2025 List Management Thread

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Do we think Harmes is best 23 next year still?

No.

How many good games has he actually played? Granted he's had injuries but I'd pick Robertson over him, especially moving forward. Harmes ain't getting younger.

[Sedat]

No.

How many good games has he actually played? Granted he's had injuries but I'd pick Robertson over him, especially moving forward. Harmes ain't getting younger.

I think he is if he has an uninterrupted pre-season. Injuries/illness have hurt him at inopportune times with us - in both 2024 and 2025 he has had a very strong mid-season run of excellent form until injuries/illness impacted him both seasons.

I trust Harmes far more than VDM and McNeill to impact positively in that high half forward role - he has also proven adept at defensive wing.

[Bornadog]

I think he is if he has an uninterrupted pre-season. Injuries/illness have hurt him at inopportune times with us - in both 2024 and 2025 he has had a very strong mid-season run of excellent form until injuries/illness impacted him both seasons.

I trust Harmes far more than VDM and McNeill to impact positively in that high half forward role - he has also proven adept at defensive wing.

At one stage in the AFL player ratings, Harmes was rated best AFL winger, then he got injured.

[Axe Man]

The latest Danny McGinlay and Tom Boyd podcast is with Michael Regan:

We chat to list manager Michael Regan about the upcoming trade period and the current condition of our men's list. What's our strategy? How do you analyze players? Who gets final say? Who are we getting?

All these questions are answered.

Somewhat.

Link

[Bornadog]

The latest Danny McGinlay and Tom Boyd podcast is with Michael Regan:



Link

Thanks Axe Man, great listen

[Stevo]

The latest Danny McGinlay and Tom Boyd podcast is with Michael Regan:



Link

Thanks Axe. Some very interesting insights.

[Uninformed]

I posted an article in the draft watch thread a few weeks back about Ryan Eyers from Werribee - 199cm 22 year old rated as one of the best mature age KPD prospects this year.

What do you mean by the likes of Comben?

Yep. That sort, or similar from the WAFL or SANFL. Mature age, but still young, talented and could make it at AFL level.

Sorry, my Comben reference was made from memory which is not that reliable. Thought he was picked up from the SANFL, but that was Toby Pink, who I think has been okay as a key defender for them. (again from memory??)

[hujsh]

The latest Danny McGinlay and Tom Boyd podcast is with Michael Regan:



Link

Head of player acquisition and sounds like a bit more of a salesman than Power. Hope his tenure has a bit more luck bringing in players from other clubs

[doggies ftw]

Well with Wilkie a no go, Butters not happening this year that leaves Butts who I hope we go hard at but again is sounding unlikely. Sounds like it’s going to be a pretttty boring offseason for us.

Is what it is really, we’re probably not making massive strides next season but I’m pretty comfortable with the list build. Budarick sounds like a lock and I’m actually really excited about that, I think he’ll have just as much impact to our backhalf as Butts tbh. Robertson I hope we land too - we need a harder edge in the midfield and those two improve the bottom of our side quite a bit with mature, athletic bodies.

Then I hope we get Dovastan with our first, I think he impacts next year and let’s be honest pushing McNeil and VDM out is just as important as anything else we’ll do to our list. Look at Geelong & Lions they’re built on strong half forward lines.

Then it’s all about the development of the kids and with Dolan, Hynes, Jacques and another preseason into Davo there is a heap of natural improvement there, all in positions of need.

Selwood, Budarick as defensive minded mature bodies replacing Bramble & JJ. Robertson in for a defensive mid, a couple of Cody, AJ, Dolan & Dovastan pushing out McNeil & VDM. Also I think it’s good that our defence was just so bad this year that it almost forces us to adapt. If it was just a so-so year Bevo could probably get away with just rolling in with the same setup next year and hoping for the best but with it being as publicly shit as it was it really forces our hand to do something about it.

Budarick Buss Lobb
Dale JOD Sellwood

Davo Libba Williams
English Bont Richards

Kennedy Naughty Dolan
West Darcy Cody

Freijah, Robertson, Croft, one of Bramble/Cleary/Jacques, Croft, one of Sanders/Treloar/Dovastan/Hynes

Thats pretty strong, much better than what we were putting out this year and plenty to work with to be completely honest, that team can compete.

So much growth in Buss, JOD, Freijah, Sanders, Darcy and the second year players.

So it’s not all doom and gloom, I know it sucks not landing the big names but we honestly don’t need to do anything stupid our list build is on a good trajectory and there’s a lot of reason to be very hopeful going into next year. Realistically the only two who may start to drop off are Lobb & Libba

[Uninformed]

The latest Danny McGinlay and Tom Boyd podcast is with Michael Regan:



Link

Thanks for that. Liked what Rhylee West had to say about Budarick

[Willow18]

Well with Wilkie a no go, Butters not happening this year that leaves Butts who I hope we go hard at but again is sounding unlikely. Sounds like it’s going to be a pretttty boring offseason for us.

Is what it is really, we’re probably not making massive strides next season but I’m pretty comfortable with the list build. Budarick sounds like a lock and I’m actually really excited about that, I think he’ll have just as much impact to our backhalf as Butts tbh. Robertson I hope we land too - we need a harder edge in the midfield and those two improve the bottom of our side quite a bit with mature, athletic bodies.

Then I hope we get Dovastan with our first, I think he impacts next year and let’s be honest pushing McNeil and VDM out is just as important as anything else we’ll do to our list. Look at Geelong & Lions they’re built on strong half forward lines.

Then it’s all about the development of the kids and with Dolan, Hynes, Jacques and another preseason into Davo there is a heap of natural improvement there, all in positions of need.

Selwood, Budarick as defensive minded mature bodies replacing Bramble & JJ. Robertson in for a defensive mid, a couple of Cody, AJ, Dolan & Dovastan pushing out McNeil & VDM. Also I think it’s good that our defence was just so bad this year that it almost forces us to adapt. If it was just a so-so year Bevo could probably get away with just rolling in with the same setup next year and hoping for the best but with it being as publicly shit as it was it really forces our hand to do something about it.

Budarick Buss Lobb
Dale JOD Sellwood

Davo Libba Williams
English Bont Richards

Kennedy Naughty Dolan
West Darcy Cody

Freijah, Robertson, Croft, one of Bramble/Cleary/Jacques, Croft, one of Sanders/Treloar/Dovastan/Hynes

Thats pretty strong, much better than what we were putting out this year and plenty to work with to be completely honest, that team can compete.

So much growth in Buss, JOD, Freijah, Sanders, Darcy and the second year players.

So it’s not all doom and gloom, I know it sucks not landing the big names but we honestly don’t need to do anything stupid our list build is on a good trajectory and there’s a lot of reason to be very hopeful going into next year. Realistically the only two who may start to drop off are Lobb & Libba

I’m really keen on the Budarick pick up. I’ve got basically the exact same best 23 as you

[azabob]

Regan says Croft is literally chose your own adventure. Surely, he is now a key defender?

[NAUGHTY100]

Well with Wilkie a no go, Butters not happening this year that leaves Butts who I hope we go hard at but again is sounding unlikely. Sounds like it’s going to be a pretttty boring offseason for us.

Is what it is really, we’re probably not making massive strides next season but I’m pretty comfortable with the list build. Budarick sounds like a lock and I’m actually really excited about that, I think he’ll have just as much impact to our backhalf as Butts tbh. Robertson I hope we land too - we need a harder edge in the midfield and those two improve the bottom of our side quite a bit with mature, athletic bodies.

Then I hope we get Dovastan with our first, I think he impacts next year and let’s be honest pushing McNeil and VDM out is just as important as anything else we’ll do to our list. Look at Geelong & Lions they’re built on strong half forward lines.

Then it’s all about the development of the kids and with Dolan, Hynes, Jacques and another preseason into Davo there is a heap of natural improvement there, all in positions of need.

Selwood, Budarick as defensive minded mature bodies replacing Bramble & JJ. Robertson in for a defensive mid, a couple of Cody, AJ, Dolan & Dovastan pushing out McNeil & VDM. Also I think it’s good that our defence was just so bad this year that it almost forces us to adapt. If it was just a so-so year Bevo could probably get away with just rolling in with the same setup next year and hoping for the best but with it being as publicly shit as it was it really forces our hand to do something about it.

Budarick Buss Lobb
Dale JOD Sellwood

Davo Libba Williams
English Bont Richards

Kennedy Naughty Dolan
West Darcy Cody

Freijah, Robertson, Croft, one of Bramble/Cleary/Jacques, Croft, one of Sanders/Treloar/Dovastan/Hynes

Thats pretty strong, much better than what we were putting out this year and plenty to work with to be completely honest, that team can compete.

So much growth in Buss, JOD, Freijah, Sanders, Darcy and the second year players.

So it’s not all doom and gloom, I know it sucks not landing the big names but we honestly don’t need to do anything stupid our list build is on a good trajectory and there’s a lot of reason to be very hopeful going into next year. Realistically the only two who may start to drop off are Lobb & Libba

Agree with most of all your ideas but , unfortunately Robertson has chosen West Coast over us .
Your side is pretty close to mine as well , only change id go with is Freijah for Sellwood .

[doggies ftw]

Regan says Croft is literally chose your own adventure. Surely, he is now a key defender?

I’m open to it, probably preferred it pre-Marra BS and his form late last year but honestly I’d probably keep him forward for now.

Just don’t think he changes much for us in defence - is he going to be able to win one on ones, or is he just another 2nd tall type like JOD, Lobb & Buss (although I think Buss has #1 potential but a while off). We really need that anchor type and I’m not sure Croft is that.

Although in saying that his elite closing speed could be pretty awesome in defence, especially the way we setup where that’s so crucial and why Jones was so important. His kicking is worse than Naughtys though and that scares me coming out of defence - he’s an absolute scrapper by foot.

i dunno I’m open to either, ideally I’d probably prefer to find a genuine FB and keep developing Croft forward where I think he could be genuinely awesome. I just can’t get enough of tall forwards who can pressure & scrap at ground level and Naughty, Darcy, Croft would be levels of elite the game hasn’t seen in that regard.

But yeah if we’re not going to bring anyone in then maybe he has to out of necessity? We also have the likes of Cody, Hynes next year who can potentially play 3rd tall roles in the fwd line and we saw how dominant Naughty & Darcy could be. I’m just not sure his body is near ready enough for a defensive role yet - I think we still have to develop Croft with a 2-3 year time line in mind. Ie if we think we can fix our backline over the next 2 years before he’s ready is there any point developing him down back now?

long story short, im not sure yet and I don’t think anyone is :P

[GVGjr]

Regan says Croft is literally chose your own adventure. Surely, he is now a key defender?

While I think Croft is better suited as a forward, I'm aligned with doggies ftw view of being open to a change.
At the moment the forward spot is a bit easier for him as he has two huge targets playing alongside him and some crumbers around if he misses his marks .
As a defender it has the potential for him to be isolated more in 1 v 1 contests. As a forward his flair and athleticism can be rewarded.

Even though recent weeks haven't been favorable for us to land a KPD, ultimately we are very likely to be able to cover that position.
The trade period really hasn't started yet and we will find some suitable players.

As a side note, I'm still hearing Naughton to the back line calls from our supporters, I would suggest that they undervalue how hard it can be to find KPF.