List Mgmt. Contract, Trade and Draft Discussions - 2024 Edition

[Keys]

Quick links:
Player contract status
Draft prospect video highlights (thanks to noobermensch)
AFL retirements and delistings

---

Latest news and rumours:

• Tom Barrass officially requests trade to Hawthorn
  • Duffield: Eagles want two first round picks - "It may have to be in this year’s draft rather than a future pick."
  • Morris: Josh Battle is set to join Barrass at Hawthorn in 2025 - Ralph: Unclear if Hawks will pay enough for Band 1

• Kysaiah Pickett interested in a trade
  • "Club and management are confident they can work through his concerns"
  • Daniels: Pickett’s preference is Fremantle. Fremantle are keen, but Bolton the priority. Getting both “not impossible”. West Coast “an option if things get complicated.”

• Jai Culley, Coen Livingstone, Loch Rawlinson in line for one-year deals (The West)
  
  
• Liam Baker and Shai Bolton
  29

  Shai Bolton

  Age

  26

  Ht

  176cm

  Wt

  77kg

  Pos.

  M/F

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  12.3

  3star

  K

  6.9

  3star

  HB

  5.4

  4star

  M

  2.8

  3star

  T

  2.9

  4star

  CL

  1.4

  4star

  D

  12.7

  3star

  K

  9.2

  4star

  HB

  3.5

  2star

  M

  3.0

  3star

  T

  2.7

  4star

  CL

  1.8

  4star

  D

  9.2

  3star

  K

  4.6

  2star

  HB

  4.6

  4star

  M

  2.0

  3star

  T

  2.6

  4star

  CL

  0.0

  1star

  officially request trades to WA
  • Daniels: Bolton is Fremantle’s priority

 

[Obeanie1]

Academy is outside the cap. Mentoring or welfare role is inside the cap.

So we should pay 80% under the academy for working on academy development and 20% for mentoring players on the list.

Done.

Cyril did previously say he would help Richmond or West Coast. But that may have been linked to Junior being there.

 

[Keys]

Looks like we’re close to signing Ryan to a new deal.

Bit surprising as I thought we might wait a bit to see how his hamstring settles before committing to a new deal

That said from what splinter dick has written its only a 2 year extension to 2026 so we’re not over committing which is perhaps a good sign that unnecessarily long extensions are a thing of the past

 

[Barrybran]

Looks like we’re close to signing Ryan to a new deal.

Bit surprising as I thought we might wait a bit to see how his hamstring settles before committing to a new deal

That said from what splinter dick has written its only a 2 year extension to 2026 so we’re not over committing which is perhaps a good sign that unnecessarily long extensions are a thing of the past

Showing him a bit of faith isn't the worst thing we can do

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Looks like we’re close to signing Ryan to a new deal.

Bit surprising as I thought we might wait a bit to see how his hamstring settles before committing to a new deal

That said from what splinter dick has written its only a 2 year extension to 2026 so we’re not over committing which is perhaps a good sign that unnecessarily long extensions are a thing of the past

Could we not have just waited to see whether his body could still hold up first? Setting ourselves up for Naitanui and Shuey 2.0 here..at least we got Brockman this year.

 

[bombard]

Looks like we’re close to signing Ryan to a new deal.

Bit surprising as I thought we might wait a bit to see how his hamstring settles before committing to a new deal

That said from what splinter dick has written its only a 2 year extension to 2026 so we’re not over committing which is perhaps a good sign that unnecessarily long extensions are a thing of the past

Argument to be made that his people would be as anxious as we are for some continuity and certainty. Imagine if we weren't down this road and he has a great first half of the season. The nonsense from the vic media about him as a free agent target would a) be insufferable and b) raise his price.

Maybe we're backing him in - as well as our medical staff (heh) - and getting him for below market. Maybe. I'm optimistic guy. It's January.

 

[Chris_6678]

Well he did recruit Brockman so im fine with the 2 years.

 

[Broken_Chairs]

Ryan's an absolute gun - AA player and premiership player. Marketable too.

Yes he's coming back from a serious injury, but I don't see any reason to muck around when it comes to A graders that are under 30 (lord we don't have many right now). Very fine with a 2 year extension.

 

[Nuke Fremantle]

Looks like we’re close to signing Ryan to a new deal.

Bit surprising as I thought we might wait a bit to see how his hamstring settles before committing to a new deal

That said from what splinter dick has written its only a 2 year extension to 2026 so we’re not over committing which is perhaps a good sign that unnecessarily long extensions are a thing of the past

Which is what I've been hammering for a while. Do we ever learn? Should've waited on contract discussions until the bye week or thereabouts.

 

[DeckedOut20]

Relax everyone, it’s not like the club is throwing a big five plus year contract on a roulette table.

They do a number of physical tests to ensure his hamstring is back to its previous strength and ability and would be fully aware of what he and his body is capable of, prior to holding contract talks.

I’m more surprised this is happening without a list manager appointed, I’d rather see them wait until a new manager is settled. Leads me to believe it’s probably an average wage ($350-$450k) contract. Both parties (Eagles & Liam) happy to lock it away ASAP.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[06Premiers]

Can we sign him for 3 years, just to prove old Stickdick wrong again?

 

[Campaigner for good]

It's two years peeps. We also have salary cap for days right now. Lock him in. If his hammy stops him playing he can medically retire and we get that salary cap space back. What's not to like?

 

[WCErevival]

Its only one injury too. Its not like he's always injured.

 

[Obeanie1]

Relax everyone, it’s not like the club is throwing a big five plus year contract on a roulette table.

They do a number of physical tests to ensure his hamstring is back to its previous strength and ability and would be fully aware of what he and his body is capable of, prior to holding contract talks.

I’m more surprised this is happening without a list manager appointed, I’d rather see them wait until a new manager is settled. Leads me to believe it’s probably an average wage ($350-$450k) contract. Both parties (Eagles & Liam) happy to lock it away ASAP.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Isn't Ryan in full training with the main group already?

Seen footage of him jumping onto the trainer with the pads on his back taking marks etc.

It's not like he is still in rehab walking laps with no return to training date.

 

[bUCKET__]

He's also one of our most marketable players, and there's plenty of deadwood that'd get culled before him even if he did an ACL this year. No brainer to get him re-signed quickly.

 

[eaglevision]

I’m ok with 2 years. He’ll next be out of contract at 29 which is hopefully an indication of us reverting back to rolling year on year contracts for 30+ y.o. which is sensible list management. Happy to back him in to stay on that park ahead of Rotham, LEdwards, HEdwards, Gaff, Trew, Dewar and Baker to be moved on/retire at the end of this year. Possibly (hopefully) Witherden and Jones too.

 

[mat11]

I’m ok with 2 years. He’ll next be out of contract at 29 which is hopefully an indication of us reverting back to rolling year on year contracts for 30+ y.o. which is sensible list management. Happy to back him in to stay on that park ahead of Rotham, LEdwards, HEdwards, Gaff, Trew, Dewar and Baker to be moved on/retire at the end of this year. Possibly (hopefully) Witherden and Jones too.

It's a good signing, he should be back to his best now he has to contend with brockman and long as that sole small forward

On SM-A135F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[ArdentEagle]

It's a good signing, he should be back to his best now he has to contend with brockman and long as that sole small forward

On SM-A135F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Now that we have Brockman, I suspect all 3 will be rotating forward/mid. They all offer something different. Longys hands and vision/footy brain and Ryans field kicking.

 

[mat11]

Now that we have Brockman, I suspect all 3 will be rotating forward/mid. They all offer something different. Longys hands and vision/footy brain and Ryans field kicking.

I think one misses out of the 22 and has to fight his way through the wafl which is healthy for the club

On SM-A135F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[eaglevision]

I think one misses out of the 22 and has to fight his way through the wafl which is healthy for the club

On SM-A135F using BigFooty.com mobile app

I don’t have Brockman in my starting 22. Ryan and Cripps small forwards as well as Long rotating mid/forward. Oscar, JD and a Hewett/Reid resting mid type. Need 2 of Maric, BWilliams, Waterman, JWilliams on the bench as a 3rd tall and a ruck option to support Flynn. Other 2 spots for a mid and a defender.

 

[garlic munchers]

I’m ok with 2 years. He’ll next be out of contract at 29 which is hopefully an indication of us reverting back to rolling year on year contracts for 30+ y.o. which is sensible list management. Happy to back him in to stay on that park ahead of Rotham, LEdwards, HEdwards, Gaff, Trew, Dewar and Baker to be moved on/retire at the end of this year. Possibly (hopefully) Witherden and Jones too.

Would transform Freo into a contender....

Good to keep in blue and yellow

 

[mat11]

I don’t have Brockman in my starting 22. Ryan and Cripps small forwards as well as Long rotating mid/forward. Oscar, JD and a Hewett/Reid resting mid type. Need 2 of Maric, BWilliams, Waterman, JWilliams on the bench as a 3rd tall and a ruck option to support Flynn. Other 2 spots for a mid and a defender.

Very similar to my thinking

HF- Reid. Darling. Cripps
FF- Ryan. Allen. B.Williams

Long, Waterman, Hewett, Maric is my bench so plenty of forwards and forw/mids in team. B.williams is a coaches nightmare as a third tall plus 2nd ruckmen

 

[Truckosaurus]

He's also one of our most marketable players, and there's plenty of deadwood that'd get culled before him even if he did an ACL this year. No brainer to get him re-signed quickly.

Nah, paying anything other than bare minimum for any player who has ever been injured, for a year and at the last minute is the only responsible list strategy.

 

[stallon]

I don’t have Brockman in my starting 22. Ryan and Cripps small forwards as well as Long rotating mid/forward. Oscar, JD and a Hewett/Reid resting mid type. Need 2 of Maric, BWilliams, Waterman, JWilliams on the bench as a 3rd tall and a ruck option to support Flynn. Other 2 spots for a mid and a defender.

I think you are one too many talls there, BWilliams should be our 3rd tall and our 2nd ruck imo. Id rather persist with an extra small who can rotate into the midfield which is by far our weakest line,.
Maybe if Maric or Waterman play more as flankers there is something there?

 

[eaglevision]

I think you are one too many talls there, BWilliams should be our 3rd tall and our 2nd ruck imo. Id rather persist with an extra small who can rotate into the midfield which is by far our weakest line,.
Maybe if Maric or Waterman play more as flankers there is something there?

I agree with BWilliams for now but I have a strong suspicion we will trade him end of this year. Maric is the other tall I’d have in the starting 22, he’s mobile and good enough at ground level to play 2 talls. If we didn’t have twl of those I mentioned and we had a KP/ruck injury (particularly in the backline) we’d be absolutely stuffed. Would definitely have a versatile small/medium as the sub.

 

[ArdentEagle]

I think one misses out of the 22 and has to fight his way through the wafl which is healthy for the club

On SM-A135F using BigFooty.com mobile app

I can see where you're coming from but with the club now prioritising speed of ball movement, I'd be surprised.
It could be a horse for course type thing too.

Either way, you're right. Excellent that we now have depth and they're having to fight for postilions again. Great for the club!