Resource 2025 AFL Draft prospects and discussion.

[FullyBigKPro]

Tex

We had a pick 4 in SDraper look miles off it in his first year now we are calling for Marsh to replace Tex in his first year?

Mate you are very sensible poster but lets be real here.

 

[Fax]

I know some people wanted a mid and I get it but I also think Sid Draper can step up and be a difference maker for us next season along with Dan Curtin getting more time in that area. We are looking pretty good IMO.

 

[ABAB]

In the SANFL? Sure.

Zac has absolutely no business being in the midfield at AFL level based on his last four years in the bigs.

Don't judge his last 3 years, he struggled to run out the time trials but shown he can kick goals while having limited tank and show football smart when given the chance in the midfield. He is AFL fit now, make or break year for him.

 

[Scorpus]

We had a pick 4 in SDraper look miles off it in his first year now we are calling for Marsh to replace Tex in his first year?

Mate you are very sensible poster but lets be real here.

Tex is 36 next year and not in my best 22. Relatively easy decision to fill that role with a first round pick described to have an elite kick

 

[bigman]

We never traded 48 (now 46) to the Suns and they’re basically done matching bar a bid on Coulson.

 

[Carn The Texan]

I don't think tomorrow matters, does it?
No needles will be moved there.

Nah Twomey picked the top 20 (just not the exact order) which is often boring, whereas the gems are in the rough and I think Haggis does his best work in the second round.

 

[Scorpus]

One thing missed in the Gold Coast discussion is that to get Petracca and four first round picks, they did have to trade out five players (including multiple former top picks), use all their picks this draft and trade a future 1st.

To be specific they had to trade out Lukosius, Flanders, Ainsworth, Fiorini and Budarick - and use two first rounders

 

[UcantCme]

What’s the theory on Shsroe’s draft slide

U/18 carnival medal
SA and AA captain
Played senior sanfl footy
Ooozes leadership

Isn’t this exactly what WCE and MELB need ?

 

[jackster83]

21 players until our next pick, help me build a list of potentials who make it to that,.I'll start

Hetherton
Ludowyke
Leray
Ainsworth
BOB
Byrne
Onley
Greeves
Ison

That's as far as I can get. Help me out. Nite y'all.

Thredgold
Phillipou
Taj Murray

 

[FullyBigKPro]

Tex is 36 next year and not in my best 22. Relatively easy decision to fill that role with a first round pick described to have an elite kick

I have Ah Chee* replacing Tex next year which I think is a very very easy decision as it balances our forward line much better and looks more modern and mobile. Ah Chee a much more savvy 'third tall' who could pinch hit up the ground better too.

(*provided we get Ah Chee as expected)

 

[Golumless]

Putting more eggs into a third tall role when we are about to get Ah Chee as well?

When we just dusted 2 finals with an inferior midfield? No lightning quick small forward, no superiors outside line breaking ball user...... ?

Mate cmon....

It's one more egg than last year, and come 2027, the same amount of eggs into the third tall role.

Ah Chee can play anywhere, and has a history of doing that at Brisbane/Gold Coast.

If you are relying on the draft to fix midfield issues next year, you are ****ed. Those issues fall on Dan Curtin, Jake Soligo and James Peatling next year. Maybe with a sprinkle of Sid Draper with a full preseason, seeing how tunneled visioned we've been on him as a midfielder - to his detriminet development wise, as he really should have been played as a defensive small forwrd.

Quick small forward would be nice, but lets be real, we've already invested heavily in that sector.

Linebreaking outside mid was more of a need, especially as a half back flanker, but this seems a rather weak draft for them. Wing is just for your leftover talents.

 

[huludicidal]

Well mail was on point

Marsh was clubs first preference after Sharp and Dovaston

Can’t believe Essendon knocked back 2 x 1sts for pick 13

In fairness, a pick that ended up being 22 in a shithouse draft, plus a mid-late first rounder next year, for Dyson Sharp AND MORE COMING BACK TO THE CROWS wouldn’t have even moved the needle for the Bombers.

A different story if we were making that offer for pick 13 and Sharp was already off the board (ie us trying to trade up for Dovaston).

Bombers very clearly only took Farrow ahead of Sharp because they knew the Dees wanted Farrow and not Sharp. Very good night for the Bombers, with Robey sneaking through somewhat unexpectedly.

 

[dogs105]

Let me guess another "slider". You haven't joined ABAB on the payroll have you?

If you think we made a mistake, what about 25 players taken and none of them the obvious number one pick in Jevan Phillipou...

 

[I Lost My Keays]

surely we had a crack at the Dees for their pick knowing Sharp slipped? Unless Pickett was a chance of being taken?

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

We keep Tex, trade in Finbar, re-rookie Welsh..... And then draft in Marsh, whilst we have TT and Fog in their primes....

??

Im just confused at this point

Finbar replaces burgess as depth.

Were giving welsh a second chance but also his contract means we have to re-rookie (might not be on the list 2027).

Tex gets a farewell tour season.

You draft by talent not by need (mostly)

Fortunately there might be need for Marsh by 2027, as the 3rd tall next to Fog and Filth.

 

[StonesThrow]

One thing missed in the Gold Coast discussion is that to get Petracca and four first round picks, they did have to trade out five players (including multiple former top picks), use all their picks this draft and trade a future 1st.

To be specific they had to trade out Lukosius, Flanders, Ainsworth, Fiorini and Budarick - and use two first rounders

I like budarick, but most of these are role players so they've completed a massive haul this year. I do hate when people say they've done well. Easy to do well with all the concessions. Bastards.

 

[Ticktak]

Can’t believe Essendon knocked back 2 x 1sts for pick 13

The Merrett factor.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Ben Dixon

Ben Dixon

Age

48

Ht

188cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.8

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.4

3star

G

1.4

5star

No current season stats available

D

10.4

3star

K

7.6

3star

HB

2.8

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

0.8

3star

G

2.4

5star

's interviews are painful

 

[Viva la Mattner]

Ben Dixon's interviews are painful

Does Kevin Sheahan think every player is a gun?

 

[1970crow]

**** you'd be devastated going to North

Probs win a flag before we do.

 

[Tex Danger]

Ben Dixon's interviews are painful

But what about mum and dad?

 

[bigman]

Does Kevin Sheahan think every player is a gun?

Half of them are the boys with the dancing feet apparently.

 

[Golumless]

Don't judge his last 3 years, he struggled to run out the time trials but shown he can kick goals while having limited tank and show football smart when given the chance in the midfield. He is AFL fit now, make or break year for him.

I disagree, you can't just ignore the bad things in a profile and cling to the good. Taking this long to even build a half forward tank is such a red flag on a footballers profile, especially considering we had Burgress. Either he's lazy or, more likely (seeing his defensive work has genuinely improved as a small forward), just doesn't have the body that can build that tank.

While I agree it's make or break for Taylor, every year is make or break for him. He's a role player who's stuck having to find a role.

 

[Ian Dunross]

The Merrett factor.

Be fascinating to see if he agitates for a move again next year.

 

[huludicidal]

I have Ah Chee* replacing Tex next year which I think is a very very easy decision as it balances our forward line much better and looks more modern and mobile. Ah Chee a much more savvy 'third tall' who could pinch hit up the ground better too.

(*provided we get Ah Chee as expected)

Ah Chee for me replaces one of Pedlar or Z Taylor in our forward line.

If it’s Pedlar, Luke’s crows career is pretty much over, unless we do retain Pedlar and Tex is the one to give way for Ah Chee as you’ve hypothesised - I don’t hate that.

If it’s Taylor, it frees Zac up to play in the midfield, where he is blatantly a better option than Sam Berry, who is objectively terrible.


If we’re purely talking 2026 Tex replacements, I’d say that would be either going smaller as you’ve said, OR it ends up being Brayden Cook, who absolutely has the lethal leg, but struggles to get enough of the ball up forward at AFL level and might not even be retained on our list in 12 months.


Let’s be serious, Nicks will roll Tex out for 15 games plus won’t he. Ugh.