List Mgmt. Nick Austin - Head Of List Management

[WalshistheGOAT]

Not even sure why I'm posting this cos I reckon Austin has done a fair job since coming in, BUT I can't help to think he may have ****ed up big time last year.

We know he traded us up to pick 3 last year after giving up a fair bit of currency to get there. We also appreciate that with Tassie looming on the horizon, it's pretty crucial to get as much top end draft talent to set yourself up.....BUT I think he got caught out, cos if you're trading up at the pointy end, it's not just to see who may be available at that pick.

I'm calling bullshit that we rated Jagga as the best in the draft - and the clip of the war room on draft nite was choreographed to appease the masses that we supposedly achieved what we always wanted. Case in point below from an genuine ITK during the trade period.

Even the media had us linked to FOS all the way leading u to the draft - but magically, we got the player were were targeting all the way along we rated the best in the draft. Don't think so Austin, I reckon you took the chance and was caught out....the clip from the war room was choreographed to save face from 100,000 members.

Not saying that Jagga won't become a champion player for us, but I'm calling bullshit on the spin.

And it could have compounded even further if the Kennedy trade pick got swallowed up by a bid on Ben, meaning we traded him foir nothing...but we were just lucky that no bid came and we could use that pick to grab HO'F.

Anyway, come at me....but I don't think Jagga was our target, and the trades 'backfired' on Austin.

From memory we heard that the club expected one of FOS or Lalor to be available at Pick 3 because we assumed the Tigers would take Jagga 1 or 2.

No idea if true or not but I highly doubt they'd have choreographed the war room clip.

 

[carlton_99]

Not even sure why I'm posting this cos I reckon Austin has done a fair job since coming in, BUT I can't help to think he may have ****ed up big time last year.

We know he traded us up to pick 3 last year after giving up a fair bit of currency to get there. We also appreciate that with Tassie looming on the horizon, it's pretty crucial to get as much top end draft talent to set yourself up.....BUT I think he got caught out, cos if you're trading up at the pointy end, it's not just to see who may be available at that pick.

I'm calling bullshit that we rated Jagga as the best in the draft - and the clip of the war room on draft nite was choreographed to appease the masses that we supposedly achieved what we always wanted. Case in point below from an genuine ITK during the trade period.

Even the media had us linked to FOS all the way leading u to the draft - but magically, we got the player were were targeting all the way along we rated the best in the draft. Don't think so Austin, I reckon you took the chance and was caught out....the clip from the war room was choreographed to save face from 100,000 members.

Not saying that Jagga won't become a champion player for us, but I'm calling bullshit on the spin.

And it could have compounded even further if the Kennedy trade pick got swallowed up by a bid on Ben, meaning we traded him foir nothing...but we were just lucky that no bid came and we could use that pick to grab HO'F.

Anyway, come at me....but I don't think Jagga was our target, and the trades 'backfired' on Austin.

My thinking was that you only do that type of move for pick 3 if you would be happy with any of the top 4 in the draft. I feel like it's far too risky if you are only targeting one player.

For me, Austin and the crew weren't looking for a specific player but instead a type. And that for me was a point of difference to the current midfield group. I think FOS, Smith and Draper who were all chances to be there at 3 kind of fit that bill.

So not sure if Smith was truly our #1 option but I would be very surprised if they did that move without being 100% happy with taking any of that top 4.

 

[Michael Jezz]

Austin did not do Jagga's ACL
One can not start judging that trade until Jagga plays a season

 

[gbatman]

Not just this - how many others have clogged up spots in recent years that also didnt make it. It's taken its toll ok the rest of the list.

It's like operating with 6 less list spots and the proportionate cap space year after year.

They get very long contracts as well, then we are forced to let a guy go who can play like Owies.

 

[Jimmae]

The unfortunate reality is the better our NGA and F/S kids go the next two years the harder it's going to be to address our immediate issues.

This is what trades and free agency are for. Just have the wherewithal and insight to pick players on the rise that want a change in scenery, ala Hawks and D'Ambrosio.

One can not start judging that trade until Jagga plays a season

I'm going to start judging it when I see a bit more of Hotton and Hynes, Reid, Trainor, Berry, and Allan.

Not all of them were my favourites, but all of them filled needs, have serious talent, and are definitely more than half the player Jagga is. More than 80%, really, and we've got plenty who are half the player Jagga is running around for us.

Love Jagga, wish he was playing this year, but that's a separate thing to the price we paid for him.

 

[jj1978]

Austin has some tough calls ahead, even if this season pans out, So the big question is, what are we going to do from here?

1. TDK re-signing. Up until seeing us on the paddock v Richmond I thought this was our #1 priority. Now even though TDK is in our most important 5 players, can we afford to have that much cap room tied up in a ruck? And if we let him go, what can we get with the pick/s / cap space etc. As much as I want TDK, we have to consider the alternatives.
2. What additional cap space can we offload? We appear to have too much money tied up in too few players which means we can't afford the depth. Eg on a small sample size is Chol v MacKay on round 1, both had similar numbers and one is on 400 to 500 and the other 800 to 1.00 est. (maybe more due to front end loading). Love Harry just looking at the salary cap v output. The question is can we re-balance our list with the current salaries? If not are there a few big names we need to look at?
3. Do we have the right kids? We seem to have a pipeline of academy, fs kids on the way which means our drafting is by and large locked in.
4. Do we need a mini rebuild at the end of 2025 or not?

I think we are in a tricky spot. If somehow we are top 4 this season, happy days, we should be able to top up for 2026 in the free agent market, if we miss the 8, change will be required and we may not have much cap room.

We have to let TDK go if we have to kill our cap to retain him. Such is life.

 

[smashbox gill]

Should there be more scrutiny on Austin’s recruitment?

Or is it more so development?

 

[Arr0w]

Should there be more scrutiny on Austin’s recruitment?

Or is it more so development?

Recruiting

 

[jj1978]

Should there be more scrutiny on Austin’s recruitment?

Or is it more so development?

Development and who is in charge of list profile

 

[The Defender]

See ya Curly take you inept recruiting team with you.

 

[V_23]

Should there be more scrutiny on Austin’s recruitment?

Or is it more so development?

It’s both but the list profile is the antithesis of what it should be.

 

[The Return of the Paf]

It's easy to judge our recruiting.

We have around 10 smaller forwards on our list and none of them have ever proven they can make a significant impact at AFL level.

There is your problem.

That's not our problem, it's a symptom of our problem. You are mixing up cause and effect.

 

[Blue By Blood]

Salary cap and over spending on our top end has hampered what we can bring in the past couple of years to significantly change the list make up. Other teams around us on the ladder keep adding to what they have and we had to shed some of our better role players. Hands tied behind our backs.

We’d love some more players who are talented and creative by foot, but other than the draft we don’t have much ability to trade for them. I think we have to look hard at the end of the year and make some tough calls.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Any chance of injecting some genuine pace into this team some time Nick?

I mean, putting all of your eggs into the basket of an 18 year old slightly built midfielder, with decent pace, but not express was cute and all, but how did you actually help the midfield?

We picked up White with one of our last SSP slots I guess, and Charleson has some toe. I guess we can wait 3 years until Voss takes a chance on them.

Any mature aged speed demons available anywhere by any chance, or are we going to rely on a team of butchers to put speed on the ball?

 

[Arr0w]

Salary cap and over spending on our top end has hampered what we can bring in the past couple of years to significantly change the list make up. Other teams around us on the ladder keep adding to what they have and we had to shed some of our better role players. Hands tied behind our backs.

We’d love some more players who are talented and creative by foot, but other than the draft we don’t have much ability to trade for them. I think we have to look hard at the end of the year and make some tough calls.

Don't think it's based on retaining top end talent, Austin has been steadfast of character and ignored, speed, footskills and competitive traits

Keays, Hinge, Chol, Meek, Collins, etc, all guys that were available at some stage on the cheap

Not one xfactor forward in 5 years, apart from Jagga, no other quick mid

 

[BlueTongue]

Don't think it's based on retaining top end talent, Austin has been steadfast of character and ignored, speed, footskills and competitive traits

Keays, Hinge, Chol, Meek, Collins, etc, all guys that were available at some stage on the cheap

Not one xfactor forward in 5 years, apart from Jagga, no other quick mid

3 years ago I thought he could do no wrong, now he has just filled our list with broken down old men hoping for that miraculous comeback.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Again, we paid too much for Saad for what he is, and what he had been previously worth. We turned him into an AA, but that's the best season he has had by far. At least he is quick, but he can't play anywhere but defence.

We recruited the shiny new toy in Cerra. A previous Pick 5 who can erase the failure of Dow at 3. But with Cripps, Hewett and Kennedy in the team, we really, really didn't need him.

I like Cez and I thought he played well tonight, so this isn't an attack on him. It just made no sense to pay so much for a player type we didn't need. We can't just stack up slow inside mids and try to fit them in the same side.

If Rowell wants to come to us, I wouldn't pay any more than a late first rounder for him, honestly. He is not what we need right now. When Cripps and Hewett have gone, yes.

I will admit that our game plan diminishes our skill level. It's not like some of these guys weren't known for good footskills. They certainly struggle in this archaic contested brand.

Maybe Voss forgets that he had the likes McRae, Lappin and Akermanis, to complement the work of him and Black.

 

[bradfisher14]

Easy to do rear vision mirror recruiting.

Jagga Smith was the best prospect in that draft class by a mile.

He will prove it when he gets back.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

I think ultimately the list is set up to fail by being too slow to adjust to the modern game evolution.

I think we could comfortably cut 10-12 players including some very good ones and be better off for it very quickly. Ultimately we might turn it around a bit and make the 8, but theres nowhere near enough class on this list to win a flag.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Easy to do rear vision mirror recruiting.

Jagga Smith was the best prospect in that draft class by a mile.

He will prove it when he gets back.

Nobody is knocking getting Jagga Smith.

What is being questioned is a lack of injecting pace and ball use into this side over a period of time. Getting Jagga and doing nothing else to address deficiencies is the problem.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I think ultimately the list is set up to fail by being too slow to adjust to the modern game evolution.

I think we could comfortably cut 10-12 players including some very good ones and be better off for it very quickly. Ultimately we might turn it around a bit and make the 8, but theres nowhere near enough class on this list to win a flag.

The lack of availability and the hit and miss attitudes of our two gun forwards, who take up a healthy percentage of our salary cap, is starting to become a real issue. I would rather play one of them, keep JSOS forward with Kemp and trade the other. Their value is only getting worse.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

The lack of availability and the hit and miss attitudes of our two gun forwards, who take up a healthy percentage of our salary cap, is starting to become a real issue. I would rather play one of them, keep JSOS forward with Kemp and trade the other. Their value is only getting worse.

Elijah, Newman and Jagga probably make a considerable difference to our ball use, but losing 3 players shouldn't hamper a team so drastically. Harry and Charlie underdone certainly didn't help either.

I think Austin is going to have to make a lot of changes end of year. Some big changes. Who knows, he might not be the one to pull the trigger in the end.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Elijah, Newman and Jagga probably make a considerable difference to our ball use, but losing 3 players shouldn't hamper a team so drastically. Harry and Charlie underdone certainly didn't help either.

I think Austin is going to have to make a lot of changes end of year. Some big changes. Who knows, he might not be the one to pull the trigger in the end.

The first two do nothing to help with the lack of pace however.

I will concede that Newman would have stamped out a lot of spotfires and shored our defence up though.

 

[bradfisher14]

Nobody is knocking getting Jagga Smith.

What is being questioned is a lack of injecting pace and ball use into this side over a period of time. Getting Jagga and doing nothing else to address deficiencies is the problem.

Not sure if it’s been deleted, but there was an essay about the trade for Jagga backfiring on Austin and that we were always targeting Lalor/FOS. That’s what I was referring to.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Not sure if it’s been deleted, but there was an essay about the trade for Jagga backfiring on Austin and that we were always targeting Lalor/FOS. That’s what I was referring to.

Fair enough. Didn't see it.