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

[Atch]

 

[To the Hawk]

All you need to do is look at Mitch’s game plan he values speed, endurance, and players who can hit targets. Grjl has all of these attributes. If he’s available at our pick, I’m confident we will take him.

Pretty sure his kicking is what needs work. He wouldn't make it to our pick if not.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

Pretty sure his kicking is what needs work. He wouldn't make it to our pick if not.

Go watch some of his games he often bites off a lot and usually pulls it off, if you don't have time to watch full games even his highlight package is enough.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Not sure if I'm doing the classic BigFooty over-analysis, but it looks to me like Grlj really has lightning hands. He has almost no backlift when dishing off handballs at warp speed. No doubt a talent he's developed when looking for the one-two's he loves.

Pace, dare, decent skills by foot on the run, lightning handballs and aggression. He may not fit the contested midfield role needed to support Newcombe, but he adds something we are lacking. Plus he could play on a wing, or as a running HBF. Kind of reminds me of McKercher and FOS in that regard.

 

[DearJai]

Grlj's highlights remind me a lot of Finn O'Sullivan from last year. They have a very similar juke move to get out of traffic and open up space. Doesn't quite have the composure and foots kills of Finn but still looks like a great prospect to nab if he's available with our pick.

We wanted Max Holmes during his draft year, and it's been pointed out a bit that Webber's profile is somewhat similar. Have to think they're calling his name if available at our pick and the players expected to be gone prior, are.

 

[DearJai]

Who do you pick?

For me personally, id take Farrow. Is a leftie, has the foot skills for AFL level, plays off the half back and will learn how to read the game and defend. I see him as a will day like player, 3cm shorter, will move into the midfield as his body matures and provides that flexibility that Mitchell seems to love.

Grjl is just a pure midfielder, who seems to never run out of energy on the field, escapes pressure with class and could be one of, if not the best pure midfielder in the draft. Plus don't forget he brings that special vibe about him like nick watson.

But if I'm being honest, if both were on the board at the same time, we can't lose, unless we pick neither. Or we trade up for both!

I got the same Will Day vibe from Farrow, from really limited exposure to him. Don't think either would be problem, maybe we can get pick 9 back from Carlton....

 

[To the Hawk]

Go watch some of his games he often bites off a lot and usually pulls it off, if you don't have time to watch full games even his highlight package is enough.

Fair enough. I watched the champs and I didn't really see that. But he hardly kicked it in these games. Almost 70% handball ratio.

Think the champs might be why he'll be available at our pick and not gone much earlier.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

The kid is overrated for mine Scum fans talk him up with X factor. I don’t see it ….. reckon he’s more worried about his permed hair than putting his head over the ball which is why Dovaston could be in their sites

One of the reasons Watson is so good is as well as having all the tricks he's as hard as a cats forehead (he gets absolutely smashed and bounces straight up).

I agree that's why they might be looking at Dovaston, they need a hard edge that Kako (at this stage at least) doesn't really possess.

 

[unitedhawk2]

Young Padiwan, you have much to learn… nothing will outdo the absolute melts when we took that string-bean trouble maker from WA instead of NT’s best ever talent…

“**** you, buckenara!!” were the famous words.

We took Buddy at 5, after the Tigers had taken Tambling at 4.

Not doubting the "famous words" but perhaps they came after we took Roughy at 2.

 

[danielG]

I got the same Will Day vibe from Farrow, from really limited exposure to him. Don't think either would be problem, maybe we can get pick 9 back from Carlton....

Definitely has star qualities.. His game needs a little tightening up but the thing I like is his explosiveness out of congestion… He’s got tenacity and has the lateral movement in close that reminds me a lot of Butters… if he can build on his contested game he could be anything..
I am preparing myself for the ultimate disappointment of him being available and selecting someone else…

 

[eldorado]

We took Buddy at 5, after the Tigers had taken Tambling at 4.

Not doubting the "famous words" but perhaps they came after we took Roughy at 2.

Yep,


Back in the day of Hawkheadquarters...

"Wild Bill" was the poster...


If you're out there "Wild Bill" (possibly with a new name) give us a yell! You're a timeless meme!

 

[Bugs1977]

I hope Cal is not doing this to get all our hoes up also.
As of a few days ago I thought we were no show of getting The Sizzler.
But he is the exact piece from this draft that we need.

Say whaaaat?

 

[Wungong Warrior]

You have to consider that if we take (for example) a mid like Grlj for our first, would we also take another mid with our second? I'm thinking probably not and this is where someone like Hetherton starts making sense.

Not sure. We were one midfielder short this season gone. Worps gone leaves 2 short. Depends on progression of McKenzie etc. but drafting 2 mids makes sense to me but hoping we can pick up a project tall as our third pick. Hopefully someone is still available

 

[CobberRodgers]

Twomey has good links with Essendon and his draft suggests Grlj isn't on their radar.

Richmond are big fans but Robey's sudden ascension put a spanner in the works.

It means that Melbourne are the most realistic chance of sniping him, but they are being very closely liked to Farrow, Nairn and Dovaston.

Feels like a real chance he gets through unless the Dees throw a curveball.

This.

We take whichever one of Grlj or Dovaston the Dees don’t take me thinks.

 

[VandoHawk]

This.

We take whichever one of Grlj or Dovaston the Dees don’t take me thinks.

In the event both are taken, we can just take Farrow. Or trade down slightly to pick up Taylor while upgrading picks.

We're in a really good position regardless.

 

[daniel23]

Has oskar taylor been invited to the draft?

 

[CobberRodgers]

Not sure. We were one midfielder short this season gone. Worps gone leaves 2 short. Depends on progression of McKenzie etc. but drafting 2 mids makes sense to me but hoping we can pick up a project tall as our third pick. Hopefully someone is still available

Worps was a great body to have. But the midfield mix just didn’t work with him and Nash both in it. You can’t have multiple ball butchers in the midfield if you’re going to be a premiership side. No doubt we will miss his hardness though.

In hindsight, just letting Ward play worked wonders. Gave him some time to sort it out for himself.

I think we need to do the same with Cam. There’d be a heap of work being done outside of game day, now he just has to get some continuity and play and sort it out himself.

 

[MazHawk]

Any chance we could trade into another pick in the teens to take this 'surprise'?

That's what we're trying to do with 22 and F1. We're talking to some clubs but who knows if they'll bite.

 

[Rowie6]

Say whaaaat?

Sorry Fat fingers.

 

[hawkinoz]

That's what we're trying to do with 22 and F1. We're talking to some clubs but who knows if they'll bite.

Would be hilarious if North are able to trade 25 and F2 for 11 while we struggle to do a trade for 22+F1

clearly North's F2 is valued higher than our F1 by Blues and same.. More points for 25 vs our 22 /s

PS : in seriousness why can't Blues do trade for 22+our f2, more so given we gave up our 9 for 10 for extra points for them.

 

[VandoHawk]

That's what we're trying to do with 22 and F1. We're talking to some clubs but who knows if they'll bite.

GWS at 12 and Dogs at 14 could bite. I don't think WCE shift 13 because they had academy prospects and would like the earlier pick.

I wonder who the player is. Gut feel is Taylor.

 

[Rowie6]

Worps was a great body to have. But the midfield mix just didn’t work with him and Nash both in it. You can’t have multiple ball butchers in the midfield if you’re going to be a premiership side. No doubt we will miss his hardness though.

In hindsight, just letting Ward play worked wonders. Gave him some time to sort it out for himself.

I think we need to do the same with Cam. There’d be a heap of work being done outside of game day, now he just has to get some continuity and play and sort it out himself.

Similar to when we lost J.O’Meara and Tom Mitchell the younger midfielders took there chance and grabbed the Bull by the horns.

I feel that Ward and McKenzie will hopefully have great pre-seasons and do the same.

With Buttsy, McDonald, Moore, McGuinness and Hustwaite as back up.

 

[To the Hawk]

That's what we're trying to do with 22 and F1. We're talking to some clubs but who knows if they'll bite.

If we are putting our F1, 22, 59, 66 up that surely gets blues 9.

More than what bombers are offering. Or North.

Would be a big call moving an F1 as we hunt more talent next trade period.

 

[Noel Gallagher]

My ideal scenario is Grilj,Oscar Taylor and Greaves. Massive upside in all three and a good mix of speed/spread and good disposable across the board

 

[ahhhhhh]

If we are putting our F1, 22, 59, 66 up that surely gets blues 9.

Would be a big call moving an F1 as we hunt more talent next trade period.

Not sure if it's just the media or if the clubs have bought into it, but all the reporting seems to be saying how weak this draft is and how much stronger next year will be. Buy low, sell high...