10 hours ago, Red and Blue Flame said:

People often confuse Lamb's job with Taylor's.

Which is exactly what you're doing.

Lamb does NOT choose which players we take via pre-season and trade. There's a list management committee which does that, and the recruiting manager - for all recruits, including trades etc is Jason Taylor.

Lamb's job is exactly what it says on the tin, primarily contracts, salaries, salary cap. He's the one who has player agents on speed dial.

He manages the list, he doesn't choose the list. If you want to [censored] about bringing in Grundy, then look elsewhere. If you want to [censored] about Grundy's contract, Tim's your man.

10 hours ago, Red and Blue Flame said:

Tim Lamb is in charge of contracts and adding players from other clubs.

No he's not.

For anyone really interested, this provides good background, also history, especially on the division between recruiting and list management.

"AFL clubs today put four men in a room to deal with list management. There is the list manager, the recruiting manager, the senior coach and the football chief."

When list manager is the AFL’s most important job - News...

With the state heading to the polls on March 21, voters can choose from more ways to cast their ballot than ever before.

17 minutes ago, bing181 said:

No he's not.

Yes, he is

24 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Which is exactly what you're doing.

Lamb does NOT choose which players we take via pre-season and trade. There's a list management committee which does that, and the recruiting manager - for all recruits, including trades etc is Jason Taylor.

Lamb's job is exactly what it says on the tin, primarily contracts, salaries, salary cap. He's the one who has player agents on speed dial.

He manages the list, he doesn't choose the list. If you want to [censored] about bringing in Grundy, then look elsewhere. If you want to [censored] about Grundy's contract, Tim's your man.

Agree to disagree. But Tim Lamb is in charge of the list - and he has the call on acquisitions in pre-season and trade.

Jason Taylor is the National talent manager which focuses on the draft. How do I know all this and the difference in roles? My brother works in recruiting for Freo. He knows the Melb guys.

Tim Lamb is very much hit and miss among the industry. Make of that what you will. Please refer to my earlier post and list of players who we should never have taken via trade

2 hours ago, DeeZone said:

R and B Flame, up until the end of ‘25 our salary cap was very limited, Tom Lynch ($1.6m) didn’t want to leave Tiges, Jeremy Cameron, Joe Daniher, Karl Amon, Josh Dunkley, Bailey Smith, Allan, de Kooning and Curnow were Never coming to Melbourne. Some of The players we picked up were cheap and were mainly depth as we had no spare coin for all or any of the high cost players you have listed. Post ‘25 we may have some cash left to start adding to our list But be reasonable.

We have and had plenty of coin. Kozzy deal hadn't been done, Jackson had committed to leaving.

The amazing thing is just how much coin we would have if we weren't paying Brayshaw for another 2 years, Clarry for duration of his deal, Grundy same...the war chest was enormous.

2 minutes ago, Red and Blue Flame said:

Agree to disagree. But Tim Lamb is in charge of the list - and he has the call on acquisitions in pre-season and trade.

Jason Taylor is the National talent manager which focuses on the draft. How do I know all this and the difference in roles? My brother works in recruiting for Freo. He knows the Melb guys.

Tim Lamb is very much hit and miss among the industry. Make of that what you will. Please refer to my earlier post and list of players who we should never have taken via tra

22 minutes ago, bing181 said:

No he's not.

Refer to Judd McVee leaving - I didn't reveal source but announced on DL he would be leaving to WA (and likely Freo) 12 months before it happened. Brother told me it was agreed. Tim Lamb blindsided. He overseas these deals...that's who Freo have dealt with on every deal between the two clubs e.g. Jackson, McVee...

11 hours ago, Red and Blue Flame said:

People often confuse Lamb's job with Taylor's. Jason Taylor has been the guru that has drafted the young talent.

Tim Lamb is in charge of contracts and adding players from other clubs. His record over the journey, apart from Lever, Langdon and May has been awful:

• McAdam

• Grundy

• Tomlinson

• Hunter

• Schache

• Billings

• Fullarton

• Dunstan

Had we recruited better in 21/22/23, I am certain we would have been in a better spot to get another flag. Sides that go back to back/win another in short succession have turnover of list or ADD quality.

Having said that, there is more work in his role (e.g. contracts) where he has done well/there have been things out of his control, like Clarry's contract (Best player in comp (arguably) in 22 when mega deal was done), Brayshaw (weren't to know that Maynard would end his career and not get suspended for it), Kozzie deal - big tick...

Lamb and Taylor work together. Often his job is to get picks to secure a player Taylor has identified. Their jobs are not siloed.

35 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Which is exactly what you're doing.

Lamb does NOT choose which players we take via pre-season and trade. There's a list management committee which does that, and the recruiting manager - for all recruits, including trades etc is Jason Taylor.

Lamb's job is exactly what it says on the tin, primarily contracts, salaries, salary cap. He's the one who has player agents on speed dial.

He manages the list, he doesn't choose the list. If you want to [censored] about bringing in Grundy, then look elsewhere. If you want to [censored] about Grundy's contract, Tim's your man.

Can someone smarter than me please debunk this cause it sounds like complete bs 😂

1 minute ago, Greg Schneider said:

Can someone smarter than me please debunk this cause it sounds like complete bs 😂

Refer to my earlier post - very simple. Lamb is in charge of any acquisition that is through FA or trade. Yes, Taylor is part of list management, but Lamb is in charge.
Taylor's MO is the draft.

5 minutes ago, Red and Blue Flame said:

Refer to my earlier post - very simple. Lamb is in charge of any acquisition that is through FA or trade. Yes, Taylor is part of list management, but Lamb is in charge.
Taylor's MO is the draft.

Agree there’s no way Taylor could be in charge of draft AND trade that’s ridiculous, enough work in draft as it is, there simply wouldn’t be enough time, I’m sure he’s consulted, but that’s different

42 minutes ago, Red and Blue Flame said:

Lamb is in charge of any acquisition that is through FA or trade. Yes, Taylor is part of list management, but Lamb is in charge.

It depends what you're referring to - Lamb is in charge of list management (contracts, salaries), but he's not solely responsible for bringing players in post-draft. There's a List Management Committee for a reason. If Lamb was "in charge" that committee wouldn't exist.

Coach and head of football (Richardson) also have a say in bringing players in, which is why they're also on the list management committee.

Also, once again, Taylor isn't Head of Drafting, he's the National Recruiting Manager. It's a broader role than what some are suggesting here, as it should be. He's the one who would have been following players from their under-age years, meeting with them (and their parents) etc. etc. and he would be across the backgrounds and strengths/weaknesses of most players in the AFL, at least those who have come through the under-age system.

Recruiting, trading etc - it's not just a one-man show, and that goes for Taylor as well.

12 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Early days, but what about Mihocek and Steel? They look like good pick-ups.

Also surely it's also other football department minds like Alan Richardson etc that contribute to uncontracted and traded player selection?

I wouldnt be so quick to lump Mihocek into the wins column, its a long year hes 33 and done no preseason.

Like most of these signings they were all wins on paper

Hunter had better disposal than Harmes

McAdam added spark and goal nous when we lost Nibbler

Schache and Fullarton replaced other depth duds like Mitch Brown and Majak

Grundy was an older Jackson

Billings could play Jordons wing but kicks better

hindsight says they were all busts

Mihocek and CJ could be next time will tell, for now lets temper expectations

1 hour ago, Turner said:

I wouldnt be so quick to lump Mihocek into the wins column, its a long year hes 33 and done no preseason.

Like most of these signings they were all wins on paper

Hunter had better disposal than Harmes

McAdam added spark and goal nous when we lost Nibbler

Schache and Fullarton replaced other depth duds like Mitch Brown and Majak

Grundy was an older Jackson

Billings could play Jordons wing but kicks better

hindsight says they were all busts

Mihocek and CJ could be next time will tell, for now lets temper expectations

I agree mostly with where you are coming from, but:

a) we got both Mihocek and Steel for next to nothing;

And

b) Given limited (granted it'sjust pre-season) game time they have both shown a fair bit, with Steele contributing well both games and Mihocek 2 goals in 10mins.

I think the signs are pointing in the direction of both these guys being wins and good fits for us.

Where-as they probably weren't what their former clubs wanted/needed. Collingwood are even more top heavy age wise than we were. Not quite sure why Steele was seen as surpurplous to St Kilda, but I think he perfectly plugs the experience gap we had in our midfield post Trac & Clarry exits to provide a bit of support for the next generation of developing mids we have comming through.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/03/02/afl-2026-sam-edmund-latest-tim-lamb-dees-list-boss-knocks-back-adelaide

An AFL List Manager is responsible for shaping a club's playing list to ensure both short-term competitiveness and long-term success. Key duties include managing the Total Player Payments (TPP) salary cap, negotiating player contracts, leading trading and drafting strategies, and scouting talent. They balance list needs with the coach's goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• List Strategy: Developing and implementing long-term, strategic plans for the composition of the playing list.

• Salary Cap Management: Ensuring all player contracts comply with the AFL’s Total Player Payments (TPP) and soft cap regulations.

• Contract Negotiations: Leading negotiations for player contracts, extensions, and renewals.

• Recruiting & Trading: Identifying, acquiring, and trading talent through the National Draft, Pre-Season Draft, rookie drafts, and Free Agency.

• Relationship Management: Maintaining relationships with player agents, AFL officials, state talent managers, and club coaches.

• Compliance: Ensuring all player movements and contracts comply with AFL rules and regulations.

• Relationship to Coaching: Working alongside the senior coach to balance immediate, on-field success with long-term list development.

They are essentially the architect of the playing squad, working year-round to balance the budget while maximizing talent.

An AFL Recruiting Manager leads talent identification, assessment, and acquisition to build a competitive club list. Key duties include scouting, evaluating prospects through data and in-person games, managing part-time recruiting networks, conducting background checks, and driving the strategy for national drafts, rookie drafts, and trade periods.

Key Responsibilities:

• Talent Identification & Scouting: Actively scouting and observing underage (TAC Cup, NAB League), VFL, and AFL-level games to identify potential talent.

• List Strategy & Management: Developing and implementing long-term recruiting strategies, including list retention and assessing list needs in collaboration with coaching staff.

• Evaluation & Analysis: Analyzing player data, performance metrics, and watching coded vision to assess suitability.

• Draft & Trade Planning: Managing the logistics and strategy for the AFL National Draft, Rookie Draft, and trade periods.

• Background Checks & Interviews: Conducting in-depth background checks, character interviews with coaches/teachers, and home visits with players and their families.

• Staff Management & Reporting: Leading and coordinating a team of regional or part-time scouts, and reporting findings to the List Manager or General Manager of Football.

• Stakeholder Management: Building relationships with player managers, talent managers, and Next Generation Academies (NGA).

Required Skills and Attributes:

• Deep knowledge of AFL and VFL structures and talent pathways.

• Strong analytical skills to interpret player performance data.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for interviews and relationship building.

• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends, and travel extensively.

It is the role of the Recruiting Manager to identify which players you draft/trade and then up to the List Manager to try and get them and keep them.

Edited March 4Mar 4 by Redleg

17 hours ago, Turner said:

I wouldnt be so quick to lump Mihocek into the wins column, its a long year hes 33 and done no preseason.

Like most of these signings they were all wins on paper

Hunter had better disposal than Harmes

McAdam added spark and goal nous when we lost Nibbler

Schache and Fullarton replaced other depth duds like Mitch Brown and Majak

Grundy was an older Jackson

Billings could play Jordons wing but kicks better

hindsight says they were all busts

Mihocek and CJ could be next time will tell, for now lets temper expectations

Doesn't really matter if their careers are winding down. So was Cross' when we got him. These guys were recruited to ensure we don't fall into a doom spiral like North or West Coast because our young players have no senior guys around to help them develop.

On 03/03/2026 at 09:15, Red and Blue Flame said:

People often confuse Lamb's job with Taylor's. Jason Taylor has been the guru that has drafted the young talent.

Tim Lamb is in charge of contracts and adding players from other clubs. His record over the journey, apart from Lever, Langdon and May has been awful:

• McAdam

• Grundy

• Tomlinson

• Hunter

• Schache

• Billings

• Fullarton

• Dunstan

Had we recruited better in 21/22/23, I am certain we would have been in a better spot to get another flag. Sides that go back to back/win another in short succession have turnover of list or ADD quality.

Having said that, there is more work in his role (e.g. contracts) where he has done well/there have been things out of his control, like Clarry's contract (Best player in comp (arguably) in 22 when mega deal was done), Brayshaw (weren't to know that Maynard would end his career and not get suspended for it), Kozzie deal - big tick...

Traded peanuts, got monkeys.

saw tim on the tram on my way into pulp

he was talking about an mri result and what it means

6 hours ago, Redleg said:

It is the role of the Recruiting Manager to identify which players you draft/trade and then up to the List Manager to try and get them and keep them.

This in a nutshell.

At least someone gets it.

On 03/03/2026 at 20:16, Red and Blue Flame said:

Agree to disagree. But Tim Lamb is in charge of the list - and he has the call on acquisitions in pre-season and trade.

Jason Taylor is the National talent manager which focuses on the draft. How do I know all this and the difference in roles? My brother works in recruiting for Freo. He knows the Melb guys.

Tim Lamb is very much hit and miss among the industry. Make of that what you will. Please refer to my earlier post and list of players who we should never have taken via trade

what do you mean by 'hit and miss' in this context ?

This is all from my brother who works in the industry - and can be said about all of us in any industry - but some people really like him/enjoy dealing with him and some don't; this would be universal across clubs that aim to strike deals (think Ess and Haw)...

But further and more importantly, others view his record at Melbourne as somewhat mediocre/part (and I stress that word, part) of the problem with not capitalising on a young and talented list from 2021. I made this point in an earlier post, that he has secured some exceptional players (and generally assisted with deals and future picks) but overall feel he hasn't recruited well enough. In other words, people are surprised that he wasn't moved on as part of the sweeping changes we have seen in the last 6-12 months on and off field.

Just passing on the info I have.

I guess this is the thread for it...

2026 MFC list build

Edited March 5Mar 5 by JTR

4 hours ago, Red and Blue Flame said:

but overall feel he hasn't recruited well enough ...

National Recruiting Manager: Jason Taylor

Well, for me the question is why have we been so allergic to using second round and later picks? I get wanting to trade up as high as possible, but the theory that you're more likely to trade in a good player with a third round pick than draft one doesn't seem to have panned out? Looking at the number of busts, and those who gave us maybe one good season, you have to feel we might have found a decent kid with that many shots at the third round.