I like your idea of the tomato cages through the cardboard. I can see how that would work pretty well. The cages should help hold the leaves in place as well as give them a bit of loft.
As for moving the leaves from the front yard to the back, try putting them on a small plastic tarp and pulling the tarp full of leaves through the gate to the back.
Thanks! The cages are doing a great job holding things in place. I sank the legs down as far the first ring, so they should last the whole winter there.
The tarp method for moving leaves is what I usually do to get them from the back and up to the curb for pickup. Nice neat stacks! The hiccup is the stinking narrow gate. It's a hassle and half.
I think it's going to come down to how much energy I can muster and how good a job I do at psyching myself up to get out there. Lol!