Academy Rorts - The 2025 Draft Thread

[Hollow Knight]

Rookie draft

Jarrad Jansen?

 

[Nathan Barley]

It is interesting you'd assume we couldve had Tai Hayes train on and be an SSP selection. We must have been either very confident that he was worth 2 years on the senior list or that another team with a selection left might have taken him

 

[lionshine]

Jarrad Jansen?

Traded him in from Geelong. Pretty sure the original comment was a mature age player we drafted in the National Draft. Would have to be someone since Dalziel before tonight surely? I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head though and not interested in a deep dive at 11pm on a Thursday night

 

[lionshine]

It is interesting you'd assume we couldve had Tai Hayes train on and be an SSP selection. We must have been either very confident that he was worth 2 years on the senior list or that another team with a selection left might have taken him

Recall (Barely) seeing him play in the VFL once, probably against us, but based solely off his height and build I’m choosing to believe the club wish to develop him in the Starcevich role as opposed to mid/wing.

Overall really happy with our selections. A nice mix of different types to develop in the VFL. Have a good feeling about Koby Evans.

 

[rye]

WA has been a happy hunting ground for us for a very long time. really happy with our picks tonight.

 

[jasonrampage2010]

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

 

[RegionalLion]

Great work again by the recruitment and list management team. I really like Evans and Curtin to go with Annable. There must be something about Hayes the team likes so who am I to argue; however, I do wonder about Waller as a developing ruck as more of a need than Hayes as we only have Draper, Fort and Smith as Rucks currently.

Maybe Curtin is a one tall fixes all type of pick - has been fwd who chops out in the ruck occasionally this year and KPD of note in his underage year. I hope the plan is to train him more as a defender but perhaps he will be a genuine swingman and chop out ruck or develop into more of a ruck if needed so he is a slight insurance policy so no need for Waller?

Evans also seems like he could play many roles which we don't currently have. Seems to have that speedy x-factor forward or mid about him from some highlights and enjoys the pressure side of the game. I really like his statements about liking to tackle and wanting to work with Dunkley - so he could also be our developing Dunkley replacement, or as others have identified if he enjoys that defensive work combined with his speed and size he could also possibly be redirected into somewhat of a Starce role.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

New rort unlocked

View attachment 2482147

 

[Bucking Beads]

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

Don't do this to me.

 

[crows dude]

Surely, the Crows wanted Cody...

We would have picked him. But you got in first. We then go Archie Ludowyke. Similar players. Nice work and payback for AhChee I think as well.

 

[JasRulz63]

We would have picked him. But you got in first. We then go Archie Ludowyke. Similar players. Nice work and payback for AhChee I think as well.

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

 

[dlanod]

I think Brad Dalziell (age 20) in 2007 was the last mature aged player we took in the National Draft before Tai Hayes tonight.
That being mature aged, and who has not played at AFL level.
Not including other sort of drafts like rookie, preseason (Day), midseason (Beecken), zone (Reville). TV show (M Eagles), International (Uosis)
Zorko was traded from the Suns

Kiddie and Answerth were both technically mature age after being passed over in their first draft year.

 

[irel]

We would have picked him. But you got in first. We then go Archie Ludowyke. Similar players. Nice work and payback for AhChee I think as well.

That’s not our club. We refuse to build a culture around ‘payback’. We stand for integrity respect, collaboration, and progress.

 

[Sproj]

That’s not our club. We refuse to build a culture around ‘payback’. We stand for integrity respect, collaboration, and progress.

And very importantly…success.

 

[jonnobackpocket]

Evan’s might be the Linc replacement.

 

[John_Proctor]

Evans having injury issues is a reminder of a few drafts picks some time ago where we drafted the guys highly rated at under age but then impacted by injury in their final year. Sam Skinner

31

Sam Skinner

Age

28

Ht

197cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.0

1star

T

3.0

5star

MG

101.0

2star

No current season stats available

D

9.0

3star

K

4.0

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.0

1star

T

3.0

5star

MG

101.0

2star

is one who comes to mind but we did it a few years in a row around his time.

Like the bio on Curtain (which also starts with him being highly rated as an under ager). and presumably the club got to see a lot of Hayes as a queensland based player.

Seems like a nice mix of players taken at the back end and guys that will benefit from a season or two in the VFL which isn't a bad thing given our depth at the moment,

 

[Nathan Barley]

Recall (Barely) seeing him play in the VFL once, probably against us, but based solely off his height and build I’m choosing to believe the club wish to develop him in the Starcevich role as opposed to mid/wing.

Overall really happy with our selections. A nice mix of different types to develop in the VFL. Have a good feeling about Koby Evans.

Really? Seems an emphasis that hes very much an outside mid. If you're not great at contesting the footy it's a long way to develop into a lockdown defender.

I don't understand so many people's obsession with replacing Starcevich

 

[LongLion]

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

 

[Viceregal]

Swipe across to see the live reaction to getting drafted. It’s a good one!

Don't think we need to worry about the mouth guard colour check on that one!

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Gee I hope Hayes makes it as a player, because I was hoping for Talor Byrne who went at the very next pick. Can't find any footage of Hayes, only his Rookie Me write up.

Tai Hayes Draft Profile

Tai Hayes is the nephew of St Kilda champion Lenny, but has made a name for himself after a breakout VFL campaign with Southport.

central.rookieme.com

 

[Zacs_Magic_Tooth]

We would have picked him. But you got in first. We then go Archie Ludowyke. Similar players. Nice work and payback for AhChee I think as well.

Suspect payback will be on the field. In a final assuming the Crows sneak through

 

[irel]

Evan’s might be the Linc replacement.

Evans is not a small forward, nor is he a small back. He profiles as a genuine 188cm midfielder with the tools to make an impact at AFL level. Yes, our midfield is already stacked, but when a player you’ve rated as a first-round talent is still available late in the second round, you don’t hesitate, you pull the trigger.

What stands out about Evans in my viewing of his vids, is the balance in his game. He combines inside toughness with outside polish, plays with real physicality, and, from all reports, has a strong desire to be at the Lions. That combination of skillset and mindset is exactly what you want in a young recruit.

It reminds me of when we drafted Brandon Starcevich. He came in as a midfielder but developed into an elite lockdown defender, capable of handling both smalls and talls. Evans shows similar traits, versatility, resilience, and the kind of competitive edge that can see him thrive in multiple roles. Whether he remains a midfielder or transitions into another position, he has the attributes to become a valuable long-term piece of our side.

I am excited to add another WA tallent from our WA academy.

 

[Saucery]

Really? Seems an emphasis that hes very much an outside mid. If you're not great at contesting the footy it's a long way to develop into a lockdown defender.

I don't understand so many people's obsession with replacing Starcevich

Must admit I'm in that boat, though I'd see it as replacement depth for Starc or Answerth. I hope Doedee comes good from injury and we'd have an intercepting back line of Harris, Payne and Doedee. A new look and insane aerial firepower.

 

[KissKiss]

Swipe across to see the live reaction to getting drafted. It’s a good one!

Seeing guys getting drafted and the videos of them (and their families) getting told they are debuting is possibly my favourite thing in football. There is something so special about seeing the raw emotion as they achieve their dream

 

[KissKiss]

Some pretty damning (funny?) stories coming out over night about how badly West Coast handled their draft. Mucked up the maths of when to bid on the GC players (both got matched) and then apparently they were lost on what to do next. Trading Hawks the pick 34 to Hawks and then running out of list spots. And well the mistake of getting extra rookie spots and then not using them to create list spots