Academy Rorts - The 2025 Draft Thread

[Saucery]

Have you been back (visibly) on the Eagles Board yet?

My personal favourite: Need a life jacket just to read the utter tsunami of bed-wetting in this thread.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Our media team is asleep like usual. Last X post 16 hrs ago. No update of the Lions website since the AFLW PF team announcement.
Even a tweet saying interviews coming in a couple of days when they arrive for training would be better than nothing LOL.

 

[the rookie]

Cody Curtin Draft Profile

Claremont spearhead Cody Curtin is a physically imposing marking target capable of kicking big bags of goals.

central.rookieme.com

It's great that Curtin has kicked several bags, and is a very accurate kick for goal too. One thing that concerns me though, is it sounds like he's dominated at u18 level with his size and strength. Of course he can get even stronger, but you'd think those won't be as big an advantage at senior level.

When I look through his positive attributes, they seem more suited to a key forward than a key defender. Maybe he'll stay forward and it's Gallop who might be tried in defence.

I read that idea that his strength doesn't translate to the AFL, and I wondered at the logic. It assumes that the kids that he has monstered as a junior get stronger but he doesn't. Looking at the KPDs taken last night I am backing him to always be bigger and stronger. Sure, to start with the more mature players, who have been in the gym for an extra 3-5 years will be as strong or even stronger. But, geez, look at this kid. In 3-5 years he is going to be a unit.

The other they don't seem to account for in this is that he might just be able to adapt if his one-wood (strength) is not working. He hasn't had to worry too much about developing the other aspects of forward craft yet, because, let's be honest, his main strength has worked pretty damn well. He is a competitive young man. I think he's going to find a way to compete. Having said all that- I agree that the strength based game suggests KPD- but we are lacking a real swing-man, maybe we just found one. I am happy we are taking the chance on him.

 

[briztoon]

Have you been back (visibly) on the Eagles Board yet?

Nope.

 

[Thomasno]

Interesting that Koby Evan’s Is indigenous, doesn’t look like it at all.

Yes mate there’s a little thing called the stolen generation that means most indigenous people these days are quite fair skinned

 

[Perrip]

McCarthy officially rerookied. No one picked up Waller & Bridge today.

 

[jjami15]

I read that idea that his strength doesn't translate to the AFL, and I wondered at the logic. It assumes that the kids that he has monstered as a junior get stronger but he doesn't. Looking at the KPDs taken last night I am backing him to always be bigger and stronger. Sure, to start with the more mature players, who have been in the gym for an extra 3-5 years will be as strong or even stronger. But, geez, look at this kid. In 3-5 years he is going to be a unit.

The other they don't seem to account for in this is that he might just be able to adapt if his one-wood (strength) is not working. He hasn't had to worry too much about developing the other aspects of forward craft yet, because, let's be honest, his main strength has worked pretty damn well. He is a competitive young man. I think he's going to find a way to compete. Having said all that- I agree that the strength based game suggests KPD- but we are lacking a real swing-man, maybe we just found one. I am happy we are taking the chance on him.

I’ve seen Jack Payne at a gym before. You want to talk about being a unit he is HUGE.

Super glad they drafted a KPD, whether he makes it or not is up to him. Seems like he is competitive which is want you want to see.

 

[SizeMatters]

Curtin is already a solid unit considering his height. Looks to have established a very set routine for goal kicking.

Early days of course but I reckon his attributes would be better suited down back. Doesn't have great athleticism which could hold him back as a KPF but he looks like he could be a temu Andrews.

Great read of the ball, great mark, decent positioning, isn't afraid of body on body and a decent 2km time suggesting he can run a bit. Sound similar?

 

[Lazza16]

Bit of Clayton Oliver about him.

Bit of Robbo about him watching highlights.

 

[KissKiss]

McCarthy officially rerookied. No one picked up Waller & Bridge today.

Bit sad Waller and Bridge didnt get picked up. Really would have been happy with Waller coming in as a development ruck. Hopefully he goes around again and keeps maturing

 

[Lazza16]

Curtin is already a solid unit considering his height. Looks to have established a very set routine for goal kicking.

And celebrating....Mark Jackoish.

 

[Elixuh]

Early days of course but I reckon his attributes would be better suited down back. Doesn't have great athleticism which could hold him back as a KPF but he looks like he could be a temu Andrews.

Great read of the ball, great mark, decent positioning, isn't afraid of body on body and a decent 2km time suggesting he can run a bit. Sound similar?

When I saw the highlight package I thought he looked a bit on the slow side, but then remembered that Harris looks like a snail sometimes.

 

[davemc_lions]

McCarthy officially rerookied. No one picked up Waller & Bridge today.

Would not mind Waller playing VFL and see how he goes. If we go two rucks in the AFL leaves one in the 2nds.
Unless someone else picks up some ruck work. Smith and Draper both had lots of injury problems.
So who knows how many we have available anyway

Young rucks take time so to have him play VFL for a year then access for a spot.

 

[Comeback Lions]

Would not mind Waller playing VFL and see how he goes. If we go two rucks in the AFL leaves one in the 2nds.
Unless someone else picks up some ruck work. Smith and Draper both had lots of injury problems.
So who knows how many we have available anyway

Young rucks take time so to have him play VFL for a year then access for a spot.

Ruck position is changing this year with the change to the centre bounce, the 5 man bench and the quick ball up. Interesting we only have 3, but we have Zane and now Curtain who could play in the ruck if needed and tall forwards like Allen and Gallop who could have a run in the ruck. I think that if we got a long term injury to a ruck then we would add one at the mid season draft. I guess adding Waller to the VFL side is another development option.

 

[briztoon]

Early days of course but I reckon his attributes would be better suited down back. Doesn't have great athleticism which could hold him back as a KPF but he looks like he could be a temu Andrews.

Great read of the ball, great mark, decent positioning, isn't afraid of body on body and a decent 2km time suggesting he can run a bit. Sound similar?

Flogged himself in the 2km time trial and threw up on the finish line.

Impressed a lot of recruiters with his effort.

 

[Saucery]

Ruck position is changing this year with the change to the centre bounce, the 5 man bench and the quick ball up. Interesting we only have 3, but we have Zane and now Curtain who could play in the ruck if needed and tall forwards like Allen and Gallop who could have a run in the ruck. I think that if we got a long term injury to a ruck then we would add one at the mid season draft. I guess adding Waller to the VFL side is another development option.

Steph Martin would eat this $hit up.

 

[dlanod]

Would not mind Waller playing VFL and see how he goes. If we go two rucks in the AFL leaves one in the 2nds.
Unless someone else picks up some ruck work. Smith and Draper both had lots of injury problems.
So who knows how many we have available anyway

Young rucks take time so to have him play VFL for a year then access for a spot.

Worst comes to worst he wouldn't be a bad MSD option in that scenario too.

 

[FFB1]

I can't imagine we're drafting players purely as payback.

Way to ruin the narrative

 

[GenericUsername202]

I'm not sure I would go as far as saying Curtin is a temu version of Andrews, because no one thought Andrews would have become the player that he did when we first drafted him, but his capabilities are more suited down back in the modern game. In fact, I was watching the draft coverage and when we recruited him, it was said that every club that was interested in him saw him more as a key position defender as well. I would get him next to andrews right away so he can learn as much as he can

 

[Not a Psycho]

Evans feels like a 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

high risk high reward type. If he was uninjured this year there's a decent chance he's taken around the same spot in the draft.
Super evasive and always looking to take the game on. In my opinion, that sort of player is going to be underutilised down back unless he can't put it together up forward or through the mids at AFL level. It will also be interesting to see how he fills out his frame in the next couple of years.

 

[JasRulz63]

 

[Mr Ripper]

Tai Hayes looks like Travis Baird

Travis Baird

Age

39

Ht

192cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

6.0

1star

K

4.0

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

6.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.6

4star

.

 

[irel]

Tai Hayes looks like Travis Baird.

Hopefully Tai shows better judgement or has the right guidance around him, so that he doesn’t piss off just as he’s breaking into the senior side.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Tai Hayes looks like Travis Baird.

You must have a few bandwagon chassis lying around so you're able to knock one up pretty quickly, yeah?

 

[Mr Ripper]

Hopefully Tai shows better judgement or has the right guidance around him, so that he doesn’t piss off just as he’s breaking into the senior side.

Danny Daly doesn’t have a son on the rookie list, so that’ll help his cause.