Academy Rorts - The 2025 Draft Thread

[mpal6]

What are people's thoughts on Oliver Greeves and Harley barker as our next 2 picks after Annable?

We might take Prindable as a 50s pick and call it a day.
Taj Murray might be an option too if he's available late.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Doesn't every teenager.

I never had that spurt.

Ideally, I'd be about 194cm but 189 is fine I guess.

 

[dlanod]

I never had that spurt.

Ideally, I'd be about 194cm but 189 is fine I guess.

Look, the teenage spurt is just extra mess to clean up after

 

[Perrip]

We might take Prindable as a 50s pick and call it a day.
Taj Murray might be an option too if he's available late.

Assuming our remaining OOC players all stay on and we upgrade Brain to the main list, we can draft 2 others alongside Annable.

 

[briztoon]

What are people's thoughts on Oliver Greeves and Harley barker as our next 2 picks after Annable?

They would most likely be depreciating assets sitting in our reserves, until they ask for a transfer at the end of their first contract.

Realistically we’re probably not going to have the picks for either player, and I’m not overly keen on Greeves. He might have the height of Dunkley, but he runs like Lyons.

I’d rather look at possible KPD, ruck or small forward targets.

Or, I’d rather upgrade a couple of our rookies after taking Annable, match a bid on McFadyen if he’s bid on in the national draft, then look at some of our academy kids in the rookie draft.

 

[Not a Psycho]

Dan will be a great player for us.

It’s well known, but he has actively put in work on this with a couple of former players who were able to kick bullets opposed to high loopy balls that are easy to intercept.

Forward impact probably the other main focus for him - but that’s taken a lot of quality midfielders a number of years in the AFL to achieve.

I found the evolution in his kicking interesting. I saw his highlights from last year and he seemed to have a very straight action, if a little loopy and inconsistent with depth. This year my first thought watching him was that he's almost kicking it like a lefty on his right, seems to be pulling around his body a little more, especially coming out of traffic.

 

[irel]

They would most likely be depreciating assets sitting in our reserves, until they ask for a transfer at the end of their first contract.

Realistically we’re probably not going to have the picks for either player, and I’m not overly keen on Greeves. He might have the height of Dunkley, but he runs like Lyons.

I’d rather look at possible KPD, ruck or small forward targets.

Or, I’d rather upgrade a couple of our rookies after taking Annable, match a bid on McFadyen if he’s bid on in the national draft, then look at some of our academy kids in the rookie draft.

Totally agree. Burning high-end draft capital on players destined to sit in the reserves is not an efficient use of our assets. Unless something truly extraordinary happens on draft night, like a top-tier talent inexplicably sliding to our second or third pick, we should be focusing on long-term development, such as academy prospects, high-upside youth, and converting picks into future draft capital.

Right now, our senior list is stacked. There’s already a logjam for spots in the best 23, and with a wave of players returning from injury plus at least three new automatic selections, competition is fierce. The priority should be strategic depth and future flexibility, not adding more names to an already congested queue.

 

[Perrip]

How many picks your club is set to use at the 2025 AFL Draft

West Coast is expected to use four picks, while Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are all likely to activate between three or four picks. Collingwood, too, is expected to use between two and four live selections.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

We've been fortunate that Morris and Gallop have been good out of the gates, but that isn't common amongst young talls. They can take 4-5 years to develop, like Henry Smith has. With Harris about to turn 29, we'll need someone to take over for him in about four years' time. So do we need to get another developing KPD prospect in this draft? We already took a punt on a Zane Zakostelsky, but we still have no idea if he'll work out, so it may be good to have another option.

A KPD I've been looking at is Blake Thredgold from Sturt. He made the top 10 in the speed and jump tests at the national combine, much like ZZ did. Missed most of the U18 championships with a broken hand. No idea if he'll fall to us, but Rookie Me Central rates him in the 25-40 range.

Blake Thredgold Draft Profile

Sturt's Blake Thredgold has developed into a key defender who can lock down one-on-one or peel off to intercept prolifically.

central.rookieme.com

STRENGTHS:

• Aerial ability
• Athleticism
• Lockdown defence
• One-on-ones
• Reading the play
• Versatility

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Decision making
• Production

This all rings pretty true to me looking at his tape in the SANFL U18 grand final:



He shut down Mitch Marsh, who is a first round quality forward, took some good intercept marks, served as a good bailout kick option on the wing and showed off his speed in an impressive chase-down tackle. But he didn't make good decisions kicking long, sometimes giving the opposition an uncontested mark, other times missing targets he should have hit.

Still, if he was a perfect player with no knocks, he'd go top 10. And decision making can be taught, whereas speed and leap can't.

 

[BuntonRules]

We've been fortunate that Morris and Gallop have been good out of the gates, but that isn't common amongst young talls. They can take 4-5 years to develop, like Henry Smith has. With Harris about to turn 29, we'll need someone to take over for him in about four years' time. So do we need to get another developing KPD prospect in this draft? We already took a punt on a Zane Zakostelsky, but we still have no idea if he'll work out, so it may be good to have another option.

A KPD I've been looking at is Blake Thredgold from Sturt. He made the top 10 in the speed and jump tests at the national combine, much like ZZ did. Missed most of the U18 championships with a broken hand. No idea if he'll fall to us, but Rookie Me Central rates him in the 25-40 range.

Blake Thredgold Draft Profile

Sturt's Blake Thredgold has developed into a key defender who can lock down one-on-one or peel off to intercept prolifically.

central.rookieme.com

This all rings pretty true to me looking at his tape in the SANFL U18 grand final:


194 is not a Harris replacementd, took some good intercept marks, served as a good bailout kick option on the wing and showed off his speed in an impressive chase-down tackle. But he didn't make good decisions kicking long, sometimes giving the opposition an uncontested mark, other times missing targets he should have hit.

Still, if he was a perfect player with no knocks, he'd go top 10. And decision making can be taught, whereas speed and leap can't.

194 cm is not a Harris replacement.

 

[briztoon]

We've been fortunate that Morris and Gallop have been good out of the gates, but that isn't common amongst young talls. They can take 4-5 years to develop, like Henry Smith has. With Harris about to turn 29, we'll need someone to take over for him in about four years' time. So do we need to get another developing KPD prospect in this draft? We already took a punt on a Zane Zakostelsky, but we still have no idea if he'll work out, so it may be good to have another option.

A KPD I've been looking at is Blake Thredgold from Sturt. He made the top 10 in the speed and jump tests at the national combine, much like ZZ did. Missed most of the U18 championships with a broken hand. No idea if he'll fall to us, but Rookie Me Central rates him in the 25-40 range.

Blake Thredgold Draft Profile

Sturt's Blake Thredgold has developed into a key defender who can lock down one-on-one or peel off to intercept prolifically.

central.rookieme.com

This all rings pretty true to me looking at his tape in the SANFL U18 grand final:



He shut down Mitch Marsh, who is a first round quality forward, took some good intercept marks, served as a good bailout kick option on the wing and showed off his speed in an impressive chase-down tackle. But he didn't make good decisions kicking long, sometimes giving the opposition an uncontested mark, other times missing targets he should have hit.

Still, if he was a perfect player with no knocks, he'd go top 10. And decision making can be taught, whereas speed and leap can't.

Honestly, I’d be surprised if he made past pick 20.

194 cm is not a Harris replacement.

And this is my view as well. Thredgold isn’t an Andrew’s replacement. I’d like another 200cm defender to replace Andrew’s. Ideally I’d love to get Ethan Reid from Gold Coast as Andrew’s replacement.

For me, Zakostelsky is a future Jack Payne insurance policy.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

194 cm is not a Harris replacement.

You know people haven't always stopped growing by 18?

 

[briztoon]

You know people haven't always stopped growing by 18?

Another 6cm at this age is not very common.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Another 6cm at this age is not very common.

I didn't realise everyone had to be as tall as Harris Andrews to be an AFL key defender.

 

[briztoon]

Fair rumour that Fred Rodriguez from WA has tanked his draft year as he doesn’t want to leave WA.

 

[briztoon]

I didn't realise everyone had to be as tall as Harris Andrews to be an AFL key defender.

I addressed this in a previous post.

 

[Tom14]

Fair rumour that Fred Rodriguez from WA has tanked his draft year as he doesn’t want to leave WA.

There's only one conclusion that can be drawn from this rumour: the Northern Academies Must Go.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I addressed this in a previous post.

Yes, I read it. We've established that you want a 200cm defender. That doesn't mean we can't possibly draft one who is shorter than that.

 

[Sproj]

There's only one conclusion that can be drawn from this rumour: the Northern Academies Must Go.

And Father-Sons.

 

[Dalions]

There's only one conclusion that can be drawn from this rumour: the Northern Academies Must Go.

Let the Rorts continue

 

[Elixuh]

Fair rumour that Fred Rodriguez from WA has tanked his draft year as he doesn’t want to leave WA.

This is the name of someone I will forget exists until they’re traded to North for a fourth rounder in 3 years and I wonder if they’re real.

 

[Morbidly_Obese]

Honestly, I’d be surprised if he made past pick 20.



And this is my view as well. Thredgold isn’t an Andrew’s replacement. I’d like another 200cm defender to replace Andrew’s. Ideally I’d love to get Ethan Reid from Gold Coast as Andrew’s replacement.

For me, Zakostelsky is a future Jack Payne insurance policy.

We kinda need someone to replace lester now.

 

[McLuggages]

We've been fortunate that Morris and Gallop have been good out of the gates, but that isn't common amongst young talls. They can take 4-5 years to develop, like Henry Smith has. With Harris about to turn 29, we'll need someone to take over for him in about four years' time. So do we need to get another developing KPD prospect in this draft? We already took a punt on a Zane Zakostelsky, but we still have no idea if he'll work out, so it may be good to have another option.

A KPD I've been looking at is Blake Thredgold from Sturt. He made the top 10 in the speed and jump tests at the national combine, much like ZZ did. Missed most of the U18 championships with a broken hand. No idea if he'll fall to us, but Rookie Me Central rates him in the 25-40 range.

Blake Thredgold Draft Profile

Sturt's Blake Thredgold has developed into a key defender who can lock down one-on-one or peel off to intercept prolifically.

central.rookieme.com

This all rings pretty true to me looking at his tape in the SANFL U18 grand final:



He shut down Mitch Marsh, who is a first round quality forward, took some good intercept marks, served as a good bailout kick option on the wing and showed off his speed in an impressive chase-down tackle. But he didn't make good decisions kicking long, sometimes giving the opposition an uncontested mark, other times missing targets he should have hit.

Still, if he was a perfect player with no knocks, he'd go top 10. And decision making can be taught, whereas speed and leap can't.

Love the idea. It does feel like our succession planning down back might be in trouble at some stage. It's going to be sad when we aren't absolutely stacked on every line.

 

[briztoon]

We kinda need someone to replace lester now.

He's in the 2027 draft.

 

[Morbidly_Obese]

He's in the 2027 draft.

That's too long I could be dead in 2027.