List Mgmt. 2025 Trade/FA Thread (Cont’d)

[Fruit]

On one of the podcasts Twomey predicted McGuane as a late/rookie pick now. Fwiw he also suggested McCarthy was in the 25 to 45 range. Still not that much currency but a lot less maneuvering than it looked like at the start of the year.

Does that mean we need to temper our expectations for McGuane now?

 

[Pistol Night]

Does that mean we need to temper our expectations for McGuane now?

Yeah. Only 2 Brownlows

 

[Ugene41]

Yeah, I'd rather May for a year or so at minimum cost/contract and throw Moore forward, than hand Petracca a $1m+ contract. I think Petracca's contract is ascending each year, much like Oliver's. I'm sure I read it jumps to $1.7m in his final year.

Yea if we have that much space available in our salary cap, we are much better off using that to throw big offers at Will Ashcroft (OOC) and Zac Bailey (RFA) next year. Even if we can't pry them out of Brisbane, it would be better off disrupting Brisbane's salary cap so that can't continue their dynasty unchallenged rather than take a salary dump from Melbourne.

 

[GETSOMENUTS]

TJ's got a long way to go. He gets a lot of standing still receives at VFL because he's mistimed his run and just stops and waits. He's a good enough athlete to be able to receive flat footed at VFL, but it will be awful at AFL level.

Careful, Carl will cry you told him a different story......
But youre correct. You can teach someone to kick and handball etc but that innate awareness is almost impossible to teach.

 

[LuckyLee]

So, as things stand, we’re set to lose established players WHE, Cox, Mitchell and maybe some/all of Hill, Elliott and Mihochek. Correct?

We haven’t been linked to any notable and gettable free agents and, despite opening up quite a few list spots, don’t have any high picks with which to draft in elite talent.

Meanwhile Brisbane bring in Allan and Draper and another elite academy talent.

Seems like an underwhelming list changes period coming up for us and a tough 2026.

Oh well, at least we’ll get to see more of Harrison and West and hopefully debuts for Smit and Steene.

 

[Fruit]

So, as things stand, we’re set to lose established players WHE, Cox, Mitchell and maybe some/all of Hill, Elliott and Mihochek. Correct?

We haven’t been linked to any notable and gettable free agents and, despite opening up quite a few list spots, don’t have any high picks with which to draft in elite talent.

Meanwhile Brisbane bring in Allan and Draper and another elite academy talent.

Seems like an underwhelming list changes period coming up for us and a tough 2026.

Even though we won the flag in ‘23 and gave ourselves a good shot this year I think we made some poor decisions which have cost us some of our future. Didn’t get enough in trades for Treloar and Grundy and then seem to have given up too much for others like Beams etc.
Leppa is going to have to weave some magic to still have us contending in 3-5 years time

 

[LuckyLee]

Even though we won the flag in ‘23 and gave ourselves a good shot this year I think we made some poor decisions which have cost us some of our future. Didn’t get enough in trades for Treloar and Grundy after and then seem to have given up too much for others like Beams etc.
Leppa is going to have to weave some magic to still have us contending in 3-5 years time

Yes.

I think we have to get much better and much faster at trading out drafted players whilst they have some value, instead of hanging on to draftees like Cal Brown, Tyler Brown, Fin Macrae (& Reef McInnes? Jacob Ryan?) all the way to delisting. So they end up spending 4-5 years on our list for zero return. That’s far too long.

Ironically, the one we did cut early was Caleb Poulter, who arguably had trade value and has gone on to be a useful player at the Bulldogs. He would have been in our best 23 in 2026.

 

[Carlthetruth]

Careful, Carl will cry you told him a different story......
But youre correct. You can teach someone to kick and handball etc but that innate awareness is almost impossible to teach.

Careful, you'll let everyone know you don't understand the development timeline, the shade TJ is getting could suggest you're factoring in other reasons. You also neglected to mention his excellent intercept marking, not bad for a guy who you've all told us can't read the play.

 

[sherrife]

Yes.

I think we have to get much better and much faster at trading out drafted players whilst they have done value. Instead hang to draftees like Cal Brown, Tyler Brown, Fin Macrae (& Reef McInnes? Jacob Ryan?) all the way to delisting. So they end up spending 4-5 years on our list for zero return. That’s far too long.

Ironically, the one we did cut early was Caleb Poulter, who arguably had trade value and has gone on to be a useful player at the Bulldogs. He would have been our best 23 in 2026.

Agree. Allan should be shopped around while he still has some currency (ie he has mostly proven, but not completely, that he's not going to be a good player despite having some tools). Lippa as well. Wing is not a super challenging position, so long as you're fit and have decent disposal. Hence Steele coming in from a lower league and playing better than both. Ryan could be tried there, along with HH, Josh (in light of Parker and Houston locking down HBF), maybe TJ and maybe others.

 

[Carlthetruth]

Has McGuanne tanked for us to pay less? Or has he dropped off?

Dont worry about Tom, for some reason he was deployed away from the footy maybe to develop his game and that's not what you do with ball magnets. Nobody with half a brain knocks his skills or workrate, he'll be on the list for sure. What is strange is anyone thinking this might be a problem but it's a nice change from the bed wetting that was around when these players were going to cost us Bruz and we didn't have the points. They'll be on the list, be great value and we'll do it all easily.

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

Does that mean we need to temper our expectations for McGuane now?

Was a dominant player for the Western Jets, but obviously a few deficiencies in his game. I wouldn't be expecting him to play senior footy in his first couple of seasons at least. Sounds like a slow burn.

 

[Pistol Night]

He has been a dominant player for the Western Jets, but obviously a few deficiencies in his game. I wouldn't be expecting him to play senior footy in his first couple of seasons at least. Sounds like a slow burn.

That'll go down well with some of the faithful

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

That'll go down well with some of the faithful

I think he will make it. Definitely has the skills and can find the footy. Just need to give him time, plus he's very small physically. But will be a player...

 

[WanderingDude]

Yes.

I think we have to get much better and much faster at trading out drafted players whilst they have done value. Instead hang to draftees like Cal Brown, Tyler Brown, Fin Macrae (& Reef McInnes? Jacob Ryan?) all the way to delisting. So they end up spending 4-5 years on our list for zero return. That’s far too long.

Ironically, the one we did cut early was Caleb Poulter, who arguably had trade value and has gone on to be a useful player at the Bulldogs. He would have been our best 23 in 2026.

Caleb Poulter I wanted to succeed but his was not a good fit and still a fringe player at the dogs. He has played 33 games in 5 seasons. Brown played 70 games in 7 seasons. I think on a simple level Brown was the better player and was delisted also. Poulter is not best 23 in 2026 at the Dogs or Collingwood. I prefer Steele to get games to establish how good he can be.

 

[TW Sherrin]

Was a dominant player for the Western Jets, but obviously a few deficiencies in his game. I wouldn't be expecting him to play senior footy in his first couple of seasons at least. Sounds like a slow burn.

yeh I was bullish on him watching him play juniors but he has been found out against the bigger kids (carnival) and then VFL. he is a going to take a while.

the upside is his draft value has slipped a fair way.

 

[LuckyLee]

I think he will make it. Definitely has the skills and can find the footy. Just need to give him time, plus he's very small physically. But will be a player...

Yet another slow-burn/development draftee, eh? Great!

So many of our opponents' draftees seem to burst onto the scene in their first or second year after being drafted. Ours invariably take 4-5 years and even then most wind up being delisted.

I guess that's partly a consequence of having a Best 23 filled with so many older players. Hopefully that's all about to change.

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

yeh I was bullish on him watching him play juniors but he has been found out against the bigger kids (carnival) and then VFL. he is a going to take a while.

the upside is his draft value has slipped a fair way.

At one stage l thought we would need to find points for a 2nd round bid, but now points doesn't like it will be an issue at all.
We will need the points for McCarthy however, as he will get an early bid, l feel...

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

Yet another slow-burn/development draftee, eh? Great!

So many of our opponents' draftees seem to burst onto the scene in their first or second year after being drafted. Ours invariably take 4-5 years and even then most wind up being delisted.

I guess that's partly a consequence of having a Best 23 filled with so many older players. Hopefully that's all about to change.

We say slow burn now, but he may suddenly flourish in a professional AFL environment and really fast track in the pre-season. The young players who come in these days are more prepared for the rigours of AFL footy.
Lets see how he's tracking in the pre-season, and then we will get a better idea of what he's going to produce in his first season...

 

[LuckyLee]

Caleb Poulter I wanted to succeed but his was not a good fit and still a fringe player at the dogs. He has played 33 games in 5 seasons. Brown played 70 games in 7 seasons. I think on a simple level Brown was the better player and was delisted also. Poulter is not best 23 in 2026 at the Dogs or Collingwood. I prefer Steele to get games to establish how good he can be.

IMO, Poulter showed far more flair and talent than Cal Brown ever did. At the very least, Poulter can kick the ball more than 35 metres! Brown was a protected species. It was ridiculous that he made it to 70 games with such glaring deficiencies and lack of any X-factor. Never would have lasted so long if his name had been Smith instead of Brown. He was a classic example of the type of player we need to be much more ruthless with.

 

[LuckyLee]

We say slow burn now, but he may suddenly flourish in a professional AFL environment and really fast track in the pre-season. The young players who come in these days are more prepared for the rigours of AFL footy.
Lets see how he's tracking in the pre-season, and then we will get a better idea of what he's going to produce in his first season...

Hard to imagine him quickly breaking through at AFL level if he is physically small. We do seem to love a project player!

 

[peter9789]

So, as things stand, we’re set to lose established players WHE, Cox, Mitchell and maybe some/all of Hill, Elliott and Mihochek. Correct?

We haven’t been linked to any notable and gettable free agents and, despite opening up quite a few list spots, don’t have any high picks with which to draft in elite talent.

Meanwhile Brisbane bring in Allan and Draper and another elite academy talent.

Seems like an underwhelming list changes period coming up for us and a tough 2026.

Oh well, at least we’ll get to see more of Harrison and West and hopefully debuts for Smit and Steene.

The high end elite talent that Brisbane is now accumulating is scary.

We seem to be hamstrung from continually trading out future first rounders, and for some reason also have a stretched cap. Hence the recruitment of cheap options that cost little from a draft or cap perspective..

I don’t have much hope for the likes of HDM, Jiath, Ryan, Steene, Smit et al, and now we seem to be brining in some more mid season draftees to plug gaps.

Sounds like a quieter off season for us.

 

[cfc19902010]

Yes.

I think we have to get much better and much faster at trading out drafted players whilst they have some value, instead of hanging on to draftees like Cal Brown, Tyler Brown, Fin Macrae (& Reef McInnes? Jacob Ryan?) all the way to delisting. So they end up spending 4-5 years on our list for zero return. That’s far too long.

Ironically, the one we did cut early was Caleb Poulter, who arguably had trade value and has gone on to be a useful player at the Bulldogs. He would have been in our best 23 in 2026.

Gee if Poulter was in our best 23 we’re in trouble

 

[WanderingDude]

Selective list assessment bugs me. Eg Statements like our drafting of talls is very ordinary because Moore and Kelly were father sons and should not be counted. There is list need and a successful Moore removes the need. We have a group of players drafted in the top 30 who have not played many games and have been on the list for seasons. Top picks should get extra time. TJ and Allan were viewed from the start as project players who would be slow burns. HDM and Tyan was drafted for immediate impact, injury is a part of that happening. This could be better. The selection of Long, Parker and Steele for not much corrects this. I think we need several players with top end AFL traits. Nicks partner and pace scream out as immediate targets.

 

[LuckyLee]

The high end elite talent that Brisbane is now accumulating is scary.

We seem to be hamstrung from continually trading out future first rounders, and for some reason also have a stretched cap. Hence the recruitment of cheap options that cost little from a draft or cap perspective..

I don’t have much hope for the likes of HDM, Jiath, Ryan, Steene, Smit et al, and now we seem to be brining in some more mid season draftees to plug gaps.

Sounds like a quieter off season for us.

Yep, the Lions will be stronger again in 2026 and probably 2027 too.

They've certainly been blessed with academy and father-son picks but their list management has also been exceptional. For 2026 looks like they'll lose Ah Chee and Starcevic but replace them with Coleman, Hipwood, Allan and Draper. An embarrassment of riches.

 

[Jen2310]

Does that mean we need to temper our expectations for McGuane now?

Think of him as Josh Daicos type development who looked like he was 12 when he was drafted
Just needs a couple preseasons to physically develop.