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

 

[bzparkes]

I'm stoked with Allen. But sux we might not see him play AFL next year. Very late season is possible I guess.
And I'm the opposite with Banfield vs Evans. I hate we didnt get Banfield and while losing Evans as well sux, I wanted our father and son as he looked a great prospect and father/sons are few and far between for us.

On Allen, he's due back early next year, so we shouldn't have to wait too long to see him.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

I'm stoked with Allen. But sux we might not see him play AFL next year. Very late season is possible I guess.
And I'm the opposite with Banfield vs Evans. I hate we didnt get Banfield and while losing Evans as well sux, I wanted our father and son as he looked a great prospect and father/sons are few and far between for us.

Injured his ACL in May and it's supposedly a 12 month injury, so he could certainly play part of the year.

 

[Proeagle]

On Allen, he's due back early next year, so we shouldn't have to wait too long to see him.

Ok cool. I just remember Clark saying mid year or so he might be back. Then I assume a lot of WAFL first.

And from experience, we add a few months to what the eagles tell us about injuries haha.

 

[bzparkes]

Ok cool. I just remember Clark saying mid year or so he might be back. Then I assume a lot of WAFL first.

I'm sure he'll be a bit of a slow burn. Mitchell Woodcock said he interviewed him after the draft and he said he'd be available to play early in the year.

We'll probably be careful with him though. He(hopefully) has a long career ahead of him.

 

[Proeagle]

So what is our thoughts on the cat B spot on our list being empty atm? I hope we fill it. I was happy to add Walley but def dont want to enter the season with that spot empty.

 

[Keys]

That’s my understanding.

Keys any insight on this? We retain full access to Walley next year, right?

Something like that.

I think - not really across the details because I haven’t really seen any as the announcement was pretty vague and/or I didn’t look too deeply into it

But my basic understanding is that clubs retain the rights to NGA status of a player for 3 years although we might need to nominate him again next year - our rights to nominate remain but the nomination itself might not

I also have no idea where he can or can’t play next year. He’s tied to Subiaco so might want to continue there or, depending on how interested he is to actually get on our AFL list, might look to play with our WAFL side. We’d probably need Subi to clear him for that to happen

I did think we might be able to sign him up over the preseason but after some quick research I’m not sure that’s possible - our window to add him added to the Cat B list seems to have opened and closed in the hours between the main draft finishing and the rookie draft closing

Disclaimer: All of the above might be wrong- I’m not sure on any of it

 

[Farmer Lister]

In my opinion

 

[Bender_]

In hindsight prelisting our NGAs/FS would have been far more appealing than the four additional rookie spots.

Banfield taken as Cat A
Rodriguez Cat A
Robertson Cat A
Champion or Newton delisted
Evans and Williams Cat B
1-Duursma
2-CDT
19-Lindsay
29-Allen
34-Dalton

No idea if we requested this, but far better outcome than the status quo.

Totally - but the AFL would hate the optics that we get complete access to what could've been elite talent. That's only for NSW and Qld teams to exploit.

 

[Jootube]

Preseason proper hasn’t even started yet and the 6 players we’ve just drafted haven’t set foot in the club yet (with one exception as he was a NGA player) and three more players still aren’t officially West Coast players yet

Bit early to be calling the plan a mistake as if it’s some sort of factual reality

You might think it’s a bad plan but it’s only your opinion (which is shared by plenty of others to be fair) but maybe wait a little bit before declaring it a mistake

What we’ve done over the past couple of days is the culmination of weeks/months of work by a large group of people assessing all the available talent, our list needs and how best to improve the squad as a collective

No doubt there were some missteps along the way or things that from the outside are difficult to understand. But looking at what they’ve done overall I think the club has broadly achieved what was publicly announced as their objectives
• Bring in some top end young talent- 3 picks inside the top 20 and 2 more inside the top 40
• Add some depth to the 23-28 year old age profile of our list - 2 trades and 3 SSP signings
• Add our F/S and NGA talent - 1 bid matched but 2 passed on because better ranked players were preferred. Another player not recruited because presumably he wasn’t at the required standard

No argument from me that we should have moved Cripps to the rookie list which would have enabled us to match the Banfield (or Evans) bid. However, we were able to add an equivalent talent in Rodriguez to offset that loss

Part of the plan was to retain contracted youngsters (Johnston and Barnett) and a couple of veterans (Cole and Cripps) in lieu of adding another 18 year old. They’ve also prioritised Schoenberg over an 18 year old draftee

All the moves made look to be part of the objective to simultaneously add young talent and add/retain experienced depth

Maybe see how 2026 plays out before dismissing the plan as a mistake

I think most of us agree that the drafting aspect was a great success (at this stage) and list management was a failure (at this stage).

I would love to be wrong, and Barnett becomes B22, Cripps leads our goalkicking again, and Schoenberg wins the Sandover.

As a few posters have said, the club has run out of credits and should not be given the benefit of the doubt anymore.

9 wins in 4 years means that every decision will be scrutinized, thoroughly.

In a perfect world, would you have Banfield on our list today?

 

[Keys]

In hindsight prelisting our NGAs/FS would have been far more appealing than the four additional rookie spots.

Banfield taken as Cat A
Rodriguez Cat A
Robertson Cat A
Champion or Newton delisted
Evans and Williams Cat B
1-Duursma
2-CDT
19-Lindsay
29-Allen
34-Dalton

No idea if we requested this, but far better outcome than the status quo.

I’m firmly of the belief that the four extra rookie spots were primarily to add players like Robertson, Macrae and Schoenberg to boost our experienced depth

And I think it’s why the AFL gave those spots to us as adding them had no draft impact/consequences like giving us the ability to prelist players would have

We weren’t going to add 9x 18 year olds like you’ve listed there

 

[Mattman93]

There is nothing to comment on. There was an expected bid on Williams earlier as per media reports, this would consume our 4th pick or would see us potentially passing. This would have left us us with at least one pick to match a bid Banfield or Evans.

Honestly the commitment to 3 mature age wasn't clear until late and I didn't really digest that, and then there was always hope.

Fair enough; was a genuine question and not a criticism. I hadn't considered the Williams bid timing factor.

Nonetheless, still seems striking that the damage was really done before the actual draft, and (on the view that Evans and Banfield are genuine quality), that it's a (characteristic) talent ID problem more than a pure list management blunder.

 

[Farmer Lister]

9 wins in 4 years means that every decision will be scrutinized, thoroughly.

As you have zero control over anything the club does, what do you suppose is to be gained by doing this?

 

[Wce17]

People really need to go & listen to Maddocks interview last week & that will give them an idea on why we are adding mature players & not more 18 year olds.

 

[Jootube]

As you have zero control over anything the club does, what do you suppose is to be gained by doing this?

Honestly?
I reconsider paying for the most expensive membership in the AFL.
We all care a lot about our footy club, and want to see success sooner rather than later.

 

[eaglevision]

I’m firmly of the belief that the four extra rookie spots were primarily to add players like Robertson, Macrae and Schoenberg to boost our experienced depth

And I think it’s why the AFL gave those spots to us as adding them had no draft impact/consequences like giving us the ability to prelist players would have

We weren’t going to add 9x 18 year olds like you’ve listed there

I don’t disagree Keys, to be fair that’s probably what we approached the AFL with and I do see the counter argument. A pick for Starcevich and fill out the 22-24yo demographic. In my view this was the wrong approach when asking for assistance.

Statistically one, maybe two of the NGAs/FS make it but would far rather we cast this broad net than gain the McCrae/Schoenberg top ups that have shown their fringe ceiling.

The approach we took probably makes us better sooner, but I’m looking to 2029, not 2026. It is 9x18yos but realistically 3-5 make it.

 

[twce13]

I don’t disagree Keys, to be fair that’s probably what we approached the AFL with and I do see the counter argument. A pick for Starcevich and fill out the 22-24yo demographic. In my view this was the wrong approach Whan asking for assistance.

Statistically one, maybe two of the NGAs/FS make it but would far rather we cast this broad net than gain the McCrae/Schoenberg top ups that have shown their fringe ceiling.

The approach we took probably makes us better sooner, but I’m looking to 2029, not 2026. It is 9x18yos but realistically 3-5 make it.

sure but there is value in helping our young talent with more mature bodies around. Too much youth to fend on thier own rarely ends up good. We got exposed badly in 25' when yeo went down. I cant blame the club for going after 3 mature mids. WAFL being addressed is a big +

 

[eaglevision]

sure but there is value in helping our young talent with more mature bodies around. Too much youth to fend on thier own rarely ends up good. I cant blame the club for going after 3 mature mids. WAFL being addressed is a big +

I agree. There is a good argument for the approach we took and a WAFL starting midfield of 3 AFL players is far better than 3 ammos.

It’s just not the approach I would have taken whilst still getting Adonis Dev in.

 

[Jootube]

I agree. There is a good argument for the approach we took and a WAFL starting midfield of 3 AFL players is far better than 3 ammos.

It’s jus t it the approach I would have taken whilst still getting Adonis Dev in.

There's a fine line to walk, and it's a shame that the cupboard is bare for both our AFL and WAFL teams.
I wish that Swallow or Duncan were open to joining for a 1-year on field coach type role.
It would give us WAFL depth and development skills using our underutilised salary cap (no impact on the soft cap).

 

[pantskyle]

I don’t disagree Keys, to be fair that’s probably what we approached the AFL with and I do see the counter argument. A pick for Starcevich and fill out the 22-24yo demographic. In my view this was the wrong approach Whan asking for assistance.

Statistically one, maybe two of the NGAs/FS make it but would far rather we cast this broad net than gain the McCrae/Schoenberg top ups that have shown their fringe ceiling.

The approach we took probably makes us better sooner, but I’m looking to 2029, not 2026. It is 9x18yos but realistically 3-5 make it.

Being able to prelist our ngas was definitely asked for.

 

[rebel23]

After refreezing overnight and having some time to muse over the events of the past 2 days C minus is about the right assessment of the drafting this year.

Duursma as good as he is is behind Uwland Dean & Annable possibly Patterson. Reality is he's a pick 4 maybe pick 5 in an uncompromised draft. I know blokes don't want to hear it and the truth hurts but it is what it is. Looking at the family history in the AFL thus far he'll be a solid if unspectacular HBFer with potential to go through the midfield.

CDT is a massive reach. Does he ruck? Does he go forward? Brander Mk2? Generally speaking big lads need a looooong time to get going and CDT is as raw as they get. Not expecting any impact until 2027 at best. Unicorns are rare and unicorns who deliver are even rarer.

Lindsay is a good pickup. Solid citizen with a dardy boot. The manner in which he arrived was diabolical at worst and comical at best. Unparallelled foolishness from the clowns crunching the numbers. Anyone thinking it was some carefully organised heist needs a drug test and lie down.

Allen one from left field. Numbers stack up prior to the ACL. Outside mid with strengths in endurance and athleticism ticks the box. Could be a Chesser or could be a Gaff who can jump.

Williams i'm not convinced on. Far too small for AFL footy.

Fred Rodriguez good pickup. Alarming he slid all the way to the rookie draft but happy to have at least one full time mid picked up.

The less said about the tomfoolery with Banfield & Evans the better. Club has got a long way to go to rebuild the relationship with supporters. 2 spoons in 3 years a single win season the '24 trade fiasco and then amatuer behaviour during this draft is wearing many thin. Get it together or get gone.

Absolutely agree with everything... Great post!

 

[dinnaz]

AFL draft has gone the way of the NBA.
2 rounds and done.

Distinct **** up of all the talent pathways in the country and this is probably the weakest era ever plus with 19 teams talent is spread uber thin.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

In hindsight prelisting our NGAs/FS would have been far more appealing than the four additional rookie spots.

Banfield taken as Cat A
Rodriguez Cat A
Robertson Cat A
Champion or Newton delisted
Evans and Williams Cat B
1-Duursma
2-CDT
19-Lindsay
29-Allen
34-Dalton

No idea if we requested this, but far better outcome than the status quo.

Extra rookie spots help our wafl team as opposed to the pre-listing.

Hopefully with the increase in age eligibility for NGA guys like Walley will suit up for the Beagles until they’re no long eligible. Beats ammos players

 

[Keys]

I think most of us agree that the drafting aspect was a great success (at this stage) and list management was a failure (at this stage).

I would love to be wrong, and Barnett becomes B22, Cripps leads our goalkicking again, and Schoenberg wins the Sandover.

As a few posters have said, the club has run out of credits and should not be given the benefit of the doubt anymore.

9 wins in 4 years means that every decision will be scrutinized, thoroughly.

In a perfect world, would you have Banfield on our list today?

I’m happy with Rodriguez as the consolation prize for missing out on Banfield and think he’s a good chance to have the better AFL career of the two. But in a perfect world, I’d have Banfield on the list if for no other reason than the optics would look better having the son of a dual premiership player in our colours instead of a rival’s.

I get the run out of credits view after the last half a decade of poor performances, that has, in part, been due to decisions predating these past 5 years.

But I also think 2024, despite the lack of wins, was the first step towards getting this club back on its feet - even if we took a necessary step backwards to move forward. It was McQualter’s first year in charge and it was spent identifying what we had and what was needed to improve

Hence, the implementation of what I consider to be a carefully and meticulously designed plan on how to get the best results from our playing list. I can see what they’re trying to do but also accept why some won’t think it’s the right path

If you haven’t already, go watch the Jamie Maddocks interview in the media thread. I’d never heard him speak before, had no knowledge of his existence before he was appointed head of development a year ago and if he sat next to me as I watched a training session I wouldn’t have recognised him.

But I was buoyed by what he had to say. Firstly, despite having not played at AFL level, he was very switched on and his background in coaching is extensive, particularly in development.

He discussed the challenges of developing such a young list and the need to educate them on how to prepare and train to be an AFL player and that he felt we were a long way behind were we needed to be when he arrived. The addition of those SSP players feeds into what he talked about was needed for a young group to learn from. He also said he believed there was significant progress made in how the players were preparing towards the back end of the year which I think might partially explain the retention of the likes of Barnett and Johnston

In short, I get the sense from what he said and what we did in the draft that there is a definite plan. Only time will tell if it’s a good one

As for the specific players you mentioned
• Barnett doesn’t necessarily need to become a best 22 player to justify his retention. He does need to become a consistent, and at times, dominant WAFL player who can at least be competitive if/when he gets a senior game
• Cripps I hope isn’t our leading goal kicker. Ideally he won’t even be in our top 5. In a perfect world he’ll be overtaken as a best 22 player as the year progresses (it would actually be a good thing if Owies steps up to replace him but I digress). That wouldn’t mean keeping him on the list was a mistake because his presence in the WAFL would be very useful
• Schoenberg winning the Samdover would be excellent. It’d mean he’d have served his purpose by and large - helping the younger players to play in a competitive side without taking AFL game minutes away from our developing players

Longer response than I intended sorry but I do try to work out the reasons for club decisions that I might not initially agree with or understand. Spent too long thinking about our draft but think I’ve made peace with it and get what the objectives are

 

[flamingEMBERS]

I think most of us agree that the drafting aspect was a great success (at this stage) and list management was a failure (at this stage).

I would love to be wrong, and Barnett becomes B22, Cripps leads our goalkicking again, and Schoenberg wins the Sandover.

As a few posters have said, the club has run out of credits and should not be given the benefit of the doubt anymore.

9 wins in 4 years means that every decision will be scrutinized, thoroughly.

In a perfect world, would you have Banfield on our list today?

If Cripps wins our goal kicking again **** me

 

[bzparkes]

If Cripps wins our goal kicking again **** me

What if he kicks 50+ and we win the flag?