List Mgmt. 2025 List Management 📃

[Beyond Blue]

Lohmann, Cameron, Ah Chee, Rayner, McCarthy, and then some

…and you haven’t even named Zac Bailey who would walk into Carlton and be the best small forward we’ve had since Eddie Betts version 1.0. Brisbane are probably the best, followed by Geelong, Sydney, Collingwood, Giants and Hawthorn…hell even St Kilda are better stocked than us!!!

IMO have one of the worst, if not the worst, list of small forwards in the league. A banged up Fantasia and a repurposed small defender (Williams) are our best options. Motlop needs to show something this year otherwise I think we might have a bust. Durdin and Fogarty are midfielders not small forwards. I wish him well but I’m not sure Frank the Tank makes us any better.

I’ve said it a few times, but IMO the success of this team is pegged to how well our forwards, not named Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, play.

 

[Red_man2008]

Will be a little tough for McMahon, Phillips and White to regroup in the twos now with the disappointment.

It was always going to be tough playing on our existing key players. Weitering on McMahon and Charlie Harry being defended by the other two. Young probably did the best as he’s had to do it for many years.

 

[Red Bull]

Hopefully Lemmey this year elevates to a level where he can come in if/when Charlie or H miss through injury.
If he’s left forever in the reserves he’ll become a reserves player … or leave for opportunity elsewhere.
If both the big guns are ever missing at the same time we just do the best we can as no team can insure against that type of scenario.
TDK can go forward with Pitto rucking.
Kemp can be fully utilised forward.
O’Keefe may also take the next step as well …

 

[tarczonandjane]

Plenty of teams effectively make do with one tall forward. They might select two, but the second one is often not much chop.

If one of our big men go down, I am sure we can manufacture something.

 

[Arr0w]

You can manufacture a viable forward line if you are missing 1 or 2 KPFs, you can't manufacture a viable backline if you are missing 1 or 2 KPDs

 

[Soapy V]

In my opinion, Mcmahon is a way better footballer and a greater need than Evans

I have watched a lot of pre season. McMahon wasn't even close. Very good VFL player but he looked an amateur against Weitering Young and Haynes. One on One he was thrashed. Too many times was pushed around and beaten soundly

 

[Soapy V]

Shows what DGB and Phillips put up over pre season

DGB wasn't close and Phillips was just okay. I thought Phillips would be better but one on one he was poor.

I am yet to be convinced about Evans but DGB McMahon Phillips aren't AFL standard. As I said a week or so ago it wouldn't surprised if we look elsewhere if we want another KPP

 

[Soapy V]

Hopefully Lemmey this year elevates to a level where he can come in if/when Charlie or H miss through injury.
If he’s left forever in the reserves he’ll become a reserves player … or leave for opportunity elsewhere.
If both the big guns are ever missing at the same time we just do the best we can as no team can insure against that type of scenario.
TDK can go forward with Pitto rucking.
Kemp can be fully utilised forward.
O’Keefe may also take the next step as well …

Lemmey has really improved. Looks more mature and starting to impact. I am not sure he's ready yet but he is on right track. The talent is there

We have multiple forward options if needed

 

[AlecDuncan]

Remember when we took a post-national draft punt on young small forwards like Betts and Garlett?

Just sayin'.

 

[Soapy V]

Yes

I am actually excited by our small forwards this year. They just need to stay fit

Motlop is flying and has genuine X factor
Williams has nearly been the best all pre season and gives us something very different. Also a good mark for his size
Fogarty is fit and hard at it
Fantasia has surprised me. Looks great and running well. Has pace
Durdin has a couple of niggles but pace is obvious
Moir I don't class as a small but is building. Could be anything and is a real point of difference
Add Docherty & Elijah at times

There is some real talent there. They just need to work as a group in offence and defence and in pre season they have

When you put them around Charlie, McKay, TDK, Kemp and sometimes Cripps that is a potential Premiership forward line IMO. It's just how we deliver it is the key

 

[bigm386]

Following in from the Francis Evans recruitment conversation vs taking a KPP.

I think we made the right call personally.

KPP and Rucks is a very delicate list balancing act, because of the limited amount of spots within the 22 and often versatility of these types of players.

Perfect example is Pittonet a good AFL level ruckman but when we play him with our two tall forwards and TDK we can be exposed for pace.

Similar situation is occuring at GWS at the moment. They have Jack Buckley, Sam Taylor and Himmelberg as the first choice KPD's which meant Haynes was missing out last year and Leek Aleer isn't getting a game who would be best 22 at a number of clubs.

We currently have two lock in tall forwards in McKay and Curnow. With a few third tall options and Lemmy as the backup who has been playing forward and back. Reality is a lot would have to go wrong to not have a tall option up forward (see late last season vs Westcoast and Saints) before depth is an issue with key forwards.

Key backs we have Weitering and Young plus a developing O'Farrell and Lemmy (again also forward). Plus a range of medium defenders who can play tall Hayes, JSOS/Kemp, McGovern, Cowan and Duffy developing. Keeping in mind Young struggled to get a game in 2024 it seems we prefer Weitering with 2-3 Medium defenders playing tall and small.

I don't think KPP depth or talent is our issue at all based on the above. But in saying that we probably need to look at long term prospects in the next few drafts post McKay, Curnow and Weitering hopefully many years from now .

Now when I look at our genuine small forwards.

We have Motlop who is largely unproven, FoG who is critical for me just for defensive pressure but struggles to impact the scoreboard and Williams who is still unknown. Is Francis Evans going to be the answer, I mean odds would say no. But do I think that is more of a need than KPP yes.

Players like Durdin, Cotts, Fantasia and Moir are more medium HF types for me. Not true crumbing smalls which is why I split out the two.

Summary I think we have a better list balance going into 2025.

 

[DangerousD]

Very surprised about the Evan’s pick up, I haven’t seen any pre season or any of his matches, so i have no idea why he was delisted by two clubs or how he has trained, my surprise comes from imo having good depth in the small forward area and really thin depth in the KPP in the squad.

Austin has in the past done very well with the mature age pick ups, so i need to back him in here and hope the staff have seen a player that can play 1st team football.

Good luck Francis, third times a charm

 

[Blue_Fusion]

Both things can be true.

On SM-F946B using BigFooty.com mobile app

Yeah I think I'm done with this now. Whatever happens, happens... I've given my opinion on it.

 

[Soapy V]

Very surprised about the Evan’s pick up, I haven’t seen any pre season or any of his matches, so i have no idea why he was delisted by two clubs or how he has trained, my surprise comes from imo having good depth in the small forward area and really thin depth in the KPP in the squad.

Austin has in the past done very well with the mature age pick ups, so i need to back him in here and hope the staff have seen a player that can play 1st team football.

Good luck Francis, third times a charm

Whatever people think of the decision the Club had DGB, McMahon, Phillips, White, Evans, Durdin, M.Carroll with them for 12 weeks or more, under their noses, in match sims, training everyday and mixing with the team.

Each player was given every possibility to impress. The coaches would have got to know each playing intimately. Can't fault this

I actually believe our recruitment processes are the best they have ever been

 

[DangerousD]

Whatever people think of the decision the Club had DGB, McMahon, Phillips, White, Evans, Durdin, M.Carroll with them for 12 weeks or more, under their noses, in match sims, training everyday and mixing with the team.

Each player was given every possibility to impress. The coaches would have got to know each playing intimately. Can't fault this

It’s a good point, its been said before and ill mention it again, it was strange to me that we would ask guys to train for the SSP spots, who we already knew for a considerable amount of time.

I really doubt McMahon, Durdin or White could have shown a hell of a lot more than what they have since joining us, Carrol is a bit different as he was injured mostly and Evan’s came from outside.

I wonder if it would have been better inviting one or two other outside players to try out.

Im happy for Carrol and im interested in your observation that Evan’s was doing some training at half back.
‘
We still have the potential for another list addition and if history is anything to go by, i think we will have another come MSD draft time, so it would pay for those who missed out to work hard and have a good start to the VFL or wherever they play this year.

 

[Soapy V]

It’s a good point, its been said before and ill mention it again, it was strange to me that we would ask guys to train for the SSP spots, who we already knew for a considerable amount of time.

I really doubt McMahon, Durdin or White could have shown a hell of a lot more than what they have since joining us, Carrol is a bit different as he was injured mostly and Evan’s came from outside.

I wonder if it would have been better inviting one or two other outside players to try out.

Im happy for Carrol and im interested in your observation that Evan’s was doing some training at half back.
‘
We still have the potential for another list addition and if history is anything to go by, i think we will have another come MSD draft time, so it would pay for those who missed out to work hard and have a good start to the VFL or wherever they play this year.

Fair comment. All I will say is it's different in a full time AFL environment getting a full pre season and competing against the best. You get to really see all of them

McMahon & Phillips are classic examples. I have seen both at VFL and looked good. I was keen for either but after seeing them against our Senior players day in day out it became very obvious they aren't up to it OR have real weaknesses they need to go work on before getting another go

 

[JustaBattler]

As in genuine 2nd KPD - small forwards have been absent and are the missing pieces at the Club.

 

[Beyond Blue]

I am actually excited by our small forwards this year. They just need to stay fit

Motlop is flying and has genuine X factor
Williams has nearly been the best all pre season and gives us something very different. Also a good mark for his size
Fogarty is fit and hard at it
Fantasia has surprised me. Looks great and running well. Has pace
Durdin has a couple of niggles but pace is obvious
Moir I don't class as a small but is building. Could be anything and is a real point of difference
Add Docherty & Elijah at times

There is some real talent there. They just need to work as a group in offence and defence and in pre season they have

When you put them around Charlie, McKay, TDK, Kemp and sometimes Cripps that is a potential Premiership forward line IMO. It's just how we deliver it is the key

I hope you are right. Personally I think Williams and Fantasia are our best small forward options with Motlop the unknown. He has talent but he needs to rebound from last year’s nightmare. I want to cut him some slack for injuries but his performances in that final stretch of the year from the Hawthorn game to the Brisbane final were just so terrible. Most of the time he looked confused or disinterested.

As for the rest, IMO Fog and Durdin are both midfielders trying to be repurposed as small forwards. Neither have any real goal sense and care barely kick 40 metres. Whilst they can bring good pressure at times neither warrant any real attention from their opponents because they don’t hit the scoreboard. As a result their opponents can zone off them at will to block space for Harry and Charlie to lead into, forcing players up the field to bomb the ball long into them.

From what I’ve seen of Evans he has better goal sense than both and can bring as good pressure so it wouldn’t surprise me if he plays a lot. That it itself is a bit of an indictment on the current small forwards options on our list. It’s been a problem for years dating back really to Betts first leaving, essentially overlooked by two differentiated management regimes.

 

[LanceRomance]

As in genuine 2nd KPD - small forwards have been absent and are the missing pieces at the Club.

There is always some rando small forward that pops up for a season or two during a clubs premiership run. Then they kind of disappear.

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

I hope you are right. Personally I think Williams and Fantasia are our best small forward options with Motlop the unknown. He has talent but he needs to rebound from last year’s nightmare. I want to cut him some slack for injuries but his performances in that final stretch of the year from the Hawthorn game to the Brisbane final were just so terrible. Most of the time he looked confused or disinterested.

As for the rest, IMO Fog and Durdin are both midfielders trying to be repurposed as small forwards. Neither have any real goal sense and care barely kick 40 metres. Whilst they can bring good pressure at times neither warrant any real attention from their opponents because they don’t hit the scoreboard. As a result their opponents can zone off them at will to block space for Harry and Charlie to lead into, forcing players up the field to bomb the ball long into them.

From what I’ve seen of Evans he has better goal sense than both and can bring as good pressure so it wouldn’t surprise me if he plays a lot. That it itself is a bit of an indictment on the current small forwards options on our list. It’s been a problem for years dating back really to Betts first leaving, essentially overlooked by two differentiated management regimes.

Motlop is far from "unknown".

From all reports was flying last pre season too, got injured, then injured again... and seemed to bulk up too much....

In 2023 towards the end of the season, he came in and had a real impact. Finished the year with 24 goals from 21 games (1 or 2 sub roles in there?)...

His last 9 games yielded 14 goals, including 4 vs. Port.

Career average 1.1 goals a game is tidy given he can only get better (and in a stronger team).

He's now fitter, faster, stronger - and only just 21yo.

I'm expecting 35-45 goals from him this year.

That will put him in KP territory.

 

[Zlatan]

As in genuine 2nd KPD - small forwards have been absent and are the missing pieces at the Club.

What doesn’t help is how often they’ve been unavailable; Williams, Motlop, Durdin, Fogarty have all missed significant chunks of time in the last couple of years.

If we can keep them on the park, I’d like to see what some continuity can do for us in that position.

 

[The Bighouse]

IIRC, when Geelong 1st drafted Francis Evans he was a bit of a wildcard selection as an electric, goal kicking forward out of the ammo’s or the like?

Bit of a change in role to a defensive forward at Port.

Hopefully a bit more development ahead and perhaps a well rounded forward role can be played.

 

[RAPPA]

I hope Evans succeeds. But it suggests how little confidence the MC has with our small forward brigade to add another player.

Fantasia is BOG meh and past it.

Fog is our only pressure small but doesn’t hit the scoreboard.

Durdin has bung shoulders. Highly doubt you’ll ever get a full season out of him.

Motlop has X factor but can’t stick tackles and prone to going invisible - 2024 was a stinker for him on account of injury and form.

Williams, well it was small forward or bust after he failed as a defender and mid option; at least tho he looked to be the most threatening from a scoreboard impact perspective.

A combination of personnel and poor coaching for the forwards were a big problem in 2024. Hopefully we see an improvement this year as the burden can’t be left to Charlie and H.

 

[JustaBattler]

There is always some rando small forward that pops up for a season or two during a clubs premiership run. Then they kind of disappear.

It is a specialist role and very difficult top execute as it requires a lot of endurance running as well as the ability to run at high speed as and when needed. The role also comes with specific skill sets especially fast twitch ability to make something out of a high congestion high pressure contested situation and then recover fast enough to stop or slow transition.

If your midfield isn't providing enough opportunity or the collective forward press is dysfunctional the smaller players can appear to be useless.

Like HBFers who can run and kick and defend - the small forward has become a must have ingredient in the game. They have to be good enough to make up for a defending opposition that can cover your talls - Brisbane are the best examples of this - bit all strong teams have at least one genuine gun small liek Cameron/Papley and in Hawthorn now they have two in Ginnivan and Whatever the wizard's name is....

 

[Benaly28]

So we traded a small forward on reasonable money and to get higher up the draft board after everything was said and done and then drafted a small forward on peanuts.

Would we have been better off not drafting anyone and waiting for mid season draft.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app