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1
Ladies Lounge / Re: AFLW List Management 2026
Last post by crashlander -
After trad week our situation lies like this:

Ins:
[1]   Brooke Boileau
170 cm   28/01/2005      Originally from South Adelaide
Traded from Adelaide, Brooke is a young inside-mid who really broke out this season.

[2]   Lauen Bella
188 cm   12/09/2000      Originally from Sarina (near Mackay)
Traded from Gold Coast where she was one of the competition’s premier rucks. Will bolster our talls leading into the future.

[3]   Claudia Whitfort:
171 cm   31/07/1999      Originally from Casey Demons
Traded from Gold Coast, Whitfort is an excellent athletic defender. We are her 4th AFLW club! Not bad for someone as young as she is.

Outs:
 We traded out 3 players, had one retire and did not renew the contracts on two players who replaced the 3rd. Sounds messy, but we’ve actually only got 2 free list spots at the moment. There may well be further changes, as we have our 1st, 2nd and 3rd round selections for this draft.
On the other hand, we don’t appear to think much of next year’s crop, as we have basically traded out of it.

[1]   Kerryn Peterson
Our former Captain, it was a big call not to renew her contract. Not sure what her plans are at this point, but she remains one of the clubs Physios.

[2]   Eliza Wood
The injury replacement player for Kez, she did an ACL and never got on the field. She was our VFLW Captain, so I’m not sure what is going to happen there, but she may miss the next season if her knee is slow in responding.

[3]   Charlotte Brewer
The injury replacement player who replaced the injury replacement player, Charlotte didn’t get a game this year and was delisted. She’s since been recruited to Collingwood.

[4]   Tarni Brown
The former Collingwood F/D who was good when she came over to us. She has some ‘off-field issues’ which have led to her retirement.

[5]   Mia Austin
Even though she played her best season so far, Mia left to go to Melbourne for more opportunities.

[6]   Keeley Skepper
Keeley had a poor year by her standards. Considering that we swapped with West Coast for next to nothing, neither teams seems to think she has much of a future. A pity, as she was really good only a couple of seasons back.

[7]   Maddison Torpey
Maddy left seeking more opportunities at North. She felt that she was our #4 ruck now.
2
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on
… while England Im sure will improve via the law of averages and probably win at least one test I think Aus can send Bazball on its way with a 4-1 scoreline.

I’m tipping 5-0 unless our selectors have another of their far too frequent brain fades 🙄

Khawaja is still in the squad and Jhye Richardson has been recalled after overcoming persistent injury.
3
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: List Building - More than one way to skin a cat
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: Lods – on
No, what we're doing is saying it's not necessarily the case that all the out going players can't be more than covered by the new players and growth in some of the youngsters.
As well as that we should hopefully get relief from some of the disruption and division of last year...and injuries in both 2024 and 2025.
It's two years in a row that our lists have been put under pressure we don't often experience.

So as a result there is no reason for us to sink further into the mire.

It's as simple as that.

There's also the availability of three nominally best 23 players in Smith, Newman and Kemp who were sadly missed last season.

We had three players choose to leave for whatever reasons.  You can debate the impact of their departures or their worth but only one of the three was rated in the top 50 players coming in the 2025 season (Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was included!).  None made the end of season top 50.  Two of them are currently unable to train because of recurring injuries and the third has a dicky knee.

Of the other departures, one decided that he was cooked, another was told that he was cooked, one was traded for a packet of chips and the other five were delisted after managing a total of 104 games between them (and two of them accounted for 81 of those games).  It's pretty clear to me that our list managers, with their comprehensive knowledge of player analytics and player availability, were confident that we could bring in better players.  That's really the crux of the matter, and time will tell, but it's worth noting none of our new players are delisted free agents or State league hacks.  We have gone for three players with runs on the board and in the prime of their careers, two youngsters with potential, two very highly ranked draft picks, and one speculative draft pick.  Then there's the natural progression of the youngsters with another pre-season under their belt.

It's true that we didn't draft a KPF who could have spent a season or two in the VFL, but so what?  By any reasoned analysis, our list is better placed now than it was in 2025.
4
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
Mark Wood done for the series, yet again injured and he should retire from test cricket. Been replaced by Matthew Fisher who has been touring with the English Lions who shadow the test team as a reserves type outfit. Fisher who has the one test wicket is a fairly nondescript  typical English seamer who wont trouble too many Aus batters imo if he does get to play a test or two.
Not to be confused with the young NZ quick of the same name who is a lot quicker and looks promising.
Im tipping Archer will be the next English bowler to pick up an injury and need a rest and while England Im sure will improve via the law of averages and probably win at least one test I think Aus can send Bazball on its way with a 4-1 scoreline.
5
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: List Building - More than one way to skin a cat
Last post by Lods -
Quote from: kruddler – on
Lods...
There is no point finding evidence to disprove those claims as we are drifting further and further away from the point.

The point is you and others like you are putting down outgoings and pumping up incomings.

Simply compare people's thoughts pre trade period and post trade period and you'll see the hypocrisy involved.

No, what we're doing is saying it's not necessarily the case that all the out going players can't be more than covered by the new players and growth in some of the youngsters.
As well as that we should hopefully get relief from some of the disruption and division of last year...and injuries in both 2024 and 2025.
It's two years in a row that our lists have been put under pressure we don't often experience.

So as a result there is no reason for us to sink further into the mire.

It's as simple as that.
6
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: Thryleon – on
Quote from: crashlander – on
The English press certainly do not hold back. Our media is far from blameless, but I doubt we'd see quite the same level of hate being expressed.
You go from chocolates to boiled lollies very quickly over there.

Its the nature of English sports.  They need something to write about.  Follow the EPL for a season.  They display Carlton like pressure cooker in the media.

More like chocolates to rotten eggs :)

But then the Barmy Army will stick by their team.  I guess that they have a good time win, lose or draw.
7
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: List Building - More than one way to skin a cat
Last post by kruddler -
Lods...
There is no point finding evidence to disprove those claims as we are drifting further and further away from the point.

The point is you and others like you are putting down outgoings and pumping up incomings.

Simply compare people's thoughts pre trade period and post trade period and you'll see the hypocrisy involved.
8
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: List Building - More than one way to skin a cat
Last post by Lods -
Quote from: kruddler – on
I'm not comparing them to their best. Nowhere did i say Charlie will kick 81 goals. I didn't put any figure on it actually, but even if he kicks half that, its most likely more than any recruit we bring in. Yes, the load will spread. We may even kick the same amount of goals as 2025, but i guarantee you it will be easier with a half fit Curnow than without (Opinion with no factual basis)
Same with the others.
That being said, you are the polar opposite...and not alone.
All the players that went out are no good, broken old hacks.
and
All the players that are coming in have never had a bad game of football in their life and will cover for the a-graders we have lost.

Thats a bit of emotive nonsense...I never said that and I doubt any other poster has ever said that.


TDK at 'half rat power' is still better than anyone else besides Pittonet.

I did chuckle how you used Pittonets ruck work comparison to show how he is superior to TDK. The same thing you and everyone else have been telling me how unimportant that is. Funny, when the shoe is on the other foot.

The only poster I recall saying ruckwork wasn't that important was your good self. The debate was always two rucks vs one. Pittonet is a better tap ruckman. TDK is more like the old ruck rover and is better around the ground. If Tom wasn't available Pitto was a pretty good substitute..and some of the midfielders have said they enjoyed 'roving' to him.

Oh i didn't take into account the injured players we get back?
Oh, i didn't know you included the players that will be injured this year?!

They haven't been injured yet so it's pretty hard to include them ::)  I've absolutely and consistently stated that injuries could once again derail our season

All things being equal, we got worse. Simple. No amount of spin can change that.
Once again your opinion

You haven't been ignored, that would be pretty much impossible. :D  It's just others don't agree with you. Some do.
9
Ladies Lounge / Re: AFLW - Contracted or uncontracted?
Last post by kruddler -
Quite a few list changes over the past week.
Outgoing....
1. Kerryn Harrington - not offered a contract/retiring?
2. Keeley Skepper - Traded to West Coast
3. Maddison Torpey - Traded to North Melbourne
4. Mia Austin - Traded to Melbourne
5. Tarni Brown - Retired
6. Eliza Wood - Delisted
7. Charlotte Brewer - Delisted

Incoming...
1. Claudia Whitfort - traded in from Gold Coast
2. Lauren Bella - traded in from Gold Coast
3. Brooke Boileau - traded in from Adelaide
10
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 4 - 5 on the bench
Last post by Lods -
You guys have gone completely off track. ::)

The original question was posed "Will we be better in 2026 than we were in 2025?"
You guys are saying ..No!
I'm saying....Yes ! because what these players delivered in 2025 can be more than covered by the current list.
That is the sole basis for all I'm arguing across multiple threads.
I think we're in better shape going forward than you seem to think.
But who knows how it will turn out.

It's not about the list long term.
It's not about past list management errors.
It's a comparison in years.
2025 vs 2026

If you want me to say we'll miss them, and at their best they are more talented than the player's we've brought in you're not going to get an argument.
But I'm not so sure about their future...that's a story to be written.

And just as a final point...Those players left of their own accord. We would have kept them if they wanted to stay. The reasons for some of those moves are obvious, some we'll find out about down the track.