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
​

 

[Yawkey way]

There’s semantics and there’s this.

We courted him for over a year from many reports. We got him to nominate us (based on a contract offer).

We were into him, we got him interested in us. Picking holes in the contract and trade details only leans into our villainy more.

Plus again, the issue isn’t that a trade didn’t eventuate, the issue is that we bailed at the first point of negotiations

So much of this is conjecture.

Just because it’s reported by a journalist doesn’t make it true. Factually him nominating us is merely him publicly stating st Kilda was his preferred destination. What other meaning does it have, does it preclude gws from upping their offer, does it compel them to only consider offers from us, does it stop another club making offers to him.

The teeth gnashing over this is just crazy. This is the afl system, we can’t make him a written offer, we can’t contract him for next year while he’s still under contract to gws, I don’t think we can even give him a medical without gws approval. God the story’s are just so over the top, wined and dined him, seduced him . In plain language that would be gubby or sos having a meal with Aleer and discussing the possibility of him joining the club.

We’ve just told Jack Steele our captain to look around. Imo that’s brutal but it happens every year and nobody turns a hair. Aleer if he’s any good will either stay at gws or accept another offer and prove we were stupid not to seal the deal. Either way in reality there will be some real hard luck stories after trade period and they’ll be the players whose afl dreams are over.

 

[stavro#4]

Nah. Windhager is our Rowbottom. Should be looking to stack the rest of the midfield with elite kicking (eg. Nas, Sinclair), you can only carry 1 or 2 of the Windhager/Rowbottom types I reckon.

I think he is a very different player to windy.

If Marshall and Steele go and Rowbottom is available for a second based on that Cleary info.

I’d be somewhat interested. Looks like a massive glue guy who does all the shit work that lead to winning games.

Remember if Steele goes we lose 8.7 tackles a game. Which is second in the league.

Rowbottom averages 7.3. Which is 8th best.

Garcia comes in at 5.5 and Macrae at 5.4 as our next best.

Windhager is at 3.3.

Rowbottom is a 2 x BnF top 3 at Sydney at the age of 25. These players help your best players do what they do best.

 

[Broski]

 

[Yawkey way]

As much of a w***er he is, I wouldn’t be completely against getting the big yank if Marshall leaves. Much rather him over Soldo. Can cover King if he’s injured, or can plonk him in the ruck with the new rule changes if TDK gets injured.

He’s been a very handy player for Collingwood and he has some tricks.

He’s a smart guy who plays smart football, incredibly awkward to match up against and plays his roll well. His ruck work has improved to the point where he’s giving them first use regularly.

I’m not sure I’d want him given his age but he’s light years ahead of soldo imo.

 

[stavro#4]

That's hideous.

Not to the extent of Sam McClure but I agree with him that when Cox plays well he goes along way to helping his sides win. Prefer him over soldo even if soldos missus is better to admire

I don’t hate it. First point of call would be sending him to Dr. Meadownick though

Or at least have it written in his contract he needs to wear contacts on game day

Glasses are there as he could go blind with another hit to the eye

 

[MrFoster]

It's just very interesting that it was all done so fast. That offer is about on the money and that F2nd from GWS would have sufficed for Ryan, yet we gave ours for him and took a 2027 3rd rounder which will be basically a 4th round pick so worthless.
Even with Neddy we probably could have squeezed something back if they'd strung it out a bit. If it ends now then we've overpaid for the sake of haste which is opposite to established SOS form. Just seems a bit odd...

Flanders and Ryan were fair deals, if you want to get things done early to pursue potential other opportunities, you just offer what we think they are worth, no point low balling and take a week just to arrive at the same point, we would have known what Gold coast and Eagles wanted to do the deal, so just pulled the trigger. Think Aleer was a surplus after JSOS chose us, and we probably have other targets to use the draft capital as well.

 

[AFLOnline]

Not to the extent of Sam McClure but I agree with him that when Cox plays well he goes along way to helping his sides win. Prefer him over soldo even if soldos missus is better to admire

Glasses are there as he could go blind with another hit to the eye

Don’t care

Lose them or don’t play for us

Going blind is a small price to pay to wear our jumper

 

[L_W_P]

It’s not a 2 year cap on Butters impact.

Seems pretty clear to me that season 2026 & 2027 are going to be a push to finals with our current list.

Hypothetically, going for butters and trading out long term pieces like Pou and multiple FRDP’s is pushing in on that timeline. Whereas Pou would still be developing.

Obviously we are tilting for a period of sustained success beyond 2027 also, and Butters would still be around, but we’d be giving up other potentially good players with longer careers ahead of them, again hypothetically.

Sure, was just basing it on the comment I quoted about getting Butters for the next two years.

Hypothetically though;

I think Butters would give us a far better chance of retaining Naz and pushing for finals. This then puts us in a better position to keep the FAs coming in and the "destination club" perception rolling.

How many players want to come to our club and play with Pou? How many could be convinced to come play with Zak Butters?

Butters could help us land Sam Walsh or Ben King in 12 months time. If Mitch Lewis wants a fresh start, the idea of Butters feeding the ball out would have more appeal for sure.

In 2027 we are all competing with the Tassie money. Zak Butters would be a massive selling point to FAs like Serong, Rowell, Anderson, Ash, Green, Day, Georgiades, Weightman...

Could Pou get there? Sure, but if the choice was between 6-8 years of Butters & a couple of 2nd/3rd rounders or 10-12 years of Phillipou & our first rounders then based on everything we have seen Id be taking the Butters side of the deal every time.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

As much of a w***er he is, I wouldn’t be completely against getting the big yank if Marshall leaves. Much rather him over Soldo. Can cover King if he’s injured, or can plonk him in the ruck with the new rule changes if TDK gets injured.

As the lesbians would say, “no cox for me thanks”

 

[phantom13]

So much of this is conjecture.

Just because it’s reported by a journalist doesn’t make it true. Factually him nominating us is merely him publicly stating st Kilda was his preferred destination. What other meaning does it have, does it preclude gws from upping their offer, does it compel them to only consider offers from us, does it stop another club making offers to him.

The teeth gnashing over this is just crazy. This is the afl system, we can’t make him a written offer, we can’t contract him for next year while he’s still under contract to gws, I don’t think we can even give him a medical without gws approval. God the story’s are just so over the top, wined and dined him, seduced him . In plain language that would be gubby or sos having a meal with Aleer and discussing the possibility of him joining the club.

We’ve just told Jack Steele our captain to look around. Imo that’s brutal but it happens every year and nobody turns a hair. Aleer if he’s any good will either stay at gws or accept another offer and prove we were stupid not to seal the deal. Either way in reality there will be some real hard luck stories after trade period and they’ll be the players whose afl dreams are over.

No most of what you’ve stated is conjecture.

We courted him, he nominated us, we bailed after at most 3 days of negotiations, his management gave us an unprecedented spray.

They are all facts.

Blind defence of us here is silly, accept we’ve bucked the accepted convention at the least and the sympathy for aleer is fair (if a little overblown).

It’s happened, it’s done, we keep going

 

[True Believer]

Christ you are game having a crack at the Golden Boy , its a wonder half the forum aren't trying to burn your house down

I don't have his address !!!

 

[SainterinSydney]

Fun fact, Rowbottom is BT's nephew.

 

[True Believer]

So much of this is conjecture.

Just because it’s reported by a journalist doesn’t make it true. Factually him nominating us is merely him publicly stating st Kilda was his preferred destination. What other meaning does it have, does it preclude gws from upping their offer, does it compel them to only consider offers from us, does it stop another club making offers to him.

The teeth gnashing over this is just crazy. This is the afl system, we can’t make him a written offer, we can’t contract him for next year while he’s still under contract to gws, I don’t think we can even give him a medical without gws approval. God the story’s are just so over the top, wined and dined him, seduced him . In plain language that would be gubby or sos having a meal with Aleer and discussing the possibility of him joining the club.

We’ve just told Jack Steele our captain to look around. Imo that’s brutal but it happens every year and nobody turns a hair. Aleer if he’s any good will either stay at gws or accept another offer and prove we were stupid not to seal the deal. Either way in reality there will be some real hard luck stories after trade period and they’ll be the players whose afl dreams are over.

Are we the bad guys? Oh well....

Couldn't give a crap...the only question I am interested in, after every step, every decision, is

DID THAT MOVE GET US CLOSER TO A FLAG?

Everything else is irrelevant......

 

[Yawkey way]

No most of what you’ve stated is conjecture.

We courted him, he nominated us, we bailed after at most 3 days of negotiations, his management gave us an unprecedented spray.

They are all facts.

Blind defence of us here is silly, accept we’ve bucked the accepted convention at the least and the sympathy for aleer is fair (if a little overblown).

It’s happened, it’s done, we keep going

I haven’t presented anything as fact because I simply don’t know.

You have no more information than I do, it’s paper talk and a xxxxxx off manager. Even the language is deliberately emotive, courted ? Seriously.

 

[True Believer]

Fun fact, Rowbottom is BT's nephew.

Fun for who, Rowbottom? I have my doubts......

 

[Yawkey way]

Do we have a pick to make the bulldogs pay up for Darcy ?.

Good chance the kid becomes a player, make them pay up.

 

[_Maximus_12]

If Steele goes, and Macrae is in the midday show I think we’re going to need a player like Rowbottom who is happy to do the grunt work against the oppositions contested players

 

[saint66au]

Do we have a pick to make the bulldogs pay up for Darcy ?.

Good chance the kid becomes a player, make them pay up.

Huh?

 

[beside the seaside]

More I think about it I really don't want to trade our F1. We can't just completely tap out of drafting.

 

[Yawkey way]

Huh?

Darcy 2.0 father son to the bulldogs.

They have been so lucky with father sons.

 

[ronnysnodgrass]

Again.... assuming marshal to Geelong is still on (who knows there) I would suggest that

Sydney are looking to get currency for Curnow. Sounds like they are open to trading him.

a 25 year old midfielder for an end of 1st round pick to be used as currency for Curnow you say?

 

[MrFoster]

So much of this is conjecture.

Just because it’s reported by a journalist doesn’t make it true. Factually him nominating us is merely him publicly stating st Kilda was his preferred destination. What other meaning does it have, does it preclude gws from upping their offer, does it compel them to only consider offers from us, does it stop another club making offers to him.

The teeth gnashing over this is just crazy. This is the afl system, we can’t make him a written offer, we can’t contract him for next year while he’s still under contract to gws, I don’t think we can even give him a medical without gws approval. God the story’s are just so over the top, wined and dined him, seduced him . In plain language that would be gubby or sos having a meal with Aleer and discussing the possibility of him joining the club.

We’ve just told Jack Steele our captain to look around. Imo that’s brutal but it happens every year and nobody turns a hair. Aleer if he’s any good will either stay at gws or accept another offer and prove we were stupid not to seal the deal. Either way in reality there will la be some real hard luck stories after trade period and they’ll be the players whose afl dreams are over.

This new era of hurt feelings and morality sprouting outrage really grates me. We did what’s best for us and withdraw our offer, it’s business at the end of the day. No one signed a contract. Trades fall apart all the time, just have to go back to the history of trade week. Yes, Aleer lost his million dollar pay day. If Aleer was such a good player, he’ll have clubs lining up to pay overs for him like Flanders. He doesn’t. We were foolish enough to offer a crazy deal to an unproven player, we realised we didn’t need to or should pursue other priorities, everyone should just move on.

 

[CaptainRisky]

I don't have his address !!!

Ha Ha, at least you were game enough to admit it,

 

[Yawkey way]

This new era of hurt feelings and morality sprouting really grates me. We did what’s best for us and withdraw our offer, it’s business at the end of the day. No one signed a contract. Trades fall apart all the time, just have to go back to the history of trade week. Yes, Aleer lost his million dollar pay day. If Aleer was such a good ok player, he’ll have clubs lining up to pay overs for him like Flanders. He doesn’t. We were foolish enough to offer a crazy deal to an unproven player, we realised we didn’t need to or should pursue other priorities, everyone should just move on.

So much is in the detail which we just don’t know.

We could speculate what his base was, incentives for games played, b&f finish but it’s all just guess work.

What we know is he’s got a revised offer from gws and interest elsewhere, we did what we thought was best for the st Kilda football club. We broke no rules in doing so and I’m glad our club has moved on to other potential deals.