List Mgmt. 2025 AFL Draft - Top 10 Candidates

[Grrr]

McAuliffe has pace and skill...

Is that a statement or a question?

I don't read too much into 20m sprint times at draft, but he did come 5th, so fair to say he has decent toe.
5th in standing and vertical leaps as well, so a good athlete.

And his kicking especially at VFL level was really good, yet to see it up top but that will come. Even more so when you compare him to Taranto and Hopper.

If it was a statement, then we agree.

 

[THE THIN MAN]

Is that a statement or a question?

I don't read too much into 20m sprint times at draft, but he did come 5th, so fair to say he has decent toe.
5th in standing and vertical leaps as well, so a good athlete.

And his kicking especially at VFL level was really good, yet to see it up top but that will come. Even more so when you compare him to Taranto and Hopper.

If it was a statement, then we agree.

Needs to find the goal posts!

 

[4tune8]

General consensus is that there is no complete package in this years draft.

Grlj is electric and hard with good skills. If we trade back I hope it is for him.

That's the understanding that I have after pouring over the expert draft watchers' analyses of the crop. Bit of a unicorn really, maybe Harley Reid is the closest to that complete package?

We do have Hotton though who's only real knock is his kicking if it's a knock at all. I wonder where he'd go in this draft without the ACL?

Lalor, Hotton, Smillie and McAulliffe will form the nucleus of our centre 'bounce' midfield with Hotton and Lalor working the forward half stoppages, combined with Mansell and Campbell. I can definitely see that the coaches want to release Junior to play between the arcs hence the interest in Rosas. Smillie and McAulliffe would work in the back half stoppages along with Banks, Brown et al.

What we don't have are wingers and speed off HB with all of them needing elite disposal skills, we need those types to provide run and carry firstly, but more importantly, provide the link in transitional play which naturally puts speed on the ball movement. We were last in forward 50 entries this year which was purely a function of that lack in transitional play.

Yze already mentioned that we filled a lot of the holes in the list last year and that we'd be looking at speed this year, that speed won't necessarily be pace, but it will be about speed on the ball. Having so many picks last year allowed the recruiting team to stray a little from their mantra of taking best available and concentrating more on needs, of course they still took 'best available' in those areas of need and I can see that there'll be a similar process taken this year.

Adding Kellaway for SFA gives us another 'grunt' in the mids so I'm not sure that we need to target another given that there's a bit of depth with Ross and to some extent Dow (cue the howls of protest). Realistically that lot along with the others already mentioned, combined with Taranto and Hopper should suffice until we hit FA and trades over the next couple of years.

We definitely need an elite ball user from the back half along the lines of a Zorko, Amon or D'Ambrosio type, does Grijl have the foot skills? Barker or LeRay (from what I can gather) were the best wingers so how can we nab one of those?

 

[GhostofJimJess]

A trade I'd do that probably won't be liked by many here and that's fine. Basically it's asking the Suns how badly do they want to get a player ahead of their Academy kids, as such the offer is

Richmond give: First pick 2025(2) & R2 2026

Suns give: First pick 2025(6), second pick 2025(13) & 2026 R1.

Now before the pile on let me explain the reasoning.

Suns have a number of Academy kids that are in this draft, but would no doubt like to get a pick ahead of those bids. We're perfectly placed to do that, so we offer our first pick in the draft ( currently 2) and our future 2nd round. In return the Suns send us their cuurent first and second picks (6 & 13) plus their 2026 R1, which basically equates to them moving from a late R1 pick to an early 2nd and we move from an early 2nd to late R1.

This would allow us to take 3 kids in the first round this year and have 2 R1 picks in 2026, where we would likely get a kid before Armstrong and then have a late R1 pick to use on matching.

Now I know some will argue giving up 3 means we could miss on the flavour of the month Robey, but in return we could walk away with 3 of Sharp Grjl X.Taylor Lindsay Farrow Greeves Cumming Marsh or Dovaston. I'd suggest that a combination of any 3 of them adds more to our list than taking Robey and 1 of them, and I'm happy to back in our recruitment team and their decision as they're much better placed than anyone here to make that call.

I really like this, but would prefer we used our 2025 first pick for the player we most like (whether that be Robey, Sharp or whoever), and then split our second pick.

Of course, using your scenario, the compromise to appease the Suns might be that we don’t bid on their academy lads using our first pick, and that those 2026 picks are not swapped. I’d imagine they’ll be pretty close together anyway.

 

[_RT_]

the problem with this is GC would still be relying on WC not bidding on either Uwland or Patterson. If they did, which seems likely, then pick 2 (3) would be swallowed up. WC have much more leverage in these discussions that we do unfortunately.

To counter this maybe it's something we could wait until draft night to do the deal. Wait until the Eagles blow their load, then while Clarke is sitting back relaxing we swoop in and do the deal.

 

[prodigy]

With Petracca wanting to go to Gold Coast, are they at risk of missing out on any of their academy kids that will go top 10?

 

[tiger_tough]

Is that a statement or a question?

I don't read too much into 20m sprint times at draft, but he did come 5th, so fair to say he has decent toe.
5th in standing and vertical leaps as well, so a good athlete.

And his kicking especially at VFL level was really good, yet to see it up top but that will come. Even more so when you compare him to Taranto and Hopper.

If it was a statement, then we agree.

Questions generally have question marks after them

That's the understanding that I have after pouring over the expert draft watchers' analyses of the crop. Bit of a unicorn really, maybe Harley Reid is the closest to that complete package?

We do have Hotton though who's only real knock is his kicking if it's a knock at all. I wonder where he'd go in this draft without the ACL?

Lalor, Hotton, Smillie and McAulliffe will form the nucleus of our centre 'bounce' midfield with Hotton and Lalor working the forward half stoppages, combined with Mansell and Campbell. I can definitely see that the coaches want to release Junior to play between the arcs hence the interest in Rosas. Smillie and McAulliffe would work in the back half stoppages along with Banks, Brown et al.

What we don't have are wingers and speed off HB with all of them needing elite disposal skills, we need those types to provide run and carry firstly, but more importantly, provide the link in transitional play which naturally puts speed on the ball movement. We were last in forward 50 entries this year which was purely a function of that lack in transitional play.

Yze already mentioned that we filled a lot of the holes in the list last year and that we'd be looking at speed this year, that speed won't necessarily be pace, but it will be about speed on the ball. Having so many picks last year allowed the recruiting team to stray a little from their mantra of taking best available and concentrating more on needs, of course they still took 'best available' in those areas of need and I can see that there'll be a similar process taken this year.

Adding Kellaway for SFA gives us another 'grunt' in the mids so I'm not sure that we need to target another given that there's a bit of depth with Ross and to some extent Dow (cue the howls of protest). Realistically that lot along with the others already mentioned, combined with Taranto and Hopper should suffice until we hit FA and trades over the next couple of years.

We definitely need an elite ball user from the back half along the lines of a Zorko, Amon or D'Ambrosio type, does Grijl have the foot skills? Barker or LeRay (from what I can gather) were the best wingers so how can we nab one of those?

A fit Hotton would probably be pick 1 this year. Grlj seems like a good kick at worst.

 

[Calcium Man]

A trade I'd do that probably won't be liked by many here and that's fine. Basically it's asking the Suns how badly do they want to get a player ahead of their Academy kids, as such the offer is

Richmond give: First pick 2025(2) & R2 2026

Suns give: First pick 2025(6), second pick 2025(13) & 2026 R1.

Now before the pile on let me explain the reasoning.

Suns have a number of Academy kids that are in this draft, but would no doubt like to get a pick ahead of those bids. We're perfectly placed to do that, so we offer our first pick in the draft ( currently 2) and our future 2nd round. In return the Suns send us their cuurent first and second picks (6 & 13) plus their 2026 R1, which basically equates to them moving from a late R1 pick to an early 2nd and we move from an early 2nd to late R1.

This would allow us to take 3 kids in the first round this year and have 2 R1 picks in 2026, where we would likely get a kid before Armstrong and then have a late R1 pick to use on matching.

Now I know some will argue giving up 3 means we could miss on the flavour of the month Robey, but in return we could walk away with 3 of Sharp Grjl X.Taylor Lindsay Farrow Greeves Cumming Marsh or Dovaston. I'd suggest that a combination of any 3 of them adds more to our list than taking Robey and 1 of them, and I'm happy to back in our recruitment team and their decision as they're much better placed than anyone here to make that call.

Pick 3 was 12 and 14 last year and you think we will get 6, 13 and an f1 (or small slide to our f2 if you like) while offering no points for this years draft when they desperately need it?

 

[tiger_tough]

With Petracca wanting to go to Gold Coast, are they at risk of missing out on any of their academy kids that will go top 10?

Probably not, it sounds like the Saints are going to cough up pick 7 for Flanders, which is crazy. Pick 7 and a future pick should get it done IMO.

 

[4tune8]

To counter this maybe it's something we could wait until draft night to do the deal. Wait until the Eagles blow their load, then while Clarke is sitting back relaxing we swoop in and do the deal.

If WCE bid then the pick will be gone before there's a chance to trade it.

Anyway, the Petracca deal might curtail things, although the pick for Flanders enters the picture.

 

[Stylo]

To counter this maybe it's something we could wait until draft night to do the deal. Wait until the Eagles blow their load, then while Clarke is sitting back relaxing we swoop in and do the deal.

possibly, but again if WC bid on either of those guys GC's trade assets will look very different - no pick 6 for starters. So the idea still relies on their actions ultimately.

I'm on board with pick splitting in theory but reckon maybe there might be other more realistic suitors than GC if the incentive for our trade partner is to get ahead of bids (i.e. Carlton).

 

[4tune8]

possibly, but again if WC bid on either of those guys GC's trade assets will look very different - no pick 6 for starters. So the idea still relies on their actions ultimately.

I'm on board with pick splitting in theory but reckon maybe there might be other more realistic suitors than GC if the incentive for our trade partner is to get ahead of bids (i.e. Carlton).

I think our best chance of splitting would be for one of the Bombers picks (4 or 5) as well as their F2 for pick 3 (before bids & FA) particularly if CDT is on the board and we don't want him.

Would give us the chance of best available at 2, probably Grilj and Kellaway along with maybe a Barker or LeRay with the pick from Young and a high F2 in the bank.

 

[hammer180]

If we are thinking about a pick split, I think its Carlton. If swans get Curnow they'll give up 9 which will turn into 10 after the tdk swap, so that will be 9 10. Probably throw back whatever we can get for young and trade hopefully 4 but I think they will push for 3.
They move up ahead of the Dean bid and get more points to pair with silavagni pick for points for Dean.

 

[eaglevision]

I think our best chance of splitting would be for one of the Bombers picks (4 or 5) as well as their F2 for pick 3 (before bids & FA) particularly if CDT is on the board and we don't want him.

Would give us the chance of best available at 2, probably Grilj and Kellaway along with maybe a Barker or LeRay with the pick from Young and a high F2 in the bank.

We should know Draper compo today. It’s more likely Essendon want to send back one of their early 2Rs this year, particularly if Merrett gets traded it will rival your picks last year but in a much weaker draft.

 

[guruisatiger]

I suggest you concentrate on your recovery, obviously you are very, very, very ill to consider trading with Carlton.

Lol

 

[tigs2010]

We should know Draper compo today. It’s more likely Essendon want to send back one of their early 2Rs this year, particularly if Merrett gets traded it will rival your picks last year but in a much weaker draft.

Classic Essendon

 

[guruisatiger]

If we are thinking about a pick split, I think its Carlton. If swans get Curnow they'll give up 9 which will turn into 10 after the tdk swap, so that will be 9 10. Probably throw back whatever we can get for young and trade hopefully 4 but I think they will push for 3.
They move up ahead of the Dean bid and get more points to pair with silavagni pick for points for Dean.

That's pretty well much what I did in my mock draft. It's a great idea

 

[hammer180]

That's pretty well much what I did in my mock draft. It's a great idea

Yeah I liked your draft alot, its probably the best possible outcome, a lot has to go right though. I actually think that's the best trade aswell, unless it was a future.

 

[bc27]

Gold Coast getting Petracca, and academy kids Patterson, Uwland, Coulsen, Murray.

While only losing Flanders is an absolute pi55 take.

 

[hammer180]

Gold Coast getting Petracca, and academy kids Patterson, Uwland, Coulsen, Murray.

While only losing Flanders is an absolute pi55 take.

Sounds like Humphrey wants out.

 

[beema limapep]

Open question to everyone:-

Which players that we are looking at have the most elite footballing skill, footy IQ, kicking etc?

It seems alot of them can get the ball, rack up possessions, are an ok size, take a mark and do the fundamentals ok to well. But are any of them anything more than just B grade journeyman?

If particularly interested in comparing/ranking the following 7:-

Robey
Sharp
Grlj
Cumming
Greeves
Hibbings-Hargreaves
Taylor

 

[_RT_]

If WCE bid then the pick will be gone before there's a chance to trade it.

Anyway, the Petracca deal might curtail things, although the pick for Flanders enters the picture.

Bailey Humphrey entering the trade picture changes things again.

 

[Grrr]

Open question to everyone:-

Which players that we are looking at have the most elite footballing skill, footy IQ, kicking etc?

It seems alot of them can get the ball, rack up possessions, are an ok size, take a mark and do the fundamentals ok to well. But are any of them anything more than just B grade journeyman?

If particularly interested in comparing/ranking the following 7:-

Robey
Sharp
Grlj
Cumming
Greeves
Hibbings-Hargreaves
Taylor

Duursma looks pretty impressive. A few knocks on kicking skills, but they look pretty sound to me.

 

[Grrr]

Talk of splitting pick 4 for 10 and 12 or whatever seems to undervalue the fact that Duursma may fall to pick 3 or 4.
Say we take Robey with 3, then Duursma with 4, that would be a great result.

 

[tiger_tough]

Talk of splitting pick 4 for 10 and 12 or whatever seems to undervalue the fact that Duursma may fall to pick 3 or 4.
Say we take Robey with 3, then Duursma with 4, that would be a great result.

Duursma will go top 2 for sure.