List Mgmt. Contracts/Trade/Draft Thread - 2025 Edition Vol 2

[Keys]

Quick links

• Player contract status
• Draft prospect video highlights (thanks to noobermensch)

Harley Reid extends to 2028

Spoiler

List Changes - 2025

Spoiler

• Oscar Allen advises intention to explore Free Agency
• Jayden Hunt announces retirement
• Jack Petruccelle
  21

  Jack Petruccelle

  Age

  26

  Ht

  188cm

  Wt

  83kg

  Pos.

  Fwd

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  9.2

  2star

  K

  6.2

  2star

  HB

  3.0

  3star

  M

  3.0

  3star

  T

  1.8

  4star

  G

  1.0

  4star

  D

  6.7

  1star

  K

  4.0

  1star

  HB

  2.7

  2star

  M

  1.7

  2star

  T

  1.3

  2star

  G

  0.7

  4star

  D

  7.8

  2star

  K

  4.6

  2star

  HB

  3.2

  3star

  M

  2.8

  3star

  T

  1.6

  4star

  G

  0.6

  3star

  , Callum Jamieson and Loch Rawlinson not offered new contracts
• Liam Ryan has requested a trade to St Kilda but is contracted for 2026
• Campbell Chesser (uncontracted) has requested a trade to Carlton
• List would be 37 (31 main, 4 rookie, 2 Cat B)

Players out of Contract 2025 (5)

Spoiler

• Oscar Allen (19/3/99) - Signed a 3 year extension (2023-25) on an existing contract due to expire 2022 in May 2021
• Campbell Chesser (27/4/03) - Signed a 2 year extension (2024-25) on an existing contract due to expire 2023 in May 2022
• Jamie Cripps (23/4/92) - Signed a 2 year extension (2024-25) in August 2023
• (R-B) Coen Livingstone (25/5/05) - Signed a 1 year extension (2025) in September 2024
• (R-B) Malakai Champion (17/5/06) - Automatic 1 year contract (2025) when added as a Cat B Rookie in November 2024

Provisional 2025 Draft order

Spoiler

Key Offseason Dates

Spoiler

Fri Oct 3 - Fri Oct 10: 2025 Free Agency Period
Mon Oct 6 - Wed Oct 15: 2025 AFL Trade Period
Wed Nov 19 - Thu Nov 20: 2025 AFL Draft

 

[Dark Sharks]

Simpkin is "the same" to Graham only in the sense they're both B grade footy players, but for different reasons.


Graham is a workhorse grunt that has limitations to his game, but helps set the tone and gets as much as he can out of himself due to workrate without ever being able to compete against elite players. Handy to have.

Simpkin on the other hand is a cherry on top player who personally i think pops up in big moments, hits the scoreboard and finishes off other players hard work. Also handy to have. He's a well rounded player who can win his own ball, win clearances, tackles, link up on the outside but he's got limitations as well. Effort being at the top of that list.


Simpkin is basically what we wish Kelly would be.

 

[shooshka]

Simpkin is the same player - B+ grade. Baker and Graham have done well for us. But if you keep bring B+ players in, you end up with a B+ team.

Question: Jy was in the midfield for North with LDU, Sheezel, Powell, Wardlaw. How many games did they win?

Harley and Hewitt are no far from being full time mids. Yeo can run through there if fit. I don't know how much value Simpkin provides. He's very Baker like in that he puts his body on the line and gives 100%. But like Baker, he's B+.

This draft should improve our situation, but Reid, Hewitt and maybe Yeo (big maybe) is in no way close to LDU, Sheezel, Powell, Wardlaw.

A player to help shield our (hopefully) 2x new mid draftees plus 2 younger guys would be perfect…. As long as the price is right!

 

[squashface]

Sorry but why is Simpkin even being discussed? He already has a multi million dollar contract at a shit cellar dweller club so isnt the point of him wanting to move so he can go play for a finals contender?

Or am I missing something here?

 

[Dark Sharks]

Sorry but why is Simpkin even being discussed? He already has a multi million dollar contract at a shit cellar dweller club so isnt the point of him wanting to move so he can go play for a finals contender?

Or am I missing something here?

Hypothetical preference over him to Starcevich given he'd help fill a greater need, that's all.

It was either that or talk about Tunbridges tackle again

 

[groga]

Interesting write-up on Swadling by Reading the Play as part of their top 50 ratings; seems like someone we should absolutely be taking a punt on. Also, looking at some of the other players in that list (Dovaston, Barker, Taylor), it seems this draft isn't as bad as everyone keeps saying.

2025 Draft Power Rankings: #21 – #30

We move into the 21 to 30 range of the 2025 AFL Draft Power Rankings — a part of the board where genuine top-end talent still exists and selections begin to carry real strategic weight. This sectio…

readingtheplay.wordpress.com

Swans are showing interest in him and have interviewed him a couple times.

 

[Avalor]

Swans are showing interest in him and have interviewed him a couple times.

Yeah, I don't think it is a weak draft pool at all. The top 30 are all very, very good prospects. The back end, not so much, so the recruiters need to be on their game to pluck the gems. Geelong do it all the time. I am confident that with the picks we will have, a good bounty can be got.

 

[Peptide Pig]

No to Simpkin - if we're getting an older mid, it'd want someone from a successful club who can show our kids what it takes to win at the top level.

Great point. Just like if we’re getting a 24 year old inside midfielder it’d want to be Matt Rowell not Deven Robertson. Unfortunately we remain attached to reality and have to cast the net wide for any decent players to consider coming to us.

If Cripps/Neale/Steele/Petracca all nominated us then naturally Simpkin would be pushed down the list of priorities but it’s arrogant to dismiss a player of his quality given the current state of our list, particularly our midfield.

 

[Forward Press]

F*** me, we are not in a position to be rejecting someone like Jy Simpkin

12

Jy Simpkin

Age

27

Ht

183cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.0

4star

K

7.9

3star

HB

8.1

5star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.3

5star

CL

2.9

4star

D

20.6

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

9.6

5star

M

2.0

2star

T

3.5

4star

CL

5.5

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.4

4star

CL

0.2

2star

if he wants to come here.

Some of you are way out of touch with the realities of where we are at.

 

[WCE777]

Spot on. WC absolutely need at least another experienced mid. Anyone on here saying that Simpkin wouldn’t be a great addition for us either hasn’t watched him play or are still watching 2006 and 2018 replays, delusional to the fact that our current midfield outside of Harley is a disgrace.

I would’ve liked to add 2-3 experienced mids. Ideally Flanders/Davies/Erasmus/Sheldrick type. Even would’ve settled for a cheap accumulator like Fiorini/Brodie. A veteran with leadership and high standards like Cripps/Neale/Steele/Petracca would’ve been handy too. Simpkin isn’t near the standard of that last category and coming from a poorly performed team doesn’t help. But he goes hard and as an inside mid can rack it up and dish it out to the more dynamic types.

His contract would be no problem for us and we have picks, albeit I couldn’t see many teams wanting to give up more than a teens pick for him. He’s clearly an inside mid so as much as he may be a good bloke etc, he’s wasted on a wing for what he is being paid and wouldn’t do his confidence wonders as the captain being stuck behind a bunch of kids in the midfield when he’s still got plenty of years to go.

WC have the opposite problem to NM, we are short on mids but have a surplus of KPFs. Maybe Jack or Bailey Williams would be involved in a trade. Will Phillips was linked to WC at some point but I’m not sure he’s shown enough for even us to consider with lots of similar standard guys knocking around the state leagues.

Beggars can’t be choosers so we will see who is willing to accept some extra cash and midfield time to move across the country to a one win team.

I think you have nailed it.
We need a B+ grade midfielder with experience and Simpkin is the NM captain so has reasonable leadership qualities.
He provides a decent tough in and under mid in the right age bracket, 4 years of decent footy left and probably the best that is available.

We would like 2 of Flanders, Davies types and prefer the veteran Cripps/Neale/Steele types but would think this is VERY unlikely to happen.
Who knows what WC have up their sleeve but if not much than he is the best of the available candidates for experienced mids.

Not keen on giving up JW or BW until we have replacements, we can handle any contract or cost picks wise.

Ironically maybe AFL pick 19 assistance package would be around the value for Simpkin?

Simpkin, Starcevich, Ah Chee, T Young, Robertson, Tunstill would be a big upgrade even if we use a rookie spot for 1 of Robertson or Tunstill.

Still think WC have someone of value on the hook!!

 

[ziad]

I think you have nailed it.
We need a B+ grade midfielder with experience and Simpkin is the NM captain so has reasonable leadership qualities.
He provides a decent tough in and under mid in the right age bracket, 4 years of decent footy left and probably the best that is available.

We would like 2 of Flanders, Davies types and prefer the veteran Cripps/Neale/Steele types but would think this is VERY unlikely to happen.
Who knows what WC have up their sleeve but if not much than he is the best of the available candidates for experienced mids.

Not keen on giving up JW or BW until we have replacements, we can handle any contract or cost picks wise.

Ironically maybe AFL pick 19 assistance package would be around the value for Simpkin?

Simpkin, Starcevich, Ah Chee, T Young, Robertson, Tunstill would be a big upgrade even if we use a rookie spot for 1 of Robertson or Tunstill.

Still think WC have someone of value on the hook!!

Bloody reality. B+ is a big upgrad for us.

 

[ThePuma #9]

Well in that instant I think we would ask for a first round pick probably anywhere between 6 & 12, of course there would be other picks going back and forth OR a player talent wise that plays a position of need, now lets play Gods advocate for a little bit, just say he doesn't care where he goes as long as he gets to play as a centre square midfielder, West Coast, Essendon, Sydney , Adelaide and St Kilda have the same problem whether they like it or not, the question then becomes what are they going to do about it?

Very true that you can't trade players wherever you like but at the moment its all hypothetical and as I've said, unless someone bites the bullet and says lets do it, he stays.

Well let's have a look at it shall we?

Eagles potentially have 1 & 2
Tigers 3 & 4
Essendon 5 & 6
Gold have Ports pick 7
St Kilda at 8
Hawks at 9
Blues at 10
Swans at 11
Dogs at 12

Eagles are not giving Pick 1 or 2 for Simpkin so unless we split a pick for two top ten picks that's not going to happen.

Tigers will not be giving up 3 or 4 for Simpkin. They have Hopper, Taranto and Presita in the middle to surround the youth.

If Bombers lose Merrett (they will) they are probably more likely to try and trade up for one of our picks to sell some hope to the members rather than bring in a player who is nowhere near Merretts quality. With Nic Martin out for most of next year and Draper running to QLD they will press the reset button and rebuild you'd think.

GC will do one of two things with the Port pick. Trade it in a deal for Curnow or swap it for more points for their two top 5 academy boys. Considering they need points this is more likely.

St Kilda may very well need to split this pick to pay for Aleer & Liam Ryan as they have no second rounders. They are also after Flanders too so you can rule that pick out.

Hawks will use 9 towards Merrett.

Blues want to trade out of this draft but i doubt they go for Simpkin. They have Walsh, Cripps, Cerra and Jagga Smith and Newman to come back in next year.

So now you are at the Swans at 11. They will try for Curnow first, if that fails then maybe they'll look at Simpkin.

Dogs have Treloar back next year and still have a midfield or Bont, Libba, Richards, Sanders..... They don't need him.



Another words unless Eagles split a pick because they want Simpkin or Bombers decide to burn a pick to bring in a player that will not get them closer to a premiership, or Swans miss out on Curnow and are hell bent on getting rid of the pick then i don't see where this pick in the 6-12 range is coming from.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

I mean he kicked 12 goals for the year, which basically as much as Harley and clearly better than any other mids on our list.

These do be the facts, not imaginary "But he's awesome, i seen it" opinions like everyone seems to carry with Starcevich.

The difference is.

Starc plays in the back pocket and whatever

Simpkin wants to play in the midfield. That means every minute he plays there he is taking minutes for a kid. UHe's a minor upgrade on Graham. We already have Graham though, so why get someone who is marginally better and the same age. Get a difference maker at 27+ (Neale/Steele etc), or go younger and get someone with upside (Davies/Flanders etc).

What happens if Yeo, Kelly, Baker and Graham are all playing regularly next year. Now you want to add a meh SImpkin who has never played winning footy in as well? Pass.

 

[Bacchus]

CDT feels like a risk worth taking if we can snag pick 6 from Gold Coast. If we don’t snag that pick it’s pure incompetence from Matt Clarke and a sackable offence

Surely these decisions would have to be signed off by the board and CEO? Clarke can’t be left to make such crucial decisions on his own

I don’t want us to go anywhere near CDT whether we get pick 6 or 7 or not, notwithstanding how much the Vic commentariat is in love with him. Drafting CDT when our midfield needs building from the ground up would be the kind of blunder that the club is being accused of.

 

[bzparkes]

Surely these decisions would have to be signed off by the board and CEO? Clarke can’t be left to make such crucial decisions on his own

I don’t want us to go anywhere near CDT whether we get pick 6 or 7 or not, notwithstanding how much the Vic commentariat is in love with him. Drafting CDT when our midfield needs building from the ground up would be the kind of blunder that the club is being accused of.

Clarke doesn't do the drafting mate, Duane Massey does.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

I doubt Simpkin would leave vic or would be interested in going to a team in a rebuild.

I see it as the opposite. He is one of the few mature enough to put his football first and go anywhere for more midfield minutes.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Surely these decisions would have to be signed off by the board and CEO? Clarke can’t be left to make such crucial decisions on his own

I don’t want us to go anywhere near CDT whether we get pick 6 or 7 or not, notwithstanding how much the Vic commentariat is in love with him. Drafting CDT when our midfield needs building from the ground up would be the kind of blunder that the club is being accused of.

After CDT it's going to be mid after mid though.

Id expect we try end with

Duursma
CDT
Sharp
Barker
Rodriguez

So 4 mids

 

[WCE777]

Surely these decisions would have to be signed off by the board and CEO? Clarke can’t be left to make such crucial decisions on his own

I don’t want us to go anywhere near CDT whether we get pick 6 or 7 or not, notwithstanding how much the Vic commentariat is in love with him. Drafting CDT when our midfield needs building from the ground up would be the kind of blunder that the club is being accused of.

Long post!

I don't think its as bad as you think.
There has been a significant change with our list management decisions since last trade and draft year.
Clarke with Worsfold and Pyke are overseeing list management even if not communicating that too the public.

Everyone we have approached this year has had significant input from them and driving the car from the passenger seat imo.
Clarke is the list manager signing off and approaching players and still based in Melbourne so I believe we have a 3 way list management team.

Big approaches like Warner and HR contracts would need CEO approval and board you woold expect, but the board is the rubber stamp.
List management strategy has been a significant shift since the Barrass trade happened, the players behind the scenes thought that would get us Warner, but it didn't this time.

Then there has been a total change in where we want to be from earlier this year, OA was pushed out for a media conference with woosha and offered unders so we could get FA compo pick 2.

Ryan if you want to take up a longer contract somewhere else then we will be happy with a reasonable trade.
Chesser was offered a fair 2 year deal because he was only just coming good at the back end of the year, he then chooses a trade for more opportunity, more money so that's a tick, don't overpay trade pick excepted.

I also expect WC list management to be more ruthless and aggressive as they have been this year.
I would expect us to be into everyone's ears with the philosophy of anyone who makes us better and is a need will be investigated with our draft and salary cap position pushing players to make decisions to help us.

2025/26 will be a massive couple of years trade/draft wise and will need to set us up for our next premiership.

 

[Keys]

If Simpkin was to come to us, he’d cost the Hawthorn R1 pick we hold (currently pick 15) at a minimum

He’s 27 (same age as Baker, Graham and Waterman) and contracted to 2029 at a value reportedly around $1.2-1.3m per year

Not the worst option and has been a solid contributor for North through a difficult period

I’m pretty ambivalent towards him as a trade target. Definitely helps our midfield but the cost is up there. If it was just the Hawthorn pick I’d probably be ok with it

Doubt that it’s a live option though

 

[TerryFilk]

I can’t believe this once proud club has me sitting here at work, dripping with sweat, refreshing Twitter like a maniac, waiting to see if we get a hand out.

Donald Pyke you better have something up your sleeve and it better not be a team bonding camp.

 

[bzparkes]

I can’t believe this once proud club has me sitting here at work, dripping with sweat, refreshing Twitter like a maniac, waiting to see if we get a hand out.

Donald Pyke you better have something up your sleeve and it better not be a team bonding camp.

AFL's handout is chipping in for an excavator so we don't need to use shovels to dig up MRP anymore.

We'll fly up the ladder in no time.

 

[Dark Sharks]

How good is all this Simpkin talk clogging up the thread though squashface

 

[Happy Mastenator]

If Simpkin was to come to us, he’d cost the Hawthorn R1 pick we hold (currently pick 15) at a minimum

He’s 27 (same age as Baker, Graham and Waterman) and contracted to 2029 at a value reportedly around $1.2-1.3m per year

Not the worst option and has been a solid contributor for North through a difficult period

I’m pretty ambivalent towards him as a trade target. Definitely helps our midfield but the cost is up there. If it was just the Hawthorn pick I’d probably be ok with it

Doubt that it’s a live option though

****en shoot me if we do this. Would be the worst possible decision.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

If Simpkin was to come to us, he’d cost the Hawthorn R1 pick we hold (currently pick 15) at a minimum

He’s 27 (same age as Baker, Graham and Waterman) and contracted to 2029 at a value reportedly around $1.2-1.3m per year

Not the worst option and has been a solid contributor for North through a difficult period

I’m pretty ambivalent towards him as a trade target. Definitely helps our midfield but the cost is up there. If it was just the Hawthorn pick I’d probably be ok with it

Doubt that it’s a live option though

Hawks 2nd rounder would do it . I can't see North holding the guy to ransom here

Issue is we are too weak of a club to ask the question so it probably isn't a live option. It should be though but we are too nice to every do anything off centre and different

 

[bzparkes]

****en shoot me if we do this. Would be the worst possible decision.

 

[Keys]

We’ve got people bitching that we might only get a pick in the thirties for an out of contract Chesser and a F2 pick for a 29 year old Ryan but a contracted club captain we should only be offering the Hawthorn R2 pick for

Get a grip on reality