List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion

[Warwick]

These contracts are way too long for serious injuries. Bloody hell. We’ve got to be careful we don’t have to blow up the list in ‘28/‘29 if we can’t get all these guys right…

 

[Nathan Barley]

Sounds similar to the Allen situation. They both want to play for us but won't declare it officially until our season is over

 

[martinson]

Scarcity is what drives the price of anything.

The fact that he mightn't be all that good and injury prone isn't the primary consideration.

I suppose we're comfortable that we can get him right and he has improvement in him in the right environment.

 

[Tom14]

It’s interesting the view points of some on here which is totally fine as it is an online forum. My question is why would you rather; a club that you passionately follow trying their best to bring in players that fills a need OR a club that you passionately follow not trying their best to bring in players that fills a need? Remove the injury concern stuff, one could get hit by a bus crossing the road. I am glad to see my football club being proactive in this space and trying its best.

I have no disagreement with this and it is pretty much my view on recruiting Oscar Allen. Fits a need, good player, worth the injury risk.

Just don't think Draper is good!

 

[Elixuh]

This is really, really starting to concern me.

I get we’ve had some success recently with rehabbing blokes who struggled to get on the park but we’re starting to pay A LOT of money for some very concerning injuries.

A ruckman post an Achilles?? That rings all sorts of alarm bells. Finished Charman’s career before 30.

We’ve got a key defender coming back from a patella tendon repair (much harder and longer to rehab than an ACL) and now recruiting a key forward on close to $1 mill following the same surgery! Answerth another with an Achilles’ - an injury with a high recurrence rate in the normal population, let alone those constantly performing explosive running / leaping actions.

We haven’t been able to get Doedee or Coleman on the park in 2 years. Hipwood will miss considerable time. Berry’s shoulder will need a reconstruction.

Taking a risk on a fringe player prone to soft tissue injuries is one thing, we’re throwing very big money at players with some extremely serious, and long term injuries, prone to poor recovery, recurrence, or prolonged rehab.

It’s not just the money involved - that’s probably >$5 mill of our cap in those players listed above, it’s the time and resources required of our S&C team to develop and implement an individualised program for them all.

IMO we’ve had success with a few, but it’s starting to look less impressive this year - especially as we haven’t been able to get Coleman / Doedee on the park for 24 months, and we’re going too far.

The issue is developed league standard KPPs are difficult to come by. You’re always going to have to take some risk bringing them in - whether that’s past injury history, having to give up significant draft capital or having to pay significant overs like in the TDK case.

We can’t fill gaps and replace KPPs through the draft while in our window. The players who you can get for free will usually have some risk involved otherwise you’d be paying a huge premium to get them out or they’re not available in the first place.

Allen is only available because he has had some injury issues and WCE prefer pick 2 to keeping him. If he didn’t have the injury concerns he would be commanding ~4-500kpa more based on the current market rate.

Draper is similar and probably no longer makes sense for Essendon’s list build if they’re going down the rebuild route.

 

[Section 5]

There is always hope
Same as our upcoming Suns game.

 

[martinson]

We do seem to be rolling the dice on some of these additions particularly considering the current significant injury issues we have with those already on our list , some of them on healthy contracts.

Without knowing the exact physical status of both categories above it's pure guesswork for we bloggers but I think it's quite legitimate to have concerns.

As I've alluded to before and Elixuh has raised above a primary reason we're getting hold of these additions is injury concerns.

 

[mpal6]

If Henry Smith kicked on as our primary ruck like he was projected to over last year / this year - then we'd have locked away ruck position long term. It's unfortunate that it didn't happen and left us in a hole in terms of future ruck cover.

 

[Tom14]

We do seem to be rolling the dice on some of these additions particularly considering the current significant injury issues we have with those already on our list , some of them on healthy contracts.

Without knowing the exact physical status of both categories above it's pure guesswork for we bloggers but I think it's quite legitimate to have concerns.

As I've alluded to before and Elixuh has raised above a primary reason we're getting hold of these additions is injury concerns.

I do think a fair amount of our injury concerns is just how many games we've played in the last few years. About 10-12 players last year played 27 games, and many of those 26 the year before. We've played in at least 2 finals every year since 2019, and in at least 3 finals in 2022-2024.

It's a lot of wear and tear.

 

[martinson]

If Henry Smith kicked on as our primary ruck like he was projected to over last year / this year - then we'd have locked away ruck position long term. It's unfortunate that it didn't happen and left us in a hole in terms of future ruck cover.

I don't see why Fort wouldn't have another year in him. He hasn't played a lot.

As to how people see his ability and impact is a a different issue I suppose.

 

[braddsey]

Draper is similar and probably no longer makes sense for Essendon’s list build if they’re going down the rebuild route.

Essendon aren’t letting Draper go willingly - they screwed up their contract management and he fell out of their top-10 paid players so switched from a RFA to a UFA. Our list management realised before Essendon’s did and got in his ear.

Adelaide were late to the party - but i suspect they burnt their “go home” advantage by signing ROB for another 3 years.

 

[martinson]

I do think a fair amount of our injury concerns is just how many games we've played in the last few years. About 10-12 players last year played 27 games, and many of those 26 the year before. We've played in at least 2 finals every year since 2019, and in at least 3 finals in 2022-2024.

It's a lot of wear and tear.

Definitely.

And the more often you play at the level we've been playing at the more likely you are to get injured.

Doesn't help us any with where we're at right now.

 

[Section 5]

Sounds similar to the Allen situation. They both want to play for us but won't declare it officially until our season is over

Draft Guru have decided Allen is a Lion.

But no jumping the gun on Draper yet.

 

[braddsey]

I don't see why Fort wouldn't have another year in him. He hasn't played a lot.

As to how people see his ability and impact is a a different issue I suppose.

Fort probably does have another year, but the risk if he goes down is high.
Plus Draper is available as FA this year. On forward projections would we find another #1 ruck next year? If we let it pass this year and have a repeat situation of our non-Joe replacement that would be disastrous.

Draper doesn’t need to be the best ruckman in the league, he needs to be better than the next best alternative.

 

[Voss the boss]

IMO we clearly need a ruckman and one with size and presence. Personally if this goes ahead i think it is a great bit of recruitment and we did not need to trade at all or give up picks. Cost and length of contract is one that can be discussed in time really but you are not going to get any reasonably talented free agent without having a sizeable offer and length of contract. This is what they are wanting and if you want you need to pay up.

 

[Elixuh]

Essendon aren’t letting Draper go willingly - the screwed up their contract management and he fell out of their top-10 paid players so switched from a RFA to a UFA. Our list management realised before Essendon’s did and got in his ear.

Adelaide were late to the party - but i suspect they burnt their “go home” advantage by signing ROB for another 3 years.

Has Essendon matched what we’re offering and he has still decided to move or they’ve elected not to?

 

[Tom14]

Has Essendon matched what we’re offering and he has still decided to move or they’ve elected not to?

No clue, but the suggestion that Adelaide were late to the party is incorrect. They've been into him for 2+ years.

Just like they were into Harrison Petty for 2 + years and "missed" out.

 

[braddsey]

Has Essendon matched what we’re offering and he has still decided to move or they’ve elected not to?

Essendon can’t offer what we offer, they’re just not good enough, don’t have our coach, don’t have Brisbane sunshine!

…but yes, according to reports they pretty much matched our offer:

Dees sound out Hawks assistant, Roo's new deal, Bombers up ante for ruck

Check out all the latest trade news from around the League

www.afl.com.au

DONS UP DRAPER BID​

ESSENDON has upped the ante to keep free agent Sam Draper as time ticks on his contract call, lifting its offer to five years for him to stay at the club.

AFL.com.au revealed last month the Bombers had added a trigger for a fifth season to their four-year deal as they battled Adelaide and Brisbane for Draper's signature, but that has increased again, with the offer now at five seasons.

The deal would run through to 2030 and is in line with the offers from the Crows and Lions, which has had Draper deciding between the three options for most of the season.

The move makes clear Essendon's keen hopes to retain the unrestricted free agent, who hasn't played since round six due to his Achilles injury

 

[braddsey]

No clue, but the suggestion that Adelaide were late to the party is incorrect. They've been into him for 2+ years.

Just like they were into Harrison Petty for 2 + years and "missed" out.

Fair. So we’ve just made a more attractive offer, and they likely shot themselves in the foot signing ROB (assuming Draper is their preferred target).

 

[BangyBangy]

Not sure what all the hoo har is about.

We already have a list squeeze going on.

Aside from Annabel no kid we draft with our picks is going to get a game anyways.

Who cares if the players we trade in don't get on the park due to injury

At least if they do play, you know what their ceiling will be.

 

[Tom14]

Fair. So we’ve just made a more attractive offer, and they likely shot themselves in the foot signing ROB (assuming Draper is their preferred target).

Basically yes. Adelaide's list management team got bailed out again.

 

[Elixuh]

Essendon can’t offer what we offer, they’re just not good enough, don’t have our coach, don’t have Brisbane sunshine!

…but yes, according to reports they pretty much matched our offer:

Dees sound out Hawks assistant, Roo's new deal, Bombers up ante for ruck

Check out all the latest trade news from around the League

www.afl.com.au

So it sounds like they’re still offering less than our 5 plus trigger. And whether the $$ are comparable I don’t know.

 

[braddsey]

So it sounds like they’re still offering less than our 5 plus trigger. And whether the $$ are comparable I don’t know.

I’m not concerned on a trigger. If he meets the trigger it means he’s had a good stretch with us. We won’t know on the $’s, but still pretty clear to me they don’t want to lose him.

…the retribution (Bailey) could be interesting!

 

[dlanod]

Hope that we could lock him in for six? I know!

 

[Section 5]

Fort probably does have another year, but the risk if he goes down is high.
Plus Draper is available as FA this year. On forward projections would we find another #1 ruck next year? If we let it pass this year and have a repeat situation of our non-Joe replacement that would be disastrous.

If we get Draper i just hope, he can stay on the park and give us a lot of good years.
Every Lions supporter would want that to happen if Draper is traded to us.

Regarding whom is available.
In 2026 Ned Reeves (turned 27 in October) is listed on footywire as an RFA. Nankervis (just turned 31) is a UFA.
There is always the yearly ruck merry go round, so the club could seek someone out during season 2026.

Still a bit to play out in the ruck movements this year though If Draper goes to the Crows
Maybe someone wants out and that club will make a deal.
Might just be another backup ruck that has potential, or a ruck forward.
Then you have the lower leagues if the Club have their mind on someone there.

I am in the "don't pay rucks big money camp" especially if they have injury concerns.
What could possibly go wrong with a big mobile ruck that has had Achillies surgery in April 2025.