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
​

 

[The Punter]

Players of the GF teams need to have their exit meetings first

The Friday after is pretty much as early as they can make the player movement window

That doesn't change anything. No team has to make any trade until they are ready, so GF teams can just wait. Under my proposal they have until February anyway. Haven't Geelong already met with Rowan Marshall?

This is another area where world's best practice happens elsewhere in the world.

 

[Hayes4PM]

Who is this dickhead on Trade Radio saying he didn't think Hawthorn "would get those deals done" on Barrass and Battle in comparison to Petracca and Merrett....


Two Free Agents vs Two contracted players .......


EDIT: 1 free agent, still a 50% dickhead

 

[gringo2011]

But why pursue a player aggressively if not prepared to also trade aggressively?

Either they want the player or they don’t.

Convincingly the player is only half of the equation.

We have stretched a few caps offering crazy money for guys like Merrett and Callaghan. GWS and Essendon have to stump up more which loosens a few fringe players later.

Maybe the Dogs are putting us back in our box a bit.

 

[thekizzler]

That’s right.

All these players we are bringing in will make us better but won’t necessarily propel us into being a contender.

It’s the growth and development of the 18-22 year olds we have drafted from 2021 onwards that will transition us into that next phase.

The clutch of players we are trading in will provide depth, experience and skill to support the younger cohort and hopefully fast track the process.

Yeah I think that's the idea.

Not many teams make the finals and then win a flag straight away - for a start.

Usually requires building finals experience and sometimes even a GF loss can build the necessary motivation for the group.

The way I see it, the Saints are trying to put themselves in the best possible position to contend in the next two years, however unlikely that is.

If everything goes absolutely right - King comes good, all recruits contribute significantly, improvement out of the young players, no injuries - then there is a tiny chance of jagging a flag in the next two seasons.

But that would be like winning an early flag as what Hawthorn did in 2008.

The plan which the club is banking on is to get finals experience over the next two seasons, enter 2028 positively with Nas re-signed again, and push on for success with the younger core having played around 40 games more than they have now.

It seems like the best plan possible in my eyes. Sacrificing your young core is more risky. Going heavily to the draft could see us mired in mid-table mediocrity for more years - especially with compromised drafts ahead.

It's obviously no guarantee to succeed but it gives the Saints the best possible chance, IMO.

ADDITION: It's why Purple is an absolute campaigner for suggesting the Saints need to make preliminary final next year. Some of the worst punditry chat I've seen all year.

 

[Joffaboy]

We have stretched a few caps offering crazy money for guys like Merrett and Callaghan. GWS and Essendon have to stump up more which loosens a few fringe players later.

Maybe the Dogs are putting us back in our box a bit.

You can't start an arms race without a bit of blowback.

 

[Yawkey way]

He worked under their old game plan when they were a more kick mark side and he patrolled across HB often sitting out the back of Stewart. He's a very slow decision maker and not great on a player. He looks the type that goes to another club on reputation from being in a great side and looks ordinary. Since he missed last year through injury he got replaced by O'Sullivan and looks lost.

I think he’d be fine at the saints.

The problem as always would be cost, plus his contract.

I don’t think we’ve seen the last of big forwards by any means, GC are stacked for example as are the bulldogs. We’ve struggled for years with an undersized defence, every time Howard goes down we’re too small. I can see a player like him talking the opposition monster.

The guy I still can’t warm to is Aleer, nothing personal I just don’t rate him and can’t figure out how we’re going to use him. If we had SDK alongside Wilkie with Tauru, Sinclair, Nas and the other half dozen players fighting for a spot I’d rate it elite.

Great defence is gold is September so yeah if Marshall does end up at Geelong who else are we looking at ?. I don’t want some c grade mid or a pick that blows out into the late 20’s.

We must have someone in mind, it smacks a bit of the bulldogs. They want Marshall but watch them offer us mates rates, then they’ll become indignant, it’s their mo.

 

[stavro#4]

wtf is this

 

[chris_h_11]

wtf is this

Looks like a Fiji Airways logo on the footy.....

 

[Saints4ever]

wtf is this

Well that’s random.

Bloody NAS dog losing the ball.

 

[Joffaboy]

wtf is this

Kick to kick at the beach?

 

[FQFjt]

Looks like a Fiji Airways logo on the footy.....
View attachment 2441068

great spot

 

[Joffaboy]

Well that’s random.

Bloody NAS dog losing the ball.

Frigging clanger merchant

 

[gringo2011]

I think he’d be fine at the saints.

The problem as always would be cost, plus his contract.

I don’t think we’ve seen the last of big forwards by any means, GC are stacked for example as are the bulldogs. We’ve struggled for years with an undersized defence, every time Howard goes down we’re too small. I can see a player like him talking the opposition monster.

The guy I still can’t warm to is Aleer, nothing personal I just don’t rate him and can’t figure out how we’re going to use him. If we had SDK alongside Wilkie with Tauru, Sinclair, Nas and the other half dozen players fighting for a spot I’d rate it elite.

Great defence is gold is September so yeah if Marshall does end up at Geelong who else are we looking at ?. I don’t want some c grade mid or a pick that blows out into the late 20’s.

We must have someone in mind, it smacks a bit of the bulldogs. They want Marshall but watch them offer us mates rates, then they’ll become indignant, it’s their mo.

SDK is not a one on one defender being the issue there. He might develop it but I'm not giving Marshall and a FRDP for a guy who might be okay in a position he doesn't play.

Aleer might need to become a forward or swingman. Not sure what we were thinking with him. Maybe the new Wood as an athletic wingman?

 

[Saints4ever]

Looks like a Fiji Airways logo on the footy.....
View attachment 2441068

Oh yeah I didn’t notice that and then the bell sound at the end.

 

[SainterinSydney]

wtf is this

 

[akaifu]

wtf is this

New club sponsor i tink

 

[beside the seaside]

Bailey Smith

3

Bailey Smith

Age

25

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

8.5

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

19.8

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

3.2

4star

D

14.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.4

5star

CL

1.6

4star

did an insta suggesting he's teaming up with Charlie Curnow

35

Charlie Curnow

Age

28

Ht

194cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.3

3star

K

9.7

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

10.8

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.8

4star

next year. It's all so silly but it begs the question, if Geelong are going for Curnow then surely they can't get Marshall.

 

[AFaiL]

Well. My news looks spot on.

Don’t want to lose Cal and don’t think we will, purely because the dogs won’t come to the table here.

Why would we 'knock it on the head', though?

Happy we are passive and saying/doing nothing. The more time the dogs waste thinking they can get him, the better for us. They are a genuine contender for a position in the 8 next season and we want them missing. Not getting a key back helps.

 

[AFaiL]

Yeah I think that's the idea.

Not many teams make the finals and then win a flag straight away - for a start.

Usually requires building finals experience and sometimes even a GF loss can build the necessary motivation for the group.

The way I see it, the Saints are trying to put themselves in the best possible position to contend in the next two years, however unlikely that is.

If everything goes absolutely right - King comes good, all recruits contribute significantly, improvement out of the young players, no injuries - then there is a tiny chance of jagging a flag in the next two seasons.

But that would be like winning an early flag as what Hawthorn did in 2008.

The plan which the club is banking on is to get finals experience over the next two seasons, enter 2028 positively with Nas re-signed again, and push on for success with the younger core having played around 40 games more than they have now.

It seems like the best plan possible in my eyes. Sacrificing your young core is more risky. Going heavily to the draft could see us mired in mid-table mediocrity for more years - especially with compromised drafts ahead.

It's obviously no guarantee to succeed but it gives the Saints the best possible chance, IMO.

ADDITION: It's why Purple is an absolute campaigner for suggesting the Saints need to make preliminary final next year. Some of the worst punditry chat I've seen all year.

Hate to be that guy, and happy for the receipt to be kept on this, but Nas has full intentions of returning home after this 2 year deal. Yes, things can change, but this is the current plan. Intel comes directly from somebody in SA who spoke to him 2 weeks ago, I trust the source.

We have two years to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

 

[Joffaboy]

New club sponsor i tink

Nope we are relocating and becoming the Suva Saints CursingFijian what do you reckon?

 

[goodie23]

Bailey Smith did an insta suggesting he's teaming up with Charlie Curnow next year. It's all so silly but it begs the question, if Geelong are going for Curnow then surely they can't get Marshall.

Surely Geelong don't have the trade currency or salary cap to take in Curnow

 

[pebblesofsand]

Hate to be that guy, and happy for the receipt to be kept on this, but Nas has full intentions of returning home after this 2 year deal. Yes, things can change, but this is the current plan. Intel comes directly from somebody in SA who spoke to him 2 weeks ago, I trust the source.

We have two years to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

Incorrect.

 

[thekizzler]

Hate to be that guy, and happy for the receipt to be kept on this, but Nas has full intentions of returning home after this 2 year deal. Yes, things can change, but this is the current plan. Intel comes directly from somebody in SA who spoke to him 2 weeks ago, I trust the source.

We have two years to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

Fair enough if that is actually the case.

It wouldn't really be a surprise though.

It's up to the Saints to do two things - change his mind or extract the world in capital from Adelaide or Port Adelaide.

Two years is a bloody long time.

Although chat on Nas' next contract will probably ramp up in 12 months

 

[Yawkey way]

SDK is not a one on one defender being the issue there. He might develop it but I'm not giving Marshall and a FRDP for a guy who might be okay in a position he doesn't play.

Aleer might need to become a forward or swingman. Not sure what we were thinking with him. Maybe the new Wood as an athletic wingman?

I give players a year after seriously injury and surely it would be a straight swap.

Yeah Aleer is athletic but he’s not much of a footballer. Mason wood was predicted to be a star and simply failed to live up to expectations. He’s been very good for us consistently showing what north only saw glimpses of. His skills and football smarts were never really in question, it was more injury and desire. To fix Wood only required getting fit and a change of scenery.

I don’t think Aleer can be much more than a stopper at present. Still I’ve been wrong before and we have Boris who was as good as it gets as a defender. Looks a big task though and it’s worth noting he’s not some Irish recruit who needs time to adjust, he’s grown up playing the game.

I keep think Dawson but can you play such a limited role these days. You know when I watch him it reminds me of the academy kid we didn’t take who’s spent the year as an over age player.

 

[Joffaboy]

Hate to be that guy, and happy for the receipt to be kept on this, but Nas has full intentions of returning home after this 2 year deal. Yes, things can change, but this is the current plan. Intel comes directly from somebody in SA who spoke to him 2 weeks ago, I trust the source.

We have two years to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

Sorry yo be  this guy, but heard all this before he signed, everyone had a theory, had heard from an impeccable source, take it to the bank etc.
He was going home after his first year, 3 years later he resigns.
No doubt we have two years to change his mind, but everything can change in a week
Just say we win a flag in 27 ( unlikely but gor the argument). He may think he has done what he wanted to achieve and leave.
Now let's say we make finals in 26 and a PF in 27 ( more likely than a flag) he may decide that he has unfinished business and stay.
Anything said more than two years before the 31st Oct 2027 should be taken with a huge boulder sized grain of salt.