Prediction Who won't be on the Saints list in 2026?

[The Punter]

Dodson's progress has hurt Heath more then Keeler.

I mean, yes, but Dodson was always going to be at the club next year. Heath and Keeler entered 2025 without a contract for 2026.

 

[Klaatu]

I mean, yes, but Dodson was always going to be at the club next year. Heath and Keeler entered 2025 without a contract for 2026.

Agreed with that if Heath isn't picked up, he will most likely play for our VFL saints side.

 

[BrutThough]

Agreed with that if Heath isn't picked up, he will most likely play for our VFL saints side.

Apparently Melbourne is interested in him

 

[bergholt]

I think it would be weird if any of the first year players were cut.

Imo Boyd is an exception because mature age rucks sometimes don't last long at all - remember Paul Hunter?

 

[Remboy]

Imo Boyd is an exception because mature age rucks sometimes don't last long at all - remember Paul Hunter?

Sorry, I agree with him. I was thinking more of the eighteen year olds. I can’t see Barrett, Said, or even Armstrong being cut. They’d all be contracted for next year.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Don't quite understand Keeler getting a new contract ahead of other decisions.

Not sure where his skill set fits into our ruck/fwd mix especially if TDK arrives and Marshall leaves.

Heath has the positives of a big strong body who could actually ruck if injuries forced that situation.

Keeler and Dodson are the more similar type of player - and not sure if we need two in reserve.

 

[SaintWrld]

Don't quite understand Keeler getting a new contract ahead of other decisions.

Not sure where his skill set fits into our ruck/fwd mix especially if TDK arrives and Marshall leaves.

Heath has the positives of a big strong body who could actually ruck if injuries forced that situation.

Keeler and Dodson are the more similar type of player - and not sure if we need two in reserve.

Keeler is a key forward/key defender, not a ruckman. He’s no more of a ruckman than Mitch Owens is. All of TDK Marshall Heath and Dodson are pure ruckman.

My guess is if Marshall leaves they give Heath a 1 year deal, if he stays Heath will be delisted.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Keeler is a key forward/key defender, not a ruckman. He’s no more of a ruckman than Mitch Owens is. All of TDK Marshall Heath and Dodson are pure ruckman.

My guess is if Marshall leaves they give Heath a 1 year deal, if he stays Heath will be delisted.

Yeah but the problem is that ATM its hard to see Keeler as a "key" anything.

With Heath, at least you can see a clear role - even if it is just as a break glass in emergency ruckman.

 

[Remboy]

Apparently Melbourne is interested in him

Straight swap for Gawn. He must want out by now.

 

[SaintWrld]

Yeah but the problem is that ATM its hard to see Keeler as a "key" anything.

With Heath, at least you can see a clear role - even if it is just as a break glass in emergency ruckman.

A bit harsh and very short sighted for a 10 gamer. His round 11 game as a defender he had as good a game as a defender than Tauru has so far. The following week played forward and kicked 3. Needs strength and consistency and will be a best 22 footballer. Clearly you dislike the kid but don’t let it cloud your judgement

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Give me Sos' job and I'd do this

Delist

Cordy
Boyd
Jones
Byrnes
McLennan
Carroll

Trade

Collard (3rd rounder)
Steele (2nd rounder)

Take a 1st rounder (preferably mini Pou) and 2nd rounder, use 3rd rounders on Fincher. Take another couple of picks (key forward depth and small forward prospect). Leave a couple of spots open for SSP/MSD.

Round 1, 2026

B: Webster, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Sinclair, Caminiti, Stocker
C: Hill, Macrae, Windhager
HF: Hall, Sharman, Owens
F: Higgins, King, Wood

Foll: Marshall, Nas, Phillipou
Int: Garcia, Hastie, Boxshall, Wilson, Tauru


Reserves

B: Schoenmaker, Barrat, O'Connell
HB: Armstrong, xxx, Fincher
C: xxx, Jevan, xxx
HF: Said, Keeler, Henry
F: Butler, Heath, xxx

Foll: Dodson, Dow, Clark


I really think that going after FA/trade targets this year is premature. I'd stick at it for another year while bringing in another batch of draftees and then pivoting to adding mature talent that will actually move the needle instead of blowing out wad on recruits who are no better than what we have.

 

[The Punter]

Give me Sos' job and I'd do this

Delist

Cordy
Boyd
Jones
Byrnes
McLennan
Carroll

Trade

Collard (3rd rounder)
Steele (2nd rounder)

Take a 1st rounder (preferably mini Pou) and 2nd rounder, use 3rd rounders on Fincher. Take another couple of picks (key forward depth and small forward prospect). Leave a couple of spots open for SSP/MSD.

Round 1, 2026

B: Webster, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Sinclair, Caminiti, Stocker
C: Hill, Macrae, Windhager
HF: Hall, Sharman, Owens
F: Higgins, King, Wood

Foll: Marshall, Nas, Phillipou
Int: Garcia, Hastie, Boxshall, Wilson, Tauru


Reserves

B: Schoenmaker, Barrat, O'Connell
HB: Armstrong, xxx, Fincher
C: xxx, Jevan, xxx
HF: Said, Keeler, Henry
F: Butler, Heath, xxx

Foll: Dodson, Dow, Clark


I really think that going after FA/trade targets this year is premature. I'd stick at it for another year while bringing in another batch of draftees and then pivoting to adding mature talent that will actually move the needle instead of blowing out wad on recruits who are no better than what we have.

Who rucks in the senior team when Marshall is on the bench?

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Who rucks in the senior team when Marshall is on the bench?

I'd love for Dodson, Keeler or Heath to cement a spot (and I'm sure one of them will - most likely Dodson) but at this point Owens is competitive enough to plug the gap.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Give me Sos' job and I'd do this

Delist

Cordy
Boyd
Jones
Byrnes
McLennan
Carroll

Trade

Collard (3rd rounder)
Steele (2nd rounder)

Take a 1st rounder (preferably mini Pou) and 2nd rounder, use 3rd rounders on Fincher. Take another couple of picks (key forward depth and small forward prospect). Leave a couple of spots open for SSP/MSD.

Round 1, 2026

B: Webster, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Sinclair, Caminiti, Stocker
C: Hill, Macrae, Windhager
HF: Hall, Sharman, Owens
F: Higgins, King, Wood

Foll: Marshall, Nas, Phillipou
Int: Garcia, Hastie, Boxshall, Wilson, Tauru


Reserves

B: Schoenmaker, Barrat, O'Connell
HB: Armstrong, xxx, Fincher
C: xxx, Jevan, xxx
HF: Said, Keeler, Henry
F: Butler, Heath, xxx

Foll: Dodson, Dow, Clark


I really think that going after FA/trade targets this year is premature. I'd stick at it for another year while bringing in another batch of draftees and then pivoting to adding mature talent that will actually move the needle instead of blowing out wad on recruits who are no better than what we have.

Need to move on from Stocker & Webster.
Fincher won't be H.B. after his recent game for Sandy.

 

[pebblesofsand]

A bit harsh and very short sighted for a 10 gamer. His round 11 game as a defender he had as good a game as a defender than Tauru has so far. The following week played forward and kicked 3. Needs strength and consistency and will be a best 22 footballer. Clearly you dislike the kid but don’t let it cloud your judgement

I don't dislike anybody who plays AFL.

My point was straightforward - Keeler hasn't proved himself any more than someone like Heath so it struck me as strange that he has been given a contract this early in the cycle.

Howard, Stocker Dow and O'Connell were more obvious as they have a clear role for the future.

Add Aleer and TDK and tell me which spot Keeler is going to "own".

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

I don't dislike anybody who plays AFL.

My point was straightforward - Keeler hasn't proved himself any more than someone like Heath so it struck me as strange that he has been given a contract this early in the cycle.

Howard, Stocker Dow and O'Connell were more obvious as they have a clear role for the future.

Add Aleer and TDK and tell me which spot Keeler is going to "own".

I would imagine that the club's vision for Keeler is Ruck/Forward or is that just my vision?

 

[SG34]

And give yourselves an upper cut

My dentures fell down the gutter. But I’m smiling. With an Ironhand it tends to happen.

 

[Mr Platinum]

Zac Jones and Angus McLennan you would think will be moved on. I’m hearing Max Heath stays.

 

[BigPowerForward]

Hope to be proven wrong but The Shoemaker gives me Siposs vibes.
He might get another contract with us but needs to improve heaps
On his current trajectory I reckon he will end up being more successful as a punter in the US

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Byrnes
Carroll
Heath
Jones
Schoey

Still waiting on

 

[The Punter]

Byrnes
Carroll
Heath
Jones
Schoey

Still waiting on

Heath will be entirely contingent on what happens with Marshall IMO. Schoemakers might be Aleer/Silvagni related. The others depend on how many mids we trade in, but I have no idea what the priority is between those three. Byrnes has played the most recently but was out late, Carroll the most upside potentially, and Jones is the most trusted.

 

[Veer Right]

Keeler is a key forward/key defender, not a ruckman. He’s no more of a ruckman than Mitch Owens is. All of TDK Marshall Heath and Dodson are pure ruckman.

My guess is if Marshall leaves they give Heath a 1 year deal, if he stays Heath will be delisted.

Heath has shown plenty of talent as a Ruck/Foward imo

Sets him apart

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Heath will be entirely contingent on what happens with Marshall IMO. Schoemakers might be Aleer/Silvagni related. The others depend on how many mids we trade in, but I have no idea what the priority is between those three. Byrnes has played the most recently but was out late, Carroll the most upside potentially, and Jones is the most trusted.

Yeah you'd think if Marshall stays Heath is gone
The Dees sniffing around is good for us,
won't have to delist him & hopefully get a draft 3rd rounder.
Byrnes, Carroll, Jones staying depends on
whether we get Flanders & the Mystery mid.
I'd keep Schoey for 1 more year & play him forward.
Wonder if he could be a Brodie Mihocek type.
Mihocek was plying away as a 3rd tall back for Port Melbourne vfl,
before the Pies picked him up & turned him into a key forward.
More of a contested beast than Schoey though.

 

[Saintbloke]

Heath has shown plenty of talent as a Ruck/Foward imo

Sets him apart

I see a lot of upside in Heath, and more development potential, as I do in Dodson, but clearly if you're not BOG after a couple of games, back to the VFL you go. How did Roma go in his first few senior games?

 

[Veer Right]

I see a lot of upside in Heath, and more development potential, as I do in Dodson, but clearly if you're not BOG after a couple of games, back to the VFL you go. How did Roma go in his first few senior games?

Marshall 2018 as a 22 year old and Heath currently as a 22 year old are not that far apart. Marshall went beserk is 2019 like few ever done however. I just wish we had a version of Heath with his fitness levels at an elite level for him so we can see what we really have before we make a decision on his future.