2025 Draft Thread

[Saintos The ITK]

So is Monty on an automatic two year contract for being drafted???

 

[Barrels]

St Kilda U23s

B: Hastie - Barrat - O’Connell
HB: Travaglia - Tauru - Fincher
C: Wilson - Boxshall - Garcia
HF: Phillipou - Caminiti - Banfield
F: Collard - Keeler - Owens
Foll: Dodson - NWM - Windhager
Int: Armstrong McDonald Said* Carroll*​

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Its all subjective but you can plainly see what Dalrymple values and I think his specialties will be those picks from #40 onwards. All the new recruits can run and they are all strong contested marks, which is something as a collective list we have needed to improve.

For what its worth I would have taken Noah Mraz 198cms over Barrat, but I read that Tauru has grown to 195cms so perhaps we have the talls covered. The club recruited Barrat to play as a key defender, but most of his junior career he was a forward - I would love to see him given an opportunity forward during the VFL season. Time will tell Barrat might end up making it as a very good key defender.

Lyon wants to play Caminiti forward again, but it may be in the future he returns to full back at some stage.

Love the beast mode for Banfield. Perhaps feels a strange one given similarities to Box, but we need some size and aggression. His dad was one tough mofo, I’d love some of that.

 

[gringo2011]

There's worse depth players to have than Byrnes. As long as he's not getting many (hopefully, any) games in the 1's I'm fine with it.

Or drastically improves. It's happened before. Sinclair was a fringe player for his first 7 seasons. Didn't really break out until his 8th year.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

So is Monty on an automatic two year contract for being drafted???

It seems so, but it would be at base $$$.

 

[stavro#4]

21/11/25

Here are Dalrymple's bold draft picks at St Kilda so far, where he has chosen a player he likes over a higher ranked player externally. Time will tell if he was right or wrong with each, this is a long-term record to give him credit or hold him accountable when we are ready to make a call.

I have added my personal thoughts at this time but in no way do I consider myself a draft expert so don't hate on me if I get anything wrong!

2024
Travaglia over Murphy Reid. Current thoughts: not too worried that Reid had a much better first year, but TT has not shown a lot YET. Guessing that Reid will have more ups and downs over his career and TT will be more of a consistent, solid player over a long career.

Barrat over Jack Whitlock. Current thoughts: neither has impressed yet. On the surface, Whitlock's 200cm frame appeals more than Barrat as a 194cm KPP, but this decision will take years to really judge.

2025
Banfield (WA) over Archie Ludowyke. current thoughts: not too fussed - pick 41 in a seemingly weak draft and Ludowyke was not picked up until 50, so clearly the clubs did not rate him highly. But on the surface, as a key forward with apparently a high ceiling and a local boy (plus a saints fan), I'm very surprised we did not pick Ludowyke, who was expected to be picked in the 20s. From the little I have seen of Banfield's clips, he does not excite me - hope I'm wrong.

Not sure how comparable pick 8 Travaglia vs pick 17 Reid was.

For the record. Including us, 5 clubs between Travaglia and Reid overlooked taking Murphy.

Travaglia has ALOT of really high upside. He needs to build his frame. Where Murphy is Smart player in the mould of Sidebottom. Travaglia standout attributes are physical and his competitiveness.

Physically he needs time to build a frame to go with his tank. Competitively he needs to learn the game at AFL level as he is often drawn to a contest instead of holding width.

5 years from now, we will be thrilled with Tobie. Happy to be quoted on this. That’s how confident I am we nailed those 2 picks even if I was desperate for a Langford.

Barrat had a very good year playing back and forward in his draft year. Not sure we have even scratched the surface with him. Was playing key back for a horrifically shit Sandringham. Judge him on what we see with a competent VFL program

 

[gringo2011]

We are chips in for a tilt. Ronnie is afl standard and can play a role to cover injuries. Runs his guts out. Much rather call on him for injury cover when we are aiming for finals than a speculative 18 yo that gives inconsistent performance. We have plenty of developing youth, our time is now

And he's a role model for how he prepares, he works as hard as anyone. When an 18 year old kid rocks up and sees that the 33rd guy in line is working like the captain it sets an example. Under Richo and Ratts there were a lot of guys that were genuinely just happy to be AFL players with not much ambition. Pace setters are important inside a club.

 

[gringo2011]

I like his endeavor and he doesnt die wondering but Ronnie is easily exposed when head to head against players who are strong overhead and drag him deep into defense ... he was exposed badly by Dempsey against Cats this year .... he is your classic old school rover and is better used in the midfield but we have better players in there now and also have better options to play wing

He'a probably one of the best kicks inside 50 at the club. Not a pretty kick anywhere else but he uses it well when setting up someone else. His ideal role is probably high half forward but he's a jack of all trades so gets thrown around.

 

[gringo2011]

Fincher played mostly as a defender, moved into the midfield late.
From what I've seen of him, he can attack & defend in equal measure.

I think the knock on him is that he can play a bit loose trying to attack too much off HB. If we can work on that side of his game he looks as good as most of the more highly drafted kids this year.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

Mratz is slow more like a ruck. Where as Barrat is agile, can play as a key forward/back and even play in the midfield.. On top of that, Barrat is high impact and very resilient.(lost a parent and had overcome injuries). Think we got it right. Barrat should also grow from 194 to 196/197 being a November baby.

Mraz is far from slow and before injury was the best intercept marking/attacking key defender in his draft class. He is also versatile having been thrown into the ruck at times. I watched all of Barrat's VFL games and it was obvious he was consistently out sized, he is a baby football wise, but he looked one of those players who didnt appear to have the capacity to play on the bigger/taller opponents. That may change if Wilkie gets to work with him, lets hope it does.

 

[Falchoon]

21/11/25

Here are Dalrymple's bold draft picks at St Kilda so far, where he has chosen a player he likes over a higher ranked player externally. Time will tell if he was right or wrong with each, this is a long-term record to give him credit or hold him accountable when we are ready to make a call.

I have added my personal thoughts at this time but in no way do I consider myself a draft expert so don't hate on me if I get anything wrong!

2024
Travaglia over Murphy Reid. Current thoughts: not too worried that Reid had a much better first year, but TT has not shown a lot YET. Guessing that Reid will have more ups and downs over his career and TT will be more of a consistent, solid player over a long career.

Barrat over Jack Whitlock. Current thoughts: neither has impressed yet. On the surface, Whitlock's 200cm frame appeals more than Barrat as a 194cm KPP, but this decision will take years to really judge.

2025
Banfield (WA) over Archie Ludowyke. current thoughts: not too fussed - pick 41 in a seemingly weak draft and Ludowyke was not picked up until 50, so clearly the clubs did not rate him highly. But on the surface, as a key forward with apparently a high ceiling and a local boy (plus a saints fan), I'm very surprised we did not pick Ludowyke, who was expected to be picked in the 20s. From the little I have seen of Banfield's clips, he does not excite me - hope I'm wrong.

3rd hand rumour is/was that Murphy Reid was never on our radar due to some issues at Caulfield Grammar with a member of the Lyon family.

 

[gringo2011]

21/11/25

Here are Dalrymple's bold draft picks at St Kilda so far, where he has chosen a player he likes over a higher ranked player externally. Time will tell if he was right or wrong with each, this is a long-term record to give him credit or hold him accountable when we are ready to make a call.

I have added my personal thoughts at this time but in no way do I consider myself a draft expert so don't hate on me if I get anything wrong!

2024
Travaglia over Murphy Reid. Current thoughts: not too worried that Reid had a much better first year, but TT has not shown a lot YET. Guessing that Reid will have more ups and downs over his career and TT will be more of a consistent, solid player over a long career.

Barrat over Jack Whitlock. Current thoughts: neither has impressed yet. On the surface, Whitlock's 200cm frame appeals more than Barrat as a 194cm KPP, but this decision will take years to really judge.

2025
Banfield (WA) over Archie Ludowyke. current thoughts: not too fussed - pick 41 in a seemingly weak draft and Ludowyke was not picked up until 50, so clearly the clubs did not rate him highly. But on the surface, as a key forward with apparently a high ceiling and a local boy (plus a saints fan), I'm very surprised we did not pick Ludowyke, who was expected to be picked in the 20s. From the little I have seen of Banfield's clips, he does not excite me - hope I'm wrong.

Was devastated that we missed out on Reid at the time but I can see why we went the way we did. Murphy is slow and Lyon doesn't rate guys who can't move at pace and spread quickly. He's obviously looking like he's so good he overcomes his limitations at this point but who knows when he is expected to move full time on ball. Travaglia if he comes on has weapons. He's a prototype modern footballer, fast, rangy, high endurance, good overhead and off the ground, fast thinking and attacking etc.

Barratt looks along way back at the moment but he was very exposed. Wouldn't have been my fist choice but he's wait and see.

I don't think we need a project tall forward. We are stacked for forwards and Keeler looks worth persisting with. Banfield again looks prototype for a Lyon player. Has run and pace, good all-round skills and a big game player.

 

[gringo2011]

Mraz is far from slow and before injury was the best intercept marking/attacking key defender in his draft class. He is also versatile having been thrown into the ruck at times. I watched all of Barrat's VFL games and it was obvious he was consistently out sized, he is a baby football wise, but he looked one of those players who didnt appear to have the capacity to play on the bigger/taller opponents. That may change if Wilkie gets to work with him, lets hope it does.

Mraz was going top 10 as an under 17.He would have been a god get.

 

[gringo2011]

We also have mature bodies like Carrol and Clark who can play roles if required. Anyway, a pick 50 will more than likely than not delisted in 2 years, so probably a moot point.

Clark is very limited. Really inside mid and unaccountable HBF. Carroll was a pick him up and hope that he might become a player still type. He's played 24 games and looked uninspiring at senior level for us. He's probably not depth much as a project. Dow is more the mature depth option but he's positionally limited too. Byrnes plays because he can run end to end with the play all day and play multiple small roles.

Byrnes probably never makes it as a full time best 22 but he's going to at least give it a crack.

 

[gringo2011]

Wasn't Travaglia ranked higher externally than Reid prior to last year's draft?

Murphy Reid was polarising with some suggesting he was the best in the draft and others saying he was too slow. Travaglia came in a bit late. He went slightly ahead of where a lot had him.

Faull, Armstrong, Hotton and Trainor all drifted out from where people thought that they'd go. Allen too.

Lindsay and Travaglia were both excellent in the Country v Metro match and their stocks rose.

 

[gringo2011]

Not sure how comparable pick 8 Travaglia vs pick 17 Reid was.

For the record. Including us, 5 clubs between Travaglia and Reid overlooked taking Murphy.

Travaglia has ALOT of really high upside. He needs to build his frame. Where Murphy is Smart player in the mould of Sidebottom. Travaglia standout attributes are physical and his competitiveness.

Physically he needs time to build a frame to go with his tank. Competitively he needs to learn the game at AFL level as he is often drawn to a contest instead of holding width.

5 years from now, we will be thrilled with Tobie. Happy to be quoted on this. That’s how confident I am we nailed those 2 picks even if I was desperate for a Langford.

Barrat had a very good year playing back and forward in his draft year. Not sure we have even scratched the surface with him. Was playing key back for a horrifically shit Sandringham. Judge him on what we see with a competent VFL program

I reckon Travaglia was the safer bet than Tauru. If Alix comes on he's unicorn but he had a higher bust factor. Travaglia has a full suite of skills. I think injury and attitude are the only things that will stop him becoming a very good player.

 

[ThomasR]

its called list management

Maybe we would prefer to keep an extra list spot open for next year's draft or for a free agent once we delist Byrnes proper at the end of next season .... rather than using it on a new draftee this year who we would have to give a 2 year contract to and won't be as good as player's in next year's draft ..... or the free agent we are looking at

That's my take

if that was the only intention, we could have kept Said on the primary list and opened a rookie spot (1 year deal on lesser salary)

it's a vote of confidence in Byrnes and the club clearly prefers him as a player to all the other options out there. which is fine. I have been a long time defender and hoped he would take a step up last season but didn't. pigeonholed himself as a Mr Fixit without being able to make a position his own

personally would have liked to see Blamires/Voss get a look in as that ready-made depth as I think we are a bit thin for run & distribution from behind, considering NWM/Flanders will be playing majority mid minutes. but I guess sometimes it's easier/safer to stick to what you know and Byrnes' versatiility and running gives us a little bit of coverage across the park

 

[Joffaboy]

Where did you hear Viking is 195cm?

He is taller than Coops whom he is currently playing on. Sharman is 194cm.

 

[Hayes4PM]

St Kilda U23s

B: Hastie - Barrat - O’Connell
HB: Travaglia - Tauru - Fincher
C: Wilson - Boxshall - Garcia
HF: Phillipou - Caminiti - Banfield
F: Collard - Keeler - Owens
Foll: Dodson - NWM - Windhager
Int: Armstrong McDonald Said* Carroll*​

Compare this U23 crop to the early to mid 2010's group we had at one stage where we set our hopes on... Tom Ledger, Tom Curren, Josh Saunders, Daniel Markworth, Nathan Wright, Tom Lee, Brodie Murdoch, Jay Lever, Lewis Pearce etc. I know it's easy to pick and choose guys that do and don't make it but by god did we have a LOT not make it. And some of those guys just straight up could not kick.

Compare to now, most of those guys look AFL players already. Maybe Barrat, Armstrong, Said in the iffy category. Collard and Carroll show glimpses and have components of their game that looks great but not definite AFL tier players yet. And the rest look comfortable at AFL level.

 

[Leigh58]

Picking Tex to keep Nas happy is going to come back and bite them if they do it , what if Nas up and goes home after his two years ?
You cant let the tail wag the Dog,

Absolutely agree with this comment

 

[stavro#4]

Pretty good explanation of things

 

[SaintersFan]

Insta post from last night for those wondering if Box and Banfield know or played together in WA. Go Saints!

 

[OxSaint]

Pretty good explanation of things

I took the rookie draft comment as we will re-rookie said and that’s it. Did I hear that right?

 

[g_TRAIN]

Interesting that we see Kye as a forward mid.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Midfield depth

Nas
Windy
Macrae
Flanders
Garcia
Wilson
Hall
Hill
Boxshall
Henry
Pou
Wood

So at the bottom of that list the question is Byrnes or player yet to be drafted (the alternative with that pick is a player who was not drafted last night). In what was a weak draft. It's fine.

Clark, Dow and Carroll as well, so with Byrnes that takes it up to 16 blokes who could be legitimately fighting for a wing or inside spot in the team, and that doesn’t even include Trav, who could also play wing at a minimum.

So as many as 17 fighting for the 5 midfield/wing spots, plus 2 or 3 on the bench.

We might not have the midfield and wing top-end talent of some teams, but we sure don’t lack depth or options now and competition for spots will be fierce.