2025 Draft Thread

[bobs head soup]

GWS board seems convinced that the 12 for 14&37 trade was all about getting ahead of us for Dovaston.

 

[Foxman98]

I still think 'best avauilable' in the first round, then adjust in later pick(s).
El Souki in 2026 makes Dovaston less of a desperate need.

Has worked well for us recently:

English (18)
Naughton (9)
Richards (16)
Smith (7) (Yuck but still a good pick)
Weightman (15)
Buss (13) (Weddle would've been better but Jedd was considered the "safer" only "miss" so far)
Sanders (6)
Hynes (20)

If Buss is the worst "miss" since 2016 minus F/S + NGA I think it shows how strong we are going in the top end of the draft and how much we should back in the team

 

[Pencil case]

Something tells me he is not what we want now given the move down

I think Oskar Taylor is almost a guarantee. Seems exactly the type of player we’d go for.

 

[Testekill]

Went around the 6.40 mark for 2km which is above average from what I've been told. Was above average in agility too. Was top 10 for speed and leap.

Agree with the bottom part. There's a lot of good athletes in the draft, whether they will make a good footballers is another thing. The draft is going to be very hit or miss I feel.

Sounds like a year where if you've gotta take a punt on someone then it should be one with at least one elite trait.

 

[Dav1d]

I think Oskar Taylor is almost a guarantee. Seems exactly the type of player we’d go for.

I think his weakness in the contest would improve with his other weakness of strength been improved because he doesn’t shy away from the contest so it’s not like that’s the issue, he’s no seagull

 

[doggiesin08]

Do we think we’re a chance of moving the pick back into 2026 as a draft night trade if there is a slider another team really likes?

I know it’s a long way out, but we’ll have to make compromises between pursuing Butters and the ability to match bids on El Souki, Hok Marial, West and Cooney - obviously it’s not a given then all get bids from others.

 

[goodcop badcop]

Sounds like a year where if you've gotta take a punt on someone then it should be one with at least one elite trait.

It's where we missed a trick with Weddle and Busslinger I think and this draft has a similar ring to that draft as well. There's quite a few elite athletes in this draft though, more than usual.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

I think Oskar Taylor is almost a guarantee. Seems exactly the type of player we’d go for.

Sold on that draft write up!! Please noone post the Mcasey and Collins draft write ups to set me straight

 

[scratchie]

I'm not sold on Pickett. Byrne would be my first choice small at our second pick. May be a reach but my second choice would be Leon Kickett.
If Dovaston is off the board at our first im all in on O.Taylor.

What I like about Byrne is that he is strong and chunky, good defensively, calm, evasive and clean in congestion, can take a contested mark against bigger bodies, good shot at goal, and he has a late birthday - aka Freijah and Bont. And from the reports I've read performs in big games.

I hate to remind people, but we took Busslinger over Wedel because we followed the logic of best available - instead of focusing on AFL traits. There is of course no magic formula, a players attitude and injuries can derail the most talented draftee. All we can do is maximise the chances by focusing on attributes which succeed and avoiding attributes that often fail. So for mine I see Dovaston really struggling against bigger bodies - at junior level he is rag dolled and does not have the Wizards tricks.

The highlights of O.Taylor show a player who is far too conservative at his level. Although he may have tested as fast - his highlights don't show it - never burns an opponent with his pace nor does he show any evasiveness. What we see is someone competent defensively, and neat with a good left foot for passing the ball.

We are talking elite level here, so I may be harsh, and who knows there may be highlights that reveal something else. But based on what we can all see - he is a 3rd rounder.

 

[_Cerberus_]

It would not surprise me if the Taylors, Dovastons and other favorites on here will potentially be all gone come our first pick. Which could push out to 19-20. We will probably end up picking up someone more left field or trading the pick back for an extra pick next year if the players we like are off the board.

 

[dogwatch]

no can't see what the hype is all about - poor man's wizard without the tricks.

What's a wizard without tricks?

 

[dogwatch]

I think Oskar Taylor is almost a guarantee. Seems exactly the type of player we’d go for.

Sounds like a Bailey Dale clone. I'd be happy if he turned out like that.

 

[scratchie]

What's a wizard without tricks?

Nick Watson

 

[JohnnySteel]

It would not surprise me if the Taylors, Dovastons and other favorites on here will potentially be all gone come our first pick. Which could push out to 19-20. We will probably end up picking up someone more left field or trading the pick back for an extra pick next year if the players we like are off the board.

We are getting out to taking a punt on Harley Barker range. Which I’d be stoked about despite the fact he’ll miss the first half of the season.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

We are getting out to taking a punt on Harley Barker range. Which I’d be stoked about despite the fact he’ll miss the first half of the season.

Definitely a solid back up plan

 

[Mofra]

A reminder that we can trade picks even after trade week.
We may be involved in some wheeling and dealing after Wednesday's trade deadline is done if we see players we like.

 

[Highlander]

Based off my expert option (2 x five minute highlight videos) Byrne looks to be a better footballer than Dovaston.
He is a bit less athletic but he doesn't seem to make mistakes, he is a solid kid, great hands and knows how to use his body to protect and create space.

 

[JohnnySteel]

Based off my expert option (2 x five minute highlight videos) Byrne looks to be a better footballer than Dovaston.
He is a bit less athletic but he doesn't seem to make mistakes, he is a solid kid, great hands and knows how to use his body to protect and create space.

Looks like he’d impact early like Dovaston as well. Would’ve kicked more goals if he played less midfield for rebels. Would be a good get with our second if we go for another type with our first.

 

[dogwatch]

Based off my expert option (2 x five minute highlight videos) Byrne looks to be a better footballer than Dovaston.
He is a bit less athletic but he doesn't seem to make mistakes, he is a solid kid, great hands and knows how to use his body to protect and create space.

Sold!

 

[Ash1337]

Based off my expert option (2 x five minute highlight videos) Byrne looks to be a better footballer than Dovaston.
He is a bit less athletic but he doesn't seem to make mistakes, he is a solid kid, great hands and knows how to use his body to protect and create space.

Byrne reminds me of Papley.

 

[Doggies7]

So draft wise now we will have the semi-nervous wait to see if someone bids on Darcy before pick 33 or if we can bring two kids him before him and then snap him up with pick 70 (will come in a lot also)

 

[Foxman98]

So draft wise now we will have the semi-nervous wait to see if someone bids on Darcy before pick 33 or if we can bring two kids him before him and then snap him up with pick 70 (will come in a lot also)

Highly doubt it but also 33 will come in a bit Carlton now have 2 but will be after Dean bid GC have 4 and only 3 academy players same with Brisbane who have 2 for their 1

 

[House_of_Dahl]

So draft wise now we will have the semi-nervous wait to see if someone bids on Darcy before pick 33 or if we can bring two kids him before him and then snap him up with pick 70 (will come in a lot also)

Surely noone goes before 33.

If noone drafts him we have automatic rights at the rookie draft don't we?

 

[Ash1337]

Surely noone goes before 33.

If noone drafts him we have automatic rights at the rookie draft don't we?

Yes. Automatic rookie if passed on at the draft. But being such a weak draft and his pedigree means it's unlikely.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Yes. Automatic rookie if passed on at the draft. But being such a weak draft and his pedigree means it's unlikely.

It's unlikely he doesn't get bid on but he almost certainly doesn't get bid on before a pick in the late 30's, though. From that point on we're allowed to take him for effectively free, and the difference between a main list and a rookie spot is so minimal to be not that notable given the zero draft pick outlay for him.