List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion - Part IV

[Hubnester]

2025 List Management Discussion - Part 4

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
​

 

[Tommy Wigs]

tbh, much better than ol cooper grech

omg, haven’t thought about that name for a while. What a legend

 

[stavro#4]

Post clearance midfielder is the role we have sold Flanders on according to Sam Edmund

 

[AFaiL]

half back into mid - NAS will be FT mid 2026

 

[NAS THE GOAT]

Anyone else think it’s absolutely ****ed that Melbourne have leaked a story to Journos about a chat with Oliver and a role change and he find a new club if unhappy?

I kinda feel sorry for the guy here.

Agreed. They are definitely throwing Oliver on the market without taking responsibility for it in this scenario. Richo would be significantly pleased with the scenario

 

[Tommy Wigs]

I suspect poor old Clayton needs the fresh start anyway. It’s like hating your work for years, staying when you know you should move, then getting the tap on the shoulder and it feeling even worse.

 

[PoppedCorn]

Im booking melb accommodation in late sept

 

[True Believer]

Think it’s karma though with the way he has been over a few years..

It’s looking like King has a no d***head policy with May and potentially Oliver being told to look for new homes..

Done a year too late with their value..

Agreed. As badly as Melbourne has handled their players, Clarry spent a good couple of years behaving like the king of the world and an absolute twat!

There is a constant theme here of young men being given bags of money, adoration and hero worship, and too much free time. For many of them, if they weren't good at footy they would be in a menial job, something that is honest work but not mentally demanding. The lack of maturity and intellectual horsepower when added to great reserves of spare time and celebrity is a recipe for disaster........I don't know why people continue to appear surprised at outcomes like this.....

 

[NAS THE GOAT]

Coming soon….I’m definitely buying one!

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Post clearance midfielder is the role we have sold Flanders on according to Sam Edmund

Some genius footy tactician enlighten me - so don’t see him as a clearance player, but the post clearance role suits as an accumulator?

 

[karnaby]

Im booking melb accommodation in late sept

I'm booking a one way flight over there for early ish September. Haven't done that for years.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

Anyone else think it’s absolutely ****ed that Melbourne have leaked a story to Journos about a chat with Oliver and a role change and he find a new club if unhappy?

I kinda feel sorry for the guy here.

Totally, particularly with his history of mental health problems. Melbourne have been through a lot with him, but they need to handle his potential trade delicately, as it sounds like the news is already knocking him around.

 

[Nutsngum]

I suspect poor old Clayton needs the fresh start anyway. It’s like hating your work for years, staying when you know you should move, then getting the tap on the shoulder and it feeling even worse.

Morris is a leech that has very dubious levels of sources but Melbourne is the one place he has legitimately shmoozed his way into like a brain worm

Oliver would be pissed he was "required" the last two years and now told to **** off when his currency is lower.

 

[stavro#4]

Some genius footy tactician enlighten me - so don’t see him as a clearance player, but the post clearance role suits as an accumulator?

Pretty much.

Go win the ball once it’s in the open.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

So Nas not only got rid of the coach, but three of their best players as well.



That game is the gift that keeps on giving, watched the last quarter again last night

 

[Silkie]

hahahahhahaah what is going on

Your account created in 2005 I'm that confused of your age

Seriously how are these old farts so in touch

 

[True Believer]

Totally, particularly with his history of mental health problems. Melbourne have been through a lot with him, but they need to handle his potential trade delicately, as it sounds like the news is already knocking him around.

His history of mental health problems? Is that just the modern euphemism for getting on the gear and absolving oneself of personal responsibility for one's actions, or has he had actual problems?

 

[Nutsngum]

Totally, particularly with his history of mental health problems. Melbourne have been through a lot with him, but they need to handle his potential trade delicately, as it sounds like the news is already knocking him around.

My suspicion (THIS IS PURE CONJECTURE, I have absolutely no evidence apart from guesswork) is that he suffers from late onset adult epilepsy. His hospitalization, sudden loss of the ability to drive and generally going off the wall a bit are all hallmarks of this. Having gone through this with a very close friend its an extremely delicate issue and if its at all true I think puts Melbourne in a really bad spot.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Elbows too pointy

 

[SaintsofSteel]

Sounds like they think they can bounce and play finals.

That list isn’t playing finals if Petracca isn’t there.

I’ll extend that additionally if May isn’t and if Oliver is playing half back

Its amazing how clubs in that mire still think they can play finals ala us under Richardson and Ratten. They might have some decent kids on their list, but there is no way they can carry the burden for an enitire season at the level.

They will finish as far away from finals as any of the other bottom 10 sides, most likely bottom 4. Apart from Pickett they have no forward line and when they lose May will have an inexperienced defence. Oliver and Petracca had ordinary seasons but they are still big bodies they will struggle to replace in the middle.

Hopefully the Saints sales pitch to Flanders and the obvious issues/exodus from Melbourne is enough to swing Sam our way.

 

[magd2992]

His history of mental health problems? Is that just the modern euphemism for getting on the gear and absolving oneself of personal responsibility for one's actions, or has he had actual problems?

The relationship between drug use and mental health is complex. It can be bidirectional and is often comorbid. The guy’s got serious issues so let’s not judge.

 

[akaifu]

Are those ITK’s still confident on Flanders?

Sounds a bit like it could be going the other way.

He's coming

 

[saintbill]

Its amazing how clubs in that mire still think they can play finals ala us under Richardson and Ratten. They might have some decent kids on their list, but there is no way they can carry the burden for an enitire season at the level.

They will finish as far away from finals as any of the other bottom 10 sides, most likely bottom 4. Apart from Pickett they have no forward line and when they lose May will have an inexperienced defence. Oliver and Petracca had ordinary seasons but they are still big bodies they will struggle to replace in the middle.

Hopefully the Saints sales pitch to Flanders and the obvious issues/exodus from Melbourne is enough to swing Sam our way.

Outside of West Coast I can't think of a club that is in worse shape the next 3-5 years.

They are essentially 1 year in to a full list rebuild and we know they take time.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

I heard them talking on radio that prior to King being appointed that basically Alan Richardson was overseeing football department including recruiting etc. Says it all really

Alan Richardson would have to the one of the dullest individuals ever to be involved in AFL Coaching or Management. He might have been a steadying influence around Goodwin, but he is well short of what you'd expect from a Football Manager. As long as he remains there Melbourne will not progress - so go Richo "thats pleasing"!!!

 

[joop]

Coming soon….I’m definitely buying one!

Will saints mafia be jumping through tables?

 

[Pardon me]

Outside of West Coast I can't think of a club that is in worse shape the next 3-5 years.

They are essentially 1 year in to a full list rebuild and we know they take time.

Essendon look pretty ordinary.