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

[sohsam]

IMO that's a drafting master-class by us, being able to adapt on the run.
There was talk pre-draft that we were considering moving our pick 22 into the teens, whilst being open to sliding our pick 10 back a couple of spots.

The pick 22 upgrade to 17 with Brisbane was an exceptional deal, especially for a future 3rd. That manoeuvre was to get ahead of Geelong and Freo, with a clear target in mind... Aidan Schubert.

As for our pick 10, it was clear that our original targets had already been selected. (Grlj, Farrow, Sharp)
We then had opportunities to take either Dovaston or Lindsay outright, but we opted to secure 2x future 2nd round picks instead by pushing our pick further back. In the end we took an athletically gifted forward-mid, who would've been a good selection at pick 10 anyway, whilst banking two bonus future 2nd rounders.

A seriously good draft that has also strengthened our 2026 trade collateral.

Well done, Hawks!

When you put it that way, dreams do come true, I do not think in our wildest dreams we would have imagined such a fine outcome. Dovaston may have been good, but it is not easy making it as a small forward, just ask Bruest, best in the business. We got the upgrade on Greeves and used pick 20 instead of pick 10 and came away with the best full forward in the competition who is hard to match up on. You make a great salesman, even if you are telling the truth.

 

[KermitJagger]

Hilarious meme to not draft a midfielder early considering the furore around our midfield stocks.

 

[Bugs1977]

And Petracca

And JUH

 

[matey]

Dovaston after getting picked was asked what it’s like being compared to playing like the Wiz ….. and replied with, “what how the Wiz plays like him”. Then said something about being on the turps with his mates ………

 

[VandoHawk]

Hilarious meme to not draft a midfielder early considering the furore around our midfield stocks.

There were three midfielders in this draft worth taking at our picks. Robey, Sharp and Grlj. All of them were taken AND still had aspects to their game that didn’t completely fit.

We took some high upside selections that can develop while we’re contending. I’m not upset with that.

I’m sure there are going to be a lot of ‘y no mid’ posts across the next few days.

 

[daniel23]

Dovaston after getting picked was asked what it’s like being compared to playing like the Wiz ….. and replied with, “what how the Wiz plays like him”. Then said something about being on the turps with his mates ………

Yeh i heard that . Seems like a bit of f***witt along with taylor. I wonder if he will cop the hate watson does from opposition fans.

 

[kazzooka]

Hilarious meme to not draft a midfielder early considering the furore around our midfield stocks.

We know Day, Butler and Cam Mackenzie will be huge next year. I haven't given up on Huss either.

Watson wants more time and 3rd year now should be building that tank. Also I really want Finn back in there, at VFL level he is so far above it as a midfielder. 3 votes in the listen every game he played at box hill this year.

We never give him a chance as a mid at AFL level, but I think he can do it.

 

[HeHateMe]

Hilarious meme to not draft a midfielder early considering the furore around our midfield stocks.

We actually have a pretty good midfield depth and spread of talent it's just the top end A grade that's a little shallow compared with the best of the best.

Draft should be for fixing gaps in the list in the future not really to fix the ones that you have right now, I feel we have done that tonight.

 

[extractasam]

IMO that's a drafting master-class by us, being able to adapt on the run.
There was talk pre-draft that we were considering moving our pick 22 into the teens, whilst being open to sliding our pick 10 back a couple of spots.

The pick 22 upgrade to 17 with Brisbane was an exceptional deal, especially for a future 3rd. That manoeuvre was to get ahead of Geelong and Freo, with a clear target in mind... Aidan Schubert.

As for our pick 10, it was clear that our original targets had already been selected. (Grlj, Farrow, Sharp)
We then had opportunities to take either Dovaston or Lindsay outright, but we opted to secure 2x future 2nd round picks instead by pushing our pick further back. In the end we took an athletically gifted forward-mid, who would've been a good selection at pick 10 anyway, whilst banking two bonus future 2nd rounders.

A seriously good draft that has also strengthened our 2026 trade collateral.

Well done, Hawks!

The net gain of draft assets has been very impressive work over the last 2 years. All started with the swap of F1s with Carlton. Had no business being involved in this part of the draft really, we didn’t finish in a position that warranted it.

Granted some of the pick upgrades were due to Worps/Jiath trades, but overall it was mostly just swapping picks here and there and praying on other clubs desperation.

 

[kazzooka]

Yeh i heard that . Seems like a bit of f***witt along with taylor. I wonder if he was cop the hate watson does from opposition fans.

A few of the interviews where very alarming to me of guys with a few screws loose. But we've seen those types straighten up at AFL level, or just have so much talent it doesn't matter.

A few of them really impressed though. Grjl and Marsh I thought really stood out.

 

[matey]

Yeh i heard that . Seems like a bit of f***witt along with taylor. I wonder if he was cop the hate watson does from opposition fans.

And leading up to the draft they were talking up Davaston’s agility result in the combine. If the Wiz did it …… he would have left the smart arse in his wake!

 

[HairyO]

This sounds like pretty good dealing. Well done Sleepy!

Except it pushes back our improvements a year.

Combined trade and draft period is an almighty fail for us. We didnt get anything we wanted and risk the same happening next year when we have another crack at a contracted Humphrey.

Hopefully we dont go anywhere near Merrett.

 

[KermitJagger]

There were three midfielders in this draft worth taking at our picks. Robey, Sharp and Grlj. All of them were taken AND still had aspects to their game that didn’t completely fit.

We took some high upside selections that can develop while we’re contending. I’m not upset with that.

I’m sure there are going to be a lot of ‘y no mid’ posts across the next few days.

I think the other point is that if you're drafting mids to cover a present gap in midfield depth you're kinda missing the timing. It'll just be funny to see the media beat up about it.

 

[The Seaword]

Shifter compared his endurance to N.Riewoldt - there's your answer.

So we got a sooky choker?

 

[seysearles]

So basically we walk away with pick 32ish from GWS and pick 26ish from Stkilda in the 2026 draft on top of Nairn and the Sherbertator? Will be interesting to see what sort of value we can squeeze out of those future pics in what is probably going to be a better draft next season. I have to laugh when i when i hear all the massive wraps on players during the draft after we have all been told for months that this is the worst draft in history. It seems to me that we didn't rate the recognised "talent" in this draft enough to invest heavily and have gone for higher risk players with an upside. Shubert for example is a long term prospect, given his age and position he's 3+ seasons away from getting a look in so we are going to need some serious internal development next season to compete for the flag.

Over to you Cam McKenzie, Josh Ward, Sam Butler et al.

 

[MasterSamurai]

Happy with Nairn. Has a bit of Dicko about his style . Greeves or NHH would've been great with our other pick.

 

[killerspud]

So we got a sooky choker?

the only seaword I've got for you is campaigner

 

[Sixpence]

Except it pushes back our improvements a year.

Combined trade and draft period is an almighty fail for us. We didnt get anything we wanted and risk the same happening next year when we have another crack at a contracted Humphrey.

Hopefully we dont go anywhere near Merrett.

How? We still picked up 2 ~Top 20 picks and gained more capital to make trades next year. I fail to see the downside.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

Yeah no

DrAbs

Which gift was given to Geelong

Was it Greeves ?

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

I struggle to follow the draft, can someone explain to me why our first pick was #20? How did that happen?

 

[Sonny Hayes]

We know Day, Butler and Cam Mackenzie will be huge next year. I haven't given up on Huss either.

Watson wants more time and 3rd year now should be building that tank. Also I really want Finn back in there, at VFL level he is so far above it as a midfielder. 3 votes in the listen every game he played at box hill this year.

We never give him a chance as a mid at AFL level, but I think he can do it.

We certainly don't know those 3 will be huge and there is a reason Finn is not getting given a go as a mid at AFL level.

This was not a draft where we could address the midfield which is out of our control but it has nothing to do with what is currently on our list.

 

[The Spirit of Cricket]

I struggle to follow the draft, can someone explain to me why our first pick was #20? How did that happen?

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Except it pushes back our improvements a year.

Combined trade and draft period is an almighty fail for us. We didnt get anything we wanted and risk the same happening next year when we have another crack at a contracted Humphrey.

Hopefully we dont go anywhere near Merrett.

I think it was probably a fail but it also was not really any fault of the club, they attracted an elite player and offered a fair price. The other club were just children.

No players in the draft were available to solve our main weaknesses so we limited the damage by taking the best available and improving next years hand.

Sometimes you can do all the right things and it just not work out.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

I struggle to follow the draft, can someone explain to me why our first pick was #20? How did that happen?

It was heavily compromised with academy bids which kept pushing our first pick back but we also traded back slightly in the draft.

Our top 10 pick was always going to be around 15 and then we moved back a few spots to end up at 20.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

View attachment 2481233

Oh, great response. So helpful.