Analysis 2025 Draft watch

[Aphrodite]

 

[Stamos]

tweet "Carlton considering trading back again from pick 28 even though bid for Jack Ison won't precede it"

Is very, very different to:

Cal thinks that we think 28 is overs for Ison..

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Hoping we can get a pick in before an Ison is bid, although we desperately need KPF’s for our list depth & development, I’d be jumping on Noah Hibbens-Hargreaves i rate him as a backend top 10 draft prospect…

Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves Draft Profile

Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves is a proven clutch goalkicker who takes the ball cleanly overhead and is improving his midfield craft.

central.rookieme.com

Liam Hetherton 198cm KPF if we’re going down that path…

Liam Hetherton Draft Profile

Murray Bushrangers spearhead Liam Hetherton had his year cut short by injury, but showcased great mobility and scoreboard impact.

central.rookieme.com

 

[GeoCoulthard]

I don't know anything about any of the players we are interested in. I would say, however, that the one trait that I would love to see is someone who is a great mark. Without that attribute, the other strengths are somewhat diminished. It seems that all too often this facet of someone's game is overlooked.

 

[JuddgementDay]

"Ludowyke’s year was cut short by a knee injury but he showcased top-15 potential as an athletic marking forward. His speed and aggression are other traits which hold him in good stead."


Sounds familiar - a player with good upside, where we can get a bargain due to being injured

 

[HyphensBack]

Gimee Ludowyke!

I like the look of Louis Emmett - is his back issues resolved though

 

[Jimmae]

Have to say during last year with Ludowyke as an underaged KPF, I thought he projected as a top 5 pick this year. Injured through season, logic says he is a no brainer if available unless there is a residual health issue.

The thing is, there's another 2 players with exactly that descriptor still in the mix as well: Emmett and Hetherton. They all failed to make the climb, like Lemmey.

They are however, much less like Lemmey in terms of endurance and physicality/aggression. I think we'll have access to another of those 3 names after Greeves and Ison, if we want.

So there's still some interesting prospects available. I wouldn't expect Norf to bid on Ison and I would've thought a KPD such as Threadgold would suit the Doggies down to a tee.

If there are no bids on Ison before Pick 28 who would you like:

1. Riley Onley 195cm Balanced Mid
2. Louis Emmett 199cm Key Forward/Ruck
3. Jevan Philipou 183cm Forward/Mid
4. Matt LeRay 188cm Utility
5. Hunter Holmes 186cm Wing/Midfielder.

Matt LeRay - All Australian U18 Wing Selection. Plenty of scope for development and expansion of game. Dual sided and can just about be played anywhere. Like Cripps he's prepared to put in the work to get the best out of himself. Good leadership qualities.

Hunter Holmes - Quick and runs all day. Needs to develop some power and strength through the core to survive at AFL level, but if the club is prepared to be patient for that to occur over a couple of preseasons, he could prove to be just as effective as his brother.

Louis Emmett - Solid KPF/Ruck prospect. Attacks the ball in the air and has good leading patterns. Knows what he's trying to achieve whether as a forward or ruck. Will depend where the club sees his ceiling is. I like him better than Ludowyke.

Jevan Phillipou - Dual sided, quick, strong hands and has X-Factor. Is what I'd call a high-impact per possession type player. Defensive side of his game is non-existent though.

Riley Onley - Powerful tall mid with explosive acceleration out of the stoppage. Needs to improve his endurance to take his game to the next level. More of a balanced mid than and inside mid. Plenty of upside here if he's prepared to do the work. Of all the prospects I've mentioned here, Onley is definitely a project type.

No interest in Greeves, Hibbens-Hargreaves or Ludowyke?

If we do trade down then I hope we use that selection on Wes Walley.

That's going to require 2 more West Coast bids first and the belief that the Eagles won't go into a second round deficit... and it all has to happen before pick 36.

Not happening.

How many list spots do we have? Do we have room for ISON + 1?

Ison + 2, but we'd rule ourselves out of the remaining drafts and SSP (which is fine by me for the right player, we'll have an LTI before the end of March I'm sure).

 

[chickendippas]

Liam Hetherton 198cm KPF if we’re going down that path…

Liam Hetherton Draft Profile

Murray Bushrangers spearhead Liam Hetherton had his year cut short by injury, but showcased great mobility and scoreboard impact.

central.rookieme.com

From his bio:

‘He can also develop his decision making and composure when field kicking, as he can tend to run into trouble and dump the ball forward when looking to move the play on quickly.’

At least he’ll fit in well with the current game plan!

 

[sparkybagger]

Have enjoyed avoiding Blues news for a few weeks and missed draft night as I was socialising for once.

Have caught up today I was really impressed with the Chris Davies interview and the mindset they have thinking in terms points rather than picks. It's a more nuanced line of thinking than the "you gave up x first rounders for [random player]".

It makes it a quantifiable, objective way of analysing the objectives and outcomes. I like the way this bloke thinks.

 

[Bfevola]

Taylor Byrne now? Are we desperate for a 174cm small forward are we.? All out links have been to players of that ilk.


That pick will be speculative anyway, so take a risk Carlton. Dont go for the very very small speculative forward.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

We have 2 2026 firsts, 2 2027 firsts and a 2026 2nd tied to Norf. We have pick 1 covered.

If the AFL follow through with the two pick match rule, we will need to trade up using some of those extra picks.

 

[HyphensBack]

I like the look of Louis Emmett - is his back issues resolved though

Although that’s purely on my assessment of needs (KPF)

I like Hibbens-Hargreaves though - as a forward who appears strong overhead he looks like he could contribute in the next year or two as a Williams replacement and maybe we are better off not taking gambles with bigs who take a long time to develop

 

[marcmurphy3]

Taylor Byrne now? Are we desperate for a 174cm small forward are we.? All out links have been to players of that ilk.


That pick will be speculative anyway, so take a risk Carlton. Dont go for the very very small speculative forward.

But we have our quota of hard working <1 goal and <10 possesions a game small forwards to fill.

 

[Jimmae]

Looking over the rumours and comments, I think if we want to take Greeves, it basically has to be a straight pick at 28, as I'm not confident the Eagles would match Williams there.

Expecting Thredgold and Ludowyke off the board before that.

Taylor Byrne now? Are we desperate for a 174cm small forward are we.? All out links have been to players of that ilk.


That pick will be speculative anyway, so take a risk Carlton. Dont go for the very very small speculative forward.

Too early, but we might take him after bidding on Walley if they're still in the mix at our final pick.

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

From his bio:

‘He can also develop his decision making and composure when field kicking, as he can tend to run into trouble and dump the ball forward when looking to move the play on quickly.’

At least he’ll fit in well with the current game plan!

His decision making is actually top shelf, clean one touch player, skills wise by hands or feet & vision all very good… imo…

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

I don't know anything about any of the players we are interested in. I would say, however, that the one trait that I would love to see is someone who is a great mark. Without that attribute, the other strengths are somewhat diminished. It seems that all too often this facet of someone's game is overlooked.

Good mark, clean hands, no fumbling
All incredibly important traits that the good/great players all have…

 

[Bundy Bear Bogan]

tweet "Carlton considering trading back again from pick 28 even though bid for Jack Ison won't precede it"

I assume that's trading back to a future 2026 pick, not later this draft?

 

[Jimmae]

Expecting Thredgold and Ludowyke off the board before that.

Decent chance of Dogs going for Emmett instead of Ludowyke.

 

[bradfisher14]

Just get Ison and make the best deals possible for our 2026 draft hand. I'm not fussed about any of the players remaining. I like a few of them, but don't see any as a must have. Ludowyke, Emmett, or NHH I would be happy with, but I'd be just as happy to get more 2026 assets and hold an extra spot for SSP.

 

[Jimmae]

Just get Ison and make the best deals possible for our 2026 draft hand. I'm not fussed about any of the players remaining. I like a few of them, but don't see any as a must have. Ludowyke, Emmett, or NHH I would be happy with, but I'd be just as happy to get more 2026 assets and hold an extra spot for SSP.

People keep saying this, but we don't know what the rules are, and you just know we're going to be trading out players next year as well. There's the opportunity for pick swaps in player trades as required, particularly when teams feel a pick is swallowed up or locked in.

The value is on the board here and now, take the value and then take Ison. The only thing that should change that is a team riding in with a 2026 1st or 2nd.

 

[DollarsandSense]

I like the look of Kickett or Wes Walley (for obvious reasons) or anyone else from Wet Toast's NGA program. Just to annoy them.....

 

[katmanblue]

I like the look of Kickett or Wes Walley (for obvious reasons) or anyone else from Wet Toast's NGA program. Just to annoy them.....

Taylah williams...

 

[j-top]

Dont like top 4 block out. A club might get a gun fs once in 20 years. Shouldnt lose them because they happen to finish top 4 that year. The fact they will have poorer picks makes it harder to match already. Dont need to restrict further.

The issue with the compromised draft for me is not so much top teams, getting top players. It's the volume that's making a mess of the 1st round. And that's primarily driven by the academy's. Not fs. Restrict the number and that problem is alleviated.

What about they need to have at least one pick in same round as part of the point payment
Ie a bid in round 1 must have at least 1 round 1 pick + remaining points must be from picks in same or next round

 

[Jimmae]

What about they need to have at least one pick in same round as part of the point payment
Ie a bid in round 1 must have at least 1 round 1 pick + remaining points must be from picks in same or next round

Lions and West Coast both qualified for that this year, and so did we at the start of the draft.

That kind of thinking is also too rigid a grouping once you get towards the end of a round. The previously floated idea that extends upon that thinking is being within a certain numerical range.

 

[Blue By Blood]

Looking over the rumours and comments, I think if we want to take Greeves, it basically has to be a straight pick at 28, as I'm not confident the Eagles would match Williams there.

Expecting Thredgold and Ludowyke off the board before that.

Think North take Thredgold- that move definitely makes sense for them. I'd be surprised if the Doggies go for Ludowyke as they already have Darcy, Naughton, Croft. If they go tall I think they'd lean towards Emmett or Hetherton but that's just my gut instincts.

Think we get a pick of a handy player at 28 so I'd be disappointed if we chose to slide back (depending how far). Phillipou, NHH, Greeves are all exciting prospects with mid/forward chops and Ludowyke/Hetherton have some assets that are worthy of time to develop as a key tall. I'm not enamoured by these links to small forwards though. Surely we've learnt our lesson there.

 

[Jimmae]

Think North take Thredgold- that move definitely makes sense for them. I'd be surprised if the Doggies go for Ludowyke as they already have Darcy, Naughton, Croft. If they go tall I think they'd lean towards Emmett or Hetherton but that's just my gut instincts.

Think we get a pick of a handy player at 28 so I'd be disappointed if we chose to slide back (depending how far). Phillipou, NHH, Greeves are all exciting prospects with mid/forward chops and Ludowyke/Hetherton have some assets that are worthy of time to develop as a key tall. I'm not enamoured by these links to small forwards though. Surely we've learnt our lesson there.

I'm coming around to this as well. Dogs may go for Emmett as a future defensive option.

I think the Eagles will nab Greeves if we don't. Plenty of good speculative smalls and talls to take after Ison bid is done.