Rumour GFC 2025 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt 3

[cats_09]

2025 AFL Draft and Trade Dates:​

Fri Oct 3 - Fri Oct 10: 2025 Free Agency Period
Mon Oct 6 - Wed Oct 15: 2025 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period
Wed Nov 19 - Thu Nov 20: 2025 Telstra AFL Draft

 

[BigCat1]

I think we have a winner of the double melt on Holmes!

Hunter Holmes in 2025:


Max Holmes in 2020:
View attachment 2482132

I hope your judgement is just as good second time around strauchnyy !

I should get into recruiting. Maxy and Scratcher looked like they had real upside and x factor but not sure what Nick Stevens added other than uncontested marks and kicks sideways.

Not bad in hindsight

All based off 2 mins of highlights

 

[SkittleCats]

So has everyone else, because they're still there.

Occam's razor: They just might not actually be that good, and I say that as someone who has been sucked into the 'draft slider' numerous times over the years.

It's almost always a fallacy, particularly in a weak pool like this one.

I get that, but Holmes might easily have been the same if we hadnt picked him, you could probably throw a blanket over all the remaining players at this point and say the same thing about them. But i liked what i saw from Phillipou/Ison/Greaves/Ludowyke (or however you spell it), even Tobyn Murray who has now been picked by Freo (among others still available). Holmes feels like a sentimental pick when we couldve gone for someone else with more upside.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Gee that Wells interview was interesting.

Hunters selection had nothing to do with Max being here.
We were given specific instructions by the coaches as to what types of players they want for the future.

Wells called Hunters mother yesterday and told her we'd take Hunter if he was there at our second pick.

As for Mellor, he wouldn't be surprised if he goes in the draft. But if he doesnt, we will definitely put him into Cat B.

Told you we'd be pretty predictable. There's just too much coverage these days not to be.

The rookie draft though, that might give us a surprise or two.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Gee that Wells interview was interesting.

Hunters selection had nothing to do with Max being here.
We were given specific instructions by the coaches as to what types of players they want for the future.

Wells called Hunters mother yesterday and told her we'd take Hunter if he was there at our second pick.

As for Mellor, he wouldn't be surprised if he goes in the draft. But if he doesnt, we will definitely put him into Cat B.

I dont believe the nothing to do with Max bit (although they are never going to admit that publically). But it is interesting the type of profile of players (power and speed) that they are drafting for.

 

[Vdubs]

Nope just ask the great man JPOD.

Or GAJ.
Harley
Chappy

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Told you we'd be pretty predictable. There's just too much coverage these days not to be.

The rookie draft though, that might give us a surprise or two.

Not really because we only have one pick unless stevens or kmf get poached.

 

[Vdubs]

Told you we'd be pretty predictable. There's just too much coverage these days not to be.

The rookie draft though, that might give us a surprise or two.

Neither of our picks were that predictable, and pretty sure there's another surprise or 2 in the rookies as you said

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I get that, but Holmes might easily have been the same if we hadnt picked him, you could probably throw a blanket over all the remaining players at this point and say the same thing about them. But i liked what i saw from Phillipou/Ison/Greaves/Ludowyke (or however you spell it), even Tobyn Murray who has now been picked by Freo (among others still available). Holmes feels like a sentimental pick when we couldve gone for someone else with more upside.

I see it the complete opposite to be honest. Holmes is all upside, it's the floor that's the worry.

If it clicks in our development, we've got Max 2.0. If it doesn't, we've just taken a taller Osca Riccardi, but I'm okay with that risk in this draft.

Greeves on the other hand is a player where you know exactly what he's going to be, and it's why clubs are off him. A fusion of Mitch Knevitt and George Stevens, with most of the worst traits of both.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Why did we delist then Commit to re drafting as rookies?? Did we have to do it by draft rules as some loophole

Needed to make list spots for the 2 picks plus mullin elevation once we didnt move bews or Wiltshire on.
Kmf is being re rookied because he has a year to run on contract and stevens is to give him one more year to see if he can make it.

 

[Tony Barber]

I dont believe the nothing to do with Max bit (although they are never going to admit that publically). But it is interesting the type of profile of players (power and speed) that they are drafting for.

He said something like, it's nice to draft a brother.
But he was picked based on skillset. He's a bit raw. But our environment will help.

And I think...... he referred to both picks as projects.

 

[Gee Class Loco]

Happy Hunter Holmes Day, everyone!

Well done !!!
You nailed it.
I must admit I was sceptical.
Here’s to a great get by the master drafter.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Neither of our picks were that predictable, and pretty sure there's another surprise or 2 in the rookies as you said

Have you been reading at all? Barker and Holmes have been discussed at length in here, Holmes for nearly 12 months.

If anyone didn't have an inkling of these two ending up as Cats, then there's been next to zero attention being paid.

Fair enough if that's the case too, the draft can be boring as all hell. These two were as predictable as anything though.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Haha full credit for going all the way back. That’s a huge effort. Could’ve also found my response for knevitt, cooper Stephens. Get some wrong and get some right. Hope I’m wrong here.

I was reminiscing by reading that thread last night in the 10 hours before our first pick. It stood out as one of the better melts.

Full credit to committing to the bit. No idea if you'll be right but I hope you're wrong again too!

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I see it the complete opposite to be honest. Holmes is all upside, it's the floor that's the worry.

If it clicks in our development, we've got Max 2.0. If it doesn't, we've just taken a taller Osca Riccardi, but I'm okay with that risk in this draft.

Greeves on the other hand is a player where you know exactly what he's going to be, and it's why clubs are off him. A fusion of Mitch Knevitt and George Stevens, with most of the worst traits of both.

Greeves i never would have taken i agree. But philipou athletically would have fit the profile for what we want (if you ignore the figjam).
Also think Murray will be good (although we dont need small forwards admittedly) and ludowyke and I like mikunda too so there wasn't zero options.

 

[winty]

Part of me was hoping St. Kilda would draft Max King

Multiple players found. Use birthday to differentiate. eg [PLAYERCARD="23/11/1962"]Joe Smith[/PLAYERCARD]

just to see how commentators would differentiate between the two when they're both playing in the same forward line.

 

[SkittleCats]

I see it the complete opposite to be honest. Holmes is all upside, it's the floor that's the worry.

If it clicks in our development, we've got Max 2.0. If it doesn't, we've just taken a taller Osca Riccardi, but I'm okay with that risk in this draft.

Greeves on the other hand is a player where you know exactly what he's going to be, and it's why clubs are off him. A fusion of Mitch Knevitt and George Stevens, with most of the worst traits of both.

The only thing you can say about Hunter is he has the height, endurance, and athleticism which are clearly the defining characteristics we look for in players these days. Those other plays have ability but we back ourselves to develop that in players with an otherwise low floor. That feels like a risk id rather not take so consistently that we end up with a list full of players who only have 1 or 2 strings to their bow beyond their ability to run all day.

We have a lot of tall runners already, and they got spanked a month ago by a team of players with incredible talent. Im not sure our philosophy on talent identification is working out for us when it counts.

 

[Vdubs]

Have you been reading at all? Barker and Holmes have been discussed at length in here, Holmes for nearly 12 months.

If anyone didn't have an inkling of these two ending up as Cats, then there's been next to zero attention being paid.

Fair enough if that's the case too, the draft can be boring as all hell. These two were as predictable as anything though.

Fair enough, and No, had not read our interest in them. Reading posts last night, these names barely came up.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

I dont believe the nothing to do with Max bit (although they are never going to admit that publically). But it is interesting the type of profile of players (power and speed) that they are drafting for.

It’s unusual how it doesn’t always translate to their game at times.

Both draftees top 4 in 20m sprint for the country but zero bits of explosion or burst from stoppages or opponents in their highlight reels.

It’s obviously there, but doesn’t show

 

[Munich]

Holmes x 2 I hear

 

[Pure_Ownage]

He said something like, it's nice to draft a brother.
But he was picked based on skillset. He's a bit raw. But our environment will help.

And I think...... he referred to both picks as projects.

Yeah I know they will just never admit out of respect to both boys whether Max was an influence you wouldn't say it publically whether true or not.

I agree about the projects-barker I dont really expect to play in 2026 because of the knee and Hunter is very raw-he needs a couple of years in the vfl to try and improve his kicking and work on his footy IQ. But he does have a high ceiling yes.

 

[year of the cat]

Shows what I know. Was keen on Rodriguez and would have been comfortable if he was taken last night. He’s still on the board…

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Greeves and nhh still there due to the issues.

 

[Vdubs]

The only thing you can say about Hunter is he has the height, endurance, and athleticism which are clearly the defining characteristics we look for in players these days. Those other plays have ability but we back ourselves to develop that in players with an otherwise low floor. That feels like a risk id rather not take so consistently that we end up with a list full of players who only have 1 or 2 strings to their bow beyond their ability to run all day.

We have a lot of tall runners already, and they got spanked a month ago by a team of players with incredible talent. Im not sure our philosophy on talent identification is working out for us when it counts.

We made 2 recent GF'S and 3 prelims with several players who were either rookies or very late picks- I think we're doing ok- ZGuthrie, Dempsey, Atkins, Stewart, Blicavs, Mannagh, Humphries, Mullin, MOC..

 

[year of the cat]

Shocked that NHH is still available

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Holmes x 2 I hear

I just watched his highlights, he looks a decent solid pick.. but jeez his kicking looks shit