2025 Draft Thread

[iambrilliant]

Key defenders lots of them

 

[bulldogs201616]

Xavier Taylor. Can defend, can intercept, is quick, can kick. This should be enough for us. Not at all interested in small forwards right now, even if Dovaston does look great. Big no to Higgins-Hargreaves, not what we need right now.

We’ve got Weightman to come back in, Dolan looking incredible in the state league and Arty appearing like he’s really turned a corner. That’s enough change up forward, we have to prioritise defence.

How's the pace on Xaiver Taylor?

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

How's the pace on Xaiver Taylor?

He doesn’t appear lightning quick, not to level of Weddle anyway. But he’s absolutely not slow - considerably quicker than Buss for example. I’m confident it wouldn’t be an issue at AFL level anyway, as he has no trouble closing a gap to land the spoil or taking off after intercepting

 

[weltschmerz]

How's the pace on Xaiver Taylor?

Good. Under 3 seconds for the 20m and holds up well on field.

 

[Munnez]

Xavier Taylor. Can defend, can intercept, is quick, can kick. This should be enough for us. Not at all interested in small forwards right now, even if Dovaston does look great. Big no to Higgins-Hargreaves, not what we need right now.

We’ve got Weightman to come back in, Dolan looking incredible in the state league and Arty appearing like he’s really turned a corner. That’s enough change up forward, we have to prioritise defence.

Xavier Taylor is who I believe we should be targeting. Can start at half back and depending on progression can move inside like Richards if he is showing enough

 

[dogwatch]

Whoever we get has to be mentally and physically tough.

After what we’ve witnessed this year it’s a non-negotiable.

If they’re mentally tough I don’t mind them developing physically in the VFL for a year or two. Hopefully that’s the path Dolan will take.

 

[Dav1d]

Cumming & Greeves don’t look like top ten selections for me. Both very slow decision makers, I’d be happy if they’re off the board at our selection

Barker and Hibbins-Hargraves are probably around the mark for our pick

Dangerous ball users but no clear best position

Someone safe would feel like Farrow, Taylor or Dovaston

 

[weltschmerz]

Whoever we get has to be mentally and physically tough.

After what we’ve witnessed this year it’s a non-negotiable.

If they’re mentally tough I don’t mind them developing physically in the VFL for a year or two. Hopefully that’s the path Dolan will take.

I think we’ll also see plenty of that in Sellwood and I hope he’s in the team from round 1. He chases, he’s desperate for the ball.

 

[dogsuperfan]

Assuming Gold Coast win and we get pick 10. Is it safe to say to that pick 10 will probably become pick 15?

 

[Dav1d]

Assuming Gold Coast win and we get pick 10. Is it safe to say to that pick 10 will probably become pick 15?

Maybe even a little further

Brisbane: Daniel Annable (5)
Carlton: Harry Dean (8)
Collingwood: Zac McCarthy (26)
Essendon: Adam Sweid (30)
Gold Coast: Zeke Uwland (3), Dylan Patterson (4), Beau Addinsall (21)
Sydney: Max King (16), Lachlan Carmichael (24)

Addinsall, Carmichael, Sweid, McCarthy and Dean probably don’t receive a bid prior to our pick but still could.

 

[Foxman98]

Maybe even a little further

Brisbane: Daniel Annable (5)
Carlton: Harry Dean (8)
Collingwood: Zac McCarthy (26)
Essendon: Adam Sweid (30)
Gold Coast: Zeke Uwland (3), Dylan Patterson (4), Beau Addinsall (21)
Sydney: Max King (16), Lachlan Carmichael (24)

Addinsall, Carmichael, Sweid, McCarthy and Dean probably don’t receive a bid prior to our pick but still could.

Also doesn't include FA compo Allen will get West Coast pick 2

 

[Golden_6]

I'm still targeting Xavier Taylor with our first selection. We might be able to get away with 2 genuine KPD if you surround them with athletic medium types like Sellwood & Taylor.

"191cms (tall), can play on talls, we've always known he's got that intercepting and lockdown ability, but now he's showing he's got that ability to rebound and use the ball really well. He's so clean below his knees.

"I just think he's the sort of player that when he's in your team he makes you walk a little bit taller, and he makes you a little bit better because he's got so many strengths to his bow as a defender.

"You could almost do anything with him behind the ball. He's certainly risen and is on the precipice of the top 30, if not a little bit higher.

 

[Foxman98]

I'm still targeting Xavier Taylor with our first selection. We might be able to get away with 2 genuine KPD if you surround them with athletic medium types like Sellwood & Taylor.

Lachy Dovaston still for me,

We need real depth in the small forward position,

Dolan shows a lot Arty looks close West is already there but need McNeil and VDM as far away from the side as possible,

Not sure a medium defender will have as much impact on the side as needed given we have an array of medium/intercept types now and no genuine KPD

 

[Golden_6]

Lachy Dovaston still for me,

We need real depth in the small forward position,

Dolan shows a lot Arty looks close West is already there but need McNeil and VDM as far away from the side as possible,

Not sure a medium defender will have as much impact on the side as needed given we have an array of medium/intercept types now and no genuine KPD

West, Weightman, Dolan & Arty is enough for me to keep McNeil & VDM nowhere near the side.

We have no proven medium defenders. Cleary has improved a bit & Sellwood looks promising but I think there's a way to fit them all in the team. It's a more modern looking defence.

 

[Foxman98]

West, Weightman, Dolan & Arty is enough for me to keep McNeil & VDM nowhere near the side.

We have no proven medium defenders. Cleary has improved a bit & Sellwood looks promising but I think there's a way to fit them all in the team. It's a more modern looking defence.

We had all 4 on the list this year and they both played most weeks,

It is our biggest weakness JOD can play the medium role as can Cleary/Sellwood

Walker was also show great signs in the 2s with a preseason under his belt should be even better

 

[dogsuperfan]

Lachy Dovaston still for me,

We need real depth in the small forward position,

Dolan shows a lot Arty looks close West is already there but need McNeil and VDM as far away from the side as possible,

Not sure a medium defender will have as much impact on the side as needed given we have an array of medium/intercept types now and no genuine KPD

Although we have medium/intercept defenders, none of them actually defend. We used to have Doc but other than him everyone else is just there to be a playmaker. Even then they rely too much in Dale to do that.

 

[Foxman98]

Although we have medium/intercept defenders, none of them actually defend. We used to have Doc but other than him everyone else is just there to be a playmaker. Even then they rely too much in Dale to do that.

When they are played within their means they can,

JOD if he plays on a 3rd tall is good when he plays above that he gets destroyed, Lobb when he plays on a 2nd tall is fine when he plays on a 1st he is destroyed,

Our backline needs a genuine full back and a smaller lockdown defender both can be addressed fairly cheaply via FA/Trade

We get beaten so often 1 on 1 because of the ease of the ball movement making giving the kicker the best chance to put it to the advantage of their forward

 

[Dazb86]

I'm still targeting Xavier Taylor with our first selection. We might be able to get away with 2 genuine KPD if you surround them with athletic medium types like Sellwood & Taylor.

"191cms (tall), can play on talls, we've always known he's got that intercepting and lockdown ability, but now he's showing he's got that ability to rebound and use the ball really well. He's so clean below his knees.

"I just think he's the sort of player that when he's in your team he makes you walk a little bit taller, and he makes you a little bit better because he's got so many strengths to his bow as a defender.

"You could almost do anything with him behind the ball. He's certainly risen and is on the precipice of the top 30, if not a little bit higher.

Sounds like Bevo's dream forward

 

[Golden_6]

We had all 4 on the list this year and they both played most weeks,

It is our biggest weakness JOD can play the medium role as can Cleary/Sellwood

Walker was also show great signs in the 2s with a preseason under his belt should be even better

I mean that's not telling the whole story. Weightman was unavailable for the whole season, Arty wasn't available for 70% of the season and Dolan was a first year player.

Injuries clearly happen but the expectation is that all 3 would play significantly more AFL football in 2026.

 

[Foxman98]

I mean that's not telling the whole story. Weightman was unavailable for the whole season, Arty wasn't available for 70% of the season and Dolan was a first year player.

Injuries clearly happen but the expectation is that all 3 would play significantly more AFL football in 2026.

Tall/Medium Defenders we have JOD/Lobb/Sellwood/Cleary/Walker/Williams/Buss/Jacques

Small forwards we have Flea/West/McNeil/Dolan/Jones

Can pick up Bond/Buderick to add to the list as well as a Blanck/Serong type for taller defender as well

When our talls don't fire we need other options and currently its West/Midfield or nothing

 

[dogsuperfan]

Is it a bad idea to trade a future first to this year to get both dovaston and Taylor?

 

[weltschmerz]

Is it a bad idea to trade a future first to this year to get both dovaston and Taylor?

It’d really depend on what we think f/s and NGA will look like next year. Both West and El Souki so far look like they have first rounder potential.

 

[Dav1d]

Is it a bad idea to trade a future first to this year to get both dovaston and Taylor?

I’d like to get back into the second round
A few clubs will have their academy or father sons eating up their picks so we could have two close selections. Don’t think we need to push too hard for a first round selection

 

[BEaston]

Don't think Dolan is ready next year. Needs a lore more strength.

 

[JohnnySteel]

Dovaston & Taylor - Eastern Ranges double sounds really good.