Review 2025 National Draft Thread | Dovaston #16 / Thredgold #26 / Mikunda #48

[roos_fanatic08]

Watched both the academy game and the young guns game over the weekend. Once again I’m definitely not seeing enough from the supposed top tier to get excited about this draft crop especially compared to last year.

Cody Curtin and Louie Emmett probably been the most disappointing, having not really had much of an impact in either of the two academy games. Ludowyck has been good in both games as a key forward but his style is a little vanilla, kind of reminds me of a Schache or Weideman lead up type rather than a dominant/physical key forward.

Liked Ollie Greeves game with his ability to break tackles and fend off. His ball use can be so hit and miss though.

In the young guns game there wasn’t many stand out overage players and it was a super scrappy game with windy and wet conditions. Not too fussed if we don’t end up getting an MSD selection, and if we do I hope we go with a mature ager rather than a 19 year old, other than Charlie Orchard there probably aren’t many I’d be interested in.

For the fringe metro players that played against the young guns Lachie Dovaston stood out to me again. Zac Bailey

33

Zac Bailey

Age

26

Ht

181cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.9

3star

D

12.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

5.6

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.4

3star

CL

0.7

3star

D

13.4

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

6.8

5star

M

3.2

4star

T

2.8

5star

CL

0.6

3star

type half forward that has some real energy about his game, pushed up to the wings and provided plenty of link up play. Thing that stood out to me though was his excellent balance and ground level game in slippery conditions. Kid is going to be a star at the next level imo.

 

[LB2Snake]

Is there really somebody called Duff Tytler?

Poor bastard

Yep and looks like the hybrid aggressive ruck who goes forward type with plenty of ability. Will go pick 1 or 2 by the looks of things. Terrific.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Watched both the academy game and the young guns game over the weekend. Once again I’m definitely not seeing enough from the supposed top tier to get excited about this draft crop especially compared to last year.

Cody Curtin and Louie Emmett probably been the most disappointing, having not really had much of an impact in either of the two academy games. Ludowyck has been good in both games as a key forward but his style is a little vanilla, kind of reminds me of a Schache or Weideman lead up type rather than a dominant/physical key forward.

Liked Ollie Greeves game with his ability to break tackles and fend off. His ball use can be so hit and miss though.

In the young guns game there wasn’t many stand out overage players and it was a super scrappy game with windy and wet conditions. Not too fussed if we don’t end up getting an MSD selection, and if we do I hope we go with a mature ager rather than a 19 year old, other than Charlie Orchard there probably aren’t many I’d be interested in.

For the fringe metro players that played against the young guns Lachie Dovaston stood out to me again. Zac Bailey type half forward that has some real energy about his game, pushed up to the wings and provided plenty of link up play. Thing that stood out to me though was his excellent balance and ground level game in slippery conditions. Kid is going to be a star at the next level imo.

I'm pretty underwhelmed from the highlights clips and games I've watched.
Definitely not the same crop of top 6 mids as last year at this early stage. Talls not sure on.
Ludowyke and Curtin stand out as players as needs in the top 20.

Rory Wright or Josh Lindsay might perhaps be able to be that running mid/half back type?
Best small fwds tied to other clubs like WCE, * or Freo. Dovaston looks interesting, but how quick is he?
Feel like we need a forward with elite speed to put some fear into the opposition backs.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Big fan of this kid. Good skills, tough, excellent ground level player.

These highlights probably don't show how quick of a thinker he is though, in wet conditions.

 

[hoffseason gains 01]

Big fan of this kid. Good skills, tough, excellent ground level player.

These highlights probably don't show how quick of a thinker he is though, in wet conditions.

Yeah - he’s my ‘no matter what’ if he’s available for us

 

[DuckYeah]

Yeh dont agree. I havent liked father son as academies have taken ours, our only two decent ones anyway (one where the FS rule was changed from 50/100 games, and I swear it was because of GWS and we couldn’t have acces). Father sons, unless in the 3rd round, just go into the draft.

Jimmy, I cant agree with your academy opinion. I think sure, clubs can develop players funded by the AFL but if they are in the first 2 rounds of the draft, then that pick must be used to grab em. So like father sons, players can enter the draft like everyone else.

Its a complete joke the system we have now.

 

[Hazey1977]

Is there really somebody called Duff Tytler?

Poor bastard

I can't believe no one picked up on the fella called Wes Walley a few pages back!

Untaggable they reckon as he go a whole game unsighted. Difficult to pick out from distsnce.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Yeh dont agree. I havent liked father son as academies have taken ours, our only two decent ones anyway (one where the FS rule was changed from 50/100 games, and I swear it was because of GWS and we couldn’t have acces). Father sons, unless in the 3rd round, just go into the draft.

Jimmy, I cant agree with your academy opinion. I think sure, clubs can develop players funded by the AFL but if they are in the first 2 rounds of the draft, then that pick must be used to grab em. So like father sons, players can enter the draft like everyone else.

Its a complete joke the system we have now.

It’s a pretty simple fix imo.

All they have to do is fix the scaling of the points system.

1. A top 5 pick needs to be worth far more points than it is now, there needs to be a premium associated with the top tier of the draft. Then a pick in that 5-15 range needs cost a lot more too.

2. Devalue picks from the 2nd onwards. This would stop clubs banking multiple 2nd and 3rd rounders to pay for the top tier.

3. You can only use 2 draft picks to pay for any bids. Clubs would then have to make sure they have picks near enough to the expected bid in order to pay for them.

4. Clubs can only have guaranteed access to one academy player or F/S per round with no points discount. This would remove the northern clubs ability to have guaranteed 2 or 3 prospects in the top 20 unless they had draft picks in their expected range.

I like the father son rule. It’s one of the unique things about our game but there is no scenario where a top 4 club should be gifted access to the top end of the draft without having to cough up for it big time. Brisbane for an example should have had to have traded plenty of future picks or heavily gone into deficit in order to get access the ashcrofts.

 

[DuckYeah]

It’s a pretty simple fix imo.

All they have to do is fix the scaling of the points system.

1. A top 5 pick needs to be worth far more points than it is now, there needs to be a premium associated with the top tier of the draft. Then a pick in that 5-15 range needs cost a lot more too.

2. Devalue picks from the 2nd onwards. This would stop clubs banking multiple 2nd and 3rd rounders to pay for the top tier.

3. You can only use 2 draft picks to pay for any bids. Clubs would then have to make sure they have picks near enough to the expected bid in order to pay for them.

4. Clubs can only have guaranteed access to one academy player or F/S per round with no points discount. This would remove the northern clubs ability to have guaranteed 2 or 3 prospects in the top 20 unless they had draft picks in their expected range.

I like the father son rule. It’s one of the unique things about our game but there is no scenario where a top 4 club should be gifted access to the top end of the draft without having to cough up for it big time. Brisbane for an example should have had to have traded plenty of future picks or heavily gone into deficit in order to get access the ashcrofts.

I like it.

 

[Passmore]

It’s a pretty simple fix imo.

All they have to do is fix the scaling of the points system.

1. A top 5 pick needs to be worth far more points than it is now, there needs to be a premium associated with the top tier of the draft. Then a pick in that 5-15 range needs cost a lot more too.

2. Devalue picks from the 2nd onwards. This would stop clubs banking multiple 2nd and 3rd rounders to pay for the top tier.

3. You can only use 2 draft picks to pay for any bids. Clubs would then have to make sure they have picks near enough to the expected bid in order to pay for them.

4. Clubs can only have guaranteed access to one academy player or F/S per round with no points discount. This would remove the northern clubs ability to have guaranteed 2 or 3 prospects in the top 20 unless they had draft picks in their expected range.

I like the father son rule. It’s one of the unique things about our game but there is no scenario where a top 4 club should be gifted access to the top end of the draft without having to cough up for it big time. Brisbane for an example should have had to have traded plenty of future picks or heavily gone into deficit in order to get access the ashcrofts.

I'd be tightening up NGA access as well.

You can't just qualify because your mum was born in Japan, or you were born overseas while your Australian parent were working abroad for a period of time. Step into an U18 or private school program, you don't qualify.

 

[LB2Snake]

Yeah - he’s my ‘no matter what’ if he’s available for us

Haven’t read much about this year’s crop as we threw our hand away, but if he’s around the 180 mark we will be all over him.

 

[Passmore]

Haven’t read much about this year’s crop as we threw our hand away, but if he’s around the 180 mark we will be all over him.

How many of this years picks did we end up trading!!??

 

[LB2Snake]

How many of this years picks did we end up trading!!??

The main one. Our first will be about pick 27. So likely pick 27 and 28/29. Can’t wait.

 

[krakouers]

How many of this years picks did we end up trading!!??

Didnt you see, we traded all next years picks

It’s a pretty simple fix imo.

All they have to do is fix the scaling of the points system.

1. A top 5 pick needs to be worth far more points than it is now, there needs to be a premium associated with the top tier of the draft. Then a pick in that 5-15 range needs cost a lot more too.

2. Devalue picks from the 2nd onwards. This would stop clubs banking multiple 2nd and 3rd rounders to pay for the top tier.

3. You can only use 2 draft picks to pay for any bids. Clubs would then have to make sure they have picks near enough to the expected bid in order to pay for them.

4. Clubs can only have guaranteed access to one academy player or F/S per round with no points discount. This would remove the northern clubs ability to have guaranteed 2 or 3 prospects in the top 20 unless they had draft picks in their expected range.

I like the father son rule. It’s one of the unique things about our game but there is no scenario where a top 4 club should be gifted access to the top end of the draft without having to cough up for it big time. Brisbane for an example should have had to have traded plenty of future picks or heavily gone into deficit in order to get access the ashcrofts.

Watch them bring these in just as McCartney and Harris become eligible

 

[chubbspeterson]

Interesting from Twomey on Gettables on the draft when talking about Port and Butters situation.

"Clubs on the whole... aren't hot on this years draft pool"
"I doubt a club that has traded out would want to trade back in"
"I don't think the depth is there... I don't think the star quality is there"

So perhaps we might just hold where we are or use a F2 to move up the order into the teens.
Doesn't sound like the draft to move the F1 forward for, but Brady might say hold my beer lol.

 

[DuckYeah]

Interesting from Twomey on Gettables on the draft when talking about Port and Butters situation.

"Clubs on the whole... aren't hot on this years draft pool"
"I doubt a club that has traded out would want to trade back in"
"I don't think the depth is there... I don't think the star quality is there"

So perhaps we might just hold where we are or use a F2 to move up the order into the teens.
Doesn't sound like the draft to move the F1 forward for, but Brady might say hold my beer lol.

I will guarantee pick 2 will be a bloody ripper.

 

[Passmore]

Time will tell.

 

[chubbspeterson]

I will guarantee pick 2 will be a bloody ripper.

I'm sure pick 2 will be a great player, probably one of Duursma, Greeves, Sharp, Rodriguez, Lindsay or Grij.
Not sure they are the same quality of last years crop just from what I've watched so far.
I don't think we'd be taking a midfielder if we kept pick 2, but I'd rather we still have it and have the option to trade back in the order for top 10 and top 25 pick in this draft or next years draft obviously.
Best talents look like academy players (Annabel, Uwland, King, Patterson, Addinsal etc.). Lions get another gun mid.

 

[DuckYeah]

I'm sure pick 2 will be a great player, probably one of Duursma, Greeves, Sharp, Rodriguez, Lindsay or Grij.
Not sure they are the same quality of last years crop just from what I've watched so far.
I don't think we'd be taking a midfielder if we kept pick 2, but I'd rather we still have it and have the option to trade back in the order for top 10 and top 25 pick in this draft or next years draft obviously.
Best talents look like academy players (Annabel, Uwland, King, Patterson, Addinsal etc.). Lions get another gun mid.

Its a crock of shit. The talk of the first round going up until pick 30’s is a complete joke and rort.

 

[DuckYeah]

Lol
The AFL changed the NGA rules, have to list em a year earlier to their academy list.

Thats not it. Miss the mark again.

 

[hoffseason gains 01]

Not really devastated to miss out on anyone we could pick at 2 tbh

 

[Passmore]

The main one. Our first will be about pick 27. So likely pick 27 and 28/29. Can’t wait.

Right in the sweet spot.

 

[shinboner magic]

Right in the sweet spot.

second rounder sweet spot isn’t our jam

 

[Lomas]

second rounder sweet spot isn’t our jam

Third rounders are our jam!

 

[Passmore]

second rounder sweet spot isn’t our jam

Dunno. Just a term I'd read on here.