List Mgmt. 2026 Trade/Contract Discussion

[Keys]

This thread is the companion to the 2026 Draftee/NGA/FS Discussion thread

It’s intent is to be a more catch all thread than the draft thread which is designed to have a far narrower focus and will be more rigidly moderated to keep it on topic

So don’t be surprised to see posts shifted from there into this thread as a wider scope of discussion will be allowed. And a bit more leeway for the type of off topic shitposting (within reason) that can be common around these parts

However, as with that thread, discussions that look backwards over previous trades/draft choices will be moved into the rear vision thread that will be set up. We want to keep this thread focused on current and future decisions without getting bogged down over past mistakes, perceived or real

 

[WCE777]

List Management:

Looking forward to our NGA/FS prospects for 2026, looking our best crop ever.
G Kenh, L McGlade, Harper Banfield, R Farmer looks to be at a minimum draftable.
Hoping D Shanahan/KPD, D Newry/SF can elevate their years to be draftable.
Looking across our list we still need over the next 2 drafts:
2 x high quality mids.
2 x KPD's.
1 x KPF developing, maybe K LeCras or trade for J Walter if he gets less games?

2026 will be another big turnover of players imo.
Playing for their future:
Bazzo
BW
Johnstone
Barnett
Brockman
Long
Cole

Likely retire:
Cripps
Yeo if he can't stay fit.

Players I will be watching with interest as potential draftees 2026 not NGA/FS's:

K LeCras/KPF/192/WA
A Butler/MID/HF/180/VM
A Van Dyke/MID/185/SA
H Mellody/HB/MID/181/WA
M Stirling/KPD/196/WA
B Van Rooyen/RUCK/202/WA

 

[Happy Mastenator]

When does Tassie get to pre list underagers and teams get to trade for them?

 

[eaglevision]

When does Tassie get to pre list underagers and teams get to trade for them?

They haven’t announced it yet. Let’s see if they get their stadium first. I doubt the mini draft is going to be next year unfortunately.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Isnt Cochrane now Port tied?

Be very interesting again seeing how Port, Carlton and Freo bank points to get their player.

A minimum of 6/7 list spots will need to be available, assuming four NGA kids will be good enough to come through the door

Kenh
McGlade
Shanahan; and
Banfield

Draft either Van Dyke/Robinson

Seems like a lot of people's perspectives about our NGA's hasn't drastically changed in terms of the likelihood of more than 1 or 2 ending up on our list even after what happened this year.

It will all depend on how many spots we have, where they rank on our draft rankings and where those picks lie.
I'd assume the higher regarded they are by draft time will increase the chances of us trying harder to match bids on them, but those in the range of Koby/Charlie have a good chance of being passed.
Of course we all joke about hiding them, but even a few good games can attract interest from other teams.

We can't think of these players as a free hit anymore. The club doesn't seem to view them as such, and won't make list modifications to accommodate them.
Other issue is that the delistings/retirements etc from the main list isn't going to be massive. Perhaps only around 6 or 7 players.
Additions through trades or FA will reduce the number by the draft. Over the last few seasons we've added at least 2, so around 5 picks again in the draft is realistic.
This is probably the deepest we could turn over from our main list next year.
Delist:
Barnett
Owies (Zac Langdon style)
Bazzo
Johnston
Long
Cole (probably wishful thinking)
J Williams(?)

Trade:
Brockman(?)
Hutchinson(?)

Retire:
Cripps
Yeo(?)

A lot of people want to see the back of Bailey Williams and Flynn, but we have no replacements and they can actually ruck for a whole game unlike say Jack Williams, Archer Reid (at this stage of his career), and obviously CDT. Barnett should be gone for 2027 pending a miracle turnaround in his career.

 

[txbyhull]

State of our list going into next season.

The highlighted players are ones that imo are not above a say 80% chance to remain on the list going into 2027 whether their departure is via retirement, trade, FA, early delisting, or delisting.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Seems like a lot of people's perspectives about our NGA's hasn't drastically changed in terms of the likelihood of more than 1 or 2 ending up on our list even after what happened this year.

It will all depend on how many spots we have, where they rank on our draft rankings and where those picks lie.
I'd assume the higher regarded they are by draft time will increase the chances of us trying harder to match bids on them, but those in the range of Koby/Charlie have a good chance of being passed.
Of course we all joke about hiding them, but even a few good games can attract interest from other teams.

We can't think of these players as a free hit anymore. The club doesn't seem to view them as such, and won't make list modifications to accommodate them.
Other issue is that the delistings/retirements etc from the main list isn't going to be massive. Perhaps only around 6 or 7 players.
Additions through trades or FA will reduce the number by the draft. Over the last few seasons we've added at least 2, so around 5 picks again in the draft is realistic.
This is probably the deepest we could turn over from our main list next year.
Delist:
Barnett
Owies (Zac Langdon style)
Bazzo
Johnston
Long
Cole (probably wishful thinking)
J Williams(?)

Trade:
Brockman(?)
Hutchinson(?)

Retire:
Cripps
Yeo(?)

A lot of people want to see the back of Bailey Williams and Flynn, but we have no replacements and they can actually ruck for a whole game unlike say Jack Williams, Archer Reid (at this stage of his career), and obviously CDT. Barnett should be gone for 2027 pending a miracle turnaround in his career.

Think only one of Bailey Williams or Flynn will stay.

 

[eaglevision]

Think only one of Bailey Williams or Flynn will stay.

It’s likely to depend on Archer’s development this year. I’d be hoping BWilliams gets a band 3 FA offer which based on this year’s ladder gives us pick 20 which would be great for NGAs and there’s some good WA kids in that range too (BVR, LeCras, Mellody, Steed).

Band 4 would be pick 37 which isn’t the worst either.

 

[txbyhull]

It’s likely to depend on Archer’s development this year. I’d be hoping BWilliams gets a band 3 FA offer which based on this year’s ladder gives us pick 20 which would be great for NGAs and there’s some good WA kids in that range too (BVR, LeCras, Mellody, Steed).

Band 4 would be pick 37 which isn’t the worst either.

I can’t imagine that BBW gets a larger offer than Worpel who iirc got Band 4. Best we can hope for I reckon, but can’t see who really goes after him

 

[eaglevision]

I can’t imagine that BBW gets a larger offer than Worpel who iirc got Band 4. Best we can hope for I reckon, but can’t see who really goes after him

If you include Worpel’s house and land package it was band 1. Geelong need a ruck.

 

[THE A5]

I can’t imagine that BBW gets a larger offer than Worpel who iirc got Band 4. Best we can hope for I reckon, but can’t see who really goes after him

Club will look at Bailey like we looked at vardy. To strengthen their depth

 

[ghostbat12]

I can’t imagine that BBW gets a larger offer than Worpel who iirc got Band 4. Best we can hope for I reckon, but can’t see who really goes after him

don't know about that. These new rules + BBW still improving, he could have some serious suitors. Only us think worpel is great because our recruiters wanted him and we love to latch onto any midfielder that is discussed on our board. Hawks didn't even bother, even after they knew they would get f-all

 

[Wooshaaaa]

View attachment 2484071
View attachment 2484072

State of our list going into next season.

The highlighted players are ones that imo are not above a say 80% chance to remain on the list going into 2027 whether their departure is via retirement, trade, FA, early delisting, or delisting.

It won't be hard at the end of 2026 to make a few more hard calls IMO.

 

[WCE777]

It’s likely to depend on Archer’s development this year. I’d be hoping BWilliams gets a band 3 FA offer which based on this year’s ladder gives us pick 20 which would be great for NGAs and there’s some good WA kids in that range too (BVR, LeCras, Mellody, Steed).

Band 4 would be pick 37 which isn’t the worst either.

I would think if A Reid gets another 10-15 games development as a ruck only 1 of BW or Flynn would be on the list and Flynn is the better option even if he isn't great.

2027 would see A Reid taking 50% ruck and Flynn the other with CDT taking 50/50 split with A Reid as a KPF and bench.
Would see BW become surplus to needs.
Probably don't need another ruck drafted for a while but can't see Barnett on our list past 2026 and if they need depth BW would be more than decent for injuries.

With 2 athletic rucks with A Reid and CDT would be the time for BW to be traded and cashed on for more list needs.
If we got band 4 pick 37 for him we would take it with both hands.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Add Bo Allan as well thank you.

Five locks for a quality back seven.

Need at least one quality KP defender.

You'd think Bo's long term future is as a midfielder.
Perhaps develop a bit in defence than hopefully move into the midfield.

 

[Obeanie1]

You'd think Bo's long term future is as a midfielder.
Perhaps develop a bit in defence than hopefully move into the midfield.

We hope sure.

At worse he's a lock in the back 6.

 

[Monocle]

It'll be interesting to see how tempted we are by another ruckman .

Would think it would be be a very high priority on our Trade Period, shopping list.

 

[Elite Pete]

Wes Walley doing a train on with Carlton apparently.

 

[Jumpoff Joey]

Would think it would be be a very high priority on our Trade Period, shopping list.

Why would we go for another ruckman in 2026, when we can get Axel Walsh in 2027 in the Mini-Draft with Tasmania.

Or is that not a thing?

 

[Monocle]

Why would we go for another ruckman in 2026, when we can get Axel Walsh in 2027 in the Mini-Draft with Tasmania.

Or is that not a thing?

Oh it's a thing alright, but tell me how we can be guaranteed of getting Walsh, we cant simply because we don't control that decisions as its not our to make.

We need to be proactive and see who we could poach at the next trade period, to alleviate our ruck woes.

I would be planning for both scenarios, but I certainly would not be banking on us being the successful bidder in the Mini-Draft pick auction.

 

[eaglevision]

Would think it would be be a very high priority on our Trade Period, shopping list

In addition to Knobel I’d have Lachie Smith on our shopping list. Will be 21yo, 203cm and won’t see much senior footy at the Dogs with English in the side and Darcy pinch hitting. Plays with aggression and is developing well. Some VFL stats for those interested.

VFL Stats - Lachlan Smith

vfl.aflmstats.com

Sweet is also OOC at Port if we can convince him to move.

 

[Monocle]

In addition to Knobel I’d have Lachie Smith on our shopping list. Will be 21yo, 203cm and won’t see much senior footy at the Dogs with English in the side and Darcy pinch hitting. Plays with aggression and is developing well. Some VFL stats for those interested.

VFL Stats - Lachlan Smith

vfl.aflmstats.com

Sweet ..... is also OOC at Port if we can ..... convince him to move.

With a bit of luck, him having had a year under new Head Coach Josh Carr, may be all the convincing that he needs.

 

[mattyc75]

Oh it's a thing alright, but tell me how we can be guaranteed of getting Walsh, we cant simply because we don't control that decisions as its not our to make.

We need to be proactive and see who we could poach at the next trade period, to alleviate our ruck woes.

I would be planning for both scenarios, but I certainly would not be banking on us being the successful bidder in the Mini-Draft pick auction.

Well we just spent a high pick on CDT who Hopefully can become a ruckman in tandem AReid too.
Obviously they aren't an instance fix but we've still got 3 options other than them( not counting Barnett as a viable option)
Not sure we need to target anyone in a trade or DFA

 

[Monocle]

In addition to Knobel I’d have Lachie Smith on our shopping list. Will be 21yo, 203cm and won’t see much senior footy at the Dogs with English in the side and Darcy pinch hitting. Plays with aggression and is developing well. Some VFL stats for those interested.

He is a Gippy boy to, so would know Archer Ried , Maric and Duursma well.

 

[eaglevision]

With a bit of luck, him having had a year under new Head Coach Josh Carr, may be all the convincing that he needs.

Fitting that his surname is a four letter word beginning with C.