2025 List Management Thread

[josie]

Worth creating a thread on its own, but our list management hasn't been good enough over a period of time. We have and continue to waste prime Bont years.

A few quick takes;

- How have we not planned for the decline of Jones, Duryea and to a lesser extent JJ? You could raise Busslinger, but like, you don't play him... Is Jacques a JJ replacement? I don't know, but it's years late. And Duryea? Uh, Gallagher who was playing mainly mid until this year? It's really poor management to have a list that could otherwise contend, all because we have neglected issues staring us in the face.

- The decision to take Sanders and Croft. They still have time, but Sanders refuses to kick the ball and Croft is struggling to get a touch in the VFL. I wasn't overly convinced on Croft at the time and I'm genuinely concerned now. Sanders looks a neat player at best but Curtin looks like everything we need and he went a few picks later....

- No ruck depth. We're lucky English has been so durable. Seriously. We have a 19 y.o as our only depth.... What kind of risk mitigation is that?

There are other examples but our list management team should be under fire right now.

To some extent as I understand it, our drafting was compromised by doing what had to be done in picking up Darcy, Marra and Croft (jury out on latter, I think he’ll make it but too early to tell, and we’ve been spoilt by our talls like Naughts & Darcy clearly being good from relatively early in careers).

Agree on Buss, however I think he’ll surely get a good run soon. Also agree on ruck depth but I think Bevo will only play certain types and I’m guessing there just hasn’t been one available.

Our ability to bring in ready made players has been pretty good.

Marra & Weightman have hit us hard this year, one or both playing well and surely we’d have won a few of those close ones.

Treloar injuries have hurt but I figure when you go in with older players like Libba and Treloar that’s the chance you take.

Regarding Sanders, haven’t we changed his position recently and has that coincided with his drop in form? His form line was very promising only a few games ago. I’ve still got faith he’ll be a gem for us.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Worth creating a thread on its own, but our list management hasn't been good enough over a period of time. We have and continue to waste prime Bont years.

A few quick takes;

- How have we not planned for the decline of Jones, Duryea and to a lesser extent JJ? You could raise Busslinger, but like, you don't play him... Is Jacques a JJ replacement? I don't know, but it's years late. And Duryea? Uh, Gallagher who was playing mainly mid until this year? It's really poor management to have a list that could otherwise contend, all because we have neglected issues staring us in the face.

- The decision to take Sanders and Croft. They still have time, but Sanders refuses to kick the ball and Croft is struggling to get a touch in the VFL. I wasn't overly convinced on Croft at the time and I'm genuinely concerned now. Sanders looks a neat player at best but Curtin looks like everything we need and he went a few picks later....

- No ruck depth. We're lucky English has been so durable. Seriously. We have a 19 y.o as our only depth.... What kind of risk mitigation is that?

There are other examples but our list management team should be under fire right now.

[kickit2Koly]

Geez I’d love Beau McCreery

[mighty_west]

While I don't doubt that Starcevich would be a good addition, would his concussion history be of some concern?
He hasn't missed a lot of footy but once players start getting a history of concussions then it becomes a challenge.

This from March

HUGH McCluggage says seeing teammate Brandon Starcevich suffer a third concussion inside eight months is "very concerning".
Starcevich will miss at least Sunday’s game against West Coast after leaving the SCG during the third term of the round one win over Sydney following a collision with Justin McInerney.
It followed concussions against Adelaide last July and then again against the Crows during the AAMI Community Series.

Obviously the main issue would be his health but if he was to suffer one more, the decision to retire him could be taken out of his hands which we have already seen with a few players, big risk.

[Mofra]

If we believe 'okish' rumours, Budarick is joining us next year to boost our small defender stocks. Has played as a defensive forward this year with "mixed" success. A much better player behind the ball.

[GVGjr]

While I don't doubt that Starcevich would be a good addition, would his concussion history be of some concern?
He hasn't missed a lot of footy but once players start getting a history of concussions then it becomes a challenge.

This from March

HUGH McCluggage says seeing teammate Brandon Starcevich suffer a third concussion inside eight months is "very concerning".
Starcevich will miss at least Sunday’s game against West Coast after leaving the SCG during the third term of the round one win over Sydney following a collision with Justin McInerney.
It followed concussions against Adelaide last July and then again against the Crows during the AAMI Community Series.

[azabob]

Really keen on Starcevich and what he would bring to our backline, I think we’re in a good position for this. Obviously the concussion issues will have clubs wary but if we’re not getting any of the bigger targets this year ie Butters, Bailey etc then I think we’re in the position where we could heavily front load a deal for Starcevich next year which will de-risk the remaining years.

Just throwing out numbers here but ie if it’s say $750k over 4 to get him, pay him 1.3 next year which leaves a very modest 550k over 3 etc.

Provided we don’t bring in big names in we have a lot of cap space next year, and then that still leaves us with room to chase Butters again end of next year.

hes a really really good fit, hard nut with speed in the backline. Would be free trade wise as Brissy wont match, its just the concussions which are rightfully a big concern, but clubs can get a pretty good idea these days on how big that risk is with brain scans & what not.

I wanted him or Answerth as part of the Dunkley deal.

[doggies ftw]

Really keen on Starcevich and what he would bring to our backline, I think we’re in a good position for this. Obviously the concussion issues will have clubs wary but if we’re not getting any of the bigger targets this year ie Butters, Bailey etc then I think we’re in the position where we could heavily front load a deal for Starcevich next year which will de-risk the remaining years.

Just throwing out numbers here but ie if it’s say $750k over 4 to get him, pay him 1.3 next year which leaves a very modest 550k over 3 etc.

Provided we don’t bring in big names in we have a lot of cap space next year, and then that still leaves us with room to chase Butters again end of next year.

hes a really really good fit, hard nut with speed in the backline. Would be free trade wise as Brissy wont match, its just the concussions which are rightfully a big concern, but clubs can get a pretty good idea these days on how big that risk is with brain scans & what not.

[Sedat]

I like Dolan but the kid just isn't ready yet. LT he projects more of a HF, Lohmann type.
Hence my interest in drafting Dovaston. Forget just his stats (which are good at u18 champs level), to the eyeball the kid plays 'desperate' in the way Dahlhaus did in his dreadlock era. We need that.

I forgot Dolan, yep I'm also a fan and I believe he will make it. We do need more of this type in the list.

[Scott2016]

Yep. GWS has about 55 small pressure forwards in their squad. We have retro-fitted West to become one, and we have VDM and McNeil with the cupboard completely bare beyond that. Weightman is awesome but he is not a small pressure forward.

VDM and Mcniel dont offer us anything of quality. The are very fortunate that we have no one else. They would struggle to get a game in any of the top 8 teams. We need quality not seat warmers. Its why we cannot go anywhere while we keep giving them games. They dont crumb, their tackles barely stick, low possession numbers, miss easy shots at goal and their opponent picks up plenty of the footy which starts the drama down the other end. If one of them took a running defended out of the game, I would be happy but they dont. Thats why I am keen to let the new kids have a go. VDM and Mcniel have had plenty of games to make a solid contribution. West is just hanging in there but he has been taken out of the game, mainly because the opposition put time into him as they dont need to worry about the other smalls

[Mofra]

Yep. GWS has about 55 small pressure forwards in their squad. We have retro-fitted West to become one, and we have VDM and McNeil with the cupboard completely bare beyond that. Weightman is awesome but he is not a small pressure forward.

I like Dolan but the kid just isn't ready yet. LT he projects more of a HF, Lohmann type.
Hence my interest in drafting Dovaston. Forget just his stats (which are good at u18 champs level), to the eyeball the kid plays 'desperate' in the way Dahlhaus did in his dreadlock era. We need that.

[Sedat]

Need small forwards badly who can hit the scoreboard and wingers who can deliver the ball with class to the forwards

Yep. GWS has about 55 small pressure forwards in their squad. We have retro-fitted West to become one, and we have VDM and McNeil with the cupboard completely bare beyond that. Weightman is awesome but he is not a small pressure forward.

[Scott2016]

We are starting to see the flaws in the playing list.
A small defender, A tall defender, A tall forward and a midfielder should be on the shopping list.

We've got some academy and father son priorities as well to consider.

Need small forwards badly who can hit the scoreboard and wingers who can deliver the ball with class to the forwards

[Mofra]

I'm leaning towards keeping our first rounder this year, taking it to draft and grabbing Dovaston.

He's exactly the type of forward we need. A tiny bit scrappy at times in a Dahlhaus kind of way but he just stays involved and causes scoring opportunities. Can such a tackle. A bit like Watson without the field kicking, and a touch more defensive.

[Pleather Sole]

Just because Arty is an Indigenous player and not tall everyone thinks he is a small forward. He is more a winger and I am not sure about HBF, although as GVGjr says he was tried there in the VFL and I can't remember how he played. In his junior years he played the wing role.

I don't know how he played as HBF either. His speed and agility might suit him in a JJ type role. JJ appears to be on borrowed time. It could be worth another try in the 2's when he's healed and match fit again. A friend of mine with a much better antennae for these things than me pinged him as an explosive HBF early doors. Thinks its the missing piece of the puzzle as to why he hasn't fulfilled his potential yet. He's a bit more mature now and if it would be worth a punt if Pratt and Edge is willing to give him a go. Jacques has been playing forward quite a bit in the 2's as he's developing.