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
​

 

[hangdog]

Seems like a few clubs are in for Flanders. Surely we're due to miss someone.

Saints missing a target this year

 

[ScrappyDo]

They should make the dimensions of the ground smaller. It would help alot

The players rejected this proposal.

 

[sammm]

The players rejected this proposal.

I know, but still it would have helped.

 

[maanco]

Merrett will cost 2 first rounders and he’s 30.

If he was 25-28 I’d want to be all in.

He’s no loss for us doesn’t fit the profile and would cost way to much.

He makes hawks stronger though... Or hopefully wastes their picks and Merrett plays poorly.

I do not want him at St Kilda or the hawks.

The finals series has been blow out after blow out so far. Only gc v Freo was a competitive game.

Maybe we target hawk players

 

[gringo2011]

I don't really care to be honest. If they have a go at him it's because they think they can help a lost kid find his path again. Probably a 10% chance that he hasn't played his last game but if you could help him out there is an elite talent there and just purely as a community service I don't hate it. Perhaps give him a year in our VFL side and tell him he has zero chances. Gets through 12 months and there is an AFL contract there.

 

[gringo2011]

That is why Hall is why he was so effective.


There is a difference between an elite ball user and and elite kick.

The former may be both. The latter may not be.

The former is all about deciding where the ball needs to go and then executing it so the delivery advantages the receiver.

Hall is an elite ball user as his judgement is so good.

We have a number of players in our team who tend to just kick to a team mate, rather than it kick it so the receiver is advantaged.

It seems to have been that way for years. Other sides kick to the space ahead of the receiver. We seem to kick it on our guy's head every time.

 

[gringo2011]

With Merrett going to the Hawks, it absolutely opens the door for Cmac to be traded now.

He will be further back in the midfield pecking order and Hawks will need picks for the trade

Probably more importantly they need to supply Essendon with decent draft picks to get him over. They could really do with our top 10 pick to allow Essendon to go to the draft with a suite of consecutive high picks. If we could get CMac and a draft pick back for 7 we could potentially pay for Fincher with the extras. Turn one pick in a below average draft into two potential high end players.

 

[gringo2011]

just shouting into the void that we don't need Merrett, mostly because he's always been overrated and there's no need for us to be the villain when the media turns on him for leaving essendon.

they're a shite team, and just because he's the best of a pile of garbage doesn't mean he isn't a shite with a hugely inflated head too. they're not good and they deserve their century of humiliation. he's overrated and an arrogant campaigner. fucque em

I'd love him and rate him but just can't see him coming if success is his aim. Hawks look like they are going to win a flag in the next few years. We look like we are hoping to play finals in the next few years. I think he'd actually make us a very strong list and more likely to win a flag in the next couple of years but he's going to want more than hope.

 

[gringo2011]

If Merrett is off to the Hawks then Mackenzie seems like a pretty straight forward acquisition for us. He'll want a move to a club where he has a better chance of cracking the senior side. Maybe we trade Geelong's 1st (which we get for Marshall) for Mackenzie. Or potentially trade pick 7 for Mackenzie and a 2nd.

The ordinary year from Flanders plus talk of a bad back makes me hesitant. Could potentially be just like Windy's bad back though...

The medical should show what is going on with his back. If there is anything that looks bad they'll either offer less or walk away.

 

[Joffaboy]

I'd love him and rate him but just can't see him coming if success is his aim. Hawks look like they are going to win a flag in the next few years. We look like we are hoping to play finals in the next few years. I think he'd actually make us a very strong list and more likely to win a flag in the next couple of years but he's going to want more than hope.

Merrett would be absolutely fantastic for us, but reckon the kitty is exhausted for a player so highly paid.
I don't think we have a cap problem, even going forward but it is not inexhaustible.
We can afford a 600 player, a one mill plus?
We still have to satisfy Wilks and a huge raft of players at the end of 2027, so let's use our leverage in the Merrett deal and get CMAC.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

There is no doubt Merrett is a high quality player, but he wants garuanteed finals and a chance at sucess - why would he even consider us! Giving up early picks for him is against every other list build strategy we have taken and it would end up a 3-4 year sugar hit. If we were in Hawthorns position chasing him makes a lot of sense, but not for us.

We must strive for sustained sucess if we are to win the big dance. Spending big on another 29yo would be completely the wrong step in my view.

 

[Klaatu]

Hardwick confirmed that Flanders has been managing a back issue all season

This coming from a person who said he was burned out, only to come back for the next season.

This coming from a person who took players from GC to top up Richmond during his tenure.

This coming from a person who says his players are of limits after he pillaged other sides.

And then claims academies are necessary up North didn't say that when at Richmond.

Can not trust him, enjoy your AFL wage Dimma.

 

[Grav]

Not list management, but put here for the most views to help lighten the start of the week.

Came across this oldie..

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Merrett doesn't make sense for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we don't have the cap space for him because of the other recruits that we've already committed to. Secondly, he'll be past his prime before we have a chance at contending for a flag, so the trade cost involved isn't worthwhile.

I really feel that we may have found our "big fish" in the midfield with Nas. If Pou fulfills the potential that many of us see, we could have a very good emerging midfield group of Nas, Pou, Windy, Garcia and Boxshall coming through. We could use another A-grader, but I'd want them have more games in front of them than behind them. I'm open to Mackenzie or Flanders potentially being that player.

 

[BigMonty]

Merrett would be absolutely fantastic for us, but reckon the kitty is exhausted for a player so highly paid.
I don't think we have a cap problem, even going forward but it is not inexhaustible.
We can afford a 600 player, a one mill plus?
We still have to satisfy Wilks and a huge raft of players at the end of 2027, so let's use our leverage in the Merrett deal and get CMAC.

If anyone needs Merrett it is Adelaide. Their on ballers are just so vanilla and without Rankine. They had no impact and just couldn't get time and space to be effective. Whereas Hawks looked liked they had one extra player at every contest.
Using the new buzz word Peliminary Final Integrity...Flanders shown he has it and CMac was not in best 23 injured or otherwise. So Flanders for me, however
Dons are a mess they will get picks in a weak draft bit like 2020 and need players to support what they have.
Silvani does have PFI by the way he plays not sure about Aleer, TDK better have otherwise he is in for a world of hurt. I suppose Liam Ryan does with the flag but so does Butler who he probably replaces. Ryan adds something we do not have small man ariel ability.

So CMac or Hustwaite and their first for Merret probably does it. Then Dons could really have a go at some serious picks to GCS potentially for Flanders and maybe King depending on what happens with Curnow.

BTW of course Dimma is going to say we love Flanders.....he's been injured....so he will be better next year....sounds like he's talking up trade value.

Bit to play out before Flanders or CMac run around in the RWB.

 

[phantom13]

Yeh honestly the very very well substantiated rumors about him at this point make him a total non option IMO.

Id be stunned to see him playing AFL next year, VFL might even be a stretch

 

[SainterinSydney]

Am aware

View attachment 2426133View attachment 2426134

Is it true, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

So, exit meetings today and tomorrow for two more teams, a few trade requests will no doubt start dribbling through soon. Looks like a few more days of Merrett mania before we hear anything juicy from the Suns.

 

[Diehard Saint]

So all quiet on here re Windy.
I assume we all believe it’s done then? Just waiting for actual snail mail
to return the signed contract from Windy in NZ?

 

[sauce_head]

There is no doubt Merrett is a high quality player, but he wants garuanteed finals and a chance at sucess - why would he even consider us! Giving up early picks for him is against every other list build strategy we have taken and it would end up a 3-4 year sugar hit. If we were in Hawthorns position chasing him makes a lot of sense, but not for us.

We must strive for sustained sucess if we are to win the big dance. Spending big on another 29yo would be completely the wrong step in my view.

Last year he wanted more money and a six year contract, so he might change his mind yet…

Not that I want him at the saints.

 

[TheJackal]

Am I the only one who has been logging on these last few days and getting completely disappointed that I don't have 20 pages to catch up on?

 

[SainterinSydney]

Am I the only one who has been logging on these last few days and getting completely disappointed that I don't have 20 pages to catch up on?

Everyone has gone into hibernation until trade period

 

[akaifu]

Here me out

3-way trade

STK receive: Petracca
GEEL receive: Marshall
MELB receive: GEEL 1st

 

[jimmytigs]

Am I the only one who has been logging on these last few days and getting completely disappointed that I don't have 20 pages to catch up on?

i felt it for first time just today,got a day off from the bars & im all over them really after being in seasia since june 24

 

[Linton Street Saint]

Here me out

3-way trade

STK receive: Petracca
GEEL receive: Marshall
MELB receive: GEEL 1st

Don't want Pertracca or Merrett, both don't fit our profile and will stagnate growth of other young mid fielders unless you move Steele and McLobster out. On top of costing far too much in value for what and how long they will add to the squad.