2025 Draft Thread

[stfan]

I just love how both son and dad have embraced the opportunity with us as a Club.

 

[Diehard Saint]

I just love how both son and dad have embraced the opportunity with us as a Club.

And there’s a brother next year who is apparently better …
Hopefully too pissed off with WC to nominate as F/S and prefers playing with his brother.

 

[saintmike65]

I got Brayshaw vibes watching him play. Farren Ray was a grest overhead mark for his size. Hope he can be as good ss Farren also from WA or half as good as Brayshaw and we have a beauty

Watching His highlights, he's a great replacement for Wood then Macrae in a couple of years

 

[goodie23]

Now we have a big WA contingent:

• Collard
• Hill
• Henry
• Carrol
• Boxshall
• Banfield
• Ryan

Banfield will feel right at home

Shows our shift in recruiting direction - Toce was South Aussie heavy (Pou, Keeler, NWM, Wilkie, Sharman, plus Hayes and whoever else is no longer on the list). Probably helps retention to have blocks of interstaters at the same time.

 

[gringo2011]

I feel like there's been some weird glitch in the matrix

Collard coming to st kilda but then Liam Ryan and now Banfield. All subi boys. I know banfields been at Claremont (vom) but his old man was subi.

Its bizzare.

Especially Banfield. Theres no way that outcome is happening 10 years ago. Its like something switched. Boxshall another just dont see wce missing him 10 years ago.

I do think banfields dodged a bullet. Hes moving into a more sophisticated and ready system not a club in free fall still.

Super excited to see how banfield goes.

This could he generational shift.

Momentum is a bizarre thing. Once you get the rock rolling down hill it becomes a force but stop it and it makes it nearly impossible to shift again. We really feel like we have at least got the thing moving now and there feels like an inevitable pay-off coming.

Like the early years of GT coaching us. We haven't achieved anything but you can almost smell success coming. Brisbane had it too. They were absolutely horrible for ages and then once things started to go right they seemed to not be able to make a bad move.

 

[akaifu]

And there’s a brother next year who is apparently better …
Hopefully too pissed off with WC to nominate as F/S and prefers playing with his brother.

Yep Harper is a gun

Charlie had 28 and 2 in the Colts GF

Harper had 20 and 1 as a 17 yr old. Averaged 19.6 disposals for the season

 

[Miha]

So how many rookie spots do we have? Do we think we’re likely ti be looking at someone who wasn’t drafted?

 

[akaifu]

So how many rookie spots do we have? Do we think we’re likely ti be looking at someone who wasn’t drafted?

One more list spot I believe - can be rookie or senior, doesn't matter

Wanganeen will train as a potential SSP. I hope we give Rory Wright a chance at training too as a Sandy Dragon who can play half back and address a need for us. Maybe Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier if we just want a pure footballer but we may already have too many similar types

The most likely decision is Wanganeen vs a spot for the MSD imo

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

One more list spot I believe - can be rookie or senior, doesn't matter

Wanganeen will train as a potential SSP. I hope we give Rory Wright a chance at training too as a Sandy Dragon who can play half back and address a need for us. Maybe Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier if we just want a pure footballer but we may already have too many similar types

The most likely decision is Wanganeen vs a spot for the MSD imo

Being a local boy, well Mornington Peninsula.
We could give Noah Hargraves-Higgins a train-on spot, is a 185cm smooth-mover whose disposal is good also.
A few Vic. clubs might be looking at him though.
Hope we invite Blamires & Voss too.
One of those two could play a lock-down role down back.

 

[stfan]

One more list spot I believe - can be rookie or senior, doesn't matter

Wanganeen will train as a potential SSP. I hope we give Rory Wright a chance at training too as a Sandy Dragon who can play half back and address a need for us. Maybe Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier if we just want a pure footballer but we may already have too many similar types

The most likely decision is Wanganeen vs a spot for the MSD imo

Yes Tex seems the most likely.

Especially with his parents moving to Melbourne to be closer to Tex and his sister, which could also be a sign that Gavin wants to support his son as much as possible at his second crack at becoming an AFL Player.

Though if he stinks it up at Pre-Season Training they may switch to another player.

 

[hangdog]

A good decision by Brisbane fc. to let Callum Ah Chee walk to the PSD.
He could of been picked up by anyone, but even that system is flawed because he & Adelaide fc.found away around that, by he & his manager choosing his financial terms.
Not good for the competition.
Brisbane have a strong list that has been aided by the Afl bigwigs.
Not all teams have that advantage, so that they can do this.
Other clubs would have had to trade him out & recieve weaker picks back from Adelaide fc.

Brisbane were absolute flogs with the Ah Chee trade and should've been given a lot more heat for it in the media

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Brisbane were absolute flogs with the Ah Chee trade and should've been given a lot more heat for it in the media

I think the principle was right, dont take unders for a really good player.
Adelaide fc.took advantage of the current rule by offering peanuts.
That needs to be changed.

 

[TheJackal]

Being a local boy, well Mornington Peninsula.
We could give Noah Hargraves-Higgins a train-on spot, is a 185cm smooth-mover whose disposal is good also.
A few Vic. clubs might be looking at him though.
Hope we invite Blamires & Voss too.
One of those two could play a lock-down role down back.

Voss really deserves a train on spot, I know he desperately wants to play for his Dads club. His VFL form off half back warrants a chance.

Hibbins-Hargreaves is probably the perfect train on player, he has the skills and smarts and if its his fitness after illness thats the concern - to see how he improves in a month's worth of professional training - then you'd know for sure what you are getting.

I wonder how long it is until Tex gets on the park at least, he may be a great pickup - but I want to see him out there first and foremost!

 

[TheJackal]

I think the principle was right, dont take unders for a really good player.
Adelaide fc.took advantage of the current rule by offering peanuts.
That needs to be changed.

They got a free pick from the AFL for losing Starcevich (via WC) and have been handed 3 top 5 guns in the last few years. They can afford to lose talent for nothing.

Port should've had the balls to take him in the PSD.

 

[hangdog]

I think the principle was right, dont take unders for a really good player.
Adelaide fc.took advantage of the current rule by offering peanuts.
That needs to be changed.

I don't think Adelaide offered unders, and if they did it would've been slight.

Brisbane have heavily benefitted from FA's and jumping the queue for academy picks but decided to tAkE a StAnD on Ah Chee for what would have amounted to a shuffle of picks.

They just wanted to chest beat at the expense of Ah Chee's wellbeing.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

SSP chances -

VFL Showreel, R7: Tex Wanganeen highlights

Enjoy Tex Wanganeen's standout VFL performance for the Bombers

www.afl.com.au

39K views · 1.1K reactions | Eight goals combined in two games. A hot start for new rookies Nick Martin + Tex Wanganeen 🔥 | Essendon Football Club

Eight goals combined in two games. A hot start for new rookies Nick Martin + Tex Wanganeen 🔥

www.facebook.com

VFL Showreel, R18: Tom Blamires highlights

Enjoy Tom Blamires' standout VFL performance for Frankston

www.afl.com.au

VFL Showreel, R5: Jackson Voss highlights

Enjoy Jackson Voss' standout VFL performance for Frankston

www.afl.com.au

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

I don't think Adelaide offered unders, and if they did it would've been slight.

Brisbane have heavily benefitted from FA's and jumping the queue for academy picks but decided to tAkE a StAnD on Ah Chee for what would have amounted to a shuffle of picks.

They just wanted to chest beat at the expense of Ah Chee's wellbeing.

Dont agree with that
Many clubs would of baulked at Adelaide fc. offer,
but yes you are right
Brisbane fc with their Afl benefits just found it easier to walk away.
Other clubs dont have that benefit.
As I alluded to, this system needs to be fairer also.
In a way, Brisbane's stance could help the rest of the competition teams.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

I think the last rookie spot will come down to how we see our list balance?

Wanganeen a crafty quick small forward (NAS's cousin)
Wright a strong kicking small/medium defender Sandringham Dragons
Hibbins-Hargraves a quick marking medium forward
Ainsworth 198cm AA ruckman, but played mostly as a tall defender with a bit of mongrel
Murray 202cm ruckman who can also play key position
Blamires midfielder Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal winner- versatile can play on all 3 zones ex Zebras.
Voss strong medium defender with bullet kicking (previous FS)

I think Wanganeen is in the box seat given the club already have him down training. He looks a bit laconic at times but that is not uncommon amongst the indigenous kids.

 

[Jay Beast]

Interesting outcome. Feeling mixed feelings towards the picks.

Positive: Happy to get Fincher, and get him cheap. Performed very well at VFL level and has very useful traits. Quick, versatile, wins the footy and has a bit of mongrel. Seems to go for distance rather than precision when kicking on the run but disposal seems fine when he has more time. Good hands in tight as well.

Neutral: Banfield seems to be the style of big, slow inside mid that Lyon has said that the game is moving on from...but he can win the footy, take a grab and kick a goal. Clearly has a tank as well. Here's hoping he's a late developer due to being such a big unit at a young age. Don't mind backing Dalrymple here since this zone of the draft is his specialty. Just a bit surprising that we didn't go for Ludowyke here.

Negative: I just don't understand why we've chosen to use a list spot on Byrnes again. He has already had 6 years on the list and has shown that he isn't good enough. People harp on about him providing depth, but we don't need a small wingman who can't kick as depth. We have so many better options to play that role in front of him. I would have much preferred to take a crack at a slider and I think we screwed up by committing to Byrnes pre-draft.

Out of interest, Banfield didn't complete the 20 metre sprint or agility test at the combine so how do you know he's slow?

 

[ScrappyDo]

Yep Harper is a gun

Charlie had 28 and 2 in the Colts GF

Harper had 20 and 1 as a 17 yr old. Averaged 19.6 disposals for the season

That's 1stRDP material.

 

[stfan]

Neutral: Banfield seems to be the style of big, slow inside mid that Lyon has said that the game is moving on from...but he can win the footy, take a grab and kick a goal. Clearly has a tank as well. Here's hoping he's a late developer due to being such a big unit at a young age. Don't mind backing Dalrymple here since this zone of the draft is his specialty. Just a bit surprising that we didn't go for Ludowyke here.

You have him as a big, slow inside mid, whereas Dalrymple sees him as:

Banfield is the son of 265-game Eagle Drew Banfield and showed excellent running capacity, aerial ability and courage during the 2025 U18s National Championships for Western Australia.

“He's a player we could see play on a wing (or as a) mobile forward, he's 192cm (and) has a huge tank,” senior recruiter Simon Dalrymple said.

“Charlie was someone that we rated really highly - he's a really impressive athlete, the character is really strong, (he showed) great leadership at Scotch College in Perth.

“He runs a 6:08 minute two-kilometre, and his ability to get up and back is a bit similar to Mason Wood, that type of athlete, so we're rapt to have him.”

 

[akaifu]

That's 1stRDP material.

Bring in the brother-brother rule ASAP

Already missed out on minipou

 

[ScrappyDo]

I think the last rookie spot will come down to how we see our list balance?

Wanganeen a crafty quick small forward (NAS's cousin)
Wright a strong kicking small/medium defender Sandringham Dragons
Hibbins-Hargraves a quick marking medium forward
Ainsworth 198cm AA ruckman, but played mostly as a tall defender with a bit of mongrel
Murray 202cm ruckman who can also play key position
Blamires midfielder Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal winner- versatile can play on all 3 zones ex Zebras.
Voss strong medium defender with bullet kicking (previous FS)

I think Wanganeen is in the box seat given the club already have him down training. He looks a bit laconic at times but that is not uncommon amongst the indigenous kids.

There's some reasonable looking players there but none that scream pick me. NHH looks the most likely, you'd just have to lock him in the gym and come back in 6 months.

 

[Nutsngum]

I think Drew has given his son a pretty good perspective of the opportunity he has now and just how difficult even getting drafted is. No doubt he wanted to go to the Eagles and was likely told he was but they decided against him.

I also feel like he now gets to go play with one of the best players in the competition which absolutely must be a factor.

 

[CursingFijian]

I think the last rookie spot will come down to how we see our list balance?

Wanganeen a crafty quick small forward (NAS's cousin)
Wright a strong kicking small/medium defender Sandringham Dragons
Hibbins-Hargraves a quick marking medium forward
Ainsworth 198cm AA ruckman, but played mostly as a tall defender with a bit of mongrel
Murray 202cm ruckman who can also play key position
Blamires midfielder Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal winner- versatile can play on all 3 zones ex Zebras.
Voss strong medium defender with bullet kicking (previous FS)

I think Wanganeen is in the box seat given the club already have him down training. He looks a bit laconic at times but that is not uncommon amongst the indigenous kids.

Voss hands on the loose ball look very good.