List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion - Part 3

[Hubnester]

2025 List Management Discussion - Part 3

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
​

 

[gringo2011]

I’d take CMAC over Flanders but if they are going for both then I’m not complaining.

That being said, not sure how their midfield opportunities would improve? Steele, Macrae, Nasiah, Phillipou(?), Flanders, CMAC, Boxshall, Garcia

Tobie / Clark shunted to half back.
Windy to wing, maybe even Box too.
Phillipou, Hall, Owens forward line (unless Pou as a mid really comes on).

It would be VERY hot in the kitchen, I think one of CMAC/Flanders more likely than both given would be competing for spots. It’ll be easier said than done to push Macrae out if we are aiming for finals next year.

+ TDK, RYAN, SILVANGI if we have minimal injuries our seconds side would be class.

Realistically guys like Dow and Clark would need a miracle to play again if we get those two.

 

[shlong]

 

[NAS THE GOAT]

 

[gringo2011]

I think I'm a bit undecided on Mackenzie.

I think the romance of getting our NGA player back has been clouding my judgement. I'd love to see a package of him absolutely dominating, I'm not saying I'm off him, but I just want to see it from my own two eyes.

To me he's buying a semi developed player who looks set to be at least a B grade GOP. He's coming from a good system and developed by a quality staff. You don't get to roll the dice on a draft kid who in 4 years might be A grade but you get set and forget depth at a minimum and still potential to be better than that.

 

[Veer Right]

Not surprised. West Coast talk makes sense.

 

[Minga]

Realistically guys like Dow and Clark would need a miracle to play again if we get those two.

I hold a flame for Clark, but agree that chances are he gets pushed out at this point. Still… you never know

 

[stavro#4]

Mitch Cleary -

on tradies that was recorded this morning - has effectively called the Flanders situation. Said he will tell GC today he wants to explore a trade and will meet with clubs over the next few weeks. Q

Sam McClure -

Jack Steele

9

Jack Steele

Age

29

Ht

187cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

8.7

3star

HB

12.2

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

6.8

5star

CL

3.6

5star

D

21.3

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

16.8

4star

K

5.0

2star

HB

11.8

5star

M

2.6

3star

T

6.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

don’t think he will be at the saints next year. Not sure who. He is waiting to see who looks at him. McClure thinks Essendon will look at him.

 

[NAS THE GOAT]

Why are they shady?

The only one who made Merrett’s situation untenable is Merrett himself and the Bomber media mafia (Twomey etc.).

We have done the same thing with TDK, JSOS, Aleer and Ryan so are we shady too?

First off we aren’t actively pursuing a contracted club captain and secondly we are paying financially to entice players. Not involving wives and partners to have a say on attracting players. Happy wife, happy life and all that

 

[Veer Right]

Sad ending at our club. I understand it but yeah i dunno, clubs that have their shit together don't treat their stalwarts the way we are doing with Steele and Marshall. Makes our age profile healthier however so that's something.

 

[stavro#4]

Sam McClure

Rowan Marshall

19

Rowan Marshall

Age

30

Ht

201cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.4

4star

K

8.8

3star

HB

6.6

4star

CL

3.4

5star

HO

20.2

5star

D

12.9

3star

K

9.3

4star

HB

3.6

2star

CL

2.8

4star

HO

17.8

5star

D

10.6

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

4.8

4star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

7.8

5star

has met with Geelong twice

 

[SainterinSydney]

Mitch Cleary -

on tradies that was recorded this morning - has effectively called the Flanders situation. Said he will tell GC today he wants to explore a trade and will meet with clubs over the next few weeks. Q

Sam McClure -

Jack Steele don’t think he will be at the saints next year. Not sure who. He is waiting to see who looks at him. McClure thinks Essendon will look at him.

Poor Jack. No one deserves to end their career at the Bombers.

 

[bird_man]

I can't see Steele being best 22 next year the way his form has been tracking over the last two years.

Hopefully he has just seen the writing on the wall rather than being pushed out?

 

[Captain Paddy]

Part of a much bigger trade

Steele out
CMack in

 

[SainterinSydney]

If Bombers want Steele, could we somehow use Steele and something else in the Cmac and Merrett deal?

 

[SainterinSydney]

Watcha hearing Syd?

Wants out but hasn't specified where yet?

Was just going by news he has just requested a general trade but hasn't nominated a club.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Jimmy hangs them up and a new secret mid appears

 

[Madmax262]

If Geelong want Marshall, who should we ask for in return? He is contracted so they can pay overs including players we want/need.

 

[Jesuswasacarpenter]

can confirm. gonna be tough to walk into the office on monday and not laugh my head off

I was at my local watering hole in Woodside last week and gave the publican my opinion on his team the Croweaters he nearly wouldn't give me another beer lol... you should have heard his carry on about Rankine during the week the AFL took to give the guy a chance to play in the Granny, and then the supporters booed Quaynor, first class shit supporter group of the highest order, I would take Port fans over Crows supporters every day of the week and twice on Sundays and that includes the Gavin Mountberry types

 

[JG22]

Please note: This is an off the cuff opinion without any merit to it. McClure continues to do this. There is a reason the major journos haven't reported anything on Steele. I don't think he wants to leave and I don't think teams would be seeking him.

 

[NAS THE GOAT]

Love Jack and all he has given our club, BUT his lack of leg speed has become a massive issue. There is no logical way we can continue to play both he and Macrae(who has Jack easily covered on 2025 stats) If Jack were to stay, I see him playing VFL more often than not going forward. Especially if we land Flanders or Cmac. I personally think that is a more disappointing and disrespectful future than trading him to a WCE or ESS where he could mentor and still play a role at AFL level

 

[nikkig98]

Unfortunately for Jack, I don't think he has too many great options tbh
Bombers i guess, but they do have Caldwell, Durham, Setterfield, Parish if fit and he's in the similar vein as them
The only team where he'd be a walk up upgrade to their current options in the midfield is West Coast

I mean, our midfield is on the lower end and he was hardly tearing it up

 

[goodie23]

Poor Jack. No one deserves to end their career at the Bombers.

Therein lies the problem with so many of the Merrett trade suggestions - it would require a player/players to willingly walk into the Essendon dumpster fire

 

[akaifu]

Please note: This is an off the cuff opinion without any merit to it. McClure continues to do this. There is a reason the major journos haven't reported anything on Steele. I don't think he wants to leave and I don't think teams would be seeking him.

No one is reporting it because he has very soft interest atm, and neither party is pushing too hard for a move like Merrett/Simpkin/Petracca are

If it happens, it'll be something that pops up at the end of the trade period if a rival club has missed one of their targets

 

[austinnn]

Hope we can get both and keep marshall

In that scenario Steele is out the door and probably for a salary dump.

This is probably the last year we've got to trade Steele without it being a salary dump, although his salary might have already been largely paid off already, idk

 

[austinnn]

I’d take CMAC over Flanders but if they are going for both then I’m not complaining.

That being said, not sure how their midfield opportunities would improve? Steele, Macrae, Nasiah, Phillipou(?), Flanders, CMAC, Boxshall, Garcia

Tobie / Clark shunted to half back.
Windy to wing, maybe even Box too.
Phillipou, Hall, Owens forward line (unless Pou as a mid really comes on).

It would be VERY hot in the kitchen, I think one of CMAC/Flanders more likely than both given would be competing for spots. It’ll be easier said than done to push Macrae out if we are aiming for finals next year.

+ TDK, RYAN, SILVANGI if we have minimal injuries our seconds side would be class.

Forget Steele being anything more than depth in the midfield from 2026 onwards, if he even does stay which i doubt. Pinch hitter or 4th man at best