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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[stavro#4]

Flanders is a clone of Neale?

Go watch his games in midfield back end of last year. A little B grade version running around.

Started the year at half back

 

[stavro#4]

I hope Essendon hold Merrett.

It’s okay if they don’t. They just need to get absolutely premium value.

If he goes and it’s something like pick 8 and magic beans (Hustwaite Reeves etc). Then they need to fold.

 

[BrutThough]

It’s okay if they don’t. They just need to get absolutely premium value.

If he goes and it’s something like pick 8 and magic beans (Hustwaite Reeves etc). Then they need to fold.

Needs to be 2 top 10 picks and a player. It's overs but you should be demanded overs for your contracted captain and best player.

And dont hand Hawthorn the key to a premiership for anything less then big overs.

 

[jimmytigs]

I need more signings, I need more trade requests!

ming roma wilson hastie sincs and wilks requests coming

mihocek and laverde ready to sign

 

[stavro#4]

Needs to be 2 top 10 picks and a player. It's overs but you should be demanded overs for your contracted captain and best player.

And dont hand Hawthorn the key to a premiership for anything less then big overs.

Agreed. It should be overs.

If you are willing to court a player of that calibre. Whilst contracted.Hawthorn have to be in the mindset of just getting the deal done and not arguing for a cheaper deal.

A point wildly missed by the hawks posters.

 

[CursingFijian]

I feel like Windhager and Flanders would compete for the same role. And I like Windy better, think he is on the cusp of putting together an even bigger season, and he’s more contested, a better tackler, and can compete against the bigger bodied mids. If we keep Windy, I’m not fussed about Flanders.

 

[joydivision22]

I’ve been indulging myself a little over on the public Roma sesspit gets a bit meh after a while though. Thought I’d get back to the lads/ladettes in here.

Would love to know why any saints fan would be comfortable letting Roma walk for say Flanders (assuming straight swap for clarity) when;

a) we lose an incredible back up option and would need to play a 19yo when we’ve invested so much elsewhere.

b) we would be doing our would be competitor an enormous favour.

I like Flanders but not enough to overcome the above two points, especially considering Roma has a SC friendly contract for 2 more years.

Honestly, if it was just one more year left on his contract it would be seriously different but we are clearly expecting to compete for top 4 in nas’s contract year, there’s literally nothing they could stomach that I would accept.

 

[sauce_head]

I hope Essendon hold Merrett.

Me too. Leave him where he can’t do any damage. Unless he comes to us in a trade from a Gresham like player.

 

[BrutThough]

Agreed. It should be overs.

If you are willing to court a player of that calibre. Whilst contracted.Hawthorn have to be in the mindset of just getting the deal done and not arguing for a cheaper deal.

A point wildly missed by the hawks posters.

As was said many times in the Nas thread, dont pursue a player if you arent willing to pay the price for them.

Essendon need to channel the spirit of Dorodo here and demand something he'd be proud of.

 

[sauce_head]

I’ve been indulging myself a little over on the public Roma sesspit gets a bit meh after a while though. Thought I’d get back to the lads/ladettes in here.

Would love to know why any saints fan would be comfortable letting Roma walk for say Flanders (assuming straight swap for clarity) when;

a) we lose an incredible back up option and would need to play a 19yo when we’ve invested so much elsewhere.

b) we would be doing our would be competitor an enormous favour.

I like Flanders but not enough to overcome the above two points, especially considering Roma has a SC friendly contract for 2 more years.

Honestly, if it was just one more year left on his contract it would be seriously different but we are clearly expecting to compete for top 4 in nas’s contract year, there’s literally nothing they could stomach that I would accept.

I think we have to be thinking about years 3 to 6. I know we have NAS for two, but if we are tending up we will have no issues keeping him. Hopefully by then there is More of a collective attitude moving forward regarding team success as opposed to money.

 

[sauce_head]

As was said many times in the Nas thread, dont pursue a player if you arent willing to pay the price for them.

Essendon need to channel the spirit of Dorodo here and demand something he'd be proud of.

Waking up on a park bench with their dentures in the dirt?

 

[Yawkey way]

Mentioned a few times a couple of weeks ago but since then I think its just us manifesting it. Realistically, I dont think he moves, Hawks supporter and Sam apparently is a big fan.

Personally, I think he'd be foolish to stay considering the 4 midfielders they are chasing. As soon as Zach says yes, I'd be clearing out my locker if I was him.

I think he’s been very average, we’d be calling him disappointing if he played for us.

I don’t think he moves because the ask would be too much. The Hawks are still hanging onto him being pick 7 but he hasn’t lived up to that. Even at vfl level he’s not that impressive and he’s not a goal kicker which is surprising to me.

 

[bird_man]

Didn't Merritt go back to the club last year and demand more money?

 

[FQFjt]

It's amazing to me that Hawthorn don't cop more scrutiny. Yes they played Carlton like a fiddle in the pick swap, but recruiting veterans Barrass and now Merrett/Petracca for high end draft picks is really mortgaging your future. That makes sense if you're on the cusp of a flag, but I'm not sure they are.

 

[BrutThough]

Didn't Merritt go back to the club last year and demand more money?

yep

 

[Yawkey way]

I hope Essendon hold Merrett.

So do I this is becoming a trend now, sign a big contract then 12 months later ask to be traded.

The players already have too much power imo. If they want to play this game the afl and the AFlPA need to get together and come to a new agreement.

Top of the list, contracted players can be traded anywhere to anyone, no minimum cap spend, initial draft contract for first rounder 4 years, second 3, after that 2 years. Also the introduction of a franchise tag which for example would have allowed us to hold Nas for another two years on a league determined contract while we entertained offers from anyone, anywhere.

I want to play for a big club, I want to win a flag the easy way, I only want to play at home, this stuff is killing the competition.

 

[_Maximus_12]

It's amazing to me that Hawthorn don't cop more scrutiny. Yes they played Carlton like a fiddle in the pick swap, but recruiting veterans Barrass and now Merrett/Petracca for high end draft picks is really mortgaging your future. That makes sense if you're on the cusp of a flag, but I'm not sure they are.

They are playing whack-a-mole at the moment using their picks to fill areas of issue.

I actually think their forward line is miles off being a contender. Gunston is in career best form but is a soft tissue injury away from retirement.

Chol/Lewis/Dear haven’t demonstrated they’re capable of being a number 1 forward.

If they don’t win it next year while Gunston is playing the football he is, I’m not sure they can with the talls they have.

 

[sauce_head]

They are playing whack-a-mole at the moment using their picks to fill areas of issue.

I actually think their forward line is miles off being a contender. Gunston is in career best form but is a soft tissue injury away from retirement.

Chol/Lewis/Dear haven’t demonstrated they’re capable of being a number 1 forward.

If they don’t win it next year while Gunston is playing the football he is, I’m not sure they can with the talls they have.

They are just a consistent interpretation of ducking to instigate high contact away from a spoon. Imagine they were adjudicated like no neck Higgo! They’d be requesting a priority pick…

 

[TheJackal]

I think he’s been very average, we’d be calling him disappointing if he played for us.

I don’t think he moves because the ask would be too much. The Hawks are still hanging onto him being pick 7 but he hasn’t lived up to that. Even at vfl level he’s not that impressive and he’s not a goal kicker which is surprising to me.

He's been a bit of a slow burn but he's still very young. I don't think he's kept his draft value but I'd certainly get him in for the pick 15 we'd likely get if we were to lose Marshall.

I look at Flanders who has had one good year in a contract year and think CMac has just as much potential based on all of Flanders' other seasons. In fact, looking at both players' first 3 seasons, CMac is probably in front.

 

[Yawkey way]

It's amazing to me that Hawthorn don't cop more scrutiny. Yes they played Carlton like a fiddle in the pick swap, but recruiting veterans Barrass and now Merrett/Petracca for high end draft picks is really mortgaging your future. That makes sense if you're on the cusp of a flag, but I'm not sure they are.

I hate them but they are on the cusp of a flag.

I think they’ll beat Adelaide which puts them within reach. Add nother player like Merrett and a fit Will Day and they’d be hard to beat.

 

[jh38]

I feel like Windhager and Flanders would compete for the same role. And I like Windy better, think he is on the cusp of putting together an even bigger season, and he’s more contested, a better tackler, and can compete against the bigger bodied mids. If we keep Windy, I’m not fussed about Flanders.

To me, Windy plays similarly to Jarrod Berry, hard nut who sits on the wing and can run through the midfield. Flanders is more of a Max Hall type to me, super clean, doesn't waste a touch, high impact type operator.

You have to have a raft of different players you can roll through the midfield to be competitive, bringing in Flanders and keeping Windy supports that contention. I think it means our older player get pushed out of the side now. I expect Hill, Steele, Macrae, and Wood to all have much more limited roles in our team next season.

 

[Yawkey way]

He's been a bit of a slow burn but he's still very young. I don't think he's kept his draft value but I'd certainly get him in for the pick 15 we'd likely get if we were to lose Marshall.

I look at Flanders who has had one good year in a contract year and think CMac has just as much potential based on all of Flanders' other seasons.

I’m not a massive wrap for either but Flanders is miles ahead on exposed form.

 

[phantom13]

Agreed. It should be overs.

If you are willing to court a player of that calibre. Whilst contracted.Hawthorn have to be in the mindset of just getting the deal done and not arguing for a cheaper deal.

A point wildly missed by the hawks posters.

I really cgaf about the fortunes of either team (i have the tiniest degree of sympathy for the bombers supporters cause that clubs a proper dumpster fire at this point) but i did appreciate Scotts comments last night.

Player managers do just seem to think they can wipe their asses with contracts at this point. For the sake of some reasonablity and sanity i hope the bombers absolutely bend the hawks over. Merett seems like a nice enough guy but if he wanted flexibility then sign one year deals.

The current climate of player empowerment has gone way way too far. If the players want total freedom then clubs should have it to. Alright Zac you dont wanna be here, the Eagles are offering their Allen pick and Harley Reid for you, enjoy Perth.

 

[Yawkey way]

They are playing whack-a-mole at the moment using their picks to fill areas of issue.

I actually think their forward line is miles off being a contender. Gunston is in career best form but is a soft tissue injury away from retirement.

Chol/Lewis/Dear haven’t demonstrated they’re capable of being a number 1 forward.

If they don’t win it next year while Gunston is playing the football he is, I’m not sure they can with the talls they have.

Don’t need a gun big up forward you just need an honest 40 plus guy who gives you a contest and brings the ball to the ground.

Who have Brisbane got, who have Collingwood got ?.

 

[TheJackal]

I’m not a massive wrap for either but Flanders is miles ahead on exposed form.

He's also 25 in July next year. I did a sneaky edit in my last post but look at the numbers for both players in their first 3 seasons. It really depends on whether you think Cam will breakout or not but there's been a few games where he's looked like he will. I am pretty sure his hand injury has slowed him down a bit.

Similar to Sam Walsh, I'd want to know for sure that Flanders' back injury wasn't ongoing also.

Personally, I like both, especially if we can snagging them using this year's draft picks and surplus players.