List management is an art form but sometimes club's hands are tied. Each year there are players who remain on lists for varying reasons, despite the fact their prospects are grim. We take a look at seven such players.
Kyle Cheney (Adelaide)
You can make a case for the former Hawk and Demon given he’s a minimum chips insurance policy, given the Crows are in the premiership window, but it’s break in case of emergency only. The 28-year-old gives his all but doesn’t have the package to compete in a strong side.
He will see the year out in the SANFL unless the injury curse strikes. Cheney didn’t play a senior game in 2017 because of persistent hamstring injuries, seeing a number of players surge past him in the pecking order.
Jarryd Blair (Collingwood)
Apart from occasional forward 50 tackles, the Magpie small forward doesn’t impact the game anywhere near enough, but somehow managed to play 12 games in 2017 for 11 goals. Last year he kicked 21 goals from 15 appearances. Since 2012, the 174cm Magpie has kicked 88 goals from 119 games at an average 0.7 a game. Blair signed a one-year deal for 2017, so he isn't safe given lists are yet to be finalised.
He is the epitome of a fan base whipping boy but continues to survive Bear Grylls style.
Aaron Black (Geelong)
Part of the answer to the question why he is still a Cat lies in the fact North Melbourne pays Black to play at another club. Even more damning is the fact the Roos traded him in return for pick 92, so desperate they were to remove him from the list.
What was clear at North crystalised further for Geelong as 2017 unfolded - the 26-year-old simply isn’t good enough.
Despite injuries to forwards Dan Menzel, Nakia Cockatoo, Lincoln McCarthy and Cory Gregson, on top of Tom Hawkins’ suspension, the former Roo was selected four times but played only one senior game after being dropped following Round 8. He is forging a successful career as a list clogger.
Chris Masten (West Coast)
The Eagles must be seriously re-thinking decision to sign the former top five draft pick to a long-term deal in 2016. By the middle of this season, the midfielder was so far on the outer he spent 11 of the season’s final 14 weeks in the WAFL, including snubs for West Coast's two finals.
The fact that no club bit during trade period further heightened the problem for the Eagles, given another summer won’t make the 28-year-old any faster or taller.
Nathan Freeman (St Kilda)
Had Freeman been drafted pick 52 instead of pick 10 (by Collingwood in 2013), it’s unlikely he’s still in the system. The Saints stuck their neck out by recruiting the playmaker, despite the fact injury cruelled his two years at the Magpies.
You have to think there is a big element of the Saints justifying their decision, but at some point, you’ve got to cut your losses and run. It’s not the first time the Saints have handled damaged goods after they took injury riddled North Melbourne wingman Jesse Smith at the end of 2009.
The difference is the club jettisoned Smith after one season, but are surging towards a third with Freeman, who is yet to play a senior game. Has a year to run on a three-year deal that, and bar a remarkable turnaround, is shaping as top five in the club’s all-time trade howlers.
Dawson Simpson (GWS)
He couldn’t believe his luck when Shane Mumford’s career ended in a puff of smoke, opening the door for Simpson to sign on another one-year deal. Teammates love him but it’s hard to envisage Simpson leading the ruck division to a flag, given he has not been able to cement himself as the number one ruckman, despite 10 years of trying.
Ben Griffiths (Richmond)
He has a year to run on his current deal, and has benefitted from the fact every other key tall not named Jack Riewoldt has been an abject failure.
Given the Tigers won the flag with a small forward set-up, and the fact Griffiths has never been able to establish himself as a regular senior player in eight years at the club – he’s played 63 games and never more than 16 in any one season – it’s hard to imagine the equation changing in 2018. Throw in concussion issues and the immediate future isn’t bright.