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_Steadier]

Not sure if anyone else noticed, but 5 out of our top 10 from our B&F (including 2 out of the top 3) were picked up as rookies:

1st - Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
2nd - Callum Wilkie (Rookie)
3rd - Jack Sinclair (Rookie)
4th - Max Hall (MSD - Rookie)
5th - Marcus Windhager
6th - Rowan Marshall (Rookie)
7th - Jack Higgins
8th - Cooper Sharman (MSD - Rookie)
9th - Mitch Owens
10th - Jack Macrae

Talk about finding diamonds in the rough consistently!

also a damning indictment on our past because of who is not there.

Ie all the top draft picks who should be at their peak as stars right now- but aren't.

Billings, gresh, clark, coffield etc.

None of those guys amounting to anything has really screwed us for a long time.

 

[Pardon me]

I can sleep better now knowing we have Michael Jordan working in list management.

 

[snails13]

From the Dogs board:

WB:
Out: Pick 10, Pick 28, JUH
In: Wilkie, Budarek

St Kilda:
In: Pick 7, Flanders
Out: Wilkie, F2, F3

GC:
In: Pick 10, Pick 28, JUH, F2, F3
Out: Pick 7, Flanders, Budarek

Someone should probably tell this clown we already have Pick 7

Bit of Lead in the air out Footscray Area

 

[stavro#4]

Bit of Lead in the air out Footscray Area

Someone might need to let them know that we don’t need to trade Wilkie to fulfil a deal we already have the currency for.

They look like they are about to start self flagellating on their board.

 

[gringo2011]

WA beckons my friend. Come over for a middy and a parmi and we can rewatch the grandy

You're all optimistic real estate and resource tycoons out west. I'd be sent packing after bringing my gloomy Melbourne demeanour out.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

if we hypothetically got involved in the curnow trade which netted us sdk but lost Marshall, would you be happy to deal Wilkie if we got a couple decent picks back?

I very much doubt Wilkie is traded and if he is it will because the Dogs have offered top end talent + plus.

The only reason we would want picks in this draft would be to on-trade. Apart from the Academy kids from our perspective the top 10 would be equivalent to our Travaglia selection last year. Then apart from a few its really even and the standard is well below last year, although there are always a few diamonds found late. Once again a lot of the phantom drafts are Vic centric given how dominant SA were at the championships. Kids like Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier would be considered top #15 if they were from Victoria under the eyes of the AFL media.

Its exactly why the club are happy to include our pick #7 in the Flanders trade, after the FS and Academy bids it could end as pick #11.

If Flanders choses another club, I expect the club will go hard at Cam McKenzie again with pick #7. I reckon the McKenzie decision will depend on what occurs with Merrett. If that doesnt eventuate, Id expect the club to get adventurous with the pick.

 

[gringo2011]

100%. If someone offered to increase my salary by 60% for doing the same job I'd be mad not to consider it. Especially if others at my current workplace were being paid more than me but I was one of the best at the job.

It's not like a normal job.

 

[SainterinSydney]

Someone might need to let them know that we don’t need to trade Wilkie to fulfil a deal we already have the currency for.

They look like they are about to start self flagellating on their board.

I'm going to enjoy them smashing ctrl + r in the last 10 min of the trade period thinking Wilkie trade gets done at last minute.

 

[stavro#4]

I'm going to enjoy them smashing ctrl + r in the last 10 min of the trade period thinking Wilkie trade gets done at last minute.

I hope it goes that long and that happens.

Imagine having Bont and wasting what you have left of his career because you won’t do what it takes to bring in the parts you need to go with Brisbane.

 

[Bardon_Saint]

Any value in say not getting Aleer/Flanders and holding some extra cash to make a play for a Butters/King this time next year when they are Free Agents? I think we could make a play for the top 8 or better next year but not necessarily premiership contenders. The year after a Butters and or King would make a massive difference vs Aleer/Flanders.

Defensive depth is not bad at the moment.

Or is it just a case of where there is a will, there is a way if a King/Butters were keen?

 

[BrutThough]

Anyone know roughly where Steele ranked in the B&F?

Also, can someone tell me how many years left on his current contract and when he signed it?

2 years left. Signed at the end of 2021.

 

[gringo2011]

If you think the media speculation regarding Wilkie and Marshall at the moment is evidence of mismanagement by the club, then if they stay post trade period you have to admit there was no mismanagement.

It was risky to over pay for talent that doesn't justify the wage regardless but if they can make a finals capable list while doing extreme list management practices they should be given respect for their courage and vision.

Realistically we look like potentially losing 2 x A grade players and one ex A grade for what is probably a step down on most of them except TDK.

It could have a massive boost just in generating momentum or it could destabilise a close knit group and breed resentment. Everything is a gamble and only wins end up being considered a success.

Realistically most of our improvement will be our existing youth and players coming back from injury. Perhaps throwing grenades at the list will wake them all up.

 

[EddieMurphy]

Bit of Viney love from the Prez
Think he is available? Should we make a play for him?

 

[stavro#4]

if we hypothetically got involved in the curnow trade which netted us sdk but lost Marshall, would you be happy to deal Wilkie if we got a couple decent picks back?

No.

There is no standalone trade involving picks for Wilkie I’m interested in.

Proven talent <24 is what the centre of the return has to be.

We already have currency for a Flanders or Cmac.

 

[gringo2011]

I did overland on Top Deck from London to Katmandu in 1986. Old London double decker fitted out to bunk sleep upstairs. 10 weeks. Can't do it nowadays.
Longest I have been away from Australia since is a month in Britain and Ireland in 2018.
I get homesick for family. Shit my grand kids have been in QLD for a week and I miss them.
We are fortunate enough to have the means to go on comfort holidays overseas but only for 3 or so weeks. I do the occasional solo to Asia as my wife is over Asia. Off to Sulawasi some tome next year. Have to pick the countries in Asia so I don't look like a sad old sex tourist.

One of my mates is living in Vietnam and we constantly give him shit about being a sex tourist. It makes him fly into a rage so of course we do it more.

 

[LH7]

2 years left. Signed at the end of 2021.

Thanks. So after his best 2 years - probably on big coin still.

 

[Saint Kidding]

Weird chat on trade radio about Phillipou not being commited to getting better when everything I hear is the exact opposite.

Thought the same. Maybe they are confusing his social personality with his dedication to his career?

 

[BrutThough]

Thanks. So after his best 2 years - probably on big coin still.

I'm guessing it was heavily front ended given we weren't paying anyone else.

 

[gringo2011]

I love Nas and there is no doubt his signing was huge for us but my concern is that there is too much hailing of him, especially by the club. He is singled out in speeches, constantly asked about in interviews and all over the club's socials. Specifically, my concerns are:
1. our other players will feel like they aren't getting any love;
2. it's a LOT of pressure on him and he will get tagged even more next year - he has shown that he can handle pressure well but he may decide after a couple years of it that it is too much for him; and
3. if he does leave in 2 years, we are setting ourselves up for bigger disappointment.

As part of his mega contract he'll need to a lot more media and marketing. If he thinks doing Saints stuff is bad, SA would be a 24 hour a day 7 day a week focus on him.

If he keeps playing to his current standard most clubs won't have the capital to trade for him.

 

[AFaiL]

Not sure if anyone else noticed, but 5 out of our top 10 from our B&F (including 2 out of the top 3) were picked up as rookies:

1st - Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
2nd - Callum Wilkie (Rookie)
3rd - Jack Sinclair (Rookie)
4th - Max Hall (MSD - Rookie)
5th - Marcus Windhager
6th - Rowan Marshall (Rookie)
7th - Jack Higgins
8th - Cooper Sharman (MSD - Rookie)
9th - Mitch Owens
10th - Jack Macrae

Talk about finding diamonds in the rough consistently!

I thought only Geelong does that?

 

[Joffaboy]

Thanks. So after his best 2 years - probably on big coin still.

Front loaded so no

 

[gringo2011]

if you look at the Geelong board you will see that they don't really rate SDK and have been very disappointed with his efforts and lack of development since 2022.

He's had a horrible season and as someone who wanted him once and watched him closely I don't think it's fixable stuff. His decision making is glacial. He makes Membrey looking around for 5 minutes before committing look quick. Since they moved to a fast game style he looks lost.

His best season was as a patrolling CHB sort of chop off. When they were all about slow build up off HB he looked really good. O'Sullivan is their preferred tall back now but playing two makes them look slow and immobile.

I reckon they should have trained him as a ruck of tall forward because I think he could be pushed out over the next couple of seasons.

 

[Joffaboy]

I thought only Geelong does that?

Geelong doesn't constantly come 9th to 13th.
They all might be rookies in the top ten B&F but that is in a chronically underperforming football team

 

[AFaiL]

This Wilkie talk is so damn entertaining

The dogs are playing the same game we are, forcing us to pay more to him to squeeze our cap.
We can blink, or go on and hold him to his deal. Why does he deserve more? He signed the damn deal. I dont know if HE is asking for more, but there is clearly pressure there. Stiff shit.

If he gets more, whats to stop Nas asking fore 2.5 at the end of next season if he Brownlows? Or Max Hall wanting $1m if he average 30 and 2 goals by the byes? And, again, can we ask for $ back if he turns to shit in 2026????

The dogs are playing the game, and all we need to do is ignore it. He is not entitled to a dollar more, and that's that. Otherwise do what Nas did, sign 2 years and back yourself in.

 

[St Neil]

Geelong have no hope of landing Curnow unless they give up Holmes.

Marshall is there priority.

I think Geelong are laying the groundwork to land Curnow next year.

They know they can’t trade-in both Marshall and Curnow this year.