List Mgmt. 2026 Trade and List Management Thread

[pupstar]

I reckon you will be extremely elated then.

What are your reasons.

 

[year of the roo]

What are your reasons.

Good question.

 

[year of the roo]

Good question.

Good question.

 

[Makeshift Park]

A 36 month planner approach.

The Locks
Excepting injuries & extenuating circumstances

• Sheezel
• Wardlaw
• LDU
• McKercher
• Larkey
• Curtis
• Comben (injury risk)
• Zurhaar

These are the guys (imo) who when fit and in form are A-grade at league level by position. The core we build around with 90% confidence.

The Senior Players

• FOS - youth, no best pos yet
• Simpkin - morale, best pos queries
• Stephens - back it up
• Powell - needs to go up a level
• Xerri - ruck changes, 1 trick pony who will be worked out?

The next group of guys that I'd plan around. Each has a query so I'm down to 75% confidence.

The Maybes

• Hardeman - need more sample
• Logue - fitness, form, focus
• Pink - can he stretch a serviceable half season into a longer term thing in a hopefully improving team?

These guys should be taking spots over this period but have more queries on them than the previous group for mine. 60% confidence.

The Medical Room

• Goater
• George
• Archer

All have shown AFL quality or potential that should earn them a spot if fit. Which they rarely are. ~30% confidence.

The Fringes & Depth Players

• Fisher
• Daniel
• McDonald
• Duursma
• Scott
• Banch
• Trembath
• RHJ
• Konstanty
• CCJ
• Harvey

A mix of players - some have shown AFL traits in very brief samples, some are mature players who haven't locked down a spot, there's guys who need more strings to their bows, guys who might be phased out by others doing their role better. 40% confidence.

The Nursery

• Urquhart
• Dawson
• Goad
• Whitlock
• Stevens

Developing players with too little exposed form to project on.

The Fading Out

• Parker
• Darling

Good players you'd expect to retire over this period.

Keep in mind this is a 3 year depth exercise, am looking at what a genuinely competitive North Melbourne looks like in 2028 and beyond as the core group are hopefully all peaking at the same time.

Good post.

Personally I'd swap Zurhaar and FOS. I have very little doubt FOS becomes an elite footballer, while I'm not convinced Bull's ceiling is in the same echelon as Greene, Rankine or Pickett. While I suspect Cam will be a best 23 for most of his career with us - and easily makes The Seniors bracket - I don't think he's demonstrated elite qualities like the others in The Locks.

Hardeman is obviously too young to be considered among The Seniors. Then again, FOS is there, so maybe he's not? But in any case, Stiffy's certainly closer to 75% than 60% for me: he's got the skills, got the discipline, got the intelligence, and he's got the leadership traits. What's not clear to me is where his ceiling is.

My confidence that Archer makes it is much higher than 30% - closer to twice that level of probability. A groin injury and a single hamstring isn't enough to cast serious doubt on his long-term longevity, imo. He's shown discipline and toughness in spades. The question for me is whether he'll ever achieve best 23 lock status, or whether he'll always be thereabouts in the best 27 or so. Is it too late for him to develop any offensive tricks? In 2027, will general defenders without them still be considered locks?

Conversely, I think 60% for Pink is a tad generous. Definitely delivered above expectations this year, and you'd love to see him defy the odds even further, but without athletic points of difference, is there a long-term place for him in a top-level backline of a contending side? I'd still be surprised, at this juncture.

 

[King Corey]

Good post.

Personally I'd swap Zurhaar and FOS. I have very little doubt FOS becomes an elite footballer, while I'm not convinced Bull's ceiling is in the same echelon as Greene, Rankine or Pickett. While I suspect Cam will be a best 23 for most of his career with us - and easily makes The Seniors bracket - I don't think he's demonstrated elite qualities like the others in The Locks.

Hardeman is obviously too young to be considered among The Seniors. Then again, FOS is there, so maybe he's not? But in any case, Stiffy's certainly closer to 75% than 60% for me: he's got the skills, got the discipline, got the intelligence, and he's got the leadership traits. What's not clear to me is where his ceiling is.

My confidence that Archer makes it is much higher than 30% - closer to twice that level of probability. A groin injury and a single hamstring isn't enough to cast serious doubt on his long-term longevity, imo. He's shown discipline and toughness in spades. The question for me is whether he'll ever achieve best 23 lock status, or whether he'll always be thereabouts in the best 27 or so. Is it too late for him to develop any offensive tricks? In 2027, will general defenders without them still be considered locks?

Conversely, I think 60% for Pink is a tad generous. Definitely delivered above expectations this year, and you'd love to see him defy the odds even further, but without athletic points of difference, is there a long-term place for him in a top-level backline of a contending side? I'd still be surprised, at this juncture.

Very fair analysis mate.

I do rate Zurhaar highly. The guys you mention probably are a cut above but equally they've had much better systems around them too.

FOS is projecting well but watch the sentiment on here shift if his numbers remain relatively low and his role in any given week isn't apparent. He looks great, just want a year he starts to hurt his opponents more with ball use and starts demanding attention before he joins the Colby/Harry/George posse.

Same re Hardeman. His potential feels 'almost' there to punt on but I just don't quite have complete faith in him yet. If his ceiling was Mullett I'd be happy but he could yet be more Perez or Murphy.

Archer just seems a guy who who looks at a set of stairs and rolls his ankle. Re his offensive game - I think his skills are neat but agree there's a question re whether he can generate any play. So the confidence level is partly durability but also the fact a 190cm draftee or recruit over the next couple of years could come in and match his defensive output but have more weapons.

Pink is a really tough one. Blue sky option is 1996 Ian Fairley - undersized battler who hangs in there and things turn. But big risk that as the side rises (surely?) he'll need to mind nimbler players, properly cover the big boys week in, week out or find a level of rebound previously unseen.

Darcy Gardiner is an interesting example re an undersized KPD who eked out the crap years and found a role in a successful side as bigger players like Andrews took the main posts.

 

[RooInNorthLondon]

Given our list and strengths/weaknesses I can see the temptation to stick FOS primarily at HB rather than further forward in 2026. If that happens folk will need to factor that in looking at his offensive output.

 

[koshari]

There's a magical alternative reality where we keep our 5 wins, get to flip our draw and close losses to wins too and rise to the princely heights of 14th.

Get on board.

14th is indeed the holy Grail

 

[FlyHigh18]

Butters >>>>>>> Weddle as far as next years targets go, has he snubbed * ?

Going to the doggies

 

[FlyHigh18]

* offering the weddle deal after trade period has ended and a year before the next one (instead of making it secret) is just so weird and dumb.

It shows the move is more about media and perception.

They been ridiculed and now want look strong.

 

[SunnyBoner]

What’s the story wirh Ariel Shoemaker, did he play up off field at the saints or was he not up to it? I thought he played a reasonable number of games for a kid.

 

[amaz199]

What’s the story wirh Ariel Shoemaker, did he play up off field at the saints or was he not up to it? I thought he played a reasonable number of games for a kid.

Best not to revisit this.

 

[iloveireland]

2026 list

2026 free agents revealed: Red-hot Lion among footy's most wanted

A sensational finals series has shot Zac Bailey into the upper echelon of wanted players

www.afl.com.au

I really think if we can jump to around top 8 this year, and we can show that clear trajectory, we may be able to snag some great free agents.

If we don’t, and remain bottom 6, we will get no one and will be in the abyss for quite some time.

2026 is do or die now.

 

[Themanbun]

There's a magical alternative reality where we keep our 5 wins, get to flip our draw and close losses to wins too and rise to the princely heights of 14th.

Get on board.

Stop it, I'm getting dizzy

 

[The Dingrel]

What are your reasons.

 

[Chadwiko]

A 36 month planner approach.
...

Move Toby Pink into the 'Locks' category.

Please and thank you.

With the departure of WillPhil, I now need Toby Pink to be protected at all costs.

 

[Event Horizon]

A 36 month planner approach.

The Locks
Excepting injuries & extenuating circumstances

• Sheezel
• Wardlaw
• LDU
• McKercher
• Larkey
• Curtis
• Comben (injury risk)
• Zurhaar

These are the guys (imo) who when fit and in form are A-grade at league level by position. The core we build around with 90% confidence.

The Senior Players

• FOS - youth, no best pos yet
• Simpkin - morale, best pos queries
• Stephens - back it up
• Powell - needs to go up a level
• Xerri - ruck changes, 1 trick pony who will be worked out?

The next group of guys that I'd plan around. Each has a query so I'm down to 75% confidence.

The Maybes

• Hardeman - need more sample
• Logue - fitness, form, focus
• Pink - can he stretch a serviceable half season into a longer term thing in a hopefully improving team?

These guys should be taking spots over this period but have more queries on them than the previous group for mine. 60% confidence.

The Medical Room

• Goater
• George
• Archer

All have shown AFL quality or potential that should earn them a spot if fit. Which they rarely are. ~30% confidence.

The Fringes & Depth Players

• Fisher
• Daniel
• McDonald
• Duursma
• Scott
• Banch
• Trembath
• RHJ
• Konstanty
• CCJ
• Harvey

A mix of players - some have shown AFL traits in very brief samples, some are mature players who haven't locked down a spot, there's guys who need more strings to their bows, guys who might be phased out by others doing their role better. 40% confidence.

The Nursery

• Urquhart
• Dawson
• Goad
• Whitlock
• Stevens

Developing players with too little exposed form to project on.

The Fading Out

• Parker
• Darling

Good players you'd expect to retire over this period.

Keep in mind this is a 3 year depth exercise, am looking at what a genuinely competitive North Melbourne looks like in 2028 and beyond as the core group are hopefully all peaking at the same time.

I would upgrade Hardeman from your list and would add an * next to Wardlaw's name due to his contract status

 

[King Corey]

Move Toby Pink into the 'Locks' category.

Please and thank you.

With the departure of WillPhil, I now need Toby Pink to be protected at all costs.

Image: Chadwiko conceals Toby Pink inside an R2 unit for dispatch to Tattooine

 

[Loose_Cannon]

Move Toby Pink into the 'Locks' category.

Please and thank you.

With the departure of WillPhil, I now need Toby Pink to be protected at all costs.

Protect the King

 

[Chadwiko]

Protect the King
View attachment 2465604

I'm not sure I like Toby Pink in the Joffrey role.

I see him as much more of a Davos Seaworth type;

• Humble origins, not of noble birth (free agent/undrafted)
• Versatile and adaptable, has served Jon Snow, Stannis Baratheon, Bran Stark (has played forward and back)
• Understands and plays his role, even in thankless and difficult circumstances (took the opposition #1 KPF frequently, often giving up significant size/experience)
• Not a renowned warrior, but capable of greatness when the moment comes (game saving intercepts, tackles, etc)
• Loves to go fishing and is an experienced sailor (goes out on Xerri's boat frequently)
• Genuinely great dude (indisputable fact)

All hail Toby of the house Pink!

 

[Loose_Cannon]

I'm not sure I like Toby Pink in the Joffrey role.

I see him as much more of a Davos Seaworth type;

• Humble origins, not of noble birth (free agent/undrafted)
• Versatile and adaptable, has served Jon Snow, Stannis Baratheon, Bran Stark (has played forward and back)
• Understands and plays his role, even in thankless and difficult circumstances (took the opposition #1 KPF frequently, often giving up significant size/experience)
• Not a renowned warrior, but capable of greatness when the moment comes (game saving intercepts, tackles, etc)
• Loves to go fishing and is an experienced sailor (goes out on Xerri's boat frequently)
• Genuinely great dude (indisputable fact)

All hail Toby of the house Pink!

• Toby Pink: My lord...
• Damien Barret: I'm not a lord, Ser Toby Pink. You would not be either, here. In MediaLand, key intercept defenders are not rewarded with titles.
• Toby Pink: Well, strictly speaking, I didn't do the intercepting, that would be the Chom. I just moved what they stole from one place to another, and ocassionally spoiled a forward entry.
• Toby Pink: This is the payment that was demanded by King Clarko for my crimes.

 

[kool kangas]

Who are our list management people in the mens department and who are they in the womens?

Can we get the one's looking after the womens list management to do both?

 

[perplexed]

Who are our list management people in the mens department and who are they in the womens?

Can we get the one's looking after the womens list management to do both?

It's ridiculous how much more professionally run our women's team is than the men's. On that, here is the General Manager of Women's Football.

Erin Lorenzini appointed general manager of women's football

North Melbourne is pleased to announce the appointment of Erin Lorenzini as general manager of women’s football

www.nmfc.com.au

The men's team GM was appointed simply because he is the coach's mate.

 

[kool kangas]

It's ridiculous how much more professionally run our women's team is than the men's. On that, here is the General Manager of Women's Football.

Erin Lorenzini appointed general manager of women's football

North Melbourne is pleased to announce the appointment of Erin Lorenzini as general manager of women’s football

www.nmfc.com.au

The men's team GM was appointed simply because he is the coach's mate.

It's ridiculous how much more professionally run our women's team is than the men's. On that, here is the General Manager of Women's Football.

Erin Lorenzini appointed general manager of women's football

North Melbourne is pleased to announce the appointment of Erin Lorenzini as general manager of women’s football

www.nmfc.com.au

The men's team GM was appointed simply because he is the coach's mate.

Thanks but I was wondering more about who are the people who sights the players and suggests them to the club. Like who watched and suggested Erica O'Shea, Bouge and others. Surely they could scout the mens players as well.

 

[Passmore]

Thanks but I was wondering more about who are the people who sights the players and suggests them to the club. Like who watched and suggested Erica O'Shea, Bouge and others. Surely they could scout the mens players as well.

I don't think the issue would be identifying them, it's getting them ahead of the stronger clubs.

In the Women's comp, we'd probably be seen as a power.

 

[Dinkers]

Good post.

Personally I'd swap Zurhaar and FOS. I have very little doubt FOS becomes an elite footballer, while I'm not convinced Bull's ceiling is in the same echelon as Greene, Rankine or Pickett. While I suspect Cam will be a best 23 for most of his career with us - and easily makes The Seniors bracket - I don't think he's demonstrated elite qualities like the others in The Locks.

I'm a unabashed fan of Zurhaar, probably been elevated due to what I see as harsh judgement by many posters on here.

He's a lock and will improve as we improve. To average 1.4 goals in a side that has run last for inside 50's more often in his career than not, is testament to his ability.
Adding the romance of him being a rookie pick, not deemed worthy of a Nat draft selection is ridiculous.

Long story short, we aint seen the best of him yet. But yeah I'd add FOS to the top end. Great post by King Corey though, and probably worth tracking as players move between the 'planner"

And I'd also add McDonald, the amount of times opponents marked unopposed doesn't happen under Luke's watch. He is elite at helping out in shit situations.

Funny, I seem to like those that most don't. And I'm rather chuffed by that.