2025 List Management Thread

[Hotdog60]

Harmes has grown on me I neutral with Bramble and I wish he would stop doing short kicks.

[Grantysghost]

He wasn't fit last year but now that he is he's showing a lot more. He's more than holding his spot with us now.

It's interesting as talking to Demons fans they said he was cooked in 2023.
Think they're as surprised as us!

You can see he's really slimmed down over summer and it's helped with his running power.

[GVGjr]

I was a Harmes doubter but he has been fantastic for us

He wasn't fit last year but now that he is he's showing a lot more. He's more than holding his spot with us now.

[Bornadog]

I was a Harmes doubter but he has been fantastic for us

Same here and I was wrong

[Mofra]

I think it’s time some well deserved credit is given to the clubs recruiting and list management teams for the recent recycled recruits they have brought in, Kennedy, Harmes and Bramble. Not a lot of love for Harmes and Bramble initially, but I don’t think their bargain basement value can be questioned any longer.

I was a Harmes doubter but he has been fantastic for us

[josie]

I think it’s time some well deserved credit is given to the clubs recruiting and list management teams for the recent recycled recruits they have brought in, Kennedy, Harmes and Bramble. Not a lot of love for Harmes and Bramble initially, but I don’t think their bargain basement value can be questioned any longer.

Yep-totally agree. We’ve been terrific in this area recently.

[Before I Die]

I think it’s time some well deserved credit is given to the clubs recruiting and list management teams for the recent recycled recruits they have brought in, Kennedy, Harmes and Bramble. Not a lot of love for Harmes and Bramble initially, but I don’t think their bargain basement value can be questioned any longer.

[Axe Man]

DASHING DOG MAKES CASE FOR NEXT DEAL

Bulldogs dasher Jason Johannisen is happy to be part of the growing one-year club at Whitten Oval as he hopes to stay fit and build a case to play on in 2026.

As Rory Lobb eyes an early extension on his deal that still runs until the end of 2026, Johannisen isn’t opposed to going year to year.

Johannisen was made to wait in 2024 after another torrid injury run, signing a one-year extension in October.

The 32-year-old suffered another serious hamstring injury in January, but has played in the last two games for the Dogs and was back to his best with 25 touches in Sunday’s win over St Kilda.

The 2016 Norm Smith medallist is due to play game 199 on Saturday against GWS.

Johannisen said he had no plans on slowing down, in his run or his career, and wanted to prove he was worth going around again next season.

At Whitten Oval, Tom Liberatore has been on rolling one-year deals of late and defender Taylor Duryea quipped last year he was on his eighth 12-month contract in a row.

Liam Jones is keen to play on at age 34 and would likely fall in the same category.

“We have a few of us getting older,” Johannisen told this masthead.

“That is just part of the system of football clubs and how they roll. I want personally to build continuity with my football and then the club will reward me.”

Lobb, 32, only came to football late after taking up the game in his late teenage years.

He believes that holds him in good stead to continue playing well beyond his current contract.

“I am an ‘extend early’ kind of guy,” Lobb told this masthead, with his current deal to expire at the end of 2026.

“Now that I’m a little bit older, it’s a little bit harder to do that, but hopefully I can extend soon.”

The Bulldogs is his third club after time at GWS and Fremantle, but he “doesn’t want to go anywhere”.

“I’m enjoying my football at this club … hopefully we can work on a bit of an extension. I was drafted a little bit late, so I always say maybe I can play a little bit longer.

“I don’t feel like a 32 year old. I honestly feel like I act like I’m 27 half the time or just like all the young boys that are around me, and I feel like you’re only as old as you act.

“So the fact that I act like a child half the time when I’m around the football club, I feel like I can play for a long time.

“I’ve got a few little side bets with the boys on how long that I’ll play for. I won’t mention the time frames, but there’s some outrageous ones that I’ve thrown out there. And I’ve got a couple of little coffee bets going on. I might have to follow up in a fair few years with a few of the boys if I’m still playing and cash them in.”

BONT SET TO STAY BUT NO TALKS YET

Marcus Bontempelli still isn’t ready to pick up contract talks with the Western Bulldogs but he certainly won’t be heading to Collingwood or West Coast.

The Dogs star has been happy to delay contract talks until he feels the time is right, concentrating on his rehab from a calf injury before his return against St Kilda.

There was speculation he had met with the Pies then a report in the West that he might be gettable for the Eagles.

But it’s understood he just wanted to concentrate on his rehab before deciding when the time was right to lock himself away at the Dogs long-term.

That point hasn’t been reached yet, but he isn’t going anywhere.

The Dogs are keen to lock away Ed Richards and talks continue on a deal of up to six years for the brilliant free agent.

CEO Ameet Bains said recently of those talks: “(List boss Sam Power and Bontempelli’s manager Tom Petroro) are currently talking about Ed and they will pick up Marcus on the way through. No one internally is concerned about the time frame.

“Marcus once the season rolls around concentrates on leading the club and the injury is an added curve ball. Last time it wasn’t done until round eight or nine of the season so from a Dogs perspective both those guys will be playing at the Bulldogs beyond this year.”

Vice-captain Tom Liberatore has also been in hot form, with his exceptional run-down chase on Brad Hill leading to standing applause from the Dogs faithful on Sunday night.

But he has customarily done his one-year deals midway through the season at the earliest.

His creaky knees, age at 32 years old and his concussion history all mean neither party is in a rush.

He has joined the stables of Tom Petroro, who is also the manager of Richards and Bontempelli.

While many players have recently been medically retired by the AFL after advanced brain scans, Liberatore has recovered well from a series of concussions and had no lasting damage after those scans.

So he has been given permission to play on and is in a rich vein of form.

Link

[Mofra]

Rod Ali may be one to watch for the mid-season draft. Defender, overager, probably a bit dour which is why he didn't get drafted last year.

I do like the idea of drafting a genuine defender who can defend. Nice size so should be able to take mediums and smalls.

[jeemak]

Don't ask me how I know but his current 4 year deal was announced on 25 May 2021. He was always going to want to get back on the field before signing and agree the timing at this stage is normal for him and not a concern.

My only concern is if he wants certainty on the coach before he signs.

Some sort of dark art, I assume. Almost like you're using repositories that couldn't possibly exist!

RE the coaching situation, that's also my only worry but whatever will be will be.

[jeemak]

From AFL Trading Places article. It feels like there is something going on with Bont and I don't like it.

"WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Ed Richards is expected to be the next big name to wipe his name off the free agency list.

Richards was one of just five remaining restricted free agents left on the AFL's official free agency list it distributed to clubs on Monday.

But rival clubs are aware Richards is intent on staying at the Dogs, with Gettable revealing this month that he was in discussions on a five or six-year extension that would see him join 'Club 2030' as the players around the competition signed to at least 2030.

Richards, Hawthorn's James Worpel, Carlton's Tom De Koning, Brisbane's Brandon Starcevich and West Coast's Oscar Allen are the only remaining restricted free agents in the pool.

Clubs are watching with fascination on Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli's contract talks, with discussions not yet progressed.

The champion Bulldog is set to return from his calf injury this week against St Kilda but has been comfortable holding off his contract talks as an unrestricted free agent."

Baines said on radio a few weeks ago they'll get to Bont after they do the others, its not unusual for him to focus on his footy in the first half of the season and they're confident he'll get done.

Richards getting done brings us closer to that point.

[NAUGHTY100]

Don't ask me how I know but his current 4 year deal was announced on 25 May 2021. He was always going to want to get back on the field before signing and agree the timing at this stage is normal for him and not a concern.

My only concern is if he wants certainty on the coach before he signs.

Sign them both is all i can say , if Bont left beacuse the club ummed and ahhed about resigning Bevo it would be a tragedy for this club .

[Grantysghost]

Don't ask me how I know but his current 4 year deal was announced on 25 May 2021. He was always going to want to get back on the field before signing and agree the timing at this stage is normal for him and not a concern.

My only concern is if he wants certainty on the coach before he signs.

Your memory for these things is insane. Savant levels.

[Axe Man]

Bont signed pretty late in the season last contact didn't he? I'm not concerned.
He and Darcy virtually have an open chequebook.

Don't ask me how I know but his current 4 year deal was announced on 25 May 2021. He was always going to want to get back on the field before signing and agree the timing at this stage is normal for him and not a concern.

My only concern is if he wants certainty on the coach before he signs.

[Mofra]

Bont signed pretty late in the season last contact didn't he? I'm not concerned.
He and Darcy virtually have an open chequebook.