Strategy Trade and List Management Thread Part 8 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)

[_Mike_]

Opposition supporters coming to troll , you have been warned

 

[geoffjennings79]

Still hard to believe that the club chose not to pick up a guy like Steven Mayessentially for free during this trade period.

He could have been an immediate solution to our defensive problems for the 2026 season.

Why weren’t we interested?
Why are people so worried about him? Supposedly he doesn’t get along with people that well, so what?

How fragile is our culture that it’s not expected to be able to cope with a guy like that?

Not a guy that takes drugs and gets other people onto them, not a guy who hangs out with criminals, just a guy that isn’t everyones cup of tea.

Have you read the previous few pages?

 

[MaxiBont]

Still hard to believe that the club chose not to pick up a guy like Steven Mayessentially for free during this trade period.

He could have been an immediate solution to our defensive problems for the 2026 season.

Why weren’t we interested?
Why are people so worried about him? Supposedly he doesn’t get along with people that well, so what?

How fragile is our culture that it’s not expected to be able to cope with a guy like that?

Not a guy that takes drugs and gets other people onto them, not a guy who hangs out with criminals, just a guy that isn’t everyones cup of tea.

I swear this exact post was posted a couple of days ago by a different account.

 

[Foxman98]

I’m convinced you’re talking about a different player honestly. You do mean the dude with a mullet who plays for Port yeah? Because he’s definitely not slow or soft

Yes watched him fumble and shite himself multiple times in the finals last year

 

[Dry Rot]

Id rather sign Steven May's Sperm then the man himself.

I didn't know about this AFL initiative.

I assume that only future draft picks can be used?

 

[BomToydd]

I don't know why the club didn't chase someone like Aliir Aliir

21

Aliir Aliir

Age

31

Ht

194cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.2

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

5.9

4star

M

5.2

5star

T

1.9

4star

MG

240.9

4star

D

11.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

5.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

3star

D

13.0

4star

K

6.4

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

158.4

3star

. Can't say I watched many Port games this year but does anyone else think he might have been a decent option to pair with Lobb and take the pressure off JOD and Buss for a couple of seasons? The direction Port are headed doesn't look great so couldn't have hurt our chances. Might have also helped land Butters next year

 

[BomToydd]

Feels like Harvey Gallagher is a bit forgotten and not rated around here. Doesn't have the cleanest disposal but does have some traits that I think give him the potential to be a good player. Could see him being a good tagger if Bevo got over his problem with them or an improvement on the likes of VDM, McNeil, Garcia and Sanders or even someone like Bramble

 

[BigFloppa]

Feels like Harvey Gallagher is a bit forgotten and not rated around here. Doesn't have the cleanest disposal but does have some traits that I think give him the potential to be a good player. Could see him being a good tagger if Bevo got over his problem with them or an improvement on the likes of VDM, McNeil, Garcia and Sanders or even someone like Bramble

Harvey Gallagher is this decades Nathan Hrovat

 

[BomToydd]

Harvey Gallagher is this decades Nathan Hrovat

Lol Jason Tutt is more likely tbh but like him more than McNeil and VDM
Rylee Sanders kinda gives me Hrovat vibes

 

[threenewpadlocks]

The 2021 first they refused to offer up - the just delisted Ben Hobbs
It's impressive how they constantly find new ways to **** up list management

Trading pick 31 + 11 to trade up to pick 10 has to be one of the more stupider draft pick trades there is. Arrogance in the over-certainty that Nate Caddy will be a better player than O'Sullivan (or any of the players that they could have taken at 11), let alone 31 being a pick of real value that you are not an unlikely scenario to find the best player out of all three picks at that pick 31.

There's been worse trades in a purely value sense but at least there's some defensible logic at play with those ie trading future draft picks and gambling on yourself to be good and the future first not being a top 10 pick or whatever. But the 11+ 31 for 10 is just so laid bare in being a being a bad trade that I don't know how else to describe it.

 

[BomToydd]

Harvey Gallagher is this decades Nathan Hrovat

Feel like he could be a Roarke Smith too

 

[BEaston]

I swear this exact post was posted a couple of days ago by a different account.

They're malfunctioning AI bots at this point

 

[weltschmerz]

They're malfunctioning AI bots at this point

hey chatgpt, write an off-season's worth of bigfooty comments on the following topics: it was irresponsible to not trade for Steven May, delist Ryan Gardner, delist Laitham Vandermeer, delist Lachie McNeil, Bevo is a clueless idiot, why not play Naughton down back

 

[VitalDread]

hey chatgpt, write an off-season's worth of bigfooty comments on the following topics: it was irresponsible to not trade for Steven May, delist Ryan Gardner, delist Laitham Vandermeer, delist Lachie McNeil, Bevo is a clueless idiot, why not play Naughton down back

I'm glad I work in renewables, cause I drained a lake for this haha

Thread 1: It was irresponsible not to trade for Steven May

Dogz4Life:
We could’ve had Steven bloody May back when he was gettable, but nah, we thought Zaine Cordy was the future. Absolute malpractice from the list team.

WesternWoes:
Don’t even start. Every time I watch Melbourne’s backline just calmly absorb pressure I think, “that could’ve been us.” Instead, we’ve got a panic attack in slow motion every time it goes inside 50.

RedWhiteAndBlue88:
To be fair, May was cooked at Gold Coast. No one predicted the Dees would fix him. But yeah… still feels like the one that got away.

SensibleSam:
Imagine May organising our backline. English could actually sleep at night.

TinfoilBevo:
We didn’t trade for May because Bevo doesn’t like defenders. He thinks conceding goals is “part of the journey.”

Thread 2: Delist Ryan Gardner

BulldogBlood:
Love the bloke, but let’s be real — he’s a VFL key defender at best. Good story, but if we’re serious about contending, he’s gotta go.

OptimisticOllie:
Harsh. He gives 100% every week. Not his fault he’s been forced to play on blokes 10cm taller because the club refuses to draft KPDs.

GrumpyGuv:
He’s a trier, but triers don’t win flags. Sorry, Gardy.

StatsNerd69:
Every advanced metric says he’s bottom quartile for one-on-one wins. The eye test agrees.

HotTakesOnly:
Gardner stays, Naughton back, and suddenly we have structure. Simple.

Thread 3: Delist Laitham Vandermeer

WesternHeart:
I like VDM’s pace, but what’s the point of pace if you can’t kick, can’t tackle, and can’t stay on the park?

InBevoWeTrusted (now banned):
VDM has photos of Bevo, it’s the only explanation. Man’s done nothing for years.

ReasonableRover:
When fit, he adds run and chaos. But that’s like saying “when the sun shines in Antarctica.” Time to move on.

DraftMeABackline:
Reckon VDM would look elite in the SANFL. Unfortunately, we’re not in the SANFL.

Thread 4: Delist Lachie McNeil

FuriousFred:
Why is he still on the list?? Every time he plays it’s like we’re starting a man down.

DogHouseResident:
McNeil’s AFL career is the greatest trick since the Devil convinced the world he didn’t exist. Invisible every week.

KeenObserver:
Hard worker, gives effort, but effort doesn’t equal impact. Too many blokes like him on the list.

CouchCoach:
Delist and use his spot on a proper small forward who can crumb. We haven’t had one since Tory Dickson retired.

Thread 5: Bevo is a clueless idiot

BevoOut2025:
Every year it’s the same. Overthinks the magnets, drops form players, plays mids as defenders, defenders as forwards, forwards as wingmen. Enough is enough.

CalmDownCrew:
He’s won a flag and kept us competitive. We could be North.

AngryDoggo:
2016 was nine years ago, mate. The game’s passed him by. Every week it’s “we learned some lessons.” When are we gonna graduate?

DoggoneIt:
Players look lost. Coaches look lost. Fans definitely lost. Time for a circuit breaker.

ContrarianCarl:
Half the list wouldn’t exist without Bevo’s development. Sack him and we’ll spend a decade rebuilding again.

Thread 6: Why not play Naughton down back?

SmartestGuyInTheRoom:
He was drafted as a defender. He was elite as a defender. We need defenders. It’s not rocket science.

BevoApologist:
He’s our best forward, though. Why weaken one end to patch the other?

RealistRover:
We’re already weak at both ends, so maybe balance it out?

HotTakeMachine:
If Naughton goes back, Ugle-Hagan kicks 70. Book it.

LaughingStock:
We’ll play him in the ruck before we play him down back. You just wait.

Dog4Premiers:
Nah, he’s wasted forward. Every time he marks in D50 it’s like watching a flashback to when we actually had structure. Let him defend again.

 

[BulldogMuscle]

I'm glad I work in renewables, cause I drained a lake for this haha

Thread 1: It was irresponsible not to trade for Steven May

Dogz4Life:
We could’ve had Steven bloody May back when he was gettable, but nah, we thought Zaine Cordy was the future. Absolute malpractice from the list team.

WesternWoes:
Don’t even start. Every time I watch Melbourne’s backline just calmly absorb pressure I think, “that could’ve been us.” Instead, we’ve got a panic attack in slow motion every time it goes inside 50.

RedWhiteAndBlue88:
To be fair, May was cooked at Gold Coast. No one predicted the Dees would fix him. But yeah… still feels like the one that got away.

SensibleSam:
Imagine May organising our backline. English could actually sleep at night.

TinfoilBevo:
We didn’t trade for May because Bevo doesn’t like defenders. He thinks conceding goals is “part of the journey.”

Thread 2: Delist Ryan Gardner

BulldogBlood:
Love the bloke, but let’s be real — he’s a VFL key defender at best. Good story, but if we’re serious about contending, he’s gotta go.

OptimisticOllie:
Harsh. He gives 100% every week. Not his fault he’s been forced to play on blokes 10cm taller because the club refuses to draft KPDs.

GrumpyGuv:
He’s a trier, but triers don’t win flags. Sorry, Gardy.

StatsNerd69:
Every advanced metric says he’s bottom quartile for one-on-one wins. The eye test agrees.

HotTakesOnly:
Gardner stays, Naughton back, and suddenly we have structure. Simple.

Thread 3: Delist Laitham Vandermeer

WesternHeart:
I like VDM’s pace, but what’s the point of pace if you can’t kick, can’t tackle, and can’t stay on the park?

InBevoWeTrusted (now banned):
VDM has photos of Bevo, it’s the only explanation. Man’s done nothing for years.

ReasonableRover:
When fit, he adds run and chaos. But that’s like saying “when the sun shines in Antarctica.” Time to move on.

DraftMeABackline:
Reckon VDM would look elite in the SANFL. Unfortunately, we’re not in the SANFL.

Thread 4: Delist Lachie McNeil

FuriousFred:
Why is he still on the list?? Every time he plays it’s like we’re starting a man down.

DogHouseResident:
McNeil’s AFL career is the greatest trick since the Devil convinced the world he didn’t exist. Invisible every week.

KeenObserver:
Hard worker, gives effort, but effort doesn’t equal impact. Too many blokes like him on the list.

CouchCoach:
Delist and use his spot on a proper small forward who can crumb. We haven’t had one since Tory Dickson retired.

Thread 5: Bevo is a clueless idiot

BevoOut2025:
Every year it’s the same. Overthinks the magnets, drops form players, plays mids as defenders, defenders as forwards, forwards as wingmen. Enough is enough.

CalmDownCrew:
He’s won a flag and kept us competitive. We could be North.

AngryDoggo:
2016 was nine years ago, mate. The game’s passed him by. Every week it’s “we learned some lessons.” When are we gonna graduate?

DoggoneIt:
Players look lost. Coaches look lost. Fans definitely lost. Time for a circuit breaker.

ContrarianCarl:
Half the list wouldn’t exist without Bevo’s development. Sack him and we’ll spend a decade rebuilding again.

Thread 6: Why not play Naughton down back?

SmartestGuyInTheRoom:
He was drafted as a defender. He was elite as a defender. We need defenders. It’s not rocket science.

BevoApologist:
He’s our best forward, though. Why weaken one end to patch the other?

RealistRover:
We’re already weak at both ends, so maybe balance it out?

HotTakeMachine:
If Naughton goes back, Ugle-Hagan kicks 70. Book it.

LaughingStock:
We’ll play him in the ruck before we play him down back. You just wait.

Dog4Premiers:
Nah, he’s wasted forward. Every time he marks in D50 it’s like watching a flashback to when we actually had structure. Let him defend again.

I'm glad I'm not mentioned here.

 

[Freshwater]

Feel like he could be a Roarke Smith too

From memory Rourke kicked our first goal in the 2021 Grand Final and had a good game. He was nearly the only one flying the flag in the losing 2022 elimination final to Freo in Perth. Rourke will be forgotten by many because we never won those games and they won’t be replayed. He would/should be Shane Biggs level respect, but we lost those games and when there is 23 v 23 it’s hardly their fault they win or lose. Rourke was a goer and always had a crack.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

From memory Rourke kicked our first goal in the 2021 Grand Final and had a good game. He was nearly the only one flying the flag in the losing 2022 elimination final to Freo in Perth. Rourke will be forgotten by many because we never won those games and they won’t be replayed. He would/should be Shane Biggs level respect, but we lost those games and when there is 23 v 23 it’s hardly their fault they win or lose. Rourke was a goer and always had a crack.

I thought Smiths form from in 2019 and 2021 was pretty decent in general.

 

[Golden_6]

Feels like Harvey Gallagher is a bit forgotten and not rated around here. Doesn't have the cleanest disposal but does have some traits that I think give him the potential to be a good player. Could see him being a good tagger if Bevo got over his problem with them or an improvement on the likes of VDM, McNeil, Garcia and Sanders or even someone like Bramble

The theory of Harvey Gallagher is great. The reality isn’t.

He’s one of those players I’ve never actually seen play a good AFL game. Clumsy, poor skills & poor decision making.

Harvey is still young but he was destroyed in the games he was trialled as a tagger.

 

[Testekill]

Rourke was a handy player when fit. It's a shame that his body let him down because he looked like he had made the wing his position with his hard defensive running.

 

[Dogs Rule]

Nothing we didn't already know, but interesting.

Chad Cornes' big call on Zak Butters' future

He continues to be linked with a return to Victoria.

www.sen.com.au

 

[Sid Nullis]

liked Chad Korn getting interviewed by his brother about Butters and saying he’ll be moving back and is a bulldog tragic. Good signs early lol

 

[LondonBulldog]

I personally think Gallagher could make a pressure forward. Fit, great running capacity, strong tacklers and actually a good set shot for goal.
He was unlucky with injuries last year yet is the hardest worker in the club. I'm sure we will surprise a few next year. I'm seeing his Uncle tonight, I'll see if he can find out what position he is training for over the preseason.

 

[adogsfan5]

 

[Bulldogs85]

I bet Kane Cornes want home and cried into his pillow when Chad said he thinks Butters would end up at our club

 

[geoffjennings79]

This time next year Butters WILL be a Bulldog. We will also waltz through 2027 and 2028 undefeated.

Nothing surer. Bookmark it!

At the risk of quoting myself... I'll quote myself!

 

[Mofra]

I don't know why the club didn't chase someone like Aliir Aliir. Can't say I watched many Port games this year but does anyone else think he might have been a decent option to pair with Lobb and take the pressure off JOD and Buss for a couple of seasons? The direction Port are headed doesn't look great so couldn't have hurt our chances. Might have also helped land Butters next year

He's great as an interceptor but we're after a KPD who defends.