Recruiting Mid Season Draft Thread - Welcome to Essendon Archie May, Lachlan Blakiston, Oskar Smartt & Liam McMahon!

[Old Campaigner]

Other clubs know that if they draft a Hird the curse passes on to them

 

[Snake Charmer]

Really hope we don’t take Tomlinson

 

[Zach Package]

So the most prominently linked players seem to be Eastland, Blakiston, Ramm, May, Eyers, McMahon and Adams.

We don't seem to be in the frame for any of the prominent smalls.

1. McCarthy
2. Banch
3. Watkins?
4. Newton?
5. Sellwood?
6. May

That would seem to be best case scenario for me even though we need a key back more than a key forward. Very fluid from there but that is ok because there are multiple KPD and ruck options.

 

[Yoda_]

So the most prominently linked players seem to be Eastland, Blakiston, Ramm, May, Eyers, McMahon and Adams.

We don't seem to be in the frame for any of the prominent smalls.

1. McCarthy
2. Banch
3. Watkins?
4. Newton?
5. Sellwood?
6. May

That would seem to be best case scenario for me even though we need a key back more than a key forward. Very fluid from there but that is ok because there are multiple KPD and ruck options.

I was just thinking something similar, surely we cant play chess while everyone else is playing checkers? (we DESPERATELY need a KPD then pick up a KPF with our first pick)

I think North take May with pick 2, even after spooking themselves with the failure of Jacob Edwards couple of years back. Plenty of small fwds available later in this draft should they decide to go there

1. WCE - McCarthy
2. Roos - May
3. Port - Ramm
4. Blues - Newton
5. Dogs - Selwood
6. Dons - ???

 

[Zach Package]

I was just thinking something similar, surely we cant play chess while everyone else is playing checkers? (we DESPERATELY need a KPD then pick up a KPF with our first pick)

I think North take May with pick 2, even after spooking themselves with the failure of Jacob Edwards couple of years back. Plenty of small fwds available later in this draft should they decide to go there

1. WCE - McCarthy
2. Roos - May
3. Port - Ramm
4. Blues - Newton
5. Dogs - Selwood
6. Dons - ???

I agree North may pick May and Port may pick Ramm as well so some of the choice may be taken from our hands, but I would pick purely who we think is the strongest prospect regardless of position with the first pick and then address need later.

We aren't linked to any mids but if that best prospect is a midfielder and we think he's the next Jai Newcombe, then fine by me.

 

[MiguelM]

What time does it all kick off?

 

[Damo666]

What time does it all kick off?

Watch the 2025 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft LIVE from 6.30pm AEST on Wednesday night on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live App

 

[Keystone agony]

Interesting pies asked May to put 18 months on his head instead of 6

Wonder if that had anything at all to do with us

 

[Donflicted]

Watch the 2025 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft LIVE from 6.30pm AEST on Wednesday night on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live App

id assume the draft would actually start at 7? i thought the streamed started at 630 but last year they just talked for thirty minutes and then the draft actually happened at a later time?

 

[Snake Charmer]

Interesting pies asked May to put 18 months on his head instead of 6

Wonder if that had anything at all to do with us

There’s a few on there board ready to melt if they miss out on May

 

[Vindicater]

May is the best prospect in it for the long term.

There is no way he should last to the Pies

 

[FootyGuru]

I’m in the camp of picking guys who could actually be with us long term. Swing on high upside guys instead of gap fillers. I don’t see us doing anything this season and with all the academy picks this year, not the end of the world if we are really testing and our depth and finishing in bottom 4

 

[andleanback]

Interesting pies asked May to put 18 months on his head instead of 6

Wonder if that had anything at all to do with us

Think most players that know they’re going to get picked up will have 18 months. Don’t think 18 months is going to deter any club from picking him either

 

[eth-dog]

I’m in the camp of picking guys who could actually be with us long term. Swing on high upside guys instead of gap fillers. I don’t see us doing anything this season and with all the academy picks this year, not the end of the world if we are really testing and our depth and finishing in bottom 4

I'm for a balance. 20-24 year Olds who have potentially 8+ years on the list in areas we need covered (KPD/KPF/ruck/medium defender) and hope for the best

 

[Snake Charmer]

I’m in the camp of picking guys who could actually be with us long term. Swing on high upside guys instead of gap fillers. I don’t see us doing anything this season and with all the academy picks this year, not the end of the world if we are really testing and our depth and finishing in bottom 4

I think 2 of the picks should be used with this type of thinking no doubt. we need to take someone to play key defence but I hope that’s someone with plenty of upside. The one I’m not to worried about is a ruck. Grab someone like Eastland

 

[ant555]

I’m in the camp of picking guys who could actually be with us long term. Swing on high upside guys instead of gap fillers. I don’t see us doing anything this season and with all the academy picks this year, not the end of the world if we are really testing and our depth and finishing in bottom 4

Have to be a bit careful that we do not make list spots too tight at the end of the season. I think there will be a surprise again at the end of the year similar to how we where prepared to let Stringer go but we probably do not want to load up on 4 potential type picks IMO.
I would be looking at 2 players with a view to the future . We need a stop gap defender. We just do not have the numbers now. No point just picking a young defender who is not likely to play.They may look at more mature ruck (23-25 or so) as a longer term type.

Of course this is just a guess. From what I hear we have interviewed 10 to 15 players.

 

[eth-dog]

I think 2 of the picks should be used with this type of thinking no doubt. we need to take someone to play key defence but I hope that’s someone with plenty of upside. The one I’m not to worried about is a ruck. Grab someone like Eastland

I still like Lukac as the ruck.

 

[FootyGuru]

Have to be a bit careful that we do not make list spots too tight at the end of the season. I think there will be a surprise again at the end of the year similar to how we where prepared to let Stringer go but we probably do not want to load up on 4 potential type picks IMO.
I would be looking at 2 players with a view to the future . We need a stop gap defender. We just do not have the numbers now. No point just picking a young defender who is not likely to play.They may look at more mature ruck (23-25 or so) as a longer term type.

Of course this is just a guess. From what I hear we have interviewed 10 to 15 players.

Im not really talking project types, I don’t care if the player is 25, just want them to select players who they think are gonna be good enough to be here long term.

With the list squeeze stuff, I don’t mind if there is more competition. I don’t see it with a few on the list, and if a few of these mid season guys out play them. Goodbye.

 

[ant555]

Im not really talking project types, I don’t care if the player is 25, just want them to select players who they think are gonna be good enough to be here long term.

With the list squeeze stuff, I don’t mind if there is more competition. I don’t see it with a few on the list, and if a few of these mid season guys out play them. Goodbye.

It is hard to force out multiple players who have contracts. I do not see it with many on the list and have been saying we are years away for over 5 years. At the end of the day what I want and what actually happens are two different things. We will possibly get 1 or two out all things going well but we still have top end picks in the ND. It is not really about competition.
The balance will be who can we take now that is likely to be better than what we can pick later in the year. The lack of depth in the KP players probably sees us seriously looking at at least one young KP player.

 

[MiguelM]

Our injured players will return at some point so if we pick up 4 players, the delistings will be more at seasons end to accommodate the Draft.

More pressure for spots is good IMO.

 

[andleanback]

Our injured players will return at some point so if we pick up 4 players, the delistings will be more at seasons end to accommodate the Draft.

More pressure for spots is good IMO.

Depends if players are on 18 month contracts or 6 months
We’ve still got a large chunk of players uncontracted for next year so we do have wiggle room.

 

[naraku]

Depends if players are on 18 month contracts or 6 months
We’ve still got a large chunk of players uncontracted for next year so we do have wiggle room.

14 I think.

So, anyone picked up tonight definitely has a chance to stay on if they perform.

 

[Lore]

RFK on the call for us tonight

 

[Bipolar Bear]

Archie May pls
Needs moar arch

 

[Bipolar Bear]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!