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

[The Chad and I]

Dovatson reminds me of Jack Higgins in style.

 

[Howe Amazing]

Could we go Schubert and Marsh and have our key forward stocks for the future if available of course

 

[ReturningHawk]

This is the type of draft where players have significant strengths and weaknesses. Most prospects in the 6-15 range would go later in most drafts. However, I've been vocal that getting them in good systems will result in some gems because you can focus on their strengths.

Take Sharp for example. Phenomenal contested ball winner with defensive application. But lacks leg speed and has limited positional flexibility. Or Greeves. Great skills for a big player and has significant impact when resting forward. But his contested work isn't that great and he lacks pace.

Farrow has above average traits in most areas without a standout attribute.
Dovaston's defensive application and agility are top notch, but he doesn't have the same tricks as other smalls.
Lindsay is the best kick I've seen in the last five years but not much else.
Marsh moves really well and hits the scoreboard but he's low production and an in-between size.
Taylor is a bolter with serious wheels and athleticism but is primarily uncontested and rather skinny.
Barker was showing signs of being the next Issac Smith but then did his ACL.

Whoever you pick around 10 will have queries on them but also developable traits that can be weapons.

Needs more NHH. I'm sold on him.

 

[SunshineHawkCal]

Would they do that for their pick 13 and a F2? Which player would we be targeting with pick 13? Lindsay, Dovaston or NHH? Do we want to know who gws are likely taking with the pick before?

Yeah or possibly pick 34 would be okay, I'd be looking at NHH, Dovaston & Barker

 

[danielG]

Needs more NHH. I'm sold on him.

Cats are rumoured to be sniffing around so probably be gone by our second.. A move back to either West Coast or Crows picks might be a smart move unless we have our main target available at our first..A WCE future second would be handy for next year.
I like the look of NHH too..

 

[FB19]

It’s total guesswork but I’m expecting our pick 62 gets to about 50 with us on the clock. A high upside player I wanted to see this year but did his ACL was Sam Allen. Elite runner decent skills huge leap looked like a winger through and through. Would be more than happy to take him late given our open spots. Could we have 2 coming off ACLs if we get barker at 22 though?

 

[The Chad and I]

Sam Grlj - looks great. What are the arguments against?

Fast, loves a dash, wins his own ball, can rebound out of D50, courageous with and without the ball, works hard to provide an option to teammates.

He's kind of Isaac Smith with a dash of Karl Amon.

Grlj looks SO bloody good.
He will fight to win the game, and despite being slight at this stage, he can play inside//outside, breaks lines with pace, kicks goals, and plays with rare intensity. He's going to be a star.

He could become our Merrett in 2-3 years.

 

[SunshineHawkCal]

It’s total guesswork but I’m expecting our pick 62 gets to about 50 with us on the clock. A high upside player I wanted to see this year but did his ACL was Sam Allen. Elite runner decent skills huge leap looked like a winger through and through. Would be more than happy to take him late given our open spots. Could we have 2 coming off ACLs if we get barker at 22 though?

It's be nice if pick 62 becomes the Blanck upgrade instead

 

[Yardie]

Grlj looks SO bloody good.
He will fight to win the game, and despite being slight at this stage, he can play inside//outside, breaks lines with pace, kicks goals, and plays with rare intensity. He's going to be a star.

He could become our Merrett in 2-3 years.

I'm sold. Has good awareness of what is happening and making good decisions (understanding just watching highlights). Also, liked when he dished off the ball and then put in a bump to shepherd.

 

[TylerDurden]

Tiges taking Grlj apparently.

 

[fairdinks]

I'm sold. Has good awareness of what is happening and making good decisions (understanding just watching highlights). Also, liked when he dished off the ball and then put in a bump to shepherd.

he is more inside than Izaac Smith but I see some resemblance to the way Izaac moved, albeit with a right foot.

 

[sociable hawk]

It’s total guesswork but I’m expecting our pick 62 gets to about 50 with us on the clock. A high upside player I wanted to see this year but did his ACL was Sam Allen. Elite runner decent skills huge leap looked like a winger through and through. Would be more than happy to take him late given our open spots. Could we have 2 coming off ACLs if we get barker at 22 though?

Looks super impressive. Has the forward smarts to go with it.
I would be happy to take a risk on either he or Barker. Both look to be afl standard.

 

[Rowie6]

Grlj looks SO bloody good.
He will fight to win the game, and despite being slight at this stage, he can play inside//outside, breaks lines with pace, kicks goals, and plays with rare intensity. He's going to be a star.

He could become our Merrett in 2-3 years.

Don’t get your heart set on him.
We have buckley’s of him getting to our pick.

 

[sohsam]

Grlj looks SO bloody good.
He will fight to win the game, and despite being slight at this stage, he can play inside//outside, breaks lines with pace, kicks goals, and plays with rare intensity. He's going to be a star.

He could become our Merrett in 2-3 years.

options galore. but surely not, if you think merrett is similar, I do not know why we were after him so hard. We already have a few outsider runners that are like Grlj/I Smith style. We apparently need another inside midfielder.

 

[sohsam]

Could we go Schubert and Marsh and have our key forward stocks for the future if available of course

If dovaston, schubert and Marsh were all available at our pick, who would you choose? I think most will choose donvaston to help us with midfield rotations, apparently it is about now. I get it though, we have already invested heavily in the midfield through draft, it does not hurt to get a forward. I suspect they will go with a midfielder/fwd type that can impact a game sooner than later.

 

[MasterSamurai]

I have Grjl and Lindsay in my top 6. That's why I've never even bothered to mention them . If they fall to us , most definitely we will grab them. Grjl reminds me of Butters, cotchin mix. Plays the game at a high intensity level. Have seen him play midfield and very impressed with how he takes the ball away from congestion at speed and aggression.. tigers would be stupid to not grab him with their pick.
At our pick, I haven't changed my mind, it's one of NHH, Farrow, Doveston and at 22 I'd go with either Marsh or Greeves.

 

[JZedd]

No to slow midfielder.

 

[Dewnior]

It's be nice if pick 62 becomes the Blanck upgrade instead

Why would we used our 3rd pick to upgrade Blanck when we can use our last pick?

There may be someone we have hidden away or Willo junior that we can take with this pick which will wind into the early 50s or even late 40s depending on how many clubs pass in the 3rd round and/or elevate rookies.

 

[ReturningHawk]

Grlj looks SO bloody good.
He will fight to win the game, and despite being slight at this stage, he can play inside//outside, breaks lines with pace, kicks goals, and plays with rare intensity. He's going to be a star.

He could become our Merrett in 2-3 years.

I understood that he was a firm top 10 prospect before the champs. He was a bit disappointing in those games where the pressure was on, by all reports. He did however perform well at VFL level. Personally I think he’d be a good fit for us, I can see him developing into an extremely powerful midfielder.

The Tigers probably slide back to pick him up, because he’d be a strong chance to still be there around our pick. I can’t imagine him getting picked ahead of Duursma, CDT, Sharp, Cumming, Robey, X.Taylor. Meanwhile a given club might also be inclined to take any of Farrow, Dovaston or Lindsay ahead of him. If Richmond want him, their second pick is possibly up for grabs.

 

[Dewnior]

We'll get absolutely fleeced if we trade up to the Tigers pick.

 

[MasterSamurai]

I understood that he was a firm top 10 prospect before the champs. He was a bit disappointing in those games where the pressure was on, by all reports. He did however perform well at VFL level. Personally I think he’d be a good fit for us, I can see him developing into an extremely powerful midfielder.

The Tigers probably slide back to pick him up, because he’d be a strong chance to still be there around our pick. I can’t imagine him getting picked ahead of Duursma, CDT, Sharp, Cumming, Robey, X.Taylor. Meanwhile a given club might also be inclined to take any of Farrow, Dovaston or Lindsay ahead of him. If Richmond want him, their second pick is possibly up for grabs.

Reckon Cumming a tad overrated here. Not exactly the inside bull people making him out to be.

 

[Sicily]

Does anyone know if Kobe Williams nominated us under father son - I seem to recall that nominations for this closed last Thursday ?

 

[The Chad and I]

Don’t get your heart set on him.
We have buckley’s of him getting to our pick.

Twomey has him at pick 12.
Do any draft-watchers have him inside the top 10?

 

[Liverbird]

Greaves is treacle slow ... not suited to modern midfielder requirements. I am doubtful the Hawks would pick him up at either 10 or 22.

Lindsay Farrow NHH Marsh - nab 2 of those 4, we have done well.

 

[The Chad and I]

It’s total guesswork but I’m expecting our pick 62 gets to about 50 with us on the clock. A high upside player I wanted to see this year but did his ACL was Sam Allen. Elite runner decent skills huge leap looked like a winger through and through. Would be more than happy to take him late given our open spots. Could we have 2 coming off ACLs if we get barker at 22 though?

Allen - not much footage of him, but he has a dip.

Barker - looks great. Another candidate for the Gunston role.