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
​

 

[Saints43]

Neitz was the only one I can't remember Hudghton beating. Lloyd got him a few times but Max had his revenge in 2008.

The time I mostly remember Neitz getting the better of Max was in his 300th and the dees spent the week sooking in the papers that Neitz never got free kicks. He did that weekend.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Neitz was the only one I can't remember Hudghton beating. Lloyd got him a few times but Max had his revenge in 2008.

I read that the week before the game, Max would study video of his obvious opponents. He'd work out their strengths and weaknesses and devise a plan for himself to beat them.

Then came Ross , and zoning, and then came Zac , and Max wouldn't even know who is opponent was going to be . Was not a match made in heaven for him.

 

[L_W_P]

A bigger mistake playing Dempster in the front six rotation and leaving Gwilt, Armitage and Steven out, all who would have been better bets playing forward.

Jimmy Gwilt was the man in 2009.

Should have been in that team but Ross didn't trust him and went with the steady hand...

Itd be like making the 2026 GF and leaving Phillipou out to play Dougs as a defensive forward Andrews/Stewart

 

[austinnn]

Jimmy Gwilt was the man in 2009.

Should have been in that team but Ross didn't trust him and went with the steady hand...

Itd be like making the 2026 GF and leaving Phillipou out to play Dougs as a defensive forward Andrews/Stewart

I wonder if Ross would do the same now as you suggested, or whether he would have learned from his mistakes.

I genuinely don't know if he would consider that a mistake, even if he lost ultimately. I'd be interested in his thoughts about that.

 

[SinCitySainter]

One thing I think we all know about Ross is that he will never admit he made a mistake.

 

[Joffaboy]

Probably my last post on this thread for 2025

Would like to go through the journey of our list management over the past few months including draftees.

From the outset I think the LM team have achieved all of the goals they set for themselves and in my view have been overwhelmingly successful.

• Resigning NWM. Without the resigning, I feel none of the LM plans for recruits would have been successful. Indeed I believe we may have lost more players certainly would not have picked up the players we did. So this was a massive get. If there is a negative the contract is only two years @ 2 mill a year. A hit to the strategy $$ wise and we only really have a short time for NAZ to recommit.
• TDK: A very good get. New rules will benefit his rucking and he will only improve.
• JSOS: A real surprise to beat out two or three other clubs and can do a great job for us as a need down back, but like many on our list can play in multiple positions.
• Liam Ryan: If nothing else he will no longer torch us when we play WCE. A terrific small forward who was a shining light for a very poor WCE team over the last few years. A good trade deal.
• Sam Flanders: exactly what we needed and replaces Steele in the guts. Did we overpay with 7? Turns out it was really pick 12 after NGA and FS so relatively happy with the trade

So the trading was fine but on top of that

• We upped Windys contract after a big offer from North
• We kept Wilkie for the long term after the unserious Bulldogs laughably tried to get him

Come to Draft time

• Pinched FS Banfield from WCE. Seems a very likely type. Huge tank and the Saints see him as a winger. The Colts final saw him dominate as an inside mid so huge scope for him to play multiple positions
• NGA Fincher. Was always tipped to take him. Another classy recruit.
• Ryan Byrnes. I have no problem taking Ronnie. Has played 80 games, many pretty good although he will never be a star. Hard worker, good tank, can play wing, HBF or forward at a pinch. we a travelling pretty well if Ronnie is our worst player.

So to sum up,

• We achieved the recruits we wanted for relatively cheap in draft capital. The unwashed masses think we overspent on the FA's and the others but we have done this to death and we all know we have 6 mill plus to spend
• We kept who we wanted, Wilkie, Windy, and Rohan, while getting about 600k off the books for Steele
• With the little draft capital we had, we seem to have nailed a couple of very good young players
• We pissed off the rest of the competition and upset everyone when we didn't take Aleer. A big tick on both fronts AFAIAK
• By the end of this year we will have three Irish lads on our list. LOC has already had seniors games and is as courageous as they come. Armstrong is a big lad who will take some time but indications are he could be something, and the best of the three according to the people who know Gaelic football is coming out after school midway in 2026.

That my friends is a very successful trading and draft period. You look across the lines and it is difficult to find a player who should not be on the list. The only three I see are Said, Barratt who haven't come on as yet, and Dodson who could be an absolutely exceptional ruckman.

All in all very satisfactory.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Probably my last post on this thread for 2025

Would like to go through the journey of our list management over the past few months including draftees.

From the outset I think the LM team have achieved all of the goals they set for themselves and in my view have been overwhelmingly successful.

• Resigning NWM. Without the resigning, I feel none of the LM plans for recruits would have been successful. Indeed I believe we may have lost more players certainly would not have picked up the players we did. So this was a massive get. If there is a negative the contract is only two years @ 2 mill a year. A hit to the strategy $$ wise and we only really have a short time for NAZ to recommit.
• TDK: A very good get. New rules will benefit his rucking and he will only improve.
• JSOS: A real surprise to beat out two or three other clubs and can do a great job for us as a need down back, but like many on our list can play in multiple positions.
• Liam Ryan: If nothing else he will no longer torch us when we play WCE. A terrific small forward who was a shining light for a very poor WCE team over the last few years. A good trade deal.
• Sam Flanders: exactly what we needed and replaces Steele in the guts. Did we overpay with 7? Turns out it was really pick 12 after NGA and FS so relatively happy with the trade

So the trading was fine but on top of that

• We upped Windys contract after a big offer from North
• We kept Wilkie for the long term after the unserious Bulldogs laughably tried to get him

Come to Draft time

• Pinched FS Banfield from WCE. Seems a very likely type. Huge tank and the Saints see him as a winger. The Colts final saw him dominate as an inside mid so huge scope for him to play multiple positions
• NGA Fincher. Was always tipped to take him. Another classy recruit.
• Ryan Byrnes. I have no problem taking Ronnie. Has played 80 games, many pretty good although he will never be a star. Hard worker, good tank, can play wing, HBF or forward at a pinch. we a travelling pretty well if Ronnie is our worst player.

So to sum up,

• We achieved the recruits we wanted for relatively cheap in draft capital. The unwashed masses think we overspent on the FA's and the others but we have done this to death and we all know we have 6 mill plus to spend
• We kept who we wanted, Wilkie, Windy, and Rohan, while getting about 600k off the books for Steele
• With the little draft capital we had, we seem to have nailed a couple of very good young players
• We pissed off the rest of the competition and upset everyone when we didn't take Aleer. A big tick on both fronts AFAIAK
• By the end of this year we will have three Irish lads on our list. LOC has already had seniors games and is as courageous as they come. Armstrong is a big lad who will take some time but indications are he could be something, and the best of the three according to the people who know Gaelic football is coming out after school midway in 2026.

That my friends is a very successful trading and draft period. You look across the lines and it is difficult to find a player who should not be on the list. The only three I see are Said, Barratt who haven't come on as yet, and Dodson who could be an absolutely exceptional ruckman.

All in all very satisfactory.

A+ all around

Trading
Drafting
Your summary post

 

[Xxxx66]

Probably my last post on this thread for 2025

Would like to go through the journey of our list management over the past few months including draftees.

From the outset I think the LM team have achieved all of the goals they set for themselves and in my view have been overwhelmingly successful.

• Resigning NWM. Without the resigning, I feel none of the LM plans for recruits would have been successful. Indeed I believe we may have lost more players certainly would not have picked up the players we did. So this was a massive get. If there is a negative the contract is only two years @ 2 mill a year. A hit to the strategy $$ wise and we only really have a short time for NAZ to recommit.
• TDK: A very good get. New rules will benefit his rucking and he will only improve.
• JSOS: A real surprise to beat out two or three other clubs and can do a great job for us as a need down back, but like many on our list can play in multiple positions.
• Liam Ryan: If nothing else he will no longer torch us when we play WCE. A terrific small forward who was a shining light for a very poor WCE team over the last few years. A good trade deal.
• Sam Flanders: exactly what we needed and replaces Steele in the guts. Did we overpay with 7? Turns out it was really pick 12 after NGA and FS so relatively happy with the trade

So the trading was fine but on top of that

• We upped Windys contract after a big offer from North
• We kept Wilkie for the long term after the unserious Bulldogs laughably tried to get him

Come to Draft time

• Pinched FS Banfield from WCE. Seems a very likely type. Huge tank and the Saints see him as a winger. The Colts final saw him dominate as an inside mid so huge scope for him to play multiple positions
• NGA Fincher. Was always tipped to take him. Another classy recruit.
• Ryan Byrnes. I have no problem taking Ronnie. Has played 80 games, many pretty good although he will never be a star. Hard worker, good tank, can play wing, HBF or forward at a pinch. we a travelling pretty well if Ronnie is our worst player.

So to sum up,

• We achieved the recruits we wanted for relatively cheap in draft capital. The unwashed masses think we overspent on the FA's and the others but we have done this to death and we all know we have 6 mill plus to spend
• We kept who we wanted, Wilkie, Windy, and Rohan, while getting about 600k off the books for Steele
• With the little draft capital we had, we seem to have nailed a couple of very good young players
• We pissed off the rest of the competition and upset everyone when we didn't take Aleer. A big tick on both fronts AFAIAK
• By the end of this year we will have three Irish lads on our list. LOC has already had seniors games and is as courageous as they come. Armstrong is a big lad who will take some time but indications are he could be something, and the best of the three according to the people who know Gaelic football is coming out after school midway in 2026.

That my friends is a very successful trading and draft period. You look across the lines and it is difficult to find a player who should not be on the list. The only three I see are Said, Barratt who haven't come on as yet, and Dodson who could be an absolutely exceptional ruckman.

All in all very satisfactory.

Nice post. But I think Dodson could come on very quickly with the new ruck rules. Those basketball's can jump!

 

[SaintsofSteel]

A great summary Joffa - the club is rocking with nothing but positives ATM.

Hopefully in the not too distant future the footy karma gods reward us all with a flag.

 

[Saints43]

I read that the week before the game, Max would study video of his obvious opponents. He'd work out their strengths and weaknesses and devise a plan for himself to beat them.

Then came Ross , and zoning, and then came Zac , and Max wouldn't even know who is opponent was going to be . Was not a match made in heaven for him.

It's funny the players that didn't gel with Ross. I would have thought that Brett Voss would have been a perfect player under Lyon, brave, focused etc,
Not to be.

 

[SG34]

Probably my last post on this thread for 2025

Would like to go through the journey of our list management over the past few months including draftees.

From the outset I think the LM team have achieved all of the goals they set for themselves and in my view have been overwhelmingly successful.

• Resigning NWM. Without the resigning, I feel none of the LM plans for recruits would have been successful. Indeed I believe we may have lost more players certainly would not have picked up the players we did. So this was a massive get. If there is a negative the contract is only two years @ 2 mill a year. A hit to the strategy $$ wise and we only really have a short time for NAZ to recommit.
• TDK: A very good get. New rules will benefit his rucking and he will only improve.
• JSOS: A real surprise to beat out two or three other clubs and can do a great job for us as a need down back, but like many on our list can play in multiple positions.
• Liam Ryan: If nothing else he will no longer torch us when we play WCE. A terrific small forward who was a shining light for a very poor WCE team over the last few years. A good trade deal.
• Sam Flanders: exactly what we needed and replaces Steele in the guts. Did we overpay with 7? Turns out it was really pick 12 after NGA and FS so relatively happy with the trade

So the trading was fine but on top of that

• We upped Windys contract after a big offer from North
• We kept Wilkie for the long term after the unserious Bulldogs laughably tried to get him

Come to Draft time

• Pinched FS Banfield from WCE. Seems a very likely type. Huge tank and the Saints see him as a winger. The Colts final saw him dominate as an inside mid so huge scope for him to play multiple positions
• NGA Fincher. Was always tipped to take him. Another classy recruit.
• Ryan Byrnes. I have no problem taking Ronnie. Has played 80 games, many pretty good although he will never be a star. Hard worker, good tank, can play wing, HBF or forward at a pinch. we a travelling pretty well if Ronnie is our worst player.

So to sum up,

• We achieved the recruits we wanted for relatively cheap in draft capital. The unwashed masses think we overspent on the FA's and the others but we have done this to death and we all know we have 6 mill plus to spend
• We kept who we wanted, Wilkie, Windy, and Rohan, while getting about 600k off the books for Steele
• With the little draft capital we had, we seem to have nailed a couple of very good young players
• We pissed off the rest of the competition and upset everyone when we didn't take Aleer. A big tick on both fronts AFAIAK
• By the end of this year we will have three Irish lads on our list. LOC has already had seniors games and is as courageous as they come. Armstrong is a big lad who will take some time but indications are he could be something, and the best of the three according to the people who know Gaelic football is coming out after school midway in 2026.

That my friends is a very successful trading and draft period. You look across the lines and it is difficult to find a player who should not be on the list. The only three I see are Said, Barratt who haven't come on as yet, and Dodson who could be an absolutely exceptional ruckman.

All in all very satisfactory.

I liked and in general I like, but gotta say, the loss of Steele will hurt us and will hurt us a few more times before he retires.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

It's funny the players that didn't gel with Ross. I would have thought that Brett Voss would have been a perfect player under Lyon, brave, focused etc,
Not to be.

Shane Birss didn't have a chance.

 

[Palantine]

Retaining Marshall for what we can now do with both he and TDK, and he and King, could be the LM manoeuvre of the season (other than NWM of course). And extra sweet twisting Geelong’s nipple.

 

[Premium]

Next season we will be far better but how much we will see.
It will be interesting if King gets on the park this year because if he does it's going to make us far more dangerous.
Keeping Marshall was a must and now we can use him forward and in the ruck.
Add on Flanders , JSOS and tdk we will be winning a lot of games.

 

[Saintbloke]

Next season we will be far better but how much we will see.
It will be interesting if King gets on the park this year because if he does it's going to make us far more dangerous.
Keeping Marshall was a must and now we can use him forward and in the ruck.
Add on Flanders , JSOS and tdk we will be winning a lot of games.

Should be a good 2026- I think there were about 5 games this season that we lost due to poor starts or a bad quarter- a lot of it where the midfield went missing for parts of a game. If we fix that, we'll play finals.

 

[Joffaboy]

Nice post. But I think Dodson could come on very quickly with the new ruck rules. Those basketball's can jump!

Dont get me wrong, I think Dodson will become an excellent ruckman. Skills are elite in my view.
I wad trying to look for players arguably in our bottom six who could be considered maybe not good ans I was scraping the barrel to come up with some. All three were draftees from last year which gives an indication.

 

[austinnn]

Dont get me wrong, I think Dodson will become an excellent ruckman. Skills are elite in my view.
I wad trying to look for players arguably in our bottom six who could be considered maybe not good ans I was scraping the barrel to come up with some. All three were draftees from last year which gives an indication.

Its a bit silly for me to do this without knowingbany contract details or any insights from the coaches but just imho

Clark
Byrnes
Dow
Butler
Carroll
O'Connell

Are worth the least externally (in a football sense) out of all players to have played at least one game for the club.

There are others who have a little more time or who play in a position where we has less depth or who have greater upside, but all of the above probably have the biggest need to prove thecworth to the club this year if they want to stay in the RW&B

 

[hangdog]

The time I mostly remember Neitz getting the better of Max was in his 300th and the dees spent the week sooking in the papers that Neitz never got free kicks. He did that weekend.

I remember that. I think he got 6-7 free kicks that week.

 

[hangdog]

It's funny the players that didn't gel with Ross. I would have thought that Brett Voss would have been a perfect player under Lyon, brave, focused etc,
Not to be.

I bumped into Adam McPhee at a coffee shop in Ocean Grove about 10 or so years ago and plucked up the courage to talk to him (briefly).

He said Lyon was the best coach he'd ever played under.

Seems Lyon 1.0 and 2.0 had players that mostly loved him or absolutely hated him.

I don't think Lyon 3.0 is as abrasive anymore. There's no murmuring of players clashing with him anymore.

 

[Saints43]

Someone posted this summary on our pages.
Look at the quality on the ins compared to the outs. It's a real improvement to the squad.

 

[stavro#4]

I bumped into Adam McPhee at a coffee shop in Ocean Grove about 10 or so years ago and plucked up the courage to talk to him (briefly).

He said Lyon was the best coach he'd ever played under.

Seems Lyon 1.0 and 2.0 had players that mostly loved him or absolutely hated him.

I don't think Lyon 3.0 is as abrasive anymore. There's no murmuring of players clashing with him anymore.

The only players I’ve ever been told that hated Ross were the likes of Khan Haretuku.

I was in a room with his partner at the time and himself and both had absolutely zero positive things to say. But that was around the fact they felt like he should have gotten games.

History again shows Ross got it spot on.

I’ve never heard of a good AFL footballer hating on Ross however. Even the ones that have copped some massive bakes off him. They all admit he made them better and how good he was.

 

[stavro#4]

Twomey -

The Giants had seen their other fancied players – Grlj (who coach Adam Kingsley

Adam Kingsley

Age

50

Ht

183cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.9

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

16.4

4star

K

10.4

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

had spoken with on draft day), Pickett and Farrow – already taken so moved up to get fast half-back Oskar Taylor as he was the last remaining player of their group.

If Taylor was gone, the Giants would have traded back and picked up draft collateral, with discussions already had with Adelaide, Geelong, Richmond and St Kilda on possible deals. Brisbane was asked by the Giants if it would jump back in using a future first-rounder, but the Lions weren't interested in parting with that pick.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

When Geelong last year were touted to take Doddy ahead of us but instead surprisingly took another ruckman I can’t remember his name
Has he played firsts? Don’t think so but has anyone kept an eye on him, did we win that pick????

 

[SaintsSeptember]

The only players I’ve ever been told that hated Ross were the likes of Khan Haretuku.

I was in a room with his partner at the time and himself and both had absolutely zero positive things to say. But that was around the fact they felt like he should have gotten games.

History again shows Ross got it spot on.

I’ve never heard of a good AFL footballer hating on Ross however. Even the ones that have copped some massive bakes off him. They all admit he made them better and how good he was.

At the time, and i believe he has acknowledged it was wrong, there were the players who played for the Saints each week. So there were probably around 25 who were Ross's children. The rest were largely ignored/neglected.

 

[stavro#4]

At the time, and i believe he has acknowledged it was wrong, there were the players who played for the Saints each week. So there were probably around 25 who were Ross's children. The rest were largely ignored/neglected.

Probably 2 different issues.

He could have treated the list in its entirety better.

But being disliked only ever seemed to come from the absolute ass end of the list players.