2025 List Management Thread

[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

[Grantysghost]

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?

Butters.

[jazzadogs]

We just have to do everything we possibly can to get Butters. Bont, Butters, Libba & Richards next year would be insane, that mix genuinely has it all. Libba & Butters together in the coal face will give opposition nightmares, absolute dawgs, will free Bont up to run forward from the stoppage and do what he does best and Richards with the speed.

Butters speed on defence alone would transform our midfield, he’s that good. Throw the absolute house at him to get him here.

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?

[Bornadog]

We just have to do everything we possibly can to get Butters. Bont, Butters, Libba & Richards next year would be insane, that mix genuinely has it all. Libba & Butters together in the coal face will give opposition nightmares, absolute dawgs, will free Bont up to run forward from the stoppage and do what he does best and Richards with the speed.

Butters speed on defence alone would transform our midfield, he’s that good. Throw the absolute house at him to get him here.

agree, would love him at the club. Maybe we give Hinkley a role as well to help entice Butters

[doggies ftw]

We just have to do everything we possibly can to get Butters. Bont, Butters, Libba & Richards next year would be insane, that mix genuinely has it all. Libba & Butters together in the coal face will give opposition nightmares, absolute dawgs, will free Bont up to run forward from the stoppage and do what he does best and Richards with the speed.

Butters speed on defence alone would transform our midfield, he’s that good. Throw the absolute house at him to get him here.

[Axe Man]

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

He's been playing for St Josephs since 2020 so it's not a new thing.

[Mofra]

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

[Axe Man]

Do we have any Father sons coming through this year?

Lukas Eagleton is eligible this year but not sure he's good enough at this stage. Perhaps he will emerge this season.

Cooney and West are more highly rated (particularly West) but are 2026 draft eligible I believe.

Apparently young Max Darcy is already very tall and looking a likely type.

[FrediKanoute]

Do we have any Father sons coming through this year?

[Grantysghost]

Libba will be on one year deals until he's 40! Love it.

[Axe Man]

Tireless Western Bulldogs workhorse Tom Liberatore is ready to sign yet another one-year deal as talks on a new contract for Adam Treloar are put on hold until he gets through his latest injury setback.

Dogs vice-captain Liberatore has led the Dogs during Marcus Bontempelli’s injury absence and was again tough in the clinches in Friday’s tight loss to Collingwood, polling eight coaches votes, tied with Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy for the most in the contest.

Liberatore has openly admitted his wobbly knees mean he will not be able to play on forever but since 2020 he has averaged 21.5 games per season and played as well as ever.

In the last two seasons he signed one-year extensions early – in March, 2023 and April, 2024 – and he is happy to go around again with the same process.

Liberatore played his 236th match against the Magpies, putting him one game behind Brownlow Medal ruck Scott Wynd on the club’s all-time list.

An extra 37 games under his belt would see Liberatore likely move into the top-10 for games played at the Bulldogs, a serious achievement given he has had two knee reconstructions during his AFL career.

Treloar is among the list of other Bulldogs needing a new contract this year and despite early talks between him and list and footy boss Sam Power, proper negotiations will wait until he returns from injury.

The ball magnet recently suffered a calf setback and plans to work on a contract early this season have been paused until he gets back on the park, with his return now at least another month away.

The former Giant and Magpie loves playing with the Dogs and should progress on talks quickly once he is back playing.

The 2024 All-Australian has played 254 games but in a quirk of his three-team journey, is yet to hit 100 matches at any club and now will struggle to tick that milestone off with the Dogs this year as he sits on 81 matches in red, white and blue.

The Bulldogs will be focused on locking down midfielders Ed Richards and Bontempelli in coming weeks, with this masthead revealing last week that good progress is being made on a Richards deal.

Defensive stalwarts Liam Jones and Taylor Duryea are also out of contract at the end of this year.

Link

[Aidan7557]

Taranto getting bashed by the media again this week.

I know his disposal is poor but if there is no chance of landing Rowel or Butters and he came cheap in terms of draft collateral (ie third even second round pick), I’d be very interested.

We are probably short a strong inside mid at the moment. Even if the midfield moves passed him he is a capable forward. I really think he’d compliment our line up well.

I'd do if for a third round pick. He is a massive hack of the pill though, we might have to give him a handball only rule or something...