List Management- Looking to the Future

[Drummond]

At the end of this year we will be facing some extremely tough decision regarding our list. As Andrew McIntyre has been promoted he will be on our senior list next year so we will have to delist/trade a minimum of 4 players so we can participate in the upcoming AFL Draft. There area a few players that could find themselves in serious danger of being delisted/traded, and they are listed below. They rank from most likely to least likely.

Possible Trade Bait/Delistings/Retirements:

• Mark Ricciuto (Retire). With his body struggling to hold up this year, I highly doubt it will be able to cope with another pre-season and a long season of football. Would be a certainty to retire I would think.

• Luke Jericho (Trade/Delist). Perhaps one of the main reasons he is currently playing is to attract interest from other clubs. I wouldn’t rule this out because he isn’t an essential part of our list, and we have gone without him for a year or two now.

• Nick Gill (Delist). Hasn’t been tried yet, however with his struggle with injuries he could find himself in danger if he doesn’t prove he can play out the season injury free. With Hentschel and Biglands due back next season he may not be required.

• Scott Welsh (Delist). After being put on a performance based contract for this season, there’s every chance he won’t be back next year. Ddespite the fact he’s been hot and cold, he’s our leading goalkicker and if he tops the list at the end of the year he’ll be retained. If he suffers a couple of niggling injuries and his form drops off, he won’t be back.

• Bryce Campbell (Delist). There is absolutely no way I would delist him, but if I didn’t include him I would be hunted down for being “biased”. I believe he has a lot to offer this club, and it’s a promising sign he was an emergency after only 1 SANFL game, but of course there’s a slight chance he might not be back. I’m confidence he’ll be the “Porplyzia” of 2006 though.

• Kris Massie (Trade). Despite a career best year in 2006, Massie could struggle to get back into the team as long as McIntyre and Hinge continue to develop. I’m sure we could get a draft pick in return as he still plenty to offer at the highest level, it just might not be with the Crows.

• John Meesen (Trade). The Crows won’t want him to go you can be sure of that, but due to the fact he could be fourth in line in 2008 he might see himself with better chances back in his home state.

• Bernie Vince (Delist). Would have to be extremely unlikely to be delisted after only 2 years on the list, but he isn’t without a chance of being let go. He was always going to be a boom or bust pick, and so far there is evidence to suggest both. If he has a solid second half of 2007 he will be safe.

• Rhett Biglands (Delist). Unfortunately for Rhett I can’t see him rucking again for the AFC. If he is to play again it will have to be up forward as we are clearly lacking goal kicking targets. With 3 young promising ruckmen on our list, it would be a major mistake to have him hindering their development.


Once again we will need to make some tough calls at the end of this season as we need to turn over at least 4 players as I mentioned above.

Current Rookie listed players James Turner and Greg Gallman are showing some promising signs in the SANFL; however chances are they will be re-rookied instead of forcing the AFC to delist a further 2 players.

Thoughts?

 

[Southerntakeover]

I cannot believe you suggested Bernie would be delisted. Every time i think you've reached the limits of foolishness, you out do yourself.

 

[Drummond]

I cannot believe you suggested Bernie would be delisted. Every time i think you've reached the limits of foolishness, you out do yourself.

Mate, not for one minute do I think he will be and I’m not saying he should be either. However let’s face the facts, we are required to move on 4 players from our squad, and we will struggle to get to that number without making the tough calls. There is probably no chance he will delisted, and chances are 4 of the 7 named before him will depart.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Of the 'tough' calls, a second year player who has played the majority of games so far this year would not be amongst them. It would be ridiculous to sack a player you drafted two years ago, when they have in that time played more games than you would have planned for.

 

[Jarmayhem]

What are people's thoughts on Torney's future at the AFC?

I'm not saying he should be moved on by any stretch of the imagination- I personally think he's a great asset to the club and will continue to be so-I'm just curious as to what other people think while we're on this topic of possible delists/trades.

 

[bus24]

Biglands is well and truly rogered IMO.

Wrong side of 30 when he returns, and probably will have been leapfrogged by all the young guys.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

McGregor?

He may well regain form and come back in and play a major role but if he stays on the outer (as he was at the end of last year), i imagine he may attract some interest from other clubs. Personally, I'd keep him for another year as insurance until Sellar and Tippett come on...but, hypothetically speaking everyone has a price, so what would his trade value be?

Re Torney, great player when fit but not indispensable due to his age and similar players soming thru. I would say that if he ends up in our bottom 4 we have great depth.

 

[Dandy_GO]

I suppose precedent has been set with Obst, but I very much doubt we'd delist Gill or Campbell after only one year.

 

[Dandy_GO]

For mine Obst was always going to be in big danger given the quality of last year's draft.

Draftees are given 2 year contracts, and if they're delisted after 1 year then the club has to pay out the remainder of their contract, and it's still included on the second years salary cap. It basically means paying a player for nothing, and causing salary cap tension.
It's fairly rare for a club to do this, so I found it to be something of a surprise when Obst was delisted, despite how little he showed over his year with us.

Gill fits into an exception to this rule though (he's already been on an AFL list, so we're allowed to offer him an 1 year contract I believe), so I guess he's still in the running. I doubt we'd delist Campbell though; he'd have to have a really really REALLY crap year or have some serious disciplinary issues.

 

[Southerntakeover]

I think it would be possible for us to put Macintyre back on the Rookie List at the years end wouldnt it?

 

[macca23]

Wasn't aware of that rule. Obviously the club was adamant they could fill his spot with a far better talent the following year.

Question: The draft rule says we have to remove 4 players from our list; does that include rookies?

Actually it's 3 not 4 and it does not include rookies.

However if a team upgrades a rookie to the main list at year end then that's another player that has to be delisted.

 

[WheresGroomgone]

I realise I will be shot down, hung and quartered as will my children for mentioning this but I would [timidly] suggest Matthew Bode may be in a bit of strife...ahh there I've said it damn you!! And Massie will probably go to have his best season in 2006 and then not be selected in the prelim. when we had injuries his time is coming to an end.
How could Bernie's name even be mentioned give the lad a five year contract and wack him on the leadership groups innersanctum!!
Now lay into me, slap me I need it!

 

[Southerntakeover]

I realise I will be shot down, hung and quartered as will my children for mentioning this but I would [timidly] suggest Matthew Bode may be in a bit of strife...ahh there I've said it damn you!! And Massie will probably go to have his best season in 2006 and then not be selected in the prelim. when we had injuries his time is coming to an end.
How could Bernie's name even be mentioned give the lad a five year contract and wack him on the leadership groups innersanctum!!
Now lay into me, slap me I need it!

Look, at the moment Mattie Bode isnt as crazy as it sounds. It really depends on his ability to get on the field. As a player who has had alot of injuries, if he doesnt play again this year, we'd probably think seriously about moving him on.

Edit- to clarify, if he was fit, no way in hell id think about it, and his last year has earned him a bit of slack.

 

[Drummond]

Actually it's 3 not 4 and it does not include rookies.

However if a team upgrades a rookie to the main list at year end then that's another player that has to be delisted.

Yeh, I think it’s a given that McIntyre will be on the senior list next year hence why we need to move on 4 players.

Also Drummond: would you be chasing Chad Gibson this year?

If he remains injury free (he’s strung together 5 consecutive games which he hasn’t been able to do in a long time), and he continues to improve each week then he isn’t without a chance of being re-drafted IMO. He also needs to be able to play roles at each end of the ground to prove his worth.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Drummond is going to hate me for this but is Pfeiffer safe? A yes from me but I thought I may as well throw his name out there...

Less safe than vince.

 

[Gets!]

Seriously...why do this thread now.

Worry about the 2007 season which we are currently in...

 

[Drummond]

Drummond is going to hate me for this but is Pfeiffer safe? A yes from me but I thought I may as well throw his name out there...

Well, he’s safer now than he was at the end of last year. He was very close to being moved on at the end of 2006, but he managed to convince the club he would turn things around. As long as he continues to dedicate himself to the game he is safe. You don’t delist someone with all the on-field attributes Pfeiffer has if they’ve cleaned up their act off the field.

 

[Gets!]

The future is now, next week...come on we can win the flag...thats what footy is all about

 

[Drummond]

After reading this, and despite my response to Gets, I agree with what he said in that we can't be sealing the fates of these blokes until the end of the season. Pfeiffer might be a surprise inclusion this week and go on to play another 10 games this year FFS.

What’s with this little outburst?

I’m not trying to seal the fate of anybody; I’m just putting out on the table a list of players I feel are a chance of being moved on. Obviously we will have a better idea in a few months, but I doubt the list will change all that much.

 

[Stiffy_18]

I suppose precedent has been set with Obst, but I very much doubt we'd delist Gill or Campbell after only one year.

Yeah but that had a fair bit to do with the percieved quality of the draft.

Besides 3 of the players mentione above are contracted and I very much doubt all 3 could be delsited because that would be a major salary cap hit.

I think there will be a retirement or 2 and a delisting or 2. Maybe an upgrade but I suspect 4 changes.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Actually it's 3 not 4 and it does not include rookies.

However if a team upgrades a rookie to the main list at year end then that's another player that has to be delisted.

Correct!

No matter what additions and substractions the clubs make, they MUST have at least 3 vacancies on their senior list going into the National Draft.

Every club must pick a minimum of 3 players each National Draft.

 

[Drummond]

Well it’s good to see people want Campbell to be retained for at least another year. And it’s interesting to see that he has a two year contract which gives him more security. I would’ve thought considering he was a mature aged recruit the club would’ve had more leniency, but it appears not. A draftee is a draftee, regardless of age. So it’s safe to say Campbell and Vince basically have no chance of being delisted, so that really only leaves 7.

I highly doubt the club will release Biglands while he is recovering from a knee reconstruction, even if he doesn’t have too much to offer this club in the future. We’re short of forward options and that’s where he should play out his days. Our lack of forward depth will save him, but as I said he shouldn’t come back with the focus to resume as a ruckman.

So it’s probably down to 6.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Can I add another possibility here as much as I HATE to do it.

Hentschel - IF the AFC don't believe he will ever make a full recovery then will they retain him on the list? I doubt it and his contract does run out at the end of the year. I am not sure if he could be our mature rookie listed player though.

But we sort of have precedent on this one. Back when Fitzy did his knee against Roos in Canberra in round 8 or 9 he was delisted at the end of that year because the club got a feedback from a specialist that pretty much said that due to Fitzy's build he will always be in danger of doing his knees over and over again playing footy. The club had no hesitation of not offering him a new contract even though they have been very high on his talent for years.

 

[Drummond]

Can I add another possibility here as much as I HATE to do it.

Hentschel - IF the AFC don't believe he will ever make a full recovery then will they retain him on the list? I doubt it and his contract does run out at the end of the year. I am not sure if he could be our mature rookie listed player though.

But we sort of have precedent on this one. Back when Fitzy did his knee against Roos in Canberra in round 8 or 9 he was delisted at the end of that year because the club got a feedback from a specialist that pretty much said that due to Fitzy's build he will always be in danger of doing his knees over and over again playing footy. The club had no hesitation of not offering him a new contract even though they have been very high on his talent for years.

Yeh I noticed that Hentschel’s contract is up after this year which really does make things interesting. I too thought about the Fitzy situation as there are definitely similarities. Despite the fact it was his first year on our list, as you said we decided with his history of injuries it wasn’t worth the risk of retaining him.

If the specialists see no chance of Trent’s knee holding up to the rigours of the AFL then we will probably have to let him go. But let’s hope that’s not the case and he can return sometime in the second half of 2008.

 

[Coopers]

That's what, 9 players in the OP? I don't think we can even draft that many... are there even enough rounds?

We won't drop that many. Unless Maric steps up, Biggie will be #3 ruckman, and he won't go.

I don't think ROO is going anywhere either. He'll get fit and play a solid 2 or 3 more years.