List Mgmt. 2025 List Management Discussion

[Perrip]

Breaking down the contract conundrum the Lions’ success has triggered

Even after breaking a premiership drought of more than two decades, the Brisbane Lions are far from a settled side heading into the 2025 campaign.
Coach Chris Fagan’s men dazzled the AFL last year courtesy of a cohort of rising stars who earned their stripes after season-ending injuries threw the careers of four men into disarray.
Keidean Coleman, Tom Doedee, Lincoln McCarthy and Darcy Gardiner all sustained torn ACLs. In their place, Kai Lohmann, Darcy Wilmot, Logan Morris and Jaspa Fletcher became staples of the line-up, as did fellow fledgling star Will Ashcroft.
Of the returning quartet, only Doedee and Coleman are signed beyond 2025, with grand final stars Lohmann, Morris, Callum Ah Chee, Brandon Starcevich and Dayne Zorko also off contract at season’s end.
Fletcher admitted while there would inevitably be some talk about who remains in Brisbane and who seeks greener pastures elsewhere, those conversations were not yet in the works.
And the 20-year-old issued a warning to the rest of the competition: the men on the comeback trail, including ruckman Oscar McInerney, were looking in ominous touch, and in line to feature for their opening clash against Geelong.
“From what I’ve heard I believe so [they will be fit], they’re moving really well, and we’re looking forward to having them back with the group,” Fletcher said.
“When we speak about the fittest … they’re absolutely flying at the moment. I remember walking in and just seeing them doing a session at seven in morning, and they were absolutely flying.
“There’s probably going to be a lot of talk about that sort of thing [contracts], but we’re focused on the year ahead.
“Whatever happens at the end of the year happens, but this group is focused on week by week, and hopefully, we can get back to the end of September again.”
Star forward Joe Daniher’s retirement left the only void in the Lions side who conquered the Sydney Swans on grand final day, with his place expected to be taken by former Gold Coast Sun Sam Day.
The additions of highly touted draftees Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall has only heightened competition for spots.
It will create an almighty selection headache for Fagan once he has a full-strength squad to choose from, with even his veterans such as Zorko no guarantee of retaining their spots.
Zorko’s shift to halfback, having spent the12 years in the midfield or forward line, came to accommodate the losses of Coleman and Doedee, but the 35-year-old confirmed he was set to remain in the backline.

 

[Saucery]

There's very few scenarious where the media would be knowledgable about a star player missing pre-season and directly choosing not to specifically say what the situation is. Especially the more notable of 'pot-stirrer' media commentaters, like Sam McClure, not stating what the situation is. This would be one of those things.

Cornes seems to allude that it might be a lack of fitness returning to preseason.

“There has to be concern, if there’s concern over his immediate playing future, if he’s rarely training, if he’s no certainty to attend a pre-season camp. When it is a team sport, you want to feel like everyone is pulling their weight,” former Port Adelaide player Kane Cornes replied.

“If you’re alluding to the fact his teammates are now starting to have a level of frustrating or questions, then that’s an issue.

“You can’t hide. If he hasn’t done much work … then this is going to be a real issue for his body.”

Dogs reveal ‘flexible training’ plan for young star as he ‘deals with personal issues’

Dogs reveal ‘flexible training’ plan for young star as he ‘deals with personal issues’

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[rye]

its hard to disagree with cornes' position on contract length getting out of hand when you see carlton giving a 5 year extension to a guy who has had 5 hamstring injuries in 12 month. laughable really.

 

[Tom14]

its hard to disagree with cornes' position on contract length getting out of hand when you see carlton giving a 5 year extension to a guy who has had 5 hamstring injuries in 12 month. laughable really.

I’m accepting of the reality and value of longer contracts for players you genuinely want to keep, but this says more about Carlton’s self evaluation imo.

Not a player worth 5 years even if he didn’t have the injury concerns!

 

[Section 5]

its hard to disagree with cornes' position on contract length getting out of hand when you see carlton giving a 5 year extension to a guy who has had 5 hamstring injuries in 12 month. laughable really.

Very true but the Lions gave a good length contract to a 2 ACL player in 2023. Still yet to debut for us.
At present the players appear to hold a lot of the aces in contract agreements.

 

[martinson]

Very true but the Lions gave a good length contract to a 2 ACL player in 2023. Still yet to debut for us.
At present the players appear to hold a lot of the aces in contract agreements.

We've recruited some outstanding players , more than any club could ever expect , and we've made a couple of missteps.

Overall we're well ahead of other clubs in what is an uncertain science to improve your list.

Everyone thought at the time Doedee was a bigger risk than most. It's encouraging to see him back on the track and he looks fine. The good thing is we weren't relying on him being a pivotal player and still don't.

 

[McIvor]

its hard to disagree with cornes' position on contract length getting out of hand when you see carlton giving a 5 year extension to a guy who has had 5 hamstring injuries in 12 month. laughable really.

Or someone like Noah Balta getting a 7 year deal

 

[Elixuh]

I’m accepting of the reality and value of longer contracts for players you genuinely want to keep, but this says more about Carlton’s self evaluation imo.

Not a player worth 5 years even if he didn’t have the injury concerns!

I like to laugh at Carlton just as much as the next person, but they’re probably getting a very good deal $$$ wise and are gambling on the body coming good. But with Carlton you never know.

 

[McIvor]

Sorry but who is the Blues player that got a five year deal with the dodgy hammys?

 

[Grasshopper17]

Sorry but who is the Blues player that got a five year deal with the dodgy hammys?

Cerra

 

[dlanod]

Very true but the Lions gave a good length contract to a 2 ACL player in 2023. Still yet to debut for us.
At present the players appear to hold a lot of the aces in contract agreements.

It is a fair bit different when you're bringing in an outside player versus keeping one of your own - you always need to pay overs for the former.

 

[Sproj]

In the hits v misses categories, we are comfortably winning with the likes of Lohmann, Rayner, McCluggage, Berry, Andrews, Hippy and so many more extensions but we’ve had some misses in the last few years in signings and draftees too:

Ellis-Yeoman, Doedee so far, Robertson, Eli Smith, Coleman Jr, letting Keays go, Cedric Cox, Schache.

 

[morsie]

In the hits v misses categories, we are comfortably winning with the likes of Lohmann, Rayner, McCluggage, Berry, Andrews, Hippy and so many more extensions but we’ve had some misses in the last few years in signings and draftees too:

Ellis-Yeoman, Doedee so far, Robertson, Eli Smith, Coleman Jr, letting Keays go, Cedric Cox, Schache.

There are always multiple misses on draftees.We have been excellent however in recent years on teh people we have brought in, the only failures I can think of are Cockatoo - Collins and Ellis - Yeoman.I thought Nakia was a big punt due to his injuries and so it proved.I had high hopes for Ellis Yeoman but it didnt work out.No doubt I have missed a couple .

 

[Perrip]

Ellis-Yeoman, Doedee so far, Robertson, Eli Smith, Coleman Jr, letting Keays go, Cedric Cox, Schache.

Keays is the sort of player you really can't do that much about. You can see the potential in him while he was at his original club, but if he can't cement a spot in the best 23, where he would be in other teams, there isn't a lot you can do about it.

 

[davemc_lions]

Keays is the sort of player you really can't do that much about. You can see the potential in him while he was at his original club, but if he can't cement a spot in the best 23, where he would be in other teams, there isn't a lot you can do about it.

Yes we only just pushed Lyons out of the 22 last year and Keays was behind him.
I always been happy for him and Hinge getting a good run for the crows.

 

[BuntonRules]

Not real keen on JUH. May well be the next Joe, but just as much chance of being Gunston. Not what we need anyhoo.

 

[pod17]

Yes we only just pushed Lyons out of the 22 last year and Keays was behind him.
I always been happy for him and Hinge getting a good run for the crows.

From memory we tried to retain Hinge but he saw greater opportunities at the Crows. Definitely happy for them both, likewise Prior who I see doing okay at the Bombers but simply couldn’t break into a really strong backline.

 

[Perrip]

From memory we tried to retain Hinge but he saw greater opportunities at the Crows. Definitely happy for them both, likewise Prior who I see doing okay at the Bombers but simply couldn’t break into a really strong backline.

Players like Dev Rob, Keays, Lohmann, & Prior have two options in these situations, leave where you get more opportunity to play at an AFL level or stay and try to break into the best 23.

 

[Pns_blister]

Neither Keays or Hinge would be best 22. We did the right thing by them and traded them for more opportunity.

 

[briztoon]

Not real keen on JUH. May well be the next Joe, but just as much chance of being Gunston. Not what we need anyhoo.

Far more likely to be the next Brendan Fevola if the Vic nightlife rumours are to be believed (well known inside the industry apparently).

 

[rye]

Far more likely to be the next Brendan Fevola if the Vic nightlife rumours are to be believed (well known inside the industry apparently).

we will let him stay with daniher when he gets traded here.