Round 1
New
eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Essendon Player Sponsor 2025 - Archie Perkins and Nic Martin
Werewolf - Town of Salem
Sweet F.A. 300+ Games Played in the SFA
Doctor Who's Tardis
East Side Hawks - Sweet F.A.
Essendon Player Sponsor 2024 - Archie Perkins and Nic Martin
Veteran
Essendon Player Sponsor 2023 - Archie Perkins and Nic Martin
As always, I'll be trying to do a "true" phantom draft with bid matches incorporated. I'm no expert, I'm mostly using guys like eDPS, PMBangers and others as reference. I will not be doing live trading, even though I expect a few to happen (Carlton will almost certainly trade up, and I expect points farming from Gold Coast and Brisbane). Anyway, here goes nothing.
Round 1:
Pick 1, West Coast: Willem Duursma (Gippsland Power, 193 cm, Inside Midfielder/Half Back). Duursma is the number 1 pick with a bullet and only a trade up from Essendon will stop West Coast from taking him here. His cleanliness below his knees and overall athleticism are two big reasons why he'll go pick 1 IMO.
Pick 2, Gold Coast: Zeke Uwland (Burleigh, 180 cm, Utility). West Coast bid with pick 2, Gold Coast match the 2233 points with picks 15, 18 and 24 moves back to pick 43 (197 points). If West Coast don't bid on Uwland then there's something wrong. He can play anywhere to a very high standard and being injured all year is really why he isn't rated pick 1.
Pick 3, West Coast: Cooper Duff-Tytler (Calder Cannons, 201 cm, Ruck/Key Forward). Easily the best KPP in the draft, CDT may well be West Coast's preferance if they do split their pick 1 or 2 into 2 picks, the big ruck/forward a high level talent and one in an area of need.
Pick 4, Brisbane: Daniel Annable (Redland, 183 cm, IM). Richmond bid with pick 4, Brisbane match the 1766 points with picks 17, 22, 42 and 50 moves to 52 (39 points). Annable is arguably the best "pure" midfielder in the draft and I see that as a need for the Tigers so they'll make Brisbane pay his worth here.
Pick 5, Gold Coast: Dylan Patterson (Palm Beach Currumbin, 183 cm, HB). Richmond bid with pick 5, Gold Coast match with picks 25, 26, 33 and 41 moves back to pick 46 (137 points). Patterson is the best half back in the draft and is in another area of need for the Tigers so I see him getting a bid here, it's up for debate whether Gold Coast match or not but I think if he escapes the top 4 he'll be a Sun.
Pick 6, Richmond: Dyson Sharp (Central Districts, 188 cm, IM). Probably the best inside mid of the open draft, Sharp is a pig in the middle, just wants to win everything, and is a monster in the clearances which with the Annable bid you can see why I think Richmond will take Sharp here.
Pick 7, Richmond: Sam Grlj (Oakleigh Chargers, 182 cm, HB). Grlj impressed the Tigers when he played VFL for them , and is seen as a 50/50 prospect as whether they take him here or potentially trade lower and take him there, but for the purposes of this I'm not gonna predict a trade.
Pick 8, Essendon: Sullivan Robey (Eastern Ranges, 193 cm, Midfielder/Forward). I think either Robey or Sharp will go to Richmond and the other to Essendon. Robey rocketed up the rankings with an incredible finals series, expect him to be a top 10 pick and a star as a mid/forward or the reverse.
Pick 9, Essendon: Xavier Taylor (ER, 192 cm, Medium Defender). I'm half expecting a trade up from Carlton here to get ahead of a Harry Dean bid, but this guy is perfect for Essendon as that medium intercept defender with only the injury prone Jordan Ridley on the list in this role.
Pick 10, Carlton: Harry Dean (Murray Bushrangers, 194 cm, Key Defender). Melbourne bid pick 10, Carlton match the bid with picks 12 and 14 losing 8 points worth of value to 1016. As I said earlier, I expect Carlton to trade up but I can see a world where they sit tight and just cop the bid with their pick a couple later and use 14 to draft someone else. Dean is the best key defender in the draft, something I see Melbourne needing hence the bid.
Pick 11, Melbourne: Aiden Schubert (CD, 198 cm, Key Forward). The need for the Dees is pretty easy to see, KPP's at either end. Schubert looks like the best pure key forward in the draft, and one thing Melbourne could definitely use here.
Pick 12, Melbourne: Sam Cumming (CD, 183 cm, M/F). Cumming I can see starting as a small forward and working his way into the midfield, kid will be perfect for this role IMO.
Pick 13, Hawthorn: Oliver Greeves (ER, 191 cm, IM). Greeves was an early top 5 favourite but has slipped due to an average year, however he fits the Hawks needs very well and will be able to play round 1 for them if necessary.
Pick 14, Carlton: Lachy Dovaston (ER, 177 cm, SF). Dovaston is probably the most electric small forward of the draft, I think Carlton will pounce on him with whatever their first pick is if they trade up as it is a clear area of need and that's why I can see them just absorbing a Harry Dean bid with their earlier pick.
Pick 15, Greater Western Sydney: Josh Lindsay (Geelong Falcons, 183 cm, HB). Lindsay is one of the better half backs of the draft, I can see him going anywhere between Richmond and here but I can't see the Giants passing up on him if available, a lovely kick of the football.
Pick 16, West Coast: Jacob Farrow (West Perth, 188 cm, MD). Farrow I see as the second best intercept defender of the draft and could honestly be a top 10 pick but like Lindsay I can't see him lasting beyond West Coast who need, well, everything, but an intercept defender is on the list.
Pick 17, Western Bulldogs: Mitch Marsh (West Adelaide, 190 cm, Medium Forward). When you have a key forward combination of Naughton and Darcy, an athletic medium forward like Marsh who can have an immediate impact is exactly what the Dogs would want IMO, especially with a lack of strong key defenders in this draft.
Pick 18, Adelaide: Harley Barker (Sturt, 187 cm, Outside Midfielder). Barker is coming off an ACL but I think Adelaide would be keen to use the outside mid and home grown product in that role for a few years.
Pick 19, Geelong: Oskar Taylor (ER, 183 cm, F/M). Taylor is a hard one to rank, he could go as high as 10 or as low as 25, but I see a bit of Gryan Miers in him and I think the Cats will try to bring that through.
Pick 20, Sydney: Lachlan Carmichael (Sydney Academy, 184 cm, HB). Fremantle bid with pick 20, Sydney match the 673 points with picks 27 and 28 moves back to pick 34 (365 points). Carmichael is an interesting one, he'll be fringe night 1 but I can see him coming into a bid around here for the Swans who can easily match
Pick 21, Fremantle: Jevan Phillipou (Woodville-West Torrens, 183 cm, F/M). Younger brother of Mattaes, Jevan is a tough one to place but I can see him going as high as pick 13 or as low as 25 or so but Freo probably jump on him here.
Pick 22, Essendon: Matthew LeRay (CD, 188 cm, OM). LeRay is a good outside midfielder who can run all day and was a very good cricketer in his own right before choosing footy. Essendon need leaders and LeRay is one of the best in this draft, added to the fact that he's a positional need.
Pick 23, Essendon: Adam Sweid (CC, 176 cm, M/F). Hawthorn bid with pick 23, Essendon match 569 points with picks 26 and 27 losing 8 points worth of value to 525. Hawks need midfielders and I can see them bidding on Sweid here to keep Essendon honest. The Dons will match their NGA product immediately and get him through to the club on night 1 of the draft.
Pick 24, Hawthorn: Hunter Holmes (OC, 188 cm, OM). Hawks need class on the outside as well as the inside and Holmes is their man here, they'd be hoping for a similar impact as his brother at Geelong.
Round 1:
Pick 1, West Coast: Willem Duursma (Gippsland Power, 193 cm, Inside Midfielder/Half Back). Duursma is the number 1 pick with a bullet and only a trade up from Essendon will stop West Coast from taking him here. His cleanliness below his knees and overall athleticism are two big reasons why he'll go pick 1 IMO.
Pick 2, Gold Coast: Zeke Uwland (Burleigh, 180 cm, Utility). West Coast bid with pick 2, Gold Coast match the 2233 points with picks 15, 18 and 24 moves back to pick 43 (197 points). If West Coast don't bid on Uwland then there's something wrong. He can play anywhere to a very high standard and being injured all year is really why he isn't rated pick 1.
Pick 3, West Coast: Cooper Duff-Tytler (Calder Cannons, 201 cm, Ruck/Key Forward). Easily the best KPP in the draft, CDT may well be West Coast's preferance if they do split their pick 1 or 2 into 2 picks, the big ruck/forward a high level talent and one in an area of need.
Pick 4, Brisbane: Daniel Annable (Redland, 183 cm, IM). Richmond bid with pick 4, Brisbane match the 1766 points with picks 17, 22, 42 and 50 moves to 52 (39 points). Annable is arguably the best "pure" midfielder in the draft and I see that as a need for the Tigers so they'll make Brisbane pay his worth here.
Pick 5, Gold Coast: Dylan Patterson (Palm Beach Currumbin, 183 cm, HB). Richmond bid with pick 5, Gold Coast match with picks 25, 26, 33 and 41 moves back to pick 46 (137 points). Patterson is the best half back in the draft and is in another area of need for the Tigers so I see him getting a bid here, it's up for debate whether Gold Coast match or not but I think if he escapes the top 4 he'll be a Sun.
Pick 6, Richmond: Dyson Sharp (Central Districts, 188 cm, IM). Probably the best inside mid of the open draft, Sharp is a pig in the middle, just wants to win everything, and is a monster in the clearances which with the Annable bid you can see why I think Richmond will take Sharp here.
Pick 7, Richmond: Sam Grlj (Oakleigh Chargers, 182 cm, HB). Grlj impressed the Tigers when he played VFL for them , and is seen as a 50/50 prospect as whether they take him here or potentially trade lower and take him there, but for the purposes of this I'm not gonna predict a trade.
Pick 8, Essendon: Sullivan Robey (Eastern Ranges, 193 cm, Midfielder/Forward). I think either Robey or Sharp will go to Richmond and the other to Essendon. Robey rocketed up the rankings with an incredible finals series, expect him to be a top 10 pick and a star as a mid/forward or the reverse.
Pick 9, Essendon: Xavier Taylor (ER, 192 cm, Medium Defender). I'm half expecting a trade up from Carlton here to get ahead of a Harry Dean bid, but this guy is perfect for Essendon as that medium intercept defender with only the injury prone Jordan Ridley on the list in this role.
Pick 10, Carlton: Harry Dean (Murray Bushrangers, 194 cm, Key Defender). Melbourne bid pick 10, Carlton match the bid with picks 12 and 14 losing 8 points worth of value to 1016. As I said earlier, I expect Carlton to trade up but I can see a world where they sit tight and just cop the bid with their pick a couple later and use 14 to draft someone else. Dean is the best key defender in the draft, something I see Melbourne needing hence the bid.
Pick 11, Melbourne: Aiden Schubert (CD, 198 cm, Key Forward). The need for the Dees is pretty easy to see, KPP's at either end. Schubert looks like the best pure key forward in the draft, and one thing Melbourne could definitely use here.
Pick 12, Melbourne: Sam Cumming (CD, 183 cm, M/F). Cumming I can see starting as a small forward and working his way into the midfield, kid will be perfect for this role IMO.
Pick 13, Hawthorn: Oliver Greeves (ER, 191 cm, IM). Greeves was an early top 5 favourite but has slipped due to an average year, however he fits the Hawks needs very well and will be able to play round 1 for them if necessary.
Pick 14, Carlton: Lachy Dovaston (ER, 177 cm, SF). Dovaston is probably the most electric small forward of the draft, I think Carlton will pounce on him with whatever their first pick is if they trade up as it is a clear area of need and that's why I can see them just absorbing a Harry Dean bid with their earlier pick.
Pick 15, Greater Western Sydney: Josh Lindsay (Geelong Falcons, 183 cm, HB). Lindsay is one of the better half backs of the draft, I can see him going anywhere between Richmond and here but I can't see the Giants passing up on him if available, a lovely kick of the football.
Pick 16, West Coast: Jacob Farrow (West Perth, 188 cm, MD). Farrow I see as the second best intercept defender of the draft and could honestly be a top 10 pick but like Lindsay I can't see him lasting beyond West Coast who need, well, everything, but an intercept defender is on the list.
Pick 17, Western Bulldogs: Mitch Marsh (West Adelaide, 190 cm, Medium Forward). When you have a key forward combination of Naughton and Darcy, an athletic medium forward like Marsh who can have an immediate impact is exactly what the Dogs would want IMO, especially with a lack of strong key defenders in this draft.
Pick 18, Adelaide: Harley Barker (Sturt, 187 cm, Outside Midfielder). Barker is coming off an ACL but I think Adelaide would be keen to use the outside mid and home grown product in that role for a few years.
Pick 19, Geelong: Oskar Taylor (ER, 183 cm, F/M). Taylor is a hard one to rank, he could go as high as 10 or as low as 25, but I see a bit of Gryan Miers in him and I think the Cats will try to bring that through.
Pick 20, Sydney: Lachlan Carmichael (Sydney Academy, 184 cm, HB). Fremantle bid with pick 20, Sydney match the 673 points with picks 27 and 28 moves back to pick 34 (365 points). Carmichael is an interesting one, he'll be fringe night 1 but I can see him coming into a bid around here for the Swans who can easily match
Pick 21, Fremantle: Jevan Phillipou (Woodville-West Torrens, 183 cm, F/M). Younger brother of Mattaes, Jevan is a tough one to place but I can see him going as high as pick 13 or as low as 25 or so but Freo probably jump on him here.
Pick 22, Essendon: Matthew LeRay (CD, 188 cm, OM). LeRay is a good outside midfielder who can run all day and was a very good cricketer in his own right before choosing footy. Essendon need leaders and LeRay is one of the best in this draft, added to the fact that he's a positional need.
Pick 23, Essendon: Adam Sweid (CC, 176 cm, M/F). Hawthorn bid with pick 23, Essendon match 569 points with picks 26 and 27 losing 8 points worth of value to 525. Hawks need midfielders and I can see them bidding on Sweid here to keep Essendon honest. The Dons will match their NGA product immediately and get him through to the club on night 1 of the draft.
Pick 24, Hawthorn: Hunter Holmes (OC, 188 cm, OM). Hawks need class on the outside as well as the inside and Holmes is their man here, they'd be hoping for a similar impact as his brother at Geelong.
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