List Mgmt. Contracts, trades, draft - 2022 superstar edition

[Keys]

Link to contract status of all players -

The Contracts Thread

Current contract status (Updated 31/10/25) : Total 38 Players - Main List (33) Rookie List (4) Cat B (1) Contracted to 2029 (4) : Jake Waterman (6/5/98) - Signed a 4 year extension (2026-29) on an existing contract due to expire 2025 in October 2024 Liam Baker (27/1/98) - Signed a 5 year...

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[Chump Change]

Bolton would cost a packet but he's not the player you can build a midfield around. Add him at the end of a build to be the dangerous all out attacking mid/forward.

Correct. He's like Brad Hill and many other players. Put him in our side and he'll get found out.

If Baker was 6"3 he'd be a contested beast. But he's 5"8 which is equivalent to a strat copy. He's not the real article.

 

[Scotland]

Bolton's having a great year, but Tim Kelly

11

Tim Kelly

Age

31

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.6

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

10.1

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

4.0

5star

CL

4.9

5star

D

19.9

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

7.6

4star

M

3.1

3star

T

4.7

5star

CL

3.6

4star

D

21.6

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

11.2

5star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

3.8

5star

was a goal a game midfielder when we got him and look what happened.

We haven't had a player comparable to Bolton's output since 2015. LeCras was 18 touches a game and kicked 45, Shuey 24 touches a game and kicked 24.

We'd give up draft capital and cap space to get him, then he'd become just another mid that doesn't hit the scoreboard or a permanent forward that gets 10-15 touches a game. It's the WC way.

Baker is a handy player but will be 25 next year and not really good enough that if we're challenging in 5 years' time that he is going to be one of the senior leaders.

 

[maverick001]

From the Herald Sun.

Richmond has upped its offer to Liam Baker as it tries to ward off a home-town assault from West Coast.

The Tigers are believed to have offered Baker around $600,000 over two years, which would reward his brilliant form as the Tigers’ jack-of-all-trades.
Richmond is attempting to reconfigure its midfield and while it has interest in both GWS midfielders Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto, the Tigers are believed to favour Hopper.

Hopper has battled all year with a knee injury that required multiple surgeries but has a touch of class to go with his strong inside clearance game.
But there is no point the Tigers securing Hopper and losing Baker, who can easily play as a centre square midfielder as well as forward and back
Baker is considering whether to return to West Australia to be closer to family but is yet to make a decision on his future.
Richmond has its own first-rounder and North Melbourne’s second-rounder so is well stocked if it can retain Baker and offer early picks for Hopper.

"no point securing Hopper but losing Baker". Yea nah, one is a proven high quality full time inside mid with size, the other is a sometimes-mid who doesn't have the runs on the board in there

 

[Farang83150]

Does he do the heavy lifting? Looks to me like the cream on top. I don't want another Wellingham.

Not shy at all to lay hard tackles.

 

[Tugga27]

Bolton's having a great year, but Tim Kelly was a goal a game midfielder when we got him and look what happened.

We haven't had a player comparable to Bolton's output since 2015. LeCras was 18 touches a game and kicked 45, Shuey 24 touches a game and kicked 24.

We'd give up draft capital and cap space to get him, then he'd become just another mid that doesn't hit the scoreboard or a permanent forward that gets 10-15 touches a game. It's the WC way.

Baker is a handy player but will be 25 next year and not really good enough that if we're challenging in 5 years' time that he is going to be one of the senior leaders.

Don't agree with you about Baker.
Hard as nails, WA boy and at 24, has a lot of good years left.

Would love to get him.

 

[Farang83150]

Don't agree with you about Baker.
Hard as nails, WA boy and at 24, has a lot of good years left.

Would love to get him.

Can play multiple positions

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

Apparently West Coast are likely to match any Nelson interest as he's a restricted free agent. Possibly to force a trade if there's enough offered by another club but also they like having him as depth

Lucky we have huge cap space

Hollands is an outside/balanced midfielder. Also likely to be targeted by Gold Coast if they manage to trade for a second, first round pick.

You are just trying to pump up the value of your first rounder. Conflict of interest I would say.

What Suns need is someone who will buy value in 2022 and give back in 2023. Next year looks stronger so if a club commits to 2022, they will win big currency from the Suns

 

[Bacchus]

Apparently West Coast are likely to match any Nelson interest as he's a restricted free agent. Possibly to force a trade if there's enough offered by another club but also they like having him as depth

Where did you find out that Nelson is a restricted free agent?

According to the AFL website he is an unrestricted free agent.

It doesn’t make sense that he would be a restricted free agent because this is for the top 25% of earners at a club and Nelson would definitely not be in this category.

 

[MrWoollie]

Where did you find out that Nelson is a restricted free agent?

According to the AFL website he is an unrestricted free agent.

It doesn’t make sense that he would be a restricted free agent because this is for the top 25% of earners at a club and Nelson would definitely not be in this category.

With our club are you absolutely, 100% sure about that?

I would normally agree with your position, but nowadays, with how the club is run, I'm not so sure.

 

[ziad]

Can play multiple positions

so he doesnt turn to water 'out of position'?
A competitor perhaps?

 

[Chump Change]

Don't agree with you about Baker.
Hard as nails, WA boy and at 24, has a lot of good years left.

Would love to get him.

He's hard as nails and I love how he plays.....

But we can get players like this with 3rd or 4th rounders or even RD picks.

Look at the profile of Richmond and Melbourne:

Dusty, Cotch
Reiwoldt, Lynch

The team is built around those players, mainly Dusty and Cotch. Most of the rest of the guys are 2nd rounders or later. A quarter of them are RD and PSD picks. They weren't even good enough to get drafted.

Oliver, Tracc
Gawn, Viney, Brayshaw

Same deal - this team wasn't a genuine flag threat until Oliver and Tracc announced themselves as superstars.


And look at Carlton with Cripps, Walsh, Curnow, and McKay. They will be serious flag contenders over the next 3 years. Voss just has to get his coaching right.


Put Shai Bolton (and any one of another 300 players) into those teams and he's an A grader. Put him into a team like ours and they get found out. These players don't have the ability to control outcomes. The players that do are either elite contested beasts, or elite balanced mids. Even the days of Wayne Carey are gone. Elite KPFs can't do it without an elite midfield.

So where does Baker sit?

Hard as nails? Check.
Will still be able to deliver in a shit team? Check.
Age profile? Not critical. We don't have much in his age profile but in 5 years time when we're gearing up for a flag tilt - the weakness will be in that 30 year old group. We can recruit players we need for that.

So what's the problem?

He's not a player that can control outcomes. We need to find the players who can. Our best chance is our first round picks over the next 3-5 years. We find them and Baker is playing small defender. We can find small defenders elsewhere, pretty easily.

A better option is Dev Robbo or Bruhn. Both not yet established so will be relatively cheap. They may well end up a bust. But they could also be Josh Kennedy (Sydney). Couldn't get a gig in star studded Hawks midfield so they offloaded him. I'd rather take a punt on getting that, than getting a guy we know won't be that.

 

[briztoon]

Lucky we have huge cap space

You are just trying to pump up the value of your first rounder. Conflict of interest I would say.

What Suns need is someone who will buy value in 2022 and give back in 2023. Next year looks stronger so if a club commits to 2022, they will win big currency from the Suns

Suns have a interest in Hollands. They can draft him with their first pick for all I care.

I don’t work for the Lions (or any footy team), so nothing I say is pumping up the value of anything.

You can visit their board and read the comments after someone (not me) posted the Twomey proposed trade between GC and Brisbane.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

Herald Sun reporting Melbourne expecting to lose Jackson. Question is to which club.

Bell is currently looking to gather more feathers in his cap and what draft/trade currency does he have to take to the milliner? Logue is supposedly gathering interest and Sydney are meant to be very interested. A replacement for the 32 year old Rampe. Likely that they would part with one of their 2 R1 picks. Then there is Lobb with a trade with Doggies looming. Probably not worth a first rounder but will be worth a decent R2. And then does Meeks get dealt back to Dees as part payment. Suns are also keen on a rebounding half back and are interested in Wilson. Suns have 3 x R2 picks this year and a history of overpaying.

I would expect Bell to at least explore selling their R1 in 2023 to the Suns as an option for the multiple R2 picks the Suns hold. Let’s face it, Bell did an outstanding deal with Brodie plus the Sun’s end of R1 as a salary dump. If he is not recruit if the year it has to be the best trade of the last decade. I cannot think of a better one, although Gibbs to Adelaide goes close.

So Freo are in a position to give up 2 x R1 picks for Jackson with a bunch of options so not seeing us as a serious player and hope we stay the course and keep our R1 this year.

It does raise an interesting debate - if Demons are adamant on pick 2 and that would get it done for Jackson, what would we want in return? Freo’s R1 plus one of Sydney’s R1 and Meeks? Would we go for pick 2 or would we go for a deal that got us 2 of Clark/MacKenzie/Szybkowski/Tsatas plus Meeks?

 

[SumaGodCoach]

Herald Sun reporting Melbourne expecting to lose Jackson. Question is to which club.

Bell is currently looking to gather more feathers in his cap and what draft/trade currency does he have to take to the milliner? Logue is supposedly gathering interest and Sydney are meant to be very interested. A replacement for the 32 year old Rampe. Likely that they would part with one of their 2 R1 picks. Then there is Lobb with a trade with Doggies looming. Probably not worth a first rounder but will be worth a decent R2. And then does Meeks get dealt back to Dees as part payment. Suns are also keen on a rebounding half back and are interested in Wilson. Suns have 3 x R2 picks this year and a history of overpaying.

I would expect Bell to at least explore selling their R1 in 2023 to the Suns as an option for the multiple R2 picks the Suns hold. Let’s face it, Bell did an outstanding deal with Brodie plus the Sun’s end of R1 as a salary dump. If he is not recruit if the year it has to be the best trade of the last decade. I cannot think of a better one, although Gibbs to Adelaide goes close.

So Freo are in a position to give up 2 x R1 picks for Jackson with a bunch of options so not seeing us as a serious player and hope we stay the course and keep our R1 this year.

It does raise an interesting debate - if Demons are adamant on pick 2 and that would get it done for Jackson, what would we want in return? Freo’s R1 plus one of Sydney’s R1 and Meeks? Would we go for pick 2 or would we go for a deal that got us 2 of Clark/MacKenzie/Szybkowski/Tsatas plus Meeks?

Pick 2 for Pick 14, Pick 15 and Meeks? We would never entertain such a trade as it is essentially Pick 2 for a pick and mix. None of Clark, Mackenzie, or Tsatas are going to make it to pick 14/15. Szybkowski is a chance to make it that far but by no means a guarantee.

Edit: I have WB ending up with Pick 10 and Freo ending up with 14. If Bell manages to collect another feather by getting WB to agree to a 10 for 14 swap as part of the Lobb deal(WB shouldn't do this but you never know) then the trade being 2 for 10, 15 and Meek becomes more interesting but I still feel as though we shouldn't do that. 10 is much better then 14 as 1 of Busslinger/Hewett/Mackenzie/Keeler/Clarke/Tsatas is likely to make it through to 10. All of those players listed are in tier 2 on my current big board, but at pick 14 we would end up with someone in tier 3.

 

[Obeanie1]

Mitch Robinson will retire (not be offered a new contract).

Ely Smith will be delisted.

Tom Berry likely delisted.

Connor McFadyen likely delisted.

Mitchell Cox (R) will be delisted, allowing us to move a player to the rookie list. Say Ryan Lester.

Uosis (cat b rookie will be delisted)(Darryl White jr will be signed as a cat b rookie)

So that’s 5 senior spots available.

We draft Ashcroft and Fletcher. If there’s a decent/project KPP at our third pick, draft that player. Or maybe we look at our academy kid Shadeau Brain.

We pass on our last two picks.

We could redraft Berry and Cox/MacFadyen in the PSD to one year contracts. Or redraft one player in the PSD, and keep one spot open for the SSP.

We don’t need to be loading up on speculative late draftees.

Take 3 players this year and redraft a couple of delisted players for depth on one year contracts.

Delist or retire 3 players next year and go to the draft with minimal picks.

2024 we’ll probably need a few list spots for Levi Ashcroft and we might have a couple (2-4) KPP prospects in our academy.

What about players asking for trades for better opportunities?

 

[Chump Change]

It does raise an interesting debate - if Demons are adamant on pick 2 and that would get it done for Jackson, what would we want in return? Freo’s R1 plus one of Sydney’s R1 and Meeks? Would we go for pick 2 or would we go for a deal that got us 2 of Clark/MacKenzie/Szybkowski/Tsatas plus Meeks?

None of the above. I can't see us coughing up pick 2 unless it's a small slide and still get our man (and that is highly unlikely to present itself).

 

[Schtinker]

What picks are GWS going to have available? If, as has been rumoured, they are going to lose Hopper, Taranto, Hill and Tanner Bruhn they should certainly have a huge draft hand. Hopper and Taranto would both be worth a 1st round + in this current draft surely? Bruhn a 1st rounder and Hill a high 2nd? Can we secure a better deal for Pick 2/3?

 

[SumaGodCoach]

What picks are GWS going to have available? If, as has been rumoured, they are going to lose Hopper, Taranto, Hill and Tanner Bruhn they should certainly have a huge draft hand. Hopper and Taranto would both be worth a 1st round + in this current draft surely? Bruhn a 1st rounder and Hill a high 2nd? Can we secure a better deal for Pick 2/3?

Pick 2 for Pick 4 and Pick 18(from Geelong in the Tanner Bruhn trade) is something we could consider, depending on who North takes at 1 and who GWS are trading up for. Speculating on what GWS gets for Hopper, Taranto and Hill is hard until we know which team they want to end up on. Hill is worth less than a high 2nd though.

 

[Obeanie1]

You mention ‘J Baker’ twice (I assume you mean Liam Baker).

Apparently this guy is J Baker from the Mayo Clinic. He’s even got a PhD. I look forward to him leading our midfield into the future.

View attachment 1453405

Go check out a photo of Whoosa when he was 19.

Went looking but no banana. My wife studied pharmacy with the great man and he wore those same thick glasses. And looked like a pharmacist.

 

[briztoon]

What about players asking for trades for better opportunities?

Until it happens, I have no idea.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

I would hope we are asking about hopper and Taranto

 

[WCE_Phill]

What picks are GWS going to have available? If, as has been rumoured, they are going to lose Hopper, Taranto, Hill and Tanner Bruhn they should certainly have a huge draft hand. Hopper and Taranto would both be worth a 1st round + in this current draft surely? Bruhn a 1st rounder and Hill a high 2nd? Can we secure a better deal for Pick 2/3?

Bingo. GWS is going to end up with alot of draft capital.

Sit back and look to do a deal with them

 

[Schtinker]

When will we know if Ashcroft nominates Brisbane?

 

[WCE_Phill]

I would hope we are asking about hopper and Taranto

No point asking.

a) both born on the east coast
b) we suck atm.

We're only going attract WA players home

 

[Obeanie1]

Apparently West Coast are likely to match any Nelson interest as he's a restricted free agent. Possibly to force a trade if there's enough offered by another club but also they like having him as depth

What?

The only way that makes any sense is if the club is telling clubs we won't accept a low-ball compo pick so make sure it's a semi decent offer and a semi decent compo pick if you want him for free.

And as posted elsewhere, surely he's a UFA.

If we get a 3rd rounder for him, pick around 40ish that is the best we could hope for IMO.