Game Day 2025 Trade and Draft

[Callipygian]

I saw this interesting post from Teen Wolf about Taylor Smith:

Taylor Smith in the past 3 seasons
H&A: 32 games, 8.0 disposals per game, 2.4 marks per game, 1.4 goals per game, 2.1 tackles per game
Finals: 9 games, 5.1 disposals per game, 1.4 marks per game, 0.3 goals per game, 1.2 tackles per game

Fine forward to have feasting on Joe-the-geese when the midfield is dominating and the opposition is dumb/lazy. Has obviously struggled against more disciplined defence and her reluctance to lead up at the ballcarrier in the heat of contested finals footy has been debilitating for the Lions.

Might help Sydney move up the ladder a little, but might also struggle with less attentive service from teammates further afield. If Brisbane are offered a 2026 first rounder, they should accept.

(Mods - I got Teen Wolf's permission to quote, so I hope this is ok?)

It's interesting to hear Aardvark 's concerns being echoed from a different source and backed up with some illuminating stats. I hope we don't overpay and that Taylor can further improve. However, it's such a desperate short term need for us that I think we have to do it.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Some of today's trade updates..

 

[Callipygian]

So, the Suns have done a brilliant job of trading back their #1 pick and have wound up with seven of the first 32 picks in the draft - 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27 and 32 - as they look to match bids on five Academy talents rated as first-round prospects. Now I would think they can look at further splitting and trading back a couple of those picks so that they can match bids for their other 5 lesser rated Academy players (assuming they want them at all).

Anyway, we'll have to game the various scenarios and be confident we're ready to match the bids we need to match and perhaps it's easy to do that when the Suns have done their trading and hence our waiting... ?

After some consideration, I reckon we'll give the Lions at least one of our first and future first for Smith while looking to get back pick 18 (to match Neyland bid wherever it comes). Would both our first rounders in return for Smith and pick 18 be overs or fair? I think it's probably close to fair, with maybe a bit more coming back our way (e.g. Brisbane's F2nd) if we're lucky.

 

[joeykanga]

So, the Suns have done a brilliant job of trading back their #1 pick and have wound up with seven of the first 32 picks in the draft - 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27 and 32 - as they look to match bids on five Academy talents rated as first-round prospects. Now I would think they can look at further splitting and trading back a couple of those picks so that they can match bids for their other 5 lesser rated Academy players (assuming they want them at all).

Anyway, we'll have to game the various scenarios and be confident we're ready to match the bids we need to match and perhaps it's easy to do that when the Suns have done their trading and hence our waiting... ?

After some consideration, I reckon we'll give the Lions at least one of our first and future first for Smith while looking to get back pick 18 (to match Neyland bid wherever it comes). Would both our first rounders in return for Smith and pick 18 be overs or fair? I think it's probably close to fair, with maybe a bit more coming back our way (e.g. Brisbane's F2nd) if we're lucky.

Isnt the trade for Zanker effectively pick 9 and Freemantle future second which is probably around 30 next year say with Zanker in the team and this allowing Lucia Painter midfield time. Should be better next year. Therefore i wouldnt give more than what was given for Zanker. I wouldnt give both our first rounders. I know we're trying to get 18 but that seems way over

From the Dees to the Dockers
Fremantle will receive Eden Zanker and Lily Johnson, pick 35 and a 2026 Round Four selection from Melbourne in exchange for picks 9, 27, 81 and a 2026 Round Two selection

 

[joeykanga]

I saw this interesting post from Teen Wolf about Taylor Smith:



(Mods - I got Teen Wolf's permission to quote, so I hope this is ok?)

It's interesting to hear Aardvark 's concerns being echoed from a different source and backed up with some illuminating stats. I hope we don't overpay and that Taylor can further improve. However, it's such a desperate short term need for us that I think we have to do it.

I feel like shes an improving type already shows a lot of talent and hard work and dedication. Her video highlights look impressive. Shes kicked a decent amount of goals, was a late starter to the game of Afl.
Took some decent marks in the highlights. I can see Sofia lining her up for a lead. We shouldnt overpay but she has some decent upside.

 

[Callipygian]

Isnt the trade for Zanker effectively pick 9 and Freemantle future second which is probably around 30 next year say with Zanker in the team and this allowing Lucia Painter midfield time. Should be better next year. Therefore i wouldnt give more than what was given for Zanker. I wouldnt give both our first rounders. I know we're trying to get 18 but that seems way over

From the Dees to the Dockers
Fremantle will receive Eden Zanker and Lily Johnson, pick 35 and a 2026 Round Four selection from Melbourne in exchange for picks 9, 27, 81 and a 2026 Round Two selection

It's very hard to evaluate the worth put on Zanker given two players were included in the trade. However:

* I agree Zanker is as good a player as Smith and gives a yardstick. Zanker seems to be a more strong and physically imposing player whereas Smith seems to be more agile (and possibly a better leaper?)

* Zanker was out of contract, Smith is not.

* Smith is a little bit younger than Zanker (early 2001 v late 1999) - so worth more.

* giving pick 11 + our future first (say pick 14) in exchange for Smith + pick 18 + say Brisbane's F2nd (call it pick 35) doesn't seem outrageous to me. Of course I'd love to pay less but giving two firsts and getting a first back (albeit a later first, however one that allows us to get a player who may get bid on at pick 2) seems reasonable for a 24 year old who was last year's female equivalent of the Coleman medal winner. If we can get away with a pick slide from 14 to 18 plus our future 2nd, I'll be rapt but that seems unders.

 

[Callipygian]

Now even the crickets are getting restless.

 

[liz]

Isnt the trade for Zanker effectively pick 9 and Freemantle future second which is probably around 30 next year say with Zanker in the team and this allowing Lucia Painter midfield time. Should be better next year. Therefore i wouldnt give more than what was given for Zanker. I wouldnt give both our first rounders. I know we're trying to get 18 but that seems way over

From the Dees to the Dockers
Fremantle will receive Eden Zanker and Lily Johnson, pick 35 and a 2026 Round Four selection from Melbourne in exchange for picks 9, 27, 81 and a 2026 Round Two selection

Doesn’t Painter play for WC (not Freo)?

 

[joeykanga]

Doesn’t Painter play for WC (not Freo)?

Oh yes she does i cant even pretend that was a test to see who was paying attention.

 

[Callipygian]

I hope our list managers have remembered to set an alarm or reminder of some kind for tomorrow, else this could turn out quite embarrassing.

 

[Callipygian]

Some draft news besides:

Tigers poised to pounce on draft bolter with coveted No.1 pick

Scarlett Johnson surges into No.1 contention with Richmond strongly considering her as its top selection

www.afl.com.au

Tigers eye surprise with No.1 pick after major trade; bids to shape top 10 — AFLW Draft Watch

Tigers eye surprise with No.1 pick after major trade; bids to shape top 10 — AFLW Draft Watch

www.foxsports.com.au

Scarlett Johnson's draft stocks are soaring! She was only rated at #15 in RMC's 'Power Rankings'. It seems the keys may be that (a) she has improved a lot this year (of course!); and (b) clubs are projecting what she will become and backing her to improve her strength and contest work, which are currently rated as a weakness.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

In the Fox article posted by Callipygian in the last post, it mentions the Giants bidding on multiple players, including Alex Neyland

The Giants... have also shown strong interest in athletic Swans academy utility Alex Neyland after soaring up draft boards across the year.

It’s understood the Swans are keen to match an early bid on Neyland after also striking a trade for premiership Lion and All-Australian Taylor Smith, who’s requested a move to Sydney but remains contracted to Brisbane for another season.

The Swans, ideally, would like Pick 18 back from the Lions in a Smith trade to help them match a Neyland bid, but Brisbane has set a high trade asking price for Smith. Sydney almost certainly would have to send multiple first-round and second-round picks to the Lions to help get the trade over the line.

 

[Callipygian]

In the Fox article posted by Callipygian in the last post, it mentions the Giants bidding on multiple players, including Alex Neyland

The Giants... have also shown strong interest in athletic Swans academy utility Alex Neyland after soaring up draft boards across the year.

It’s understood the Swans are keen to match an early bid on Neyland after also striking a trade for premiership Lion and All-Australian Taylor Smith, who’s requested a move to Sydney but remains contracted to Brisbane for another season.

The Swans, ideally, would like Pick 18 back from the Lions in a Smith trade to help them match a Neyland bid, but Brisbane has set a high trade asking price for Smith. Sydney almost certainly would have to send multiple first-round and second-round picks to the Lions to help get the trade over the line.

Not really news, though, is it? The fact that they were considering bidding on Neyland as early as pick 2 was reported last week. And the thought that they might bid on someone like Ava Usher, Georja Davies or Dekota Baron is hardly surprising either.

What's more disturbing is the talk about the trade price the Lions are asking for Smith. No doubt contributing to this trade dragging out so long.

My guess is sometime early tomorrow we'll put a fairly serious offer to the Lions (if we haven't done so already). It'll be an offer we're prepared to improve a little bit. Then, if we get no traction, we'll move to trading back our first rounder, although with the Lions holding the pick we ideally need (since the Suns probably won't want to be trading theirs away) it could be tricky. I guess we can start sliding little by little with any clubs behind us that we know are interested in moving up (i.e. whichever of Hawks, Dons, Carlton, Demons etc are interested). That way we'll still keep a first rounder that we could use in a trade with Brisbane (in return for pick 18) and/or to match bid on Neyland if Smith trade falls through.

 

[sahi11]

From the afl site:

Hawthorn has emerged as the circuit breaker in trade talks taking Brisbane spearhead Taylor Smith to Sydney after a three-club deal for the two-time premiership player progressed strongly on Tuesday.

Smith, as well as picks No.11, 15, 18 and the Swans' future first-round selection, are all a chance of being involved in a mega deal

 

[Callipygian]

Sounds like we will indeed be giving two first rounders. I wonder what we'll get back the other way apart from pick 18 (if anything).

Still not much news on the trade front, apart from sahi11 's helpful update and this article: https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1459843/the-aflw-trade-deals-waiting-to-be-done-on-deadline-day.

There seems to be an awful lot still to get done. I think NMFC can't afford to let KLWT walk to the draft. But I think Hawthorn are a bit rich expecting a first rounder for Tilly Lucas-Rodd after saying they were going to delist Tilly (or did I imagine that?).

 

[sahi11]

As per AFL, the trade will look like:

We give: 11, 29, 47, F1, F3
We get Smith, 18, 28, 46

(with hawks help)

So, we slide from 11 to 18 this year (anyway will be used for bid matching), bring our 2nd and 3rd rounders forward by 1 and give next year 1st and 3rd

source:

DEADLINE DAY RECAP: Key players find new homes, big deal falls over

Keep up to date with all the latest news from the 2025 AFLW Trade Period

www.afl.com.au

 

[LukeParkerno1]

As per AFL, the trade will look like:

We give: 11, 29, 47, F1, F3
We get Smith, 18, 28, 46

(with hawks help)

So, we slide from 11 to 18 this year (anyway will be used for bid matching), bring our 2nd and 3rd rounders forward by 1 and give next year 1st and 3rd

source:

DEADLINE DAY RECAP: Key players find new homes, big deal falls over

Keep up to date with all the latest news from the 2025 AFLW Trade Period

www.afl.com.au

More than fair, was always going to cost two firsts, whether one be a slide or not. Basically it's get her in, slide this year, and give a f1 (which we hope is not as bad next year)

 

[Cadsky]

Mega three-way trade set to hand Swans dream scenario amid 14 players in limbo — Deadline Day LIVE

Mega three-way trade hands Swans DREAM scenario amid 14 players in limbo — Deadline Day LIVE

www.foxsports.com.au

Sydney’s ideal 2025 trade and draft scenario is poised to come to fruition, with the club set to land a premiership star in a deal that’ll also allow them to match an early bid on their top academy prospect.

The Swans are set to be a central figure on AFLW deadline day, with clubs to having until 4pm (AEDT) on Wednesday to lodge trades.

All-Australian Taylor Smith’s wish to join the Swans is set to be granted, with Hawthorn emerging as the party to help unlock a deal that sends the contracted Lion to Sydney.

The Lions will get Pick 11 from Sydney and Pick 15 from Hawthorn as part of the compensation for losing Smith.

The Hawks, meanwhile, will essentially trade out of this year’s top-end of the draft, parting with their first two selections (Picks 15 and 33) but gaining Sydney’s future first-round selection, as well as three future thirds.

Crucially, the Swans will acquire both Smith and Pick 18 from Brisbane, with the first-round selection to allow them to match a bid on top Sydney academy prospect Alex Neyland, who’s been strongly linked to the Giants.

The Swans will also maintain second and third-round picks, which could give them options to match for fellow academy prospects midfielder Kiera Yerbury and 185cm ruck Madeleine Quinn.

 

[Callipygian]

We've paid high, maybe slight overs (which is to be expected for a contracted player that we desperately need, even if she does want to come). Basically our first this year plus our future first for Smith plus pick 18 and then, far from getting anything back the other way, we're giving a future 3rd and moving our 2nd and 3rd rounders forward one selection (which may well prove to be entirely meaningless since we'll only be using those picks to match bids). So long as Smith and our Academy selections are good, it's fine. But if they aren't, then we've given up a lot.

Possibly we still need to find a way to advance pick 46 a little bit and pay for it by sliding pick 28 back a little (ideally we could split pick 28 and keep 46 too but maybe that's just being too greedy) in case Quinn and Yerbury both get bids before pick 28. It would be easier, I think, with live trading during the draft because, inevitably someone would be willing to trade forward for our pick 28 once the pick came around to get a player they were keen on.

Overall, the fact that we have good Academy players to bid on with a handsome discount means this off-season is a big win for us and we shouldn't get hung up on paying a bit overs for the trade.

 

[sahi11]

We've paid high, maybe slight overs (which is to be expected for a contracted player that we desperately need, even if she does want to come). Basically our first this year plus our future first for Smith plus pick 18 and then, far from getting anything back the other way, we're giving a future 3rd and moving our 2nd and 3rd rounders forward one selection (which may well prove to be entirely meaningless since we'll only be using those picks to match bids). So long as Smith and our Academy selections are good, it's fine. But if they aren't, then we've given up a lot.

Possibly we still need to find a way to advance pick 46 a little bit and pay for it by sliding pick 28 back a little (ideally we could split pick 28 and keep 46 too but maybe that's just being too greedy) in case Quinn and Yerbury both get bids before pick 28. It would be easier, I think, with live trading during the draft because, inevitably someone would be willing to trade forward for our pick 28 once the pick came around to get a player they were keen on.

Overall, the fact that we have good Academy players to bid on with a handsome discount means this off-season is a big win for us and we shouldn't get hung up on paying a bit overs for the trade.

I am pretty sure there is no live trading during draft, all trading will finish today.

 

[Aardvark]

I dont mind that trade so long as we dont miss the Academy girls. How we match bids for Tidemann and Tracey next year with no first rounder will be interesting.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I dont mind that trade so long as we dont miss the Academy girls. How we match bids for Tideman and Tracey next year with no first rounder will be interesting.

Can always trade futures in if need be next year. Cross that bridge when it happens. We may also lose a player or two after next year

 

[Callipygian]

I am pretty sure there is no live trading during draft, all trading will finish today.

Absolutely - that's what I meant to by it "would" be easier.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Absolutely - that's what I meant to by it "would" be easier.

This may come in next year though who on earth knows on that

 

[sahi11]

This may come in next year though who on earth knows on that

Doesn't make sense they don't have live trading.
The only potential reason can be, that not all clubs have proper list management departments with data scientists that can handle live pick trading on draft night