List Mgmt. 2025 AFL Draft - November 19-20. Rookie draft: November 21.

[BillyElliott]

What does Stephen Milne have that Jai doesn’t?

Bad reputation?

 

[WanderingDude]

Well yes, I’ve mostly seen him wearing black and white stripes which is a very sensible outfit for any occasion.

But maybe Jeffy G is around what we should hope for from Saxena if things go well?

Jeff’s G was never on my watch list. I watch Carlton to loose but I don’t pursue their games. I remember the three amigos adding to Carlton’s irrelevance but not much more.

 

[No SPIN]

Can you tell me more about those elite traits? He’s a great accumulator and seems to position himself well, but I don’t know what he does at an elite level really.

If him being bigger made him better at the contest then it might have a bearing on his prospects.

Elite Footy IQ, endurance, Clean, disposal/decision maker.

 

[granniewolf]

I just saw a pic of Tom at Adelaide's training, gee he looked like a 13 year old next to the other players.

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration

 

[riddick78]

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration

No, i thought he looked small and very young.

 

[sr36]

It all depends what you mean by “kicks on”, but with adding height and bulk, clearly Tom’s got the smarts and skills to be a damaging mid as per all the early predictions of the pundits.

I just don't think you recruit him to play stoppage.so you're looking at wing high half forward thus that's where he played in the second half of the year. And he didn't do enough for anyone to draft him.

It doesn't mean he won't make it. He's obviously got some talent, but just hasn't done enough to convince any recruiters yet.

 

[TradeDraft]

 

[JuniorB]

Steele was MSD and Long had a breakout season. Herald-Sun’s top 50 under 22s today had Long at 44. These two delivered unexpectedly but only Allan delivered otherwise. The lack of young player delivery is a concern, our next up have few AFL games. We have correctly pursued immediate success at the cost of youth. The focus shift is visible with the list changes. We also need pace and inside midfield coverage. The inclusion of Hill, HH, Hayes elsewhere may move existing players to the midfield.

I think HH has the potential to play midfield, and I'd love to see Bobby get spells there too.

 

[jmac70]

It all depends what you mean by “kicks on”, but with adding height and bulk, clearly Tom’s got the smarts and skills to be a damaging mid as per all the early predictions of the pundits.

It’s not clear. If it was, he would have been drafted.

 

[VinnieB]

Agree and I’m still baffled why we chose Saxena over Tom. If the former was game ready, and had close to Bobby Hill potential then it would understandable, but that’s not the case IMO.
As others have said, it’s all about Tom’s size, because his other attributes are above average to elite.
So we’ve effectively sacrificed high potential for the time needed to build Tom’s body. Just dumb, particularly as Saxena is equally physically challenged.

Perhaps, given his background, Saxena presents more potential upside. No doubt the son of an AFL player (high profile, a coach, media etc) should have the advantage at this point given the footballing environment he was brought up in. So, does a kid who hasn't had the same benefit have more potential improvement over the next couple of years? Maybe.

Also, once we drafted those midfielders, I doubt we were going to draft another.

I can understand why we drafted Saxena over McGuane. But I would probably have rather had McGuane on the list than a few others currently on the list.

VFL will be fun to watch with these young midfielders we drafted.

 

[jmac70]

Agree and I’m still baffled why we chose Saxena over Tom. If the former was game ready, and had close to Bobby Hill potential then it would understandable, but that’s not the case IMO.
As others have said, it’s all about Tom’s size, because his other attributes are above average to elite.
So we’ve effectively sacrificed high potential for the time needed to build Tom’s body. Just dumb, particularly as Saxena is equally physically challenged.

It’s because Saxena is better.

 

[No SPIN]

It’s because Saxena is better.

I don’t agree but let’s assume for the sake of argument that you’re right.
It’s same debate as McCarthy - there were many better Ruck options, but we decided on long term potential/upside.
Tom has more upside than Saxena, as with McCarthy - the short term is irrelevant.

 

[Horaceg]

I think HH has the potential to play midfield, and I'd love to see Bobby get spells there too.

He is a mid who can play forward, his time will come, he’s the one I have the most hope for.

 

[WanderingDude]

With FS McGuane has enjoyed a profile much higher than other players. This focus appears to have led to expectations being overhyped. Saxena is a bolter to the public. I have read comments that his quick improvement was not a surprise to the club. The combination of physical attributes and position would be important. We have just recruited large midfielders. At the same time small forwards are in demand and size has less impact. The club has assessed Saxena as the better option with more information than me. If there is a future point where McGuane is selected then that would be wonderful, but at this point the path to any AFL list looks hard.

 

[VinnieB]

I don’t agree but let’s assume for the sake of argument that you’re right.
It’s same debate as McCarthy - there were many better Ruck options, but we decided on long term potential/upside.
Tom has more upside than Saxena, as with McCarthy - the short term is irrelevant.

But how do you know?
I can tell you I have zero idea which kids are going to be better than others.

Why do we think we know better than the list managers and recruiters of 18 AFL clubs, who watch and monitor the development, character etc of each kid over several years?

Yes, we can all have opinions, but I find it difficult to believe we know more about what the club needs and who has more upside than the recruiters of the club.

 

[WanderingDude]

I am really liking the list. The impact of Checkers vs Buller will have much more impact to our list than McGuane vs Saxena. Any return from Buller and Saxena would be brilliant. The list has lost players I wanted to work but didn’t; Johnson, Dean, Fin. The herd from 2024-5 all have positive signs. I don’t get deadwood vibes. Go pies.

 

[JuniorB]

I am really liking the list. The impact of Checkers vs Buller will have much more impact to our list than McGuane vs Saxena. Any return from Buller and Saxena would be brilliant. The list has lost players I wanted to work but didn’t; Johnson, Dean, Fin. The herd from 2024-5 all have positive signs. I don’t get deadwood vibes. Go pies.

Small forwards are very much in demand, so, given we drafted 3 mids, Jai would seem to be the correct choice.
From his highlights, he knows where the goals are, and he can learn a lot from Billy, Bobby and Shoota.

 

[sr36]

I am really liking the list. The impact of Checkers vs Buller will have much more impact to our list than McGuane vs Saxena. Any return from Buller and Saxena would be brilliant. The list has lost players I wanted to work but didn’t; Johnson, Dean, Fin. The herd from 2024-5 all have positive signs. I don’t get deadwood vibes. Go pies.

Yep. Getting enough out of McStay, Buller, Membrey, West is the big question mark on next year's list, I think.

 

[WanderingDude]

Small forwards are very much in demand, so, given we drafted 3 mids, Jai would seem to be the correct choice.
From his highlights, he knows where the goals are, and he can learn a lot from Billy, Bobby and Shoota.

And help with the three above rotate through the midfield.

 

[No SPIN]

But how do you know?
I can tell you I have zero idea which kids are going to be better than others.

Why do we think we know better than the list managers and recruiters of 18 AFL clubs, who watch and monitor the development, character etc of each kid over several years?

Yes, we can all have opinions, but I find it difficult to believe we know more about what the club needs and who has more upside than the recruiters of the club.

Where was McGuane in the draft calculations earlier in the year - very much higher than Saxena. Then he lost all form - form is temporary, talent is permanent.
The consensus is that Tom lacks the size to make it in the short term.

 

[sr36]

Where was McGuane in the draft calculations earlier in the year - very much higher than Saxena. Then he lost all form - form is temporary, talent is permanent.
The consensus is that Tom lacks the size to make it in the short term.

He was higher than Sullivan Robey too. You're giving far too much weight to non-recruiter opinion from miles out from the draft.

No one is going to recruit him to play a stoppage role, so he was moved to wing/hhf in the second half of his final year and he didn't show enough in those roles to get picked. Hopefully for him he has an excellent preseason with Adelaide and gets himself a list spot and can develop his game for an AFL role.

 

[gouki88]

Where was McGuane in the draft calculations earlier in the year - very much higher than Saxena. Then he lost all form - form is temporary, talent is permanent.
The consensus is that Tom lacks the size to make it in the short term.

His form didn't drop off, he was shown to lack flexibility

 

[JuniorB]

And help with the three above rotate through the midfield.

Will Hayes will get a go too.

 

[WanderingDude]

Adelaide have one spot available and McGuane is competing against Zac Foot for the spot. Foot 24yo has been delivering at state level with Southport and is ex-Swans academy. McGuane is in a tough battle.

 

[JuniorB]

Adelaide have one spot available and McGuane is competing against Zac Foot for the spot. Foot 24yo has been delivering at state level with Southport and is ex-Swans academy. McGuane is in a tough battle.

Yeah, it's by no means certain he'll get the spot.
It depends on whether Adelaide want a player for immediate impact, or for the long term.
The latter is most likely why Tom didn't get drafted, because he would take a fair while to be ready.