Just looking at it, we have built a bloody great list, allowing us to gradually bring through players to the senior team only when they are ready.
CURRENT SQUAD
FB: Quaynor Frampton Maynard
HB: Houston Moore Howe
C: J.Daicos De Goey Crisp
HF: Schultz Mihochek McCreery
FF: Hill McStay Elliott
R: Cameron N.Daicos Pendlebury
I: Sidebottom Perryman Membrey Long Hoskin-Elliott
Reserves: Cox Lipinski Mitchell Markov Harrison Johnson Sullivan
Future: Allan West Ryan Jiath Cochrane Hayes Steene Smit
Draft: McGuane McCarthy Saxena
KEY OBSERVATION/THOUGHTS
- I think the strong performances of our 2024 draftees (very bullish on all 3 of West, Cochrane and Hayes) and the sudden improvement of our father-son/NGA academy prospects (McGuane/McCarthy looking like to top 25-30 picks, and Saxena into top 40) really is a game changer and allows us to be more aggressive with list management in the near-term.
If the 2025 crop keeps tracking as they have started off the year, come 2026 we could have a really strong core group of young players consisting of:
And this does not include the obvious in Daicos, Long and potential recruitment of Condon (who if anyone follows the NBA, knows that around half of 2nd round NBA draft picks dont even get a contract/ get onto a roster, and only 10% become long-term NBA players).
NEAR-TERM NEEDS
POTENTIAL TRADE BAIT
- Lipinski, Allen, and De Goey (love him and would only move if it helped us make a big move like a Butters/Reid, however its starting to get annoying having a player who is a) constantly injured, and b) not fit, even when playing). I think most of us see De Goey playing fit as a "bonus" rather then the standard, which is ok now, but prob not be sustainable in 2026 and 2027, particularly if Pendlebury/Sidebottom's performance begin to decline.
BEST STRATEGY FOR THE NOW AND FUTURE
A really long-winded post, but overall very happy with how the club's list management over the last few years. Think we are well placed to to complete in the near-term, whilst having enough talent to gradually come into the squad, as we drip feed our older players into retirement (2025: Mitchell, Cox, 2026: Pendlebury, Howe, 2027: Mihochek, Sidebottom).
CURRENT SQUAD
FB: Quaynor Frampton Maynard
HB: Houston Moore Howe
C: J.Daicos De Goey Crisp
HF: Schultz Mihochek McCreery
FF: Hill McStay Elliott
R: Cameron N.Daicos Pendlebury
I: Sidebottom Perryman Membrey Long Hoskin-Elliott
Reserves: Cox Lipinski Mitchell Markov Harrison Johnson Sullivan
Future: Allan West Ryan Jiath Cochrane Hayes Steene Smit
Draft: McGuane McCarthy Saxena
KEY OBSERVATION/THOUGHTS
- I think the strong performances of our 2024 draftees (very bullish on all 3 of West, Cochrane and Hayes) and the sudden improvement of our father-son/NGA academy prospects (McGuane/McCarthy looking like to top 25-30 picks, and Saxena into top 40) really is a game changer and allows us to be more aggressive with list management in the near-term.
If the 2025 crop keeps tracking as they have started off the year, come 2026 we could have a really strong core group of young players consisting of:
- High prospect: West, Cochrane, Hayes, McGuane, McCarthy, Saxena, Jiath, Allan,
- Solid: Ryan, Harrison, Parker, Steene, Smit
- Unlikely: De Mattia, Dean
And this does not include the obvious in Daicos, Long and potential recruitment of Condon (who if anyone follows the NBA, knows that around half of 2nd round NBA draft picks dont even get a contract/ get onto a roster, and only 10% become long-term NBA players).
NEAR-TERM NEEDS
- Full-Back (more dependable partner for Moore - I am bullish on Cochrane, but seems like like a rebounding tall (e.g. Ridley)
- Second Gun Mid (give Nick a midfield partner for the next 10 years, reducing the workload on him)
- Intercept Defender (to replace Howe - Miles Bergman would be amazing but unlikely, likely will be filled by Perryman)
POTENTIAL TRADE BAIT
- Lipinski, Allen, and De Goey (love him and would only move if it helped us make a big move like a Butters/Reid, however its starting to get annoying having a player who is a) constantly injured, and b) not fit, even when playing). I think most of us see De Goey playing fit as a "bonus" rather then the standard, which is ok now, but prob not be sustainable in 2026 and 2027, particularly if Pendlebury/Sidebottom's performance begin to decline.
BEST STRATEGY FOR THE NOW AND FUTURE
- Trade for Rowell/Butters (Both young, and I think these 2 are the safest bet for a reliable partner for Nick over the next 8-10 years, Reid is another option, but I think abit risky considering his current output. Would likely require 2 x future first round picks, otherwise try and package up a future first with a combination of 2nd round picks (a player like Lipinski would be worth a lot to a team like North or West Coast or Allan for West Coast).
- Look around the league and try and poach the best kpd that is gettable or not currently getting a game (Worrel, Chapman, Aleer, Blanck, Serong).
A really long-winded post, but overall very happy with how the club's list management over the last few years. Think we are well placed to to complete in the near-term, whilst having enough talent to gradually come into the squad, as we drip feed our older players into retirement (2025: Mitchell, Cox, 2026: Pendlebury, Howe, 2027: Mihochek, Sidebottom).
Last edited:
