List Mgmt. 2023 GWS Giants List Management - Academy, Free Agent, Trade, Draft

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Nov 23, 2015
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AFL Club
GWS
Trade Period, October 6–18
  • Restricted & Unrestricted Free Agency Period: Friday, October 6, 9am – Friday October 13, 5pm (bid matching ends Monday October 16, 5pm)
  • Trade Period (1), picks & players: Monday, October 9, 9am – Wednesday October 18, 7.30pm
Quiet Period, October 19–November 20
  • Trade Period (2), picks only: Monday, October 23, 9am – Friday November 10, 5pm
  • List Lodgement 1*: Tuesday, October 31, 2pm
  • Delisted Free Agency Period (1): Wednesday, November 1, 9am – Wednesday November 8, 5pm
  • Delisted Free Agency Period (2): Friday, November 10, 9am–5pm
  • List Lodgement 2*: Tuesday, November 14, 2pm


Here's the list of GWS players who are out of contract in 2023 (I'll progressively cross them out as they re-sign):
  • Lachie ASH
  • Callan WARD (Free Agent)
  • Brayden PREUSS
  • Tom GREEN
  • Finn CALLAGHAN
  • Lachlan KEEFFE (Free Agent)
  • Jake RICCARDI
  • Harry HIMMELBERG (Free Agent)
  • Cam FLEETON - delisted (25/9/23)
  • Matt FLYNN (Free Agent) - signed by West Coast as an Unrestricted Free Agent
  • Xavier O'HALLORAN
  • Jack BUCKLEY
  • Callum BROWN
Rookie lists:
  • Phil DAVIS (Free Agent) - retiring at end of 2023 season
  • Jacob WEHR (Free agent)
  • Dan LLOYD (Free Agent) - retiring at end of 2023 season
  • Cooper HAMILTON
  • Wade DERKSEN
  • Nick MADDEN (Cat B) - assumed re-signed due to 2 sources of info
  • Jason GILBEE (Cat B) - delisted (25/9/23)
Current list sizes (for when we get to list/draft/trade speculation):
  • main list = 36 minus 3 (Fleeton, Flynn + Kennedy delisted with a view to be re-selected in the rookie draft)
  • rookie A = 6 minus 2 (Davis, Lloyd)
  • rookie B = 2 minus 1 (Gilbee)
  • total = 44 minus 5
This is the future pick spreadsheet that comes into play only at trade time, as future picks are used in end of season (2023) trading:


Here's the 2023 AFL Academy Squad, so these (roughly) represent the best players for next year as they stand now:

2023 NAB AFL ACADEMY​

NAMESURNAMESTATESTATE LEAGUE CLUBCOMMUNITY CLUB
LachlanCaborNSW/ACTSydney Swans AcademyShellharbour
NateCaddyVIC MNorthern KnightsYarrambat
JackCallinanTASTasmania DevilsClarence
CaidenClearyNSW/ACTSydney Swans AcademySydney University
DanielCurtinWAClaremontWest Coast
JackDeleanSASouth AdelaideReynella
ZaneDuursmaVIC CGippsland PowerFoster
MitchellEdwardsWAPeel ThunderSouth Mandurah
WilliamGreenVIC MNorthern KnightsNorthcote
RileyHardemanWASwan DistrictsCaversham
WilliamLorenzVIC MOakleigh ChargersBoroondara Hawks
KaneMcAuliffeSANorth AdelaideCentral Augusta
ColbyMcKercherTASTasmania DevilsLaunceston
AshtonMoirSAGlenelgPlympton
ConnorO'SullivanNSW/ACTMurray BushrangersAlbury
WilliamPattonSAWest AdelaideMitcham
NathanPhilactidesVIC MOakleigh ChargersBlackburn
EthanReadQLDGold Coast Suns AcademyPalm Beach Currumbin
ArcherReidVIC CGippsland PowerInverloch-Kongwak
HarleyReidVIC CBendigo PioneersTongala
ArchieRobertsVIC MSandringham DragonsHampton Rovers
JakeRogersQLDGold Coast Suns AcademyBroadbeach
RyleySandersTASSandringham DragonsNorth Launceston
CooperSimpsonVIC CDandenong StingraysMount Martha
GeorgeStevensVIC CGWV RebelsSouth Warrnambool
KoltynTholstrupWASubiacoNewtown-Condingup
OrlandoTurnerNTWest AdelaideSouth Alice Springs
JedWalterQLDGold Coast Suns AcademyPalm Beach Currumbin
NickWatsonVIC MEastern RangesEast Ringwood
DarcyWilsonVIC CMurray BushrangersWangaratta Rovers

Happy speculating for 2023!

EDIT: 11/12/22 - Added Free Agent status to OOC player list
EDIT: 24/2/23 - Crossed out Tom Green from OOC player list! (Woo Hoo!!) & Added 2023 Coates Talent League Fixture Link
EDIT: 27/2/23 - Crossed out Finn Callaghan from OOC player list! (Woo Hoo Hoo!!!)
EDIT: 27/4/23 - Crossed out Jacob Wehr from OOC player list
EDIT: 10/5/23 - Crossed out Jack Buckley from OOC player list :thumbsu:
EDIT: 9/7/23 - Crossed out Callum Brown from OOC player list
EDIT: 18/7/23 - Crossed out Lachie Ash from OOC player list
EDIT: 20/7/23 - Crossed out Xavier O'Halloran from OOC player list
EDIT: 3/8/23 - Crossed out Harry Himmelberg from OOC player list
EDIT: 9/8/23 - Crossed out Wade Derksen from OOC player list
EDIT: 17/8/23 - Noted Dan Lloyd retiring at end of season
EDIT: 19/8/23 - Crossed out Jake Riccardi from OOC player list
EDIT: 28/8/23 - Noted Phil Davis retiring at end of season
EDIT: 25/9/23 - Noted Cam Fleeton & Jason Gilbee delisted
EDIT: 4/10/23 - Noted Flynn, Preuss & Keeffe situations
EDIT: 9/10/23 - Updated Flynn to WCE, removed Preuss from OOC player list
EDIT: 12/10/23 - Updated Madden with 2 sources of information
EDIT: 19/10/23 - Updated Keeffe & Hamilton re-signed
EDIT: 31/10/23 - adjusted main list numbers with Adam Kennedy delisting (with a view to be re-selected in rookie draft)
 
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I think they were a long way apart in terms of what we wanted! We Dodo’d them 😁
I'm not surprised. No doubt they wanted to move up for SFA, but if the situation was reversed they'd ask for the world.

Eh GIF by Dodo Australia
 
A few comments from Caruso:

The plan at the moment is three players in the National Draft. So two early picks in the first round, one late pick and then we’ve got a bit of flexibility there with a couple of rookies, including a Category B. It will probably be five in total, three national and two rookies.
When you make a prelim, you’re usually not in a position where you can bring in top-end talent. But given that we have that pick from Richmond, we got pick seven and we’re really happy with that group of players we’re going to get. You can be targeted in terms of how many guys you’re looking at. With pick seven, there are probably five guys that are going to be gone, so we only need a group of three or four for that pick. Then with pick 16, the same thing. It means that we’ve got a group of eight or so guys [on our draft board] that we’re focusing in on for those first two picks.
We don’t feel like we’ve got any glaring needs that we need to address. I think early in the Draft our focus is always on bringing in the best long-term talent for the footy club, that’s our philosophy.
With pick seven there’s a lot of activity around that pick with clubs coming and seeking that out. We’re not going to be able to move that any higher, and we don’t really want to. It’s more if certain players are still there at pick seven, there’s other clubs coming to us and offering up, whether it’s a future pick to get that pick, or if it’s them moving up a few spots and we move back a couple of spots and pick something up along the way. All the planets need to align for live trades to happen.

The standout NSW talent is Allies defender Connor O’Sullivan, what is your interest in him going into the Draft?

Connor is definitely in the mix for us. Being from Albury, he is a NSW product. He had a really strong under-18 championships with the Allies. He’s versatile and he can play both ends. Our backline is pretty well stocked but he’s shown that he can play as a key forward as well. So he’s one player that we’re considering because good talls are hard to find.
Adrian, dynamic forward Nate Caddy has been linked to the Giants. What do you like about his style of play?

H
ad a number of chats with Nate during the year. I think given where our backline is at the minute and it’s pretty settled, I think looking at guys ahead of the ball is something we’ve tried to do in the last couple of years. Nate is a power forward who can impact the scoreboard and he’s super competitive. So, we definitely see a lot of upside in Nate and he’d be someone who would fit in well in our forward line.
We’ve done a lot of work on Harvey Thomas and Charlie McCormack. We’ve had the chats with them and their families about what it would look like if they do come to us.

They’re both probably considerations later on, like Harvey has a chance to get bid on in the National Draft whereas Charlie seems more like someone who missed out and would be a potential Cat B option if we went that way. They’re things for us to probably weigh up on Day 2 … but we always prioritise promoting from the Academy when we can.
 
Latest rumour is that Norths and Hawks have entered the fray for pick #7, although only the Norths option is written with any detail ...


West Coast isn’t the only club on trade watch ahead of the first round of the AFL draft, with Hawthorn, Melbourne and even North Melbourne continuing to explore moves inside the top 10.

...

Which leads us to Pick 7. It belongs to the GWS Giants and it looms as the most intriguing pick of the night, with an array of clubs set to throw offers at the clubs. In an ideal world, the Giants would love it if Windsor slipped to their pick. And if he did, there’s little chance the Giants would entertain a trade. But the Demons seem set on Windsor with the preceding pick, granted the top of the draft order stays the same.

In that case, Sydney (Pick 12) and Essendon (Pick 9) have explored the possibility of moving up the order by offering their respective future first-round selections. But if the Giants are to trade down in this year’s draft, they’re more likely to deal with Adelaide, which is keen to turn Picks 10, 14 and 20 into two selections. In one scenario, the Giants would send Picks 7 and 16 to the Crows, who would then trade Picks 10, 14 and a future second-rounder to the Giants, who are keen to have a strong 2024 draft hand. If Adelaide got its hands on Pick 7, it’d likely consider taking Curtin after doing late work on him.

But the Giants’ Pick 7 also has interest from West Coast, while sources wouldn’t be surprised if North Melbourne also made a play for the selection. The Eagles’ future first-rounder is on the table in exchange for Pick 7, which is when the Eagles would pounce on Curtin – WA’s top draft prospect who’s been linked to West Coast all season. If they struck a deal with the Giants, it’d mean they’d select Reid and Curtin on the same night. The Eagles are arguably the furthest AFL club away from the premiership window. And after claiming the wooden spoon in 2023, there’s a good chance their first 2024 selection ends up being at the very pointy end of the draft. That would surely appeal to the Giants, who were one point away from an AFL Grand Final this year and are unlikely to have a natural pick early in next year’s draft.

The top of the 2024 pool, too, is full of midfield stars. The Giants in future years will be looking for young gun midfielders, which for them are easier to pick up via the draft than the trade period. The potential of turning the loss of Jacob Hopper to Richmond in 2022 into Pick 1 in the 2024 draft would be tantalising.

But could the Kangaroos also make a play for the Giants’ pick and Curtin? Clarkson is a big Curtin fan, having kept in close contact with the West Australian since last month’s draft combine and even spending two-and-a-half hours at his house on the weekend while in Perth for a wedding. It’s ramped up speculation the Roos could take Curtin with Picks 2 or 3. Roos list boss Brady Rawlings and recruiting manager Will Thursfield will make the final call, which most rival clubs believe will still be McKercher and Duursma. Yet they also wouldn’t be shocked if the Roos explored a way to get Curtin by acquiring a third top-10 pick.

In one scenario put to foxfooty.com.au, North Melbourne could send its future first-round pick, as well as a couple of their selections in the teens – the Roos currently hold Picks 15, 17 and 18 – to the Giants, which would see Pick 7/Curtin land at Arden St. North has already been linked to a play for the Swans’ Pick 12 using some of those teens selections, but adding in their future first in an attempt to score another top-10 pick would be on another level. From a Giants perspective, the deal would still land them a potentially early 2024 draft selection, as well as more picks and greater flexibility in the teens considering they’re likely to use three picks at the draft.

The other Pick 7 trade watch surrounds Hawthorn, with sources of the opinion the Hawks are eyeing a way to get a second pick to select another player they like inside the top 10 after taking Watson. As well as interviewing Curtin last week, the Hawks also caught up with Murray Bushrangers defender Connor O’Sullivan, as well as Dandenong Stringrays gun Harry DeMattia. Could the Hawks aim to trade back in and get Curtin or O’Sullivan at the Giants’ pick before matching a bid on Will McCabe later in the first round? Or could they even make a play for DeMattia later in the first round?

Then there’s the prospect the Giants hold Pick 7 and take a player, which would likely be Tasmanian utility James Leake, with O’Sullivan to also be in the mix. Geelong, Essendon, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney would then all consider O’Sullivan if he slipped past Pick 7, with Northern Knights forward Nate Caddy expected to land at one of Geelong or Essendon and Murray Bushrangers forward-midfielder Darcy Wilson in Adelaide’s mix.
 

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So, what would people's preference for a trade be?
  • with West Coast, #7 for WCE's future first (could be anywhere from #1 to #6 next year)
  • with North, #7 for say #15 + Roos' future first (could be anywhere from #1 to #6 next year)
  • with Adelaide, #7 + #16 for Crows' #10 + #14 + future second round pick (likely in the 30s)
  • with Essendon, #7 for #9 + whatever Dodo will throw our way (ostensibly future first)
  • with Sydney, #7 for #12 + future first (probably a teens pick)
  • with Hawks, #7 for their first round pick in 2024 (could be #3 to #8)?
Out of all of those, the Norths pick probably is best value. Could be right at the pointy end of next year, though likely not #1, but likely no worse comparatively than this year (with a wider array of midfield talent available) plus getting a second late teens pick this year (which could net Di Mattia + Wilson, or Hardeman or Ollie Murphy or Phoenix Gothard etc).

West Coast's is the most tantalising, with the possibility being #1, but we lose a pick this year.

Adelaide's the safest, we probably still get our first choice if it's James Leake, but a better option at #14 than #16 (Di Mattia, Charlie Edwards or Wilson).

Tell Hawks, Dodo and Beatson to get nicked.

What do other posters think?
 
So, what would people's preference for a trade be?
  • with West Coast, #7 for WCE's future first (could be anywhere from #1 to #6 next year)
  • with North, #7 for say #15 + Roos' future first (could be anywhere from #1 to #6 next year)
  • with Adelaide, #7 + #16 for Crows' #10 + #14 + future second round pick (likely in the 30s)
  • with Essendon, #7 for #9 + whatever Dodo will throw our way (ostensibly future first)
  • with Sydney, #7 for #12 + future first (probably a teens pick)
  • with Hawks, #7 for their first round pick in 2024 (could be #3 to #8)?
Out of all of those, the Norths pick probably is best value. Could be right at the pointy end of next year, though likely not #1, but likely no worse comparatively than this year (with a wider array of midfield talent available) plus getting a second late teens pick this year (which could net Di Mattia + Wilson, or Hardeman or Ollie Murphy or Phoenix Gothard etc).

West Coast's is the most tantalising, with the possibility being #1, but we lose a pick this year.

Adelaide's the safest, we probably still get our first choice if it's James Leake, but a better option at #14 than #16 (Di Mattia, Charlie Edwards or Wilson).

Tell Hawks, Dodo and Beatson to get nicked.

What do other posters think?
North will be rubbish next year. I’d do their teen pick plus next years first. Guaranteed pick 1 or 2.
 
Norths will gamble that adding 3 top talent players will drag them up the draft order. Perhaps, but it generally takes time for talent to germinate. Even just treading water with that pick placement into a year where there appears to be more top end midfielder talent seems a likely win for us.
 
So, what would people's preference for a trade be?
  • with West Coast, #7 for WCE's future first (could be anywhere from #1 to #6 next year)
  • with North, #7 for say #15 + Roos' future first (could be anywhere from #1 to #6 next year)
  • with Adelaide, #7 + #16 for Crows' #10 + #14 + future second round pick (likely in the 30s)
  • with Essendon, #7 for #9 + whatever Dodo will throw our way (ostensibly future first)
  • with Sydney, #7 for #12 + future first (probably a teens pick)
  • with Hawks, #7 for their first round pick in 2024 (could be #3 to #8)?
Out of all of those, the Norths pick probably is best value. Could be right at the pointy end of next year, though likely not #1, but likely no worse comparatively than this year (with a wider array of midfield talent available) plus getting a second late teens pick this year (which could net Di Mattia + Wilson, or Hardeman or Ollie Murphy or Phoenix Gothard etc).

West Coast's is the most tantalising, with the possibility being #1, but we lose a pick this year.

Adelaide's the safest, we probably still get our first choice if it's James Leake, but a better option at #14 than #16 (Di Mattia, Charlie Edwards or Wilson).

Tell Hawks, Dodo and Beatson to get nicked.

What do other posters think?
If you can get North F1 + a pick first this year I'd be all over that, still expect them to be rubbish next year so you gives you the best of both the WC and Adelaide offers by putting you in a position to have a premium pick next year while also being able to take 2 swings at the draft tonight. Don't see much difference in the value of Norths F1 and WC F1, the extra pick this year puts them in a good spot to grab De Mattia who they've been linked to heaps and maybe Gothard too, tested super well which is something they always value highly, NSW background so would think off the field comes back really clean and although that might be a bit early for him that's never bothered them in the past.
 
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So, what would people's preference for a trade be?
  • with West Coast, #7 for WCE's future first (could be anywhere from #1 to #6 next year)
  • with North, #7 for say #15 + Roos' future first (could be anywhere from #1 to #6 next year)
  • with Adelaide, #7 + #16 for Crows' #10 + #14 + future second round pick (likely in the 30s)
  • with Essendon, #7 for #9 + whatever Dodo will throw our way (ostensibly future first)
  • with Sydney, #7 for #12 + future first (probably a teens pick)
  • with Hawks, #7 for their first round pick in 2024 (could be #3 to #8)?
Out of all of those, the Norths pick probably is best value. Could be right at the pointy end of next year, though likely not #1, but likely no worse comparatively than this year (with a wider array of midfield talent available) plus getting a second late teens pick this year (which could net Di Mattia + Wilson, or Hardeman or Ollie Murphy or Phoenix Gothard etc).

West Coast's is the most tantalising, with the possibility being #1, but we lose a pick this year.

Adelaide's the safest, we probably still get our first choice if it's James Leake, but a better option at #14 than #16 (Di Mattia, Charlie Edwards or Wilson).

Tell Hawks, Dodo and Beatson to get nicked.

What do other posters think?
Best value is North and West Coasts picks but I actually think your draft recruiters would trade with Essendon. They’d have the highest chance of getting Leake at pick 11. They’d get a future first round pick from Essendon, which will likely be a top 10 pick. You’d still get the player you want at 9, there’s a reason you’re picking him ahead of Curtin, you clearly see him as a need to push for a premiership.
 
norths pick and one in the teens seems great, as does WCE 1st round.

In the event that we do do that, we may be able to trade our future first back into this year, especially if one we like hangs around on the board.
 
Thinking through a scenario in which we get 2 firsts this year plus a 2024 first from North for 7, that would give us 3 firsts in the back end of this year's draft so would imagine that would then trigger another trade to then move back up the board to get back into Leake/Caddy/O'Sullivan range or trade 1 or a couple of them out of 2023 and turn them into picks next year. Can't imagine them taking 3 guys in the first round.
 
Thinking through a scenario in which we get 2 firsts this year plus a 2024 first from North for 7, that would give us 3 firsts in the back end of this year's draft so would imagine that would then trigger another trade to then move back up the board to get back into Leake/Caddy/O'Sullivan range or trade 1 or a couple of them out of 2023 and turn them into picks next year. Can't imagine them taking 3 guys in the first round.
Personally, I doubt that we'd get more than 1 of Norths' late first rounders this year. They'll highlight that their 2024 pick could be #1 or #2 ... they just need to grease the wheels enough that we deal with them and not West Coast. That's just one of their teen picks IMHO. AT best, we end up with #15 & #16 (before bid/matches), at worst #16 & #18. That's still OK in such an open draft ... if we get the compensation of a really early pick in 2024. Win-win.

If by some astounding bit of trade talk with did get two, I agree that we'd be looking to do some trade either earlier or into 2024.
 
Personally, I doubt that we'd get more than 1 of Norths' late first rounders this year. They'll highlight that their 2024 pick could be #1 or #2 ... they just need to grease the wheels enough that we deal with them and not West Coast. That's just one of their teen picks IMHO. AT best, we end up with #15 & #16 (before bid/matches), at worst #16 & #18. That's still OK in such an open draft ... if we get the compensation of a really early pick in 2024. Win-win.

If by some astounding bit of trade talk with did get two, I agree that we'd be looking to do some trade either earlier or into 2024.
I’d love that from norf …. And expect them to be wooden spooners next year
 

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I’d love that from norf …. And expect them to be wooden spooners next year
Yeah, it's interesting. Massive premiums seem to be on picks this year, but then next year seems to be at throwaway prices? Doesn't quite strike as true ... I think there's a chunk of information missing.

Anyway, not long now until we find out what's happening for real.

Of course, if North really wanted Curtin, they'd just take him with #2 or #3. They really don't need another mid (although a running mid in McKercher is different to what they've got). Similarly, they've got enough medium forwards that they don't need Duursma ... IMHO.
 
Yeah, it's interesting. Massive premiums seem to be on picks this year, but then next year seems to be at throwaway prices? Doesn't quite strike as true ... I think there's a chunk of information missing.

Anyway, not long now until we find out what's happening for real.

Of course, if North really wanted Curtin, they'd just take him with #2 or #3. They really don't need another mid (although a running mid in McKercher is different to what they've got). Similarly, they've got enough medium forwards that they don't need Duursma ... IMHO.
Exactly …. But they seem infatuated with getting pieces this year. If they do take Curtin early it opens the draft for us to get a sanders type player …. So happy either way
 
Not that I have much idea about this but all the discussion about Curtin and options if he slides but to some both North and the Hawks could be in a standoff over who will take him and have just thrown everyone of the real plans. It will be interesting to see the names called out and I do stick by my prefered option of slide down with Adelaide and pick up 2 of Windsor, Leake, Wilson, DeMattia or Tholstrup and then a tall or a ruck later on
Not sure on Thomas as an academy as none have really been at the level the last few years
 
Not sure on Thomas as an academy as none have really been at the level the last few years
I wonder if we delisted Kennedy to keep a late pick (starting tonight at #71) to match for him if he's bid on ... and if not take him as a rookie. We could take him as Cat B if we want to see Charlie McCormack stay in the academy as a 19-yo; or take him as Cat A and Charlie as Cat B. If Harvey's bid on too early, then let him go ... but no reason why he should be; he's not that outstanding.
 
If the Crows are keen on #7 and then on trade to the Eagles we could make out lite bandits here

#7 for Eagles F1

then on trade

Eagles F1 for Crows #10 + F1 or #20 depending on how bad they want that Eagles F1
 

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List Mgmt. 2023 GWS Giants List Management - Academy, Free Agent, Trade, Draft

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