List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion - Part V

[Hubnester]

2025 List Management Discussion - Part 5

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
​

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Passed out in the dunny.

Spooked?

 

[Kildonan]

Player (age) height

DEFENCE


Key Defenders


Callum Wilke (29) 191

Dougal Howard

20

Dougal Howard

Age

29

Ht

199cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.9

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

3.1

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.4

3star

MG

176.2

3star

D

9.9

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

1.4

1star

M

4.7

4star

T

0.6

1star

MG

171.9

3star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.8

5star

MG

133.8

3star

(29) 199

Zaine Cordy (29) 195 delisted

Jack Silvagni (27) 194 UFA (from Carlton)

Anthony Caminiti (21) 196 (also forward)

Alixzander Tauru (19) 194 (also forward)

James Barrat (18) 193

(??need another tall)


Medium Defenders


Jimmy Webster (31) 188 Retired

Hunter Clark

11

Hunter Clark

Age

26

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.0

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.3

3star

D

16.0

4star

K

9.6

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

3.1

3star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.9

4star

D

13.2

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.2

3star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.0

1star

(26) 186

Liam Stocker

14

Liam Stocker

Age

25

Ht

184cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.6

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.8

4star

MG

180.0

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.6

4star

K

8.4

4star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.8

4star

MG

180.0

3star

(25) 184

Liam O'Connell (22) 189

Angus McLennan (22) 188 Delisted

Arie Schoenmaker (20) 194 Delisted

(?? need a specialist back pocket)


Offensive Defenders / Outside Mids


Jack Sinclair

35

Jack Sinclair

Age

30

Ht

181cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.5

4star

K

8.1

3star

HB

8.4

5star

M

3.1

3star

T

3.2

5star

MG

235.0

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

5.0

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

MG

376.0

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.2

2star

HB

7.8

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

2.0

4star

MG

138.2

3star

(30) 181

Angus Hastie (20) 190

Tobie Travaglia (19) 187


MIDFIELD


Inside Mids


Jack Macrae (31) 192

Zak Jones (30) 182 Delisted

Jack Steele

9

Jack Steele

Age

29

Ht

187cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

8.7

3star

HB

12.2

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

6.8

5star

CL

3.6

5star

D

21.3

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

16.8

4star

K

5.0

2star

HB

11.8

5star

M

2.6

3star

T

6.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

(29) 187 Traded out to Melbourne

Paddy Dow

15

Paddy Dow

Age

26

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

7.0

3star

HB

7.1

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

2.9

4star

CL

2.6

4star

D

7.0

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

3star

CL

0.0

1star

D

12.4

4star

K

5.8

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

1.6

2star

T

2.8

5star

CL

2.6

5star

(26) 184

Sam Flanders (24) 183 Traded in (from Gold Coast)

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (22) 187

Marcus Windhager (22) 185

Mattaes Phillipou (21) 190 (also medium forward)

Hugo Garcia (20) 185

Darcy Wilson (20) 185 (also outside mid)

Hugh Boxshall (19) 188


Outside Mids/Forwards


Mason Wood

32

Mason Wood

Age

32

Ht

192cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.3

2star

D

8.3

2star

K

2.7

1star

HB

5.7

3star

M

1.7

2star

T

1.3

2star

CL

0.0

1star

D

15.8

4star

K

8.6

4star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.6

3star

(31) 192

Brad Hill (31) 182

Liam Henry (24) 180

Ryan Byrnes (23) 181 Delisted - expected to be relisted

Max Hall (23) 183

Jack Carroll (22) 187

Darcy Wilson (20) 185 (also inside mid)

Patrick Said (19) 180 Delisted - expected to be rookie listed


RUCK


Rowan Marshall

19

Rowan Marshall

Age

30

Ht

201cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.4

4star

K

8.8

3star

HB

6.6

4star

CL

3.4

5star

HO

20.2

5star

D

12.9

3star

K

9.3

4star

HB

3.6

2star

CL

2.8

4star

HO

17.8

5star

D

10.6

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

4.8

4star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

7.8

5star

(29) 201 (also Key Forward)

Harry Boyd (27) 198 Delisted

Max Heath (22) 204 Traded out to Melbourne

Tom DeKoning (26) 201 RFA (from Carlton)

Alex Dodson (19) 203


FORWARDS


Key Forwards


Rowan Marshall

19

Rowan Marshall

Age

30

Ht

201cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.4

4star

K

8.8

3star

HB

6.6

4star

CL

3.4

5star

HO

20.2

5star

D

12.9

3star

K

9.3

4star

HB

3.6

2star

CL

2.8

4star

HO

17.8

5star

D

10.6

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

4.8

4star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

7.8

5star

(29) 201 (also Ruck)

Max King

Multiple players found. Use birthday to differentiate. eg [PLAYERCARD="23/11/1962"]Joe Smith[/PLAYERCARD]

(25) 202

Anthony Caminiti (21) 196 (also defence)

Isaac Keeler (21) 198

Alixzander Tauru (19) 194 (also defence)

?? Need


Medium Forwards


Cooper Sharman (25) 193

Mitch Owens (22) 191

Mattaes Phillipou (21) 190 (also inside mid)

?? Need


Small Forwards


Dan Butler (29) 182

Liam Ryan (29) 181 Traded in (from West Coast)

Jack Higgins (26) 178

Lance Collard (20) 185


UNKNOWN


Eamonn Armstong (19) 191 (Cat B) Gaelic Footballer

Kobe McDonald (18) (Cat B) Gaelic Footballer

 

[ScrappyDo]

A fit and firing Gardiner helped Saints make the Grand Final. I think there might be the same hopes with De Koning.

The issue is the wasted list spots on borderline backups.

Carroll
Said
Boyd
Schoenmaker

All these minimum wage types add up to wastage on the salary cap as well..

Taking long odds players is part of the business.

 

[Parkysp]

Taking long odds players is part of the business.

Yeah. I'm not hanging the recruitment team on any of those hail Mary's. Every club would have 4 the same. Heck Brisbane still had Darragh Joyce on their list in 2025.

 

[stfan]

A fit and firing Gardiner helped Saints make the Grand Final. I think there might be the same hopes with De Koning.

The issue is the wasted list spots on borderline backups.

Carroll
Said
Boyd
Schoenmaker

All these minimum wage types add up to wastage on the salary cap as well..

Yes what were we thinking when we picked a "never made it like Marshall", " he's blown all his chances as a Kanga" Wood, "Who is he" Wilkie and "He really wanted to play cicket" Sinclair.

What a f***** waste that lot have been.

And as for that Hall guy....



In recent times we as a club have arguably done better on average from our low value picks than we have say from all of our second rounders.

And our record with first rounders is not that flash.




And how do get more top end picks anyway? They are in limited supply.

If you do not churn through all levels of available talent, you will be worse off.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Player (age) height

DEFENCE


Key Defenders


Callum Wilke (29) 191

Dougal Howard (29) 199

Zaine Cordy (29) 195 delisted

Jack Silvagni (27) 194 UFA (from Carlton)

Anthony Caminiti (21) 196 (also forward)

Alixzander Tauru (19) 194 (also forward)

James Barrat (18) 193

(??need another tall)


Medium Defenders


Jimmy Webster (31) 188 Retired

Hunter Clark (26) 186

Liam Stocker (25) 184

Liam O'Connell (22) 189

Angus McLennan (22) 188 Delisted

Arie Schoenmaker (20) 194 Delisted


Offensive Defenders / Outside Mids


Jack Sinclair (30) 181

Angus Hastie (20) 190

Tobie Travaglia (19) 187


MIDFIELD


Inside Mids


Jack Macrae (31) 192

Zak Jones (30) 182 Delisted

Jack Steele (29) 187 Traded out to Melbourne

Paddy Dow (26) 184

Sam Flanders (24) 183 Traded in (from Gold Coast)

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (22) 187

Marcus Windhager (22) 185

Mattaes Phillipou (21) 190 (also medium forward)

Hugo Garcia (20) 185

Darcy Wilson (20) 185 (also outside mid)

Hugh Boxshall (19) 188


Outside Mids/Forwards


Mason Wood (31) 192

Brad Hill (31) 182

Liam Henry (24) 180

Ryan Byrnes (23) 181 Delisted - expected to be relisted

Max Hall (23) 183

Jack Carroll (22) 187

Darcy Wilson (20) 185 (also inside mid)

Patrick Said (19) 180 Delisted - expected to be rookie listed


RUCK


Rowan Marshall (29) 201 (also Key Forward)

Harry Boyd (27) 198 Delisted

Max Heath (22) 204 Traded out to Melbourne

Tom DeKoning (26) 201 RFA (from Carlton)

Alex Dodson (19) 203


FORWARDS


Key Forwards


Rowan Marshall (29) 201 (also Ruck)

Max King (25) 202

Anthony Caminiti (21) 196 (also defence)

Isaac Keeler (21) 198

Alixzander Tauru (19) 194 (also defence)

?? Need


Medium Forwards


Cooper Sharman (25) 193

Mitch Owens (22) 191

Mattaes Phillipou (21) 190 (also inside mid)

?? Need


Small Forwards


Dan Butler (29) 182

Liam Ryan (29) 181 Traded in (from West Coast)

Jack Higgins (26) 178

Lance Collard (20) 185


UNKNOWN


Eamonn Armstong (19) 191 (Cat B) Gaelic Footballer

Kobe McDonald (18) (Cat B) Gaelic Footballer

Yeah think we are short on talls, a tall forward especially.
Keeler is a hybrid tall- forw./ruck, so another pure ruck maybe.
Apart from Howard, JSOS & Wilkie our key defenders are young, maybe could do with another matured one.
And Wilson is a med. forward for mine.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Yeah. I'm not hanging the recruitment team on any of those hail Mary's. Every club would have 4 the same. Heck Brisbane still had Darragh Joyce on their list in 2025.

As a matter of fact they'll have Darragh on their list in 2026 as well...

'Easy decision to stay': Brisbane Lions re-sign another premiership player

The Lions have re-signed three premiership players in recent days. Read more here.

au.news.yahoo.com

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Yeah. I'm not hanging the recruitment team on any of those hail Mary's. Every club would have 4 the same. Heck Brisbane still had Darragh Joyce on their list in 2025.

He's had a decent career for an Irish Rookie.

 

[SaintOfLondon]

Yes what were we thinking when we picked a "never made it like Marshall", " he's blown all his chances as a Kanga" Wood, "Who is he" Wilkie and "He really wanted to play cicket" Sinclair.

What a f***** waste that lot have been.

And as for that Hall guy....



In recent times we as a club have arguably done better on average from our low value picks than we have say from all of our second rounders.

And our record with first rounders is not that flash.




And how do get more top end picks anyway? They are in limited supply.

If you do not churn through all levels of available talent, you will be worse off.

Sharman as well

 

[Kildonan]

Player (age) height

DEFENCE


Key Defenders


Callum Wilke (29) 191

Dougal Howard (29) 199

Zaine Cordy (29) 195 delisted

Jack Silvagni (27) 194 UFA (from Carlton)

Anthony Caminiti (21) 196 (also forward)

Alixzander Tauru (19) 194 (also forward)

James Barrat (18) 193

(??need another tall)


Medium Defenders


Jimmy Webster (31) 188 Retired

Hunter Clark (26) 186

Liam Stocker (25) 184

Liam O'Connell (22) 189

Angus McLennan (22) 188 Delisted

Arie Schoenmaker (20) 194 Delisted

(?? need a specialist back pocket)


Offensive Defenders / Outside Mids


Jack Sinclair (30) 181

Angus Hastie (20) 190

Tobie Travaglia (19) 187


MIDFIELD


Inside Mids


Jack Macrae (31) 192

Zak Jones (30) 182 Delisted

Jack Steele (29) 187 Traded out to Melbourne

Paddy Dow (26) 184

Sam Flanders (24) 183 Traded in (from Gold Coast)

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (22) 187

Marcus Windhager (22) 185

Mattaes Phillipou (21) 190 (also medium forward)

Hugo Garcia (20) 185

Darcy Wilson (20) 185 (also outside mid)

Hugh Boxshall (19) 188


Outside Mids/Forwards


Mason Wood (31) 192

Brad Hill (31) 182

Liam Henry (24) 180

Ryan Byrnes (23) 181 Delisted - expected to be relisted

Max Hall (23) 183

Jack Carroll (22) 187

Darcy Wilson (20) 185 (also inside mid)

Patrick Said (19) 180 Delisted - expected to be rookie listed


RUCK


Rowan Marshall (29) 201 (also Key Forward)

Harry Boyd (27) 198 Delisted

Max Heath (22) 204 Traded out to Melbourne

Tom DeKoning (26) 201 RFA (from Carlton)

Alex Dodson (19) 203


FORWARDS


Key Forwards


Rowan Marshall (29) 201 (also Ruck)

Max King (25) 202

Anthony Caminiti (21) 196 (also defence)

Isaac Keeler (21) 198

Alixzander Tauru (19) 194 (also defence)

?? Need


Medium Forwards


Cooper Sharman (25) 193

Mitch Owens (22) 191

Mattaes Phillipou (21) 190 (also inside mid)

?? Need


Small Forwards


Dan Butler (29) 182

Liam Ryan (29) 181 Traded in (from West Coast)

Jack Higgins (26) 178

Lance Collard (20) 185


UNKNOWN


Eamonn Armstong (19) 191 (Cat B) Gaelic Footballer

Kobe McDonald (18) (Cat B) Gaelic Footballer

Over 24 years team

FB Stocker Howard Wilke
HB Clark Silvagni Sinclair

C Wood Dow Hill
R DeKoning Macrae Flanders

HF Sharman Marshall Henry
FF Ryan King Higgins

Inter Butler

Under 24 years team

FB O'Connell Caminiti Armstrong
HB Travaglia Barrat Hastie

C Wilson Windhager Carroll
R Dodson Phillipou Wanganeen-Milera

HF Hall Owens Tauru
FF Collard Keeler Said

Inter Garcia Boxshall Byrnes

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Yes what were we thinking when we picked a "never made it like Marshall", " he's blown all his chances as a Kanga" Wood, "Who is he" Wilkie and "He really wanted to play cicket" Sinclair.

What a f***** waste that lot have been.

And as for that Hall guy....



In recent times we as a club have arguably done better on average from our low value picks than we have say from all of our second rounders.

And our record with first rounders is not that flash.




And how do get more top end picks anyway? They are in limited supply.

If you do not churn through all levels of available talent, you will be worse off.

Even when he was tearing it up at VFL level we had our wise sages saying that Marshall will never make it at AFL level.

 

[bergholt]

A fit and firing Gardiner helped Saints make the Grand Final. I think there might be the same hopes with De Koning.

The issue is the wasted list spots on borderline backups.

Carroll
Said
Boyd
Schoenmaker

All these minimum wage types add up to wastage on the salary cap as well..

Nah you gotta pay someone because there's a salary cap floor, so you pick cheap guys that you think are a shot at making it. Just because you get some wrong doesn't mean there's an issue there - no one gets them all right.

 

[Fehring]

Player (age) height

DEFENCE


Key Defenders


Callum Wilke (29) 191

Dougal Howard (29) 199

Zaine Cordy (29) 195 delisted

Jack Silvagni (27) 194 UFA (from Carlton)

Anthony Caminiti (21) 196 (also forward)

Alixzander Tauru (19) 194 (also forward)

James Barrat (18) 193

(??need another tall)


Medium Defenders


Jimmy Webster (31) 188 Retired

Hunter Clark (26) 186

Liam Stocker (25) 184

Liam O'Connell (22) 189

Angus McLennan (22) 188 Delisted

Arie Schoenmaker (20) 194 Delisted

(?? need a specialist back pocket)


Offensive Defenders / Outside Mids


Jack Sinclair (30) 181

Angus Hastie (20) 190

Tobie Travaglia (19) 187


MIDFIELD


Inside Mids


Jack Macrae (31) 192

Zak Jones (30) 182 Delisted

Jack Steele (29) 187 Traded out to Melbourne

Paddy Dow (26) 184

Sam Flanders (24) 183 Traded in (from Gold Coast)

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (22) 187

Marcus Windhager (22) 185

Mattaes Phillipou (21) 190 (also medium forward)

Hugo Garcia (20) 185

Darcy Wilson (20) 185 (also outside mid)

Hugh Boxshall (19) 188


Outside Mids/Forwards


Mason Wood (31) 192

Brad Hill (31) 182

Liam Henry (24) 180

Ryan Byrnes (23) 181 Delisted - expected to be relisted

Max Hall (23) 183

Jack Carroll (22) 187

Darcy Wilson (20) 185 (also inside mid)

Patrick Said (19) 180 Delisted - expected to be rookie listed


RUCK


Rowan Marshall (29) 201 (also Key Forward)

Harry Boyd (27) 198 Delisted

Max Heath (22) 204 Traded out to Melbourne

Tom DeKoning (26) 201 RFA (from Carlton)

Alex Dodson (19) 203


FORWARDS


Key Forwards


Rowan Marshall (29) 201 (also Ruck)

Max King (25) 202

Anthony Caminiti (21) 196 (also defence)

Isaac Keeler (21) 198

Alixzander Tauru (19) 194 (also defence)

?? Need


Medium Forwards


Cooper Sharman (25) 193

Mitch Owens (22) 191

Mattaes Phillipou (21) 190 (also inside mid)

?? Need


Small Forwards


Dan Butler (29) 182

Liam Ryan (29) 181 Traded in (from West Coast)

Jack Higgins (26) 178

Lance Collard (20) 185


UNKNOWN


Eamonn Armstong (19) 191 (Cat B) Gaelic Footballer

Kobe McDonald (18) (Cat B) Gaelic Footballer

Nice summary. For me, I think we desperately need a small lockdown defender, and although you've listed a lot of key forwards, that's a need too (King injured, Keeler and Caminiti 50/50 to make it, Tauru more likely to be a defender).

 

[Kildonan]

Nice summary. For me, I think we desperately need a small lockdown defender, and although you've listed a lot of key forwards, that's a need too (King injured, Keeler and Caminiti 50/50 to make it, Tauru more likely to be a defender).

Agree with all of that and another tall defender ( >198cm)

 

[JimmyR20]

Nice summary. For me, I think we desperately need a small lockdown defender, and although you've listed a lot of key forwards, that's a need too (King injured, Keeler and Caminiti 50/50 to make it, Tauru more likely to be a defender).

Think this could Tobies short term way into the side.

 

[Rogue Warrior]

Think this could Tobies short term way into the side.

Not the worst idea but would it stifle his development if we genuinely want him to be a midfielder?

 

[nikkig98]

Not the worst idea but would it stifle his development if we genuinely want him to be a midfielder?

I don't really want him to be a midfielder tbh.

Long term, the midfield (for me) looks as follows:

Hard nosed/Grunt: Windhager, Garcia, Boxshall
Agile/Speedy: Nasiah, Flanders
Dynamic (able to play forward): Phillipou, Max Hall

I'd rather travaglia replace sinclair long term. Or maybe use his endurance to compliment Wilson on the wing and run-up and down all day.

His key strengths as a draftee were his intercept work and athleticism. He's got a decent kick on him. Halfbacks are key in the modern game and his IQ will be better suited there imo.

 

[saintmike65]

Nice summary. For me, I think we desperately need a small lockdown defender, and although you've listed a lot of key forwards, that's a need too (King injured, Keeler and Caminiti 50/50 to make it, Tauru more likely to be a defender).

Liam O' Connell could be the lock down defender

 

[StFly]

Sorry just wanted to pop in; What's all the previous instances of someone like Said as a wasted depth option?

He's 19, he was drafted in the draft last year, so 2024 as a late pick, as if anyone expected him to play this year as a skinny 19yo on no preseason as a small. Cut it out with that nonsense of "wasted depth" with the top ups we got, as that is just nonsense adding a new draftee to that list.

So yeah a rookie slot if not in use is an option to get someone off list for a guy like Said if they wish to retain. So a shuffle.

 

[austinnn]

AFL veteran wrestling with ‘where my career is at’

‘I never planned for this to be my situation.’

7news.com.au

I think Josh Kelly will barely be remembered after retirement, hes one of those good but forgettable players. Probably the few Oranje fans and the odd hardcore nuffie but that's it.

If he'd moved to St Kilda, he'd probably have songs sung about him and books written about him by now. He could have been special. We could have been special. Hope your bland career was worth it, Jelly.

 

[maanco]

Sorry just wanted to pop in; What's all the previous instances of someone like Said as a wasted depth option?

He's 19, he was drafted in the draft last year, so 2024 as a late pick, as if anyone expected him to play this year as a skinny 19yo on no preseason as a small. Cut it out with that nonsense of "wasted depth" with the top ups we got, as that is just nonsense adding a new draftee to that list.

So yeah a rookie slot if not in use is an option to get someone off list for a guy like Said if they wish to retain. So a shuffle.

Saints traded up in the draft to get Said.

Basically traded pick 75 and future 4th rounder for pick 60. To get Said.

 

[Kildonan]

West Coast bid aggressively (I assume) for Gold Coast Academy kid Beau Addinsall.
They forced GC to match the Jai Murray bid, then doubled down on Beau Addinsall, expecting GC to be cautious with their draft points but WCE maths must have been a little off, or more likely they should have made that move earlier.
GC managed to weather the assault, even drafting Thomas and Coulson later.

WCE traded pick #34 to Hawthorn so that the Hawks could draft Dalton. This act must have left them with only one pick in their draft hand. They knew if they matched a low enough bid on one of their two academy kids, they may have enough points left over to nab the other. When Freo forced their hand by bidding on Tylah Williams at pick #39, WCE had to choose either to match that bid or to save those points for Banfield but they couldn't draft both.

If everything I have said is the case then this is a pretty sad indictment on the recruiting team at WCE. They took the 2026 third-round pick from Haw (tied to Syd) for pick #34 and hoped that no club would bid on either of their academy kids too early. Freo might not have known they were stuffing WCE draft plans, but there is no love lost between the west coast rivals - they would be happy making things tough for them even if they don't benefit directly. WCE were faced with Freo getting their academy kid so they were forced to take Williams hoping Banfield would last until the Rookie Draft.

But one club pounced. Saints leapt at Banfield with the very next pick suspecting that WCE had depleted their draft hand.
Thank you Freo.

 

[BarkerFan]

West Coast bid aggressively (I assume) for Gold Coast Academy kid Beau Addinsall.
They forced GC to match the Jai Murray bid, then doubled down on Beau Addinsall, expecting GC to be cautious with their draft points but WCE maths must have been a little off, or more likely they should have made that move earlier.
GC managed to weather the assault, even drafting Thomas and Coulson later.

WCE traded pick #34 to Hawthorn so that the Hawks could draft Dalton. This act must have left them with only one pick in their draft hand. They knew if they matched a low enough bid on one of their two academy kids, they may have enough points left over to nab the other. When Freo forced their hand by bidding on Tylah Williams at pick #39, WCE had to choose either to match that bid or to save those points for Banfield but they couldn't draft both.

If everything I have said is the case then this is a pretty sad indictment on the recruiting team at WCE. They took the 2026 third-round pick from Haw (tied to Syd) for pick #34 and hoped that no club would bid on either of their academy kids too early. Freo might not have known they were stuffing WCE draft plans, but there is no love lost between the west coast rivals - they would be happy making things tough for them even if they don't benefit directly. WCE were faced with Freo getting their academy kid so they were forced to take Williams hoping Banfield would last until the Rookie Draft.

But one club pounced. Saints leapt at Banfield with the very next pick suspecting that WCE had depleted their draft hand.
Thank you Freo.

They did not need any points to match Banfield.Thet could just use their next pick.

I guess they had no more list spots .. or maybe just didn't rate him.

 

[maanco]

They did not need any points to match Banfield.Thet could just use their next pick.

I guess they had no more list spots .. or maybe just didn't rate him.

Surely list spots was the problem

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Yeah I guess we'll never know but it's interesting given the fact they were handed four extra rookie spots which would've allowed them greater flexibility in moving players around on their various lists.