2025 Draft Thread

[_Cerberus_]

Dogs have another batch of interviews scheduled this coming week for MSD prospects including small forwards, rucks, key forwards and backs, half backs and atleast one midfielder.
Looks like the field is wide open with no spotlight on any one position or player type.

We would kind of have to be open, given we may have one of the later picks. So always a chance the best available at a certain position goes before our pick, leaving us to pick from the second or third next batch.

Its funny though, small defenders and ruck were the issue early in the season, suddenly all have found form in the last three weeks and are performing well. So I wonder if that changes much in terms of our MSD focus or if the club still feels uncertainty in those areas? We are also one Lobb injury away from being in trouble down back in the tall department. But I honestly don't expect KPP types to have a good strike rate in the MSD compared to smaller players.

 

[Mojorisin]

We would kind of have to be open, given we may have one of the later picks. So always a chance the best available at a certain position goes before our pick, leaving us to pick from the second or third next batch.

Its funny though, small defenders and ruck were the issue early in the season, suddenly all have found form in the last three weeks and are performing well. So I wonder if that changes much in terms of our MSD focus or if the club still feels uncertainty in those areas? We are also one Lobb injury away from being in trouble down back in the tall department. But I honestly don't expect KPP types to have a good strike rate in the MSD compared to smaller players.

There also seems to be more variety in contention this year where as years past it has seen most clubs all pick similar positions.

 

[Wizard17]

We would kind of have to be open, given we may have one of the later picks. So always a chance the best available at a certain position goes before our pick, leaving us to pick from the second or third next batch.

Its funny though, small defenders and ruck were the issue early in the season, suddenly all have found form in the last three weeks and are performing well. So I wonder if that changes much in terms of our MSD focus or if the club still feels uncertainty in those areas? We are also one Lobb injury away from being in trouble down back in the tall department. But I honestly don't expect KPP types to have a good strike rate in the MSD compared to smaller players.

The player I saw in the young guns game playing as taller backs were more in the 190cm range, tall flanker types (Orchard) or the undersized interceptor Rod Ali who has a absolute shit ton of upside for a player who is as raw as he is.

Rucks were quite good. Love the way that Zac Harding uses the ball by foot for a guy his size and follow ups very well at ground level.

Ayden McCarroll is bloody enormous and seems like he can clunk marks when he is up forward

 

[zucvv]

Diehard Dogs fan Thomas Burton played his first senior game in a grand final, alongside Luke Dahlhaus

40

Luke Dahlhaus

Age

33

Ht

179cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.8

5star

K

9.2

4star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

4.4

5star

G

0.7

4star

D

13.0

3star

K

5.1

2star

HB

7.9

4star

M

2.9

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.6

4star

D

14.2

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

7.6

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

3.8

5star

G

0.8

4star

and under Clay Smith

Clay Smith

Age

32

Ht

182cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.8

4star

K

7.9

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

4.8

5star

G

0.8

4star

No current season stats available

D

10.6

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

0.8

4star

. He’s now surging up draft boards. Check out every score from the Coates Talent League.

A Western Bulldogs fan from the Western Jets is making his mark in the Coates Talent League as one of the leading rebounding defenders in this year’s draft class.

Thomas Burton finished as the top-ranked player on the ground in the Jets’ loss to the Northern Knights on Sunday, returning to the side after playing for the AFL Academy in recent weeks.

Burton gathered 34 disposals at 82 per cent efficiency across half-back, along with seven marks, seven rebound 50s and five tackles for a total of 183 ranking points.

A Bulldogs fan, Burton grew up idolising Jason Johannisen

39

Jason Johannisen

Age

33

Ht

181cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.2

5star

K

12.9

5star

HB

7.3

5star

M

4.3

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

418.9

5star

D

16.3

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.3

4star

T

1.9

3star

MG

283.1

4star

D

15.6

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.6

4star

and trained at Whitten Oval over pre-season as part of the AFL Academy program.

He made his senior debut for local club Point Cook as a 16-year-old in the 2023 Grand Final in the Western Region Football League, under coach Clay Smith

Clay Smith

Age

32

Ht

182cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.8

4star

K

7.9

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

4.8

5star

G

0.8

4star

No current season stats available

D

10.6

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

0.8

4star

.

Smith was a 2016 AFL premiership player for the Bulldogs, while his premiership teammate Luke Dahlhaus

40

Luke Dahlhaus

Age

33

Ht

179cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.8

5star

K

9.2

4star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

4.4

5star

G

0.7

4star

D

13.0

3star

K

5.1

2star

HB

7.9

4star

M

2.9

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.6

4star

D

14.2

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

7.6

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

3.8

5star

G

0.8

4star

was also part of that losing Grand Final side.

“To have Clay put that faith in me was unreal,” Burton said earlier this year.

“And then to have Luke Dahlhaus

40

Luke Dahlhaus

Age

33

Ht

179cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.8

5star

K

9.2

4star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

4.4

5star

G

0.7

4star

D

13.0

3star

K

5.1

2star

HB

7.9

4star

M

2.9

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.6

4star

D

14.2

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

7.6

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

3.8

5star

G

0.8

4star

out on the field directing me and guiding me was special.”

Burton finished his bottom-age season strongly with the Jets in 2024 and has continued his development this season.

He was particularly prominent in the back half for the AFL Academy side in its first match against Richmond’s VFL side in April, logging 20 disposals and three tackles.

“I think my speed combined with my decision-making is probably the biggest things that come to mind,” Burton said of his strengths.

“But also, if I can get my aerobic fitness to be an elite level, I think it will give me the opportunity to be one of the best players.”

 

[Here we go dogs]

I don’t really follow talent league, but can someone enlighten me why the jets are never really competitive with the top sides. I know the wrfl is a pretty poor league, but there is some top sides in the edfl that would have players in that zone mainly Keillor.

Are they poorly set up or is it that the talent isn’t there?

 

[Foxman98]

I don’t really follow talent league, but can someone enlighten me why the jets are never really competitive with the top sides. I know the wrfl is a pretty poor league, but there is some top sides in the edfl that would have players in that zone mainly Keillor.

Are they poorly set up or is it that the talent isn’t there?

Less money and less private schools

 

[Wizard17]

Less money and less private schools

Private Schools is the big one. All the stronger teams in the talent league have a whole lot of big ones in their regions.

 

[Wizard17]

“Probably the one worth watching, which is a pretty unique one because he’s been given an exemption to the rule – he is actually turning 20 late in the year – is Ayden McCarroll. Ayden played four games for us at the end of last season and he’s only just completed his first ever preseason. He stands at 210cm tall… he’s a genuine giant and he’s got some skills and he just needed to work on his endurance and a bit of power. It’ll be a long road for him to get to the physical level he needs to, but he’s starting to put the work in and we’ll see some outcomes during the year from Ayden.”

Talking about the Jets. He did show a bit in that young guns game, definitely needs time to mature into his body but given his size that doesn't surprise me at all.

 

[Mojorisin]

Talking about the Jets. He did show a bit in that young guns game, definitely needs time to mature into his body but given his size that doesn't surprise me at all.

He is one getting alot of attention currently, I'm almost positive he will be picked up by someone in the MSD.

 

[Wizard17]

He is one getting alot of attention currently, I'm almost positive he will be picked up by someone in the MSD.

Wouldn't mind him as Smith has been one of our best in the VFL all year and having another tall target in the forward line there will also help croft out a fair bit too.

Also like the way Zac Harding goes about it. Really good skills and presence around the ground

 

[dogwatch]

Private Schools is the big one. All the stronger teams in the talent league have a whole lot of big ones in their regions.

Why is that?

Is it a direct cause (eg private schools provide a point of difference in footy coaching so players become better).

Or is it indirect (eg parents of talented kids send them to private schools in the east where they may board or find digs locally and so there’s a drain on junior talent from the western suburbs)?

 

[Wizard17]

Why is that?

Is it a direct cause (eg private schools provide a point of difference in footy coaching so players become better).

Or is it indirect (eg parents of talented kids send them to private schools in the east where they may board or find digs locally and so there’s a drain on junior talent from the western suburbs)?

Bit of column a and b. The Private Schools tend to get players boarding from interstate too.

 

[nashhh]

Josh Lindsay and family toured Whitten Oval last week

 

[maddog37]

Bit of column an and b. The Private Schools tend to get players boarding from interstate too.

Or is it that private schools scoop up the talented kids from public schools and offer them free scholarships.

 

[Mojorisin]

Another player to keep an eye out for in the MSD is 206cm ruckman Flynn Riley. The 21 year old got the better of Hawk Ned Reeves playing for caltons VFL.
He is well developed and more than capable physically.

 

[Mojorisin]

This is my way to early prediction of the MSD.

WCE Ayden McCarroll
NM Floyd Burmeister
CARL Sam Toner
ESS Ajang Kuol Mun
WB Massimo Raso
GCS Jhett Haeata
COLL Riley Mason
CARL Flynn Riley
ESS Rod Ali

 

[Bulldogs85]

This is my way to early prediction of the MSD.

WCE Ayden McCarroll
NM Floyd Burmeister
CARL Sam Toner
ESS Ajang Kuol Mun
WB Massimo Raso
GCS Jhett Haeata
COLL Riley Mason
CARL Flynn Riley
ESS Rod Ali

Carlton are crying out for a small forward I think they will take Massimo Raso with their first pick

 

[Ash1337]

I'm all in on Burton. When JJ plays at full fitness he improves the side a lot. Someone that models his game on him would be great. Thing is though another ruck while Smith develops is worth getting above all. Especially if dogs lose a key defender to injury and Buku has to move back.

 

[Mojorisin]

Carlton are crying out for a small forward I think they will take Massimo Raso with their first pick

Toner is more then capable at ground level I think he adds another dynamic to that forward line with his capability to also play taller.

 

[Pencil case]

Josh Lindsay and family toured Whitten Oval last week

Isn’t he touted as a top 5 pick?

We don’t have near enough currency to even trade up that high if the team continues on current trajectory

 

[Mojorisin]

Isn’t he touted as a top 5 pick?

We don’t have near enough currency to even trade up that high if the team continues on current trajectory

We definitely have the currency, just means we need to get creative.

 

[JohnnySteel]

We definitely have the currency, just means we need to get creative.

Sounds like it’s Lindsay we are all in for then as you’ve mentioned? If he has already toured the facilities.

His kicking is a real weapon.

 

[goodcop badcop]

Sounds like it’s Lindsay we are all in for then as you’ve mentioned? If he has already toured the facilities.

His kicking is a real weapon.

Not necessarily. I know of a few players that have toured the facilities earlier in the year then this but we never drafted them.

I wouldn't read too much into it.

 

[Bulldogs85]

Not necessarily. I know of a few players that have toured the facilities earlier in the year then this but we never drafted them.

I wouldn't read too much into it.

Remember someone posted on here a few seasons ago that Shaun Mannagh did a medical with the club leading up to the Mid-Season

 

[Mojorisin]

Sounds like it’s Lindsay we are all in for then as you’ve mentioned? If he has already toured the facilities.

His kicking is a real weapon.

As goodcop badcop has said lots of players from all projected draft spots tour facilities at different stages of the year.
You can never tell just where your pick will land or how draftees will climb or fall on draft boards, for example it wasn't until very late last year we were a real shot at picking up Reid with our first. At this stage of the year it's just getting infront of as many talents as possible and getting as much surface level information on those guys as possible.

In saying all that. The depth of the draft outside the club tied guys just isn't there this year (or haven't shown themselves yet). The dogs definitely are looking to get a pick right at the pointy end but they won't be the only team with that intention.
I can't comment on the player however I know there is one particular we are focusing on.