List Mgmt. 2025 Draft/Trade/FA Thread – everything must go!

[Scythe]

Just pinning this, as per previous years. Thanks as always to Lore.

Final trade/FA period results
Out:

• Charlie Spargo
• Judd McVee
• Christian Petracca
• Clayton Oliver
• Picks 28, 42 and 61
• Melbourne Second-Rounder (2026)
• Melbourne Third-Rounder (2026)
• Melbourne Fourth-Rounder (2026)
• Melbourne Fourth-Rounder (2027)

In:

• Jack Steele
• Changkuoth Jiath
• Brody Mihocek
• Max Heath
• Oscar Berry (Rookie)
• Picks 7, 8, 37 and 71 (2025)
• GC First-Rounder (2026)
• GWS Third-Rounder (2026)
• GC Third-Rounder (2027)

 

[Demon Attack]

Oldest trick in the book. Leak that the Dees are keen and it probably adds 50k to the offer. Entire league has been doing it for years.

 

[Topkent]

Oldest trick in the book. Leak that the Dees are keen and it probably adds 50k to the offer. Entire league has been doing it for years.

I reckon the blokes go back and sign for 50 less when they realise we're the alternative

 

[mrmonkey]

I feel like we are like North when they apparently had a big war chest for a big fish but constantly getting knocked back. It's quite the embarrassment.

 

[stEdy]

Talking about BIG FISH, how about the BIGGEST FISH of them all?

Kozz for BIG SEAN DARCY

4

Sean Darcy

Age

27

Ht

203cm

Wt

111kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.1

3star

K

3.4

1star

HB

6.6

4star

CL

2.4

4star

HO

28.8

5star

D

6.8

1star

K

2.0

1star

HB

4.8

3star

CL

1.8

4star

HO

20.3

5star

D

11.4

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

6.8

5star

CL

2.6

5star

HO

32.0

5star

 

[SugarHealey]

Talking about BIG FISH, how about the BIGGEST FISH of them all?

Kozz for BIG SEAN DARCY

No thanks.
I don't think we need a big lumbering dinosaur.

I would rather go with Verrall... backed up by sDraper.

 

[danster168]

how is Tim Lamb still in a job? The guy wanted to trade 2 firsts for Dan Houston

9

Dan Houston

Age

28

Ht

186cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

11.8

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

3.0

5star

MG

289.2

4star

D

17.6

4star

K

11.6

4star

HB

6.0

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.4

4star

MG

319.9

5star

D

16.6

4star

K

12.4

5star

HB

4.2

4star

M

7.0

5star

T

2.6

4star

MG

279.8

5star

, to get us from 14th to 12th and put us back 10 years. Should've been an instant sacking just for thinking that it was a good idea. That's one thing I'll be forever grateful for was Petracca's antics scaring off Houston. Thank Gosh.

 

[Lord Nev]

 

[Crusty Demon]

Bring him home

 

[Lord Nev]

AND A WATCH ON THREE YOUNG DEMONS… ​

With as many as 18 Melbourne players currently out of contract, a trio of developing prospects — including two untried rookies — have made their way into the notebooks of rival recruiters as they build strong reserves form.

Category B rookie Andy Moniz-Wakefield remains unsigned more than two months after suffering a cruel ACL rupture during match simulation earlier this year.

The 21-year-old dashing defender from Darwin, who was recruited via Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy (NGA) ties to the Northern Territory, played six AFL games last season and showed promising signs.

Moniz-Wakefield, who grew up playing both rugby and football, was viewed as a long-term project with exciting athletic upside.

Meanwhile, two of his uncapped teammates from the 2022 Rookie Draft — Oli Sestan and Will Verrall — are putting together strong VFL campaigns as they push for an AFL debut.

Sestan, a product of Mansfield in country Victoria, has emerged as a reliable ball-winner in Casey’s back half, averaging just under 22 disposals and 7.5 marks per game.

Verrall, a 199cm ruck from south of Adelaide, has been a dominant presence around the ground and is continuing to develop his forward craft.

With plenty of contracts currently up for grabs at Melbourne, foxfooty.com.au understands rival clubs are monitoring the duo closely, while curiosity surrounds the future of Moniz-Wakefield, who has been ruled out for the remainder of 2025.

The trio’s development as two rookie selections and a Category B rookie respectively, paired with their versatility is seen as their biggest drawcard for rival recruiters keeping tabs.

 

[schmuttt]

Would like to see Sestan given a go at years end. The club is kinda starting to sell this as a development year, would be disappointed if he and Brown don't get an extended run before seasons end.

 

[danster168]

Bring him home

pass. it's like going back with an ex. Jackson missed his chance. I think it's a weak move to take him back. He didn't even thank the club or the fans when he left.

 

[Crusty Demon]

pass. it's like going back with an ex. Jackson missed his chance. I think it's a weak move to take him back. He didn't even thank the club or the fans when he left.

Is that something players have to do is it?? Thank the fans when they leave?

We can't attract a fly as a club. Dogga is 10x the player of anyone we've traded in for the last 5-6 years. We don't have a replacement for Max. Plus, I love the Goofy bastard. Bring him home.

 

[JP2]

It's a catch-22 situation. Anyone who wants to be recruited by Melbourne must be crazy and stupid, which is why we shouldn't recruit them.

 

[markm106]

AND A WATCH ON THREE YOUNG DEMONS… ​

With as many as 18 Melbourne players currently out of contract, a trio of developing prospects — including two untried rookies — have made their way into the notebooks of rival recruiters as they build strong reserves form.

Category B rookie Andy Moniz-Wakefield remains unsigned more than two months after suffering a cruel ACL rupture during match simulation earlier this year.

The 21-year-old dashing defender from Darwin, who was recruited via Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy (NGA) ties to the Northern Territory, played six AFL games last season and showed promising signs.

Moniz-Wakefield, who grew up playing both rugby and football, was viewed as a long-term project with exciting athletic upside.

Meanwhile, two of his uncapped teammates from the 2022 Rookie Draft — Oli Sestan and Will Verrall — are putting together strong VFL campaigns as they push for an AFL debut.

Sestan, a product of Mansfield in country Victoria, has emerged as a reliable ball-winner in Casey’s back half, averaging just under 22 disposals and 7.5 marks per game.

Verrall, a 199cm ruck from south of Adelaide, has been a dominant presence around the ground and is continuing to develop his forward craft.

With plenty of contracts currently up for grabs at Melbourne, foxfooty.com.au understands rival clubs are monitoring the duo closely, while curiosity surrounds the future of Moniz-Wakefield, who has been ruled out for the remainder of 2025.

The trio’s development as two rookie selections and a Category B rookie respectively, paired with their versatility is seen as their biggest drawcard for rival recruiters keeping tabs.

I think AMW will re sign. Can’t see us not wanting him and not sure he’d want out.
Sestan has shown some good signs but not sure he has done enough for a debut yet. Could see one coming later in the season. However not sure too many clubs would be making decent offers to him yet.
Verrall a developing ruck. Wouldn’t be getting opportunities anywhere else as yet.
The article seems to be making a story out of nothing TBH.

 

[Topkent]

That's where the stupid Oliver and Brayshaw contracts hurt. We'll lose some fringe players because we've overspent on crap

 

[markm106]

I think there’s definitely something to the Jackson stuff. May well unlock the Kozzy trade.

 

[Undisputed]

When is Jason Taylor going to come under pressure. He has been head of recruiting since 2012 and has continued failed at drafting forward half talent.
Only successful picks have been Hogan, Kosi and Fritsch in 12 years. Now looks like he has wasted two first round picks on Jefferson and Tholstrup which could set us back massively.

If you wonder why we arnt that effective going forward it’s because the lack of pure talent as a forward we have down there, they are workman not class

 

[Jordie_tackles]

When is Jason Taylor going to come under pressure. He has been head of recruiting since 2012 and has continued failed at drafting forward half talent.
Only successful picks have been Hogan, Kosi and Fritsch in 12 years. Now looks like he has wasted two first round picks on Jefferson and Tholstrup which could set us back massively.

If you wonder why we arnt that effective going forward it’s because the lack of pure talent as a forward we have down there, they are workman not class

I think his hands have been tied, he either reaches (which he hasn’t done) or picks best available which he has. I think Jefferson was just a bit of both, look at that draft and he could have picked Weddle but after that there wasn’t much and Jefferson was a need also. Tholstrup is the one with a few others showing more since being drafted.

 

[Daemon]

AND A WATCH ON THREE YOUNG DEMONS… ​

With as many as 18 Melbourne players currently out of contract, a trio of developing prospects — including two untried rookies — have made their way into the notebooks of rival recruiters as they build strong reserves form.

Category B rookie Andy Moniz-Wakefield remains unsigned more than two months after suffering a cruel ACL rupture during match simulation earlier this year.

The 21-year-old dashing defender from Darwin, who was recruited via Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy (NGA) ties to the Northern Territory, played six AFL games last season and showed promising signs.

Moniz-Wakefield, who grew up playing both rugby and football, was viewed as a long-term project with exciting athletic upside.

Meanwhile, two of his uncapped teammates from the 2022 Rookie Draft — Oli Sestan and Will Verrall — are putting together strong VFL campaigns as they push for an AFL debut.

Sestan, a product of Mansfield in country Victoria, has emerged as a reliable ball-winner in Casey’s back half, averaging just under 22 disposals and 7.5 marks per game.

Verrall, a 199cm ruck from south of Adelaide, has been a dominant presence around the ground and is continuing to develop his forward craft.

With plenty of contracts currently up for grabs at Melbourne, foxfooty.com.au understands rival clubs are monitoring the duo closely, while curiosity surrounds the future of Moniz-Wakefield, who has been ruled out for the remainder of 2025.

The trio’s development as two rookie selections and a Category B rookie respectively, paired with their versatility is seen as their biggest drawcard for rival recruiters keeping tabs.

Definitively need to resign all, particularly AMW. I really liked what I saw of him last year.

 

[Demon Attack]

If they had stones and creativity they'd try and trade Lever and back in Turner, he was very effective yesterday with 4 intercept marks. Could probably con a late first or early second for Lever. Should have tried to move May last year.

 

[TheBoss]

Only successful picks have been Hogan, Kosi and Fritsch in 12 years. Now looks like he has wasted two first round picks on Jefferson and Tholstrup which could set us back massively.

Tholstrup actually cost us a first and two seconds

 

[Daemon]

When is Jason Taylor going to come under pressure. He has been head of recruiting since 2012 and has continued failed at drafting forward half talent.
Only successful picks have been Hogan, Kosi and Fritsch in 12 years. Now looks like he has wasted two first round picks on Jefferson and Tholstrup which could set us back massively.

If you wonder why we arnt that effective going forward it’s because the lack of pure talent as a forward we have down there, they are workman not class

I think JT is the guy who deserves the least criticism in the club. I don't think you can blame the lack of development of JVR or Jefferson on him. Most people agreed at the time those were the right moves to make.
The Tholstrup one was a head scratcher - I do think they had a swing at getting picks to trade for Reid, it fell through or we misread WC intentions and then he was left scrambling to pick best available.
You are also omitting a lot of good picks, namely Lindsay and Langford who both look like great pick ups.

 

[Daemon]

If they had stones and creativity they'd try and trade Lever and back in Turner, he was very effective yesterday with 4 intercept marks. Could probably con a late first or early second for Lever. Should have tried to move May last year.

I highly doubt anyone would want Lever. I also think he is pretty happy and wouldn't want a trade.

 

[I Love Lamb]

With the picks we gave up for Tholstrup we could have drafted

Pick 18: Tholstrup (would have been available anyway)
Pick 27: Logan Morris
Pick 35: Joel Freijah

Can add Langford and Windsor to that list also if you want to work out what we offered up for Reid. (Another failure that worked out in our favor for it falling through).

 

[Headless]

(would have been available)

Based on what?