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
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[Windtagger]

agree sharman is either a bust or turning the game on its head. its so wildly inconsistent during the 4 qtrs.

maybe sharman for caminiti?

With his marking skills I think Sharman would make a great wing to eventually replace Wood.

 

[thekizzler]

agree sharman is either a bust or turning the game on its head. its so wildly inconsistent during the 4 qtrs.

maybe sharman for caminiti?

It's a tough one - possibly.

It depends on what Hall is considered as.

He could be used higher up the ground, then Sharman could play instead of Henry.

Also, arguably, Sharman and Owens could be competing for the third tall role as well.

If Owens stunk it up as a forward, he could find himself in a different position or vulnerable.

It's a nice problem to have - also if players of the quality of Wood and Garcia are on selection fringes too.

 

[Moorabbin Ghost]

Just talking to my player manager mate and he said Merrett has told Hawks today he wants to play for them, his management will now quietly try to convince Bombers to let him go. May open up the CMac possibility if Essendon relent. Will be an interesting watch.

 

[thekizzler]

With his marking skills I think Sharman would make a great wing to eventually replace Wood.

I agree with this statement in isolation.

But he would desperately need to work on his work-rate and defensive skills if this was to be an option, IMO.

 

[Minga]

Just talking to my player manager mate and he said Merrett has told Hawks today he wants to play for them, his management will now quietly try to convince Bombers to let him go. May open up the CMac possibility if Essendon relent. Will be an interesting watch.

No way the Essendon board’s ego allow this to happen, but god would that be ****ing hilarious

 

[stfan]

I wonder if retaining Windy changes anything for Flanders

No, except that our Salary Cap is now that bit tighter.


Flanders or Mystery Mid is because they want another midfielder who can use the ball very well on the burst to go with Nas and Hall.

Windy is not that type of player, his hurt factor is low too.

Windy is our tagger (at a high level) and utility player who can play a raft of roles at a good level. And who also is very disciplined and a bit of a hard nut. The Ultimate Foot Soldier.

Maybe Windy becomes becomes more that this. He like Owens would be a lot more valuable if they improved their disposal.

 

[Anythings_sipposible]

One player who shouldn't be discounted is Liam Henry. Give him a full pre-season and I think he will return to his best. He was a POD in 2024 when we beat Pies etc.

100% If Henry, Philippou, and King all have uninterrupted pre seasons, we look so much more dynamic and dangerous. Imagine a forward six of:

Henry Sharman Ryan

Higgins King Owens

With Hall, Philippou, and Wilson all rotating through the forward and the midfield. That's without potential resting rucks like Marshall or Keeler as well.

I think that is a very exciting forward line, and it's one that doesn't rely on one avenue to goal (i.e. King).

Maxxy might just get a new lease on life and look like a totally different, more confident player when he starts getting the ball kicked to him, rather than on his head (thanks to the emergence of Nas and Hall), and when he doesn't have to be the only marking target in the forward 50.

The only thing that worries me is we lack any defensive pressure in that line-up, and I fear we will be very susceptible to turn overs. Would love a player like Ben Long, shame we can't draft a player like that

 

[Linton Street Saint]

Just talking to my player manager mate and he said Merrett has told Hawks today he wants to play for them, his management will now quietly try to convince Bombers to let him go. May open up the CMac possibility if Essendon relent. Will be an interesting watch.

If true, strong possibility it happens. Been brought up far too many times surely both the player and club are tired of the dance. They are in full rebuild better to get currency near his peak no ?

Definitely opens the door on CMac.

 

[Mat Mann]

Just talking to my player manager mate and he said Merrett has told Hawks today he wants to play for them, his management will now quietly try to convince Bombers to let him go. May open up the CMac possibility if Essendon relent. Will be an interesting watch.

Met with the hawks last night

 

[Windtagger]

I agree with this statement in isolation.

But he would desperately need to work on his work-rate and defensive skills if this was to be an option, IMO.

Feel like his sometimes poor second efforts are somewhat impacted by his mental state and he might be less stressed playing as a wing than a forward.

 

[BrutThough]

Agree re: joking, but I do think it’s good to openly talk about neurodiversity in spaces like sport where it’s not often openly discussed, despite being very prevalent.

Twomey wrote a good article on the topic a few months ago actually. I didnt see much discussion but it's nice to hear about how clubs are adapting how they run to accommodate players needs. In the past, some very talented players might have been lost to the game because of how rigid different football programs were run.

How AFL clubs are adapting to neurodivergent players

Anxiety, ADHD, learning disorders, mental ill-health and more. Cal Twomey looks at how clubs and the AFL are adapting to an era where neurodivergence is commonplace

www.afl.com.au

 

[BrutThough]

I forget how young he is but you see it here. Still speaks well for a young kid.

 

[BrutThough]

Just talking to my player manager mate and he said Merrett has told Hawks today he wants to play for them, his management will now quietly try to convince Bombers to let him go. May open up the CMac possibility if Essendon relent. Will be an interesting watch.

If we could only have 1 of CMac or Flanders, who would everyone prefer?

 

[stfan]

Just talking to my player manager mate and he said Merrett has told Hawks today he wants to play for them, his management will now quietly try to convince Bombers to let him go. May open up the CMac possibility if Essendon relent. Will be an interesting watch.

You could see the Hawks thinking that Merrett could be their missing jigsaw piece to make them a Flag Contender over the next 2 seasons.

They would need to make the Dons a juicy offer though, which as you say could free up Cmac.


Mind you as Stavro has said Merrett added to our midfield could also see our Flag hope increase too. But we lack the trade capital this trade period.

 

[SainterinSydney]

If we could only have 1 of CMac or Flanders, who would everyone prefer?

On past form, Flanders. But that's also because he is more of a veteran compared to Cmac. Cmac potentially could end up better, but Flanders is safer bet at this stage.

 

[stavro#4]

If we could only have 1 of CMac or Flanders, who would everyone prefer?

If the plan is to rise next season Flanders.

If you were planning to build for a few more seasons CMac.

However if we can get both for p7&Marshall as the crux of the deal.

You do it

 

[The Punter]

You'd think Essendon and West Coast will be awful next season then you think there is a chance Melbourne, North, Richmond, Port, & Carlton might not be much better.

Leaves that 9-11 range with Dogs, Swans and us trying to catch the ones who might fall out of the eight,

 

[Sully111]

With his marking skills I think Sharman would make a great wing to eventually replace Wood.

I think Cooper will be fine playing forward if we start playing consistently better footy as a team.

 

[nikkig98]

Given Caminti does have a sibling who has autism and extra developmental challenges associated with it, it's probably best to stay away from joking about it with regards to him. Even if no harm was intended in the topic.

Actually had no idea about this, thanks for sharing.
Will be mindful going forward

 

[SainterinSydney]

If the plan is to rise next season Flanders.

If you were planning to build for a few more seasons CMac.

However if we can get both for p7&Marshall as the crux of the deal.

You do it

How good would it be nabbing JSOS, TDK, Ryan, Aleer, Flanders and Cmac all in one trade period.

If Marshall goes, I'm thinking TDK/Keeler combo especially if jumping rule is back.

 

[hayes]

If we could only have 1 of CMac or Flanders, who would everyone prefer?

Whoever doesn’t cost our first pick.

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

No way the Essendon board’s ego allow this to happen, but god would that be ****ing hilarious

Hope they make Hawthorn bleed.
Merrett for Watson or something that will really hurt them. All those fkheads in Wizard hats will be shattered

 

[SainterinSydney]

Hope they make Hawthorn bleed.
Merrett for Watson or something that will really hurt them. All those fkheads in Wizard hats will be shattered

Bombers will draw a line in the sand and play hard ball. Issue is they may want Cmac from Hawks, in addition to another player plus picks etc.

 

[Pardon me]

With his marking skills I think Sharman would make a great wing to eventually replace Wood.

I was just thinking Windy and Sharman to replace Wood and Hill longterm?

 

[phantom13]

Hope they make Hawthorn bleed.
Merrett for Watson or something that will really hurt them. All those fkheads in Wizard hats will be shattered

Essendon is almost at minnow status, Draper gone, if Merret also goes it winds up being for picks.

Not gonna say i feel for them but that club is a shadow of what it once was.