Review Winners and Losers 2025 draft

[wctorp]

Couldn’t tell you the details, can tell you they were very open to it as has been reported. Saints also reportedly showed a keen interest in splitting those very picks. North traded their F1 to get back in at 27.

I’d wager there’d be a fair few clubs willing to have done such a trade if they were guaranteed Allan and M.Reid in exchange for one of Draper/Smith/Langford.

You can’t just look at the pick number, you have to look at the names.

You’re really not guaranteed any player that late in the first round, it’s a huge gamble. If North were that desperate to split pick 2 they would’ve done a deal with Carlton instead of us as they had the better pick on offer.

 

[Old navy]

Helped you by bidding pick 3?

Your welcome then.

And after you guys bid on Cody Walker later this year, it’ll be three top 3 picks in three years lol

You’ll of helped us get more top 3 picks on to our list than you have on your own list and you guys are the ones who are rebuilding

 

[txbyhull]

And after you guys bid on Cody Walker later this year, it’ll be three top 3 picks in three years lol

You’ll of helped us get more top 3 picks on to our list than you have on your own list and you guys are the ones who are rebuilding

Days later I’m still thoroughly confused how you can look at it as ‘giving’ you something.

 

[Old navy]

Because he's a defender?

What does him being a defender have to do with it, Jacob Weitering went at pick one, he also not a genuine number one pick because he’s a defender ?

 

[Old navy]

Days later I’m still thoroughly confused how you can look at it as ‘giving’ you something.

Can we take Dean at pick 3 if you guys don’t bid on him at that pick ? Can you guys use pick 3 after you bid on Dean ?

You guys helped us move up to pick 3, using some picks in the late 20’s, I know you like to look it at it like you screwed us over by bidding on Dean slightly early then expected but it cuts both ways and the fact is when you bid on a player with a certain pick that club moves up to that pick in order to match.

 

[Shueygod]

Can we take Dean at pick 3 if you guys don’t bid on him at that pick ? Can you guys use pick 3 after you bid on Dean ?

You guys helped us move up to pick 3, using some picks in the late 20’s, I know you like to look it at it like you screwed us over by bidding on Dean slightly early then expected but it cuts both ways and the fact is when you bid on a player with a certain pick that club moves up to that pick in order to match.

The pick number on the night, doesn’t make the draftee any better genius, you just have to pay more.

 

[matey]

Hawks D+ like every year

 

[txbyhull]

Can we take Dean at pick 3 if you guys don’t bid on him at that pick ? Can you guys use pick 3 after you bid on Dean ?

You guys helped us move up to pick 3, using some picks in the late 20’s, I know you like to look it at it like you screwed us over by bidding on Dean slightly early then expected but it cuts both ways and the fact is when you bid on a player with a certain pick that club moves up to that pick in order to match.

Yeah but you didn’t get pick 3. You got Harry Dean? You were always going to get Harry Dean. Saying we gave you pick 3 only works if we gave you a pick in the order at 3 to take whoever you wanted. That’s not what happened at all?

I don’t look at it as us screwing you over at all, I don’t agree with bidding on Dean at 3 bc as I’ve said I think he’s not a top 3 player, but evidently the club felt differently.

I think your wording is just a bit snarky is all mate. Commenting on the eagles trying to do one over on you by framing it like you did one over on us. It’s just funny

 

[Old navy]

Yeah but you didn’t get pick 3. You got Harry Dean? You were always going to get Harry Dean. Saying we gave you pick 3 only works if we gave you a pick in the order at 3 to take whoever you wanted. That’s not what happened at all?

I don’t look at it as us screwing you over at all, I don’t agree with bidding on Dean at 3 bc as I’ve said I think he’s not a top 3 player, but evidently the club felt differently.

I think your wording is just a bit snarky is all mate. Commenting on the eagles trying to do one over on you by framing it like you did one over on us. It’s just funny

Im being snarky ? You’re the one saying Deans not a top 3 pick and it’s right that you made us over pay to get him and thats how things should be, all I’ve been saying is when you bid on a player with certain pick if a club match’s the bid they move up to that pick, thats it ! How have I framed it as us screwing you over ? You literally said you think clubs should made to over paid for club tied talent, so your the one who wants to frame things as clubs getting screwed over for no good reason.

 

[KanesBurner]

Because neither club had picks in that range. Besides, Brisbane rated Uwland at 1 and Annable at 2, so we got the kid we wanted.

No go home factor would also be a huge benefit to take a marginally lower rated player (if that’s the case) for the QLD clubs.

 

[Orange crush]

Hawks D+ like every year

The narrative is so weird for some teams

 

[hawkinoz]

The narrative is so weird for some teams

Indeed.

I can report that one of our draftees is already at Page 29 and none of our other draftees have crossed pg 10. He has also been doing very well on the track, so odds on for early debut.

Can't see any other draftee on any other club matching that, plus each draftee seem to have so much potential(especially the youngest) and have varied strengths and displayed them too.

So I declare Hawks as winners of 2025 draft.

 

[Orange crush]

Indeed.

I can report that one of our draftees is already at Page 29 and none of our other draftees have crossed pg 10. He has also been doing very well on the track, so odds on for early debut.

Can't see any other draftee on any other club matching that, plus each draftee seem to have so much potential(especially the youngest) and have varied strengths and displayed them too.

So I declare Hawks as winners of 2025 draft.

Greaves?

 

[Mostyn]

North HAD pick 1. They wanted Sheezle. The whole mega trade doesn’t happen if WC don’t trade pick 2, so no, we were never getting Sheezle. GWS made it clear they were going to select Cadman with pick 1 once the trade went through.

Baker was never going to put himself through the PSD he made that quite clear, he was only going if Richmond could get a fair trade.

You had pick 2 and GWS was incredibly committed to getting pick 1. You had no reason to trade down and make your club worse

Thats completely ridiculous about Baker. How incompetent does a club need to be to overpay for a player while they have the first pick in the PSD!

"I want to come to the WCE, but only if they make their club worse and my ex-club better."

Complete horse shit. I'm sure Baker had no opinion on what pick was used on him, and if Richmond was unreasonable he would have understood.

 

[Mostyn]

Wrong on every level. How would we get Sheezel when North always had the pick ahead?



So who have we missed out on?

Jagga? Hasn't played due to ACL. Could be great, might not be. Still very small.

Langford? Good but slow, doesn't suit Mini's game plan.

Throw a blanket over the rest. Once Lalor and O'Sullivan were out of reach, WCE didn't mind moving on pick 3.

We also got more back than pick 13 but that's neither here nor there.



Yet we still have more top 5 picks than Richmond, Ginbey just finished 2nd in BnF, Hewett had some really good showings last year and Baker just won our BnF.

Hardly 'shrapnel'.

Your side is absolute garbage. You MUST see that.

GWS were desperate for pick 1 - you didn't have to play along. All of those players you missed out on to trade for Baker would be amongst your most promising juniors right now.

It's a textbook example of how NOT to rebuild.

 

[wctorp]

You had pick 2 and GWS was incredibly committed to getting pick 1. You had no reason to trade down and make your club worse

Thats completely ridiculous about Baker. How incompetent does a club need to be to overpay for a player while they have the first pick in the PSD!

"I want to come to the WCE, but only if they make their club worse and my ex-club better."

Complete horse shit. I'm sure Baker had no opinion on what pick was used on him, and if Richmond was unreasonable he would have understood.

Richmond had the first pick in the preseason draft. Please atleast try and get your facts right.

 

[Mostyn]

Then why comment?

Can't refute?



Who did we miss out on by making the trade?



Yes, we saw what Richmond were capable of when losing their key players in '24 and it was a one win better side than WCE in 2025, yet you seem to be happy to make more concessions for them than WCE, despite WCE having a brand new coach.

Interesting.



Sure, that's a fair statement. Unlike a club like North though, we're targeting blokes from other clubs who aren't after a superannuation boost and, unlike Richmond, we've actually attracted players from other clubs to begin with.



So, Starcevich not a good trade, nor Young? I'd say both those blokes massively sure up our backline.

Baker's proven to be a very good get, as has Graham. Even if neither may long term be main pieces of our next premiership tilt, they sure as shit sorted out Harley in one offseason.



So, basically what WCE are doing?

This is some extraordinary copium.

Who did you miss out on by making that trade, in what many felt was a super draft? You missed out on maybe eight different players who would have immediately been in your top three juniors.

Baker and Graham are battlers. Good honest clubmen, which you need during a rebuild but you CAN'T overpay for.

 

[Mostyn]

Richmond had the first pick in the preseason draft. Please atleast try and get your facts right.

Fair - but surely you're not suggesting Richmond or North would have drafted a battler like Baker with a high price on his head.

Freo was your only competition.

 

[wctorp]

Fair - but surely you're not suggesting Richmond or North would have drafted a battler like Baker with a high price on his head.

Freo was your only competition.

And Freo had pick 10 on offer for him.

 

[bzparkes]

Your side is absolute garbage. You MUST see that.

I see that we've replaced over half the side in the past 2 years and now they need time to develop.

GWS were desperate for pick 1 - you didn't have to play along.

None of that matters because WCE were never going to pick either Sheezel or Wardlaw because they were refusing to leave Victoria. Jason McCartney from GWS said as much post-draft.

WCE were after Cadman.

All of those players you missed out on to trade for Baker would be amongst your most promising juniors right now.

Which ones specifically? The only one who set the world on fire last year went after our first pick.

WCE would've kept the pick if either Lalor or FOS were available but once they knew they were gone, they traded out the pick.

Of course, that intention was never there to begin with, if not for Hawthorn jumping the gun and doing the Carlton trade without speaking with WCE about Barrass first.

It's a textbook example of how NOT to rebuild.

What is?

Clearly McQualter has a 'type' of player and we've recruited accordingly since he joined.

Prior to that, the 2022 draft has 4 players who project to be potential best 22 players, or good depth(Ginbey, Hewett, Long, Dewar). Barnett looks a miss and obviously Burgiel was.

2023 obviously has both Reids, as well as Clay Hall. Rawlinson(R) gone and Johnstone needs to reinvent himself to get another contract but has been decent in the WAFL at least.

2024 Had Allan, Shanahan, Gross, Grego, Davis and Champion, all of who have played senior games. 3 of those guys are looking at a round one berth.

2025 of course has Duursma, CDT and Lindsay all vying for round 1.

Then there's the midseason draftees of Maric, McCarthy and Newton, who are all looking at starting round one.

That's 16 players out of the past 4 drafts all pushing for round one and all of the pre 2025 draftees currently on the list have been exposed to AFL after showing strong form in the WAFL despite our shitty setup.

At worst, they project to be handy depth and at best, there's some future superstars in there.

I'd say it's actually been somewhat of a success so far. The main issue is the lack of senior support, which has been addressed the past 2 years by picking up actual decent senior players with plenty of time still left in them as opposed to oldies boosting their super.

 

[bzparkes]

This is some extraordinary copium.

Who did you miss out on by making that trade, in what many felt was a super draft? You missed out on maybe eight different players who would have immediately been in your top three juniors.

Baker and Graham are battlers. Good honest clubmen, which you need during a rebuild but you CAN'T overpay for.

Again, name this amazing talent we missed out on, considering the best player currently from the draft wen the pick directly after our first.

Lalor - Shown some good signs. A bit slow though and his hammies could be a concern(see Wardlaw). Not available anyway.

FOS - My preference. Again, not available at our pick anyway.

Smith - Like the kid. Looks a bit undersized after taking the entire year off to play footy, then did an ACL in preseason. I think he'll be good but people really need to temper their expectations.

Draper - Looks a bit of a slow burn but had a promising junior career. Done little at senior level and has had injury troubles. Still think he'll be a player long term though.

Ashcroft - Not available

Langford - I really like this guy but his pace is a bit of a worry and clearly, Mini wants fast transition players.

Smillie - Perma-injured. Like him though

The rest were a big reach at pick 3.

 

[txbyhull]

You had pick 2 and GWS was incredibly committed to getting pick 1. You had no reason to trade down and make your club worse

Thats completely ridiculous about Baker. How incompetent does a club need to be to overpay for a player while they have the first pick in the PSD!

"I want to come to the WCE, but only if they make their club worse and my ex-club better."

Complete horse shit. I'm sure Baker had no opinion on what pick was used on him, and if Richmond was unreasonable he would have understood.

Very well documented that this was in fact the case lol

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Very well documented that this was in fact the case lol

Maybe so but you could have got significantly more for the trade. The trade down wasn't the bad thing- the value is the issue. Not sure you extracted the value you should have. Maybe the value wasn't there that's the thing we don't know I guess.

 

[txbyhull]

Maybe so but you could have got significantly more for the trade. The trade down wasn't the bad thing- the value is the issue. Not sure you extracted the value you should have. Maybe the value wasn't there that's the thing we don't know I guess.

I don't think the value was as there as some other eagles fans do, if the Hawks never go to Carlton or we pick Carlton's picks over Hawthorn's then we look at the off season very differently. Just didn't shake out the right way but getting Baker, Bo Allan, and Tom Gross has done more for us (and specifically more for the competitiveness of our WAFL side and our middle age bracket production) than any of the other draftees taken between Jagga and Bo would have.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I don't think the value was as there as some other eagles fans do, if the Hawks never go to Carlton or we pick Carlton's picks over Hawthorn's then we look at the off season very differently. Just didn't shake out the right way but getting Baker, Bo Allan, and Tom Gross has done more for us (and specifically more for the competitiveness of our WAFL side and our middle age bracket production) than any of the other draftees taken between Jagga and Bo would have.

Still think if you picked Reid over Allen you probably wouldn't be having the same bagging so to speak, Allen for me and boy I hope he has a fine career, it just screamed a PR pick for the Eagles. I still couldn't believe you didn't pick Carltons selections at the time but you are right there win some lose some there.