2026 List Management Thread

[Axe Man]

With our list for 2026 almost complete but for a handful of draftees and perhaps an SPP signing it's time to look ahead to the important list management decisions looming over the next 12 months.

Out of contract at the end of next year we have the following players:

Ryan Gardner: 2026
James Harmes: 2026
Ryley Sanders: 2026
Jordan Croft: 2026
Harvey Gallagher: 2026
Rhylee West: 2026
Jedd Busslinger: 2026
Joel Freijah: 2026
Buku Khamis: 2026
Lachie McNeil: 2026
Lachlan Bramble: 2026
Lachie Jaques: 2026
Luke Kennedy: 2026
Lachlan Smith: 2026
Zac Walker: 2026
Tom Liberatore: 2026
Arthur Jones: 2026
Michael Sellwood: 2026
Adam Treloar: 2026
Oskar Baker: 2026
Nick Coffield: 2026

What are your way too early calls on these players?

Perhaps a game of kiss, marry, kill (trade, keep, delist)?

[Axe Man]

The out-of-contract stars who will dominate trade discussions next season

JOEL FREIJAH

WESTERN BULLDOGS

---

The Dogs have had some early talks about an extension for the magnificent Freijah, whose best football last year was scintillating.
He is only two years into his AFL career and signed a one-year extension to the end of 2026 in August 2024 so is still on mandatory AFL wages.
But a player who was capable of four goals and 23 possessions against Sydney, and three goals in the win-or-out round 24 Fremantle clash will receive a huge pay rise on his next deal.
He is aware he still has plenty to work on but he has such power, speed and versatility and is only scratching the surface of his potential.

RYLEY SANDERS

WESTERN BULLDOGS

---

The Tasmanian midfielder didn’t set the world on fire in his second season, squeezed out of the midfield and not especially damaging with his possessions.
The Dogs wisely rebuffed Adelaide trade interest for Sanders after giving up pick 10, 17 and a future first-rounder for the pick to secure the No. 6 selection.
But he won’t be in a hurry to sign a new contract given he was pushed out of the round 24 side, aware Tasmania will come hard at him.
Even if he eventually signs a two-year deal he would still be eligible to be recruited by the Devils in 2028 as part of their list rules which allow them access to uncontracted players across the first two years of their list build.
So the Dogs will desperately hope he explodes in 2026 and justifies them handing him big money for a long-term extension past the early years of the Devils’ entrance to the year.

RHYLEE WEST

WESTERN BULLDOGS

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West has perfectly timed his run to cash in on his value as a restricted free agent who had a career year in 2025 with 39 goals, 82 tackles and 6.3 score involvements a game.
In a perfect world Cody Weightman would return to help share the load and it would only enhance West’s game.
The son of a Dogs gun is now making his name as a small forward with elite craft and accuracy after only 19 behinds to go with his 39 goals.

[NAUGHTY100]

The out-of-contract stars who will dominate trade discussions next season

JOEL FREIJAH

WESTERN BULLDOGS

---

The Dogs have had some early talks about an extension for the magnificent Freijah, whose best football last year was scintillating.
He is only two years into his AFL career and signed a one-year extension to the end of 2026 in August 2024 so is still on mandatory AFL wages.
But a player who was capable of four goals and 23 possessions against Sydney, and three goals in the win-or-out round 24 Fremantle clash will receive a huge pay rise on his next deal.
He is aware he still has plenty to work on but he has such power, speed and versatility and is only scratching the surface of his potential.

RYLEY SANDERS

WESTERN BULLDOGS

---

The Tasmanian midfielder didn’t set the world on fire in his second season, squeezed out of the midfield and not especially damaging with his possessions.
The Dogs wisely rebuffed Adelaide trade interest for Sanders after giving up pick 10, 17 and a future first-rounder for the pick to secure the No. 6 selection.
But he won’t be in a hurry to sign a new contract given he was pushed out of the round 24 side, aware Tasmania will come hard at him.
Even if he eventually signs a two-year deal he would still be eligible to be recruited by the Devils in 2028 as part of their list rules which allow them access to uncontracted players across the first two years of their list build.
So the Dogs will desperately hope he explodes in 2026 and justifies them handing him big money for a long-term extension past the early years of the Devils’ entrance to the year.

RHYLEE WEST

WESTERN BULLDOGS

---

West has perfectly timed his run to cash in on his value as a restricted free agent who had a career year in 2025 with 39 goals, 82 tackles and 6.3 score involvements a game.
In a perfect world Cody Weightman would return to help share the load and it would only enhance West’s game.
The son of a Dogs gun is now making his name as a small forward with elite craft and accuracy after only 19 behinds to go with his 39 goals.

Firstly i love your description of Joel Freijah as THE MAGNIFICANT , which tickled my fancy haha.
As far as Sanders is concerned we litearlly gave away 3 , 1st round draft picks for thge guy , would not have been good business to then two years later give him away for maybe a late 1st rounder and Butts , so im really glad we kept him , and when not if he does improve and decides he wants Tazi , then we may get close to thoes 3 , 1st rounders back .
West really continued his progression with a career best year , if he continues on this trajectory he will become one of the premier small forwards in the game , one that needs only 10 or so disposals per game to be very influential in the result .
All three must be priority signings next year for the club .

[Axe Man]

Firstly i love your description of Joel Freijah as THE MAGNIFICANT , which tickled my fancy haha.

That's Jon Ralph's handiwork, not mine. They are just the Bulldogs players mentioned in the linked article.

[NAUGHTY100]

That's Jon Ralph's handiwork, not mine. They are just the Bulldogs players mentioned in the linked article.

Haha ok thought it was your work either way its very appropriate .

[Cmac1297]

With our list for 2026 almost complete but for a handful of draftees and perhaps an SPP signing it's time to look ahead to the important list management decisions looming over the next 12 months.

Out of contract at the end of next year we have the following players:

Ryan Gardner: 2026
James Harmes: 2026
Ryley Sanders: 2026
Jordan Croft: 2026
Harvey Gallagher: 2026
Rhylee West: 2026
Jedd Busslinger: 2026
Joel Freijah: 2026
Buku Khamis: 2026
Lachie McNeil: 2026
Lachlan Bramble: 2026
Lachie Jaques: 2026
Luke Kennedy: 2026
Lachlan Smith: 2026
Zac Walker: 2026
Tom Liberatore: 2026
Arthur Jones: 2026
Michael Sellwood: 2026
Adam Treloar: 2026
Oskar Baker: 2026
Nick Coffield: 2026

What are your way too early calls on these players?

Perhaps a game of kiss, marry, kill (trade, keep, delist)?

Priorities for me would be
1. Freijah
2. West
3. Sanders
4. Croft
5. Busslinger
No guarantees the rest would be locked to go on after that

[Sedat]

Priorities for me would be
1. Freijah
2. West
3. Sanders
4. Croft
5. Busslinger
No guarantees the rest would be locked to go on after that

Outside of these 5 (and I would make it 6 by adding Jaques to the must keep list), the remaining 15 players represent a huge amount amount of "depth at best", "unproven youth" and "likely to retire" types, with only Bramble not fitting into any of these categories - he will fully deserve a new multi-year contract if he continues his growth and development trajectory in 2026.

We have done an excellent job or prioritising our top-end talent and locking them way to medium/long-term deals just as Tassie are coming in to dilute the draft and talent pool further.

[NAUGHTY100]

Personally right or wrong id add another 3 guys to the list already mentioned , and they are Bussalinga who we have preservered with for a while now and id like to tie him down two at least 2 more years .
Sellwood is another id want to sign for another 2 years at least , he shows he can play , but he may need a bit of time to show us how good he can be , and Lachlan Smith is the other id make sure was signed for at least 2 or 3 more years , his continual growth was evident this year , hopefully he can blossom into a nice player for us .

[Bornadog]

Early predictions

Ryan Gardner: 2026 - delist
James Harmes: 2026 - 1 yr
Ryley Sanders: 2026 - sign for 3 more
Jordan Croft: 2026 - sign for 3 more
Harvey Gallagher: 2026 - needs to prove himself
Rhylee West: 2026 - 3 more
Jedd Busslinger: 2026 - 2 more
Joel Freijah: 2026 - 5 years
Buku Khamis: 2026 - needs to prove himself
Lachie McNeil: 2026 - needs to prove himself
Lachlan Bramble: 2026 - sign for 2 more
Lachie Jaques: 2026 -needs to prove himself
Luke Kennedy: 2026 - needs to prove himself - but hasn't shown much
Lachlan Smith: 2026 - 2 more
Zac Walker: 2026 - needs to prove himself
Tom Liberatore: 2026 - Retire
Arthur Jones: 2026 -needs to prove himself
Michael Sellwood: 2026 - needs to prove himself
Adam Treloar: 2026 - depends on Body and performance
Oskar Baker: 2026 - 2 more, but needs to perform
Nick Coffield: 2026 - delist

A lot of players need to perform

[Dogs 24/7]

I'll try and be more definitive.

Ryan Gardner: 2026 - Delist
James Harmes: 2026 - 1 Year
Ryley Sanders: 2026 - 2 Years
Jordan Croft: 2026 - 3 Years
Harvey Gallagher: 2026 - 1 Year
Rhylee West: 2026 - 4 Years
Jedd Busslinger: 2026 - 2 Years
Joel Freijah: 2026 - 4 Years
Buku Khamis: 2026 - Trade
Lachie McNeil: 2026 - Delist
Lachlan Bramble: 2026 - 2 Years
Lachie Jaques: 2026 - 2 Years
Luke Kennedy: 2026 - Delist
Lachlan Smith: 2026 - 1 Year
Zac Walker: 2026 - 2 Years
Tom Liberatore: 2026 - Retire
Arthur Jones: 2026 - 2 Years
Michael Sellwood: 2026 - 2 Years
Adam Treloar: 2026 - Retire
Oskar Baker: 2026 - 1 Year
Nick Coffield: 2026 - Delist

[GVGjr]

I'll try and be more definitive.

Ryan Gardner: 2026 - Delist
James Harmes: 2026 - 1 Year
Ryley Sanders: 2026 - 2 Years
Jordan Croft: 2026 - 3 Years
Harvey Gallagher: 2026 - 1 Year
Rhylee West: 2026 - 4 Years
Jedd Busslinger: 2026 - 2 Years
Joel Freijah: 2026 - 4 Years
Buku Khamis: 2026 - Trade
Lachie McNeil: 2026 - Delist
Lachlan Bramble: 2026 - 2 Years
Lachie Jaques: 2026 - 2 Years
Luke Kennedy: 2026 - Delist
Lachlan Smith: 2026 - 1 Year
Zac Walker: 2026 - 2 Years
Tom Liberatore: 2026 - Retire
Arthur Jones: 2026 - 2 Years
Michael Sellwood: 2026 - 2 Years
Adam Treloar: 2026 - Retire
Oskar Baker: 2026 - 1 Year
Nick Coffield: 2026 - Delist

7 changes, that's a bit to manage

[The Bulldogs Bite]

7 changes, that's a bit to manage

It is, and yet I don't disagree with any of them.

We probably should have moved on Coffield this year. Suspect McNeil might get another year, though I would prefer to move on.

Kennedy could get another year if he shows a bit and maybe one of Libba/Treloar could push out another season if all went well.

Looks unavoidable to have 5-7 changes though.