List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion

[Johnny Bananas]

We're going after Draper (and Allen) because he's a free hit, not necessarily because he's quality, although that helps.

Allen is the better key forward there. Weird they're citing Big O and Fort's ages as a reason to go for Draper if he's an FA this year, because Big O and Fort only come out of contract at the end of next year.

I don't think we will have the capital to trade in another player after Annable. We might get a pick from Dev heading to somewhere, but unless the club is planning on moving Bailey, there will be no other picks.

This year, perhaps you're right. Next year, things will be different. Meek is their clear #1, Reeves and Ramsden are both off contract at the end of next year, at a good time for us if we're chasing a new ruck. Surely they're a little more ambitious than sitting behind Meek for years to come.

 

[StevoJenkins]

Allen is the better key forward there. Weird they're citing Big O and Fort's ages as a reason to go for Draper if he's an FA this year, because Big O and Fort only come out of contract at the end of next year.

According to the inside word, Omac is battered. Hence his time on the sidelines and the interest in Draper. With Omac not there and Fort being 32, we need another ruck on the list.

Whilst Draper being able to play forward is something we need; he's being targeted due to ruck need, and I still maintain that Allen will not be playing in Brisbane colours. It's a not well-hidden secret that he would rather stay at West Coast, even at lower money/years.

 

[briztoon]

According to the inside word, Omac is battered. Hence his time on the sidelines and the interest in Draper. With Omac not there and Fort being 32, we need another ruck on the list.

Whilst Draper being able to play forward is something we need; he's being targeted due to ruck need, and I still maintain that Allen will not be playing in Brisbane colours. It's a not well-hidden secret that he would rather stay at West Coast, even at lower money/years.

West Coast has had a contract on the table since last October. If Allen wanted to stay, he could have signed it. It'll be interesting to see if Waterman's injury has influence on any potential contract upgrade for Allen.

 

[Sproj]

I would not be surprised to hear Oscar retire, especially if we win it again and he's in the side. Draper and Allen, I can see both of them being on our list next year. Dev won't be, we have too many other players who can do his role and more coming through. The interesting watches will be what happens with Starc and Bailey.

The other factor is, if Zorks makes 300 games this year and we win again, does he go around again? It would have to be tempting to call it a day and at his age, the end can come very, very quickly, same with Lester. Day also will call it a day again you'd imagine. We also need to bring the kids through in Annable, Marshall, perhaps Geesu and Gallop.

Allen and Draper fill pretty big needs at present.

 

[StevoJenkins]

West Coast has had a contract on the table since last October. If Allen wanted to stay, he could have signed it. It'll be interesting to see if Waterman's injury has influence on any potential contract upgrade for Allen.

I see it like the Ah Chee/Starce situation. You don't sign the contract in front of you if they give it to you a year before you are OOC or FA/RFA. You try to amp up your value over the course of a year, then deal with the club. For Starce, it probably hasn't worked out. For Allen, my best guess is that you are correct in that Waterman will change things.

 

[StevoJenkins]

I would not be surprised to hear Oscar retire, especially if we win it again and he's in the side. Draper and Allen, I can see both of them being on our list next year. Dev won't be, we have too many other players who can do his role and more coming through. The interesting watches will be what happens with Starc and Bailey.

The other factor is, if Zorks makes 300 games this year and we win again, does he go around again? It would have to be tempting to call it a day and at his age, the end can come very, very quickly, same with Lester. Day also will call it a day again you'd imagine. We also need to bring the kids through in Annable, Marshall, perhaps Geesu and Gallop.

Allen and Draper fill pretty big needs at present.

Zorks' status depends on Kiddy.
If Kiddy can't get up this year, we will keep McKenna and Zorks. If he can, then we probably move them both, as we have others who can play his role.

McKenna has already stated that he wants to go back to Ireland, and Zorks is one major injury away from retiring anyway.

 

[Nuggo]

To pick up both Allen and Draper at the end of the year would be some effort from targeting needs and getting it done (putting aside the argument/s on how well they fill the need of course).

 

[Sproj]

To pick up both Allen and Draper at the end of the year would be some effort from targeting needs and getting it done (putting aside the argument/s on how well they fill the need of course).

We've proven ourselves to be pretty good at making what looks impossible possible.

 

[Tom14]

I would not be surprised to hear Oscar retire, especially if we win it again and he's in the side. Draper and Allen, I can see both of them being on our list next year. Dev won't be, we have too many other players who can do his role and more coming through. The interesting watches will be what happens with Starc and Bailey.

The other factor is, if Zorks makes 300 games this year and we win again, does he go around again? It would have to be tempting to call it a day and at his age, the end can come very, very quickly, same with Lester. Day also will call it a day again you'd imagine. We also need to bring the kids through in Annable, Marshall, perhaps Geesu and Gallop.

Allen and Draper fill pretty big needs at present.

I like the thinking behind picking up a FA ruck. Just don’t think Draper is good!

 

[Dalions]

I like the thinking behind picking up a FA ruck. Just don’t think Draper is good!

He is coming from a long way back and he is still getting better and only now reaching what you might consider peak Ruckman period in his career.
We may be able to see the best of him yet.

 

[Sanchez365]

I like the thinking behind picking up a FA ruck. Just don’t think Draper is good!

It would be nice to be able to watch our mids actually get decent center clearances from a Ruckman that can tap in multiple directions.

Plus the double lols Iof replacing Danniher with another essendon FA is pretty juicy.

 

[Tom14]

It would be nice to be able to watch our mids actually get decent center clearances from a Ruckman that can tap in multiple directions.

Plus the double lols Iof replacing Danniher with another essendon FA is pretty juicy.

Yeah sure. Does he actually do that though?

 

[Tom14]

He is coming from a long way back and he is still getting better and only now reaching what you might consider peak Ruckman period in his career.
We may be able to see the best of him yet.

Good thing he’s had a clean injury run and is continuing to learn his craft then!!!

Look it’s a personal thing - as soon as I see a ruckman being touted as getting big offers and their playing style described as ‘being an extra midfielder’ I cringe.

I want a guy on average wage who can take a contested mark up the line and the occasional intercept mark. After Gawn and Jackson (who is the only one that genuinely is an additional midfielder) give me a tall goober who gets to the right spot.

Pay mids and forwards, not rucks!

 

[Section 5]

Pay mids and forwards, not rucks!

I am pretty sure Oscar/Fort and defenders get paid but i know what you mean

 

[Dalions]

Good thing he’s had a clean injury run and is continuing to learn his craft then!!!

Look it’s a personal thing - as soon as I see a ruckman being touted as getting big offers and their playing style described as ‘being an extra midfielder’ I cringe.

I want a guy on average wage who can take a contested mark up the line and the occasional intercept mark. After Gawn and Jackson (who is the only one that genuinely is an additional midfielder) give me a tall goober who gets to the right spot.

Pay mids and forwards, not rucks!

I would be surprised if he is getting as high offers as the media spins.

 

[Tom14]

I am pretty sure Oscar/Fort and defenders get paid but i know what you mean

Yeah add in intercepting key defender to my prioritise paying list.

I think order of priority for me if starting a team from scratch would be:

A grade mid
Key forward
Intercepting defender
Other mid (defensive mid, purely inside contested mid)
Half-forward/small forward
Play-making small defender
Wing
Ruck
Lockdown small defender

There are individual players who are exceptions of course. Gawn is worthy of being paid like a key forward obviously.

 

[Tom14]

I would be surprised if he is getting as high offers as the media spins.

Crows have tried to get him before and despite media narratives on how smart they are at trading they tried to trade two top 10 picks for Petty and pay him a million per year.

Bombers have more cap space than they know what to do with as well.

 

[Nuggo]

I would be surprised if he is getting as high offers as the media spins.

Achilles rupture would dent his ability to field high offers at this point in time you would think.

 

[mpal6]

VFL watchers could call me out here, but when he was recruited, I saw Ryan as more of a less accurate Gunston replacement. What I think the recruiting team didn’t realise at the time was that Gunston never fit in the team to begin with, and thus didn’t need a replacement.

100% agree with him being delisted, but I don’t think the club will do it. If he does leave, the club take the Matheson approach and let him know ahead of time, then let him assess his options.

We’re not the kind of club to leave players high and dry. We are not Collywobble.

Yeah but we're paying him a year's worth of salary for free and let him try his hand as a delisted free agent. We're actually paying him forward.

I think it's a good compromise to be honest. I'd delist Brandon with a promise to get him back as rookie if no one wanted him. I'd also upgrade Bruce from rookie list to primary or if we can getaway with Bruce as rookie for one more year, then get someone new who's a list need (mature ruck, forward/ruck etc).

The fact there are murmurs about our interest in Draper tells me Henry Smith might be a difficult one to retain past this year. It just didn't work with us for Henry in terms of timing, fitness, form and opportunity to play 1s etc.

 

[morsie]

Good thing he’s had a clean injury run and is continuing to learn his craft then!!!

Look it’s a personal thing - as soon as I see a ruckman being touted as getting big offers and their playing style described as ‘being an extra midfielder’ I cringe.

I want a guy on average wage who can take a contested mark up the line and the occasional intercept mark. After Gawn and Jackson (who is the only one that genuinely is an additional midfielder) give me a tall goober who gets to the right spot.

Pay mids and forwards, not rucks!

Yep I want someone like Darcy Cameron who was a sreal

 

[StevoJenkins]

Yeah but we're paying him a year's worth of salary for free and let him try his hand as a delisted free agent. We're actually paying him forward.

I think it's a good compromise to be honest. I'd delist Brandon with a promise to get him back as rookie if no one wanted him. I'd also upgrade Bruce from rookie list to primary or if we can getaway with Bruce as rookie for one more year, then get someone new who's a list need (mature ruck, forward/ruck etc).

The fact there are murmurs about our interest in Draper tells me Henry Smith might be a difficult one to retain past this year. It just didn't work with us for Henry in terms of timing, fitness, form and opportunity to play 1s etc.

Henry Smith will be played in some form next year. Might even play this year. Considered a required player internally.

Our ruck stocks are non-existent if Fort or Omac were to retire this year, that's why the club is going after Draper.

 

[Coastal Lion]

I just read O.Allen is already here.

 

[Sanchez365]

Yeah sure. Does he actually do that though?

It's a fair point, as are the statements of "do Ruckman effect the game enough to command a high offer". Draper hasn't really spent much of his career as a sole no 1 ruck, is that because the other Essendon rucks have been better primary Ruckmen? Or is it because Draper out of all those guys is better suited to the forward ruck role, so he's spent more time doing that. I definitely looked into Draper when we had this conversation about a month ago, and the results I found definitely supported your argument more then mine (aka he's not as much of a stand out tap Ruckman as I thought, going by the numbers). It wasn't a super deep analysis, but he also has a relatively smaller sample size.

All that said, I can see why we are going for him. How ever you split it, Draper is still a top 10 ruck in the league that could be top 5 if he meets what appeared to be his potential when he entered the scene. He is also pretty handy up forward, and Fages loves versatility in his players. Not sure he passes the no dickheads test though.

All in all I would be surprised if we were able to get him out of Essendon, mainly because his cost would be too high for what we can afford. But he would be immediately our No1 Ruckman or our No1 ruck forward. If we were to get him.

 

[Dalions]

I just read O.Allen is already here.

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[Coastal Lion]

Posted

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An hour ago on SEN article by Connor Scanlon