2025 Draft Thread

[Salad dog]

Cameron Nairn is an interesting one of he can develop to get up the ground more. His kicking is beautiful and his set shot remind me of Tory Dickson with just how much of a deadeye he is.

In his last 2 games in the 18’s who moved into midfield and had 30 disposals on both occasions

 

[Salad dog]

Barker's contested possession count is worryingly low, just 21% and has a bit of work to do defensively. With the ACL as well, he's a risky choice. I'm fine with taking him at our 2nd, not at our 1st.

I think Barker is a perfect fit for a team like North who have those back to back 2nd rounders. Could easily be 1st round quality but agree he’s a risk.

 

[goodcop badcop]

I'd consider placing a bid on Jack Ison at our first. I think he's underrated.

 

[TiAn_]

Hunter Holmes would be a great get at our 2nd IMO. Has athletic traits like his brother that we only really have in Richards.

 

[nashhh]

Anyone think we would take Josh Lindsay if he slid to our pick can never have enough good ball users

 

[Dav1d]

Anyone think we would take Josh Lindsay if he slid to our pick can never have enough good ball users

I worry a little bit about how much of his possessions are uncontested and his athleticism
I guess it depends who else is on board and if we believed his play style was how he was coached or his own

 

[JohnnySteel]

Hunter Holmes would be a great get at our 2nd IMO. Has athletic traits like his brother that we only really have in Richards.

That speed is a real weapon, he seems to use it well in game as well, great size at 188cm. Would slot into HB / Wing with potential for midfield scope. Would love to add him to our mix.

Wonder if Geelong will get in early & pick him with their first though. Big possibility.

 

[Salad dog]

There’s been nothing to suggest Holmes goes in the 2nd round, let alone 1st

 

[weltschmerz]

There’s been nothing to suggest Holmes goes in the 2nd round, let alone 1st

There wasn’t much to suggest that his brother would either. Big bolter.

 

[Salad dog]

There wasn’t much to suggest that his brother would either. Big bolter.

I’m not learning anything from the COVID draft haha

 

[JohnnySteel]

There’s been nothing to suggest Holmes goes in the 2nd round, let alone 1st

In a draft with more quality depth I’d agree but I think players with an elite trait like the line breaking speed Holmes possesses, will see him go earlier than his production would normally suggest.

 

[Mofra]

Im coming around to Oskar Taylor, he is Mile Sheehans write up. I also heard Dylan Alexander compare him to Harrison Oliver, who a lot of us would have been happy to take last year. Got a better athletic profile than Oliver and a few people in the know have commented on his skills being sound and defensive intent also a highlight.

I feel at worst he can be a lockdown small defender, at best he can play that role but also really help us rebound quickly off half back.

Oskar Taylor
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Eastern Ranges
Community Club: South Belgrave
Date of Birth: 01/08/2007
Height: 183cm

Medium defender and midfielder with explosive speed and a penetrating left foot who went from strength to strength as the year unfolded. Taylor is a strong one-on-one player with a defend first mindset who grew in confidence as the season progressed to earn a late call-up to the national Draft Combine with a string of outstanding performances. Played a major role in the Eastern Ranges premiership win in the Coates Talent League, averaging 20.5 disposals in 17 matches. Had a great final series to top off a breakout year and finished runner-up in the Ranges’ best and fairest award. Showed elite athletic qualities at the Draft Combine, producing the quickest 20m sprint with a time of 2.82 seconds and ranking second on the agility test with a time of 7.84 seconds.

From the vision I've seen, his teammates really try and get the ball into his hands but all the talk of his kicking seems a little overdone for me.
He does regularly fluff kicks or get a bit 'cute' by foot and he just doesn't seem to take the long option as a first option - yet nobody talks about his (often forward-running) handball which is supurb, really weights his possession by hand well and keeps running to stay engaged in the play. As a defender he's far more of a Harbrow-style than a Bailey Dale.

I'm not entirely convinced his best possession is as a lockdown defender at the next level - if you watch him move up to be that "second possession" guy at stoppages he gets quite dangerous and that's arguably his best area on field. He really uses his evasiveness in game well, so his agility test results aren't a surprise.

 

[NthBondiDoggies]

So seem like we will take between 3-4 players. And will upgrade at least JOD. So take one in draft or rookie - total five. Is that correct?

If so:

#1 - pick 14-17 depending on bids. Take the best available. There will be someone good still there in first round. Would love to see Farrow if he slips, Dovaston, NHH if we miss out. I wouldn’t mind Jevan P.

#2 - pick 33 maybe comes in to 30’s. My favourite is Cody Curtin - a genuine KPD body and some real mongrel/aggression. Pick for system or need. He is 200 also and could play some ruck.

#3 - match for Will Darcy. Tall defenders take a long time and OK with him being a project. He has some straights that could be great or not. I think a spine of Darcy, Naughton, Croft - - JOD, Buss, Darcy is pretty good but you need at least 10 in AFL and VFL. So need more.

#4 - get a ruckman - should always have two fighting it out in VFL. Smith looks good but should have a 23-25 year old.

#5 - Rookie CCP or NGA.

If we could rookie another - then take a NGA - would go with Hugh Dixon

41

Hugh Dixon

Age

26

Ht

196cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

0.0

1star

G

1.0

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.0

1star

G

1.0

4star

from Southport - has got aggressive and can play both ends.

We know from SammieP that he will have a surprise up his sleeve - every year there is one. I am ok with that

 

[Mofra]

I just can't see us taking 2 KPDs this draft after grabbing a KPD in the MSD last year and our public comments about speed & endurance. I suspect we're going for runners with our first two picks and we may leave a list spot open if Will Darcy somehow slips to the rookie draft.

 

[dogsuperfan]

Thoughts on Latrelle Pickett? I saw a mock draft earlier where it had us taking him with our second pick.

 

[weltschmerz]

Thoughts on Latrelle Pickett? I saw a mock draft earlier where it had us taking him with our second pick.

Very quick, good below the knees, can go missing like a lot of small forwards. Wouldn't be against it.

 

[Dav1d]

I just can't see us taking 2 KPDs this draft after grabbing a KPD in the MSD last year and our public comments about speed & endurance. I suspect we're going for runners with our first two picks and we may leave a list spot open if Will Darcy somehow slips to the rookie draft.

O. Taylor & J. Phillipou, who else?
I’d have said Farrow, but does he have speed?
Avery Thomas does look nice for the second round selection and there probably will be some decent smalls still available in the second if we miss out and want one

Although I’m super bullish on El Souki for next year, kid looks real good and a western jets lad to.

 

[True Dog]

Cameron Nairn is an interesting one of he can develop to get up the ground more. His kicking is beautiful and his set shot remind me of Tory Dickson with just how much of a deadeye he is.

What’s his predicted draft range?

 

[Dav1d]

What’s his predicted draft range?

mid to late second round

I’m hoping for Thredgold at our second, probably unlikely though.

 

[JohnnySteel]

Anyone know who has an outstanding character & strong running capability? That combo, will go a long way to predicting who we will take.

Just on that - Phillipou like his brother before him declared that he would pick himself at number 1. Good to have confidence but I’m not sure about how humble that response is from a kid that could easily go second round. Abit of a put off unless he is an extremely hard worker to back it up.

 

[Mofra]

O. Taylor & J. Phillipou, who else?
I’d have said Farrow, but does he have speed?
Avery Thomas does look nice for the second round selection and there probably will be some decent smalls still available in the second if we miss out and want one

Although I’m super bullish on El Souki for next year, kid looks real good and a western jets lad to.

Well, we could dream of the speed & endurance blend of Glrj but I can't see us trading up.
I stilll like Jets boy Tom Burton who has genuine speed and has some defensive traits as a mid.

TOP 10s | 2025 National AFL Draft Combine

The AFL has released the top 10 results from this year's National Draft Combine, with an Eastern Ranges prospect proving speed is king.

central.rookieme.com

 

[Dav1d]

Well, we could dream of the speed & endurance blend of Glrj but I can't see us trading up.
I stilll like Jets boy Tom Burton who has genuine speed and has some defensive traits as a mid.

TOP 10s | 2025 National AFL Draft Combine

The AFL has released the top 10 results from this year's National Draft Combine, with an Eastern Ranges prospect proving speed is king.

central.rookieme.com

Yeah I love the Jets, Burton would be a good grab at our second depending who is available.

 

[grassman75]

Hunter Holmes would be a great get at our 2nd IMO. Has athletic traits like his brother that we only really have in Richards.

I’m calling dibs and he will be nicknamed John from day 1….if that’s not a pornstar name I’ve never seen one

 

[Foxman98]

So seem like we will take between 3-4 players. And will upgrade at least JOD. So take one in draft or rookie - total five. Is that correct?

If so:

#1 - pick 14-17 depending on bids. Take the best available. There will be someone good still there in first round. Would love to see Farrow if he slips, Dovaston, NHH if we miss out. I wouldn’t mind Jevan P.

#2 - pick 33 maybe comes in to 30’s. My favourite is Cody Curtin - a genuine KPD body and some real mongrel/aggression. Pick for system or need. He is 200 also and could play some ruck.

#3 - match for Will Darcy. Tall defenders take a long time and OK with him being a project. He has some straights that could be great or not. I think a spine of Darcy, Naughton, Croft - - JOD, Buss, Darcy is pretty good but you need at least 10 in AFL and VFL. So need more.

#4 - get a ruckman - should always have two fighting it out in VFL. Smith looks good but should have a 23-25 year old.

#5 - Rookie CCP or NGA.

If we could rookie another - then take a NGA - would go with Hugh Dixon from Southport - has got aggressive and can play both ends.

We know from SammieP that he will have a surprise up his sleeve - every year there is one. I am ok with that

Hugh Dixon is crap,

QF vs AFL opposition 1 goal 7 disposals
GF vs AFL opposition 1 goal 8 disposals
PF vs VFL players 8 goals 16 disposals

He is like Schache was beat up on the shite make his stats look good then go missing anytime he played a decent FB

 

[JTCWBFC]

Wouldn’t even bother drafting Holmes if he turns out to be any good you know he’d leave for Geelong in a few years for peanuts anyway