Swans chat 2026 List Management

[Thunder Shaker]

Here is the 2026 edition of the list management thread.

To begin, here is an article on the AFL website that takes a stab at the best 23 for each club.

For Sydney, the following recruits from 2025 have been included in the 23:
* Jai Serong (replaces Rampe in the backline, who has been placed on the bench)
* Malcolm Rosas jnr (replaces Hayward in the forward line. Competing with Dattoli for this spot)
* Charlie Curnow (listed at the traditional full forward position, but IMO he may play closer to half forward. McDonald has been placed there instead)

Other notes:
* Mills listed as half back.
* Players not named in the 23 include Bice, Cunningham, Dattoli, Lloyd (named as four emergencies) plus several players Sydney recruited in 2025. Kyle could be pushing for selection, perhaps Phillipou, as well as others whom I've not seen so far. This list has tended to include veteran players over recruits so take with some salt to taste.

The key takeaway here is the significant improvement in depth compared to last year. Our list in 2025 had a lack of depth and this was exposed by a bad run of injuries.

[imuninformedtwo]

In terms of contracts, the main and only one of real substance this year will be McInerney. Obviously, I'd love to keep him. Amartey's the other one, but form and fitness will determine his value.

Our real challenge comes in '27 and '28, when we have an extradordinary number of high class players rolling out of contract.

Next year alone, we have McCartin, Chad, Grundy and Jordon as clear best 22 players - and that's before we get to a bucket of players like Sheldrick, Melican, Dattoli, etc.

And then the 2028 batch includes Errol, Heeney, Logan, Wicks and Paps - and then there's Rowie, Serong, etc.

The salary cap jigsaw puzzle will be acutely complicated.

[Thunder Shaker]

Sydney's 2026 free agents (afl.com.au): Joel Amartey, Harry Cunningham, Joel Hamling, Jake Lloyd, Justin McInerney, Dane Rampe. This list doesn't include other players who may be coming out of contract in 2026.

Lloyd and Rampe are nearing the end of their careers. Cunningham also. Hamling was previously delisted.

The only ones of concern are Amartey and McInerney. These are the players to watch.

[Thunder Shaker]

In terms of contracts, the main and only one of real substance this year will be McInerney. Obviously, I'd love to keep him.

McInerney set to sign long-term deal (afl.com.au, edited headline to remove clickbait)

[KSAS]

McInerney set to sign long-term deal (afl.com.au, edited headline to remove clickbait)

Good news!
5 years is a long time, which will most likely make him a life long Swan.
However i'm also cautious with what transpired with Hayward who we traded out a year after he signed a 4 year extension.

[imuninformedtwo]

Awesome news re Juzzy. Love him to bits.

I know he has the odd moment that drives people nuts, but he was sitting inside the top five of the B&F each of the last two years before his late season injuries.

And still reckon we haven’t properly tapped his centre square potential.

[Thunder Shaker]

Our real challenge comes in '27 and '28, when we have an extradordinary number of high class players rolling out of contract.

Next year alone, we have McCartin, Chad, Grundy and Jordon as clear best 22 players - and that's before we get to a bucket of players like Sheldrick, Melican, Dattoli, etc.

And then the 2028 batch includes Errol, Heeney, Logan, Wicks and Paps - and then there's Rowie, Serong, etc.

The salary cap jigsaw puzzle will be acutely complicated.

This period roughly covers the years when the Tasmania Devils will enter the competition with their ability to sign out-of-contract players from the other 18 clubs. They will be limited to signing one player from each club, but they have a $5 million bonus fund that they can use for this. The salary cap for the 18 existing clubs will not be a consideration if Tasmania can offer more due to this bonus fund.

Tasmania's list concessions are here: Tasmania Devils Football Club list build concessions (afl.com.au).