Resource Noob's 2025 Draft Prospect Video Thread

[noobermensch]

A very early look at a young man that seems destined to be a star of the future. The 16 year old Dougie Cochrane isn't draft eligible until 2026 but is already putting in elite performances at U18 level and building a very early case to be pick 1 in 18 months time. He's a unique blend of key forward and inside midfielder, possessing the size, athleticism and clean hands to dominate in the air combined with contested ball winning and classy skills.

 

[noobermensch]

There's been lots of talk about how Dyson had a poor opening game of the season here, but I think we can dig a little deeper. He didn't find a lot of the footy, but was played as a high half forward which can become a bit of a graveyard with the ball constantly flying over your head. The touches he did have were mostly clean and constructive, and he had a hand in each of the critical final two scores that got his team up on the day.

When you're the most talented kid playing junior footy you are the game plan, but when you accept the move up to senior footy you have to fit into a structure and you're not likely to be the star. I did feel that he was deferring too much to his teammates at times, hovering outside of contests waiting to receive instead of being proactive, and I'm sure that will change as he gains confidence at the level.

 

[noobermensch]

An elite karate kid headband was just one of the highligts in a massive performance from Thrillem Duursma in the opening round of Talent League play who put his hand up to say that he's right in the mix for pick 1 consideration. He looks locked in to the mid/fwd role and he showed that he's equally dangerous in either position. When in the forward line he created a number of scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates, and when played through the middle his size was a serious disruptor, helping his team win the ball or applying strong tackling pressure. He was at his most influential out in space, finding a stack of the footy and using his athleticism to present strongly for his teammates.

 

[noobermensch]

Still waiting on footage for the rest of the weekend's talent league games. In the meantime here's some more of Sam Cumming:

A slightly quieter outing this week from Cumming but he still played a large role in helping his Roosters squad claim victory with his power around the contest combined with his ability to get forward and hit the scoreboard.

 

[noobermensch]

A strong first outing for Onley here, best on for his Bushrangers team in a losing effort. His size, power and clean hands at stoppage proved extremely difficult for Gippsland to handle as Onley won a stack of clearances and helped initiate forward moves. His aerial prowess and reading of the play are a real weapon. The major concern for Onley is his disposal by foot, which wasn't great again here but he gets a pass due to the wild and windy conditions.

 

[noobermensch]

In the marquee matchup of the weekend, Cooper Duff-Tytler got the better of Louis Emmett and played a huge role in helping his Cannons team get up on the day. He didn't always have his own way in the hitout battle, but his follow up work at ground level and on the spread was elite for a 200cm lad. Given his relatively recent full time commitment to footy we might only be scratching the surface of what he's capable of.

 

[noobermensch]

Long suffering Blues fans have a future star to look forward to in father/son prospect Cody Walker. Cody was super busy when he was on the ground doing a little bit of everything, cracking in to win contested ball, finding space around the ground as a link man, and creating scoring opportunities in the forward 50. Considering he's likely the Pioneers best player I thought it a little strange that he spent so much time on the bench in a close contest.

 

[noobermensch]

The first game of the season for Tom was solid rather than spectacular. The numbers look excellent, but he struggled to find space early due to the Dragons intense pressure as the Jets fell behind on the scoreboard. As the game progressed things started to open up and Tom was increasingly able to get on to his damaging left boot to influence the play.

 

[noobermensch]

There's been a lot of chatter in Essendon fan circles about NGA linked Adam Sweid's first game of the season for the Cannons. After missing a season with a torn ACL, Adam posted a strong first up performance showcasing his intensity, power and strength at the contest and an ability to do damage with the ball in hand.

 

[noobermensch]

Ollie Greeves has added muscle to his already impressive frame in the off season making him a serious physical specimen. He'll have games where he finds more of the footy, but this was a solid outing for him albeit he struggled with his kicking at times in the strong wind which affected everyone and turned this game into a scrap. One area of improvement for him coming into this season was his defensive pressure, so it was good to see him crunching into a number of tackles here and even winning a couple of free kicks.

Apologies for the lack of sound, the effects mics were only picking up the noise of wind so I had to mute.

 

[noobermensch]

The expectation was that Lindsay would move into the midfield in his top age season, and we got confirmation of that in the opening round of Talent League action. Lindsay was a strong influence at stoppage and contests, especially impressing without the footy with his defensive pressure and tackling. His typically elite disposal skills were perhaps a little rusty or effected by the windy conditions, but he did manage to lace out some damaging darts in the second half.

Unfortunately had to mute the audio again in this one due to the wind in the effects mic.

 

[noobermensch]

Given the windy conditions and his team losing the territory battle, it's a credit to Liam Hetherton that he managed to kick three goals and look dangerous whenever the ball was kicked in his direction. He moves well for a big guy, shows clean hands in marking contests and knows how to use body work to protect his dangerous space.

 

[noobermensch]

Lots of Bomber fans keen to see more of their NGA linked excitement machine Hussien El Achkar. This wasn't his most prolific performance but still a solid way to open the new season slotting 4 majors and having his hand in a few other scoring chains. He seems leaner than last season which will hopefully allow him to sustain the energy needed to apply pressure and roam up the ground for longer.

 

[noobermensch]

Hopefully I can lift the spirits of the Carlton faithful a little after a tough loss with a look at their father-son Harry Dean who had an excellent first up game to kick off the new Talent League season. With his team getting badly beaten through the middle and facing a lot of clean football coming into the Bushies defensive 50, Dean stoop up to the onslaught taking a number of intercept marks and effecting spoils. Dean was even disruptive at ground level and showed a willingness to put his body on the line.

 

[noobermensch]

Cody Curtin has grown over the summer and is looking large and in charge against his Colts opponents. Peel tried to make his life as difficult as possible, dropping a spare man back at times to block his leading lane or double up on him in marking contests, but Cody still found ways to hit the scoreboard and ended with a bag of 5 to his name. His size, pace and power were especially evident in his ferocious pressure acts which at times led to him giving away free kicks but which suits the requirements of a modern key forward at AFL level.

 

[noobermensch]

Another excellent performance from CDT as he continues his hot form to start the new Talent League season. He was more effective in the hitouts this week, regularly setting up his small brigade to break from stoppage, as well as showing his typical fantastic ground level follow up work himself. It was encouraging to see him anticipating the play and taking a few intercept marks which was one area for improvement in his game. He sat out the last 10 mins of the game with his team well on top, otherwise his stats would have been even more impressive.

 

[noobermensch]

A slightly slower start to the season for Emmett although this game was more impressive than his modest stats would suggest as Emmett sat out the entirety of the fourth quarter with Oakleigh dominating the game. Emmett showed his natural forward craft, finding space and presenting into the right areas for his teammates. He took some impressive contested marks, and could have had more if it wasn't for his teammates spoiling him and a dodgy umpiring decision on the near wing. It feels like it's only a matter of time before Louis has a huge game to remind everyone of his talent.

 

[noobermensch]

Josh Lindsay put together another solid performance for the Falcons although his role in game continues to be a watch. Like last week he started in the middle and struggled both to impact at stoppage and find the time and space to maximise his lazer of a left boot. He was moved to his more customary half back role in the second half and started to dictate play with some superb playmaking including one elite dart into the corridor that led to a goal for his team. But just when we thought that the move onball might have been abandoned after only a game and half, Lindsay was back on ball for the final 10 minutes of the game.

 

[noobermensch]

Sharp started this game like he played last week, looking a little hesitant and only managing to find scrappy, relatively ineffective possessions. Either he or the coaching staff seemed make an adjustment in the third term as he was pushing higher up the ground almost as an extra midfielder and suddenly he was cracking into the contest and stoppage with decisive and powerful movements, extracting the footy and setting up his teammates on the outside.

It's time that we saw Sharp get some run as a primary onballer to maximise his talents.

#freedyson

 

[noobermensch]

Even considering the relatively weaker SANFL U18s competition, this was one of the best junior performance I've seen. Dougie slotted 6 majors of his own, set up a number of others for his teammates, took contested marks, laid tough bumps and tackles... what can't this kid do? There were several moments that I had to rewind to check that I did actually see what I thought I saw.

 

[noobermensch]

A quieter performance this week from Willem, but he still played his role and impacted the contest in a good win for his Power team. He started deep forward this week and might have spent a bit more time there than on the ball. His cracked in hard in contested situations and applied strong defensive pressure as always, the main concern again was his disposal efficiency which he struggled with, although once again it was a very windy day which made things difficult.

 

[noobermensch]

Archie Ludowyke put in an excellent performance and booted the winning goal in a fun back and forth, end to end contest. His hands were mostly assured, and he burned off his opponent to create space on the lead a number of times. What might have been most impressive were his excellent pressure efforts throughout the game that caused fumbles and turnovers.

 

[noobermensch]

An exciting NGA prospect for the Eagles fans to check out. While he was already considered a solid draft fancy entering the season, Koby Evans' shift into the midfield looks to already be a winner from what we saw in game one and this could see him bolt up draft boards. He seemed a little nervy and fumbly early in the game, but his physicality and athleticism was a force to be reckoned with as he dominated stoppage racking up 10 clearances. He did his damage resting forward as well, slotting a couple of goals.

 

[noobermensch]

Ollie did some fantastic things in this game and was his team's best player on the day. His combination of size and agility, along with the balance to change direction on a dime allows him to navigate traffic in contested situations and get from inside to outside as proficiently as anyone in this draft pool. He excels at gaining territory for his team, as shown by his 10 inside 50s in this game.

 

[noobermensch]

One of the early movers in 2025, Hunter Wright looks like a solid prospect with some exciting traits. Playing in that mid/fwd role that all the cool kids are doing these days, Hunter has the size and nose for the footy to be influential at stoppage, a powerful and accurate left peg, and enough aerial prowess to be a threat in the forward line. In his first two performances this season he's shown a happy knack for making the incisive disposal to create scoring opportunities for his team, including in this game where he had his fingerprints all over a late surge by the Pioneers that secured victory.