Academy Rorts - The 2025 Draft Thread

[Viceregal]

Duplicate post

 

[Miller1971]

I'm also a big fan of Gold Coast academy kid Jai Murray. There's a possibility that GC will be wiped out of the draft and be in deficit by the time he's bid on.

Draft year wiped out by injury, a young brother as a dual All-Australian u15 as well.

Jai would be an astute pickup for any club if he lasts past Pick 25 and given the Suns will take Uwland, Patterson and probably Coulson - Murray will likely slide. Suns won't take Addinsall either, but he will attract a decent bid.

Jai Murray is a hybrid who can play mid, half back or half forward. He's only about 183-185 though. Number 1 weakness is that he has slow legspeed, which won't have improved after 12 months out with a leg injury - be he is a true footballer.

The one from the Suns I would be keeping tabs on though is Cooper Collins, he is an 07 kid, but late birth month. Genuine swing man in the mould of Jeremy Howe. Can genuinely fly and take unbelievable marks from 3-4 deep in any situation. Immature in his footy, but upside is massive. Reckon in a shallow draft any club should take a punt on him (hopefully the Saints!)

 

[Perrip]

Draft Intel: The under-the-radar prospects who have the attention of AFL clubs - Chris Cavanagh and Dan Batten

Many prospects hadn’t heard from Gold Coast or Brisbane — or both — given their highly rated academy talents.

Sounds like we could just be drafting academy products this year

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Draft Intel: The under-the-radar prospects who have the attention of AFL clubs - Chris Cavanagh and Dan Batten

Sounds like we could just be drafting academy products this year

Probably for the best. Annable, Prindable, Bridge, Waller and perhaps Geesu would be a great draft haul. Meets a lot of needs.

 

[Perrip]

Probably for the best. Annable, Prindable, Bridge, Waller and perhaps Geesu would be a great draft haul. Meets a lot of needs.

We're apparently taking 3 or 4 players. Would be good to get McFadyen if he's available.

 

[the rookie]

Miller1971 I would like your informed opinion on
a couple of draft matters if possible? What are your thoughts on Prindable? From my untrained eye, seems like a very good young footballer. What's the knock on him. And if we are taking 3 at the draft, which of the academy kids would you take after Annable? Thanks

 

[Perrip]

AFL Phantom Draft 2025: 27 picks, 9 bids make up a chaotic first round [ESPN]

10. BID: Brisbane - Dan Annable (Lions Academy)
Annable skippered the AFL Academy and is tipped to captain an AFL club one day. A wonderfully balanced on-baller, the Lions Academy graduate wins the ball on the inside, creates scoring chains on the outside and does it all with a cool, calm and collected demeanour. Annable can land much earlier but the Demons would be obliged to bid at this point and the Lions are well equipped to match. They would use picks 21 and 27 and get back 48 in this scenario.

 

[Viceregal]

AFL Phantom Draft 2025: 27 picks, 9 bids make up a chaotic first round [ESPN]

Off the top of my head Will, Jaspa and now Dan are all tipped to be captain ... were there any others?

Hopefully if true it will be because we have a group captaincy not because two of them have gone to other clubs and are captaining them there!

 

[Section 5]

AFL Phantom Draft 2025: 27 picks, 9 bids make up a chaotic first round [ESPN]

Pick 10 would be nice. I suppose anything 5-10 range would also be good.

Where he is selected won't make him a better footballer.
That's completely up to Annable to show if he will be a long time AFL player

 

[Tom14]

AFL Phantom Draft 2025: 27 picks, 9 bids make up a chaotic first round [ESPN]

Annable getting taken at pick 11 somehow would be incredible for my main board posting.

 

[Viceregal]

Annable getting taken at pick 11 somehow would be incredible for my main board posting.

Suspect they will still refer to him as the number one pick in the draft (which we got for free) like they do for our Ashcrofts!

 

[JasRulz63]

Off the top of my head Will, Jaspa and now Dan are all tipped to be captain ... were there any others?

Hopefully if true it will be because we have a group captaincy not because two of them have gone to other clubs and are captaining them there!

Not to mention on top of our current leadership group, we have Doedee who was earmarked as a future captain for Adelaide (and was interim captain at 23 for a few games) and Oscar Allen.

Fair amount of leadership in the squad.

 

[010203]

Annable getting taken at pick 11 somehow would be incredible for my main board posting.

Rort of the year.

 

[Tom14]

Rort of the year.

Even if Annable gets taken at pick 10 I still get to continue to say that Fremantle has had a higher academy pick than the Lions ever have (Liam Henry at pick 9)!

 

[Miller1971]

Miller1971 I would like your informed opinion on
a couple of draft matters if possible? What are your thoughts on Prindable? From my untrained eye, seems like a very good young footballer. What's the knock on him. And if we are taking 3 at the draft, which of the academy kids would you take after Annable? Thanks

Not sure how informed it really is, but here goes.

I have rated him for a few years, saw him playing for Coorparoo in Division 1 (one level below QAFL) and he looked very handy, but hard to tell how it translates to the higher level. He was also an accomplished school footballer, but its also hard to judge that stuff as most teams only haver about 8-10 topline kids and it drops away.

I know that the brains trust at Coorparoo, as well as a few others (such as poster here Tommo 42 and those involved in school footy) had referred him to the academy as someone to watch and had consistently been 'rebuffed'.

He then got an opportunity in some sort of trial game in late 2024 and snuck into the academy u18 squad as a late addition. Now personally, I always thought he was pretty good and felt it was criminal that he was consistently overlooked in academy selection (couldn't even get an invite to train, let alone picked in a team!) but I'm not going to re-write history and pretend I thought he was going to get on the draft radar. I simply looked at him as someone who should be part of the system, but would end up having a strong local career.

However, once he got in there - he blossomed quickly and fast became the yin to the Annable yang in the Lions u18 midfield setup, so he didn't just get picked - he leap frogged many of the 'annointed ones' (helped by injury to someone like Lillico) into a very primary role in the side, as many of the kids are just witches hats for match sim and not genuinely prospects (and treated as such).

He then was overlooked for Allies, despite having a very strong year for the Lions and promptly returned to the QAFL and had 39 disposals on debut in a dominant display. They quickly righted the wrong and he was parachuted into the Allies where he performed well and then progressed to VFL where he again did not look out of place and all of a sudden he is on the draft radar!

Now unfortunately, I didn't see a whole lot of him this year - so couldn't comment on his actual play this year, only to suggest that his numbers were very very good, but I prefer to rely on my eye than pure stats.

I am hearing that he is near certain to be picked up, whether thats the Lions or elsewhere, I am unsure.

If the Lions were to take 3 x academy players this year, and I was the list manager - I would take Annable, McFayden (utility - 19 year old) and Waller (ruck/forward). The only other players I would consider would be Prindable and Bridge - who I think will both get drafted regardless, but probably not by Brisbane.

Edit: you asked what the knock on him is. I'd say if I had to identify weakeness(s), he is once paced and a bit slow and is a very one sided player (left foot). However, if you are slow, you need to be really good at finding the footy and using it well, and he is elite at both of those things. (on one side of the body)

 

[briztoon]

Not sure how informed it really is, but here goes.

I have rated him for a few years, saw him playing for Coorparoo in Division 1 (one level below QAFL) and he looked very handy, but hard to tell how it translates to the higher level. He was also an accomplished school footballer, but its also hard to judge that stuff as most teams only haver about 8-10 topline kids and it drops away.

I know that the brains trust at Coorparoo, as well as a few others (such as poster here Tommo 42 and those involved in school footy) had referred him to the academy as someone to watch and had consistently been 'rebuffed'.

He then got an opportunity in some sort of trial game in late 2024 and snuck into the academy u18 squad as a late addition. Now personally, I always thought he was pretty good and felt it was criminal that he was consistently overlooked in academy selection (couldn't even get an invite to train, let alone picked in a team!) but I'm not going to re-write history and pretend I thought he was going to get on the draft radar. I simply looked at him as someone who should be part of the system, but would end up having a strong local career.

However, once he got in there - he blossomed quickly and fast became the yin to the Annable yang in the Lions u18 midfield setup, so he didn't just get picked - he leap frogged many of the 'annointed ones' (helped by injury to someone like Lillico) into a very primary role in the side, as many of the kids are just witches hats for match sim and not genuinely prospects (and treated as such).

He then was overlooked for Allies, despite having a very strong year for the Lions and promptly returned to the QAFL and had 39 disposals on debut in a dominant display. They quickly righted the wrong and he was parachuted into the Allies where he performed well and then progressed to VFL where he again did not look out of place and all of a sudden he is on the draft radar!

Now unfortunately, I didn't see a whole lot of him this year - so couldn't comment on his actual play this year, only to suggest that his numbers were very very good, but I prefer to rely on my eye than pure stats.

I am hearing that he is near certain to be picked up, whether thats the Lions or elsewhere, I am unsure.

If the Lions were to take 3 x academy players this year, and I was the list manager - I would take Annable, McFayden (utility - 19 year old) and Waller (ruck/forward). The only other players I would consider would be Prindable and Bridge - who I think will both get drafted regardless, but probably not by Brisbane.

No consideration for Geesu?

 

[Mr Ripper]

If the Lions were to take 3 x academy players this year, and I was the list manager - I would take Annable, McFayden (utility - 19 year old) and Waller (ruck/forward). The only other players I would consider would be Prindable and Bridge - who I think will both get drafted regardless, but probably not by Brisbane.

ITS MCFADYEN FFS STOP CALLING HIM MCFAYDEN

 

[Pns_blister]

ITS MCFADYEN FFS STOP CALLING HIM MCFAYDEN

 

[Mr Ripper]

It's this sort of lack of attention to detail that lead Miller into a lifetime of supporting St Kilda.

 

[Nathan Barley]

ITS MCFADYEN FFS STOP CALLING HIM MCFAYDEN

Is there a 4th brother? Maybe some will finally learn

 

[RegionalLion]

Not sure how informed it really is, but here goes.

I have rated him for a few years, saw him playing for Coorparoo in Division 1 (one level below QAFL) and he looked very handy, but hard to tell how it translates to the higher level. He was also an accomplished school footballer, but its also hard to judge that stuff as most teams only haver about 8-10 topline kids and it drops away.

I know that the brains trust at Coorparoo, as well as a few others (such as poster here Tommo 42 and those involved in school footy) had referred him to the academy as someone to watch and had consistently been 'rebuffed'.

He then got an opportunity in some sort of trial game in late 2024 and snuck into the academy u18 squad as a late addition. Now personally, I always thought he was pretty good and felt it was criminal that he was consistently overlooked in academy selection (couldn't even get an invite to train, let alone picked in a team!) but I'm not going to re-write history and pretend I thought he was going to get on the draft radar. I simply looked at him as someone who should be part of the system, but would end up having a strong local career.

However, once he got in there - he blossomed quickly and fast became the yin to the Annable yang in the Lions u18 midfield setup, so he didn't just get picked - he leap frogged many of the 'annointed ones' (helped by injury to someone like Lillico) into a very primary role in the side, as many of the kids are just witches hats for match sim and not genuinely prospects (and treated as such).

He then was overlooked for Allies, despite having a very strong year for the Lions and promptly returned to the QAFL and had 39 disposals on debut in a dominant display. They quickly righted the wrong and he was parachuted into the Allies where he performed well and then progressed to VFL where he again did not look out of place and all of a sudden he is on the draft radar!

Now unfortunately, I didn't see a whole lot of him this year - so couldn't comment on his actual play this year, only to suggest that his numbers were very very good, but I prefer to rely on my eye than pure stats.

I am hearing that he is near certain to be picked up, whether thats the Lions or elsewhere, I am unsure.

If the Lions were to take 3 x academy players this year, and I was the list manager - I would take Annable, McFayden (utility - 19 year old) and Waller (ruck/forward). The only other players I would consider would be Prindable and Bridge - who I think will both get drafted regardless, but probably not by Brisbane.

Edit: you asked what the knock on him is. I'd say if I had to identify weakeness(s), he is once paced and a bit slow and is a very one sided player (left foot). However, if you are slow, you need to be really good at finding the footy and using it well, and he is elite at both of those things. (on one side of the body)

Has McFadyen been successful in other positions other than that hybrid / third tall? He is in a position that we have coverage with any of Rayner / Bailey / McCarthey / Lohmann / McLachlan able to play similarly with some of our elite developing mids resting forward like Levi and maybe Annable next year as well as finding a place for all of Gallop / Morris / Allen - so not that he isn't a great prospect but may not be drafted due to his position and our list strength?

Annable is a given, I feel Waller will be a must as a developing Ruck. It then will be interesting between Prindable, Bridge, McFadyen and Geesu who gets picked up - may even be another Morris-like fringe player that falls that the recruiting team have their eye on as well.

It is an amazing position to be in and we know our recruiters have a plan. This group could continue to strengthen the depth in midfield, get another potential ruck, and then a small forward / hybrid forward / HB player so seems very good. The one hole I think many have identified is that tall key defender in the Andrews mold - maybe that's next year's trade target?

 

[Elixuh]

I assume we will take 3 academy players this draft

Annable
Waller
Mcfaidyan

 

[Saucery]

ITS MCFADYEN FFS STOP CALLING HIM MCFAYDEN

It's McFadyen, small c, and please stop shouting name Nazi. Also, It's It's not its and please use a period to signal the end of a rant.

 

[bungalow_bill]

I assume we will take 3 academy players this draft

Annabella
Waller
Mcfaidyan

FTFY

 

[Miller1971]

No consideration for Geesu?

Not for me, no. Didn't have a great year, mainly due to injury - but was back at the end of the season and didn't really fire a shot and mostly played Reserves footy.

He is a favourite and I have no doubt will be given every opportunity next year as an over ager, but I doubt he even interviewed with a single AFL club for the 2025 draft.

Has McFadyen been successful in other positions other than that hybrid / third tall? He is in a position that we have coverage with any of Rayner / Bailey / McCarthey / Lohmann / McLachlan able to play similarly with some of our elite developing mids resting forward like Levi and maybe Annable next year as well as finding a place for all of Gallop / Morris / Allen - so not that he isn't a great prospect but may not be drafted due to his position and our list strength?

Annable is a given, I feel Waller will be a must as a developing Ruck. It then will be interesting between Prindable, Bridge, McFadyen and Geesu who gets picked up - may even be another Morris-like fringe player that falls that the recruiting team have their eye on as well.

It is an amazing position to be in and we know our recruiters have a plan. This group could continue to strengthen the depth in midfield, get another potential ruck, and then a small forward / hybrid forward / HB player so seems very good. The one hole I think many have identified is that tall key defender in the Andrews mold - maybe that's next year's trade target?

The question was 'which 3 would you take'.

If I was in charge, the only one I would definitely take is Annable. I would then just take best available with the next picks I have, that could include Waller, McFadyen, Prindable, Bridge - whoever. But Annable is the only one I would definitely take.

I'd go after Suns talent in Murray, Coulson and Collins before any of the Lions kids other than Annable (assuming Suns will match anything for Uwland and Patterson) - probably have a punt in Addinsall as well before any of the above as well.