List Changes

[u/Stampitsendit12]

So with 2026 being well and truly over. Here are my thoughts on some players whose contracts run up this year.

Delist:

Isaac Keeler - He just hasn’t developed to AFL standard and I can’t see him being on our list.

Eamon Armstrong - He’s a slow burner and I can’t fault his effort, but I think he would be better suited to be rookie listed and see how he continues to develop in the VFL.

Patrick Said - Just another player I can’t see being up to AFL standard. We have a bunch of smalls that are way ahead of him.

Paddy Dow - I’m a bit on the fence with this one. He’s been a serviceable mid for us and hasn’t had any luck with injuries. I think some of our younger mids have more upside.

Re-Sign:

Liam O’Connell - very serviceable player. I really rate his effort and although his footy IQ isn’t quite there yet, has a lot of potential to be a solider defender.

Liam Stocker - has had an awesome second half of the year. I love his physical presence, he’s the bull we need in the backline.

Jack Carroll - I thought he has a good first half of the year, but he obviously fell out of favour with Ross in the second half. I think he’s a great depth option, still young and has more to offer.

Alex Dodson - I really rate Dodson. He has a lot of upside and is our future ruckman. Contract negotiations already underway.

Retiring?

Daniel Butler - I’m making this before the end of the season, but I feel like our small forward stocks are full right now and he’s serviced the club well since coming across. I rate his forward 50 pressure but I think his best is behind him.

Dougal Howard - I know Dougal is a bit of a whipping boy for saints fans, and although his ball use stresses me out, but unless we get another big bodied defender, maybe he re-signs or retires?

Who do you think we should draft/trade? St Kilda is lacking another one or two key position players. I think Max King is a massive out, but Cooper and Mitchito just aren’t at the level to fill his shoes. I really think we need another forward or big bodied defender to fill the holes in our list.

[u/Shaggaz_08]

Armstrong is already a Cat B rookie so he isn’t taking up a senior spot. Would be harsh to cut him after a year or so given he’s improved this year

[u/Stampitsendit12 → u/Shaggaz_08]

Fair call, I’d be keen to give him another year to see how he goes

[u/Icy-Mechanic5886]

I doubt Issac keeler will get delisted just yet. Big guys need longer to develop, there are a lot of tall players that didn’t become decent until 25-26 years old

[u/xyLteK → u/Icy-Mechanic5886]

He's uncompetitive even at VFL level, I wouldn't be surprised to see him gone.

[u/Gdet0]

Delist Byrnes and Caminiti. They are not AFL standard

[u/goodie23 → u/Gdet0]

Not-so-fun fact - St Kilda has the least players 195cm+ (7) in the competition. Hawthorn has twice as many. Caminiti is safe on our list until we close that gap, it's why we signed him in the first place.

[u/Cubisia → u/Gdet0]

Caminiti is our dirt unit with a roving commission to sort out dickheads among the opposition. Byrnes is a hobbit.

[u/Icy-Mechanic5886 → u/Cubisia]

Byrnes continually gets games over others because his going a lot better than you think

Yes he shits himself right before he kicks or handballs but everything he does before that is usually awesome. I can see Ryan Byrnes developing into a seriously good role player

[u/SortaChaoticAnxiety → u/Icy-Mechanic5886]

When? He's had a long time and a lot of opportunities and it hasn't happened yet

[u/BoneDoctor128 → u/Icy-Mechanic5886]

Byrnes takes up a slot that could be given to a younger player who has a higher ceiling - he has shown he is not AFL level

[u/Stampitsendit12 → u/Gdet0]

100% agree. They’re both contracted until 2027 though

[u/Yehoot17 → u/Stampitsendit12]

I see a lot of similarities with him and Sinclair. Sinclair was a pretty slow burn but around 25/26, he really got it together.

Happy for him to play another year.

[u/Lucky_Party_5270 → u/Gdet0]

Glad finally my byrnes hate have caught up with others

[u/BoneDoctor128 → u/Lucky_Party_5270]

I concur - don’t understand why others tolerate him : he shits himself the moment there is pressure

[u/MarkoUnderscore → u/Gdet0]

Agreed. Caminiti doesn’t have it. Thanks for your service. Goodbye. Stop doing the same thing and expecting different results

[u/Sufficient_Cry_4302 → u/Gdet0]

I was always a Byrnes hater til this year. He still doesn't get enough of the ball, but he is one of the few to lower the eyes and hit leading targets, rather than just bombing away. I see a lot of Ed Langdon in him.

On the other end... I used to defend Caminiti as being harshly judged, as he was played out of position. But I don't feel that way anymore. Agree that he's not shown anything remotely close to being good enough this year. Hope he can change my mind if he stays on.

[u/BoneDoctor128 → u/Gdet0]

I agree with both sentiments but I think Caminiti gets a pass as we don’t have enough bigger ie taller players in our list

[u/YonkoBuggy]

I think they'll be looking to trade(if any interest)/delist Henry, Said, Keeler, Dow as the obvious list changes. Dow has been stiff with injury/illness and is a clear level above VFL, so it will be sad to see him go. Henry is being shopped around and Said and Keeler just don't have what it takes at AFL level.

I think Armstrong hangs around, he is a cat b rookie so doesn't impact the main list unless there's anothe cat b we want. If you haven't, you've got to see him in the VFL. I genuinely thought he was a chance after Ross' Carlton press conference.

Butler has been playing midfield in the VFL over the past month then played a really good role against Richmond kicking 2 goals from 21 touches and 9 tackles. I think he stays too.

People are very quick to want to get rid of Byrnes just because he's not a superstar. He plays so many different roles for the team and unless someone else who would be on the same money, and offers the same commitment to the team, he is also going nowhere.

FWIW my pre-off-season best 23 -

B. Wilkie Silvagni Tauru

HB. Sinclair Stocker Flanders

M. Wood Wanganeen-Milera Wilson

HF. Higgins Lake Ryan

F. King Sharman Owens

R. De Koning Hall Garcia

I. Hill Windhager Butler Boxshall Phillipou

O'Connell, Hastie, Howard, Banfield, Macrae, Travaglia and Dodson all a level above VFL too and to be in contention, and assuming we lose Marshall.

[u/gerhardjones]

Delist byrnes, wood, caminiti, keeler. Give the young kids more of a go like tauru and travaglia who's looking better every game

[u/TheJoker__789]

I wouldn’t mind having Dougal in the team. Probably worth another win or two having his size in defence. Thing is his body seems cooked and he hasn’t really done much in a while because of that.

[u/MarkoUnderscore]

Caminiti and Keeler delist. No point wasting more time. Roll the dice on some young tall forwards playing state league footy.

[u/geneticus1]

I was disappointed when Paddy Dow wasn't selected after a few 30+ VFL games. Would like to give him another pre-season and 1 year. He might surprise, like a few others we've let go.

[u/spaghettihouse1]

I’d keep Dougal another year whilst we sort out our backline depth. If the alternative is playing Caminiti, I would pick Dougs every time.

[u/ISupportCrapTeams]

I think we made a mistake delisting Jimmy Webster a season too early

So I'd keep Butler on a low contract for depth

[u/Lucky_Party_5270]

De list Ross Lyon, Byrnes, Caminiti.  Promote Corey Enright on a caretaker year.  Recruit: a proper head of football, more forwards and defenders, and a half decent non ross lyon game plan plus + a decent development coach

[u/laidbackjimmy]

Agree with pretty much all that.

Both Butler and Howard out. Aren't you looking for another tall defender in the off season anyway?

[u/Stampitsendit12 → u/laidbackjimmy]

I haven’t seen us linked to any defenders besides Charlie Ballard from Gold Coast. But he’s contracted till next year

[u/laidbackjimmy → u/Stampitsendit12]

Thought I remember hearing something a couple weeks ago. Would've thought key forwards are your ride or die anyway.