List changes

[darylcowie]

Normally fringe or failed reserve players get delisted, but this year many aging soldiers need to be retired and some should have stayed retired by their former sides.
Carlisle(29), Hannebery(30), Geary(32), Roberton(29), Frawley(32), McKernan(30) and Hunter(28).
All are finished due to injury (2, 10, 14, 24), illness (17) and mediocrity (27, 41).
How many list changes can we make?
Who else can we do without?

[cwrcyn]

One of Clavarino, Joyce, and Lonie might be moved on. Your list I can't argue with

[skeptic]

I think Hannebery is contracted for next season?

But yeah I’d move on the rest of that list, Kent and one of Lonie or Joyce depending on what we bring in

That’s 8. Pbly the most we can manage at one time

[Vortex]

if Carlsile's body is capable will the club keep him around, he makes a better backup option than Frawley and is more versatile than Frawley. Maybe that tall foward we need to give Max some support if there isn't any other trade options for a key tall. Even if it helps us get through 2023.

As a side note on Lones, I don't think the Dogs show any interest this year as it looks like they have found their small forward option.

[darylcowie]

I would keep Joyce as a back up defensive 3rd tall, Clavarino too, but Kent and Lonie are surplus.
I would have stamped Lonie's papers 4 years ago after he opted for a set shot snap from 30m out on a 45°angle on his preferred side and barely made the goal square at the Punt Road end in the final round vs the tigers (Roo's retirement match)!
That example spoke volumes of his poor decision making and lack of confidence in his own abilities.

[B.M]

Who is the back up small forward if we lose Butler and Higgins?

[WellardSaint]

I would keep Joyce as a back up defensive 3rd tall, Clavarino too, but Kent and Lonie are surplus.
I would have stamped Lonie's papers 4 years ago after he opted for a set shot snap from 30m out on a 45°angle on his preferred side and barely made the goal square at the Punt Road end in the final round vs the tigers (Roo's retirement match)!
That example spoke volumes of his poor decision making and lack of confidence in his own abilities.

I recall that shot by Lonie.
The Tigers defender had to lean forward to mark it on his belly, the kick was so weak

[Scollop]

Who is the back up small forward if we lose Butler and Higgins?

This post below might answer your question

Our backline looks pretty set

Highmore - Howard - Paton
Hill - Wilkie - Sinclair
7th - Webster
Depth
Connolly, Coffield,

Midfield
Ross - Crouch - Clark
Ryder - Steele - Gresham
7th - Dunstan
8th - Jones
Depth
McKenzie, Bytel, Byrnes

Forward Line
Higgins - Membrey - Billings
Marshall - King - Butler
7th Long/Battle
Depth Battle/Long

Pretty Balanced

Player that may be expendable that are best 22
Billings, Ross, Battle, Coffield

Gresh, Billings and Long have all played as the small in the forward line and done it well at times

Ross has been playing at half forward this year. Gears has played there as the defensive forward so I reckon McKenzie or Long could do Gears role if Jarryn doesn't go on

Hopefully the 3 you've named as back-ups in the back line will cement their spots with good form (or at least 2 of them)

Billings is best suited on a wing as he's the lefty and I'd also have Sincs and Hill on a wing (not down back) so they can actually use their best asset and kick to the advantage of our forwards

[Vortex]

Who is the back up small forward if we lose Butler and Higgins?

Gresh

[Winmar7]

Agree with your list, though with Haneberry still contracted he'll either be 2- 3 weeks away, or we need to pay him out. Lonie and Kent are depth from '22 onwards. Carlisle would be handy to have around, but I think his body is done.

Have a gut feeling that Ross or Billings could go, Battle also possible given his treatment this year. Would be sad to lose Battle, could go on without the others as long as we get something decent back...

[B.M]

Gresham is certain to play in the midfield

And that only one

What if two need replacing?

[skeptic]

It’s hardly a pressing concern IMO BM. Neither Lonie or Kent have been contributing well in that position and provide something that would be missed.

But to play along...
In addition to Higgins and Butler (if they go down)
Long is playing there at the moment
Billings sits there occasionally
Gresh could sit down forward as a resting mid as can Steele who has rested up forward for patches and proven to be effective. Jones could pbly do that for patches of time too.
Dmac could play as a defensive forward aka Geary as has been pointed out
Mason Wood is kind of doing that albeit he’s a bit taller but he’s playing shorter then tall... he can run though
Byrnes and Connelly could rest there while developing there tanks
Allison when he’s ready might start forward
You could pop Coffield and Clark on the back flanks once Paton is back and play Sinclair in a pocket if need be
Coffield too has been tried as a defensive forward

Even with Lonie and Kent gone, it’s the one position that we have a plethora of options to cover. We certainly don’t need to recruit anymore specialist FP types IMO

What is a forward pocket other than a midfielder that’s more outside then in and that doesn’t have the tank to go fully into the midfield all game

[B.M]

Small forward is one of the more critical roles in a team

It’s definitely a specialist position, and of those you mentioned only Gresham - a starting mid when fit - has the skill set to play as a SMALL forward

Let’s look at Brisbane
They set up with three talls
Three smalls

Long is already in the set up, as is Wood. They can’t replace Higgins or Butler - due to player type and if they did, they’d have to be replaced.

Steele can’t start as a small forward, as he is a starting centre square mid and also needs rotation through the interchange.

Gone are the days where a mid is ‘rested’ forward
Small forwards work their butt off defensively and have to work hard offensively on turn over.

A small forward may only get 8-10 touches but those possessions are critical
The old saying goes
Don’t count possessions, make possessions count!

[skeptic]

Small forward is one of the more critical roles in a team

It’s definitely a specialist position, and of those you mentioned only Gresham - a starting mid when fit - has the skill set to play as a SMALL forward

Let’s look at Brisbane
They set up with three talls
Three smalls

Long is already in the set up, as is Wood. They can’t replace Higgins or Butler - due to player type and if they did, they’d have to be replaced.

Steele can’t start as a small forward, as he is a starting centre square mid and also needs rotation through the interchange.

Gone are the days where a mid is ‘rested’ forward
Small forwards work their butt off defensively and have to work hard offensively on turn over.

A small forward may only get 8-10 touches but those possessions are critical
The old saying goes
Don’t count possessions, make possessions count!

And which of Kent or Lonie is doing that?

It’s critical but… defensive pressure is not a plus. It’s a minimum expectation alongside impact.

Our problem for years is that we’ve accepted chasing as a premium quality and not worried about actual impact

[SinCitySainter]

The problem is you don't want to make more than say 7 delistings unless you are trading in players.
I think at the minute we need to look to the draft rather than trading, unless it is for gold e.g. BKing.
You cannot though draft in 8 plus senior players as the pool is pretty shallow at the bottom end of the draft.
You can grab the occasional gem down the bottom end of the draft but the odds of that are extremely slim.

Every young guy taken in the draft is given two years as a minimum so you can't just draft a bunch and say if they don't work will get rid of them at the end of the year.
So delisting too many and having to replace via the draft severely limits your ability to turn the list over further in subsequent years.
It actually puts picking up guys like Hunter as delisted free agents into a different light as you don't have to keep them for two years, it can be one and gone.

You also have to pay 95% of the salary cap, so clubs with shallow lists like ours are forced to over pay some players.
This is the most despicable part of the whole AFL draft and salary cap system as it means it is virtually impossible to build the proverbial war chest to target Free Agents.
The system is very well designed to keep the poor and poorly performing sides down and make rising up the table difficult while making sure if you are a money/glamour club staying up is easy.

So my thoughts on who should go is as follows:

Retire/Delist/Don't renew - Geary, Roberton, Frawley, McKernan, Hunter, Kent.
Hannebery we have to pay anyway so either offer him a settlement or keep him for another year.
Carlisle if he takes a massive haircut you could offer a one year extension but otherwise should be shown the exit (sad as I was a big fan but his body just doesn't cut it anymore).

Billings offer $500K for 4 years or maybe even 5 years and if he takes it say great otherwise let him try his luck as a Free Agent.
Offering a long term contract means it should at least make him give it some serious thought and if we can trim the list enough we may be able to front load and free up some space down the line.

Offer 12 month contracts at little money to Lonie, Joyce and Clavarino.
If they accept fine if they push let them go and replace with another delisted free agent on a low end 12-month deal.

Alabakis should just be let to go as a failed experiment.

Obviously if we enter the trade market that could change thinking quite significantly.

[Impatient Sainter]

Normally fringe or failed reserve players get delisted, but this year many aging soldiers need to be retired and some should have stayed retired by their former sides.
Carlisle(29), Hannebery(30), Geary(32), Roberton(29), Frawley(32), McKernan(30) and Hunter(28).
All are finished due to injury (2, 10, 14, 24), illness (17) and mediocrity (27, 41).
How many list changes can we make?
Who else can we do without?

I believe with Geary getting his shoulder done straight away means he wants to play on next year.
Hannebrey has another year on his contract so he wont be going anywhere.
Billings & Dunstan may look for $$$ and longer contracts else where?
Carlisle given he required futher surgery on his back I would be surprised if he doesnt retire, which is a shame.
Frawley & McKernan were backups but both have been poor and have to go.
Clavarino & Joyce should get another year or two.
Hunter offers nothing, hopefully we can find an alternative somewhere?
Lonie was on a 1 year contract so I doubt he gets another.
Kent is gone unless he can ignite some late season form?

Apparently we are into Ben King so any compensation we get for Billings would be used in that deal if it goes ahead.
If Dunstan leaves we would possibly get a 2nd round compensation pick.

Indicitive National Draft
Pick # 7, 44 & 62.

Its looking like we will draft about 3 x NGA Windhager (midfielder), Peris (wingman), McLennan (HBF)
Plus possibly 2 x NGA A or B list rookies Owen (small defender) & Kyle (small forward).

So somewhere the club will need to find a ready made ruckman via trade or SSP as Hunter & McKernan were dismal failures?

[Vortex]

Gresham is certain to play in the midfield

And that only one

What if two need replacing?

Yep and forward too.

[Ghost Like]

Gresham is certain to play in the midfield

And that only one

What if two need replacing?

If two need replacing? Don't we just do what we should do in drafting, pick the next best available. We can move others around. Surely we don't simply select on the size of the player?

List sizes plus a salary cap aren't big enough that we can clone a best 22 in case two of a position are injured. That's where opportunity comes from for the kids if they've earned it.

[samuraisaint]

Who is the back up small forward if we lose Butler and Higgins?

Long.

[Impatient Sainter]

Who is the back up small forward if we lose Butler and Higgins?

Long.

Plus Gresham, Byrnes and I believe we draft one or two at this years drafts. The NGA prospect Josiah Kyle is an outside possibility for a Rookie spot.

[B.M]

Long is already in the team, how can he replace someone?

[Otiman]

So the consensus seems to be Wood has earned his spot. McKenzie retained for depth. Lonie and Kent both to go. Joyce and Clavarino - mixed support.

My contribution is that Alabakis goes now we have Heath.

That's a hell of a lot of list changes.

If we load up in this draft and put a huge focus on player development, it could pay off.

[Banger9798]

Keep Clavarino, I don't even know why he got dropped
to be honest, thought he had good speed and was very good in the air and quick with second and third efforts.

Persist with this kid he has good attributes

[B.M]

I’d keep one of Kent/Lonie if a better mature age small forward back up isn’t found.

[freely]

Gresham is certain to play in the midfield

And that only one

What if two need replacing?

What if the sky falls, chicken licken?