List Mgmt. Draft thread - 2025 (remaining picks: 29, 34)

[Keys]

Live draft hand
R1: 1 (Duursma), 4 (CDT), 19 (Lindsay)
R2: 29, 34
RD: 1

Draft picks pre-draft
R1: 1, 2, 13
R2: 34, 41
RD: 1

List spots available
Main list: 2 (includes Duursma, CDT, Lindsay)
Cat A Rookie list: 1 (expecting Robertson, Macrae and Schoenberg to join as SSP signings)
Cat B Rookie list: 1

Draft order

Spoiler

Draft prospect video highlights (thanks to noobermensch)

Rookie Me Central 2025 Draft Guide

2025 AFL Draft Guide

online.fliphtml5.com

Matthew Clarke on Gettable 17/11

Spoiler

Cal Twomey’s Phantom Draft

Spoiler

 

[Happy Mastenator]

I care a lot less about the second round pick than I do about the incoherent process that resulted in them not getting the player they intended to get.

Agreed. If they'd bid on Annable at 3, they would have matched and it would have knocked Gold Coast out completely from any chance of matching Adinsall.

 

[Elite Pete]

I don't understand how one club (i.e. Gold Coast), who finished in the top 6, can have enough "points" to match 4 bids in the top 17 of a draft? How does this ridiculous points system work? Is pick 50 and 52 equal to pick 5 or something and they just went around hoovering up a bunch of late picks the other clubs didn't want and that then translated into enough "points" for 4 top 17 players?

They had 3 x 1st round picks leading into this draft due to a putrid system that 4 clubs got to milk for a long time.

They also gained another for Flanders and had a F1 that they used.

 

[Deplorable trumpster]

GC did also start with having Ports first, Pies first (from Houston, Lukosius, Richards, Atkins and Noble trades), and traded out Flanders for a first, and their own. So that's four firsts, which they gave two to Melbourne. They also got back two picks in the 20's from Melbourne.

Also traded out Ainsworth, Budarick, Rosas, Fiorini for picks.

Not saying the system works, but they loaded up on points for this draft.

Imagine the effect in 5 - 10 years time as this compounds over time with the Queensland clubs getting all these advantages in the draft. Nobody else will be able to compete.

 

[TheBudgies]

Then neither he nor you understand. My entire argument is that the experts can be wrong, you can say they are wrong, you can argue they are wrong, but at the end of the day, they are just less likely to be wrong than you are.

This is not arguing to authority. This is arguing to expertise, which is a valid form of argument.

For future reference, the distinction is, in an argument to expertise, you can have countering expert viewpoints, this expert says this, but that expert disagrees. Their opinions can be and are, challenged.

An argument to authority is uchallangable. God told me.
The Orange one, the best and greatest paedo ever, thinks this, so no other opinion counts.

Most times the phrase, Argument to authority is used, it's by some nuffy trying to argue the earth is flat. Vaccines are a hoax etc, and they are trying to diminish expertise.

Expert does not mean Authority.

Sorry, but this is one of my pet hates. Don't do it.

I didnt say ignore experts. I said argument to authority is a garbage form of argument. It is completely reasonable to say "cal said x because of this in this game" just saying "all the experts say someone is good" is not a good quality argument.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Isn't it absolutely insane that Gold Coast have the reigning Brownlow medalist and just played in a semi final, traded in Petracca, drafted 2 x top 5 players, and 2 more 1st rounders.

Surely they gutted their list or sold the farm to achieve this right?

Nope, Sam Flanders and 2026 1st.

Again.

GC did also start with having Ports first, Pies first (from Houston, Lukosius, Richards, Atkins and Noble trades), and traded out Flanders for a first, and their own. So that's four firsts, which they gave two to Melbourne. They also got back two picks in the 20's from Melbourne.

Also traded out Ainsworth, Budarick, Rosas, Fiorini for picks.

Not saying the system works, but they loaded up on points for this draft.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

10 Victorians, seven South Australians, five Queenslanders, two New South Welshmen and a solitary West Australian taken last night.

Relative to being an Australian rules heartland state (compared to more populous but rugby dominated states in QLD/NSW) and population (compared to South Australia which has about 1.1 million people less than WA) the parlous state of the WA talent program is laid pretty bare in that first round.

Is the AFL actually going to put their hand in their pocket to support WA grassroots footy? Or will WA Football need to continue to support the whole system in a climate of declining royalties from West Coast and Fremantle?

Id exclude Club Academy and FS prospects from the AFL Academy and all exhibition games.

U18/ Colts needs to devolved from the WAFL and given its own resources.

 

[FKASC]

I am surprised as well with the Suns prioritising Addinsall and hence matching. No doubt the could have always use Future 2027 picks if they needed to as I expect they will still lose players in 2026 & 2027 hence easily able to replace the picks.

With Flanders unable to get midfield time along with Miller spending more time on a flank, it is going to be a lot of VFL football for Beau.

Oh well, not the first time I have struggled to comprehend the Sun’s drafting strategy

I reckon it was them trying to be BSD, and show the league that they could do what they pleased with their academy players just because. Even if it’s not directly in the interests of their squad. Probably pent up from years of losing trades and drafts

 

[Underdog]

Agreed. If they'd bid on Annable at 3, they would have matched and it would have knocked Gold Coast out completely from any chance of matching Adinsall.

Pretty sure that they would have just gone into deficit next year and still matched the bid. Which is why I'm not convinced it was a calculation error. I suspect they were shaking a tree to see if anything falls out, and were happy with Lindsay if not.

 

[3agles87]

Please accept my info as truth. We didn't expect them to match.

If that is the case, why trade up? Were we expecting Hawthorn to go for Addinsall?

 

[Jootube]

GC did also start with having Ports first, Pies first (from Houston, Lukosius, Richards, Atkins and Noble trades), and traded out Flanders for a first, and their own. So that's four firsts, which they gave two to Melbourne. They also got back two picks in the 20's from Melbourne.

Also traded out Ainsworth, Budarick, Rosas, Fiorini for picks.

Not saying the system works, but they loaded up on points for this draft.

Alchemists spent centuries trying to find the philosopher's stone, but all they needed to do was be an academy team and trade four spuds to end up with Petracca PLUS four first rounders (two top 5)...

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

Another aspect of the WA talent well drying up that concerns me is that both us and Freo have typically been heavily dependent on bringing WA players home through free agency, since we rarely get considered by eastern states natives unless they're Jayden Hunt

5

Jayden Hunt

Age

30

Ht

188cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

5.3

1star

K

3.3

1star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.7

2star

T

2.3

4star

MG

78.7

1star

D

5.3

1star

K

3.3

1star

HB

2.0

1star

M

1.7

2star

T

2.3

3star

MG

78.7

1star

D

5.3

2star

K

3.3

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.7

2star

T

2.3

4star

MG

78.7

2star

types who are basically needing a lifeline. Look at Freo's recent trades/signings: Jordan Clark

6

Jordan Clark

Age

25

Ht

185cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.7

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

4.3

3star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.6

4star

MG

172.0

3star

D

12.5

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.5

2star

MG

172.0

3star

D

12.2

3star

K

10.4

4star

HB

1.8

2star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.4

4star

, Luke Jackson

9

Luke Jackson

Age

24

Ht

199cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.3

2star

K

3.3

1star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

0.3

3star

D

8.3

2star

K

3.3

1star

HB

5.0

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

2star

G

0.3

3star

D

8.3

3star

K

3.3

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

0.3

3star

, Jaeger O'Meara

2

Jaeger O'meara

Age

31

Ht

184cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.9

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

10.6

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

5.5

5star

CL

4.8

5star

D

20.9

5star

K

13.0

5star

HB

7.9

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.0

5star

D

19.4

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

8.0

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

4.6

5star

, Shai Bolton

15

Shai Bolton

Age

26

Ht

176cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.3

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

12.7

3star

K

9.2

4star

HB

3.5

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.7

4star

CL

1.8

4star

D

9.2

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

4.6

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.0

1star

, Judd McVee. All WA natives. We haven't been as active but have still brought home Starcevich this year and also have players like Kelly, Yeo and Cripps being acquired after being drafted by eastern clubs.

If the WA talent pool stinks and then in addition to not be able to draft as much local talent, there also won't be as many good players to lure home.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Id exclude Club Academy and FS prospects from the AFL Academy and all exhibition games.

U18/ Colts needs to devolved from the WAFL and given its own resources.

You just have to look at the Acadmey for next year to see why GC went all in on this draft crop. They only have one player in the squad.

2026 Marsh AFL National Academy squads confirmed

Fifty of the country’s most talented young footballers have been selected to take part in the 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy during their Draft year

www.afl.com.au

They had four at the same time last year. Adinsall, Patterson and Uwland all picked up early this year. Kalani White was named but chose to go F/S with Melbourne and will probably be picked up later.

2025 Marsh AFL National Academy squads announced - Play AFL

See the full squads here

play.afl

 

[pantskyle]

For what its worth the espn analysis of the Lindsay pick suggests things went down as most of us suspected with the hawthorn trade.

West coast failed to pay attention to gold coast's draft night trades to get more points so we thought Addinsall was sewn up if we traded the second rounder. And given Hawthorn actually wanted Nairn we put a second round pick in the shredder for absolutely no reason.

If it is a simple as that Clarke should lose his job. At this point noone knows who out of these kids will be worth the picks, but torching a second round pick because you're bad at maths is amateur hour stuff.

They are wrong, and Massey has complete control of the room. Not Clarke.

 

[chaddy22]

Now with less picks to match bids.

We have several half back flankers we can trade for second round picks.

 

[Boohemian]

GC did also start with having Ports first, Pies first (from Houston, Lukosius, Richards, Atkins and Noble trades), and traded out Flanders for a first, and their own. So that's four firsts, which they gave two to Melbourne. They also got back two picks in the 20's from Melbourne.

Also traded out Ainsworth, Budarick, Rosas, Fiorini for picks.

Not saying the system works, but they loaded up on points for this draft.

Appreciate what you're saying - reasonable conclusion however there still should be some limit to the number of academy picks that can be taken. It should be two max - even with the draft capital brought in by GC, it's still remarkably inequitable that they were able to match 4x bids.

 

[pantskyle]

The fact that we have bidded for H Dean so early implies the WCE have made an offer for Carlton's pick 9 (but failed)

Not saying we didn't initially but we certainly didn't go on with it. Eagles were determined to bid where they thought players should go.

 

[pantskyle]

Everyone knew they were going to match.

Their late trading actions indicated that apart from the common perceptions of the industry.

Does our professional trading team live in a cave?

The ineptitude just goes on and on.

Wrong, quite a few clubs didn't expect them to match on that bid, not just Eagles.

 

[EagleEgo]

Not saying we didn't initially but we certainly didn't go on with it. Eagles were determined to bid where they thought players should go.

No way Harry Dean goes earlier than CDT. It is almost certain to have a hidden reason.

 

[Underdog]

So I'm pretty happy with the talent we've brought in and will be thrilled if we can add Tylah to that mix.

We'd essentially have, 1 x midfielder (Duursma), 1 x ruck/utility (CDT), 1 x defensive ball distributor (Lindsay) and 1 x dynamic high half forward (Williams). All areas that are deficiencies, and all possess elite traits. Would rather that than investing in B and C graders (which we can do so more economically).

It's a nice spread of talent across the field that should go some way to improving our overall quality.

And yes, I think we drafted Duursma with the expectation that he'll develop into a midfielder, and CDT with the expectation that he'll spend time as a ruck (even if not a #1).

 

[matt_bas]

Agreed, fair enough! Bid where you rate him.

However, worth considering how it effects you in remainder of draft. If 13 could become 11, does that help you?

I still stand by the fact if we rate Dean we bid. Never know, maybe Carlton don't match. I know they did, but have to bid

 

[larrikin]

For what its worth the espn analysis of the Lindsay pick suggests things went down as most of us suspected with the hawthorn trade.

West coast failed to pay attention to gold coast's draft night trades to get more points so we thought Addinsall was sewn up if we traded the second rounder. And given Hawthorn actually wanted Nairn we put a second round pick in the shredder for absolutely no reason.

If it is a simple as that Clarke should lose his job. At this point noone knows who out of these kids will be worth the picks, but torching a second round pick because you're bad at maths is amateur hour stuff.

It was real surface level analysis in that article. He had zero additional info.

 

[uptheWC]

Its a very high cost to spend up for ruckmen. Too much imo

Multiple top 10ish picks on rucks, when we have Archer who seems more than capable already is excessive

Draft another ruckman later in the draft in 2 years time or recruit another Flynn type as backup should do the trick

There’s no guarantee they’re rated that high by their draft years, especially van Rooyen, well and truly possible to get them second round or lower.

 

[bzparkes]

It was real surface level analysis in that article. He had zero additional info.

Probably paraphrased from here.

 

[Yeahnahmate]

Really want NHH now, is there much chance of it happening for those more in the know? He’s better than our NGAs imo and his best is unbelievable.

Amazing skills and smarts, high ceiling but not as consistent or as much of a sure thing as the body of work behind most top picks will show outside of bolter Robey.

 

[bzparkes]

Another aspect of the WA talent well drying up that concerns me is that both us and Freo have typically been heavily dependent on bringing WA players home through free agency, since we rarely get considered by eastern states natives unless they're Jayden Hunt types who are basically needing a lifeline. Look at Freo's recent trades/signings: Jordan Clark, Luke Jackson, Jaeger O'Meara, Shai Bolton, Judd McVee. All WA natives. We haven't been as active but have still brought home Starcevich this year and also have players like Kelly, Yeo and Cripps being acquired after being drafted by eastern clubs.

If the WA talent pool stinks and then in addition to not be able to draft as much local talent, there also won't be as many good players to lure home.

There'll definitely be a dearth for a few years but opening up when a bid can be matched at least finally incentivizes the WA clubs to invest in their NGA programs.

Doesn't help the non-NGA talent pathways though.