Player Watch #23: Blake Thredgold - Lisfranc injury in '26 preseason - expected to be out for 6mo - Blake says expects to spend time in gym in recovery

[Poopybum22]

How would he rank in previous drafts? 2nd highest key defender drafted this year and am yet to see a knock against him, yet went to pick 26 in what was supposed to be an average draft.

 

[Devil Fish]

We need him to do more of this kinda stuff.

Imagine being a kid who just got drafted and the Alistair Clarkson flys to meet you, your confidence would be through the roof.

Especially when he greets him with:

"How are ya young fella?"
"Can't wait for ya to meet the lads"
"You'll love Young Harry & Big X"
"We'll get some good tucker into ya"
"We'll get ya to meet Jyzer"

 

[TruRoos7]

Love the excitement in his voice.


A bit of a motor mouth

Speaks so well, seems highly motivated to be the best he can be which puts us in good stead.

 

[TruRoos7]

The kid loves ELO, that’s it I’m officially his biggest fan

 

[The Nostradamus]

went to the same school as brad mckenzie and same sanfl club

 

[Passmore]

The more you watch and listen to this kid, plus when you look at what was left, this would have had to have been the easiest draft selection that any team made over the whole 2 nights, surely.

 

[TruRoos7]

went to the same school as brad mckenzie and same sanfl club

You had to put a downer on it by bringing up Bread McK, that’s like throwing Juicy W Smeeeth vibes at a player

 

[justroyal]

Especially when he greets him with:

"How are ya young fella?"
"Can't wait for ya to meet the lads"
"You'll love Young Harry & Big X"
"We'll get some good tucker into ya"
"We'll get ya to meet Jyzer"

You were doing so well until you ruined it

 

[Dingster]

The more you watch and listen to this kid, plus when you look at what was left, this would have had to have been the easiest draft selection that any team made over the whole 2 nights, surely.

Port says hold my beer.

 

[koshari]

The kid loves ELO, that’s it I’m officially his biggest fan

That's what I'd say
I'd tell you everything if you'd pick up that telephone

 

[DuckYeah]

He sounds like a really nice kid. Hopefully he’s not too nice and gets a little white line fever

 

[Mute Point]

Curious if anyone heard inside words / rumours if we received any offers for the first pick on the second night?

 

[SunnyBoner]

Speaks so well, seems highly motivated to be the best he can be which puts us in good stead.

Absolutely agree. He's so articulate. He's also 180 degree opposite to the Dove and that's totally ok too.

 

[discodaddy]

This bloke gives off the same positive vibes as Hardeman.

 

[shintemaster]

This bloke gives off the same positive vibes as Hardeman.

Definitely gives me confidence. That pick off marking ability looks real handy too, if he isn't too slow and can get the run in legs there could very well be a spot for him earlier than you'd assume as a floating tall.

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

Marking looks elite - disposal looks like it needs work.

 

[The Talent Scout]

Port says hold my beer.

They ended up holding EVERYTHING!

 

[Poopybum22]

How does he compare to Dawson and Whitlock in their draft years?

I’m assuming he’d rank between Dawson and Whitlock, as Whitlock was more of a swingman

 

[DuckYeah]

How does he compare to Dawson and Whitlock in their draft years?

I’m assuming he’d rank between Dawson and Whitlock, as Whitlock was more of a swingman

Better. Better than dawson, better than whitlock

 

[desie]

That's what I'd say
I'd tell you everything if you'd pick up that telephone

Hopefully he thinks it’s a terrible thing to lose.

 

[andana]

Australias housing shortage hasn't stopped Blake from moving into the Thredgold end of Arden Street

 

[The Nostradamus]

 

[zoomba23]

Too early to make him captain coach?

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Marking looks elite - disposal looks like it needs work.

Needs to keep it veeeeery simple.

 

[chubbspeterson]

I thought the draft was shit, not a crack at BF posters, many experts have said that. Thredgolds highlights look top ten of any draft.

A tad confused I must admit

It lacked star power or x-factor. The fact two draft bolters in Robey and Pickett went top 10 illustrates that.
Otherwise good role players and I'm sure there will be a few players in R2 that might be better than R1 players.

Hearing some of the recruiters talk about it pre-draft like Hamish Ogivie from Crows (yeah I watched a few other teams draft preview vids like Tigers, Crows, * and Dees to try figure out what they might do in R1), they kinda said once they got to know the players a bit more closely that it wasn't as bad as made out.
But he readily admitted that were no more than 45 players on his draft board and only 60 picks were taken, which was down 11 picks compared to 2024 (71), but not far off 2023 with 64.