List Mgmt. 2026 Draft and Trade Thread

[FreeAgent1]

Parker has no gas. Can’t play in middle. It’s not 2016

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Curnow trade looking better by the week. Not gonna be much difference between Blues future second vs our future first at this stage, let alone the obvious benefits of no will and Ollie

 

[FreeAgent1]

Curnow trade looking better by the week. Not gonna be much difference between Blues future second vs our future first at this stage, let alone the obvious benefits of no will and Ollie

I think the TPP part of this is the part that I probably overlooked.

Curnow was front loaded a bit, and we also got an extension to lower yearly impact. So we didn’t pay his full TPP worth but overpaid on draft a bit.

If Curnow is still good at 34 and not riddled with injury this trade is fantastic. If not it’s high risk but in an area without improvement we ain’t winning flags.

 

[SydneyBlood]

Melican signed on for one more season, taking him to the end of 2028 according to Cal Twomey on the official AFL website.

Does the contract status thread on here get updated when there are credible reports like this, or only when the club itself announces them?

 

[robbieando]

Melican signed on for one more season, taking him to the end of 2028 according to Cal Twomey on the official AFL website.

Does the contract status thread on here get updated when there are credible reports like this, or only when the club itself announces them?

Only when the club announces it, as is the long established practice.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

At some point this season, the following topics will be debated here:

• Rowy trade value?
• McLean trade value?
• Lachie Ash a Swan?
• Should we draft Heath Mellody?

To save you the trouble, definitive answers are as follows:

• late first rounder
• 3rd rounder
• no
• yes!

 

[FreeAgent1]

At some point this season, the following topics will be debated here:

• Rowy trade value?
• McLean trade value?
• Lachie Ash a Swan?
• Should we draft Heath Mellody?

To save you the trouble, definitive answers are as follows:

• late first rounder
• 3rd rounder
• no
• yes!

Jack Steele would have been handy…. If we didn’t pull the trigger on a pies midfielder with no hamstrings….

 

[NinjaSwan]

Was mentioned on Gettable that North, Essendon, and Collingwood are all interested in Amartey.

The reaction I've seen from North/Essendon/Pies fans is that he's shit and they don't want him, which is shocking to me given he'd be Collingwood's best KPF by an absolute mile and walk into the Essendon and North teams too.

Really hope we can keep him, though may be tough if one of those clubs puts forward a big contract we can't afford.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Should we draft Heath Mellody

What's his background DQ? I know he's from Claremont, but what position does he play?

What's his draft range at this early stage of the year?

 

[Kbroome]

Talk has started (well it never really left), of Chads chances of going to the Eagles

 

[Dubai Quacker]

What's his background DQ? I know he's from Claremont, but what position does he play?

What's his draft range at this early stage of the year?

Running half back / wing. Great off both sides - really highly rated at Claremont & being talked up as a first rounder.

There’s a spiel on him here:

Preseason Q&A: Heath Mellody (Claremont)

Claremont prospect Heath Mellody burst onto the representative scene last year with his crisp decision making and dual-sided foot skills.

central.rookieme.com

George Gale and Benji Van Rooyen are two more definite prospects from Claremont this year.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Running half back / wing. Great off both sides - really highly rated at Claremont & being talked up as a first rounder.

There’s a spiel on him here:

Preseason Q&A: Heath Mellody (Claremont)

Claremont prospect Heath Mellody burst onto the representative scene last year with his crisp decision making and dual-sided foot skills.

central.rookieme.com

George Gale and Benji Van Rooyen are two more definite prospects from Claremont this year.

First round would rule us out then.

 

[DeathlyAccurate]

Talk has started (well it never really left), of Chads chances of going to the Eagles

Career suicide if he wants to win anything.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Career suicide if he wants to win anything.

I wouldn’t rule out Tasmania having a swing at taking him

 

[Caj]

I wouldn’t rule out Tasmania having a swing at taking him

Much worse prospect than the eagles, will never win anything if he went there

FWIW he’ll either go home or stay with us, I don’t think other options are on the cards

 

[Dubai Quacker]

First round would rule us out then.

Early days Adnico! ... if the drumbeats re: Armatey (for example) were to pick up, or if the Rowy rumours re-ignite, who's to say we won't end up back in the 1st round?

Of course, if we drafted a Mellody type, the cries of "skinny half-back flanker!" would be loud & reverberate through the hallowed halls of Bigfooty. But he has the potential to be a Hayden Young type .... and rebounding half backs with great kicking skills are oh-so-critical in the modern game.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Much worse prospect than the eagles, will never win anything if he went there

FWIW he’ll either go home or stay with us, I don’t think other options are on the cards

Not saying he'd go there, but I'm sure they'll be asking the question of his management

 

[Slingshot Footy]

Our drubbing of West Coast might have Chad thinking twice before he decides to move back home. The Eagles are on the right path, but they are still so young that being a legitimate contender isn't a possibility, at least for another 3 years.

If Chad wants to get ahead of the curve and build along with them while sacrificing a bit of his prime, then there's nothing we can really do.

However, what we do know is how competitive he is, so I could see another big two-year contract coming Chad's way in the next 12 months.

The change of rules, speeding up the game, definitely demands Chad being our signing priority, so if we have to sacrifice Amartey for him, then so be it.

All the other depth players will either stay with us to keep a strong squad or will turn into middling picks that we can use to get back into the next couple of drafts.

Fingers crossed, Carlton implode in time for next year's draft so that our pick swap is almost line-ball.

Is Tassie 100% confirmed for next year's draft?

 

[Kiama Chris]

Here's the question. What will we have greatest need for in both the short and longer term?
At the moment the only certain retiree is Adams. Probables are Rampe and Hamling although both look OK at this end of the season. Possibles Cunningham and Lloyd but both look a very good chance to go around again. It's too early to tell if any of the youngsters shouldn't get at least another year.
Who might choose to leave or get pushed out? McLean, Cleary, Snell for more opportunities. Amartey for a bigger contract. Can't honestly see anyone else.
So I'm predicting a very quiet trade and draft period for us.
Still - gaps:
Tall defenders 6
McCartin, Melican, Edwards, Snell, Hamling, Andrew. That's enough. I'd give Hamling another year if he's going OK. Not sure that Andrew will make it but he's got the rest of this year and next. And there's Serong.
Medium/Small defenders. 8
Mills, Blakey, Wicks, Cunningham, Bice, Bowman, Kyle (probably), Rampe.
Rucks. Hmmm. 3
Grundy, Ladhams, Green, McLean? All contracted. Probably not.
Tall forwards. 7
Curnow, Amartey, McDonald, McLean, Hetherton. We missed a possibility. The age gap from McLean/Amartey to Hetherton is too big but there's no way to fix that. Max King and Chamberlain are tall but not keys. Might be able to fill a role.
Small/Medium forwards. 8
No problem when topped up with mids.
Lloyd, Campbell, Papley, Rosas, Dattoli, CoWarner, Cootee, Hanily. Did well last season.
Mids. 12
Top line is good but skinny on quality (ie experienced) depth.
Heeney, Warner, Gulden, McInerney, Jordon, Rowbottom, Sheldrick, Cleary, Adams, Philippou, Serong, Roberts.
For mine I would look for midfield reinforcements, especially if they were Brisbane style forward/mids or at least one inside mid unless we see Robbo in that role in future.
If we see Hamling and/or Andrew falling off the twig a tall defender if available.
From the Academy we MIGHT have McGroder (tall defender) and McCartney (tall forward) if they don't choose their alternatives.
RUNVS and Membling would have a better idea of who else might be worth considering and how well they might fit our needs.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Here's the question. What will we have greatest need for in both the short and longer term?
At the moment the only certain retiree is Adams. Probables are Rampe and Hamling although both look OK at this end of the season. Possibles Cunningham and Lloyd but both look a very good chance to go around again. It's too early to tell if any of the youngsters shouldn't get at least another year.
Who might choose to leave or get pushed out? McLean, Cleary, Snell for more opportunities. Amartey for a bigger contract. Can't honestly see anyone else.
So I'm predicting a very quiet trade and draft period for us.
Still - gaps:
Tall defenders 6
McCartin, Melican, Edwards, Snell, Hamling, Andrew. That's enough. I'd give Hamling another year if he's going OK. Not sure that Andrew will make it but he's got the rest of this year and next. And there's Serong.
Medium/Small defenders. 8
Mills, Blakey, Wicks, Cunningham, Bice, Bowman, Kyle (probably), Rampe.
Rucks. Hmmm. 3
Grundy, Ladhams, Green, McLean? All contracted. Probably not.
Tall forwards. 7
Curnow, Amartey, McDonald, McLean, Hetherton. We missed a possibility. The age gap from McLean/Amartey to Hetherton is too big but there's no way to fix that. Max King and Chamberlain are tall but not keys. Might be able to fill a role.
Small/Medium forwards. 8
No problem when topped up with mids.
Lloyd, Campbell, Papley, Rosas, Dattoli, CoWarner, Cootee, Hanily. Did well last season.
Mids. 12
Top line is good but skinny on quality (ie experienced) depth.
Heeney, Warner, Gulden, McInerney, Jordon, Rowbottom, Sheldrick, Cleary, Adams, Philippou, Serong, Roberts.
For mine I would look for midfield reinforcements, especially if they were Brisbane style forward/mids or at least one inside mid unless we see Robbo in that role in future.
If we see Hamling and/or Andrew falling off the twig a tall defender if available.
From the Academy we MIGHT have McGroder (tall defender) and McCartney (tall forward) if they don't choose their alternatives.
RUNVS and Membling would have a better idea of who else might be worth considering and how well they might fit our needs.

My view: biggest need remains key/tall defenders.

Why?

Rampe: at the end
Hamling: at the end
Snell: not really a key defender & still no certainty to make it
Edwards: time is running out, might not make it
Serong: not really a key defender & valuable elsewhere
Riak: was always a long shot. Now a million to one

McCartin and Melican are high caliber. But both are injury prone - McCartin could be one concussion away from a very tough call & Melican is getting close to 30, with a history of soft tissue problems.

Unless Logan gets re-invented as a defender (unlikely), I still see the key posts down back as our area of greatest vulnerability.

 

[Dan87]

Talk has started (well it never really left), of Chads chances of going to the Eagles

I think his output is down and he's not his usual self

I think there's something in it

 

[zyzzbruh]

My view: biggest need remains key/tall defenders.

Why?

Rampe: at the end
Hamling: at the end
Snell: not really a key defender & still no certainty to make it
Edwards: time is running out, might not make it
Serong: not really a key defender & valuable elsewhere
Riak: was always a long shot. Now a million to one

McCartin and Melican are high caliber. But both are injury prone - McCartin could be one concussion away from a very tough call & Melican is getting close to 30, with a history of soft tissue problems.

Unless Logan gets re-invented as a defender (unlikely), I still see the key posts down back as our area of greatest vulnerability.

You're correct. But I think a solid key defender can also come out of nowhere these days. I don't think it's necessarily a position we need to overly focus on, they'll pop up. Team defence matters more than anything these days and we've faired very well in that aspect. Dogs are another great example currently.

Ultimately the game is won between the arcs. Win ground position, and regardless of your defensive quality, they will defend a winning score. Lose ground position and even an all Australian back 6 will concede a losing score.

 

[Kbroome]

I think his output is down and he's not his usual self

I think there's something in it

Actually not true, his number are either the exact same or up in pretty much every statistic. The most telling thing is the increase in efficiency across the board

 

[Dan87]

Actually not true, his number are either the exact same or up in pretty much every statistic. The most telling thing is the increase in efficiency across the board

Depends how you measure these things. By my eye he's down (and champion data)

 

[Kbroome]

Depends how you measure these things. By my eye he's down (and champion data)

Are you sure about that?

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