List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion

[Big Sauce 21]

Budarick has spent a lot of time on the wing this year.

 

[mighty_lions]

Dont really understand the hysteria, this is what happens when you have good players and on top of that I can see Essendon trying to do there best to get something back considering we are raiding 2 of there better players, how often do you see clubs try and get someone from the club that is trading for one of their players and nothing ever comes of it, happens all the time

If he wants to stay he will stay

 

[StevoJenkins]

Don’t think anyone would want to go to the bombers unless they’re not getting first 23 opportunities. The medicos are bad and a whole bunch of players want to leave. Not a good sign.

Do think Bailey will stay next year. Won’t be for the money that’s being reported though.

 

[buttermuffs]

If I’m Lachie:
“Do I stay at the Lions with the chance to get another flag, or take a little more money to head back to Perth a year or two early to play for a side that won a single game of football in 2025…”

Easy choice. He’s been paid handsomely so doesn’t need to leave. He’s not about to be pushed out so doesn’t need to leave. Pretty sure winning another premiership and guiding Brisbane’s group of young guns >>>> guiding a bunch of kids at West Coast.

The difference is that for the better we have an incredible set of leaders amongst our group who are more than capable even without Lachie and West Coast don’t have that.

The idea of going home a couple years early presents a new challenge to Lachie beyond a premiership. Which is to help turn a club around from rock bottom.

Obviously most prefer staying and competing but I can’t blame anyone with aspirations like the latter after winning it all.

 

[SpecialBruce]

Don’t think anyone would want to go to the bombers unless they’re not getting first 23 opportunities. The medicos are bad and a whole bunch of players want to leave. Not a good sign.

Do think Bailey will stay next year. Won’t be for the money that’s being reported though.

I could go to Essendon and get a game.

 

[Maboo]

They showed a graph on one of the footy shows comparing TDK's achievments to Gawns from the moment the two entered the AFL to the year that TDK is at right now. TDK has had no top ten B&F's, no AA's and his stats don't hold a flame to Gawn's so it really begs belief that St Kilda are offering TDK the money on offer to the point that it is hopefully a list killer.

I think they they just had to land someone, anyone really after numerous misses including, as already mentioned Callaghan from GWS, our own Hugh, and many more over the last couple of years.

 

[braddsey]

The difference is that for the better we have an incredible set of leaders amongst our group who are more than capable even without Lachie and West Coast don’t have that.

The idea of going home a couple years early presents a new challenge to Lachie beyond a premiership. Which is to help turn a club around from rock bottom.

Obviously most prefer staying and competing but I can’t blame anyone with aspirations like the latter after winning it all.

I don't disagree - but while Lachie is still best-22, playing in his preferred position, and fit (recent quad injury not withstanding), I can't see him walking away from the possibility of another premiership. He can also help mentor our young mids and share his professionalism that way.
I expect that Lachie can still get the challenge of helping West Coast after his premiership winning days are over at the Lions - much like Hodgey did.

Lachie has already had the experience of bringing a club up from the bottom - he just missed the hardest years of the task!

 

[Section 5]

Is Zac really worth the type of $ being thrown around
Zac has had a good season and i hope he has a great finals series
My personal opinion is he has looked more composed and improved on some of his deficiencies this year.
Fending off better and breaking tackles. Also evading players better and getting caught less.
A great asset to the side that's missing Daniher this year and Charlie having a down year

Hopefully Zac stays and gets rewarded well in relation to our cap space.
I think he will honor his contract for 2026 but in 2027 things may change
Should Zac ask to be released i think the club will accommodate him

Zac has 2/3/4 games to go this year. How are his averages to date in 2025 compared to his other good year 2021
Years 2022-2024 was good also and he produced similar figures. He has been quite consistent since debuting in 2018.

Year	Disposal	Mark	Goal	Tackle	Goal Assist	Inside 50's	Clear	Rebound 50	Mark I50's	1%	Score Invol	Mtrs Gained	Turn Overs	Inter cepts	Tackle I50
2025	19.7	4.7	1.5	2.2	0.6	3.4	1.9	1.3	1.1	0.5	6.7	341.2	2.5	2.2	0.9
2021	18.3	3.2	1.3	2.8	0.7	4.3	2.8	1.0	0.5	1.5	6.9	313.9	4.0	2.0	1.0

 

[Toffee Lion]

Is Zac really worth the type of $ being thrown around
Zac has had a good season and i hope he has a great finals series
My personal opinion is he has looked more composed and improved on some of his deficiencies this year.
Fending off better and breaking tackles. Also evading players better and getting caught less.
A great asset to the side that's missing Daniher this year and Charlie having a down year

Hopefully Zac stays and gets rewarded well in relation to our cap space.
I think he will honor his contract for 2026 but in 2027 things may change
Should Zac ask to be released i think the club will accommodate him

Zac has 2/3/4 games to go this year. How are his averages to date in 2025 compared to his other good year 2021
Years 2022-2024 was good also and he produced similar figures. He has been quite consistent since debuting in 2018.

Year	Disposal	Mark	Goal	Tackle	Goal Assist	Inside 50's	Clear	Rebound 50	Mark I50's	1%	Score Invol	Mtrs Gained	Turn Overs	Inter cepts	Tackle I50
2025	19.7	4.7	1.5	2.2	0.6	3.4	1.9	1.3	1.1	0.5	6.7	341.2	2.5	2.2	0.9
2021	18.3	3.2	1.3	2.8	0.7	4.3	2.8	1.0	0.5	1.5	6.9	313.9	4.0	2.0	1.0

Considering there were only a handful of players who had more Disposal + Goals averages, yeah he is probably worth a decent fee. 1.3m? Maybe not that high but I'd put him in the 900-1m range comfortably.

 

[Lets Roar like '44]

Is Zac really worth the type of $ being thrown around
Zac has had a good season and i hope he has a great finals series
My personal opinion is he has looked more composed and improved on some of his deficiencies this year.
Fending off better and breaking tackles. Also evading players better and getting caught less.
A great asset to the side that's missing Daniher this year and Charlie having a down year

Hopefully Zac stays and gets rewarded well in relation to our cap space.
I think he will honor his contract for 2026 but in 2027 things may change
Should Zac ask to be released i think the club will accommodate him

Zac has 2/3/4 games to go this year. How are his averages to date in 2025 compared to his other good year 2021
Years 2022-2024 was good also and he produced similar figures. He has been quite consistent since debuting in 2018.

Year	Disposal	Mark	Goal	Tackle	Goal Assist	Inside 50's	Clear	Rebound 50	Mark I50's	1%	Score Invol	Mtrs Gained	Turn Overs	Inter cepts	Tackle I50
2025	19.7	4.7	1.5	2.2	0.6	3.4	1.9	1.3	1.1	0.5	6.7	341.2	2.5	2.2	0.9
2021	18.3	3.2	1.3	2.8	0.7	4.3	2.8	1.0	0.5	1.5	6.9	313.9	4.0	2.0	1.0

He’s good. He’s not 1.3 good. If that answers your question.

 

[mattsmob]

Considering there were only a handful of players who had more Disposal + Goals averages, yeah he is probably worth a decent fee. 1.3m? Maybe not that high but I'd put him in the 900-1m range comfortably.

It’s a tricky one, he probably is worth that to rebuilding clubs that have that type of money to spend. As a player I think he benefits from being apart of a team like ours with so many weapons and perhaps wouldn’t be as dangerous if he was the vocal point of a team.

As much as I like him and as good as he is I think there’s other guys on our list I’d pay that kind of money to first and unfortunately there’s only so many players that can be on that much money at one time

 

[Nuggo]

Bailey is projecting to be a top liner. I can see why he is in high demand. His best footy is ahead of him.

 

[Squizz89]

Is Zac really worth the type of $ being thrown around
Zac has had a good season and i hope he has a great finals series
My personal opinion is he has looked more composed and improved on some of his deficiencies this year.
Fending off better and breaking tackles. Also evading players better and getting caught less.
A great asset to the side that's missing Daniher this year and Charlie having a down year

Hopefully Zac stays and gets rewarded well in relation to our cap space.
I think he will honor his contract for 2026 but in 2027 things may change
Should Zac ask to be released i think the club will accommodate him

Zac has 2/3/4 games to go this year. How are his averages to date in 2025 compared to his other good year 2021
Years 2022-2024 was good also and he produced similar figures. He has been quite consistent since debuting in 2018.

Year	Disposal	Mark	Goal	Tackle	Goal Assist	Inside 50's	Clear	Rebound 50	Mark I50's	1%	Score Invol	Mtrs Gained	Turn Overs	Inter cepts	Tackle I50
2025	19.7	4.7	1.5	2.2	0.6	3.4	1.9	1.3	1.1	0.5	6.7	341.2	2.5	2.2	0.9
2021	18.3	3.2	1.3	2.8	0.7	4.3	2.8	1.0	0.5	1.5	6.9	313.9	4.0	2.0	1.0

As a small forward/winger type, no. I assume whoever tries to get him to the club does so with the promise of starting midfield minutes though, which for rebuilding clubs in that position you’d pay $1.2m+ for.

He does need to be careful himself though career wise. He has looked good in that position since Lachie has been out, but it’s a little different playing there in a top 4 team, as opposed to a big rebuilding Melbourne club. Think Zac Williams from Carlton as an example who was promised the same thing on big money and never lived up to it (obviously injury played a part there too).

 

[Saucery]

What a selfish prick.

Imagine being one of those players in the 30-40 range knowing your captain basically looks at you with utter contempt b/c you're taking more money away from him b/c you know, he needs an extra $200-$300K per year.

What a campaigner of the highest order.

 

[Saucery]

Bombers I'm sure have made that kind of offer to Bailey, as have other clubs I have no doubt.

There's no comment at all about Bailey's intention. This is solely club driven.

For the '28 season he can get twice what the bombers are offering from the Devils, why do you think so many top players have signed contracts that take them to around the Devils introduction. They will have salary cap and sign on bonuses up to wazoo. And after 3 premierships he will deserve it

 

[braddsey]

What a selfish prick.

Imagine being one of those players in the 30-40 range knowing your captain basically looks at you with utter contempt b/c you're taking more money away from him b/c you know, he needs an extra $200-$300K per year.

What a campaigner of the highest order.

It would have been funny seeing which elite players he would have been running around with this season, when Essendon had 16 on their injury list. Not a lot of breathing room with the reduced list sizes he wants the pad out his earnings!

 

[Tom14]

What a selfish prick.

Imagine being one of those players in the 30-40 range knowing your captain basically looks at you with utter contempt b/c you're taking more money away from him b/c you know, he needs an extra $200-$300K per year.

What a campaigner of the highest order.

I would say you are overreacting, except this is exactly what Merrett says:

“I think the best players in the game should be remunerated as best as they should,” Merrett said.
“My take would be to reduce the size of the list and then inflate the best players’ salaries and reward those guys for being the best players and then improve the product.
“I think we could adjust just a little bit to go from a development competition to a high performance, result-based, NFL-style system.

“If you reduce it by five or six players, it’s fewer players to dedicate your resourcing to, and you don’t have to control them as much because you’re getting a higher percentage of higher quality players. Plus you might free up a million dollars a year to spread across the other 35 players.”

 

[lioninthesand]

Crazy talking about trading Zac ahead of his FA window. I reckon 14 teams will table something to his manager this offseason - it will be the most in demand signing going into 2027.

Zero chance he is anywhere but the Lions in 2026.

Versatile game breaker, durable and just showed he could be a premo mid over the last 3 games. Worth every bit of $1.3m in the new market.

I am confident he will stay, like Cammy and Hugh. Loves the club, no go home factor, doesent seem like one to be unsettled or in need of a change.

Plus incredibly close to the boys.

Last 2 contracts he has signed in December and February so seems to be be when he likes to make those calls.

My guess is he, like Cammy and Hugh, he will take $1m a year over 5-6 years and I for one would happily have him in that coin, he is going to tear the league apart going forward.

Zac will stay long term with the Lions I reckon, you can’t put a price on playing your short career in a great environment, it’s never been more important.

 

[Tom14]

I never not had faith in the club it was more the $600k we were giving Day who didn't work

Ok wait do you really think we gave Day 600k?

 

[Elixuh]

Ok wait do you really think we gave Day 600k?

Let him cook

 

[Elitek]

I’m a bit concerned Zac will definitely entertain a move. Judging off a few things…. He wants more inside mid mins (won’t happen here even if Lachie leaves), he likes his money (staying here would cost him 1mil over 3 or so years), and it’s never seemed like he’s been one of the main group (I.e Rayner, clug, Berry etc).

We shouldn’t care right now as we have a massive final in a few days, but for me I’d hope we hold him to contract for 26’ and give it another big crack. May cost us a really good 1st + Ridley but, as many have said, he could be the diff in a flag run in 26’… which is pretty invaluable

 

[Tom14]

I’m a bit concerned Zac will definitely entertain a move. Judging off a few things…. He wants more inside mid mins (won’t happen here even if Lachie leaves), he likes his money (staying here would cost him 1mil over 3 or so years), and it’s never seemed like he’s been one of the main group (I.e Rayner, clug, Berry etc).

We shouldn’t care right now as we have a massive final in a few days, but for me I’d hope we hold him to contract for 26’ and give it another big crack. May cost us a really good 1st + Ridley but, as many have said, he could be the diff in a flag run in 26’… which is pretty invaluable

That really good first could be anything. It might even get us a player like Zac Bailey!

 

[mpal6]

Bombers I'm sure have made that kind of offer to Bailey, as have other clubs I have no doubt.

There's no comment at all about Bailey's intention. This is solely club driven.

That article had all the markers of Essendon going "mate, we can cough up this much for you, don't do a Rayner on us this offseason and re-sign over there".

If Bailey still extends with us, it'll be hilarious.

I’m a bit concerned Zac will definitely entertain a move. Judging off a few things…. He wants more inside mid mins (won’t happen here even if Lachie leaves), he likes his money (staying here would cost him 1mil over 3 or so years), and it’s never seemed like he’s been one of the main group (I.e Rayner, clug, Berry etc).

We shouldn’t care right now as we have a massive final in a few days, but for me I’d hope we hold him to contract for 26’ and give it another big crack. May cost us a really good 1st + Ridley but, as many have said, he could be the diff in a flag run in 26’… which is pretty invaluable

Bailey has been a no nonsense type contract wise so far. Likes his money may be a bit of stretch.

 

[blueiris]

Ok wait do you really think we gave Day 600k?

I'm judging on basic contracts the least you can earn when not rookie is $460k.I heard Mitch Cleary say
I feel Day got a bit extra to keep him out of retirement as the stop gap for Joey

 

[spotthedog1]

That really good first could be anything. It might even get us a player like Zac Bailey!

Could be absolutely anything. Can you imagine... it could be a Jack Watts, or a Matt Buntine... maybe even a Jimmy Toumpas. Could even be as good as all 3 combined! With Paddy Dow!