Remove this Banner Ad

2025 Draft Thread

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Im a big fan of Dolan, great athletic profile and most importantly skill and decision making.

But we need multiple Daniels types in the modern game. Gws have Daniels, Darcy Jones, Harvey Thomas, Phoenix Gothard.

Look at this years prelim finalists

Brisbane:
Zac Bailey, Cam Rayner (didnt do it much this year due to lack of key forwards he was more deep but was hhf in previous years)

Hawks: Dylan Moore, Jack Ginnivan, Sam Butler, Connar Macdonald.

Geelong: Shaun Mannagh, Gryan Miers, Jack Martin

Pies: Schultz, Lipinski, there stocks here are looking pretty depleted.

It would be able to help us defend so much more if we were able to push uo high half forwards to the contest as opposed to pushing up defenders. VDM and Mcneil just dont offer enough defensively or offensively.

Not against dovaston at all, can never have too many crumbers at the feet of Darcy and Naughton.
Talor Byrne is another small forward you should have a look at.
 
Dovaston's endurance is ok, someone I was talking to who attended the combine mentioned his 2km time trial was above average. I'll try to have it confirmed what time he got exactly. Makes sense as I've seen him get fairly high up the ground on numerous occasions linking up from half back to the forward 50.

Was reading this article the other day and thought these three paragraphs summed up the way Dovaston plays.

Hailing from the same CTL club as Hawthorn's Nick Watson, Dovaston possesses many of the same traits. His front and centre work and ability to crumb on groundballs at the foot of a marking contest is second to none.

He's the prototypical small forward with speed, toughness and the ability to capitalise both at stoppage and when he‘s given just an inch of space. He's also shown a sound understanding of how to play as an extra at stoppage, rotating between being a deeper small forward and a sixth who comes up the ground throughout 2025.

The big lift in Dovaston's game this season has been his pressure, averaging almost six tackles per game. The ability to pressure, hassle and tackle is a necessary trait for modern small forwards so they get field position and force opponents to defend for longer.



Someone mentioned earlier in the year that he's a mix of Watson and Dahlhaus. I think this is a pretty good description as well, in that he puts on a lot of pressure and is scrappier with his disposal then what Watson is. He might be able to play a similar role to 2015/16 Dahlhaus in the future also.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

Really want Farrow & Dovaston. Not sure how we get an extra pick but those two plus Darcy would be ideal.

Yeah the two I like also. Dovaston is an important target for our small fwd stocks, but we are pretty thin in the Bailey Dale replacements and half back runners also. A fair bit riding on Lachie Jaques development.
 
Feel like I’m on my own with not being interested in Farrow. He looks a good prospect, no doubt, but do we really need another of his type with an early pick? Richards just won our best and fairest, and Freijah has been likened to a young Bont. If we try add Farrow to that mix, it really seems like more of the same.

Remember the 2021 GF when we had no answers between our group of hard nut ball winners who couldn’t defend on the spread?

I’m most interested in Xavier Taylor and Oskar Taylor. Both are strong defenders who can switch to attack and use their pace to break lines. JJ may still retire yet, and Dale isn’t getting any younger
 
Feel like I’m on my own with not being interested in Farrow. He looks a good prospect, no doubt, but do we really need another of his type with an early pick? Richards just won our best and fairest, and Freijah has been likened to a young Bont. If we try add Farrow to that mix, it really seems like more of the same.

Remember the 2021 GF when we had no answers between our group of hard nut ball winners who couldn’t defend on the spread?

I’m most interested in Xavier Taylor and Oskar Taylor. Both are strong defenders who can switch to attack and use their pace to break lines. JJ may still retire yet, and Dale isn’t getting any younger
Need more classy mids Freijah Richards and Farrow all tallish and great runners much better at spreading and covering it
 
Feel like I’m on my own with not being interested in Farrow. He looks a good prospect, no doubt, but do we really need another of his type with an early pick? Richards just won our best and fairest, and Freijah has been likened to a young Bont. If we try add Farrow to that mix, it really seems like more of the same.

Remember the 2021 GF when we had no answers between our group of hard nut ball winners who couldn’t defend on the spread?

I’m most interested in Xavier Taylor and Oskar Taylor. Both are strong defenders who can switch to attack and use their pace to break lines. JJ may still retire yet, and Dale isn’t getting any younger
It's his half-back ability I think is the biggest interest about him. His midfield stuff is just a bonus.
 
Feel like I’m on my own with not being interested in Farrow. He looks a good prospect, no doubt, but do we really need another of his type with an early pick? Richards just won our best and fairest, and Freijah has been likened to a young Bont. If we try add Farrow to that mix, it really seems like more of the same.

Remember the 2021 GF when we had no answers between our group of hard nut ball winners who couldn’t defend on the spread?

I’m most interested in Xavier Taylor and Oskar Taylor. Both are strong defenders who can switch to attack and use their pace to break lines. JJ may still retire yet, and Dale isn’t getting any younger

I've lost all interest in X Taylor because even if we trade up to Gold Coast's pick, it's looking like there's maybe a 5% chance of him falling through. I'm looking more at Avery Thomas a bit further back who is a bit similar, Thredgold too, although he's slightly different to the above two. Both are good at defending, they just need to add a bit more offense to their games in the future.

I sort of agree with you on Farrow, I don't think he's an obvious need (with the style he plays) and not my first choice. He'll be a good player I think though. I'm personally hoping more for Grlj or Dovaston. I'd be happy with Farrow or Oskar Taylor too. Wouldn't be surprised if we ended up with Greeves or Lindsay who I don't really want lol.
 
Last edited:
I've lost all interest in X Taylor because even if we trade up to Gold Coast's pick, it's looking like there's maybe a 5% chance of him falling through. I'm looking more at Avery Thomas a bit further back who is a bit similar, Thredgold too, although he's slightly different to the above two. Both are good at defending, they just need to add a bit more offense to their games in the future.

I sort of agree with you on Farrow, I don't think he's an obvious need (with the style he plays) and not my first choice. He'll be a good player I think though. I'm personally hoping more for Grlj or Dovaston. I'd be happy with Farrow or Oskar Taylor too. Wouldn't be surprised if we ended up with Greeves or Lindsay who I don't really want lol.

I agree regarding Lindsay, can’t expect he’ll get anywhere near the same time he gets at junior level to kick the ball

I also don’t think the gap between his kicking and others is as large as some say it is
 

Remove this Banner Ad

I agree regarding Lindsay, can’t expect he’ll get anywhere near the same time he gets at junior level to kick the ball

I also don’t think the gap between his kicking and others is as large as some say it is

Agree. The other thing I don't like is how low his contested possession rate is, only 25%. I remember there was an article some years ago mentioning if you have lower then 30% contested rate, you either don't live up to your potential or you don't make it. Aish, Toumpass, O'Brien, Sumner etc. were just some of the player's with that stat from memory.
 
Someone mentioned earlier in the year that he's a mix of Watson and Dahlhaus. I think this is a pretty good description as well, in that he puts on a lot of pressure and is scrappier with his disposal then what Watson is. He might be able to play a similar role to 2015/16 Dahlhaus in the future also.
Me ;)

Based mostly on champs games as I didn't see much CTL.
Watson at the champs was ridiculous - it was windy and rainy and her played higher up the ground and was the only player consistently hitting targets.

Dovaston generally plays much closer to goal. Another underrated aspect of Dahlhaus' game was he gets up off the ground very quickly after getting knocked over. Dovaston does it too, helps him to stay in the play.

He doesn't seem to have the field kicking skills of Watson as a junior but pretty much nobody does
 
I'm also a fan of Grlj this draft. There are concerns over his kicking but that seems in part because whenever he kicks he's traveling faster than anyone else.

His ability to fly past opponents for a handball receive is an AFL-transferrable trait. If you have an excellent combo of speed and endurance you can find a place on field.
 
I'm always bias to Jets boys too but I'd still look at Tom Burton late in the draft as well. Seems a bit like a young Ash McGrath. Played mostly mid but has played back too.

Unexpectedly tested well at the combine, better than I expected. Teammate Tom McGuane got more attention this year but I think Burton's game transfers better to senior football.
 
I'm always bias to Jets boys too but I'd still look at Tom Burton late in the draft as well. Seems a bit like a young Ash McGrath. Played mostly mid but has played back too.

Unexpectedly tested well at the combine, better than I expected. Teammate Tom McGuane got more attention this year but I think Burton's game transfers better to senior football.
I also really like Finn Davis. Has good size and attributes (defensive / offensive balance) that could see him make it IMO. Think he’ll be a bargain late.

I pump him up about once a week at this rate, so if we land him - I’m claiming it 😂
 
Last edited:

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Talor Byrne is another small forward you should have a look at.


Thats a fair write up. I know they make everyone sound like the stars but there is plenty to work with if that lists of strengths is accurate.

STRENGTHS:

  • Clean hands
  • Evasiveness
  • Power
  • Pressure
  • Speed
  • Toughness

IMPROVEMENTS:

  • Endurance
  • Size

Can deal with his size at AFL when you have those strengths. Especially in the front half at the feet of Sam Darcy. Endurance can be improved to an acceptable AFL level.



That 5 goal haul against Vic Metro is something else. He had blind turn dribbler, great diving smother, a left foot snap from deep in the right pocket and a speccy on his way to 5 snags.

Cant see him being available at our current first pick with that profile.

People in here know far more than me, what’s the catch? Whats his knocks? Where is he expected to go? How did he test?
 

Thats a fair write up. I know they make everyone sound like the stars but there is plenty to work with if that lists of strengths is accurate.

STRENGTHS:

  • Clean hands
  • Evasiveness
  • Power
  • Pressure
  • Speed
  • Toughness

IMPROVEMENTS:

  • Endurance
  • Size

Can deal with his size at AFL when you have those strengths. Especially in the front half at the feet of Sam Darcy. Endurance can be improved to an acceptable AFL level.



That 5 goal haul against Vic Metro is something else. He had blind turn dribbler, great diving smother, a left foot snap from deep in the right pocket and a speccy on his way to 5 snags.


Oskar Taylor and Talor Byrne, then using the Khamis pick to match Darcy, would be a really great draft.
 
Oskar Taylor and Talor Byrne, then using the Khamis pick to match Darcy, would be a really great draft.
If the Buku pick is in the second round or not used on Budarick
I’d expect Will Darcy slips into the third round unless clubs are just trying to burn us. In which case as painful as it might be, to just let him go
 

Remove this Banner Ad

2025 Draft Thread

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top