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

[TheFourPillars]

One has to be very careful making judgements of a player of the highlights

 

[sohsam]

Not to be throwing shade here, but please do your own research on Farrow IF you're only taking Davo's critique on board.

We all see things differently.

I'm not saying he's a guaranteed star, but his AFL attributes are plain as day to see. Sometimes all players need are the fundamental tools and the right work ethic.

It is funny how we go off and on players. I initially thought people saw more upside to Farrow and what we needed more than any other player for our first pick, there you go. If people can see him as the midfield bull that we want, then makes sense, but others have said we will not know for few years, it is not going to address our current needs. I think he has more bulk than scrimshaw. It all depends how much time Farrow has been given in the middle to shine.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

It seems that we will have some interesting options that will be available to us - Dovaston, Farrow, Cumming and Lindsay.

Grlj sounds ideal IMO, and whilst I'm apprehensive over contested midfielders that (to me) don't appear to be versatile or very quick, I think Sharp's strengths absolutely address a need for us. But I imagine both will be gone before our pick.

They all offer us something unique, though maybe only Sharp and Dovaston would be ready to impact games early into 2026.

 

[burner1]

One has to be very careful making judgements of a player of the highlights

Or champs games. Most of these guys have been tracked for years and have often played different roles at younger / lower levels that is taken into account.

 

[sohsam]

It seems that we will have some interesting options that will be available to us - Dovaston, Farrow, Cumming and Lindsay.

Grlj sounds ideal IMO, and whilst I'm apprehensive over contested midfielders that (to me) don't appear to be versatile or very quick, I think Sharp's strengths absolutely address a need for us. But I imagine both will be gone before our pick.

They all offer us something unique, though maybe only Sharp and Dovaston would be ready to impact games early into 2026.

I wonder whether with our original pick 9 we could have had Sharp, time will tell. I also wonder whether Dovaston is a bit of a stretch, if so, that is where perhaps a trade with west coast (if they want Farrow) to drop back 3 spots to get Dovaston and maybe they will throw in pick 34, if we wanted another player. Having said that in the draft that we took Day, he was expected to go much later, so if it is Dovaston or no one else, I am sure they will keep pick 10 and pick him up, if they are going all in on premiership now.

 

[TylerDurden]

I wonder whether with our original pick 9 we could have had Sharp, time will tell. I also wonder whether Dovaston is a bit of a stretch, if so, that is where perhaps a trade with west coast (if they want Farrow) to drop back 3 spots to get Dovaston and maybe they will throw in pick 34, if we wanted another player. Having said that in the draft that we took Day, he was expected to go much later, so if it is Dovaston or no one else, I am sure they will keep pick 10 and pick him up, if they are going all in on premiership now.

Dees like Dovaston.

 

[TheFourPillars]

I wonder whether with our original pick 9 we could have had Sharp, time will tell. I also wonder whether Dovaston is a bit of a stretch, if so, that is where perhaps a trade with west coast (if they want Farrow) to drop back 3 spots to get Dovaston and maybe they will throw in pick 34, if we wanted another player. Having said that in the draft that we took Day, he was expected to go much later, so if it is Dovaston or no one else, I am sure they will keep pick 10 and pick him up, if they are going all in on premiership now.

Once again mate the draft is not about the now. More about the future. We are so called Future proofing

 

[Yardie]

If all things are equal.....take the fat one......

 

[Brishawk]

One has to be very careful making judgements of a player of the highlights

I still dont understand how this guy didnt make it and isnt even playing vfl…



Sometimes this dont even show up in watching full games, let alone highlights. Recruitment via the draft is a tough gig.

 

[TheFourPillars]

I still dont understand how this guy didnt make it and isnt even playing vfl…



Sometimes this dont even show up in watching full games, let alone highlights. Recruitment via the draft is a tough gig.

Perfect example to demonstrate that drafting is an inexact science

 

[sohsam]

Dees like Dovaston.

well then we will not get him, if that is the case.

 

[sohsam]

Once again mate the draft is not about the now. More about the future. We are so called Future proofing

the conversation was around Dovaston being about now and what pick you need to pick him up. You are right though, if faith in recruitment team, does not matter you pick up a player with pick 30 or 10, as long as you value that player and can see potential.

 

[sohsam]

Perfect example to demonstrate that drafting is an inexact science

That is so disheartening, some of those kicks were bullet like and some of those marks crashing into packs, one grab marks were carey like, can see why we thought he was our chb for next 10 years.

 

[CD Xbow]

Perfect example to demonstrate that drafting is an inexact science

Yes it certainly is. My silicon buddy tells me overall about 61% play 10 games, 31% of draftees play 50 games, and only 17.6% play 100 games. The figures for the 'Top 10' reaching 50 games is a bit rubbery, with estimates between 80-90%. I'm not sure why there is not better data for that. A Xmas holiday project for someone. I guess the big drop between 10 games and 50 games is mostly because they are 'not up to AFL standard' for one reason or another, though a few may be lost to the vicissitude of life.

 

[TheFourPillars]

That is so disheartening, some of those kicks were bullet like and some of those marks crashing into packs, one grab marks were carey like, can see why we thought he was our chb for next 10 years.

It's a good example why we need to be careful making judgements on players of the highlights there is so much more to making it at AFL level and a lot of it is the psych and genetic profile of the player.

 

[Dewnior]

I still dont understand how this guy didnt make it and isnt even playing vfl…

 

[lethalselbow09]

Grlj I have a feeling is the most likely to slide to us. Does anyone know who Adelaide are likely to target if they trade up to pick 9 with the blues. Assume they only do that if Sharp is still on the board??

 

[TylerDurden]

Grlj I have a feeling is the most likely to slide to us. Does anyone know who Adelaide are likely to target if they trade up to pick 9 with the blues. Assume they only do that if Sharp is still on the board??

Assuming Sharp is gone.
Philippou or Schubert.

 

[MasterSamurai]

With Impey and Amon getting on a bit, Lindsay makes sense. Has footy smarts and as known, good left peg.
Dovaston still interests me, him playing inside fifty does allow flexibility for Sam to shift Moore, Croc and Watson up the field.
Onley has great speed and dash , at 195cm as well, could be a good pick up with a later pick.
Greeves? Still torn , has awesome numbers , goes at 45/55 CP vs uncontested possession, over a goal a game and a solid performance in finals. Wouldn't be completely against him with our second pick.

 

[Ashman23]

THE BEAST FROM THE EAST

 

[Simon Crawshay]

That is so disheartening, some of those kicks were bullet like and some of those marks crashing into packs, one grab marks were carey like, can see why we thought he was our chb for next 10 years.

What amazed me about DGB is he spent, what four years? on our list and had multiple AFL pre seasons yet to my (untrained) eye he didn't improve his aerobic fitness at all.

The one thing any mug footballer can do is improve your tank by just putting in the kms yet it didn't seem to make much difference to DGBs base fitness at all.

It must be genetic I think, just like some people are born with an unusually large tank others are born with a smaller than average one.

I can't blame the club for ignoring his fitness levels at under 18 level, the common assumption is players will naturally get fitter in an AFL environment.

 

[Rowie6]

With Impey and Amon getting on a bit, Lindsay makes sense. Has footy smarts and as known, good left peg.
Dovaston still interests me, him playing inside fifty does allow flexibility for Sam to shift Moore, Croc and Watson up the field.
Onley has great speed and dash , at 195cm as well, could be a good pick up with a later pick.
Greeves? Still torn , has awesome numbers , goes at 45/55 CP vs uncontested possession, over a goal a game and a solid performance in finals. Wouldn't be completely against him with our second pick.

Onley sounds an interesting type.

I wonder if we might grab him at 22?

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Yes it certainly is. My silicon buddy tells me overall about 61% play 10 games, 31% of draftees play 50 games, and only 17.6% play 100 games. The figures for the 'Top 10' reaching 50 games is a bit rubbery, with estimates between 80-90%. I'm not sure why there is not better data for that. A Xmas holiday project for someone. I guess the big drop between 10 games and 50 games is mostly because they are 'not up to AFL standard' for one reason or another, though a few may be lost to the vicissitude of life.

draftguru?

AFL Draft Pick Value Comparison - All Time - Draftguru

www.draftguru.com.au

Or straight games / pick:

AFL Draft Picks Broken Down by Pick Number - Draftguru

www.draftguru.com.au

 

[MasterSamurai]

There's word getting around about our interest in Harley Barker. Now, I've done some deep dives for this draft and have named about 5-6 options we can go with and explain the why's and why not's.
Barker to me, looks good at under age level as he seemed to play with the freedom of ambling along collecting handball receives at will mostly with no opponent. Nothing special at all about him. I hope we're looking at him as option with our second pick as a throw at the stumps. Obviously, the club would know better than me, but I just can't see him making a big impact at AFL.level.at all .

 

[Dr.J]

The thing that we, the mug punters, have no insight into is what goes on between these players ears
Talk to anyone associated with club land and they’ll tell you it’s %50 of the equation. Sure you need a certain level of skills to get drafted but it’s what goes on above the shoulders that has a big influence on eventual success
I fail to see how watching highlight reels is going to provide a full picture.
How do they react when they cop a beating from an opponent, can they carry an injury, how do they react to tagging.
Whilst I’m interested in the various opinions posted here it’s so important to view them through the filter of being opinions formed on only part of the picture