situation.

Better they are upfront and honest that he will be playing reduced minutes and give him the opportunity to go to another club if he wants to extend his career.

If Jack stays, I think he still has a lot to give the Saints… off field mentors are going often unheralded. Plus, maybe without the captaincy duties he can get back to some great form.

In any case, I hope the club recognises Jack’s service as player and captain. A bright spark during some tough years. I’m sure they will.

 

[Southeastsainter]

Owens - Sharman - Hall
Ryan - King - Higgins

Fair chance we play a forward/ruck with 5 on the bench

Add in the mid forwards like Pou, Wilson etc that will be rotating through there. I'm not sure how we fit Jack in that forward line.

Not a lock by any stretch, but if needed with injuries etc or Hall playing midfield… I think he could play fwd.

I just don’t like the idea of trading him, unless we get a first rounder then I’d rather him for depth for mid/ fwd.

 

[Sainttony]

If Steele stays, I wonder whether he could become a player like Keays from Adelaide that plays that half forward marking / crumber type position

Or perhaps Jimmy Webster role

 

[Rogue Warrior]

Bombers fans in the bin getting band 2 for Draper too LMAO

Thankgod. I would have been filthy if he’d gotten band 1. As previously stated there’s no way Brisbane could bring in 2 players on band 1 salary.
And not that it factors in but he’s not in the top 10 rucks in the league

 

[bird_man]

Not a lock by any stretch, but if needed with injuries etc or Hall playing midfield… I think he could play fwd.

I just don’t like the idea of trading him, unless we get a first rounder then I’d rather him for depth for mid/ fwd.

If Hall plays midfield someone else has to come out that will likely go forward.

Si if he's just on the list as a back up forward, I can't see him staying.

 

[Geezington]

steele to west coast or Adelaide will be on

 

[Geezington]

steele to west coast or Adelaide will be on

 

[Gavinmitchell11]

Just keep him, there’s some room for sentimentality.
Kicking Rooey out the door was a big mistake.

 

[Red White Black]

 

[akaifu]

Looks so fking good in this graphic