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
​

 

[Minga]

Further to previous posts asking about spots left on list. I think it might be useful to post a table I found in the depths of the afl rules pdf.

View attachment 2415915

So you can have 44 spots which is made up of 36-38 on the main list and the other 6-8 made up of cat A and cat B rookies.

According to Draft Guru we went into our season with 38 primary, 4 Cat A rookies and 2 Cat B rookies, which is the 3rd row in that table.

Official changes (out) so far are Webster/Cordy off primary list and Gus/Boyd off the Cat A rookie list. List size therefore is 36 (Primary), 2 (Cat A) & 2 (Cat B).

We're committed to TDK and JSOS to the Primary list, so we're now at 38, 2 & 2. Hopefully you're keeping up!

We've currently got the following players out of contract:

• Jones
• Byrnes
• Heath
• Carroll
• Windhager
• Arie

So there is the facts.

stop reading now if you don't want it confused with my ramblings/speculation...

I fully anticipate Windhager to sign on and Heath to be traded to Melbourne. Another list change that will be forced will be Caminiti, who after 3 rookie listed years he will need to go onto our Primary list. Hall the last remaining player on the rookie list, but doesn't have to be upgraded yet.

So that leaves us with 34 primary, 1 cat A rookie and 4 unsigned players - Jones, Byrnes, Carroll and Arie.

Keep in mind Hammer is one of the 3 taken in the National Draft, and I'd assume Fincher is another, leaving possibly only 1 live selection.

So if we take 3 in the draft (incl Hammer) we are now sitting with 36 on our primary list, 1 cat A, 2 cat B.

What I'm getting at is if we delist those 4, we have space for 2 traded in. Aleer and Ryan perhaps - but I think we will definitely get one of Flanders, Merrett or CMac.

We will have 3 rookie list spots available, which could be used to re-rookie contracted (or delisted) players, as risky as that is. Someone like Said looks unlikely to be poached, he might drop down to be rerookied to open that last spot.

So what I'd do...

• upgrade Hammer
• sign Windy
• trade out Heath
• delist Jones, Byrnes, Carroll, Arie, Said
• trade in Aleer, Ryan and one of Merrett/CMac/Flanders
• draft Fincher, Hammer and a 3rd draftee
• rookie list Said, Arie, Carroll/Byrnes - or possibly leave spots open for a train on.

This, in my head at least, is the most logical outcome if we are to assume we don't trade any contracted players. This is the year to utilise the rookie list wisely.

Steele and Marshall in particular would be the most likely to be traded based on their currency, I very much doubt the above would change much other than we'd keep someone like Said on the primary list.

Hope that all made sense, I'm tired af so apologies for letting you into the inners workings of my brain. Happy to edit any errors, but I'm pretty sure I've got at least the facts sorted.

Mmkmmkay. Now do it all again and incl the MYSTERY MID

 

[gringo2011]

Agree, but personally I’m good with that. You have to pick your moment then make your move. This seems as good a moment as any - promising kids, an acknowledged star, salary cap room, guys who are willing to come.

We did it in 2019 which was worth a shot, and failed mainly because we overestimated the list quality, had bad luck with injuries - and never quite had the star.

Having a big shot every 5-6 years seems about right during a rebuild.

2019 was poorly thought out and never about a challenge. It was more a realisation that we hadn't made anything from the previous rebuild and gave the fans a sugar hit. This is a different scenario with a very disciplined and structured build through drafting and decorating it with a few cherries.

Structurally this is much more likely to pay off. The age spread and games played are the only real issues with it and a lot is relying on natural improvement from players already on the list. Ross Lyon looks like he's built a real footy department this time too. It's going to make a big difference.

To me the fitness and medical staff are now our most important staff. Get King right and have a bulk of our players available and finals looks likely and from there who knows.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

That still pisses me off! Singing oh when the crows go marching in as we were walking out I was close to decking one of them

Lesson to be learned.
When we win #2 celebrate don’t taunt.
Stay classy.

 

[CaptainRisky]

Mmkmmkay. Now do it all again and incl the MYSTERY MID

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Just on Carlton...Blues players playing for Saints last 50 years.
B. Rowe McConville Muller
HB Korkamelis Aitken Stocker
C Marcou Arceri Carroll
HF Nixon Hamel Sharp
FF Buckley Jezza Brown
R Wow Jones Dow Ken Sheldon

Apart from 3 names I had to research this is not too badder side of discards. Throw in SOS and TDK and it says more about the Blues than the Saints.

Hamill and Cain Ackland a bit stiff.

 

[Remboy]

When did we lose Windy? Sorry, overseas for work this week and next and hadn't heard we'd lost him......

At the same time we lost NAS.

 

[gringo2011]

Think he stays behind the ball, a fully fit forward set up still features

King
Sharman
Owens
Marshall
Keeler?

To me our best forward set up is probably Butler, King, Snags, Hall, Sharman/Owens, Ryan and then a few rotating through like Phillipou. You want a few smalls going through there in modern footy.

A lot of players are going to have to win their spots through form.

 

[Remboy]

Wonder who’s going to make the grand final against us next year

The runners up of course.

 

[CaptainRisky]

That still pisses me off! Singing oh when the crows go marching in as we were walking out I was close to decking one of them

Christ , i don't remember hearing or seeing anything after that loss, i think i was just in my own world blocking out everything walking to the station,

 

[Train12]

Surely Windy re-signs now ? Exciting years potentially coming up!

 

[CursingFijian]

I'm confused. When is the mass exodus happening? Before or after we get seven new players in?

Apparently Carlton players don’t count because everybody is getting one.

 

[Lightsxo]

Lesson to be learned.
When we win #2 celebrate don’t taunt.
Stay classy.

**** that.

I’ve copped shit for majority of my 29 years for being a saints fan.

I’ll be the ****ing biggest flog you’ll find don’t you worry.

 

[DT_35]

Hamill and Cain Ackland a bit stiff.

Hamill at CHF. Or should I say Hamel

 

[The Punter]

Look, I don't think he'll transfer into midfield and his set shot goalkicking is a problem, but there is no way Owens finds himself at Sandy other than in some sort of injury recovery. He's in the discussion for the most competitive guy in the league, has started to consistently win free kicks and has Norm Smith written all over him. Insanity.

 

[bergholt]

2019 was poorly thought out and never about a challenge. It was more a realisation that we hadn't made anything from the previous rebuild and gave the fans a sugar hit. This is a different scenario with a very disciplined and structured build through drafting and decorating it with a few cherries.

Structurally this is much more likely to pay off. The age spread and games played are the only real issues with it and a lot is relying on natural improvement from players already on the list. Ross Lyon looks like he's built a real footy department this time too. It's going to make a big difference.

To me the fitness and medical staff are now our most important staff. Get King right and have a bulk of our players available and finals looks likely and from there who knows.

Yeah luck with injuries is basically going to determine if we make finals the next two years

 

[CaptainRisky]

Just on Carlton...Blues players playing for Saints last 50 years.
B. Rowe McConville Muller
HB Korkamelis Aitken Stocker
C Marcou Arceri Carroll
HF Nixon Hamel Sharp
FF Buckley Jezza Brown
R Wow Jones Dow Ken Sheldon

Apart from 3 names I had to research this is not too badder side of discards. Throw in SOS and TDK and it says more about the Blues than the Saints.

It says more about us that them ,most were washed up at Carlton yet we were willing to keep paying them for very little output, there is not too many on that list that earnt their keep

 

[stavro#4]

Yeah luck with injuries is basically going to determine if we make finals the next two years

Only one player on our list, looks irreplaceable if we land all these targets.

Max.

Everyone has some form Of cover.

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

That still pisses me off! Singing oh when the crows go marching in as we were walking out I was close to decking one of them

I remember that.

SA ferals were as arrogant as the filth were in 2010.

Its' Brisbane or bust for me. Hate them marginally less than all the rest.

 

[Leigh58]

Hamill at CHF. Or should I say Hamel

Hamill - 2 weeks

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Hands off: Hardwick warns in-demand Sun 'ain't going anywhere'

Victorian clubs have shown interest in luring Sam Flanders back to his home state from Gold Coast

www.afl.com.au

 

[CaptainRisky]

I remember that.

SA ferals were as arrogant as the filth were in 2010.

Its' Brisbane or bust for me. Hate them marginally less than all the rest.

Lets face it , we would be no better if we won , anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional , we haven't won one for a million years so i cant see Saints supporters not going off their rockers

I'm on the Freo wagon , don't know why i am just are

 

[Joffaboy]

Same. I'm not from Victoria, so didn't grow up with that ingrained anti-Collingwood position. Actually hated the Swans because they were forced down our throats as "our team" in Canberra.

I'll be leaning towards Freo/Suns, Pies or Crom.

Yeah, born and bred in Sydney. Couldn't stand Sydney Swans, forced on us, playing on that toy ground.

 

[_Maximus_12]

Sharman should be closer to goal, not up field. His best attribute is his set shot.

I’d argue that Sharman’s number one strength is that he’s a natural footballer. His foot skills, both his entries and his finishing skills are elite. The more the ball is in his hands the better for us.

If we retain Marshall, then you’re trying to fit the following into 7 spots:
King, Ro/TDK, Owens, Higgins, Ryan, Sharman, Hall, testing mid and potentially Tauru.

Team balance is absolutely a consideration and of those listed Sharman is the only one with the obvious traits to play as a tall attacking wingman in the mould of Wood.

 

[ronnysnodgrass]

Saints’ $4m investment rolls on — but is it good enough play finals? H/S article 3/9​

https://archive.vn/aeig9

"Like a teenager headed to the Melbourne Show with a fist full of pocket money and dreams of big showbags, St Kilda has its money and is spending it all."

If anything screams "OLD MAN YELLS AT CLOUDS" about the HS this is it

 

[Saints43]

I'm not either. Wouldn't mind to see them winning it of those left in the finals. Am hoping for Adelaide though. Have a soft spot for 'em. Certainly not the Cats, Dawks or franchise mobs.

Giants all the way for me.
Don't even know one person that supports them.
And it means the Hawks are out early.