Academy Rorts - The 2025 Draft Thread

[Section 5]

Lions just need to put up a clanger or non-highlight video of Annable to balance things out.

He does move like a top 5 pick without me looking at the other top mids highlight reels in the draft.

 

[Pride of lions]

Looks very classy and composed. Doesn’t seem to use his left side at all which seems to be pretty common with a lot of young players these days. Maybe he gets clear so easily he doesn’t need it at this level. Would be a great pickup regardless.

 

[Clarkythelion]

Lions just need to put up a clanger or non-highlight video of Annable to balance things out.

He does move like a top 5 pick without me looking at the other top mids highlight reels in the draft.

I watched his games in the VFL against men, I reckon in each game he played, 5 or 6 of them, he was our best midfielder or close to it. Dev was out for some of them but I thought Annable was very good given we may grow a bit still but his work in close, his super quick hands and his tackling at that level were great. I would have thought he could have played AFL while Lachie was out. Mind you in the game where that Dursma kid played, tipped to go to the Eagles, he was a bloody standout.

 

[scoman]

What are our draft options for a mid to late draft pick ruck? Was there an academy kid, Waller?

 

[M Malice]

What are our draft options for a mid to late draft pick ruck? Was there an academy kid, Waller?

I'd prefer a more experienced ruck as depth, yes Darcy Fort is durable but we have Sam Draper coming off a serious injury and Henry Smith is nowhere near proven at AFL level yet.

Who that could be is the conundrum, a 23-28 year old ruck not getting a crack at their current club or the best one we can find in the state leagues could be an option.

It has been proven time and time again you don't need an elite ruck to win a flag, just a serviceable guy who crashes in, does the simple things well and breaks even most of his contests.

 

[Elitek]

We need to remember that Levi is still only 18. One of the youngest players in the comp. Add on he had shoulder surgery which caused a limited pre season.

Pretty nuts for a kid to do in that then played in premiership whilst playing in a position that doesn’t suit him one bit.

His 1st half in his true position vs Sydney late in the year when he had 7 clearances (double anyone else on the ground) shows his freakish potential in there.

Speed and pressure do worry me a bit, but definitely worst case scenario is Tom Rockliff

11

Tom Rockliff

Age

35

Ht

185cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.9

5star

K

13.2

5star

HB

10.7

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

4.7

5star

CL

4.7

5star

D

20.5

5star

K

10.7

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.5

3star

T

5.3

5star

CL

3.0

4star

D

15.8

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

6.8

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.4

5star

CL

2.8

5star

. He’s so smart clean and crafty. With more preseasons & that Ashcroft drive I could definitely see him being a Neale/ Serong stoppage master x less athletic Toby Greene

4

Toby Greene

Age

32

Ht

182cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

12.5

5star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.2

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

2.3

5star

D

26.6

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

14.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.0

1star

up fwd with all the tricks he has.

 

[briztoon]

We need to remember that Levi is still only 18. One of the youngest players in the comp. Add on he had shoulder surgery which caused a limited pre season.

Pretty nuts for a kid to do in that then played in premiership whilst playing in a position that doesn’t suit him one bit.

His 1st half in his true position vs Sydney late in the year when he had 7 clearances (double anyone else on the ground) shows his freakish potential in there.

Speed and pressure do worry me a bit, but definitely worst case scenario is Tom Rockliff. He’s so smart clean and crafty. With more preseasons & that Ashcroft drive I could definitely see him being a Neale/ Serong stoppage master x less athletic Toby Greene up fwd with all the tricks he has.

Going to be a bit of a battle for that Lachie Neale spot, between Levi and Annable, when Neale retires/leaves.

 

[John_Proctor]

I believe Todd Goldstein

17

Todd Goldstein

Age

37

Ht

201cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

5.7

2star

HB

7.5

5star

CL

3.1

5star

HO

32.5

5star

D

16.7

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

7.4

4star

CL

7.0

5star

HO

32.9

5star

D

5.2

2star

K

2.6

1star

HB

2.6

3star

HO

10.0

5star

has said he wants to play on. Could be an option as a delisted free agent as the backup ruck if we can't come up with a better option. Think he played about 15 games this year with all the Don's injuries.

although would he come up to brisbane for 1 season at his age (presumably with a family).

 

[Nathan Barley]

I believe Todd Goldstein has said he wants to play on. Could be an option as a delisted free agent as the backup ruck if we can't come up with a better option. Think he played about 15 games this year with all the Don's injuries.

although would he come up to brisbane for 1 season at his age (presumably with a family).

I'd prefer to rookie Waller. Didn't look out of his depth at VFL level this year. Perfectly suitable for a 4th ruck option

 

[Miller1971]

Waller is probs more of a forward than a ruck, but he has had a recent growth spurt.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Waller is probs more of a forward than a ruck, but he has had a recent growth spurt.

Even better

 

[Mr Ripper]

Wish I spurted when I was a teenager.

 

[knaf]

Wish I spurted when I was a teenager.

15 I was the tallest kid in my class. I played ruck. 17 most kids had grown taller. Played back pocket. Bloody growth spurts.

 

[M Malice]

I believe Todd Goldstein has said he wants to play on. Could be an option as a delisted free agent as the backup ruck if we can't come up with a better option. Think he played about 15 games this year with all the Don's injuries.

although would he come up to brisbane for 1 season at his age (presumably with a family).

Playing on could affect his Centrelink application for the Pension.

 

[Not a Psycho]

I'd prefer a more experienced ruck as depth, yes Darcy Fort is durable but we have Sam Draper coming off a serious injury and Henry Smith is nowhere near proven at AFL level yet.

Who that could be is the conundrum, a 23-28 year old ruck not getting a crack at their current club or the best one we can find in the state leagues could be an option.

It has been proven time and time again you don't need an elite ruck to win a flag, just a serviceable guy who crashes in, does the simple things well and breaks even most of his contests.

Reckon Smith is that option for us, 24 next year. I highly doubt we'll find anyone that is a significant upgrade on him in the state leagues. Shown enough IMO that he is up to it as the third ruck option.

 

[M Malice]

Reckon Smith is that option for us, 24 next year. I highly doubt we'll find anyone that is a significant upgrade on him in the state leagues. Shown enough IMO that he is up to it as the third ruck option.

I still think we need 4 rucks on the list, Fort, Draper, Smith + ?

 

[knaf]

I still think we need 4 rucks on the list, Fort, Draper, Smith + ?

Waller. Fourth option long term developing ruck? Edit - forgot ZZ.

 

[M Malice]

Waller. Fourth option long term developing ruck? Edit - forgot ZZ.

We could go that way, I would prefer an experienced ruck as depth, ZZ still a couple of years away, new ruck rules could suit him though.

We'll see what happens in the trade and draft periods, I have 100% confidence that our recruiting team are better at this stuff than me.

 

[Not a Psycho]

I still think we need 4 rucks on the list, Fort, Draper, Smith + ?

Time to spin the wheel and grab another young guy to develop. A draftee/overager gives us a really nice spread of journeyman/prime/developing/project ruckmen.

 

[M Malice]

We are slyly moving up the points ladder, we are into the top 8.

Whether the Eagles or Tigers bid on Daniel Annabel with one of picks 1, 2, 3 or 4 will be interesting.

 

[briztoon]

We are slyly moving up the points ladder, we are into the top 8.

Whether the Eagles or Tigers bid on Daniel Annabel with one of picks 1, 2, 3 or 4 will be interesting.
View attachment 2449918

Thank heavens Dodoro is no longer at Essendon, because they want to get up to pick 1 and continue collecting Duursma’s.

 

[irel]

Wish I spurted when I was a teenager.

Doesn't every teenager.

 

[T Rick]

We are slyly moving up the points ladder, we are into the top 8.

Whether the Eagles or Tigers bid on Daniel Annabel with one of picks 1, 2, 3 or 4 will be interesting.
View attachment 2449918

From past draft experience it would seem unlikely that Annable would be bid on at Pick 1 but if he was would the Lions take him?

 

[M Malice]

From past draft experience it would seem unlikely that Annable would be bid on at Pick 1 but if he was would the Lions take him?

We would have no choice but we will take him anyway even if we had to go into deficit next year.

Our first pick is at the moment 16, if we passed on Annabel there is no way we are getting an equivalent talent to him at pick 16.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

We would have no choice but we will take him anyway even if we had to go into deficit next year.

Our first pick is at the moment 16, if we passed on Annabel there is no way we are getting an equivalent talent to him at pick 16.

So, are we guaranteed to take him in the draft irrespective of what pick he is bid on ?