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
​

 

[beside the seaside]

Love Dilena talking the "we'll just keep him" talk on Marshall.

Aka pay up Geelong!

 

[ThomasR]

Sounds like:

• we need to get value for Ro
• we wouldn't stand in Steele's way if he came to terms with another club

The thing that remains unsaid is that it will be incredibly difficult to bring in 5 players and the mandatory 3 draft picks without letting at least one of them go - not necessarily salary cap related, but purely for list spots

From an on-field perspective Steele is clearly more expendable. Seems like the club would be genuinely happy if someone comes calling as it means we would actually be able to retain Marshall, and not just bluffing. But if he can't find a home, then we'll need to move Ro on. Cats are no doubt aware of this and will be waiting it out

Alternatively we walk away from Ryan or Aleer, but that seems less likely to happen at this point

 

[Kildonan]

Age profile of St Kilda squad awaiting remaining trades, further delistings and draft

Player          Age Contracted to
Webster          32 Delisted
Hill             32 2027
Wood             32 2027
Macrae           31 2027
Sinclair         30 2027
Jones            30 Uncontracted
Marshall         29 2027 asked for trade
Steele           29 2027 ??trade target
Wilke            29 2029
Howard           29 2026
Butler           29 2026 ??trade target
Ryan             29 2028 New
Cordy            28 Delisted
Silvagni         27 2030 New
Boyd             27 Delisted
Higgins          26 2029
Clark            26 2027
DeKoning         26 2033 New
Dow              25 2026
Stocker          25 2026
King             25 2032
Sharman          25 2026
Byrnes           24 Uncontracted ?any interest
Flanders         24 2031 New
Henry            24 2027
Hall             23 2027
Heath            23 Traded to Melbourne
Carroll          22 2026
Wanganeen-Milera 22 2027
O'Connell        22 2026
Windhager        22 2029
McLennan         22 Delisted
Owens            22 2029
Caminiti         21 2026 ??trade target
Keeler           21 2026
Phillipou        20 2028
Schoenmaker      20 Uncontracted ?any interest
Collard          20 2027
Garcia           20 2027
Wilson           20 2026
Hastie           20 2027
Said             19 2026
Dodson           19 2026
Boxshall         19 2028
Armstrong        19 2026
Travaglia        19 2027
Tauru            18 2027
Barratt          18 2027

 

[aidansbonor]

No doubt I will get Sandra’ed but anyhow:

4m ago
12:48
ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon has a "strong preference" for Rowan Marshall to remain at the Saints, despite the ruck requesting a move to Geelong.

Marshall officially requested a trade to the Cats on Friday, just hours after Tom De Koning's move from Carlton to the Saints became official.

The 29-year-old has two years still to run on his deal at the Saints, and CEO Carl Dilena says the club’s position is clear.

"Our preference is to keep Rowan," Dilena said on Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio.

"It was never our call, he's asked for (a trade) and out of respect for him, we've had a bit of dialogue with Geelong.

Rowan Marshall during the round three match between St Kilda and Richmond at Marvel Stadium, March 29, 2025. Picture: Getty Images

"If I had to bet on it, I'm not sure it would happen.

"Ross as coach, his strong preference is to have him at the club. He loves him as a player (and) he knows the role he would be able to play next year. That'd be our position there.

"This is my personal opinion ... you never say never to anything. If there was the world's best ever trade deal offered, you'd have to consider it. You have to do what's right for the club.

"But from a senior coach perspective, Ross has a clear preference. We'll weigh everything up when we get towards the end of the period and see what's in the best interests of the club, but at this stage it's Rowan staying with us.” – Martin Smith

Pay up or get fckd Geelong, love every bit of this

 

[The Punter]

The thing that remains unsaid is that it will be incredibly difficult to bring in 5 players and the mandatory 3 draft picks without letting at least one of them go - not necessarily salary cap related, but purely for list spots

From an on-field perspective Steele is clearly more expendable. Seems like the club would be genuinely happy if someone comes calling as it means we would actually be able to retain Marshall, and not just bluffing. But if he can't find a home, then we'll need to move Ro on. Cats are no doubt aware of this and will be waiting it out

Alternatively we walk away from Ryan or Aleer, but that seems less likely to happen at this point

Jones, Byrnes, Heath & Schoemakers remain the other players not yet gone without a contract for next season. That gets us to 36 I think (happy to be informed Heath was on the rookie list), and I think a rookie elevation can count as one of the three draftees. I think there is a situation where we can keep both of them but it is tight.

I'm not sure how many around here would be all that sad if the Aleer and Ryan potential trades fell through. We got the three most important ones done first.

 

[Jade Buddha]

Keeler is not a ruck - he's a 5 minute a qtr fill in at best - not someone you can rely on to give you 4 or 5 solid games in a row if your first ruck gets injured.

No way we win games if we have to rely he or Dodson to play as a first ruck for 4 or 5 games in a row.

If Marshall and Heath both go we will be looking for another short term back up ruckman for insurance purposes - and that's good list management not "list clogging".

Depends on who you pick up. I’d be all aboard for Gringo’s boy Derksen.

 

[The_Steadier]

I really hope we keep roma.
Even geelongs future first isn't enough for me to think he's worth trading.

If we don't have a trade lined up to use geelongs future first on (this year or next year)- then we hold him to his contract.

We're trying to win the 2026 flag (directly competing with geelong).

Roma can be a big part of that for us- it should take a brilliant offer from the cats to turn our heads.

 

[AFaiL]

Keeler is not a ruck - he's a 5 minute a qtr fill in at best - not someone you can rely on to give you 4 or 5 solid games in a row if your first ruck gets injured.

No way we win games if we have to rely he or Dodson to play as a first ruck for 4 or 5 games in a row.

If Marshall and Heath both go we will be looking for another short term back up ruckman for insurance purposes - and that's good list management not "list clogging".

Or, we just keep the A grade ruck we already have that the head coach knows can be a part of his strategy

 

[St Neil]

Suck on that Mackie…

Have had enough of Geelong.

You want a contracted player, you pay slightly overs.

Saints should say don’t waste our time, we have other trades to complete.

Listening to Dilena I don’t think we have any more trades to do. Which is a shame.

I don’t think what Dilena said was a negotiation tactic. It seemed genuine. I reckon Marshall is staying. Lyon wants to keep him.

Geelong need to get on their skates. Quickly. Red flags for them in that interview.

 

[sauce_head]

For St Kilda??? Mate i think you're mistaken, he's a weston bulldog now isnt he?

View attachment 2450776

I suggest giving him number zero.

 

[beside the seaside]

I know I said there's no chance Ro stays but reading those Dilena comments it's definitely not out of the question. He's saying we'll need an exceptional deal so it will be interesting to see what it actually takes to get it done. I really like it.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

What was this?

Was just last night's Day 3 Trade wrap on 3aw

 

[stavro#4]

Listening to Dilena I don’t think we have any more trades to do. Which is a shame.

I don’t think what Dilena said was a negotiation tactic. It seemed genuine. I reckon Marshall is staying. Lyon wants to keep him.

Geelong need to get on their skates. Quickly. Red flags for them in that interview.

I didn’t really think he was categoric.

It was abit of both ways.



Ultimately. Ro and Steele would need to move to get another in?

 

[snails13]

Pay up or get fckd Geelong, love every bit of this

They can Soldo

 

[Sheepey]

No doubt I will get Sandra’ed but anyhow:

4m ago
12:48
ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon has a "strong preference" for Rowan Marshall to remain at the Saints, despite the ruck requesting a move to Geelong.

Marshall officially requested a trade to the Cats on Friday, just hours after Tom De Koning's move from Carlton to the Saints became official.

The 29-year-old has two years still to run on his deal at the Saints, and CEO Carl Dilena says the club’s position is clear.

"Our preference is to keep Rowan," Dilena said on Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio.

"It was never our call, he's asked for (a trade) and out of respect for him, we've had a bit of dialogue with Geelong.

Rowan Marshall during the round three match between St Kilda and Richmond at Marvel Stadium, March 29, 2025. Picture: Getty Images

"If I had to bet on it, I'm not sure it would happen.

"Ross as coach, his strong preference is to have him at the club. He loves him as a player (and) he knows the role he would be able to play next year. That'd be our position there.

"This is my personal opinion ... you never say never to anything. If there was the world's best ever trade deal offered, you'd have to consider it. You have to do what's right for the club.

"But from a senior coach perspective, Ross has a clear preference. We'll weigh everything up when we get towards the end of the period and see what's in the best interests of the club, but at this stage it's Rowan staying with us.” – Martin Smith

Perfect position to have on him. Marshall makes us a better side, is contracted for two more years, and has a front-loaded contract. Everything is in our favour. Geelong needs to make it worth it for us to trade him, and nothing in this draft will do.

 

[SainterinSydney]

Listening to Dilena I don’t think we have any more trades to do. Which is a shame.

I don’t think what Dilena said was a negotiation tactic. It seemed genuine. I reckon Marshall is staying. Lyon wants to keep him.

Geelong need to get on their skates. Quickly. Red flags for them in that interview.

My gut is rarely wrong! I just don't see any benefit to us trading him unless for a deal heavily in our favour. Id feel more comfortable knowing if something happens to TDK we have Ro there able to take the no 1 spot.

 

[Oh When the Saints]

If we are chasing someone late in the trade period, then that’ll be the only leverage Geelong have to get us to pull the trigger on a deal for Marshall

If we’re not chasing anyone else in the period, or there’s not some quid pro quo with GC, I can’t fathom why we pulled the trigger with pick 7 so quick. Even if we thought 7 was unders for Flanders. There’s absolutely no downside to holding the trade up to try and extract something else back to use in one of our other trades.

My intel is that Flanders had said to his manager that he would prefer Saints but was also ok with Bombers due to the money - but he was prepared to nominate us publicly if he knew the deal could be done quickly and at a fair price for GC - which we were happy to do as we genuinely rate him as an elite mid.

 

[Therealsaint]

Announced a couple of weeks back that pick 7 was on the table.
This had been war gamed weeks ago.
I am only judging this trade period at the end not on individual trades.
If they judge him as a pick 7 quality, after what they have achieved in getting us to this point in trade period, I will put my faith in their judgement.
However if they fold and take 18 for Marshall, I will be unhappy and question their whole strategy after Lyon came out saying good clubs don't trade contracted players.

Announced a couple of weeks back that pick 7 was on the table.
This had been war gamed weeks ago.
I am only judging this trade period at the end not on individual trades.
If they judge him as a pick 7 quality, after what they have achieved in getting us to this point in trade period, I will put my faith in their judgement.
However if they fold and take 18 for Marshall, I will be unhappy and question their whole strategy after Lyon came out saying good clubs don't trade contracted player

Announced a couple of weeks back that pick 7 was on the table.
This had been war gamed weeks ago.
I am only judging this trade period at the end not on individual trades.
If they judge him as a pick 7 quality, after what they have achieved in getting us to this point in trade period, I will put my faith in their judgement.
However if they fold and take 18 for Marshall, I will be unhappy and question their whole strategy after Lyon came out saying g

Apart from his gleaming pate, what's your analysis of Armstrong, SaintMike? Did you get to see him at training late in the year? Any views on how he could slot into our team?

Listening to Dilena I don’t think we have any more trades to do. Which is a shame.

I don’t think what Dilena said was a negotiation tactic. It seemed genuine. I reckon Marshall is staying. Lyon wants to keep him.

Geelong need to get on their skates. Quickly. Red flags for them in that interview.

Marshall is not staying,more chance of king playing 23 games next year than Marshall staying

 

[TheJackal]

My gut is rarely wrong! I just don't see any benefit to us trading him unless for a deal heavily in our favour. Id feel more comfortable knowing if something happens to TDK we have Ro there able to take the no 1 spot.

Which begs the question, what does a deal heavily in our favour look like?

 

[saint66au]

Which begs the question, what does a deal heavily in our favour look like?

More than their first rounder

 

[saintmike65]

We could do worse, the big fella can play.

Big and aggressive...why not!

 

[thekizzler]

Marshall is not staying,more chance of king playing 23 games next year than Marshall staying

Based on what, my man?

 

[saintmike65]

The thing that remains unsaid is that it will be incredibly difficult to bring in 5 players and the mandatory 3 draft picks without letting at least one of them go - not necessarily salary cap related, but purely for list spots

From an on-field perspective Steele is clearly more expendable. Seems like the club would be genuinely happy if someone comes calling as it means we would actually be able to retain Marshall, and not just bluffing. But if he can't find a home, then we'll need to move Ro on. Cats are no doubt aware of this and will be waiting it out

Alternatively we walk away from Ryan or Aleer, but that seems less likely to happen at this point

No...we've commited to those 2 so that has to be honored

 

[The Punter]

Which begs the question, what does a deal heavily in our favour look like?

Geelong don't give up players in trades for players very often.

 

[Yawkey way]

Marshall is not staying,more chance of king playing 23 games next year than Marshall staying

We will see, I’ve said all along that Marshall’s worth to us far exceeds what Geelong appear to be willing to offer.

I’m ok with that, they get to determine what he’s worth to them but at present things don’t add up for us.

They would be stupid to trade SDK but it’s going to take something like that. Marshall plays every game if he stays and we’re a better side.

So no chance of staying you say, ok.