Analysis 2025 Draft watch

[Aphrodite]

 

[Bluebag13]

Honestly expected better from Whately, giving into the hyperbole rather than really looking into what's happened

Whateley’s major problem with the AFL Draft

The compromised nature of the draft has been questioned.

www.sen.com.au

 

[Sonny Jim]

What happened to Gresham?
Surely we go best available, then Ison, then a rookie spot for Gresham?
Do we have a rookie spot?

 

[Brezsa]

I wonder if it's just that the sun's academy is more centralised so that the best players end up there.

Whereas with the WAFL, I presume, it's more spread out. So the best aren't always competing with the best.

I think we have a clear issue in WA talent pathways. There was 1 WA player drafted last night & 6 QLD players, great for QLD footy but for a traditional state it’s bad. You can see it in the state of origin squad as well & it’s probably even worst in an under 21 sense.

If state of Origin sticks around, over the next 5 years or so, a Queensland state of origin team would be a more viable prospect than a WA State of Origin team.

The success of northern academies is great don’t get me wrong but think it’s highlighting the issue that nobody else is talking about around talent coming from WA & SA at the moment

 

[dumb]

i'm not old, but i'm too old to try to begin trying to understand drafting anymore. so, well done all involved for carlton winning the draft this year.

 

[Bfevola]

Would rather try Gresham than that Geelong VFL guy. Honestly. What about Minjara clark?

 

[Sector 7G]

Would rather try Gresham than that Geelong VFL guy. Honestly. What about Minjara clark?

I would rather stick with Will White than a goal a game VFL SF from Geelong.

 

[Bletch]

Honestly expected better from Whately, giving into the hyperbole rather than really looking into what's happened

Whateley’s major problem with the AFL Draft

The compromised nature of the draft has been questioned.

www.sen.com.au

Whately's just a mouthpiece for his employer these days.

 

[Bluebag13]

Whately's just a mouthpiece for his employer these days.

True

 

[katmanblue]

I’d just hold 28 and take Phillipou if it were up to me.

We need a smart, skilful type in the Steele Sidebottom mould - and it’d be a nice little PR win over the Saints after the TDK/SOS saga.

Then try flipping our 27 F1 into 26, or go into 27 with a deficit to get Cody.

Sell him for a 1st down the track if StKilda want him badly enough

 

[Blue_Fusion]

Agree. Either go for a project tall forward. Or Philippou or Greeves. They are untried. Murray would have been taken by Geelong if he was any good. I trust their eye for talent.

List managers need to plan for worst case scenarios too.

Murray was probably one we looked at had Ison been bid on earlier and our pick pushed further back.

Highly doubt he's in our plans if we use 28 as a live pick.

 

[bigblueboy]

If we are going to draft an untried tall forward from this draft we should just have kept Lemmey.
Think it’s most likely we go small or nothing at all.

 

[TerryWallet]

Im hoping for Phillipou or an F2 trade. While I agree we need a KPF none available excite me.

And that's the thing with KPP's. They are/should be a 5 year investment, so you better like them a lot. We obviously were really confident in HOF for example, so he was an easy pick to take. If we are really big fans of a Ludowyck, Heatherton or Emmett for example, then we should consider hard in picking them. No probs with that.

But if we don't really like them we should be patient until one we do love comes along.

Imo, i think the bonus of getting this live Pick 28 this year can be used several ways. My order would be:

1) If a player in the Top 20 of our board is available...Pick him. Especially if he's a KPF.
2) trade it for as much 2026 capital as we can, which is a stronger draft, and also gives us stronger trade leverage.
3) Just pick best available

All good options btw. So it looks like we've wangled ourselves out of a tight situation that WC put us in, and came out in fine shape in the end.

 

[blueboy25]

If we are going to draft an untried tall forward from this draft we should just have kept Lemmey.
Think it’s most likely we go small or nothing at all.

We tried Lemmey at the club for 3 years and he wasn't up to it.

Bit different from a 18yo kid

 

[Blue__Balls]

Is there a "ranking" list floating around somewhere of "who is left"? Feel like I've seen them in years gone by, but nothing this time around.

 

[Soapy V]

What is our obsession with average small forwards for us. We need talls. Our list is a bit unbalanced.

Agree. Issue is we have some average from small forwards

I believe we need a KPF but unless there is a good one you don't bother and go for best player available

Be interesting how this all plays out

 

[Bluebag13]

Is there a "ranking" list floating around somewhere of "who is left"? Feel like I've seen them in years gone by, but nothing this time around.

The Next 10: Top draft prospects left on the board

There is plenty of talent left on the board heading into night two of the 2025 AFL Draft. We highlight 10 prospects to watch.

central.rookieme.com

 

[marcmurphy3]

And that's the thing with KPP's. They are/should be a 5 year investment, so you better like them a lot. We obviously were really confident in HOF for example, so he was an easy pick to take. If we are really big fans of a Ludowyck, Heatherton or Emmett for example, then we should consider hard in picking them. No probs with that.

But if we don't really like them we should be patient until one we do love comes along.

Imo, i think the bonus of getting this live Pick 28 this year can be used several ways. My order would be:

1) If a player in the Top 20 of our board is available...Pick him. Especially if he's a KPF.
2) trade it for as much 2026 capital as we can, which is a stronger draft, and also gives us stronger trade leverage.
3) Just pick best available

All good options btw. So it looks like we've wangled ourselves out of a tight situation that WC put us in, and came out in fine shape in the end.

Yeah you pretty much know KPFs wont be good after 3 years. Need to invest at least 5, so you want to be sure that the guy you choose has enough talent to justify that investment. Same with rucks. And if youre picking late its hard to find a guy youd want to invest that much time in.

 

[tarczonandjane]

talor byrne not bad, solid lefty

Fox Sports linked us to him yesterday

 

[Blue__Balls]

The Next 10: Top draft prospects left on the board

There is plenty of talent left on the board heading into night two of the 2025 AFL Draft. We highlight 10 prospects to watch.

central.rookieme.com

Cheers!

Ended up going through the RookieMe profile list by position in the meantime, and looks like there are a few very viable options for us (though some tied to clubs via NGA).

Smalls:

Jevan Phillipou Draft Profile

Woodville-West Torrens prospect Jevan Phillipou is a powerful athlete capable of impacting games in the air and on the scoreboard.

central.rookieme.com

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

Hussien El Achkar Draft Profile

Essendon NGA prospect Hussien El Achkar is an opportunistic goalsneak who causes headaches for opposition defenders.

central.rookieme.com

Leon Kickett Draft Profile

Swan Districts forward Leon Kickett is a mercurial goalsneak who flies for high marks and hunts the opposition with tackle pressure.

central.rookieme.com

Zane Peucker Draft Profile

Woodville-West Torrens powerhouse Zane Peucker is an explosive small forward who crafts high-impact plays at speed.

central.rookieme.com

Wesley Walley Draft Profile

Subiaco and West Coast NGA forward Wes Walley possesses classic small forward tropes and plenty of upside to extract at the top level.

central.rookieme.com

Tylah Williams Draft Profile

West Coast NGA prospect Tylah Williams is an energetic small forward who uses his speed to hurt the opposition up and back.

central.rookieme.com

Talls:

Tairon Ah-Mu Draft Profile

Dandenong Stingrays prospect Tairon Ah-Mu uses his physicality and craft to monster opponents up forward and in the ruck.

central.rookieme.com

Archie Ludowyke Draft Profile

Sandringham Dragons prospect Archie Ludowyke is a high-flying and athletic key forward with plenty of upside.

central.rookieme.com

Louis Emmett Draft Profile

Oakleigh Chargers ruck-forward Louis Emmett is an athletic key position prospect whose running capacity impressed at the draft combine.

central.rookieme.com

 

[blueboy25]

Honestly expected better from Whately, giving into the hyperbole rather than really looking into what's happened

Whateley’s major problem with the AFL Draft

The compromised nature of the draft has been questioned.

www.sen.com.au

I wonder if Gerard went off about Gold Coast when this happened a few years ago.

JACK Bowes is officially a Geelong player, with the 2022 premier locking away the Gold Coast midfielder along with the No.7

Gold Coast received a future third-round selection in return.

Or was it ok because it benefited his beloved Geelong

 

[jimsta10]

Where did he say that? Just odd cause if a bid isn't expected until after 28 we won't be giving up 28 for Ison.

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

 

[katmanblue]

Yeah, I dont personally think we need another small forward.

A good one, on the other hand ...

 

[Uncle Fester]

Whately's just a mouthpiece for his employer these days.

the suns spent the equivalent of 2 Pick 8s and 2 pick 10s last night - thats a fair price

 

[carlton_99]

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

Ah ok sorry thought he said we didnt think Ison was worth 28.

 

[beowulf]

It's a bit easier for Sydney to pick good players when you have only one other team to compete with in the whole state.
Here we have 10. Although the Vic clubs could do a lot more. I believe Carlton hasn't had one player come through and play a senior game from its NGA. I could be wrong. Maybe Ison if selected, will be the first.

Indeed, if Ison plays a senior game he will be the first.
Our only other Academy player was Dom Akuei, who didn't play a senior game and played for the Drug Cheat 2nds in 2025.