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
​

 

[sammm]

I think Watters wanted to make tough decisions with the list at the time, and saw a rebuild as the logical step, but weak administration got wobbly in the knees about it and found it easier to boot the coach than ruffle the feathers of a few senior players- sort of the traditional Saints solution to ensure ongoing failure. Anyway..onwards and upwards in 2026.

Watters went and bought in an asisstant coach with out talking to anyone

 

[akaifu]

would this be just so we're able to hit the minimum picks at the draft?

Yep. Fincher + Byrnes + Caminiti as our compulsory 3 'additions' to the primary list

Looks like we're gonna be totally invested in the rookie draft

 

[Diehard Saint]

View attachment 2467498

What is the point of that?

 

[akaifu]

What is the point of that?

To fulfil the mandatory quota of minimum 3 'additions' to the primary list I believe

 

[Significant]

Yep. Fincher + Byrnes + Caminiti as our compulsory 3 'additions' to the primary list

Looks like we're gonna be totally invested in the rookie draft

Incorrect. Byrnes is Rookie Draft, not National Draft.

ND: Fincher, slider, Caminiti upgrade
RD: Byrnes, slider, slider (or we pass and save a pick for PSD or MSD)

 

[akaifu]

Incorrect. Byrnes is Rookie Draft, not National Draft.

ND: Fincher, slider, Caminiti upgrade
RD: Byrnes, slider, slider (or we pass and save a pick for PSD or MSD)

Incorrect?

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

View attachment 2467498

Huh?

 

[SaintSteele9]

Incorrect. Byrnes is Rookie Draft, not National Draft.

ND: Fincher, slider, Caminiti upgrade
RD: Byrnes, slider, slider (or we pass and save a pick for PSD or MSD)

Ralph corrected his original report. ND for Byrnes.

How is that assured though? Could he be pinched from us?

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Ralph corrected his original report. ND for Byrnes.

How is that assured though? Could he be pinched from us?

He could be pinched in the rookie draft too.

lol re drafting him in the ND feels like a loophole the AFL will close next year.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

To fulfil the mandatory quota of minimum 3 'additions' to the primary list I believe

But wouldn't that be Caminiti, Fincher & 1 other
Why have Byrnes on the primary list when you can just rookie list him.

 

[SaintSteele9]

He could be pinched in the rookie draft too.

lol re drafting him in the ND feels like a loophole the AFL will close next year.

Comical that it even exists, but is it on the basis that given we run the risk someone takes him you’re allowed to take that chance? Certainly not in the “spirit” of the rule that’s for sure lmao

 

[ScrappyDo]

He could be pinched in the rookie draft too.

lol re drafting him in the ND feels like a loophole the AFL will close next year.

Yeah, strange that it's even possible.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Oddly enough
Byrnes probably had an improved season,
but was dropped from the team towards the end of the season, yet again.
RTB does seem to favour him though.

 

[akaifu]

But wouldn't that be Caminiti, Fincher & 1 other
Why have Byrnes on the primary list when you can just rookie list him.

The most probable reason is because Byrnes isn't mandated to be drafted on a 2-year deal via the ND - it can be 1 year - whereas a first-year player would have to be 2 years. Rookie picks can be 1 year so we pretty much prefer Byrnes + rookie pick both on one-year deals as opposed to Byrnes + ND pick with the latter on a two-year deal. Hope to delist both next year I guess

Another reason could be maybe we want to invest in rookies more than the national draft. So that would mean they like the potential SSPs or MSD prospects (exclusively rookies) over a pick 55 in the ND

 

[BrutThough]

Huh?

Clubs are required to add 3 players to the primary list every year but we hate this draft so delisted Byrnes and picking up him again will count towards one of those 3 additions. Caminiti will be upgraded to be our second move and most likely we will match a bid on Fincher for our 3rd required move.

I'd then expect us to fill the our extra rookie list spots with summer train ons post draft which dont need finalised until just before rd1.

 

[ScrappyDo]

Another reason could be maybe we want to invest in rookies more than the national draft. So that would mean they like the potential SSPs or MSD prospects (exclusively rookies) over a pick 55 in the ND

This will be the answer.
Assuming we rookie Tex Wanganeen it leaves us flexibility rather than investment in the rookie/SSP/MSD acquisitions. Maybe they have others lined up but TBD.

What else it says, is a 24yo guy who played 17 games this season and 80 in total is close to being pushed out of a squad that's loaded with quality youth. It's a very good thing.

 

[SaintJunior]

So that leaves Hall as a Cat A rookie .

Given I believe we are signing Kobe McDonald from Ireland we would need to move LOC to Var A rookie list .

Which should leave us with two Cat A rookie spots.

Can you actually use ssp signings to go on rookie list ?

 

[akaifu]

So that leaves Hall as a Cat A rookie .

Given I believe we are signing Kobe McDonald from Ireland we would need to move LOC to Var A rookie list .

Which should leave us with two Cat A rookie spots.

Can you actually use ssp signings to go on rookie list ?

Yes. We signed Harry Boyd as a SSP and he was a rookie

 

[TheJackal]

The most probable reason is because Byrnes isn't mandated to be drafted on a 2-year deal via the ND - it can be 1 year - whereas a first-year player would have to be 2 years. Rookie picks can be 1 year so we pretty much prefer Byrnes + rookie pick both on one-year deals as opposed to Byrnes + ND pick with the latter on a two-year deal. Hope to delist both next year I guess

Another reason could be maybe we want to invest in rookies more than the national draft. So that would mean they like the potential SSPs or MSD prospects (exclusively rookies) over a pick 55 in the ND

Took me a few moments to understand why they couldn't just use Hall as the third selection but a prelisted rookie upgrade means we have no flexibility at the draft.

By saying we will take Ronnie in the ND we'll keep our options open in case of a slider. I'm sure we'd just take Ronnie as a rookie if someone slides but we won't be committed for 2 years.

Basically, I think it just gives us options.

 

[Atomboy]

Oddly enough
Byrnes probably had an improved season,
but was dropped from the team towards the end of the season, yet again.
RTB does seem to favour him though.

He’s Rossy’s new Robert Eddy

 

[Significant]

Incorrect?

Apologies didn't see the correction. Didnt even know you could do that.

 

[bakes10]

Our Rookie draft picks would be ripe for a Dalrymple special or two.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

So that leaves Hall as a Cat A rookie .

Given I believe we are signing Kobe McDonald from Ireland we would need to move LOC to Var A rookie list .

Which should leave us with two Cat A rookie spots.

Can you actually use ssp signings to go on rookie list ?

Oh, I hadn’t heard that re McDonald. Excited for a new present!

 

[ScrappyDo]

So that leaves Hall as a Cat A rookie .

Given I believe we are signing Kobe McDonald from Ireland we would need to move LOC to Var A rookie list .

Which should leave us with two Cat A rookie spots.

Can you actually use ssp signings to go on rookie list ?

Pretty sure you can have more cat B rookies, but after 2 it subtracts from the number of cat A rookies.
Since cat B's salary sits outside the cap there would be no reason to move LOC to cat A.
However it might explain why Monty is apparently being redrafted to the main list as it would avoid filling all the rookie spots.

If my maffs is right it basically says we only intend to take the 1 draftee which will obvs be Fincher.
I'll believe it when it happens though. Monty would surely have been told he may end up a rookie.

 

[BarkerFan]

So that leaves Hall as a Cat A rookie .

Given I believe we are signing Kobe McDonald from Ireland we would need to move LOC to Var A rookie list .

Which should leave us with two Cat A rookie spots.

Can you actually use ssp signings to go on rookie list ?

ok where is this talk of Kobe McDonald to Saints coming from?
He is getting huge wraps in the Irish media.