List Mgmt. 2026 List Management Discussion

[Grasshopper17]

Lions permit free agent star to explore options

Hardly "he likes to get his contracts sorted out before the season starts" is it.

Thanks for everything Zac

 

[Nathan Barley]

Tank?

 

[Perrip]

Lions put huge long-term deal on table to keep in-demand free agent
6 year deal on the table apparently

 

[Pns_blister]

We can’t cherry pick other clubs’ players on big contracts and expect the same not to happen to us, given the glut of talent we have (both established and youth). If he goes, you get what you can and move forward. Will be restricted so should be adequately compensated, plus leave a chunk of the salary cap open to either extend others or get aggressive on attracting more players. All assuming he leaves, Joe Daniher was a bigger structural piece to lose than Bailey is, and look how that turned out.

 

[SpecialBruce]

We can’t cherry pick other clubs’ players on big contracts and expect the same not to happen to us, given the glut of talent we have (both established and youth). If he goes, you get what you can and move forward. Will be restricted so should be adequately compensated, plus leave a chunk of the salary cap open to either extend others or get aggressive on attracting more players. All assuming he leaves, Joe Daniher was a bigger structural piece to lose than Bailey is, and look how that turned out.

My gut feeling is that he is gone. If he wanted to stay he would have signed by now. You don't wait until halfway during the year to make the call. He is obviously tempted by some very strong offers.

 

[Pns_blister]

My gut feeling is that he is gone. If he wanted to stay he would have signed by now. You don't wait until halfway during the year to make the call. He is obviously tempted by some very strong offers.

He’s a cream player who had an outstanding, career best year. He would need to go to a club that has an incredibly strong list that enables him to play with freedom and without much attention. Hopefully, if he does leave, it’s to a team that does not possess this so he isn’t as impactful for them, particularly against us haha

 

[lionraven]

I dont think you can read into staying vs going just based on delaying signing. If he does sign a 6 year contract then this is likely his biggest pay day. If I were him I would want to make sure I get full value out of this contract. Not every good AFL player is guaranteed a cushy media job or something after their playing career ends. I would want to be set for life prior to signing anything.

 

[T Rick]

Lions permit free agent star to explore options

Beautifully handled by DD-very honest and upfront and under no illusions whatsoever.

 

[Lace Out]

I was 80% on Clug leaving and was wrong so I’m 90% on Bailey leaving

 

[lionsrules]

Maybe his management is asking him to wait and see what Lachie does and then squeeze the lions more ? I would.

 

[mpal6]

Knowing how it panned out with McCluggage, I'd think we're on our 2nd offer maybe. I've read a few articles which stated $1.2/1.3M being thrown at him by other clubs. Knowing us, we'd have entered the conversation with an offer on par or slightly below McCluggage maybe. I'd say 900k/6 years as our early bid.

 

[Nunez]

Still expect him to stay. A short term deal sounded likely but wonder if it's progressed to a long term contract and one of those "short of a club giving Zac a Godfather offer he'll stay" situations.

If I were in Zacs shoes I'd consider doing the same, especially if I'm as fit and healthy as he is coming into this season. Worth the risk.

 

[mpal6]

Still expect him to stay. A short term deal sounded likely but wonder if it's progressed to a long term contract and one of those "short of a club giving Zac a Godfather offer he'll stay" situations.

If I were in Zacs shoes I'd consider doing the same, especially if I'm as fit and healthy as he is coming into this season. Worth the risk.

He's a lot closer to the core playing group who have all stayed long term - Rayner, McCluggage, Berry, Dunkley, Zorko etc. Spends lot of time outside footy with the rest like golf and so on. I think we'll retain him too, unless some club comes along with a TDK type offer and knocks us out.

 

[Not a Psycho]

Thing is Zac isn't worth the numbers bandied around compared to our group. If our highest paid are McCluggage and Wash at $1m there's no scenario where Zac is worth more. Let alone valued at $1.5m.
Been a massive Bailey fan since before we drafted him and would love to keep him but the collective needs to outweigh the individual.
At the end of the day we won't be competing with anyone throwing stupid money at him as you can't build a premiership list on shaky soil. So I'm only going to be massively heartbroken if he leaves but will understand.

 

[martinson]

Thing is Zac isn't worth the numbers bandied around compared to our group. If our highest paid are McCluggage and Wash at $1m there's no scenario where Zac is worth more. Let alone valued at $1.5m.
Been a massive Bailey fan since before we drafted him and would love to keep him but the collective needs to outweigh the individual.
At the end of the day we won't be competing with anyone throwing stupid money at him as you can't build a premiership list on shaky soil. So I'm only going to be massively heartbroken if he leaves but will understand.

Zac's not a public attention seeker nor all that comfortable in the media so I don't think the pull to get to Melbourne is as strong as it could be for other guys.

But if someone throws the world at him then obviously you have to look to your future.

He's a great player but we have others I value higher. He's in a sweet spot with our list as good as it is being the sort of player he is. He mightn't find it so easy being top dog at a lesser club.

 

[Lace Out]

List will be nuts if he takes unders and stays..”What salary cap ?” says Dom Ambrogio

The other 17 list managers will be scratching their heads

Morris contract talks next year will be interesting and hopefully not a bridge too far

 

[Denno]

My gut feeling is that he is gone. If he wanted to stay he would have signed by now. You don't wait until halfway during the year to make the call. He is obviously tempted by some very strong offers.

He may yet go, but the above is absolute rubbish.

McCluggage waited, Berry waited longer. Lohmann and Robertson signed on after the season (previously).

Matt Rowell waited until June last year to recommit.

Every scenario is different.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Small forwards are easier to replace than tall forwards. There are more prospects to begin with, and they tend to develop faster. Of course it's better to have Bailey than not, but we're also capable of finding good or at least decent replacements. Kai can step up, McLachlan can step up, Evans might develop and we can draft another small forward too.

 

[Viceregal]

Small forwards are easier to replace than tall forwards. There are more prospects to begin with, and they tend to develop faster. Of course it's better to have Bailey than not, but we're also capable of finding good or at least decent replacements. Kai can step up, McLachlan can step up, Evans might develop and we can draft another small forward too.

I can't think of a legitimate long term list management strategy that has Bailey/a Bailey type as the top paid player at the club...

 

[briztoon]

I can't think of a legitimate long term list management strategy that has Bailey/a Bailey type as the top paid player at the club...

Izak Rankine at Adelaide.

 

[mpal6]

I can't think of a legitimate long term list management strategy that has Bailey/a Bailey type as the top paid player at the club...

Long term bottom placed clubs who are desperate to add high quality talent to their list would also be open to that type of list management strategy. Essendon, North Melbourne for example.

 

[KissKiss]

Izak Rankine at Adelaide.

I get how that happens, but also crazy that he would be on more than Thilthorpe or Dawson.

 

[Pns_blister]

Izak Rankine at Adelaide.

Maybe Bailey will surpass him as their highest paid player in 2027. One upping their own stupidity.

 

[Maboo]

Maybe Bailey will surpass him as their highest paid player in 2027. One upping their own stupidity.

That's my biggest fear, I don't want him going to the Crows, Cal and Muzz will probably be in his ear until he signs back on.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I'd suggest we've had the luxury of playing him forward when in most other sides he'd be playing in the midfield. I wouldn't pay him more than Hugh but he's worth a heap to a team with no midfield.