2025 Draft Thread

[stefoid]

lindsay looks pretty good in the highlights - doesnt miss a kick! But if you watch the 'every touch from a single game' style of video you get a better picture



how many of these 21 disposals find a teammate cleanly? Is this game an aberation, or more pressure because its. quarter final?

 

[goodcop badcop]

The draft is in less than two weeks, and it has been the quietest I can remember in terms of who players are linked to club wise.

Just read the full code sports phantom it does go into a bit. It linked us to Dovaston, Lindsay, O Taylor, Carmichael, Hibbins-Hargreaves, Krasnadamskis.

Also mentioned the Giants are super keen on Oskar Taylor and some people believe he won't make it past them. Hawks are linked to a few of ours too Dovaston and Lindsay.

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

lindsay looks pretty good in the highlights - doesnt miss a kick! But if you watch the 'every touch from a single game' style of video you get a better picture



how many of these 21 disposals find a teammate cleanly? Is this game an aberation, or more pressure because its. quarter final?

I agree re:highlights vs every touch videos. I straight up don’t watch highlights anymore, they’re practically worthless.

The “every touch” videos are a big part of what formed my opinion that NHH isn’t suited to the wing role, and why I question the claims about him being a classy ball user. He’s got incredible goal sense, and definite x-factor as a forward, but his field kicking feels poor. His kicks are never weighted nicely for a team mate to run onto which is the biggest issue. Any player with a few weeks of training can hit a stationary target under no pressure, but kicking a ball perfectly into space for an opponent to run onto while you’re under pressure is something only the classiest users can consistently pull off, and NHH is not one of them

 

[goodcop badcop]

I agree re:highlights vs every touch videos. I straight up don’t watch highlights anymore, they’re practically worthless.

The “every touch” videos are a big part of what formed my opinion that NHH isn’t suited to the wing role, and why I question the claims about him being a classy ball user. He’s got incredible goal sense, and definite x-factor as a forward, but his field kicking feels poor. His kicks are never weighted nicely for a team mate to run onto which is the biggest issue. Any player with a few weeks of training can hit a stationary target under no pressure, but kicking a ball perfectly into space for an opponent to run onto while you’re under pressure is something only the classiest users can consistently pull off, and NHH is not one of them

Watching live games is even more important. I tend to take people a lot more seriously that have watched them live, I know from personal experience you judge players a lot better. I watched a lot of live footy in 2017 and 2023 in particular and found I had a much better read. I haven't seen much live footy this year unfortunately.

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

Watching live games is even more important. I tend to take people a lot more seriously that have watched them live, I know from personal experience you judge players a lot better. I watched a lot of live footy in 2017 and 2023 in particular and found I had a much better read. I haven't seen much live footy this year unfortunately.

I agree on live games of course. In person is best, then full games online, then “every touch”, then highlights. I’ve watched very little full length games this year outside of the championships because of a general lack of interest in this year’s crop (and because of the increasingly compromised nature of the draft). For me it’s been 2019 and 2023 that I paid the most attention to, and spent the most time watching games.

I was more just discussing the merits of watching shortened YouTube videos - if you don’t have multiple hours to spend watching a game, or can’t watch in person, then the 4-5 minute every touch videos are an infinitely better option than highlights, which I feel tell you next to nothing about a player.

 

[Mojorisin]

Watching live games is even more important. I tend to take people a lot more seriously that have watched them live, I know from personal experience you judge players a lot better. I watched a lot of live footy in 2017 and 2023 in particular and found I had a much better read. I haven't seen much live footy this year unfortunately.

Last year I went to 3+ games a week (depending on when the dogs played and if the carnival was on) and watched the rest of the CTL games on replay. This year I watched less replays but still tried to go to as many games per weekend when I was up to it. Live is certainly a better indicator especially to judge endurance bases, defensive intent and leadership potentials.

 

[MrChristo]

But Lindsay might be their man if he gets past the likes of Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney. One of the best kick’s in the draft pool with a laser-like left-foot, he has drawn Christian Salem comparisons

Are they actually saying that like it's a good thing?!
(And if it's correct, then it's a massive no from me).

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

Last year I went to 3+ games a week (depending on when the dogs played and if the carnival was on) and watched the rest of the CTL games on replay. This year I watched less replays but still tried to go to as many games per weekend when I was up to it. Live is certainly a better indicator especially to judge endurance bases, defensive intent and leadership potentials.

Your last point is a very good one - without watching in person (which I rarely get the chance to do) it’s next to impossible to comment on endurance, second efforts, etc. so I try to avoid criticising a player for being “lazy” or “unfit” given I can only get this impression from second hand information and not form that opinion myself. These are traits that are far less obvious than something like speed or aerial ability

 

[VitalDread]

Feel like half back is one of our strongest group of players

So I'll be disappointed if we draft a half back in the first round

 

[Mojorisin]

Feel like half back is one of our strongest group of players

So I'll be disappointed if we draft a half back in the first round

We have alot of half backs/medium defenders I wouldn't say its a line we have great quality in though.

 

[iambrilliant]

We have alot of half backs/medium defenders I wouldn't say its a line we have great quality in though.

Definitely not ones who can defend well. If they defend well I’m all for strengthening our defence

 

[goodcop badcop]

Last year I went to 3+ games a week (depending on when the dogs played and if the carnival was on) and watched the rest of the CTL games on replay. This year I watched less replays but still tried to go to as many games per weekend when I was up to it. Live is certainly a better indicator especially to judge endurance bases, defensive intent and leadership potentials.

You can miss a certain wow factor as well. Watching some players hit high difficulty kicks under pressure is impressive on video. What's even more impressive is when they do it under your direct eyeline and you wonder how they even saw the player. It still looks good on video, but it just adds that extra wow factor especially when they do it a few times. Sheezel and Daicos are two players that spring to mind from recent memory and I was surprised they didn't go No 1.

From this year I've gotta say I have an extremely high opinion on the two live games I've seen of Sullivan Robey. I don't think he has the best aerobic capacity, but has a physical presence that you can't always see on video. Quite often bullying his opposition off and on the ball and you can see others walk taller around him. Can be quite selfless in blocking for his teammates as well. Whoever takes him has an out and out gun in my opinion.

 

[weltschmerz]

Definitely not ones who can defend well. If they defend well I’m all for strengthening our defence

Oskar Taylor has actual defensive nous as well as half back craft.

 

[iambrilliant]

Oskar Taylor has actual defensive nous as well as half back craft.

Seems like he’s a safe bet with our first

 

[Mojorisin]

Oskar Taylor has actual defensive nous as well as half back craft.

Taylor, Lindsay and Thomas are like the three bears. Thomas is the best defensively and has worked on his drive, Taylor the most well balanced with Lindsay very Offensive minded.

 

[Mojorisin]

You can miss a certain wow factor as well. Watching some players hit high difficulty kicks under pressure is impressive on video. What's even more impressive is when they do it under your direct eyeline and you wonder how they even saw the player. It still looks good on video, but it just adds that extra wow factor especially when they do it a few times. Sheezel and Daicos are two players that spring to mind from recent memory and I was surprised they didn't go No 1.

From this year I've gotta say I have an extremely high opinion on the two live games I've seen of Sullivan Robey. I don't think he has the best aerobic capacity, but has a physical presence that you can't always see on video. Quite often bullying his opposition off and on the ball and you can see others walk taller around him. Can be quite selfless in blocking for his teammates as well. Whoever takes him has an out and out gun in my opinion.

Robey reminds me of a well built race horse.
Watching Thomas live is certainly a different experience aswell. His defensive intent is a stark contrast to what you typically see kids apply in the CTL, most get too caught up in showing off what they can do offensively (hopefully Lindsay's issue) and going for handball receives that they completely forget they're responsible for an opponent or sit back instead of helping a teammate hoping to provide rebound then be the one to actually win the possession.

 

[Bonti 5416]

Find it hard to believe we wouldn’t be into Jevan Phillipou.

I mean yes, his injury kept him out of National Champs so he’s a little unproven but theres a fair chance that if he played he would be picked ahead of Grlj as best outside mid.

Athletic profile is elite and the fact he has good skills on both feet means there is plenty to work with.

His old man played for the dogs and brother in melb might help him stay long term. At very worst he is surely some quality Butters capital for Port.
Fills an absolute list need though if he can put it all together.

 

[Bonti 5416]

Taylor, Lindsay and Thomas are like the three bears. Thomas is the best defensively and has worked on his drive, Taylor the most well balanced with Lindsay very Offensive minded.

All 3 couldn’t lock down on goldilocks, even when she was sleeping in their bed.

 

[Wizard17]

Feel like half back is one of our strongest group of players

So I'll be disappointed if we draft a half back in the first round

Wouldn't mind a mid sized halfback that defends but at the same time we really need to fill the outside midfield and flanks with better quality players and find a KPD somewhere. Another developing ruck is probably on my list two considering that English is closing in on 30 and the only back up we have in Smith is still unproven, they take time to develop and having another option there for post English would certainly be something I'd see as having to be a pick in either this draft or the next at some point.

 

[Golden_6]

Feel like half back is one of our strongest group of players

So I'll be disappointed if we draft a half back in the first round

I couldn’t disagree more.

Who are our half backs? Dale is elite but will be 30 next year. Bramble is solid but is a 27 year old C grader. JJ was favoured over others and is now delisted. Williams is mostly wing now. Who else on our list has proven they can play half back long term?

We’re in desperate need of an Ed Richards type in defence.

 

[maddog37]

Wouldn’t mind a Luke Hodge.

 

[Mofra]

Wouldn’t mind a Luke Hodge.

Don't think he's coming out of retirement again mate

 

[stefoid]

Feel like half back is one of our strongest group of players

So I'll be disappointed if we draft a half back in the first round

I think we chase quality with this pick, regardless of position. If they are good enough, we can move them around - richards was a defender. Freijah was a wing (and we seem determined to play him anywhere but wing for some reason)

 

[Mofra]

I think we chase quality with this pick, regardless of position. If they are good enough, we can move them around - richards was a defender. Freijah was a wing (and we seem determined to play him anywhere but wing for some reason)

100% my thoughts as well. First round especially we need to go best available. Then balance talent & needs with our second pick.

 

[Mojorisin]

100% my thoughts as well. First round especially we need to go best available. Then balance talent & needs with our second pick.

It is helpful our needs will also likely be best available.