Player Watch 2025 AFL Draft Thread (Welcome to our new Central Districts overlords!)

[Rowie6]

Twomey will have a lot to answer for if the 'Steak' doesn't fall to us. Really pumped if this kid fall through. Back a couple months ago, I listed him in my top 5-6 consistently and for a good reason.
One of Grjl , Doveston Farrow likely to fall to our pick and I'm taking the sizzler ( that's three different names I've called him) everyday of the week. Not scared to go full throttle, give get one-two , shrug off tacklers and rocket away with the pill. Really not that fussed about who we get with our next pick tbh, obviously I have my preferences but if we land the BBQ, then I'm doin cartwheels.

I hope Cal is not doing this to get all our hoes up also.
As of a few days ago I thought we were no show of getting The Sizzler.
But he is the exact piece from this draft that we need.

 

[Rowie6]

Imagine if Twomeys draft plays out and we get Grlj and of course Barker at 27 and philippou and Greeves are still on the board at pick 31. Gws have that pick and take philippou then dees would you trade them 56 and f2 to get Ollie Greeves?

I would prefer The Poo .

 

[Rowie6]

Can't believe Twomey has us taking Grlj. Seems too good to be true!

Would be a lovely early Christmas present if we walked away from night 1 with Grlj and Greeves.

I think Essendon have been scarred by Elijah Tsatas?

 

[Hodgey 15]

I'm desperately trying not to get hopes up on any particular player we may select this year.
Got absolute trust in our recruiting team to nail it no matter who falls our way.

 

[Hawk1986]

Would be rapt with either Grlj or Dovatson.

 

[sohsam]

Grlj first is great. I like Hetherton and we need a tall forward to develop in the vfl with Scaife gone and McCabe likely to settle back. But he’s not a pick 27 we could easily get him in the late 30s. And with Schubert the pick before and ludowyke still available I can’t believe they wouldn’t take barker. Without the acl he’s top 10 he’s the injury player we should be taking the risk on then a speculative tall last even trade up if needed. If we traded 10 for 13 and 34 we miss Grlj but could take NHH then get barker and ludowyke/hetherton. We are well placed.

exactly before the pick swaps we had pick 9 and whole bunch of 30s/40s with those later picks you take speculative types or as you said trade down.

 

[Sturty]

Would be awesome if we get The Sizzler

 

[Hodginator]

I know nothing about the draft or this years prospects.

But if we don’t pick up Grlj if he’s available at our pick, this year will be a huge waste and failure by the club.

I’ll be microwaving my membership.

 

[dermott]

Young Padiwan, you have much to learn… nothing will outdo the absolute melts when we took that string-bean trouble maker from WA instead of NT’s best ever talent…

“**** you, buckenara!!” were the famous words.

Correct. That was my absolute favourite melting moment. It will never be surpassed

 

[fairdinks]

and his write up for hawks says

Draft picks: 10, 22, 59, 66 (likely to use two or three selections)

The majority of Hawthorn's work will be done on night one, with the Hawks currently holding two picks in the first round. The Hawks have told clubs they will listen to offers for pick 10 if it meant a slight shift down the draft board, but whether any clubs come for the pick on the night remains to be seen. What they do late might also be shaped by their early selections, but among the players linked to the Hawks are small forward Talor Byrne, midfielder Sam Swadling and ball-getter Ollie Greeves. The club has also had a look at Jack Lawrence, a small forward from the Dandenong Stingrays, but it could be for a train-on spot if they hold over a position.

***

So will depend on if we are able to move down for trade with either GWS or WCE but if Grlj is on board I can't see why we will do that unless its 50-50 and don't mind Oskar taylor at 12 or 13 if Grlj is gone..

For some reason I like Swadling at a pick in the 50's. He could end up being a run all day accumulator which I believe is something we lack. If he has good hands and a bit of class, he could be a steal, however, if he is any good, you would expect one of the WA teams to grab him before us.

 

[To the Hawk]

Twomey hasn't got a read on Tigers, at all. Same as last year.

Tigers will shape the draft. Most think they have locked in Xavier Taylor and that Grilj is still a big chance over Cumming.

If Grilj gets passed Tigers he looks likely to be there for us, but I think bombers will think long and hard about him over Dovaston at 9*.

Dovaston looks good, but I just feel Watson has significantly upped the appeal of this type of player. Like Kako, you're not getting near the talent of Wizard here.

I know it was for Merrett at the time, but we swapped 9, 31, 42, 43 to Carlton for 10 and 22.

Those late picks will come in 7 spots with all the bids.

If we are thinking Heatherton at 22*... We would have landed him and potentially a drifting Greaves, Barker NHH with our original hand.

Be annoyed if Essendon nabbed Grilj at 9* as I don't think Dovaston is a need.

By Chance if Sharp is there for dees they won't take him, I'd try trade up and they'd still get Nairn at our 10*.

 

[Platten44]

I know nothing about the draft or this years prospects.

But if we don’t pick up Grlj if he’s available at our pick, this year will be a huge waste and failure by the club.

I’ll be microwaving my membership.

Perhaps you could grill your membership

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Be annoyed if Essendon nabbed Grilj at 9* as I don't think Dovaston is a need.

Agree on Dovaston, but if we consider him best available, I pick him.

Would be amazing to see Dovaston and Watson in the same forward line.

 

[unitedhawk2]

On the bolded, our coach has already told Frenchy, Wardy, Butts and the Beast that they have opportunity ahead of them and should plan to have big preseasons.

We’re not drafting to fix or strengthen the inside mid position as that’s a position taken on by someone with some summers in their legs and a built up core.

Btw, Scaife is gone. McCabe likely will settle back, Gunston is 45… if we see a talented tall available at our pick, we should take them.

Best news I’ve heard so far at this (very early) stage of the pre-season.

Give Frenchie, Wardy, Butts, Beast - and, dare I suggest, HH too - the opportunity and the belief that the coaches have confidence in their ability and then sit back and watch them shine!

 

[killerspud]

Merrett 'dominating' training as Bombers eye 'aggressive' trade moves

After failing to get to Hawthorn Zach Merrett has been welcomed back to Essendon 'with open arms'

www.afl.com.au

Wonder which 'staff writers' wrote this? He's actually getting ridiculous.

Though in fairness most of our Box Hill reserves could probably "dominate" a bombres training session

 

[killerspud]

Agree on Dovaston, but if we consider him best available, I pick him.

Would be amazing to see Dovaston and Watson in the same forward line.

It also allowd for Watson to spend more time in the middle, where I think he could be even more amazing

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

It also allowd for Watson to spend more time in the middle, where I think he could be even more amazing

Then eventually both can be in the middle at once.

Torville and Dean? Nope, Dovaston and Watson

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Twomey hasn't got a read on Tigers, at all. Same as last year.

Tigers will shape the draft. Most think they have locked in Xavier Taylor and that Grilj is still a big chance over Cumming.

If Grilj gets passed Tigers he looks likely to be there for us, but I think bombers will think long and hard about him over Dovaston at 9*.

Dovaston looks good, but I just feel Watson has significantly upped the appeal of this type of player. Like Kako, you're not getting near the talent of Wizard here.

I know it was for Merrett at the time, but we swapped 9, 31, 42, 43 to Carlton for 10 and 22.

Those late picks will come in 7 spots with all the bids.

If we are thinking Heatherton at 22*... We would have landed him and potentially a drifting Greaves, Barker NHH with our original hand.

Be annoyed if Essendon nabbed Grilj at 9* as I don't think Dovaston is a need.

By Chance if Sharp is there for dees they won't take him, I'd try trade up and they'd still get Nairn at our 10*.

It's going to be hard on small forwards getting drafted in the next five years as they will constantly be getting compared to Watson who is a legit freak.

I'm not opposed to drafting a defensive minded small forward though, he could be the Poppy to the Wizards Cryil.

 

[number23]

AFL Draft 2025: 54 picks, bidding drama in ESPN's final, full Phantom Draft

The AFL Draft is almost upon us, and here is ESPN's full, final Phantom Draft. Who goes where? How many trades get done, and where to the bids fall?

www.espn.com.au

Has us taking The Griller, Schubert and Sam Swadling. NHH would still be available at out 2nd pick. Hetherton much further down the list (which makes more sense to me).

 

[To the Hawk]

It's going to be hard on small forwards getting drafted in the next five years as they will constantly be getting compared to Watson who is a legit freak.

I'm not opposed to drafting a defensive minded small forward though, he could be the Poppy to the Wizards Cryil.

I still think we might have that in Cody and I thought Hill showed glimpses this year and it will be exciting to see what year 2 brings for him.

I like Dovaston, but if we missed on Grlj for a defensive forward it will sting. Wouldn't be surprised if we actually traded back if that's the case.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I still think we might have that in Cody and I thought Hill showed glimpses this year and it will be exciting to see what year 2 brings for him.

I like Dovaston, but if we missed on Grlj for a defensive forward it will sting. Wouldn't be surprised if we actually traded back if that's the case.

I'm just personally not sure you can turn someone who plays other positions (or in Hills case sport) into an elite small forward.

It's such a specialist position, ki d of like a striker in soccer. That's why it's so hard to find a really good one like The Wizard.

I suppose deciding between Grlj and Dovaston will come down to what the club thinks each players ceiling is (which if course is always the case).

 

[TylerDurden]

Dons want Doveston. Sounds done.

 

[hr_23]

Dons want Doveston. Sounds done.

Can't get the real Wiz so they settle on Temu Wiz lol

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Can't get the real Wiz so they settle on Temu Wiz lol

They'll have 2 of them.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]