List Mgmt. 2025 AFL Draft - Draft Analysis

[BOMBERBLITZ]

Robey would have been old school Richmond recruiting; seduced by two big performances or a few good moments on the highlight reel, a-la Lounder, JON, Todd Menegola, Conca.
Thankfully we do a lot more due diligence these days and aren't swayed by glimpses of potential.
Nothing beats sustained performance. Small sample sizes are most often misleading.
The guy was like the 50th in line in the Melbourne Cup order of entry four months ago. There's a reason no matter how well he finished, But good luck to the kid.
Would be interested to know over the years how many of these 'draft bolters' kick on and become absolute stars. Besides Bont of course. RCD was a draft bolter

Clayton Oliver was a draft bolter.

 

[sabso]

I know there’s mechanics around compensation, academies, father son etc, but if a club that has earned pick 2 suddenly ends up with their first pick at 7 that’s some bullshit. Happy to get a couple of young guns though.

 

[THE_GUN]

We all got caught up in Robey hype, but now the dust has settled …

Cumming won the U18 SA MVP in 2024 … his underage year! He averaged 27 disposals and kicked 11 goals in 10 games. His disposals dropped off a bit this year as more time split mid-fwd. he has awesome character, is a great leader, has great athletic traits, is hard as nails, can kick it a mile, is a terrific mark and will get absolutely everything out of himself. He’s got the tools to be a gun.

Grjl is an elite athlete. But more than that, on watching VFL highlights he’s a long kick, and more than good with his disposal (watch his VFl debut on YouTube … he used it well and smashed three blokes with tackles that really hurt). He’s got a good dose of mongrel and is also hard as nails. Great character as well and will also leave no stone unturned to become the best he can be.

I’ve got no idea how good, bad or otherwise everyone we bypassed will become, but I’ve got no doubt Cumming and Grjl will be excellent players as they’ve got the athleticism, hardness and attitude to take them places.

Others I’ve seen people comparing them to like Tsatas (not hard or athletic), Hobbs (slow and can’t kick over a jam tin), Dow (can’t kick and slow), Sonsie (not quick, attitude issues and soft) etc… have very obvious reasons why they’ve struggled to become quality AFL
players.

I’ve got no concerns with either Cumming or Grjl. And a midfield of:

Cumming
Grjl
Smillie
Lalor
Hotton
McCauliffe
Campbell

Is an absolutely perfect mix of skill sets. I wanted Robey, but I’m super pumped to watch us blitz teams with elite speed from Campbell, Grjl, Hotton and Cumming. Whilst smashing them into little pieces thanks to Lalor, Smillie and McCauliffe.

Looking at that list what's missing is the player that's plays inside that gets 30+ poss a game on a regular basis
Its a great mix or Fwd/Mid and if we can add another mid pig that would be great.
Maybe we should go for a player like Fred Rodriguez bug tank and beautiful kick that runs all game and allows the others to be the silk.

* Would also love Arkie Butler next years

 

[Wooden Robot]

Clayton Oliver was a draft bolter.

No doubting the talent, albeit unfulfilled, and not exactly the gift that keeps giving. Not without his disruptions and detractors.

 

[docko911]

Complete the trifecta Richmond.

Sam Cumming
Sam Grlj
Sam Allen

Just do it.

Need 5 to unleash the power of Captain Samson

 

[The Vaucluse]

I went to the Lions game at the “G” and watched the Ashcroft boys carve us up around the contest with their speed and agility. I’m stoked that we selected Cumming and more than happy with Grlj as he has the attributes and quality to fill a hole in our list. We’ve pretty much rebuilt the midfield in two drafts and added some big targets in the forward 50. Finally, how well does the Giesch speak, I bet he’s one of those characters that could talk all day.

 

[el_simo]

Think both Grlj and Cumming we play afl early.

Makes it interesting for a few of our players who have coasted along getting games, might finally be some real competition. Talking about the likes of Mansell, Ross, HRS, Sonsie. Could be awkward having the no. 5 and 7 running around in the vfl

 

[TigerTime88]

Think both Grlj and Cumming we play afl early.

Makes it interesting for a few of our players who have coasted along getting games, might finally be some real competition. Talking about the likes of Mansell, Ross, HRS, Sonsie. Could be awkward having the no. 5 and 7 running around in the vfl

Should never have got the 5 and 7.

 

[SplintWhisky]

Robey would have been old school Richmond recruiting; seduced by two big performances or a few good moments on the highlight reel, a-la Lounder, JON, Todd Menegola, Conca.
Thankfully we do a lot more due diligence these days and aren't swayed by glimpses of potential.
Nothing beats sustained performance. Small sample sizes are most often misleading.
The guy was like the 50th in line in the Melbourne Cup order of entry four months ago. There's a reason no matter how well he finished, But good luck to the kid.
Would be interested to know over the years how many of these 'draft bolters' kick on and become absolute stars. Besides Bont of course. RCD was a draft bolter

Pretty sure Sidebottom is anothsr Robey type. 11 Goals in the TAC granny I am pretty sure.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

wats the reason smilie didnt debut this season but played vfl ? we were the second worst team in the comp

not good enough ?

Did Smillie Ezekiel you , Tony ?

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Young for pick #31

Good business that.

 

[SplintWhisky]

It’s certainly not a perfect system, but I do know the Uwlands for example don’t come from a strong footy background and first came across the game via mates and subsequently the academies once talent was identified. Thus bigger picture the academies are excellent in attracting & producing talent in regions where it’s not a given you play footy in the winter, and living up this way now recognise the importance of having these local kids playing for their local AFL clubs to generate interest and participation in the game, not unlike Jack dyer in Richmond in the 1930’s. It wasn’t an issue when Victorian clubs including ours raided the Suns & GWS picking off their ‘homesick’ talent so suggest we cop the same medicine, get better at developing the talent we have and not give a fk that Richo has 3 girls…

The thing I wish the AFL would allow is for clubs to create their academies off their own backs. Not just from a "we are a massive club and could clean up" POV but there needs to be some grass roots build up of the game to get kids invested.

The other reason I want it is because the AFL has all but forgotten country Australia and there needs to be some effort thrown back so AFL can have a future. Hell, I would say **** off Gather Round and have Country Round. Take the few million hit in revenue and have the clubs go to large country hubs and play. Hell, I would go off to Wangaratta or something for the weekend if Richmond played there on Country Round.

 

[SplintWhisky]

wats the reason smilie didnt debut this season but played vfl ? we were the second worst team in the comp

not good enough ?

Conditioning most likely. Wanted to take the cautious approach and manage his minutes.

 

[SplintWhisky]

Young for pick #31

Good business that.

Has to be the biggest improvement of player capital since 2000. SSP pick to pick 31 in about 3ish years and 50ish games is crypto like returns

 

[Groupie_]

Conditioning most likely. Wanted to take the cautious approach and manage his minutes.

relton roberts played and smilie cant play one game

 

[SplintWhisky]

relton roberts played and smilie cant play one game

Bit unfair to compare Smille to a finely tuned athlete like Roberts who turned fried dim sims and Chikko rolls into excellence.

 

[two blue tiger]

Got to admit that I’ve woken up this morning feeling like I’ve spent the night at the local church hall dancing with my sister when I could have been hitting the clubs and cracking onto the hot chicks….

 

[tigs2010]

When you change your avatar?

You worried we not getting Robey?

Was a wise move in the end.

 

[Groupie_]

Bit unfair to compare Smille to a finely tuned athlete like Roberts who turned fried dim sims and Chikko rolls into excellence.

he made them disappear

hes a magician !

 

[Michaels]

Like everyone else I’ve consumed a fair few Grlj and Cumming videos over the last 8 hours and what I’m loving most is their hard edged approach and defensive / tackling efforts.

Both just seem no nonsense types and crack in to get the job done.

Good times ahead!

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

It really sucks that we time our bottoming out with highly compromised drafts. Last time we were here, GWS and Gold Coast were entering the league. Just takes longer to finish the rebuild.

The draft's in really bad shape right now

We came out of that period the best.
Hope that trend continues

 

[tigers12]

I bet the Aints will try and get a early 2nd round pick to get philipou

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

They are your modern day prototypes.
Quick and elite lateral movement to move out of traffick and take ground , whilst quick and willing enough to tackle to put the oppo under pressure when they have the ball .

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

NHH would be a great get class and hits the scoreboard HF Wing takes a grab.

His name came up in the middle of the year as of interest Think it cooled after the champs.

 

[NZ_Tiger]

Finishing second to last a lot of folks were hung up all month on the fact we should be picking in the elite talent bracket ignoring the reality that we came away with the 7&8th best kids in the draft. 100% not in the range for the “lay down guns” in any draft.

I hope more people comment under every afl post to highlight the inequality.