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
​

 

[jwint43]

You can’t rely on a good fixture to get in the finals because you’ll just be out of it again the year after.

It’s all on Ross next year to come up with a gameplan that stacks up IMO. I look at Hawthorn and while we probably don’t have a Newcombe you’ll never convince me that they have so much more to work with than us, they’re just an extremely well coached team that’s full of belief and not told in every second press conference they’re not good enough. Our midfield is still a work in progress but the Hawks almost made the grand final without one.

Agreed. They have an average list and the best coach in the game right now. I'd argue a 3rd of their 22 from the prelim are GOP's like Ward, Worpel, Morrison, Chol, Hardwick, Nash and Macdonald. I'd even throw Amon and Impey in there. Just think how easily you could picture all of them in saints colours plodding around and finishing 11th. I think they are playing a dangerous game recruiting 28+ year olds because they don't have the list depth to sustain it, but it seems like they are all in on pinching a flag in the next couple of years.

My point is Sam Mitchell could take our list very far and finals should be an expectation next year if we are healthy to start the year. I don't know if Ross has it in him to take us to the next level, we'll know by the end of next year. To his credit, I think if our talls were healthy our season looks very different.

 

[bird_man]

I'm reading some pretty stupid hypotheticals here involving not having a draft pick for miniPou.

Minnie The Pou

 

[L_W_P]

Fin Macrae anyone? Delisted by the Pies.

Would be 24 next year.

Seems to dominate the VFL as an inside mid but never really got a crack at senior level.

Yes, I'm really only bringing him up because he's Jack's little brother but if we are open to moving Steele on the Fin might be a handy option to have in reserve?

Seems to play more games than Dow at least so he'd put some pressure on the other young guys to maintain their form.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Pretty keen on Sam Flanders so I can go to games and yell " FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN-DERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSS!" from over the fence. Dunno if he's any good though.

WOO HOO!

 

[Sully111]

If we can bring in Flanders along with the other players that have nominated us, and keep pick 7, I think that'll be a hell of a trade period.

I'd rather us use our F1 I think

 

[ScrappyDo]

If we can bring in Flanders along with the other players that have nominated us, and keep pick 7, I think that'll be a hell of a trade period.

I'd rather us use our F1 I think

100%

 

[beside the seaside]

If we can bring in Flanders along with the other players that have nominated us, and keep pick 7, I think that'll be a hell of a trade period.

I'd rather us use our F1 I think

The risk with using the F1 is it puts you on the back foot if you get a gun to nominate us next year. Having said that I don't love using pick 7 on him, depending on what we would get back.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Carlton, Essendon, Melbourne?

Saints would be the smart choice right about now.

 

[gringo2011]

Yep and what did Sydney pay for Kennedy? Hot tip it wasn’t a top 10 pick.

He was not even close to as established either.

 

[gringo2011]

There is a pretty exciting pick 11 running round for us at the moment

This draft isn't anything close to that one IMO. I reckon this is one that is very even and below average. There just isn't that much outstanding quality. There are a few possibly good and maybe even great players but I'm not thinking Fincher is too far off most of the top 10 players. Looks like one where some good players will come later in the draft from less obvious players.

 

[gringo2011]

Haven’t we drafted the most kids in the past 4 years?
Don’t think missing one year, particularly this one, is such a tragedy.
We’ll probably get Fincher anyway, according to people on here.
As you say, bolster the mid - 20s bracket where we are sorely lacking.
Can always go back to the draft next year.

I want Taylor Byrne who is meant to go late. I rate him higher than most of the players tipped to go as high picks. The front end looks like a gamble.

 

[gringo2011]

Except MaCrae was a 30 year old on a big contract that wasn't in their plans. The Dogs wanted to get him off the books.

For the record, I think that 7 for Flanders is overs, but it's poor comparison.

I think we'd want a decent pick back if we were to give up 7. Maybe working the Marshall trade in and ending up with pick Gold Coasts 13 with other picks changing hands.

Plenty of water to go under the bridge, I doubt it would just be 7 for Flanders and 18 for Marshall.

If we could get something else back from 7 we would be flying. If Flanders was a Saint on the move we'd be demanding 2 FRDPs. He's a better and more advanced player than most of our mid career players with scope to be something pretty special still. Windhager is probably the closest thing we have but he hasn't put together a full season of high output footy yet.

I'd say he is a bit better than players like Miles Bergman and their fans were wanting multiple top picks or a direct swap with Nas. He's worth a pick 7 on its own but if we don't have to pay that it would be a great pick up for us. He's still got a lot of scope to be an A grade talent and very likely hits the ground running next year if his back is right.

 

[beside the seaside]

If we could get something else back from 7 we would be flying. If Flanders was a Saint on the move we'd be demanding 2 FRDPs. He's a better and more advanced player than most of our mid career players with scope to be something pretty special still. Windhager is probably the closest thing we have but he hasn't put together a full season of high output footy yet.

I'd say he is a bit better than players like Miles Bergman and their fans were wanting multiple top picks or a direct swap with Nas. He's worth a pick 7 on its own but if we don't have to pay that it would be a great pick up for us. He's still got a lot of scope to be an A grade talent and very likely hits the ground running next year if his back is right.

When you think about our midfield, he'd be a great addition to it. Lock him into the starting centre square. Feels like an area where we are still lacking or relying on players breaking out which we know is no guarantee.

What are your thoughts on Marshall? Prefer to keep or take Cats 1st for him?

 

[gringo2011]

I'm reading some pretty stupid hypotheticals here involving not having a draft pick for miniPou.

He's not that special to me. He looks promising but not outstanding. I'd rather a ready made mid. He likely plays VFL for a couple of years at this point.

 

[gringo2011]

Agreed. They have an average list and the best coach in the game right now. I'd argue a 3rd of their 22 from the prelim are GOP's like Ward, Worpel, Morrison, Chol, Hardwick, Nash and Macdonald. I'd even throw Amon and Impey in there. Just think how easily you could picture all of them in saints colours plodding around and finishing 11th. I think they are playing a dangerous game recruiting 28+ year olds because they don't have the list depth to sustain it, but it seems like they are all in on pinching a flag in the next couple of years.

My point is Sam Mitchell could take our list very far and finals should be an expectation next year if we are healthy to start the year. I don't know if Ross has it in him to take us to the next level, we'll know by the end of next year. To his credit, I think if our talls were healthy our season looks very different.

That spread of talent and evenness is their strength IMO. Hardwick, Nash and Chol are lower profile but high output. Chol went from a C grader to a B+. He did a Mason Wood where no-one really sees what he's become because they still rememeber him being shit.

Amon and Impey are probably the next best pair of rebound backs after Sincs and Nas. Not many have two really good ones. They seem to have 25 B+ players which means that they are hard to stop or plan around. You stop Day or Newcombe and someone else can step up.

 

[bird_man]

If we could get something else back from 7 we would be flying. If Flanders was a Saint on the move we'd be demanding 2 FRDPs. He's a better and more advanced player than most of our mid career players with scope to be something pretty special still. Windhager is probably the closest thing we have but he hasn't put together a full season of high output footy yet.

I'd say he is a bit better than players like Miles Bergman and their fans were wanting multiple top picks or a direct swap with Nas. He's worth a pick 7 on its own but if we don't have to pay that it would be a great pick up for us. He's still got a lot of scope to be an A grade talent and very likely hits the ground running next year if his back is right.

2 firsts for Flanders sounds insane to me. He had one very good and not much else. I get the potential is there, but he doesn't have the runs on the board for that price tag.

 

[gringo2011]

Fin Macrae anyone? Delisted by the Pies.

Would be 24 next year.

Seems to dominate the VFL as an inside mid but never really got a crack at senior level.

Yes, I'm really only bringing him up because he's Jack's little brother but if we are open to moving Steele on the Fin might be a handy option to have in reserve?

Seems to play more games than Dow at least so he'd put some pressure on the other young guys to maintain their form.

He seems like another Jack Bytel where he has an inside game and not much more. If you aren't adaptable you need to be elite in your role. He might still have a bit more but not sure we need him.

 

[gringo2011]

2 firsts for Flanders sounds insane to me. He had one very good and not much else. I get the potential is there, but he doesn't have the runs on the board for that price tag.

If he was in Melbourne he'd be much higher profile and demand more. If it was us selling we'd want that. His season was elite last year. It would be like us losing 25 year old Sinclair.

 

[gringo2011]

If we can bring in Flanders along with the other players that have nominated us, and keep pick 7, I think that'll be a hell of a trade period.

I'd rather us use our F1 I think

Next draft actually looks stronger at this point.

 

[gringo2011]

When you think about our midfield, he'd be a great addition to it. Lock him into the starting centre square. Feels like an area where we are still lacking or relying on players breaking out which we know is no guarantee.

What are your thoughts on Marshall? Prefer to keep or take Cats 1st for him?

Not sure. Happy to let the club decide on Marshall. I'd probably let him go if we get a good offer but if we genuinely think we need him keep him.

 

[BrutThough]

Cornes was right on radio today about Flanders. He's a good player who is suddenly being talked about like's he's a superstar because he's up for trade.

Pick 7 for him is insane. He couldn't get into GC's midfield this year when they needed depth beyond Rowell+Anderson. Hopefully the talk about pick 7 is not accurate.

 

[gubby88]

If we could get something else back from 7 we would be flying. If Flanders was a Saint on the move we'd be demanding 2 FRDPs. He's a better and more advanced player than most of our mid career players with scope to be something pretty special still. Windhager is probably the closest thing we have but he hasn't put together a full season of high output footy yet.

I'd say he is a bit better than players like Miles Bergman and their fans were wanting multiple top picks or a direct swap with Nas. He's worth a pick 7 on its own but if we don't have to pay that it would be a great pick up for us. He's still got a lot of scope to be an A grade talent and very likely hits the ground running next year if his back is right.

tbf, i think if he was at the saints already, hed be a full time mid

 

[Yawkey way]

If we could get something else back from 7 we would be flying. If Flanders was a Saint on the move we'd be demanding 2 FRDPs. He's a better and more advanced player than most of our mid career players with scope to be something pretty special still. Windhager is probably the closest thing we have but he hasn't put together a full season of high output footy yet.

I'd say he is a bit better than players like Miles Bergman and their fans were wanting multiple top picks or a direct swap with Nas. He's worth a pick 7 on its own but if we don't have to pay that it would be a great pick up for us. He's still got a lot of scope to be an A grade talent and very likely hits the ground running next year if his back is right.

Flanders isn’t worth pick 7 and a second back is an absolute con job.

Once you’re out of the first round try getting back in and see what it costs. What would be fair is a swap of firsts 7 for 12 and us finding an another pick to help with points. Anyway if he nominates us and GC are motivated to move him it will get done one way or another.

I’m not writing off this draft, every year we hear the same stuff. Last years was supposed to be ordinary a few months out and then became a super draft.

 

[luca77]

There's been a lot of money talk recently, but when it comes to staying or going in the end friends, family, environment, the coach, ladder position and other factors seem to still be pretty important.

Considering that, if Jevan Pou is expected to come a fair bit later than our pick 7, maybe we should try to turn Marshall and Pick 7 into Flanders and Jevan somehow. Some on here would say we should get something extra on top, others would say we might have to cough up something extra on top, but might be something worth trying for. Twomey seems to think he might have something pretty special and is under the radar due to injury.

Fincher on top would be a decent trio in.

 

[austinnn]

I want Taylor Byrne who is meant to go late. I rate him higher than most of the players tipped to go as high picks. The front end looks like a gamble.

Isn't Taylor Byrne the feeling of having a tape measure whipped a bit too quick around the inside leg?