Player Watch 2025 AFL Draft Thread (Welcome to our new Central Districts overlords!)

[sven_inc]

I think it’s interesting this year that the perspective of trading a first round pick come draft night appears to be different. On draft night, most teams wanting to trade up typically overpay for the privilege of getting in for the player they want - kind of like we did for Weddle. Yet a lot of the talk of our strategy is to trade 10 and 22 for a F1 (ie Kangas), whereas the reality has often been a team like the Kangas using their F1 and change to get something like our pick 22.

I know the draft is more appealing next year, but I wouldn’t be surprised that come draft night teams will still be keen to come up and get a player they want. I just hope it’s us they target and less so the other way round meaning we get a little more rather than give a little more.

Interesting dynamic this year.

 

[fairdinks]

Lots of talk about us looking to take the best mid we can at our pick.

Just maybe we roll with the mid options we already have - Duke, Day, Nash, butler, Frenchie, HH, Beast, Moore, Watson, Cmac etc, rather than recruit a mid that is not ready or elite.

For that reason, I am sure we just take the best available (not position specific) at pick 10 if indeed we keep it.

There is Marsh et al, but who do you like in this scenario.

 

[MazHawk]

I think there's a strong possibility that we might take Marsh at 10 because we don't think he'll last till 22 and he's someone we've looked at closely.
We've also put a lot of work into Farrow so who knows how the dice will role if both are there at 10.

 

[TazHawk15]

I think there's a strong possibility that we might take Marsh at 10 because we don't think he'll last till 22 and he's someone we've looked at closely.
We've also put a lot of work into Farrow so who knows how the dice will role if both are there at 10.

Marsh and Farrow.

Sounds like a law firm.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

Can we stop with the “Greeves is slow”, the knock is transitory running defensively

He isn’t the quickest, but he ain’t some gumby

 

[hfc70]

Marsh and Farrow.

Sounds like a law firm.

MarshFarrow

Sounds like an Asian sweet , you cook over the campfire

 

[FB19]

Plus the Hawks Recruitment team have never seen a half back flanker they didn't like!

This guy feels very much like a "Hawks type selection".

Sam places a big premium on kicking, probably goes back to his time in the 3 peat squad where pretty much every player on the team was a good to very good to elite kick of the footy. They used to move the ball from one end to the other so quickly by foot.

From what I have seen Greaves is a good kick as well for a big lad so maybe we go Lindsay / Greeves with our first two picks?

I wouldn't be against that, would be a nice mix of inside / out with some forward marking thrown in.

That’s my Team America endless vomit scenario…thanks Simon Crawshay for that! Notice I avoided adding the GIF as I’m a nice guy.

 

[lethalselbow]

Another good mock draft. These guys are always good.

 

[Slaatybaadfaast]

In fairness to recruiters, he's still no certainty to go top 3 in a redraft of 2021. Absolutely incredible draft.

Yeah, good draft. Anyone can see the order. The point im trying to make is there is often, if not always, dead set stars anywhere in the top 20...not just up the pointy end

 

[Soaring Hawk]

He's the best kick in it.
It's unanimous.
He's an absolute technician. Can also win his own ball and looks a pure footballer.

I'd say he's a lock to make it.

Not worried that his ceiling could be suckling? a prestigious kick that could pin point players like few others, but at pick 10? Just curious.

 

[Soaring Hawk]

I have not liked Farrow much, in 1 game Metro kicked 10 points and he had 16 touches at half time, 10 from kickins, his kicking isnt as good as people have claimed, looks like more a maybe pick up than first rounder i wonder which nuffie got the media stuck on him?, Ludowyke has issues kicking at goal which has turned me off him so 2 players i wouldn't draft imo.

Interesting insight. Ludowyke has such a fluent kick for goal, Chol-like, so the goal kicking issue surprises me. Takes a mark at peak height. Seems to have been out for a bit with a PCL, but reckon he could be exciting and would add KPF depth.

 

[MazHawk]

Another good mock draft. These guys are always good.

If that mock was close to being right and Marsh was available at our second, there's no way we'd take a chance messing around with Ess and Swans bids, we'd take Mitch straight away.
The mock isn't even close though as there's also no way we'd let Farrow slip and bid on NHH.

 

[FB19]

If that mock was close to being right and Marsh was available at our second, there's no way we'd take a chance messing around with Ess and Swans bids, we'd take Mitch straight away.
The mock isn't even close though as there's also no way we'd let Farrow slip and bid on NHH.

I think it’s pretty accurate certainly top 10 but in an even draft there will always be contentious calls and different opinions.
I’m not sold on farrow and if it played out that way I would prefer Oskar Taylor but I also like NHH. Agree on marsh if we came away with Taylor and marsh I would be attempting ill advised handstands!

 

[lethalselbow]

If that mock was close to being right and Marsh was available at our second, there's no way we'd take a chance messing around with Ess and Swans bids, we'd take Mitch straight away.
The mock isn't even close though as there's also no way we'd let Farrow slip and bid on NHH.

They've had a couple of cracks at it. If an early pick changes, it will throw a spanner in the works and things will change.

Think the Essendon and Swan Boys were more for fun. Isn't Sydney the ones to usually do it to others?

Sen lots of mock drafts with Marsh slipping to our second. We'll know soon enough

 

[daniel23]

I think there's a strong possibility that we might take Marsh at 10 because we don't think he'll last till 22 and he's someone we've looked at closely.
We've also put a lot of work into Farrow so who knows how the dice will role if both are there at 10.

I can see us taking him at 10 too , seems to have elite traits. And wait and see if greeves is available at 22. If not that pick almost certainly gets flipped for a future. I don't think we take a mid at 10 for the sake of it. And like others have said farrow, cumming, robey are ranked as high as they are because they might be able to transition into mids with no guarantee. Probably another sign how thin the draft is.

 

[lethalselbow09]

Melbourne still have jefferson, van rooyen, turner on their list plus a few other blokes who can play key forward. Compare that to their small forward stocks, I know you take best available early generally but I can’t see them taking Schubert as a few have suggested. I would like them too though as it’s better for our options

 

[Dewwwww]

I also wouldn’t be selecting a Mid with our first pick.

Give the keys to Ward / MacKenzie / Butler / Finn for the next 12months and see how they go.

Then target a Mid during next years trade / Free agency period.

Target a Gunston replacement (Marsh?)

Then either a small forward with our second pick to allow Moore / Wiz more midfield minutes or a young talented defender as an Impey / Amon replacement

 

[lethalselbow]

I also wouldn’t be selecting a Mid with our first pick.

Give the keys to Ward / MacKenzie / Butler / Finn for the next 12months and see how they go.

Then target a Mid during next years trade / Free agency period.

Target a Gunston replacement (Marsh?)

Then either a small forward with our second pick to allow Moore / Wiz more midfield minutes or a young talented defender as an Impey / Amon replacement

Only problem with that, is midfielders come at an absolute premium. Everyone wants them. Think we need to select one to grow ourselves.

 

[danielG]

Only problem with that, is midfielders come at an absolute premium. Everyone wants them. Think we need to select one to grow ourselves.

Hibbons Hargreaves has a lot of Harry Shezel traits… Temu Harry maybe.. Not the production but the class and nice goal sense which is what Shezel was doing in his draft year.. It’s a reach but wondering if he’s worth spending our first pick on.. A lot of the very best players come in with lot of talent but the development is what takes them to the elite level once they’re in a professional environment..

 

[lethalselbow09]

Agree on NHH, has all the talent and is versatile enough and offers a point of difference in the midfield. Once he puts on a put of size I’m sure he will be fine defensively as well. Assuming cumming and sharp are off the board id be happy to reach for him slightly

 

[lethalselbow09]

we need guys that can rotate through the midfield, not third tall types like Marsh

 

[killerspud]

Had a dream last night we drafted Pickett. His first possession was evading 3 tacklers on the wing and then he went down with a knee.

I screamed in my sleep

Your nightmare was Carltank fans reality this year with Jagga Smith

 

[sohsam]

we need guys that can rotate through the midfield, not third tall types like Marsh

yes, people forget that we are apparently supposed to be in premiership window and offered up 3 first rounders for a class midfielder. you are right you can get a midfielder/forward and that is where all of sharp/farrow/cumming/barker/phil/dovaston (only if can help with midfield rotations). I thought there have been critcism of marsh, does not have the tank or consistency that gunston has. Fox has Nairn going at 37, bit of stretch for pick 22, fox also has schubert, best key forward in the draft going at 12, tempting but as you said cannot be that good if going so late

 

[MasterSamurai]

We have three first rounders in our midfield currently. That's a lot of draft capital used for high quality in one area of the ground. Day 13, Ward 7 Mackenzie 7. Plus add Butler at pick 22 as well . Have to trust them to take that next step and obviously have Day healthy.
This list doesn't even include Newcombe!!!
NHH, Farrow, Marsh, Doveston and Greeves are good options if we can Jag two of them with our picks.
Especially if Lindsay, Grjl and Cumming are off the board.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Only problem with that, is midfielders come at an absolute premium. Everyone wants them. Think we need to select one to grow ourselves.

Could we just throw the mother of offers at Walsh. One that carlton can't match?