2025 List Management Thread

[soupman]

I think the key with Sanders is to pay him overs early. Can't let him fall out of contract at the wrong time. Tassie comes in 2028, so Sanders needs to be signed up through 2027 and 28 to get through their first two years of big offers, hopefully by then they've committed the big dollars elsewhere.

Realistically, if we probably need to make him a strong offer this season that gets him through to 2030. His form these last few weeks makes that easier, we can see that he is definitely capable of perfoming at the level, and in a role that isn't always easy (half forward/5th or 6th mid). I've lost touch with what the mid range guys get with the new salary cap but I'd expect offering something in the $700-800K range, maybe even higher considering some of the offers thrown out to potential guys (The Callaghan Saints offer?). While overs, is probably what we are going to have to look at to be proactive.

There is a chance he is more reasonable but if he has a manager they would be negligent to sign him up past Tassies introduction without getting good stuff back for it.

[GVGjr]

I just can't see them not throwing well over $1 million at both McKercher and Sanders and even discussing things like captaincy. It's a different scenario to Gold Coast or GWS - Tasmanians are parochial about the state, the 'six degrees of separation' feels a lot closer down here, and in those two you have the chance to attract genuine Tasmanians who will just be hitting their prime in 2028. It's the Cal Ward type of player but every footy fan in the state has some loose association with them or their auntie or their kindergarten teacher.

If you want to get Tasmanians on board, the way to do it is to make the two Tassie kids the face of the club - I think the people putting the side together will be very aware of that and will be willing to pay the kind of salary that we just couldn't match without jeapordising other list decisions.

There's water to go under the bridge yet, but that's my feeling on it at the moment.

I've talked to Sanders father a couple of times, he's not so sure that players born in and around Launceston would be keen to move to Hobart.
Of course money talks but in the case of Sanders he's lived away from home for a few years now and has established a new group of friends and team mates.
There aren't a lot of players from Hobart in recent years who have made their way onto senior lists.
Sanders will likely sign another deal with us and have that return to home option to maximise the next offer.

[lemmon]

It was a fear of mine with taking Sanders early, but hopefully if he leaves it works out like losing Ward to GWS did (lost a gun but picked up Jack Macrae).

I don't think I agree that we shouldn't match their offers, depending on how crazy they are...

I just can't see them not throwing well over $1 million at both McKercher and Sanders and even discussing things like captaincy. It's a different scenario to Gold Coast or GWS - Tasmanians are parochial about the state, the 'six degrees of separation' feels a lot closer down here, and in those two you have the chance to attract genuine Tasmanians who will just be hitting their prime in 2028. It's the Cal Ward type of player but every footy fan in the state has some loose association with them or their auntie or their kindergarten teacher.

If you want to get Tasmanians on board, the way to do it is to make the two Tassie kids the face of the club - I think the people putting the side together will be very aware of that and will be willing to pay the kind of salary that we just couldn't match without jeapordising other list decisions.

There's water to go under the bridge yet, but that's my feeling on it at the moment.

[jazzadogs]

Agreed, and I think we'd be putting our head in the sand to ignore the Tassie connection for Sanders. They're going to throw a number at him that we simply can't and shouldn't match - I think we're going to struggle to hold onto him.

It was a fear of mine with taking Sanders early, but hopefully if he leaves it works out like losing Ward to GWS did (lost a gun but picked up Jack Macrae).

I don't think I agree that we shouldn't match their offers, depending on how crazy they are...

[lemmon]

I think we need to prioritise the Libba replacement. Ed and Sanders seem to be locked in to our future mids - if we can't land Rowell or Butters then we need to try and draft another mid in the first round. Freijah, West, Garcia, Luke Kennedy, Hynes, Gallagher all have questions marks over their ability to be solid AFL midfielders.

Agreed, and I think we'd be putting our head in the sand to ignore the Tassie connection for Sanders. They're going to throw a number at him that we simply can't and shouldn't match - I think we're going to struggle to hold onto him.

[Mofra]

I think we need to prioritise the Libba replacement. Ed and Sanders seem to be locked in to our future mids - if we can't land Rowell or Butters then we need to try and draft another mid in the first round. Freijah, West, Garcia, Luke Kennedy, Hynes, Gallagher all have questions marks over their ability to be solid AFL midfielders.

If we can't land one of the 'big fish' then Worpel as a FA has to be considered. AFL quality, tough, and free.

[doggies ftw]

Which is your top priority come draft day? Honestly I can’t see us landing any of the below positions of need via the trade table.

1. Liam Jones (is Buss or JOD the guy)?

2. Taylor Duryea (is Gallagher or Cleary the guy)?

3. Small forward (who will partner with Dolan long term)?

Small forward for mine, over the past two years these are almost some of the most important players in the game, and that shows in how high in the draft they’re going now. The best small fwds are coming from the first round mostly when they used to be found everywhere.

Small defender & tall defender can be brought in via trade/FA IMO, we’ve already got Bus and JOD developing well really need a more mature guy as they really only come into their own in mid 20s. This is a position IMO that you can still get good players on the cheap (maybe not star interceptors but at least solid cogs) ie guys who just need the opportunity and are stuck behind others etc, we’ve seen this with Lobb and Jones you can find em.

same with small defenders these guys move around a lot and can be mids/fwds who find their feet as solid plug & play defenders. Small forward right now I think is harder, you need quality.

I think small forward & small defenders (ideally Both a lockdown as well as rebounder) is our biggest need now that Richards and potentially Freijah have changed roles.

Dolan & Jacques looks like a great start last year

[jazzadogs]

Which is your top priority come draft day? Honestly I can’t see us landing any of the below positions of need via the trade table.

1. Liam Jones (is Buss or JOD the guy)?

2. Taylor Duryea (is Gallagher or Cleary the guy)?

3. Small forward (who will partner with Dolan long term)?

Jones - we have to be hoping Buss is the guy, but I wouldn't say no to another genuine KPD to develop.

Duryea - I think Jacques is the guy to take this role.

Small forward - if there's quality available we'd be crazy to say no

I think we need to prioritise the Libba replacement. Ed and Sanders seem to be locked in to our future mids - if we can't land Rowell or Butters then we need to try and draft another mid in the first round. Freijah, West, Garcia, Luke Kennedy, Hynes, Gallagher all have questions marks over their ability to be solid AFL midfielders.

[azabob]

Which is your top priority come draft day? Honestly I can’t see us landing any of the below positions of need via the trade table.

1. Liam Jones (is Buss or JOD the guy)?

2. Taylor Duryea (is Gallagher or Cleary the guy)?

3. Small forward (who will partner with Dolan long term)?

[Uninformed]

Interesting that Jax Cooney is playing for the Geelong Falcons this year. St Josephs is his 'home club' (in West Geelong).

How is he going, have you heard?

[JanLorMill]

We have been linked to both Butters and Rowell.

Imagine they both want to come to the Bulldogs, same salaries, same trades etc...but we can only choose one. Who do you choose? Rowell or Butters?

I think Butters is an amazing player, and have watched more of him than Rowell, so I would be leaning towards him. My impression is that he is cleaner with disposal and faster?

Either will do, both is amazing but we'll probably end up with neither and get someone's seconds

[doggies ftw]

"Players qualify as unrestricted free agents if they have been at a club for 10 or more seasons"

The salary part only applies in the 8th or 9th season. This is Bonts 12th season with us so he is automatically unrestricted.

Ah right, thanks. I was under the impression the salary part was always a condition. All good disregard then

[jazzadogs]

Ah can anyone explain how Bont is not a restricted free agent? So that means he’s not in our top 25% highest paid players… what?

if that’s a case of front ending etc meaning his cap hit this year is lower for what ever reason that’s really poor list management. You can’t have that year be in the last year of their contract, that means IF he was to leave (and I obviously don’t think this will happen) he can walk and best we’d get is a pick after our first ie probably pick 10-14 etc whereas if he was RFA you’d just match and then trade him for an absolute bundle, should hell freeze over and he wants out.

pretty confused about this

"Players qualify as unrestricted free agents if they have been at a club for 10 or more seasons"

The salary part only applies in the 8th or 9th season. This is Bonts 12th season with us so he is automatically unrestricted.

[doggies ftw]

Ah can anyone explain how Bont is not a restricted free agent? So that means he’s not in our top 25% highest paid players… what?

if that’s a case of front ending etc meaning his cap hit this year is lower for what ever reason that’s really poor list management. You can’t have that year be in the last year of their contract, that means IF he was to leave (and I obviously don’t think this will happen) he can walk and best we’d get is a pick after our first ie probably pick 10-14 etc whereas if he was RFA you’d just match and then trade him for an absolute bundle, should hell freeze over and he wants out.

pretty confused about this

[doggies ftw]

We have been linked to both Butters and Rowell.

Imagine they both want to come to the Bulldogs, same salaries, same trades etc...but we can only choose one. Who do you choose? Rowell or Butters?

I think Butters is an amazing player, and have watched more of him than Rowell, so I would be leaning towards him. My impression is that he is cleaner with disposal and faster?

It’s a good question, I would have said Butters no question at the start of the year but very well could change my mind by end of the season. Rowell is on a warpath right now, he’s an absolute maniac in the contest and looks to have his burst back which he seriously lacked after the pretty brutal knee injuries. Keeps going at this level and he’ll be one of the best mids in the comp by end of year IMO.

I do think Butters is a better fit though, and agree he’s faster and cleaner which we need. Would not scoff at Rowell though, it’d be the closest thing possible to getting another 8 years of Libba. Any midfield with Rowell getting first touch is going to be trouble, he’s a beast

I hope we’re pushing both hard and seeing what shakes out, realistically at this rate though Rowell might be closer to success at Suns than Dogs so why leave, the mountain of freebies that club has gotten is truly not quite recognised yet IMO. They’re bringing in 2-4 top top line draftees a year there’s only so long before it really starts to overwhelm the rest of the league. And they’ve got the expected #1 pick again this year…. Fun times.

can’t pay them all though so we have to keep raiding them and trying to beat out other big clubs for the scraps on the outer up there