BigFooty Official 2025 BIGFOOTY PHANTOM DRAFT - TRIAL RUN

[eDPS]

Pick 28 - Essendon - Max Kondogiannis
190cm - Defender

One of the top interceptors from the championships and a real meters gained player Max has plenty to work with and although not being a strong one on one defender yet could certainly improve that in the AFL system. A long kick of the ball and a nice mover he should hopefully help give Essendon more kickers from the back half.

 

[noobermensch]

Hawks bid on Gold Coast's Beau Addinsall

noobermensch over to you

GCS will match if they can, what's the points situation?

 

[noobermensch]

Will have a ping at Jai Murray too. Just so happens the way the picks fell this was next up on my board.

noobermensch

Same situation, Suns will match if they can. I feel like they can use a little more depth through midfield so Addinsall and Murray will be a decently high priority.

 

[eDPS]

Good just in time to take Essendon into deficit as well.

Hawks bid on Adam Sweid.

eDPS

(Last bid I promise... maybe )

Essendon match

Pick 31 - Essendon - Adam Sweid (Bid Match)
175cm - Midfielder

Sweid is a tough little player who can tackle and take on a tackle from much bigger players which allows him to play midfield despite his size. Coming off an ACL Sweid has shown a lot this year and with more pre-seasons could develop into a solid AFL player likely starting forward before moving into the midfield more often with time.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Pick 32 - Hawthorn - Fred Rodriguez (South Fremantle/Western Australia)

Write up to come.

goodcop badcop

 

[goodcop badcop]

Pick 33 - Western Bulldogs - Avery Thomas

Monocle

 

[Monocle]

Pick 34 - West Coast - Sam Ainsworth - 200 cm - Ruck /KPP - Norwood.







I have been impressed with both Sam's development as a player and his versatility this year.

He started the season as a 196cm CHB for Norwood in the Under 18's and by the time of the Championships, he was 198cm and was rucking for SA. I thought he held his own very well against his positional cohort, his ruck craft was high quality, kids got a hell of a leap on him, ( probably explains his volleyball background ).
A point of difference with him is that once the ball hits the ground he remains agile and is very well coordinated ( thats also an excellent trait if the kids are still growing ).

On his return to Norwood Under 18's to complete the season where he mainly rucked .
His stats are impressive as as a ruckman he averaged 15.8 disposals, 4.8 clearances and 20.8 hit outs.

To complicate the calculations of just where he plays in the future, is the fact that in the last month of the season he has grown some more and is now 200cm, he also played as a key forward in a few games and from memory his best haul was three goals.

For West Coast, who have a need for a up and coming ruckman and more specifically ( with the rumoured ruck rule changes ), one that has a good leap.
He also has attraction as both a KPD and as a KPF.

I am thinking that he and Archer Reid would make a very good double team act for the Club, sharing ruck duties going forward.
Sure both are 3-4 years away from being at that point, but with where West Coasts list is at the moment, they can afford to give them the time required to develop.

 

[Chris25]

Pick 35 Fremantle - Oskar Taylor (182cm defender from Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)

Didn’t play at the Champs and I think only received a state combine invite, but I could see him being well in the 15-30 range once teams really start nailing down their draft boards.

Attacking half back with his run and ball use, he’s almost always looking for the most aggressive option and finds the target more often than not. Fremantle really need some dare and skill off half back and that’s Taylor’s game.

PMBangers

 

[Pie 4 Life]

GWS bid on Zac McCarthy, Pie 4 Life you matching?

CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'D BID ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PLAYERS!!!

Yes I'll match thanks

Write up to come.

 

[Thunderstruck]

GWS Bid on Jack Ison Thunderstruck

Happy to match that here

 

[PMBangers]

Pick 38 - GWS - Talor Byrne

Death, taxes, GWS selecting a GWV Rebel and/or a Small Forward

I'm a big fan of Byrne's and think there's a genuine argument that he's the best small prospect in the draft, he has the athleticism of all the others, arguably the best ball use of the lot, and arguably the best defensive impact too. The POD's for Byrne come in the form of his contested craft and bodywork, showing real courage and cleanliness at ground level regardless of opposition pressure around him, and regularly out bodying bigger opposition in marking or ground level contests.

For me, he doesn't really address a need directly but of all the guys I had left on my board, he's both the best available and the most likely to make it as an inside midfielder with his traits, granted a couple more cm's would make me more confident of that/

Also considered; Hugo Mikunda, Cameron Nairn
Smythe with catters

 

[Smythe]

Pick 39 - Geelong - Sam Swadling - 187cm - Mid / Fwd

Grabbing a crash and bash mid here was the plan, and Sam is that. Disposal wise and decision making at the top level will improve with coaching and proper team structure, however, he already has no problem finding the ball and coupled with the two way running and strength he has this is not a bad option.

PMBangers

 

[PMBangers]

Pick 40 - GWS - Hunter Holmes

I've gone with two guys who, whilst carrying some risk, I feel pretty confident are going to be at least regular best 22 players at the next level, so for my 3rd pick I was looking for someone that carries a fair amount of risk but huge upside. Holmes is probably the best runner in the draft with his combination of speed/ endurance perfectly suited for a Modern Wing role. Unfortunately he hasn't had too much opportunity to display his talents on the wing this year with the Chargers, but has had some really good moments out wide when representing VIC Metro in the Champs.

The obvious worry with Holmes is his ball use, particularly under pressure, and it's why I absolutely wouldn't look at him as a rover, but projecting a bit I think his ball use is good enough for what you want him to do at the next level on the Wing, which will involve running 30 meters with the footy and kicking it a further 40 to a one-on-one or a foot race heading to goal

Also considered; A few others I thought about were Taj Murray, Cameron Nairn and potentially bidding on Tylah Williams, Isaac Waller or Louis Kellaway but ultimately didn't see the same upside as Holmes offers

Chris25 up with Freo

 

[Chris25]

Pick 41 - Latrelle Pickett (180cm forward from South Australia)

Far from the finished product, but things just tend to happen when he’s around. He does all the things you’d come to expect from the Pickett name. Consistency and staying involved is the weakness, but the fitness base is there. He’s put together a solid season in the Reserves before recently making his league debut for Glenelg. Will turn 20 by the time next season comes around.

Well worth a shot come the third round. Fremantle can give him a chance to develop, and he’ll be ready to play alongside his cousin in a year or two when he inevitably changes his mind again.

roos_fanatic08

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Pick 42 - North Melbourne - Jett Dahlitz - 188cm Medium Defender.

Outside of Lindsay, Taylor x 2 and Farrow, there aren’t a lot of genuine damaging half backs in this draft, but Dahlitz’s carnival and form in the SANFL post the champs highlights his high level potential. He is an aerial threat, but is also a fantastic ground level player. He has composure in spades and tends to make good decisions ball in hand. The most impressive thing about his game though, is his ability to balance his offensive and defensive game, he can play loose, he can lockdown and he has the ability to play on both talls and smalls. While he isn’t the finished packaged there is plenty of upside with this pick.

Considered other half backs like Tom Burton and Finn Davis, while also considered some of the other talls like Curtin and Ah-Mu.

Thunderstruck

 

[Thunderstruck]

Pick 43 - Adelaide - Cameron Nairn Central District 189cm

Chris25

 

[Chris25]

Pick 44 Port Adelaide - Blake Thredgold (194cm defender from South Australia)

It’s not a great draft to be in the market for a key defender, so I wonder if Thredgold goes higher than this in the real thing. Probably would be higher if he didn’t miss the first few rounds of the Champs.

Good overhead, has the intercept game and generally just reliable as a defender. And I would imagine Port could use some reinforcements down back.

roos_fanatic08

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Pick 45 - St.Kilda bid on COllingwood F/S Tom McGuane

Pie 4 Life you matching?

Yeah I might as well.

 

[eDPS]

While I’m at it. The saints also bid on Essendon NGA product Hussein El Achkar.

eDPS you matching?

I’ll match

Pick 46 - Essendon - Hussein El Achkar
171cm - Forward

Huss is a small forward who makes things happen and despite some games where his conversion was poor he is still able to kick goals from many different avenues. He isn’t a greatest athlete and could improve his consistency in tackling pressure but has enough tools to be draftable.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Pick 47 - St.Kilda - Cody Curtin - 200cm Key Forward/Key Defender/Ruck

Saints need some KP depth, and with this selection they get the potential versatility that Curtin brings to the table. With his hulking frame and competitiveness Curtin loves to throw his body into the aeriel contests and is a genuine contested marking threat, often taking the ball at the highest point. He needs to make some improvements on his tank and overall athleticism, but after pick 30 he is worth a shot.

Considered all others who were best available like Ah-Mu, Tom Burton, Rory Wright and Jack Dalton

Monocle WC is up.

 

[Monocle]

Pick 48 - West Coast - Jack Dalton - 177cm - Midfielder - Sandringham Dragons.





Essentially he is the Duracell Bunny - runs all day and I expect him to perform exceedingly well at the Combine in the running events.
Another who had a late start to the football season due to a non-footballing injury, he broke his wrists in a gymnastics accident.
However once he did resume of the playing field he was a prolific accumulator of possessions.


But of a summary of his Traits:

• Left footer.
• Reads the play very well and therefore gets to both the drop of the ball or where it's going to be.
• More outside, than in, BUT can still find it on the onside for himself when needed.
• Exceptionally good link up player and often featured in a chain of run and carry spread sequences of play.
• Creative by hand and he is one of those players that make those who play around him look better.
• There is a little bit of Tom Paply about his game.
• Kicking is ok but he could tidy it up a tad and that would enhance his effectiveness.
• Shows good space and works his way in and out of traffic at ease.
• There is a little bit of Tom Papley
  11

  Tom Papley

  Age

  29

  Ht

  177cm

  Wt

  77kg

  Pos.

  Fwd

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  14.1

  4star

  K

  9.1

  4star

  HB

  5.0

  4star

  M

  3.7

  4star

  T

  3.2

  5star

  G

  1.5

  5star

  D

  12.3

  3star

  K

  8.9

  4star

  HB

  3.4

  2star

  M

  4.5

  4star

  T

  1.5

  2star

  G

  2.4

  5star

  D

  13.4

  4star

  K

  8.0

  3star

  HB

  5.4

  4star

  M

  3.4

  4star

  T

  3.4

  5star

  G

  1.6

  5star

  about his game.
• Will start as a forward but will play high and roam far in that role, which will see him eventually become a midfielder.

 

[Chris25]

I’m going to continue with the theme, and put in a bid too. But since West Coast has no more picks, maybe I can steal him…

I’ll tag both Monocle and PMBangers for a ruling.

Pick 49 Fremantle - Koby Evans (187cm mid/forward from West Coast Academy)

Took me a while to settle on a pick here, I don’t have a lot of names left that I’m overly confident with. But Evans looks worth a shot as a high upside player with minimal exposure due to injury.

He’s played forward with success mostly as an underaged player, but I think he settles in the midfield. He’s big, strong, fast and can hit the scoreboard. All traits that tend to get people drafted early. He also tackles hard and does the defensive stuff.

 

[Thunderstruck]

Pick 49 - Adelaide - Sullivan Robey Eastern Rangers 192cm

Write-up to come but had to go with the flavour of the week here, he's pushing up fast and come draft time this range will probably be considered a bargain.

goodcop badcop

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Pick 50 - Melbourne bids for Kye Fincher

roos_fanatic08 will you match?

Absolutely. Good value there.

Pick 50 - St.Kilda - Kye Fincher - 184cm Midfielder.

A footballer's footballer...tough, dour and more than willing to put his body on the line. Fincher's season has gone from strength to strength, stepping up to whatever level he is playing at whether it's the Coates League, Champs or VFL, his competitive nature has held him in good stead. As a midfielder he is clean, on touch and uses the ball with reliably, these traits are also evident when he has spent time across half back as well. Fincher also has good balance between his offensive and defensive game, he is one of the more accountable midfielders in this draft and you'll always see him pushing hard to put pressure on the opposition with his defensive running. His footy IQ and competitiveness will hold him in good stead at AFL level, and he might surprise a few with how early he might get an AFL opportunity.

 

[goodcop badcop]

Pick 51 - Melbourne - Tom Burton

Write up to follow

Smythe