Academy Rorts - The 2025 Draft Thread

[briztoon]

I'm not arguing it isn't. I just thought everyone in North's administration should have been fired on draft night last year for making such a horrifically stupid trade. Now I think it's still extremely poor value for North but not quite as dire as it seemed then.

They should have lost their jobs. But as an industry, that rarely, rarely happens in the AFL (Collingwood excepted, and he was acting on orders and an obvious sacrificial lamb).

 

[KissKiss]

I'm not arguing it isn't. I just thought everyone in North's administration should have been fired on draft night last year for making such a horrifically stupid trade. Now I think it's still extremely poor value for North but not quite as dire as it seemed then.

Years of disaster for not going for tall forwards to help larkey. Then not trading down with some one like St Kilda last year redraft to get a tall. OSullivan looks talented but they really dont need so many mids. Whole list build is a disaster before the stupid trade for a guy that's a tall back

 

[briztoon]

Years of disaster for not going for tall forwards to help larkey. Then not trading down with some one like St Kilda last year redraft to get a tall. OSullivan looks talented but they really dont need so many mids. Whole list build is a disaster before the stupid trade for a guy that's a tall back

Not sure if St Kilda would have wanted to trade up. Think they were interested in taking two top 10 picks.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Harris turns 29 at the end of the year, probably has 4 good years left after this one. I notice for a lot of top key defenders, including Harris, they've had their breakout year around age 22, or their fourth year after being drafted, so we'll probably need to draft the successor either this year or next. We already have Zane on our list who could take over potentially, but I think Zane might be better as a ruck, as he can use his athletic gifts better in that position. We'll see.

This draft appears to be pretty lacking in key defenders, though. Might have to be next year.

 

[Sproj]

Harris turns 29 at the end of the year, probably has 4 good years left after this one. I notice for a lot of top key defenders, including Harris, they've had their breakout year around age 22, or their fourth year after being drafted, so we'll probably need to draft the successor either this year or next. We already have Zane on our list who could take over potentially, but I think Zane might be better as a ruck, as he can use his athletic gifts better in that position. We'll see.

This draft appears to be pretty lacking in key defenders, though. Might have to be next year.

We have some key position prospects next year don't we? Are they forward or back?

 

[Tom14]

Harris turns 29 at the end of the year, probably has 4 good years left after this one. I notice for a lot of top key defenders, including Harris, they've had their breakout year around age 22, or their fourth year after being drafted, so we'll probably need to draft the successor either this year or next. We already have Zane on our list who could take over potentially, but I think Zane might be better as a ruck, as he can use his athletic gifts better in that position. We'll see.

This draft appears to be pretty lacking in key defenders, though. Might have to be next year.

Hard to believe Harris is still that young. A good chance to knock off Simon Black as our record games holder by the end?

 

[Johnny Bananas]

We have some key position prospects next year don't we? Are they forward or back?

The only tall I know of is Max Boothey in 2027, who is a ruck.

 

[Perrip]

Hard to believe Harris is still that young. A good chance to knock off Simon Black as our record games holder by the end?

He's on 226 games now, 234 by the end of the H&A season if he doesn't get injured. Should equal and pass the 322 milestone in 2029 assuming he plays every game he can.

 

[briztoon]

We have some key position prospects next year don't we? Are they forward or back?

2027 draft. There’s Boothey who possibly ends up as a ruck or ruck forward.

The U16 championships are up here soon, so we’ll get to see who else shows up. We play the Suns in a trial match next Saturday at BHA.

I’m looking forward to watching the younger and taller Bridge, who plays as a key defender. Also want to keep an eye on Will White and Maverick Mann who are both potential KPP’s.

 

[Crusha]

Clips of Dan Annable from VFL Round 12.

Dan Annable #63

 

[GenericUsername202]

Clips of Dan Annable from VFL Round 12.

Dan Annable #63

post this on the saints board.

 

[Tom14]

Clips of Dan Annable from VFL Round 12.

Dan Annable #63

1 goal 3? Not good enough. Slides outside the top 20 for mine.

 

[braddsey]

Harris turns 29 at the end of the year, probably has 4 good years left after this one. I notice for a lot of top key defenders, including Harris, they've had their breakout year around age 22, or their fourth year after being drafted, so we'll probably need to draft the successor either this year or next. We already have Zane on our list who could take over potentially, but I think Zane might be better as a ruck, as he can use his athletic gifts better in that position. We'll see.

I’ve got Harris pegged as a Dustin Fletcher type, which still gives him another 10-11 years of good footy. Assuming he doesn’t miss any games between now and then, i’m expecting he’ll be the first entrant to the 500 club.

 

[morsie]

I am so sick of all the Academy drivel.The main argument seems to be that it is unfair for Brisbane to get players from the Academy.Aside from the fact that Queensland is still developing as an Aussie rules stronghold, so what.Life is inherently unfair.Get over it, stop whingeing,The whole of the AFL comp is unfair, the draw is unfair , travel is unfair , father son is unfair, NGA is unfair, home crowds are unfair , umpiring is unfair, the rules are unfair.Just !@#$%^&*( get over it and leave us alone.

 

[GenericUsername202]

I am so sick of all the Academy drivel.The main argument seems to be that it is unfair for Brisbane to get players from the Academy.Aside from the fact that Queensland is still developing as an Aussie rules stronghold, so what.Life is inherently unfair.Get over it, stop whingeing,The whole of the AFL comp is unfair, the draw is unfair , travel is unfair , father son is unfair, NGA is unfair, home crowds are unfair , umpiring is unfair, the rules are unfair.Just !@#$%^&*( get over it and leave us alone.

Sending Greg Swann to AFL house was a worthy sacrifice. He will have our backs.

 

[Miller1971]

2027 draft. There’s Boothey who possibly ends up as a ruck or ruck forward.

The U16 championships are up here soon, so we’ll get to see who else shows up. We play the Suns in a trial match next Saturday at BHA.

I’m looking forward to watching the younger and taller Bridge, who plays as a key defender. Also want to keep an eye on Will White and Maverick Mann who are both potential KPP’s.

Sam Dobbie is one to keep an eye on. Has grown a bit and way more mobile than Boothey or White. Can play KPP, Ruck or could even just be a tall midfielder.

 

[RoyBoy17]

The academy system is an equalisation measure. That’s it. Don’t care what anyone says but vic clubs are at an advantage because of the proportion of talent available in Victoria, where the GF is located and due to the fact they barely travel. That’s a massive bargaining chip for trading and keeping hold of players, not to mention performance benefits. That’s why Collingwood can play 8 grandfathers in their team and get away with it. That’s the point that journos like John Ralph can’t understand.

The points we have to pay for our own player investments should be proportionate to the quality of the player. That’s the only issue and it has been adjusted already. I’m fine with that. Clubs actually bidding on players when they should might also make a difference.

But on what planet would the Brisbane Lions willingly become a farm for young talent that is meant for the rest of the comp. Mind you, there is handy academy talent running around for other clubs. The AFL is not funding our academies, and won’t. They need a lot of money to prop up clubs like st Kilda and north.

The Ashcrofts were father sons also. So St Kilda’s ability to draft them has no relevance to the northern academies they wish to abolish. Unless they also want the father son rule destroyed.

 

[Elixuh]

The flip side of it is, does abolishing academies actually help St Kilda? How do they benefit?

 

[braddsey]

The academy system is an equalisation measure. That’s it. Don’t care what anyone says but vic clubs are at an advantage because of the proportion of talent available in Victoria, where the GF is located and due to the fact they barely travel. That’s a massive bargaining chip for trading and keeping hold of players, not to mention performance benefits. That’s why Collingwood can play 8 grandfathers in their team and get away with it. That’s the point that journos like John Ralph can’t understand.

The points we have to pay for our own player investments should be proportionate to the quality of the player. That’s the only issue and it has been adjusted already. I’m fine with that. Clubs actually bidding on players when they should might also make a difference.

But on what planet would the Brisbane Lions willingly become a farm for young talent that is meant for the rest of the comp. Mind you, there is handy academy talent running around for other clubs. The AFL is not funding our academies, and won’t. They need a lot of money to prop up clubs like st Kilda and north.

The Ashcrofts were father sons also. So St Kilda’s ability to draft them has no relevance to the northern academies they wish to abolish. Unless they also want the father son rule destroyed.

The academies are more than equalisation. I listened to an interview with one of the GWS academy boys, he said in the northern states the academies are the only junior AFL pathway. No Coates talent league. No private school scholarships with ex-AFL player coaches. If the academies didn’t exist, the elite junior athletes wouldn’t be coming to AFL - and ultimately this is a huge part of the battle in AFL acceptance north of the Murray. Listen to Isaac Heeney, he says the same thing.
So to your point - we pay for our academies and get an equalisation measure in first dibs for the players they produce. But really for the AFL they are a “free” promotional tool in NRL markets.

 

[braddsey]

The flip side of it is, does abolishing academies actually help St Kilda? How do they benefit?

It helps to bring the 4 northern clubs down to their level, and increases the ability to pinch players due go home factor (hello Billy Longer).

Though they likely also suffer through further diluting the talent pool as northern clubs are forced to pick players from traditional football states.

 

[Miller1971]

The flip side of it is, does abolishing academies actually help St Kilda? How do they benefit?

they could continue to draft the wrong players, but now using draft picks attached to a lower numeral.

 

[Elixuh]

they could continue to draft the wrong players, but now using draft picks attached to a lower numeral.

This is the answer. They’d have available to them, largely speaking, the same cohort of draftees, they’d pick the same player they would have picked had the academies existed. The only difference is they’d be using a draft pick that has a lower number.

 

[Mr Ripper]

Dragging everyone else down to their level and then beating them with experience is probably the only way St Kilda would ever win anything.

 

[Tom14]

Dragging everyone else down to their level and then beating them with experience is probably the only way St Kilda would ever win anything.

This is basically how Collingwood have won the last 3 years, except they have Daicos, Pendles, Darcy Moore etc to provide the rare bit of class to cover the stinky football style.

 

[dlanod]

they could continue to draft the wrong players, but now using draft picks attached to a lower numeral.

They've even tried that already with guys like McCartin and Billings!