The club has made many mistakes with mature players and i cant think of any other club thats stuffed up like we have: Billings, Schache, Fullarton, Sharp, Grundy, Tomlinson were all mistakes. The Grundy trade put us back miles with list management. The rest were all players who could not make it at clubs that were at the same level as us or below, I dont understand buying someone else's rubbish, the wade derkson obsession on here baffles me for the same reason, been on the giants list since 2022 and hasn't looked like cracking a senior game.

I'd Much prefer to see the club invest draft picks on kids in the national draft, it's always a gamble with the kids but it also comes down to environment, culture, team mates, friendships, a number of things can affect a kids development. Alot of negativity on here towards Kolt, I personally think he will be a player, he has the energy and motivation to be one he just needs the opportunity not in for a game and out for 4, abused by a selfish petracca for not passing it to him etc etc, kids like seston, verral etc should've been given exposure at the top level when our season was done, if they don't get near it or show anything, delist them. Not clog spots for 4 years to be delisted with out even being tried. Melbourne's problem is since the flag, there's been the majority of the side drinking there own bath water and need a reality check.

If I'm list management I'm moving heaven and hell to explore every crack and opening to bring Luke Jackson back, and doing what ever that takes he is the number 1 target in my eyes, regardless of what he is saying now the fact it's even mentioned means there is an opening there somewhere.

Secondly I'd be into Beau McCreery, he has something we are missing badly, speed and want for the footy in one player.

Thirdly Brody Mihocek, I dont think this will happen and suspect he will stay at the filth, but who knows, if they bomb out I'm tipping they will have a massive list reshuffle too, as all good clubs do.

We have the polished midfielders in the kids we have in Windsor, Langford and Lindsay, I just don't think they can advance with trac, Oliver and viney in the middle. Viney needs to be moved into a high half forward role or lock down forward, the game has gone past him as starting centre bounce player - ie what dimma had done with Touk Miller, not needed in the middle now so been pushed back and is kore valuable than ever now. Not sure if Petracca stays but if he does, I'm hoping whoever takes this job on cam put some of his ego back into his football, clarry is needed - obviously had a rough couple of years but it can't be easy going through the challenges his had in a professional and public program, needs to find his feet asap and if that's not at Melbourne then so be it.

But we don't need anymore list cloggers from other clubs rubbish piles, and ffs stop with the stone throwing at first and second year kids, big difference in a 19 20 year old player to a 22 23 year old who's been in the system for 4 or 5 years.

I've said in a previous post somewhere, I'd love the club to bring back Brendan McCartney, great with developing kids and a great mentor.

If we can manage to beat the filth Friday night and really stuff there top 4 chances I'd call this year a break even.

13 hours ago, goodwindees said:

Lindsay is going to have to be a very special player to justify what the Club gave up. I realise when Lamb did the deal he was thinking we’d finish 6-8 places higher, but that’s simply not the case.

I’m looking at the Crows, no father sons, no academy players, no NGA players, so I assume they’ve just mostly nailed their first, second, third, fourth rounders for many years with some smart trading of Dawson, Rankine, ANB etc.

the crows actually got a lot of their first rounders right, rachele, curtain, FS michaelaney, thilthorpe, they actually have very few later picks in their side

keays, hinge rankine, dawson, peatling, cumming, nibbler, keane from other teams

smith/laird, milera, tex from the old brigade

leaves murray, fogarty, worrall as about the only ones picked beyond 20 and first rounds go till pick 30 these days so its much of a muchness really, probably stacks up quite closely to our 21 side

On 17/08/2025 at 10:49, Cossie_84 said:

The club has made many mistakes with mature players and i cant think of any other club thats stuffed up like we have: Billings, Schache, Fullarton, Sharp, Grundy, Tomlinson were all mistakes. The Grundy trade put us back miles with list management. The rest were all players who could not make it at clubs that were at the same level as us or below, I dont understand buying someone else's rubbish, the wade derkson obsession on here baffles me for the same reason, been on the giants list since 2022 and hasn't looked like cracking a senior game.

Tomlinson was hardly a mistake - he was a free agent who gave us 6 years of quality service on a moderate wage. I think he could have outperformed May this year, but I understand not wanting to keep three 30+ key defenders on the list.

Billings has done everything asked of him this season - I absolutely believe he would have contributed more than Sharp, Spargo, Sparrow and Langdon with the same opportunities this year.

None of Schache, Fullarton and Sharp cost us much, but I agree that there was precious little evidence that any of these could become regular senior players.

Grundy (and McAdam) are the two decisions that stand out as being horrendously bad.

Pending … buffering… on standby … to be considered … early thoughts

MFC list first review before trades/delisting

key tall defenders: May, Tmcd, Adams

*ADD DERKSEN …add him and have one more year for May and one more year for Tmcd

tall defenders: Lever, D.Turner, Hore❌.

*One more year for Lever. Hore delisted

med/sml/running defenders: Rivers, Bowey, Salem, Mcvee, Howes, AMW, KBrown , Sestan

*KBrown one more year perhaps … Salem hangs in but might get a good desl elsewhere … Sestan one more year

inside Mids: Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Sparrow, Laurie⭕️ Tholstrup, Langford 

*I think Laurie goes. Sadly never given a go and he needs to get a chance elsewhere. Tom Sparrow is a great young bloke but he’s giving us little and if Yze wanted him at tiger land, I’d do a deal

outside Mids: Langdon, Windsor, Lindsay, Woey jnr💔, Culley , Billings ❌

*???Woey jnr …will watch the Casey finals series closely to see what he shows . Billings having a great year for Casey but I think will be delisted

key forwards: JVR, Petty, Fullerton ❌, Jefferson , Johnson, Kentfield 

* Fullerton goes … Jeffo stays for one more year

med-tall forwards: Fritsch, Melksham McAdam❌

*perhaps one more year for Melksham, though I’m not as sure as other posters that he can go on. I’ve never been a fan of the McAdam trade and a ruthless club would cut him

small forwards: Pickett, Chandler, Spargo⭕️, Sharp, Mentha, Henderson❌

*Charlie needs to go. 8 possessions and zero scoreboard impact is not good enough. Likely trade for Derksen or get compo as a FA . Henderson is a good VFL player and that’s it imv

7 off the list - Spargo, Fullerton, Hore,McAdam , Billings, Woey jnr, Laurie (Henderson was top up SSP)

Add Derksen + add another mature player

Add Culley as upgrade to rookie

Add White and Sinnema

Add 2 youngsters in the draft

some of yr assessments are wrong based upon the evidence of the last 4-6 weeks @spirit of norm smith

pickett is an inside mid more than a forward; yes he pushes forward, but he's not a small forward any more

windsor is the prototype modern inside mid - think ed richards, max holmes, zac butters

fullarton is the vfl rory lobb - i tend to think he might be worth perservering with as his last month plus has been excellent as a tall defender

woey 2.0 and pup brown cannot be perservered with; they can't kick

My current, too early/raw, views:

• Of those who are out of contract, I'm very open to any of the following being delisted or traded - Spargo, Sharp, Henderson, Brown, Hore, Woewodin and Fullarton. Billings probably goes here too, but we can't delist everyone and his VFL form perhaps warrants another year as "depth"

• Of those who are out of contract, I'd like us to keep McVee, Sestan, Campbell, TMac and Melksham (the latter three get one more year).

• I have no idea if Verrall will ever make it but our list sort of requires us to keep him

• Of those who are under contract, I'd delist Laurie if we could afford it but the salary cap hit is not ideal, so he may have to stay (I will repeat that the biggest of all the list management blunders we've made was giving Laurie a contract through next year despite seemingly having marked his cards last year, let alone this year). I'd also be open to trading Salem, Sparrow, May, Petty or Lever, if there was a reasonably good deal available

We can't and won't move on all of the 13 players I've mentioned above, but that's the portion the list that IMO should be targeted.

Let’s see how brave we are in trying to turn the list over.

Don’t worry about trying to make it back to finals the next few years, we’d simply be making up the numbers. Time to embrace that massive changes are needed (4 years since we won the flag with pretty much this list).

5 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Pending … buffering… on standby … to be considered … early thoughts

MFC list first review before trades/delisting

key tall defenders: May, Tmcd, Adams

*ADD DERKSEN …add him and have one more year for May and one more year for Tmcd

tall defenders: Lever, D.Turner, Hore❌.

*One more year for Lever. Hore delisted

med/sml/running defenders: Rivers, Bowey, Salem, Mcvee, Howes, AMW, KBrown , Sestan

*KBrown one more year perhaps … Salem hangs in but might get a good desl elsewhere … Sestan one more year

inside Mids: Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Sparrow, Laurie⭕️ Tholstrup, Langford 

*I think Laurie goes. Sadly never given a go and he needs to get a chance elsewhere. Tom Sparrow is a great young bloke but he’s giving us little and if Yze wanted him at tiger land, I’d do a deal

outside Mids: Langdon, Windsor, Lindsay, Woey jnr💔, Culley , Billings ❌

*???Woey jnr …will watch the Casey finals series closely to see what he shows . Billings having a great year for Casey but I think will be delisted

key forwards: JVR, Petty, Fullerton ❌, Jefferson , Johnson, Kentfield 

* Fullerton goes … Jeffo stays for one more year

med-tall forwards: Fritsch, Melksham McAdam❌

*perhaps one more year for Melksham, though I’m not as sure as other posters that he can go on. I’ve never been a fan of the McAdam trade and a ruthless club would cut him

small forwards: Pickett, Chandler, Spargo⭕️, Sharp, Mentha, Henderson❌

*Charlie needs to go. 8 possessions and zero scoreboard impact is not good enough. Likely trade for Derksen or get compo as a FA . Henderson is a good VFL player and that’s it imv

7 off the list - Spargo, Fullerton, Hore,McAdam , Billings, Woey jnr, Laurie (Henderson was top up SSP)

Add Derksen + add another mature player

Add Culley as upgrade to rookie

Add White and Sinnema

Add 2 youngsters in the draft

Very fair assessment.

Obviously room to change if offers come our way

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

I'd also be open to trading Salem, Sparrow, May, Petty or Lever, if there was a reasonably good deal available

I personally think Lever and May should both be up for trade and I would look at moving both of them on not just one of them. Unlikely to get much but might get a player who is hopefully best 22 and fit for Lever.

Yes agree that we need to also look at trade offers

I’m perhaps in the minority but I’m wanting to keep Oliver and Petracca. Oliver has shown so many signs of his return to near his very best and with a full preseason, our Clarry could be set for a huge 2026. Trac needs a coach and psych to get him to remember his elite play and not the reluctant player who is scared to kick goals and too easily brushed aside in tackles. He had a nearly year and I can see being close to getting back. Six months of someone teaching him how to kick again will be surely enough.

Mcvee? Really want to keep him but if he desperately wants to go, then we must get the best deal in picks of players

Salem? Lever? Who would want these guys and give us any true value … unlikely imv

Sparrow? Adem Yze’s lovechild when Yze was at the Dees. He might fit into the Tigers rebuild plans.

@whatwhat say what given you want to keep Fullarton, what’s your proposed changes? To free up the 6 or 7 list vacancies as needed?

I don't think we should be trading much at all. No one wants Clarry and Petracca is a must keep for mine. We desperately need a key forward to help out Petty. van Rooyen can't do it can't take a grab, I hold out hope for Kentfield he can take a grab. Miochek is an obvious candidate for the key forward spot I'm amazed we haven't got heavily into Allen the exact player we need. I think we should trade van Rooyen.

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Turner, Bowey

C: Culley, Rivers, Langford

HF: Petracca, Petty, Chandler

F: Melksham, Miochek\Allen, Fritsch

FOLL: Gawn, Viney, Pickett

IC: Lindsay, Oliver, Windsor, Langdon

SUB: Sparrow

Casey

B: Berry, Adams, Derksen

HB: Howes, McDonald, Moniz-Wakefield

C: Sinnema, Laurie, Sharp

HF: Mentha, Johnson, ?

F: McAdam, Kentfield, Jefferson

FOLL: Campbell, Tholstrup, ?

IC: Verrall, White, ?

1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

@whatwhat say what given you want to keep Fullarton, what’s your proposed changes? To free up the 6 or 7 list vacancies as needed?

i honestly would've thought fullarton was finished, but his last 4-6 weeks have been impressive; let's see how finals plays out

who knows tbh - would doubt that we want to bring in 6-7 youngsters as it's players in that 23-29 gap that we really lack quality, and finding the likes of matt kennedy etc. who are not fulfilling roles at other clubs but can help us like he has footscray has never been our club's forte

i would think one of, if not both, petracca and oliver should be traded - but are they worth anything given their enormous contracts and lack of ability to impact games in a positive manner?

fritsh and lever have also been mentioned in dispatches

mcvee seems to be out the door, which is a blow

retaining may for an extra year in 2026 appears to be a mistake; if a finals side that needs a key defender to give them that little extra key defender wanted him, he should be out the door

woey 2.0 and pup brown are straight delists, unfortunately, as are hore and billings - verrall and henderson probably should be too

spargo is out of contract and a free agent; he should walk to another club

laurie miraculously has a contract in 2026, as does el jefe and mcadam

plugger mac and milkshake are yet to make comment on their future, but are best 22 players for us, which is an indictment on our development of key forwards and backs

Edited August 23Aug 23 by whatwhat say what

@whatwhat say what any prediction on McAdam. I think if we are truly serious and ruthless, then he’s definitely cut.

But Tim Lamb got him the 3-year deal (one of many mistakes) so might stay . He’s contracted but it’s a charity deal that should at least be classified as a tax write off for 2024 and 2025. Will be 31yo at virtually the start of 2026 year with injuries ruining the past two years.

4 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

@whatwhat say what any prediction on McAdam. I think if we are truly serious and ruthless, then he’s definitely cut.

But Tim Lamb got him the 3-year deal (one of many mistakes) so might stay . He’s contracted but it’s a charity deal that should at least be classified as a tax write off for 2024 and 2025. Will be 31yo at virtually the start of 2026 year with injuries ruining the past two years.

under contract

going nowhere, i assume

On 13/06/2025 at 05:33, DistrACTION Jackson said:

I think there will be a bit of a shift in our list this off season, depending on the players we can bring in.

I reckon we may only take two kids at the draft (K White and T Sinnema) and we will look at ready made players to trade in.

I think there's a chance the following are traded/delisted/retire end of the year:

• Marty Hore (r)

• Tom McDonald

• Jake Melksham

• Tom Fullarton

• Jack Billings

• Taj Woewodin

• Jai Culley (r)

• Jack Henderson (r)

McDonald or Melksham may get a late 1 year contract dependant on the trade situation. I also think there's a chance we keep on of Henderson or Culley and at this stage I would have Culley ahead.

In regards to players to bring in we have been linked to the following so far:

• Luke Jackson (we can all dream)

• Miles Bergman - has a prior relationship with Nathan Bassett so maybe that could get it done for us? Would add to our best 23 and would release Windsor back to the wing.

• Ollie Lord - have heard we have been linked to him and I think he would be an upgrade on Fullarton. If we got Jackson I reckon we would abandon this one.

• Wade Derksen - obviously went after him last year and he has been even better this year playing down back. Could be a TMac replacement.

• James Worpel - who knows if this will eventuate but would add to our midfield depth though not a world beater

There's obviously going to others that pop up and one thing I would like us to do is go out and find another high level small/medium forward. GWS have a ton of them and also have Nathan Wardius kicking absolute bags in the VFL (22 goals from 10 games this year).

Henderson was extremely lucky to be picked up in the first place, so no loss, even though I've agged Johnson I would keep him for 1 year and see what Buckley can do with him! CULLEY a keeper as has been done. Hore done Mc Adam .... what a list blunder!

Edited August 23Aug 23 by picket fence

14 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

I don't think we should be trading much at all. No one wants Clarry and Petracca is a must keep for mine. We desperately need a key forward to help out Petty. van Rooyen can't do it can't take a grab, I hold out hope for Kentfield he can take a grab. Miochek is an obvious candidate for the key forward spot I'm amazed we haven't got heavily into Allen the exact player we need. I think we should trade van Rooyen.

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Turner, Bowey

C: Culley, Rivers, Langford

HF: Petracca, Petty, Chandler

F: Melksham, Miochek\Allen, Fritsch

FOLL: Gawn, Viney, Pickett

IC: Lindsay, Oliver, Windsor, Langdon

SUB: Sparrow

Casey

B: Berry, Adams, Derksen

HB: Howes, McDonald, Moniz-Wakefield

C: Sinnema, Laurie, Sharp

HF: Mentha, Johnson, ?

F: McAdam, Kentfield, Jefferson

FOLL: Campbell, Tholstrup, ?

IC: Verrall, White, ?

I agree with your premise, I'd like a season with a new coach to see what they can make of our current list before making any major decisions to trade out players.

I think JVR deserves another go, he's not had much of a go in a forward line with any kind of quality entries.

Petty back for me.

Will be interesting to see how it pans out.

On 13/06/2025 at 12:24, Turner said:

What would you do if you were the list manager this year?

Who retires?

Who is delisted?

Who is pushed for trade?

For me

Retire: Billings, Campbell

Delist: Culley, Henderson, Fullarton, Hore, Woewodin, McAdam

Trade/FA: Spargo, Laurie

Did you say Culley, Jai Culley. lol.!!!

It’s going to be very interesting with possibly no movement until the new coach takes the reins until the last week in September apart from voluntary retirements.

Just now, DeeZone said:

It’s going to be very interesting with possibly no movement until the new coach takes the reins in the last week in September apart from voluntary retirements.

Edited by DZ.

On 13/06/2025 at 12:24, Turner said:

For me

Retire: Billings, Campbell

Delist: Culley, Henderson, Fullarton, Hore, Woewodin, McAdam

Trade/FA: Spargo, Laurie

On 30/07/2025 at 01:33, Turner said:

OUT: McDonald, Hore, Billings, Woewodin, Culley, Campbell, Verrall, Spargo, Henderson, Fullarton

Have had two go's at this so roughly a month apart and since the end of the season has arrived i feel its fair to give it one final attempt

Retire: Hore, Billings, McDonald, Campbell

Delist: Woewodin, Henderson, Brown, Fullarton, Verrall

Trade: Petracca, May

UFA: Spargo

If we can pay out Laurie or McAdam then thats a bonus, dont think it saves anyone per se but they are list cloggers.

McDonald or Fullarton could stay, and honestly I'd lean Fullarton now, but McDonald one game shy of 250 probably keeps his spot. May showed hes about to fall off a cliff, his assets are starting to fail him with age. We cannot enter 2026 with May and McDonald as our key defenders. Fullarton has shown in 3 weeks that maybe he can be a solution.

I think one domino falls, for me it would be salem or oliver but i think trac to the hawks is a possibility.

Edited August 24Aug 24 by Turner

We need to grab Riley bonnet from Casey. He’s way too good for vfl imo

5 minutes ago, Tracca said:

We need to grab Riley bonnet from Casey. He’s way too good for vfl imo

We specialise in players who are way too good for VFL and not good enough for AFL.

Jump on board Riley!

May will have very little market value, too old and too grumpy

Lever would net us a good deal in a trade

@WERRIDEE I think the Kolt will probably develop into a Cam Rayner type half forward with agressive half forward pressure and good goal smarts plus some CBA when required. I’m not seeing him as a permanent midfield type.