Draft Expert Davo-27's 2025 Draft Thread

[Boots73]

Davo what pick range would you have Rodriguez going at ?

 

[Davo-27]

Davo what pick range would you have Rodriguez going at ?

I have only seen him play last year and he was super impressive in the WA u18s team in 2024 and he had some impressive performances in the WAFL Colts, so from that pov I was excited by his prospects, but it seems he and in a similar story Riley Onley(Murray) have dropped off this season(from my pov they were the stand out prospects from their zones WA and VC in their underage year, but it turns out their lack of flexibility held them back and their not so impressive form saw them have question marks on if they could make it as good AFL Footballers) so I would guess they will drop down the order, I havnt seen their performances so it's hard for me to judge where they might go, is it a Small drop? Medium drop? or Big drop?, I'm unsure, so I can't say...

 

[The_General#1]

Hey Davo-27 bit off topic. Where did u have Voss ranked in his draft year? From memory he was a GWS academy player? Gee he’s a good player.

 

[Davo-27]

Hey Davo-27 bit off topic. Where did u have Voss ranked in his draft year? From memory he was a GWS academy player? Gee he’s a good player.

I believe he played at Oakleigh, he seemed OK but I didn't mention him much, I think Knightmare was pushing his name hard when he played VFL Footy a year or so after he didnt get drafted, he deserves credit for spotting him as a state player, must have improved as a 19/20 yo at state level, players develop late sometimes.

 

[Giant Strides]

I believe he played at Oakleigh, he seemed OK but I didn't mention him much, I think Knightmare was pushing his name hard when he played VFL Footy a year or so after he didnt get drafted, he deserves credit for spotting him as a state player, must have improved as a 19/20 yo at state level, players develop late sometimes.

Knightmare was pushing Casey Voss, not Patrick Voss.

Patrick Voss was GWS Academy, although (like others from the northern states) was at a Melbourne boarding school in his last few school years. Was selected by Essendon in his draft year (rookie draft).

 

[pileitinho]

Knightmare was pushing Casey Voss, not Patrick Voss.

Patrick Voss was GWS Academy, although (like others from the northern states) was at a Melbourne boarding school in his last few school years. Was selected by Essendon in his draft year (rookie draft).

The GWS Academy has produced some good talent but Voss was a big miss from them. Having seen some players come through that Academy I think there are flaws in it. I saw him rip up an u/15s GF locally with some very good talent in it, he just oozed potential at that age.

Ethan Matthews is very likely going to be a star though. Almost a like-for-like Jelly replacement in a few years time (I think he's 2026 draft eligible, not yet 17 years of age). For me at this early stage he would have to be top 10 2026.

 

[#BallMagnet]

The GWS Academy has produced some good talent but Voss was a big miss from them. Having seen some players come through that Academy I think there are flaws in it. I saw him rip up an u/15s GF locally with some very good talent in it, he just oozed potential at that age.

Ethan Matthews is very likely going to be a star though. Almost a like-for-like Jelly replacement in a few years time (I think he's 2026 draft eligible, not yet 17 years of age). For me at this early stage he would have to be top 10 2026.

Matthews looks to be a very exciting prospect, suits the modern AFL game and might even be flying under the radar a little seeing most of the media talk is predominantly centered around kids out of the CTL. He's almost a carbon copy of a similar aged kid in the SANFL competition in Harvey Croker from Glenelg.
Both 2026 draft and plenty of physical maturity to still come but their game styles are uncannily similar.
I would be surprised if we didn't see both these lads named in this years AFL Futures squads.

 

[Giant Strides]

The GWS Academy has produced some good talent but Voss was a big miss from them. Having seen some players come through that Academy I think there are flaws in it. I saw him rip up an u/15s GF locally with some very good talent in it, he just oozed potential at that age.

So, you reckon that GWS should have taken Pat Voss in his draft year? Look, you could be right, but how much of that is hindsight? He was only picked up in the rookie draft, and then cut adrift by the Bombers. Knowing that he's capable of producing in the future what he has now shown at Freo is the art of talent identification.

We took (IIRC) Jacob Wehr and Cooper Hamilton as rookies that year. And I think we still had Zach Sproule on the books - another GWS Academy KPF. It's not unreasonable to suggest that we could have "refreshed" our academy/tall stocks by swapping Sproule for Voss, so perhaps it was a miss.

 

[pileitinho]

So, you reckon that GWS should have taken Pat Voss in his draft year? Look, you could be right, but how much of that is hindsight? He was only picked up in the rookie draft, and then cut adrift by the Bombers. Knowing that he's capable of producing in the future what he has now shown at Freo is the art of talent identification.

We took (IIRC) Jacob Wehr and Cooper Hamilton as rookies that year. And I think we still had Zach Sproule on the books - another GWS Academy KPF. It's not unreasonable to suggest that we could have "refreshed" our academy/tall stocks by swapping Sproule for Voss, so perhaps it was a miss.

I think they probably have to reassess their processes for talent ID around that age. They do tend to go for more "pick me" type players, ie ball hogs/blind turn ignore the first option type of lads, while more fundamentally sound players seem to be left out. I'm talking about what's happened over many years, maybe some of that is changing with someone like Harvey Thomas getting his shot because he was as fundamentally sound/make the correct decision a junior as you'd want at that age.

On Voss: he was very explosive and already very strong when he was in the GWS Academy, the talent was very clear. They had first option on him. Essendon at least recognised that and got him into the AFL system. He was cut adrift by the Bombers partly because he was a party boy, but he wasn't that when he was in the GWS Academy.

Overall the GWS Academy has been fantastic for this area. Without it someone like Zac Williams would not be playing AFL, but its not as if its perfect.

 

[Davo-27]

2026 top 7 prospects from my pov

1. Doug Cochrane - Port NGA? unconfirmed
2. Cody Walker - Carl FS/Rich NGA
3. Lucas Robinson - Frem NGA
4. Archie Van Dyk
5. Arki Butler
6. Leo Steed
7. Matthew Owen - Bris

I also really like what I've seen from these 2026 prospects

Rucks - Harry Van Hattum, Ethan Herbert
KPP - Wil Malady, Jack Pickett, Koby LeCras, Aidan McCartney - Syd
Mids - Cain Florance, Gus Kennedy
Outside types - Guy Jenkin - Syd
Forw - Koby Moir, Marlon Neocleous

 

[eaglevision]

2026 top 7 prospects from my pov

1. Doug Cochrane - Port FS?
2. Cody Walker - Carl FS/Rich NGA
3. Lucas Robinson - Frem NGA
4. Archie Van Dyk
5. Arki Butler
6. Leo Steed
7. Matthew Owen - Bris

Line for line agree Davo-27, look forward to your thoughts for this cohort. Cochrane is being assessed for NGA, not F/S. With the comments made today I’d be shocked if the son of an AFL player qualifies for an NGA, meaning the wooden spooner next year is almost certain to acquire Dougie.

 

[bulldogs201616]

2026 top 7 prospects from my pov

1. Doug Cochrane - Port FS?
2. Cody Walker - Carl FS/Rich NGA
3. Lucas Robinson - Frem NGA
4. Archie Van Dyk
5. Arki Butler
6. Leo Steed
7. Matthew Owen - Bris

Where do you rate El Souki and Levi West?

 

[bulldogs201616]

Line for line agree Davo-27, look forward to your thoughts for this cohort. Cochrane is being assessed for NGA, not F/S. With the comments made today I’d be shocked if the son of an AFL player qualifies for an NGA, meaning the wooden spooner next year is almost certain to acquire Dougie.

That's a good thing I seen the kids highlights it would be a shame if Port managed to dud the system to pick him up.

 

[Davo-27]

Where do you rate El Souki and Levi West?

I have not seen enough of them tbh

 

[Thommo 42]

Caylen Murray?

 

[mpal6]

Caylen Murray?

Lets just call it rookie pick and make everyone happy.

 

[Davo-27]

Caylen Murray?

Lets just call it rookie pick and make everyone happy.

I think maybe he is like Addinsall last year when everyone was telling me he was a top 10 certainty and I just reply, late first early 2nd I reckon....

 

[mpal6]

I think maybe he is like Addinsall last year when everyone was telling me he was a top 10 certainty and I just reply, late first early 2nd I reckon....

The usual academy inflation tax would carry him to that first round possibly.

 

[Thommo 42]

My young bloke is in and around this age group up here, so I've seen them all since they were 11-12.

I always felt Patterson in this years draft and Murray in next year's have been the standout players in QLD for their age groups respectively.

Not sure either will be the earliest picks, but I reckon both have the biggest ceiling at the top level.

 

[GoTigers2015]

Any overeager from last year's draft doing well and likely to be drafted this year?

Zaydyn Lockwood has improved a lot, especially in the later half of the season when switched from to playing ruck. In the wildcard final he had 28 disposals, 7 marks, 11 tackles and 34 hitouts, with a game high 18 contested possessions.

He won Bendigo's B&F and I am hoping he slides to the rookie draft where the tigers could prelist him as a Cat B rookie.

 

[GoTigers2015]

I'm more excited by the 2026 draft pool than this year's draft pool

Doug Cochrane - Dan Curtin type
Cody Walker - Scott Pendlebury type
Lucas Robinson - Josh Weddle type
Archie Van Dyk - Marcus Bontempelli type
Marlon Neocleous - Caleb Serong type, maybe small forward Caleb Serong?
Arki Butler - Harry Sheezel type?
Jack Pickett/Wil Malady - Jack Gunston types Pickett is kpp height so might be a bit different
Harry Van Hattum/Ethan Herbert - good ruck prospects
Gus Kennedy - Brayden Maynard type
Matt Owen - Lachie Neale type
Koby LeCras - Mark LeCras type, very similar to his uncle
Leo Steed - Elliot Yeo type
Cooper Hodge - Jarman Impey type
Aidan McCartney - potentially Jed Walters type?
Sam McNamara - Clayton Oliver type, but a bit of an unknown Tasmanian

What is the knock on Tanner Armstrong? Some had him as 2nd best for team Boak in yesterday's future's game.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Seems like we have a Tauru-Oliver-Leake-Ginbey bolter every time.

I wonder who it'll be and where will it come from.

I have my answer it seems.

From the Eastern Ranges no less.

Sullivan Robey.

 

[mpal6]

I have my answer it seems.

From the Eastern Ranges no less.

Sullivan Robey.

Will be a top 5 bolter at this rate

 

[Davo-27]

What is the knock on Tanner Armstrong? Some had him as 2nd best for team Boak in yesterday's future's game.

No knock on him, I just don't rate him top 15 atm

 

[nineteen eighty]

Not sure if this is the right thread but can Gold Coast pick up both Uwland and Patterson as Academy kids? Or is it just the one due to the recent draft changes?