List Mgmt. 2026 List Management

[The Blue Weirdo]

Derksen was behind some real quality defenders at GWS, with a genuine opportunity whilst Dean & O'Farrell are developing he may be a geninue acquisition for the next 2-3 years.

Hopefully common sense prevails and Motlop is put on the LTI, very few have a 6month recovery not worth the risk at his stage of his career.

Pretty sure Derkson's also held down a Key Forward role recently in the NT.
Looking like a decision between a mature Ethan Phillips(slow, pure defender) and Derkson(young developing swingman)
I think we're fairly covered for key defenders.

 

[Espio]

I'm sorry but Cody plays nothing like butters more like his dad.

Jaggas skillset is alot similar to butters.

I get butters will cost a fortune but thats the skillset of list management of structuring contracts in the right way for the future of the club, other clubs can do it to keep been competitive year after year.

At least you know your not over paying for a player who pisses off the fans with underperformance and regular injuries.

Ok, so let's say the club is prepared to let go of Cody in order to trade for Butters (we simply will not get him as a free agent), what do we give up?

Our pick 5-10? +
Swans pick 8-14?
future first 5-15 ?

So basically our entire draft hand for 2 years (when all accept we have gaps in our list) and I doubt Port would be keen, that is before you mention the best part of 2 million a year for 8-9 years.

Seems like alot to give up for a guy who is obviously an outstanding player, but do we really need him this much?. I'm sure we would love to watch Cody tear up the competition for years from the sideline.

That is before you even consider that there is every chance Butters doesn't want to come here.

 

[Benaly28]

It’s great talking about hypertheticals but there is zero chance Butters comes to Carlton.

 

[Soapy V]

He can’t play against the Cats unless he is added to the list first.

and that's the issue. Need to see him in games with a bit more pressure. In match sims done some okay things but hard to really tell if he's up to it

 

[Blue__Balls]

I'm sorry but Cody plays nothing like butters more like his dad.

Jaggas skillset is alot similar to butters.

I get butters will cost a fortune but thats the skillset of list management of structuring contracts in the right way for the future of the club, other clubs can do it to keep been competitive year after year.

At least you know your not over paying for a player who pisses off the fans with underperformance and regular injuries.

Conversely, I think part of the skillset of list management is drafting the Butters-type players and getting plenty of good footy out of them for less than the market rate, rather than picking them up at the peak of their value.

As you say, Jagga has some similarity to Butters, and I reckon will develop more of the hard edge as his body matures. Makes me think our currency is better spent elsewhere, rather than going all in on "Jagga Senior".

 

[Soapy V]

Pretty sure Derkson's also held down a Key Forward role recently in the NT.
Looking like a decision between a mature Ethan Phillips(slow, pure defender) and Derkson(young developing swingman)
I think we're fairly covered for key defenders.

Are we? Weitering then who?

Young is handy depth and fills both ends plus Ruck. IMO he's the only other genuine Key position defender if needed. Given our lack of Key Forwards & Rucks he may be needed in other areas if we get an injury

Haynes is a third tall. Dean isn't strong enough yet and O'Farrell is injured.

I think we are at least 2-3 genuine Key Position players on our list for 2026. Problem is they aren't easy to find

 

[The Blue Weirdo]

Are we? Weitering then who?

Young is handy depth and fills both ends plus Ruck. IMO he's the only other genuine Key position defender if needed. Given our lack of Key Forwards & Rucks he may be needed in other areas if we get an injury

Haynes is a third tall. Dean isn't strong enough yet and O'Farrell is injured.

I think we are at least 2-3 genuine Key Position players on our list for 2026. Problem is they aren't easy to find

I'm planning on Weiters and Young getting through this season unscathed...Derkson or Phillips as backups?
More concerned with assisting Harry down the other end.
No doubt we've got salary cap room for next year...do we try and coax Ben King over on big money, or use those funds in another area?

 

[Soapy V]

I'm planning on Weiters and Young getting through this season unscathed...Derkson or Phillips as backups?
More concerned with assisting Harry down the other end.
No doubt we've got salary cap room for next year...do we try and coax Ben King over on big money, or use those funds in another area?

If you look at Lions list they have 10 KPPs listed plus 3 ruckman

We have 7 KPPs (that includes Duffy, Dean and HOF) and 2 ruckman. We are light on and must be addressed at years end

Personally, I don't think King is the answer as he will cost a lot and limit us in other areas. We need to chase some developing KPP looking for a chance (is there a Patrick Voss out there?) plus draft 1 or 2 but they don't grow on trees

 

[DEliades]

It’s great talking about hypertheticals but there is zero chance Butters comes to Carlton.

Not according to my contacts. We’re right in the mix

 

[JJBagger]

Not according to my contacts. We’re right in the mix

Same. I’ve heard from people in the recruiting teams at other clubs say that we are as likely as anyone at the moment to land him

 

[Blue__Balls]

Same. I’ve heard from people in the recruiting teams at other clubs say that we are as likely as anyone at the moment to land him

Sounds like they're really saying "we have no idea where he's going so I guess Carlton are as good a chance as anyone"

The way these things seem to go, his manager has probably been working quietly on a deal with his preferred club for the last 12 months.

 

[Beyond Blue]

Dean will play from R0 and HOF was already in the team last year - and we're bringing in Derksen to go with Young and Weit. There's a fair bit of depth there.

My point was Austin didn’t act quick enough to address the issue. Whilst he has now with HOF and Dean there was an opportunity to compete for a flag during the 2023 to 2025 years and it was lost in no small part due to our lack of depth down back. It was a known weakness for a while, indeed in 2022 we had to firstly move Kemp from back to forward and then get Sam Durdin in the mid season draft because we were caught short in the key defence stocks. Going into 2024 we were in the mix for the flag. We needed a ready made option at key defender. He didn’t get one. In 2024 we were exposed badly down back. This is despite it being a known weakness and us needing to address it.

At the end of 2024 when he picked up HOF, a long term prospect requiring time to develop but hardly someone who was going to be able to be relied upon if we went deep into finals. Dean will similarly take time to be a very good key defender. Good for the future but by the time they come on we may need to replace McKay Cripps, Hewett (Cur is already gone). At the end of 2023 we had the good right to think we were pretty close to a flag. He didn’t act and missed our opportunity. At the end of 2025 we were forced into a reset, this despite a decade of rebuilding with limited results outside of good second half of a season in 2023 and the first half of the 2024. We may also need a further significant reset in 2-3 years when Hewett, Cripps, Weitering and McKay start declining/leaving. Hardly great list management.

 

[juzza316]

Sounds like they're really saying "we have no idea where he's going so I guess Carlton are as good a chance as anyone"

The way these things seem to go, his manager has probably been working quietly on a deal with his preferred club for the last 12 months.

Of course they won't rule any club out this early, they will want clubs making offers to drive his price up.

We would be next to no chance of landing him.

 

[Blueyourmyboy!!]

Ok, so let's say the club is prepared to let go of Cody in order to trade for Butters (we simply will not get him as a free agent), what do we give up?

Our pick 5-10? +
Swans pick 8-14?
future first 5-15 ?

So basically our entire draft hand for 2 years (when all accept we have gaps in our list) and I doubt Port would be keen, that is before you mention the best part of 2 million a year for 8-9 years.

Seems like alot to give up for a guy who is obviously an outstanding player, but do we really need him this much?. I'm sure we would love to watch Cody tear up the competition for years from the sideline.

That is before you even consider that there is every chance Butters doesn't want to come here

Ok, so let's say the club is prepared to let go of Cody in order to trade for Butters (we simply will not get him as a free agent), what do we give up?

Our pick 5-10? +
Swans pick 8-14?
future first 5-15 ?

So basically our entire draft hand for 2 years (when all accept we have gaps in our list) and I doubt Port would be keen, that is before you mention the best part of 2 million a year for 8-9 years.

Seems like alot to give up for a guy who is obviously an outstanding player, but do we really need him this much?. I'm sure we would love to watch Cody tear up the competition for years from the sideline.

That is before you even consider that there is every chance Butters doesn't want to come here.

You are assuming port want picks only. They probably want a balance with players going back the other way.

We wasted a massive opportunity to grab butters last trade period knowing port can match anyway in his FA year so it's a year lost. He wasn't happy he was ready to go. You go hard for stars Judd was the last and got the team off the bottom to finals, I reckon butters drives the team from scrapping in to finals to top 4. The team then would have the belief to to go all the way.

 

[JJBagger]

Sounds like they're really saying "we have no idea where he's going so I guess Carlton are as good a chance as anyone"

The way these things seem to go, his manager has probably been working quietly on a deal with his preferred club for the last 12 months.

Well seeing as one of the clubs recruiting teams I’ve heard from is one that are considered amongst the favourites for him, I think they would have a reasonable idea on what the state of play is

 

[teddy-hopkins]

My point was Austin didn’t act quick enough to address the issue. Whilst he has now with HOF and Dean there was an opportunity to compete for a flag during the 2023 to 2025 years and it was lost in no small part due to our lack of depth down back. It was a known weakness for a while, indeed in 2022 we had to firstly move Kemp from back to forward and then get Sam Durdin in the mid season draft because we were caught short in the key defence stocks. Going into 2024 we were in the mix for the flag. We needed a ready made option at key defender. He didn’t get one. In 2024 we were exposed badly down back. This is despite it being a known weakness and us needing to address it.

At the end of 2024 when he picked up HOF, a long term prospect requiring time to develop but hardly someone who was going to be able to be relied upon if we went deep into finals. Dean will similarly take time to be a very good key defender. Good for the future but by the time they come on we may need to replace McKay Cripps, Hewett (Cur is already gone). At the end of 2023 we had the good right to think we were pretty close to a flag. He didn’t act and missed our opportunity. At the end of 2025 we were forced into a reset, this despite a decade of rebuilding with limited results outside of good second half of a season in 2023 and the first half of the 2024. We may also need a further significant reset in 2-3 years when Hewett, Cripps, Weitering and McKay start declining/leaving. Hardly great list management.

I agree we were one good tall defender short in 2024. Young has never really taken that spot. 2025 was a bit different as SOS did make it his own and Haynes also came in for support in the air.

But right now if Derksen gets a spot and HOF seems to be ahead of schedule and Dean looks good - the depth is definitely there. Weit will play R0. You've got to be happy with where it's at now?

 

[Stamos]

My point was Austin didn’t act quick enough to address the issue. Whilst he has now with HOF and Dean there was an opportunity to compete for a flag during the 2023 to 2025 years and it was lost in no small part due to our lack of depth down back. It was a known weakness for a while, indeed in 2022 we had to firstly move Kemp from back to forward and then get Sam Durdin in the mid season draft because we were caught short in the key defence stocks. Going into 2024 we were in the mix for the flag. We needed a ready made option at key defender. He didn’t get one. In 2024 we were exposed badly down back. This is despite it being a known weakness and us needing to address it.

At the end of 2024 when he picked up HOF, a long term prospect requiring time to develop but hardly someone who was going to be able to be relied upon if we went deep into finals. Dean will similarly take time to be a very good key defender. Good for the future but by the time they come on we may need to replace McKay Cripps, Hewett (Cur is already gone). At the end of 2023 we had the good right to think we were pretty close to a flag. He didn’t act and missed our opportunity. At the end of 2025 we were forced into a reset, this despite a decade of rebuilding with limited results outside of good second half of a season in 2023 and the first half of the 2024. We may also need a further significant reset in 2-3 years when Hewett, Cripps, Weitering and McKay start declining/leaving. Hardly great list management.

It was defence from stoppages that killed us when we fell apart in 2024, not the lack of another key defender.

 

[Soapy V]

Well seeing as one of the clubs recruiting teams I’ve heard from is one that are considered amongst the favourites for him, I think they would have a reasonable idea on what the state of play is

I have no doubt we will be asking the question. Davies & maybe Boak will have a good idea of what he wants to do

Issue I have and with our list issues it’s a big commitment with picks and money.

As good as Butters is I just don’t see him as a priority with our list the way it is. We need KPPs & a Ruck and we needs picks for Walker.

If Charlie went for three first rounders and Hayward what would Butters cost?

 

[Blue__Balls]

Well seeing as one of the clubs recruiting teams I’ve heard from is one that are considered amongst the favourites for him, I think they would have a reasonable idea on what the state of play is

Fair, though they're hardly going to be broadcasting that this far out.

I think with these big name players there are two "types".

Those who want the best deal possible and will let their manager go hunting for deals and playing clubs off against eachother.

And those for whom money is secondary, whose decision will be based on factors such as location, personnel/relationships and perceived chances of success. Those players will give their manager a club, and while the manager may try to eke out a few extra bob, the focus for them becomes much more on the logistics of the deal/trade to ensure they don't end up with a Merrett/Hawthorn situation.

Which Butters is I'm not sure, but I'd guess he's more the latter than the former. His manager will play the game, but I'd be astounded if the destination club hasn't been pretty much locked in now....subject to them being able to do the deal of course.

 

[gbatman]

I have no doubt we will be asking the question. Davies & maybe Boak will have a good idea of what he wants to do

Issue I have and with our list issues it’s a big commitment with picks and money.

As good as Butters is I just don’t see him as a priority with our list the way it is. We need KPPs & a Ruck and we needs picks for Walker.

If Charlie went for three first rounders and Hayward what would Butters cost?

Is he actually gettable via free agency?

The way I see being able to do it is Cerra traded out, Butters comes to us on a back loaded contract where he's paid the majority after Cripps retires. Our cap should already be fairly healthy. Just seems doable to me.

I think we will find a way to get talls and a ruck. I am all for a mixture of a senior ruck/KPP or two who have a few years left and some draftees. Just who those names are I am not sure yet. A similar scenario to us getting Haynes and Essendon getting Goldstein. A quality older player or two for cheap plus some tall kids in the draft works IMO.

Could always wait and see where Jed Walter is at years end too if he fits our needs. He's a key forward, how would he go as a CHB? Is he versatile? I am not sure we will need a front line key tall though but lets see. Would someone like Witts for a few years do it if he is gettable?

I don't think we will be looking for best 22 talls at the end of the year so much but definitely looking for reserves and depth.

 

[marcmurphy3]

The issue with Butters is you got to cough up the cash and the picks. Would potentially be ok with one or the other but not both.

If we were interested , however, I could see a world where he might pick us. We are a big club, arent rubbish (decent list) and actually have the currency, plus the port connection.

I wouldnt rule us out but it depends on several factors. A big one is what they do with the fs rule. Under current rules we could have a crack at butters and still get Codey. Under whats being proposed itd be tough.

 

[JJBagger]

I have no doubt we will be asking the question. Davies & maybe Boak will have a good idea of what he wants to do

Issue I have and with our list issues it’s a big commitment with picks and money.

As good as Butters is I just don’t see him as a priority with our list the way it is. We need KPPs & a Ruck and we needs picks for Walker.

If Charlie went for three first rounders and Hayward what would Butters cost?

Doesnt strike me as a deal Davies and Wright would do if it would destroy our cap. I see it’s as - if we are in for him, it must be possible to do a deal that is reasonable

 

[Benaly28]

Not according to my contacts. We’re right in the mix

Happy to have a little wager if you like.

Will end up at Dogs worse case hawks.

 

[Beyond Blue]

Well seeing as one of the clubs recruiting teams I’ve heard from is one that are considered amongst the favourites for him, I think they would have a reasonable idea on what the state of play is

But how? We’ve just come out of salary cap hell and the only way to get Butters would be to put a godfather offer to get him and stop Port matching.

If Port matched them we cannot get Cody which would be a disaster for us given he has nominated us. It would turn away potential future father sons from nominating us.

Also why? Isn’t Jagga practically a clone of Butters? We’d go from having too many bigs in the middle to having too many small midfielders overnight!!!!

 

[Beyond Blue]

It was defence from stoppages that killed us when we fell apart in 2024, not the lack of another key defender.

It was a bit of both for me. I remember some tall forwards getting a hold of us in that losing run, blokes like JUH, Georgiades, Hogan, Gunston etc.