List Mgmt. 2026 List Management

[CJMB]

Disappointing to hear Williams is training with the backs.

Think Hayward, Kemp, Moir (and Ainsworth to a slightly lesser extent) play too similarly. We still lack a genuine X factor goal sneak even more so now that Motlop went down.

Between Newman, Saad, Cowan, Hollands, Florent, Wilson, Carroll, Boyd and Charleson, surely we have enough run and carry down there. Haynes, Dean and Gov are hybrids who can move the ball quickly.

Seems a huge waste imo. Could kick 35+ goals if he gets going.

Newman - yeah but also coming off a missed season with the knee and working through hammy issues, was never really a run and carry player anyway
Saad - yeah but despite the positive preseason reports so far he's been trending down of late and not in some peoples 23s these days
Cowan - yeah but also injury question marks at the moment
Hollands - playing wing from reports
Florent - yep (but yet to see in our system)
Wilson - potentially (hopefully) but unproven
Carroll - seemingly was playing wing before doing a hammy
Boyd - great kick, seemingly a bit lower down the pecking order after a terrible season
Charleson - unproven & raw
Haynes - can run but not really an excellent ball user or someone who's looking for the damaging kick. also injured.
Dean - looks great but yet to actually play a game, not a dynamic runner & ball mover
Gov - only still on the list because the Buku trade fell through, seemingly behind all other tall(er) defenders (except the Irish?)

There's been talk from Voss about players positions being determined by their strengths. Ollie and Carroll have moved up the ground, there was something mentioned about Elijah in a new position, we're hearing that Walsh might be spending a bit more time at wing or outside the contest. I think we've identified a lack of creativity and movement from the backline, as well as some genuine questions asked of the others.

Then with the likes of Hayward, Ainsworth, Evans up forward, maybe a Moir or Byrne (we keeping hearing Fog but I'm hoping not), as well as rotations from Smith/Cripps/Walsh/Cerra/Hewett/etc we might be comfortable ahead of the ball.

 

[Blue__Balls]

I see Dougie Cochran has knee tendinitis and will miss at least the early part of the season, interestingly because he’s in Ports academy they will be handling his injury recovery at their club, so it’s very likely they get him to put the cue in the rack for a large part of the season to try and get him to fall a few spots in the draft.

Austin:

 

[Old navy]

Austin:

View attachment 2530114

Be interesting to see how we go about developing Cody this year, the kids basically done 70% of a proper AFL preseason.
He’s gonna be destroying games at the junior level this year, I don’t think there’s much point in trying to hold him back from a drafting POV, look at Zeke Uwland last year, he barely played, was still considered by some as the best player in the draft and was still selected at pick 2, Cody’s bottom age year was arguably better then Zeke’s, so even if we make Walker put the cue in the rack he most likely still going top 3 regardless.

I would be keen for him to shut it down at the back end of the CTL season or even just after U18 champs, not in hopes that he might fall down the draft order, more just to manage his body and keep the risk of injury down.

 

[Stamos]

I don’t think there’s much point in trying to hold him back from a drafting POV, look at Zeke Uwland last year, he barely played, was stilled considered by some as the best player in the draft and was still selected at pick 2, Cody’s bottom age year was arguably better then Zeke’s, so even if we make Walker put the cue in the rack he most likely still going top 3 regardless.

If you're looking at it from this point of view, there is still a massive difference between 2 or 3 and going at 1.

 

[Old navy]

If you're looking at it from this point of view, there is still a massive difference between 2 or 3 and going at 1.

I don’t think any club that finishes bottom of the ladder would be willing to give up that number one pick mantle to a player not coming to their club, so we’re really talking about pick 2 or 3, yes there is significant difference in points, but it’s gonna be a lot point regardless, think we just try and look after Cody the best we can, shuffle our picks the best we can and the bids gonna come when it comes.

 

[Stamos]

I don’t think any club that finishes bottom of the ladder would be willing to give up that number one pick mantle to a player not coming to their club, so we’re really talking about pick 2 or 3, yes there is significant difference in points, but it’s gonna be a lot point regardless, think we just try and look after Cody the best we can, shuffle our picks the best we can and the bids gonna come when it comes.

It's unlikely, but the changes to matching make it more likely than it was, especially if there is a clear standout.
Last year might have been different if Uwland had have played the full season (and I reckon West Coast regretted their bidding strategy when they missed on the player they wanted later).

 

[marcmurphy3]

I don’t think any club that finishes bottom of the ladder would be willing to give up that number one pick mantle to a player not coming to their club, so we’re really talking about pick 2 or 3, yes there is significant difference in points, but it’s gonna be a lot point regardless, think we just try and look after Cody the best we can, shuffle our picks the best we can and the bids gonna come when it comes.

Disagree. I think there is plenty of incentive to bid early now as we saw last year.

If Cody is the stand-out 1 highly likely he gets a bid at 1. If its marginal the factors you mentioned probably means he goes 2 or 3.

 

[jj1978]

Disagree. I think there is plenty of incentive to bid early now as we saw last year.

If Cody is the stand-out 1 highly likely he gets a bid at 1. If its marginal the factors you mentioned probably means he goes 2 or 3.

I reckon North and GWS probably rue a bit not bidding on the prince in 2021 draft and letting him slip to 4, Pie would always match and North wanting to basically make JHF feel special being pick 1 is stupid. Dogs had F&S Darcy, but imagine if they got Nick at 2 (which they wouldn't have had, and then Darcy would've been cheaper) and probably could've done a bit of magic and got Darcy as well.

We prepare for Cody to go 1, if he slips a bit great... nothing like re-using a refusal of a breath test to help things out.

 

[Old navy]

It's unlikely, but the changes to matching make it more likely than it was, especially if there is a clear standout.
Last year might have been different if Uwland had have played the full season (and I reckon West Coast regretted their bidding strategy when they missed on the player they wanted later).

Yeah your right, it is more likely then it was, but clubs that have just won the wooden spoon, need everything that comes with having the number one pick in the draft, there’s so much hope tied up in that title, hope marketing publicity all things bottom teams are desperately in need of.

That was their own stupidity that cost them Beau Addinsall, if they had of bid on Patterson instead of bidding Dean
they would have gone much closer to shaking one of Gold Coasts academy kids loose, it was actually stupid of them to think they could out smart GC of all teams in a bidding war.

 

[Old navy]

I reckon North and GWS probably rue a bit not bidding on the prince in 2021 draft and letting him slip to 4, Pie would always match and North wanting to basically make JHF feel special being pick 1 is stupid. Dogs had F&S Darcy, but imagine if they got Nick at 2 (which they wouldn't have had, and then Darcy would've been cheaper) and probably could've done a bit of magic and got Darcy as well.

We prepare for Cody to go 1, if he slips a bit great... nothing like re-using a refusal of a breath test to help things out.

It’s funny cause that GWS pick, was actually the Pies pick originally, they traded it out the year before, because back then thats what you did so you could just match with a bunch of shitty later picks, but if they had of kept that pick they could of had Daicos and Fin Callahan lol

Still worked out ok for them unfortunately

 

[The Bighouse]

It's unlikely, but the changes to matching make it more likely than it was, especially if there is a clear standout.
Last year might have been different if Uwland had have played the full season (and I reckon West Coast regretted their bidding strategy when they missed on the player they wanted later).

Glad we’re all over the announced changes for this years upcoming draft.
What were they in the end??

Would be nice to be able penalise WCE’s faux bidding for points deduction on other clubs I.e. they bid on Dean. We decline but get access to Duff-Tytler for their bid. Might have straightened up the bids somewhat vs their draft strategy & known matching. They were always going CD-T but more incentive for the bidding clubs to pass it over to get another player.

 

[BluStreak]

Get Cody to play out of position all year. Back pocket or Forward pocket.

 

[ctwenty1]

Glad we’re all over the announced changes for this years upcoming draft.
What were they in the end??

Would be nice to be able penalise WCE’s faux bidding for points deduction on other clubs I.e. they bid on Dean. We decline but get access to Duff-Tytler for their bid. Might have straightened up the bids somewhat vs their draft strategy & known matching. They were always going CD-T but more incentive for the bidding clubs to pass it over to get another player.

given the proposed/suspected tightening what it means is that clubs with the father son/acadamy kid will need good picks to match.

To my mind this should mean opposing clubs will need to be circumspect with their bidding as the other club is now more likley to not match the bid.

I suspect this will happen over time however as clubs will now be less inclined to commit to F/S or acadamy kids

 

[Blue__Balls]

Be interesting to see how we go about developing Cody this year, the kids basically done 70% of a proper AFL preseason.
He’s gonna be destroying games at the junior level this year, I don’t think there’s much point in trying to hold him back from a drafting POV, look at Zeke Uwland last year, he barely played, was still considered by some as the best player in the draft and was still selected at pick 2, Cody’s bottom age year was arguably better then Zeke’s, so even if we make Walker put the cue in the rack he most likely still going top 3 regardless.

I would be keen for him to shut it down at the back end of the CTL season or even just after U18 champs, not in hopes that he might fall down the draft order, more just to manage his body and keep the risk of injury down.

Personally, I think the club just need to ignore the draft implications and do whatever is best for Cody's development.

If that's full games on ball, splitting his time at half forward, developing his ball use off half back, resting every second week, playing nothing but VFL....don't really care. Just formulate a plan to give him the best possible chance to slot into the best 23 in 2027 with a clearly defined role.

We could try to hide him and still end up having to match a top 2-3 bid, so screw the ducks and drakes and just focus on the player and his preparation.

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

Have to also look at it from a list management perspective.

Zac is going into the last year of his contract and if he doesn’t perform, we would then most likely see him gone at the end of the year.

We invested heavily into our front half with medium and small types that we expect to have at the club well beyond 2026.

Williams has played his best football in the backline and I know if I was going into a contract year I’d want to play in an area I have played my best football in.

Yes, Williams has looked decent up forward at times but I personally think he is needed back more than forward. Especially going into his final year of a handsomely paid contract.

Also need to remember that Newman is coming off a year without playing and is getting on, plus Saad at times looked like age was catching him last year. These 2 could be done at the end of 2026.

Can't agree. Reckon he was very average down back. only started to influence games when he moved forward of centre....

 

[BlueTongue]

Have to also look at it from a list management perspective.

Zac is going into the last year of his contract and if he doesn’t perform, we would then most likely see him gone at the end of the year.

We invested heavily into our front half with medium and small types that we expect to have at the club well beyond 2026.

Williams has played his best football in the backline and I know if I was going into a contract year I’d want to play in an area I have played my best football in.

Yes, Williams has looked decent up forward at times but I personally think he is needed back more than forward. Especially going into his final year of a handsomely paid contract.

Also need to remember that Newman is coming off a year without playing and is getting on, plus Saad at times looked like age was catching him last year. These 2 could be done at the end of 2026.

I just wanna see him play where he was recruited for - Mid. Mid/Fwd is where he will be the most damaging. guess we'll use him down back with so stocks so bare back there but the sooner he plays Mid/Fwd the better I reckon.

We need his skills spotting up players running into the Arc.

 

[JJBagger]

Personally, I think the club just need to ignore the draft implications and do whatever is best for Cody's development.

If that's full games on ball, splitting his time at half forward, developing his ball use off half back, resting every second week, playing nothing but VFL....don't really care. Just formulate a plan to give him the best possible chance to slot into the best 23 in 2027 with a clearly defined role.

We could try to hide him and still end up having to match a top 2-3 bid, so screw the ducks and drakes and just focus on the player and his preparation.

Spot on. It’s not like list managers haven’t been watching him the last several years. They know how good he will be. Hiding him achieves nothing other than possibly stifling his development. Do what’s best for him

 

[HereComesJuddy]

Can't agree. Reckon he was very average down back. only started to influence games when he moved forward of centre....

I’m basing it on his GWS days and imo him playing back, he was far superior than what we have seen of him as of late

 

[JustaBattler]

Williams was an absolute weapon at GWS - we've only copped glimpses of how good -he used to be. I think he has lost a yar or two in pace- but he still has 20 metrs of burst in him - especially given any space to run into...both eh andMcGovern had plenty of years to get better when they arrived at Carlton - I dont hand on heart eiother have ever been what was hoped. Injuries saside - we shoudl have got moew out of both hese blokes - maybe they can pay back...that would be a bonus - Id playe Haynmes over McGovern every day - Williams better defend properly back there- he has a a coiuple of kids chasig a spot- Carroll for one and Olie for another...

 

[marcmurphy3]

Spot on. It’s not like list managers haven’t been watching him the last several years. They know how good he will be. Hiding him achieves nothing other than possibly stifling his development. Do what’s best for him

Youre right that he's not going to fall off the radar but we dont really need him to. Just need him to go 2 or 3, not 1.

Not that I think we'll play funny buggers but hypothetically if we did want to orchestrate a slide a couple of spots down the order I reckon we could.

It'll be interesting what approach is taken with the AFL regarding bid matching rules. If they go harder then we expect, I wonder if it effects our thinking.

Cody has a massive advantage over his peers spending all summer in an AFL program and having access to our facilities. Its funny because that advantage might help us round 1 2027, but cause us to pay more for him.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

Yeah your right, it is more likely then it was, but clubs that have just won the wooden spoon, need everything that comes with having the number one pick in the draft, there’s so much hope tied up in that title, hope marketing publicity all things bottom teams are desperately in need of.

That was their own stupidity that cost them Beau Addinsall, if they had of bid on Patterson instead of bidding Dean
they would have gone much closer to shaking one of Gold Coasts academy kids loose, it was actually stupid of them to think they could out smart GC of all teams in a bidding war.

Must be depressing to be a WC supporter right now. Their recruiters used to be awesome. Right now they look like absolute muppets. The way they couldn't even plan 1 step ahead in that draft was embarrassing to watch. We got screwed by them quite badly on their Dean bid but made up most of it on Ison sliding into the 50s.

 

[GuruJosh]

Williams was an absolute weapon at GWS - we've only copped glimpses of how good -he used to be. I think he has lost a yar or two in pace- but he still has 20 metrs of burst in him - especially given any space to run into...both eh andMcGovern had plenty of years to get better when they arrived at Carlton - I dont hand on heart eiother have ever been what was hoped. Injuries saside - we shoudl have got moew out of both hese blokes - maybe they can pay back...that would be a bonus - Id playe Haynmes over McGovern every day - Williams better defend properly back there- he has a a coiuple of kids chasig a spot- Carroll for one and Olie for another...

It is unfortunate that he has always been injured at the blues.

 

[T2B_]

Williams was an absolute weapon at GWS - we've only copped glimpses of how good -he used to be. I think he has lost a yar or two in pace- but he still has 20 metrs of burst in him - especially given any space to run into...both eh andMcGovern had plenty of years to get better when they arrived at Carlton - I dont hand on heart eiother have ever been what was hoped. Injuries saside - we shoudl have got moew out of both hese blokes - maybe they can pay back...that would be a bonus - Id playe Haynmes over McGovern every day - Williams better defend properly back there- he has a a coiuple of kids chasig a spot- Carroll for one and Olie for another...

Hes one of those players whose ability is undeniable, just made of paper unfortunately...

 

[BringFevBack2021]

IMO Harry owns the forward half, plays his best when he has continued involvement in the game rather than just sitting in the forward 50. Skull on the other hand has an aggressive streak and likes to crash the pack a bit so I would have him play the FF role. Kemp is a flyer and Hayward is a smart mover. I would have all 4 in and only 2 smalls, with a 3rd small F on the bench.
Moir is interesting and I love how he will tap the ball out of congestion usually to our advantage if he cannot pick it up.

There was a game against Freo at Marvel that I went to and Harry went berserk. The team cleared the 50 for him and let him go to work. He worked up and back a lot too. I really think H plays his best footy as the number one guy and needs to be kept involved. Opposite of Charlie, who could do nothing and then turn the game in minutes.

 

[RAPPA]

Williams back is a good recognition of a shift in focus. Speed and drive from the HB line is crucial to set up plays. We have severely lacked in that department, both in talent and personnel.

Ainsworth and Hayward coming in means we have improved our smarts in the forward 50. If Elijah also gets a list spot then even more so. Williams’ creativity and nous isn’t as necessary there. That said he can still have the potential of playing bursts up forward.

Williams can be a good mentor for the likes of Wilson, Carroll and Hollands. He will however need to be defensively minded in the sense of actually defending and not being a one way player. Also, the propensity to play for the free needs to stop.