2025 List Management Thread

[Rusty12]

My pound4pound ratings had Bramble as our 13th-best player in 2025.
Having a look now, I think that is 100% his correct sport, and I cannot make an argument for anyone below him to be rated higher.
Forecasting for next year, I would hope Sanders, Trelor and Garcia go past him, Cleary is a chance and is the only defender.
I get the Sellwood appeal; however, it is guesswork right now on what he will be next year.

[Rusty12]

I don’t dislike Bramble haha but I think we know what we get from him. He’s solid and at 27 he’s likely not improving, I just want to live in a world where Sellwood, Cleary & Jaques are better than him

And fair enough, it is your best 23 for round 1 next year.
I think the Bramble discussion just came up, around your best 23, not that you said he was a bad player.
If one or more of Sellwood, Jaques or Cleary, go past Bramble as a player, that is great news for the dogs, and their depth and is a big difference from anyone saying he is no good, and that it lives in a hope or vibe that they will, as there is no evidence to suggest that will just happen.

[Willow18]

I don’t dislike Bramble haha but I think we know what we get from him. He’s solid and at 27 he’s likely not improving, I just want to live in a world where Sellwood, Cleary & Jaques are better than him

[hujsh]

This might be the most relevant spot to mention this. Has been mentioned by some journos on twitter that the AFL are looking at bringing in an extra rookie spot for each club specifically for indigenous players to help fight the declining numbers there

[Sedat]

Once a player has been branded as a poor one, it's a long, long way back. 4 good games won't get too many positive comments but a poor one will attract a lot of heat.
I pressured a mate who is always critical of Bramble despite the fact he hasn't missed a game for us as to why he didn't rate Bramble?.
When it was all said and done it was basically that he wasn't getting a regular game with Hawthorn before arriving here so he can't be that good.
Solid logic.

He was genuinely crap with his disposal (by foot and hand) early in the piece last year and it cost us every week, which was the knock on him at Hawthorn. To his absolute credit, he has improved this area of his game significantly and become a vital cog in our rebound game. He deserves all the credit and is clearly a starting 18 player for us. When Dale gets sat on, Bramble does the heavy lifting and keeps our run and rebound going from D50.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Also should this thread be on the main board?

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Anyone else tired of another potential trade period where we lose a talented player and only bring in some fringe player from a other club?

All other teams strengthen their lists whereas we just seem to tread water.

[Bornadog]

Once a player has been branded as a poor one, it's a long, long way back. 4 good games won't get too many positive comments but a poor one will attract a lot of heat.
I pressured a mate who is always critical of Bramble despite the fact he hasn't missed a game for us as to why he didn't rate Bramble?.
When it was all said and done it was basically that he wasn't getting a regular game with Hawthorn before arriving here so he can't be that good.
Solid logic.

My Hawks mate thought he was a very good player but the Hawks were critical of his field kicking. I think he has improved his kicking and is a thumping kick on the run having a shot for goal.

[GVGjr]

Had a fantastic year too.
Kid cannot shake the bias against him.

Once a player has been branded as a poor one, it's a long, long way back. 4 good games won't get too many positive comments but a poor one will attract a lot of heat.
I pressured a mate who is always critical of Bramble despite the fact he hasn't missed a game for us as to why he didn't rate Bramble?.
When it was all said and done it was basically that he wasn't getting a regular game with Hawthorn before arriving here so he can't be that good.
Solid logic.

[Happy Days]

Just because he looks perpetually hungover doesn’t mean he is. Bramble is a good player who has delisting bias hanging over him.

[Rusty12]

Bramble hasn't missed a game for us, do you really he falls out of the 23 or is this just a preference?

Had a fantastic year too.
Kid cannot shake the bias against him.

[Willow18]

Bramble hasn't missed a game for us, do you really he falls out of the 23 or is this just a preference?

Hope that development sees Sellwood, Jaques & Cleary go ahead of him. But he’s likely in over those 3

[Bornadog]

If we head into 2026 with only Lobb, Buss and JOD after losing further depth in Jones and Khamis, our list management team should find another job.

Gardner

[GVGjr]

So likely Budarick, a first rounder & Will Darcy into the squad.

my best 23 going into the off-season:


FB: Lobb, O’Donnell, Budarick

HB: Dale, Busslinger, Sellwood

C: Williams, Bontempelli, Davidson

HF: Freijah, Naughton, M. Kennedy

FF: Weightman, Darcy, West

R: English, Richards, Liberatore

I: Cleary, Sanders, Treloar, Croft, Dolan

Depth:
Small def: Bramble, Jaques
Midfield: Baker, Harmes, Hynes, Garcia
Small fwds: Vandermeer, McNeil, A. Jones
+ whoever the 1st rounder is.

The rest:
Key backs: Gardner, Walker, W. Darcy
Small def: Coffield, JJ
Runners: L. Kennedy, Gallagher, Poulter
Ruck: Smith

Bramble hasn't missed a game for us, do you really he falls out of the 23 or is this just a preference?

[bulldogsthru&thru]

If we head into 2026 with only Lobb, Buss and JOD after losing further depth in Jones and Khamis, our list management team should find another job.

Hard to argue with that. We've also been bereft of a genuine small crumbing forward for what seems like a decade.