List Mgmt. 2025 List Management

[serial_thrilla]

 

[Docker82]

Having 7 of the 8 players in your forward line plus Reid and Young in the midfield, and we will start to have some attacking weapons.

Still a bit concerned about depth, but hopefully our NGA selection can improve our depth.

I am absolutely amazed people are concerned with our depth tbh.

We've played 30 players this season and IMO only Reidy didn't look at least semi-capable at playing at the level. That's without Simpson, Narkle, Fyfe, Sturt and Walters having a game so far. Only Fyfe, Walters and perhaps Aish won't be there next year. Simpson and Davies of the younger players should be ready to provide a contribution if needed next year if not already.

How much depth do people think the good teams have? Beyond player 34 or so on the list every list is first/second year players and/or duds that were given a bizarre contract a few years ago.

We'll only have sh** depth next season if we mismanage things from here IMO.

 

[wakojako]

I am absolutely amazed people are concerned with our depth tbh.

We've played 30 players this season and IMO only Reidy didn't look at least semi-capable at playing at the level. That's without Simpson, Narkle, Fyfe, Sturt and Walters having a game so far. Only Fyfe, Walters and perhaps Aish won't be there next year. Simpson and Davies of the younger players should be ready to provide a contribution if needed next year if not already.

How much depth do people think the good teams have? Beyond player 34 or so on the list every list is first/second year players and/or duds that were given a bizarre contract a few years ago.

We'll only have sh** depth next season if we mismanage things from here IMO.

My main concern from a depth perspective is a Pearce replacement. We will be contending for a flag right around the time his contract ends in 2027 and will need a ready to go like-for-like replacement. It's a shame Taylor extended for so long at the Giants.

 

[go_the_dockers]

I am absolutely amazed people are concerned with our depth tbh.

We've played 30 players this season and IMO only Reidy didn't look at least semi-capable at playing at the level. That's without Simpson, Narkle, Fyfe, Sturt and Walters having a game so far. Only Fyfe, Walters and perhaps Aish won't be there next year. Simpson and Davies of the younger players should be ready to provide a contribution if needed next year if not already.

How much depth do people think the good teams have? Beyond player 34 or so on the list every list is first/second year players and/or duds that were given a bizarre contract a few years ago.

We'll only have sh** depth next season if we mismanage things from here IMO.

Who in the WAFL do you think you could play AFL at a good level? No one in the WAFL is demanding selection, or even putting pressure on the best 23.

Aish and Erasmus is only player I have that is fit, and could play AFL at a decent level.

If Voss is suspended, and Ryan out then then there are no natural replacement for their position.

 

[Taylor]

It just makes sense to trade out Switta if we are going to get Pickett. Switta has been great for us over the years and has served the club well. He plays his role very well for us and sometimes doesn't get the credit he deserves, but at the end of the day we need to prioritise scoreboard and defensive pressure. If we get Pickett, I don't see a point in keeping salary and a list spot for a 29 yr old Switta who is injury prone and is one concussion away from retirement, especially when we have young talent to fill his role. People need to stop taking it personally, I have loved him at the club but I think it's the right move from a list management perspective.

We also don't want to be paying premium money for a player in role that could be filled by someone with a much lower price tag though.

If the role stays the same, Pickett in it doesn't suddenly mean Switta + more goals.

 

[Superkoops]

If Switta wants to go - there were rumours at one point about him wanting to return to Melbourne then we facilitate the trade. He is a role player with elite defensive pressure. He is worth a pick around 33-42 (late second to early third). Alex Neal-Bullen

28

Alex Neal-bullen

Age

30

Ht

182cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.3

4star

K

8.7

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

4.1

5star

CL

1.4

4star

D

10.5

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

4.5

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

1.5

2star

CL

0.5

3star

D

10.0

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.2

2star

fetched a pick around 28. I’d rate Switta’s value marginally lower than Neal-Bullen. I very much doubt he will fit the path Demons are on so it would be a separate trade to Pickett.

We have our current suite of 1st, 2nd, Richmond 3rd, Fremantle 3rd.

Our 2nd prob around 28-30 if we make finals after some compo. Get pick 36 and we can look to do a pick swap to move higher up the board.

Switta > ~36
29+36 > 23
2025 1st, 2026 1st > Pickett, F4

2025: 23, 40 (Whan - Richmond 3rd bid somewhere after 25 to around late 30), 47
2026: 30-34 (Robinson - Fremantle 2nd), 49, 56 (Melbourne - 4th)

I’m not up to date with the bid matching rules but I’d imagine the above would be close to the mark.

 

[Dayts]

It just makes sense to trade out Switta if we are going to get Pickett. Switta has been great for us over the years and has served the club well. He plays his role very well for us and sometimes doesn't get the credit he deserves, but at the end of the day we need to prioritise scoreboard and defensive pressure. If we get Pickett, I don't see a point in keeping salary and a list spot for a 29 yr old Switta who is injury prone and is one concussion away from retirement, especially when we have young talent to fill his role. People need to stop taking it personally, I have loved him at the club but I think it's the right move from a list management perspective.

Swit to the dees in the deal makes sense.
Been apart of the leadership groups, stand up citizen. Good sort to have around the club after a deep cut of senior players.

 

[wakojako]

We also don't want to be paying premium money for a player in role that could be filled by someone with a much lower price tag though.

If the role stays the same, Pickett in it doesn't suddenly mean Switta + more goals.

We hold all the cards if Pickett wants to return home. If he is paid $800k a year at Melb and he has no interest in playing for WC, I'm sure we can stretch that out by extending his contract to 2032 (he will be 30 yrs old than) and reducing the money he is paid per year. So I don't think we will be paying some premium salary to obtain him. Don't forget if you trade Switta out you will be getting his salary off the books (est. between $300k to $600k). So the cost to add Pickett to the list versus the output is a no brainer.

You also have to consider that the net benefits of Pickett outweighs the contributions from Switta. If we add Pickett to the list, we can centre our gameplan around Bolton, Pickett and even Dudley which would allow us to play a lot more daring and aggressive.

 

[Docker82]

Who in the WAFL do you think you could play AFL at a good level? No one in the WAFL is demanding selection, or even putting pressure on the best 23.

Aish and Erasmus is only player I have that is fit, and could play AFL at a decent level.

If Voss is suspended, and Ryan out then then there are no natural replacement for their position.

Voss is in the team as the third best KPF on our list. No AFL list has four AFL standard KPFs and if they do one or two get traded at the end of the season.

I've said on many occasions a back up ruck is my only concern depth wise.

I'm reasonably comfortable that Erasmus, Aish, Narkle and Simpson wouldn't be hopeless at AFL level. Then you could consider we have 4-5 genuine best 25 players on the injury list atm.

You're worrying about an issue that doesn't exist.

 

[Superkoops]

Who in the WAFL do you think you could play AFL at a good level? No one in the WAFL is demanding selection, or even putting pressure on the best 23.

Aish and Erasmus is only player I have that is fit, and could play AFL at a decent level.

If Voss is suspended, and Ryan out then then there are no natural replacement for their position.

WAFL and ready to step into 23: Erasmus, Narkle, Simpson, Aish
Developing and close: Davies
Injured: Wagner, Fyfe, Walters, Sturt, NOD, Walker
Undecided: McDonald
11-12 players outside 23 selected.

The reason I put McDonald down as undecided. He played key forward on weekend. It was likely a selfless move to allow Ollie Murphy to play as KPD and lack of key forwards down at Perl. McDonald is a capable defender and showed that the week before against Claremont. Him playing forward allowed Murphy to play up from the reserves.

I thought Davies (20 possessions, 11 marks) played quite well. A couple of errors and most Ruscoe’s goals were with Davies on him but there was an avalanche of supply in the second half. Davies needs to build more body strength and continue to iron out some disposal errors but what I’ve seen over the past 2 and a bit years is solid development. Obviously rated reasonably highly as he played ahead of McDonald in the practice matches.

My biggest worry depth wise is ruck. Reidy isn’t up to to it. Now that Darcy is back and Voss continues to develop his relief ruck craft I think Reidy is redundant. I think Riddle is a talent but will take time developing in WAFL.

One player we could consider as a free agent is journeyman Brynn Teakle. Played 17 games. Also plays reasonably well as a forward. Since going to North he has played more forward and less ruck. In the WAFL early last year his form as primary ruck was very good. Selected in the state team. He had a good duel with Reidy round 1 and due to his ability to get around the ground outpointed him.

Played 17 games over the past 3 years. None this year but has been emergency 4 times. His form in VFL pretty solid. Looking at his Hitout numbers only around 15-21 Hitouts but a few goals so likely playing uk forward. I’d see him more as ruck that can pinch hit up forward. Certainly more capable forward than Reidy and is handy ruckman. I’d feel more confident with him coming into the team than Reidy. Wouldn’t cost anything other than a contract list spot.

 

[purplerunsdeep2]

Obviously recency bias, but a missed tackle and that ridiculous decision when inside 50 kicking to a 1 on 3 contest gave me the shits about Switta against tigers

Yes rusty and learning a forward role with Bolton and Reid for the first time, very underwhelming

If he's part of the Kozzie trade, it's a no brainer

 

[Docker82]

WAFL and ready to step into 23: Erasmus, Narkle, Simpson, Aish
Developing and close: Davies
Injured: Wagner, Fyfe, Walters, Sturt, NOD, Walker
Undecided: McDonald
11-12 players outside 23 selected.

The reason I put McDonald down as undecided. He played key forward on weekend. It was likely a selfless move to allow Ollie Murphy to play as KPD and lack of key forwards down at Perl. McDonald is a capable defender and showed that the week before against Claremont. Him playing forward allowed Murphy to play up from the reserves.

I thought Davies (20 possessions, 11 marks) played quite well. A couple of errors and most Ruscoe’s goals were with Davies on him but there was an avalanche of supply in the second half. Davies needs to build more body strength and continue to iron out some disposal errors but what I’ve seen over the past 2 and a bit years is solid development. Obviously rated reasonably highly as he played ahead of McDonald in the practice matches.

My biggest worry depth wise is ruck. Reidy isn’t up to to it. Now that Darcy is back and Voss continues to develop his relief ruck craft I think Reidy is redundant. I think Riddle is a talent but will take time developing in WAFL.

One player we could consider as a free agent is journeyman Brynn Teakle. Played 17 games. Also plays reasonably well as a forward. Since going to North he has played more forward and less ruck. In the WAFL early last year his form as primary ruck was very good. Selected in the state team. He had a good duel with Reidy round 1 and due to his ability to get around the ground outpointed him.

Played 17 games over the past 3 years. None this year but has been emergency 4 times. His form in VFL pretty solid. Looking at his Hitout numbers only around 15-21 Hitouts but a few goals so likely playing uk forward. I’d see him more as ruck that can pinch hit up forward. Certainly more capable forward than Reidy and is handy ruckman. I’d feel more confident with him coming into the team than Reidy. Wouldn’t cost anything other than a contract list spot.

Got to say Teakle has come into my mind as well. He’d be closer to best 22 at North Melbourne but it’s quite possible they only offer him a year. I’d be happy enough offering a back up that can play forward a bit two years if that’s all it took.

Also you forgot Luke Jackson on the injured players.

 

[wild side]

Switta trying to kick from 50m at the end where the breeze wasn't an advantage was crazy too.
He can't kick 50m, but how was Young's 60m at the end where the breeze was helping.
That was a belter

 

[Docker82]

My main concern from a depth perspective is a Pearce replacement. We will be contending for a flag right around the time his contract ends in 2027 and will need a ready to go like-for-like replacement. It's a shame Taylor extended for so long at the Giants.

We have more KPDs on our list than every other club in the league. The club has clearly started planning for it.

Adding even more KPDs to our list this year would be the type of list management that does actually get you into a situation where you have poor depth in 2-3 years. Depth is a revolving door and whilst I’m not worried about depth atm that can change in that timeframe if the club makes poor list management decisions. I’d consider using 4-5 spots on the list (plus Cox and Pearce on our list already) to essentially throw as many darts as possible at one position as quite poor list management tbh.

I’m quite happy just to see these newer kids given a go and if it doesn’t work head into the trade/FA space.

 

[Superkoops]

We have more KPDs on our list than every other club in the league. The club has clearly started planning for it.

Adding even more KPDs to our list this year would be the type of list management that does actually get you into a situation where you have poor depth in 2-3 years. Depth is a revolving door and whilst I’m not worried about depth atm that can change in that timeframe if the club makes poor list management decisions. I’d consider using 4-5 spots on the list (plus Cox and Pearce on our list already) to essentially throw as many darts as possible at one position as quite poor list management tbh.

I’m quite happy just to see these newer kids given a go and if it doesn’t work head into the trade/FA space.

Agreed. Hugh Davies played 2 AFL games in 2024. Played both pre-season games in 2025. Im sure will get a taste.

In a poor and injury affected Peel on the weekend he was named in the best players. He lost a couple of one on ones where he seemed to be out of position but was otherwise quite good. South Fremantle forwards had a lot of supply and their mids seemed to be going i50 under very little pressure.

He is capable of playing and will continue to develop. Josh Draper already a best 23 player. He will fill a number of different roles this year due to his talents. I’d settle him as KPD in time. He had played KPD on Darcy, played on small forward Papley and even had a run around in the ruck. For team balance and necessity I can see a world where he steps in as third tall and relief ruck against Melbourne.

So we have Pearce, Cox, Draper, Davies and Ollie Murphy. Also Chapman is 193cm. I don’t expect McDonald to be on the list (next year) but and he will likely play a bit as KPF to allow ongoing development of Murphy as KPD at Peel.

I think posters are reading too much into the loss to South Fremantle. Early in the last after Narkle got an early goal it was game on.

Due to lack of rotations things dropped away. Managed mins impacted come the last quarter for Peel against Claremont. Claremont look like being a very good side in 2025. They smashed East Fremantle on the weekend.

 

[Docker82]

Agreed. Hugh Davies played 2 AFL games in 2024. Played both pre-season games in 2025. Im sure will get a taste.

In a poor and injury affected Peel on the weekend he was named in the best players. He lost a couple of one on ones where he seemed to be out of position but was otherwise quite good. South Fremantle forwards had a lot of supply and their mids seemed to be going i50 under very little pressure.

He is capable of playing and will continue to develop. Josh Draper already a best 23 player. He will fill a number of different roles this year due to his talents. I’d settle him as KPD in time. He had played KPD on Darcy, played on small forward Papley and even had a run around in the ruck. For team balance and necessity I can see a world where he steps in as third tall and relief ruck against Melbourne.

So we have Pearce, Cox, Draper, Davies and Ollie Murphy. Also Chapman is 193cm. I don’t expect McDonald to be on the list (next year) but and he will likely play a bit as KPF to allow ongoing development of Murphy as KPD at Peel.

I think posters are reading too much into the loss to South Fremantle. Early in the last after Narkle got an early goal it was game on.

Due to lack of rotations things dropped away. Managed mins impacted come the last quarter for Peel against Claremont. Claremont look like being a very good side in 2025. They smashed East Fremantle on the weekend.

There’s been suggestions Nicholls could go back too. Think we try him forward first but it’s still a possibility.

 

[wakojako]

We have more KPDs on our list than every other club in the league. The club has clearly started planning for it.

Adding even more KPDs to our list this year would be the type of list management that does actually get you into a situation where you have poor depth in 2-3 years. Depth is a revolving door and whilst I’m not worried about depth atm that can change in that timeframe if the club makes poor list management decisions. I’d consider using 4-5 spots on the list (plus Cox and Pearce on our list already) to essentially throw as many darts as possible at one position as quite poor list management tbh.

I’m quite happy just to see these newer kids given a go and if it doesn’t work head into the trade/FA space.

We do have the kids but the issue is if anyone rates them? No one has been screaming "pick me" by their performances at Peel. A lot of people have been talking up Nicholls as the one with the most potential (myself included) and he hasn't even played a game at WAFL yet. That doesn't exactly fill me with confidence about the others. Pearce is strong, quick and intelligent. He is an incredible KPD and it will be difficult to find someone to fill his shoes.

 

[Docker82]

We do have the kids but the issue is if anyone rates them? No one has been screaming "pick me" by their performances at Peel. A lot of people have been talking up Nicholls as the one with the most potential (myself included) and he hasn't even played a game at WAFL yet. That doesn't exactly fill me with confidence about the others. Pearce is strong, quick and intelligent. He is an incredible KPD and it will be difficult to find someone to fill his shoes.

I personally think Draper could be one of the best defenders in the competition. The fact he’s not exactly the same player Pearce is doesn’t concern me all that much.

Pearce himself would’ve been slaughtered early on if McPharlin, Dawson and Johnson weren’t around to help him out in 2015 and 2016.

You can’t just keep drafting key defender after key defender because none are as good as Pearce is straight away. Replacing Pearce might be like replacing McPharlin. I think McPharlin is just about the best KPD I’ve seen on natural ability but not once after 2016 did I think KPDs were a weakness on our list. Generational players are irreplaceable but it doesn’t mean the whole team falls apart without one of them.

 

[Madas]

People are going into panic stations far too quickly on Switkowski, he's just gotten back after 3 games off with injury, give him some time. He'll be fine.

He’s always bloody injured though!

Happy to cut him loose if it means getting Pickett
Pickett >>> Switta

Jokes aside ( wasn’t anyway )
, I reckon he is one more concussion away from hanging them up anyway.

 

[MadMundy]

He’s always bloody injured though!

Happy to cut him loose if it means getting Pickett
Pickett >>> Switta

He didn't get injured last year did he? Or am I misremembering?

 

[DQ 4EVER]

With what he has made over the years, he will crying in his 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets

With the same number of AFL premierships as I have

 

[Madas]

He didn't get injured last year did he? Or am I misremembering?

20

Career
2,18,12,14,22,20

 

[MadMundy]

20

Career
2,18,12,14,22,20

2 games last year isn't so bad, so at the very least he's been a consistent fixture in the team for the past couple of years.

 

[Madas]

2 games last year isn't so bad, so at the very least he's been a consistent fixture in the team for the past couple of years.

Hmmm

His concussion history worries me a lot

He’s generally pretty fragile
Goes hard the boy , doesn’t have the solid body though

 

[Alfonz]

If Switta wants to go - there were rumours at one point about him wanting to return to Melbourne then we facilitate the trade. He is a role player with elite defensive pressure. He is worth a pick around 33-42 (late second to early third). Alex Neal-Bullen fetched a pick around 28. I’d rate Switta’s value marginally lower than Neal-Bullen. I very much doubt he will fit the path Demons are on so it would be a separate trade to Pickett.

We have our current suite of 1st, 2nd, Richmond 3rd, Fremantle 3rd.

Our 2nd prob around 28-30 if we make finals after some compo. Get pick 36 and we can look to do a pick swap to move higher up the board.

Switta > ~36
29+36 > 23
2025 1st, 2026 1st > Pickett, F4

2025: 23, 40 (Whan - Richmond 3rd bid somewhere after 25 to around late 30), 47
2026: 30-34 (Robinson - Fremantle 2nd), 49, 56 (Melbourne - 4th)

I’m not up to date with the bid matching rules but I’d imagine the above would be close to the mark.

I think you are being a bit optimistic. For example you have us getting Robinson for 30-34, but he will require four picks in that range if he maintains his standing as a top 5 pick. This article on Ashcroft has some further discussion. Catch 22 with Robinson. We want him to be a top shelf beast, but if he is then it could be a tricky situation for us to navigate.

Unless we trade out some players of reasonably high value, I think it is possible we will need to use most/all of our 1st and 2nds for 2025, 2026 and 2027 to bring in Pickett, Whan and Robinson. Two firsts on Pickett, one on Robinson, the 2nds to make up the remaining points for Whan/Robinson. Obviously that depends on where the bids come for Whan and Robinson. I'd be OK with that if Whan and Robinson are indeed high quality prospects.

Somewhere in all of this is the 2 x 1sts in 4 years quota. Hopefully this is not an isse with Amiss/Erasmus counting for the 2025 trade period, and maybe Whan will be deemed a first round pick to go with Reid. We should also be granted an exemption from the rule if required, but I wouldn't trust the AFL to give us anything.

If we need to trade our 2027 picks, it will be hard to get a good return, as they will have less value with Tasmania getting 6 of the top 13 picks.

 

[Taylor]

Robinson is an interesting thought experiment too. Assuming we pick him as a top twenty pick next year, his first contract year paid at his value is the year after a player with a five year deal right now comes out of contract.

Our side will look dramatically different by the end of that third draftee contract year for him.