Game Day The 2025 Draft Day Thread

[UseR2006]

And a song to sing as we watch,

Hey Matty Clarke by Kevin (Random260) Wilson :

Hey Matty Clarke you campaigner, where the **** is Sharp
I’ve looked at all these other spuds and there’s no one that I like
I wrote you a ****ing letter and posted about it twice
You dopey ****ing Richmond fart, you forgot my ****ing Sharp

If I wanted a stupid ruckman type, I would’ve bloody asked
And this half back flank and temu mid, you can shove right up your arse
You’ve stuffed the bloody order up, it’s enough to make you spew
But it’s not just me who’s snakey, SGIO is dirty too

Next time I come to see ya, I’m going to punch you in the guts
And I’ll sack the other recruiting knobs and kick Toddy in the nuts
You just wait 'til next year when you go back to the draft
And me and me little GIO come stomping through the door
And we'll say, yeah, you wait for it

Hey Pyke and Woosh you smell his breath
And check his bloodshot eyes
And don't listen to him eagles fans 'cause he tells ****ing lies
He's just a ****ing useless campaigner and he's not even very bright
'Cause the stupid ****in' w***er, forgot me ****in' Sharp

Hey Matty Clarke you campaigner, where the **** is Sharp
I’ve looked at all these other spuds and there’s no one that I like
I wrote you a ****ing letter and posted about it twice
You dopey ****ing Richmond fart, you forgot my ****ing Sharp

A Quick Ai rendition: https://suno.com/s/blQP3cSnulhqYb5g
It's funny how it interrupted the lyrics XD

 

[DorothyG]

WA players taken in the draft:
Day 1: 1
Day 2: 5
Day 3: 2

Only 8 WAFL draftees and all but 1 in the later part of the draft. For comparison South Australia, despite a population that's more than a million below ours, had 15 players picked including 6 in the first round and 10 selected before WA's second draftee (Swadling) came off the board. That's pretty grim.

This for mine is the bigger issue.

WA footy funding crisis and the AFL neglect of WA and SA in favour of the northern states.

This needs changing and a considered and collective response from all WA footy. Put the allegiances and tribalism away for the future of WA grassroots footy

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

I know draft rankings are subjective and unreliable but the bids on both Evans and Banfield came higher than expected. There were very few phantom drafts that had them being taken so whilst there was always a chance it would happen, it wasn’t unrealistic to think at least one and maybe both got through

Don’t think anyone was expecting Brisbane to trade up so they could lodge a bid on Evans, particularly with so many other more highly rated players still there at the time

They’ve definitely taken a risk. Something you can do when you’re getting guaranteed access to top 5 talents three years out of four when competing for, and winning, premierships

I also note that Richmond didn’t add their F/S (Kellaway) to their rookie list today

F*** Brisbane, I'm pretty sure we agreed not to bid on Annable as part of the Starcevich deal and then they trade up to bid one of our NGA prospects. Next year just bid on everyone attached to those pricks. No doubt they will have a couple of first round talents that they'll snap up despite winning the flag for a third year in a row.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

He's also ignoring that Worsfold and Pyke were also both premiership teammates and would've been involved somewhat in the decision to pass.

That's not the role of either Woosha or Pyke.

ButI see what you're trying to do.

 

[Wooshaaaa]

For the record I wanted Banfield and Evans. But it is what is it. Move on.

And in doing so, it got me thinking, that the state of WA footy is in the sink. What ever it's going to take to improve the development and u18s competition in WA needs to happen, BC we are lagging big time. 1 WA player in the first round.

But, harping back to those we missed, we need WA footy to so strong again that this happens every year. We need more wa players drafted and even if they go to other teams initially, it then improves the odds that a few of them want to come home.

Finally, happy we got frod. Will be good.

 

[bzparkes]

That's not the role of either Woosha or Pyke.

ButI see what you're trying to do.

And the draft isn't Clarke's role but that doesn't stop people constantly blaming him for everything draft related, does it?

 

[amazingjoshy]

Jako, a Premiership team mate and probably good mate of Banners Snr.

There are underlay biases and emotions at play in this one.

True

Its also a valid opinion until proven otherwise

 

[Farmer Lister]

I think 2026 will be bazzo's last year on the list. With tyler young coming in Brock will be next cab off the rank when needed
Unless brockman can cement a spot in the midfield he's gone too. Wish he'd kick a goal or 2 up forward tho but he's just not much chop there
At least we should find the delistings easier next year

Our tall defensive depth is pretty shallow though apart from Edwards/Young/Brock. You could send Archer back but he hasn't really trained for it

 

[chaddy22]

No mate the whole squad would be another year older. We have only introduced 6 - 18 yr old players to our list this year. Stop exaggerating the youth angle. The other 5 players we’ve brought on board are all older and experienced.
Banfield should be on our list right now bar obvious poor list management choices.

You are wrong everyone knows you are wrong.
Mr Q has posted elsewhere from the draftguru site that we are the 18th youngest team at 23.7 years and the 18th in experience at 55.3 games for 2026.
The only player missing is Fred rodriguez who will make us still the youngest team.
You do know we have delisted/retirees several players in Mcgovern, Sheed, Hunt etc which has dropped our age as well.
I am not making up these numbers they are freely available on draftguru

 

[Balls In]

This for mine is the bigger issue.

WA footy funding crisis and the AFL neglect of WA and SA in favour of the northern states.

This needs changing and a considered and collective response from all WA footy. Put the allegiances and tribalism away for the future of WA grassroots footy

This is where all that football socialism is coming home to roost, diverting massive resources out of our state to prop up others has led to WCE collapsing and all the underlying grass roost program underneath. WCE should NEVER have been allowed to become a failed club, we are directly linked to WA footy.

 

[DorothyG]

For the record I wanted Banfield and Evans. But it is what is it. Move on.

And in doing so, it got me thinking, that the state of WA footy is in the sink. What ever it's going to take to improve the development and u18s competition in WA needs to happen, BC we are lagging big time. 1 WA player in the first round.

But, harping back to those we missed, we need WA footy to so strong again that this happens every year. We need more wa players drafted and even if they go to other teams initially, it then improves the odds that a few of them want to come home.

Finally, happy we got frod. Will be good.

But what to do?

WE have massive challenges which come with trying to service the regions, which historically have punched above there weight in producing talent.

The Colts league isn't on the same planet as that of the Coates league, and qlders have the benifit of a massive population which has until now been untapped AND the full force of the AFL behind it.

Perhaps we do need to take the Colts away from the WAFL. Bin the NGA academies and have it as either a independently run comp and development pathways for all WA kids, funded by the AFL or just commit to a national 18s comp.

Don't know.

 

[chaddy22]

I know draft rankings are subjective and unreliable but the bids on both Evans and Banfield came higher than expected. There were very few phantom drafts that had them being taken so whilst there was always a chance it would happen, it wasn’t unrealistic to think at least one and maybe both got through

Don’t think anyone was expecting Brisbane to trade up so they could lodge a bid on Evans, particularly with so many other more highly rated players still there at the time

They’ve definitely taken a risk. Something you can do when you’re getting guaranteed access to top 5 talents three years out of four when competing for, and winning, premierships

I also note that Richmond didn’t add their F/S (Kellaway) to their rookie list today

Magpies also didn't even rookie their F/S Mcguane either

 

[DorothyG]

This is where all that football socialism is coming home to roost, diverting massive resources out of our state to prop up others has led to WCE collapsing and all the underlying grass roost program underneath. WCE should NEVER have been allowed to become a failed club, we are directly linked to WA footy.

Something like $3mil in lost revenue since '22.

2024 AFL distributions:
$19mil Freo
$17mil WC

$35mil GC
$30mil Bris (Premiers)

WA $36 mil
QLD $65 mil

WC and Freo are the only clubs that pay money back to their local state league to fund development etc. If we got even an extra fraction of what the QLD teams get, it would be a massive boost to the WAFL

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

For the record I wanted Banfield and Evans. But it is what is it. Move on.

And in doing so, it got me thinking, that the state of WA footy is in the sink. What ever it's going to take to improve the development and u18s competition in WA needs to happen, BC we are lagging big time. 1 WA player in the first round.

But, harping back to those we missed, we need WA footy to so strong again that this happens every year. We need more wa players drafted and even if they go to other teams initially, it then improves the odds that a few of them want to come home.

Finally, happy we got frod. Will be good.

I don't know all the goings on but I would think the WAFC needs a rocket up the bum. WCE are a well known cash cow and Freo are successful financially as well. There's no reason that the young footy player development should be as dire as it has seemed to be the last few years.

 

[15yearmember]

‘They made a mistake’: Jako questions West Coast’s decision to pass on Banfield’s son

Jakovich believes the West Coast Eagles dropped the ball by not capitalising on the Father-Son rule to draft Charlie Banfield, son of club champion Drew Banfield. Click PLAY to hear Jako’s opinion. Jako told Perth Today host Simon Beaumont, straight up, he would have picked him. ‘I think they...

www.6pr.com.au

If Jako doesn’t like it then I like it even more

Jako is the Will Schofield of Peter Sumichs as regards our club and its decisions and in all cases its because they are all outsiders cos they have a touch of the w***er about them

 

[flyinghi64]

There is no doubt we should be happy with our draft haul this year, any club would be.
The only one I'm unsure of is obviously Allen coming of an ACL, I guess we had an Allen to replace so he was it.
The only real sour taste is how the Banfield situation played out. We don't get a lot of FS opportunities and to have Premiership players son available and miss out because;
A/ we figured all 17 clubs would pass him by and he would slip through to the RD for an easy pick. When we should, and could, have been more prepared with a back up list spot particularly given he wasn't the only player we had ties to.
and
B/ Saints bidding on him knowing there was nothing we could do when there were plenty of similar players available that were local even. Fair play, they had the right to do it but it still feels a little doggy to me.
Hopefully we see him in Eagles colours at some stage.

All up though we are building are great core of 18-22 year olds to hopefully bond and want to stay together. Really helps getting a few Vic country boys that know each other and have played together who hopefully want to stick together.

Bring on next year and see if we head in the right direction.

 

[15yearmember]

I don't know all the goings on but I would think the WAFC needs a rocket up the bum. WCE are a well known cash cow and Freo are successful financially as well. There's no reason that the young footy player development should be as dire as it has seemed to be the last few years.

The Dividends from WC and Freo have fallen in recent years in no small part (from West Coasts perspective) because of the cost (read losses) from the massive amount of cash (relative to revenues earned) injected into AFLW.

That’s a legit issue. We are spending less on local football development because we have less money to spend. Unlike in Vic and the Northern States where the AFL directly funds, in whole or part, junior development.

 

[Seadog]

Stoicism is a philosophy for losers.

Diogenes, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Cato seemed to go alright.

 

[Mattman93]

lol. If the club thought Banfield and Evans were going to slide to the rookie draft then they probably need to spend less time on BigFooty.

As I said earlier, why the melting last night then, and not days prior when we failed to open enough list spots?

 

[ziad]

For the record I wanted Banfield and Evans. But it is what is it. Move on.

And in doing so, it got me thinking, that the state of WA footy is in the sink. What ever it's going to take to improve the development and u18s competition in WA needs to happen, BC we are lagging big time. 1 WA player in the first round.

But, harping back to those we missed, we need WA footy to so strong again that this happens every year. We need more wa players drafted and even if they go to other teams initially, it then improves the odds that a few of them want to come home.

Finally, happy we got frod. Will be good.

Spot on RE WA footy, it's the big issue, not who we didnt take in the 2nd and 3rd round. We are done trying to build with picks 40-60

 

[mattyc75]

Our tall defensive depth is pretty shallow though apart from Edwards/Young/Brock. You could send Archer back but he hasn't really trained for it

I think we'll take a punt on shanahan ( correct spelling?) from our NGA. Altho after this draft who knows
Also hoping if we've got a list spot left we trial Ainsworth from SA
Bazzo isn't big enough to take the big boys and not fast enough to take smalls. Plus our backline is our strongest 3rd without him being even close to being in the side

 

[FKASC]

Diogenes already our best player

 

[Bacchus]

Good on the Eagles for taking this kid... It makes sense to take an actual highly rated mid!

Maybe the external pressure actually got them to do the obvious thing

Good point about the external pressure forcing their hand.

I don’t think not recruiting Banfield was particularly popular and will be remembered for a long time, even longer if he becomes a serious player.

 

[TerryFilk]

Gee

With a write up like that how did he go 1st round?

I'm not shitting on Banfield here, or sucking off the list management team either.

But post like that, and the ones claiming massive losses etc, there's alot of hyperbole and mayo been thrown around.

Pick 40 is what it is. A swing in the dark. They may turn out to be a diamond and future HoF, but there is a bigger, more likely chance of them only ever being a role player or bust.

I'm not losing any sleep over the decision

It’s comments like these that constantly defend the clubs stupid decisions that are a big reason why they don’t give two shits about fans.

We are the worst team in AFL history, we had the opportunity to add 2 really solid prospects for peanuts and chose to run it back with several absolute potatos instead.

We are shocking on the margins, it’s little things like this that add up, like how we also included a F3 in the Ryan deal, then burnt the F2 to move up 1 spot meaning we quite literally traded Ryan and a F3 to move up 1 spot, but all is good!

 

[Jootube]

That's correct. We wouldn't have had a rookie spot.

So it'd have been Banfield vs Rodriguez. In fact, that's what it currently is.

You need to stop with the false equivalencies.

We've rated Macrae, Dev, Schoenberg, Cripps, Barnett, Cole all above getting BOTH of Banfield and Fred.

If we rookied Cripps and didn't commit to Schoenberg we would literally have both of them on our list this afternoon.

We match the bid for Banfield and pick Fred at 1 in the Rookie draft.

Please stop sharing "facts" that are objectively wrong.

 

[stylish]

Wow they really fu**ed up the late part of the draft, they are still not admitting that it was a really bad move not to rookie cripps. Nobody in there right mind would have taken him. pick 1 Fred Rodriguez pick 2 Cripps it was so easy. I listened to them trying to explain why they didn't rookie Cripps, you could tell he was weaving and ducking and had no real answer. Anyway it was still a

But was it. Having only the 1 spot obviously meant they didn't really rate either of the 3 boys Evans, Banfield and Rodriguez.
As someone said above - leaving Cripps on the main list means that when he retires they have a main list position not a rookie position.

As to his commentary - would you prefer him to say "actually we didn't rate any of the boys deserving enough of a main list spot" cause I guarantee you that's what he was thinking.