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
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[TheNewEnsign]

I'm surprised he was still keen on us after two years of whining.

It's probably just club bias, but I actually really like this move. If players can say stuff like 'I want to go home to W.A. - but only to Freo!' then clubs can walk back offers if a deal can't be done. Ross leading again, showing that clubs can be difficult too if they want to be.

I regret listening to Maher and Gaze this afternoon while driving, they reckon we should be paying his salary difference (and thought he was a free agent).

 

[projectv]

The statement from Aleers management is embarrassing

The first thing Aleer should do when he gets home is find a new agent.

 

[saintkildaman]

I have a red (white and black) rocket. After today’s action I don’t see a way Roma leaves unless SDK, or another established player, is coming in return. Also not convinced we’ve walked away from Aleer, if we have and Roma is staying we have to be into someone else. **** trade week is fun when you’re having crack

 

[Half Back Pocket]

Which old or cheap rucks are available to slot behind TDK and Dodson?

If Curnow gets to the Swans…McLean might be a good cheap hybrid solution

 

[PostmanBish]

Give them the number for Whine-One-One and wait for the Waaaaaaaaahmbulance to arrive.

 

[Captain Paddy]

The first thing Aleer should do when he gets home is find a new agent.

Deals literally can’t be agreed to until trade period.

If you wanted to come so bad why did you know us back the other year

 

[CHBench]

These guys manage Derksen too, co-incidence or nah?

 

[Yawkey way]

not a good look for anyone.

Happens all the time in other sports.

Anyone who doesn’t know it’s not over until the paperwork is lodged is living in la la land. The vfl/afl was a lot more ruthless than this back in the day. The AFlPA have them wrapped in cotton wool imo.

Anyway even though I don’t rate him and didn’t want him it’s hard on a young man, so he’s entitled to be disappointed.

 

[Captain Paddy]

If your player is so good, should he no issues finding him another home.

Releasing a statement and going on the news and having a massive sook is so embarrassing lol

 

[SaintersUnite]

Pretty sure you can call off any chances of us taking him for a lesser pick or PSD now.

Hilarious how every time I open Instagram today my feed has been flooded with media talking about us and the comments are unoriginal salary cap jokes.

 

[11men1cup]

Didn't realise we were the first team to ever back out of a negotiation.

 

[Browny2Carlisle]

lol maybe aleer should have played better and made himself impossible to refuse?

 

[Train12]

not a good look for anyone.

Agreed.

If you chase someone for 2 years, he then nominates you, and then you walk it back, it’s not a good look.

If it was another club who had done this, we would be saying poor effort!

I think it’s right call, just sits a bit uneasy with me.

Something has occurred for saints to put themselves in a position of a bit of backlash

 

[MrFoster]

If your player is so good, should he no issues finding him another home.

Releasing a statement and going on the news and having a massive sook is so embarrassing lol

Aleer's agent: "it's a disgrace that I'm not getting paid a big fat bonus this year, I already booked a luxury overseas holiday now I can only afford to go to gold coast, life is so unfair!!!!!! I want my mummy"

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Yes and also let's be honest here we have completely ****ed Aleer around. Is it the best thing for us? Yes probably but let's not act as if this is normal, we've completely screwed him over.

No we haven't
Gws asking for F2 is an insult
And Gws have a 3 year offer to him.
Get over it.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Does the opposite also apply if Geelong don’t pay up and walk away for Marshall??? Is it only us shattering dreams when we won’t cough up the asking price after a player nominates??

Excellent point.

How do they think they are going to afford Roma when they’re offering three firsts for Curnow?

 

[Armoooo]

Jeez, didn't expect to see that statement from the manager. The fact that he's saying Aleer is livid at the club suggests the move really is dead.

I do not like this at all.

Makes me think SDK is happening and that this wasn't expected, but I dont think we should lead players this far and then blue ball them. Aleer has put his neck on the line, possibly severed relationships at GWS and has been given 5 days to make a life changing decision.

This isn't tough, this isn't ruthless, this isn't shrewd. This is a dog act. Hopefully we have a good reason for being a dog, I'm not sure if SDK is a good enough player to justify this.

Has taken a bit of gloss off of what should be a pretty good couple of days.

Im honestly hoping we're just playing GWS and Aleer and his manager are in on the act, but I'm doubtful.

 

[saint66au]

Agreed.

If you chase someone for 2 years, he then nominates you, and then you walk it back, it’s not a good look.

If it was another club who had done this, we would be saying poor effort!

I think it’s right call, just sits a bit uneasy with me.

Something has occurred for saints to put themselves in a position of a bit of backlash

Flanders

 

[JG22]

The statement from Aleers management is embarrassing

His manager is clueless

 

[Train12]

Flanders

??

 

[StCicatriz]

His manager is clueless

probably because hes been blind sided

 

[Linton Street Saint]

I just don't see us intentionally facing the backlash rightly/wrongly of the back flip without knowing SDK is involved for Marshall.

Too many things line up, we publicly comment on Aleer and immediately Geelong offer Pick 19 among others for Curnow ?

Aleer's manager statement doesn't sound like we would walk him to the PSD ( which we would have communicated to him ) that sounds like the bridge is well and truly burnt.

 

[Armoooo]

No we haven't
Gws asking for F2 is an insult
And Gws have a 3 year offer to him.
Get over it.

We're expecting to make finals next year, no?

Asking for a pick likely to be in the mid 30s for a 24 year key position player who was good enough to play in a final two weeks ago is not an insult by any stretch of the imagination.

Once you're in the 30s, you're more likely to draft a bust than a starting player.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Yes and also let's be honest here we have completely ****ed Aleer around. Is it the best thing for us? Yes probably but let's not act as if this is normal, we've completely screwed him over.

So when the Cats can’t get Roma, who they got to nominate them, because they have now promised three first rounders, have they also f…..ed him around?

Because I’ll guarantee you one thing, the Cats will not come under nearly the amount of scrutiny we have been over the past three hours or so,

Fact is, if the players can renege on their actual signed contract, clubs can renege on something that wasn’t even formalised yet.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

Didn’t Melbourne just back out of a deal ?.

Anyway Aleer has 3 years on the table at GWS so he’s not homeless.

The media love a juicy story at this time of year, it's just a shame we provided it for them.