Resource Noob's 2025 Draft Prospect Video Thread

[noobermensch]

Sharp has been the inspirational leader for this SA team which has barnstormed through the opposition in a fashion rarely seen at this level. He was hugely influential in the first half when the game was there to be won and likely sealed the Larke medal for player of the Champs as SA surged into a strong lead. He was quieter in the second half and copped a punishing tackle which left him sore and in the hands of trainers but by then the job was well and truly done.

 

[noobermensch]

Hussien El Achkar has been having a strange journey through his top age season. Often making things happen around him and creating opportunities only for the final end product to let him down, missing a significant number of set shots and snaps on goal. This performance might just be the moment when he starts to turn things around, as everything he touched here turned to goals. He kicked 6 of his own and also created a number of other chances for his teammates.

 

[noobermensch]

Ollie Greeves has been mister consistent, finding the footy and impacting the game at every level this year. In his return to talent league footy after an extended break to play in other competitions, Ollie found a stack of the footy as he always does, especially prolific in contested situations displaying his ability to swoop on loose balls and fight through tackles. He presented around the ground as an outlet and was strong in the air, displaying how his extra height for a mid gives him a point of difference. He's started to lay to rest question marks over his kicking efficiency and was again solid in that area here.

 

[noobermensch]

Marsh has been one of the most significant draft risers across this Champs series, leading the goal kicking for a dominant SA team that stomped the competition. The features of his game were all on display here, able to find space to lead up at the ball carrier, clunk marks on a full speed lead ala Mathew Lloyd, and capable of converting from anywhere with his elite set shot kicking.

 

[noobermensch]

Willem had his moments here and the stats look pretty good, but this was one of his weaker performances for the season, struggling against SA as many others have done in this years Champs series. The positional shift from midfield into defence that we've seen for Gippsland in recent weeks continued here, and I have to wonder whether he's been done a little dirty by his coaches. Experimenting in such a way is fine, but perhaps not at the most important part of the season in the middle of the Champs. Willem seems to have lost some of his confidence with the move, made some uncharacteristic mistakes in this game and chose not to fly for a few marking contests that he would typically relish.

 

[noobermensch]

In some ways it's a pity for BOB that the Champs series ends here for SA as he was just rounding into some seriously impressive form over the last two games. He was one of SA's best in this one and put together a big third quarter to help his team surge out to a huge lead in that term. When he's at his best (as he was in this game) his incisive movement, bursts of pace, and elite ball use make him one of the most damaging midfielders in this crop. It feels like we're only scratching the surface with BOB, and he could be about to have a big second half of the season which should see his name quickly rise up draft boards.

 

[noobermensch]

Archie Ludowyke's first Talent League games since round 2 was an exciting one with Archie kicking some important goals down the stretch to help his Dragons team to a come from behind victory over the Cannons. He dropped a couple of marks he should be taking early but seemed to grow into things as game progressed and his set shot goal kicking was sharp.

 

[noobermensch]

In a hard fought win for the Allies it was their midfield ascendency that proved the difference across the 4 quarters and midfield general Dan Annable deserves a lot of the credit for that. He was strong in the contest, winning plenty of footy at the source or exerting strong defensive pressure, and although his disposal was a little wayward at times he still led his team in score involvements.

 

[noobermensch]

Swadling's best outing of the Champs series so far and he was clearly one of WA's best on the day. It's been a baffling journey so far, with Swadling, who is arguably WA's best midfielder, being denied midfield rotations by the WA coaches, and again he didn't get a single center bounce attendance in this game. He didn't let that faze him though as he showed the traits that we've come to expect, swooping on loose balls, navigating traffic with agile changes of direction, releasing teammates with creative handballs, and even showing an improved ability to lace out targets by foot.

 

[noobermensch]

One of the not so secret weapons behind the dominant SA performances at the Champs has been the play of wing duo Barker and LeRay. Barker's size, endurance, athleticism, aerial strength, decision making and penetrating kick might make him the best pure wing in this year's draft pool. In this game his play mirrored his team's, gaining confidence as the game progressed and ultimately pulling off some fantastic and incisive passages of play in the second half to propel SA to another big win.

 

[noobermensch]

A prolific and damaging game from Rory Wright. He played mostly midfield in the first half and displayed a more mature and competitive contested game than we've seen in the past, cracking in for repeat efforts and using some quick and slick hands in congestion. In the second half he played more high half forward and relished the extra space, using his absolute weapon of a left boot to slice open the opposition.

 

[noobermensch]

The WA coaches abandoned the Farrow midfield experiment here, shifting him back into his usual defensive quarterback role and unsurprisingly he responded with by far his best performance of the tournament. He was the game high possession winner using his penetrating left boot to set up a number of WA's most productive forward moves, and on a few occasions proved that he's more than just a designated kicker with some strong marks and interceptions across the defensive line.

 

[noobermensch]

After a slightly softer patch of form in recent weeks this performance was a serious return to form for Sweid. He led the game for possessions, finding plenty of the ball around the ground but it was at stoppage where he was most damaging, ploughing through contests like a cannonball and extracting the footy for his team. We saw some improvement in his kicking here with Sweid able to lace out leading forwards on a number of occasions.

 

[noobermensch]

Another solid haul of goals for Lachy who's firmly cemented his position as the best small forward in this year's draft pool with his excellent form over the last two months. We continue to see the work he's been doing on his pressure game pay dividends, both in his tackle count and the number of rushed disposals he forces opponents into. It's worth noting his willingness to lower his eyes and spot up teammates in space instead of blazing away on goal, a sign of a kid with a mature head on his shoulders.

 

[noobermensch]

Carmichael was probably best on for the Allies, cleaning up the mess in defence, applying tough tackling pressure and rebounding with elite efficiency, barely wasting a possession and helping to set up a number of scoring chains. His most valuable contribution might have been his leadership, reportedly conducting a half time players chat to rouse his Allies squad to greater efforts.

 

[noobermensch]

Another solid performance from Cumming who hasn't needed to set the world on fire with his SA team dominating all comers at the national carnival, instead he's played as a strong cog in a very well oiled machine. There's not much that Cumming doesn't bring in his kit bag and we saw that here. His disposal and decision making is classy and efficient, he cracks in to contests and works hard defensively, he's strong aerially for his size and marks with clean hands, and he can get forward to impact on the scoreboard.

 

[noobermensch]

Vic Country got their first win of the Champs carnival in a bit of an upset over the Allies, with Lindsay not as prolific as in the first two but still a solid contributor. He had to deal with closer checking, but he was still extremely active and typically creative with the ball.

 

[noobermensch]

One of the standout prospects for 2026, Cody Walker has been playing for Vic Country as a bottom ager and was quiet in his first couple of Champs games, perhaps adjusting to the higher level. This was something of a breakout for him, finding plenty of the ball and developing the confidence to use his elite power and athleticism at contests and on the spread.

 

[noobermensch]

Greeves was among the best for Vic Metro in a strong win travelling away against WA to get their Champs campaign back on track. Greeves is incredibly consistent and dependable with his attacking output and again found plenty of the footy. The extremely windy conditions made precise ball use difficult, but he was fairly efficient and attacking with his decision making. He's a regular goal scorer from midfield and again chipped in, but some of his pressure around the contest was lacking at times.

 

[noobermensch]

Fred closed out what has been a solid but slightly inconsistent Champs series for him personally for a WA team that struggled overall. He definitely finished strong here with a significant improvement in his contested game, winning a stack of clearances at stoppage and applying strong defensive pressure. On the other hand, it was difficult for him to damage as much as he typically does with his elite disposal given the tough swirling winds.

 

[noobermensch]

A solid outing but unspectacular outing for CDT. He dominated the tap work more than the pure stats would suggest with Metro swapping between three rucks to give each of them a chance. He got involved as he always does post tap, but wasnt quite as clean or constructive with the ball as we typically see from him, and I'd still love to see more of him as a key forward.

 

[noobermensch]

Riley Onley certainly has his deficiencies (such as defensive effort) but there's no doubt that when things are clicking for him there are few more impressive athletes in this draft pool. This was a huge game from him, and he was a major factor in Vic Country getting their first win of the carnival. The 13 score involvements were a game high, and his work at stoppage was powerful and creative.

 

[noobermensch]

Dovaston was an energizer bunny throughout the game but especially in the first quarter. He did a lot right but tended to spray his opportunities at goal and ultimately that inaccuracy prevented him from having a bigger impact. He showed admirable intensity at the contest and the work rate to get up the ground to influence play around the wings and through the middle with creative hands and ability to fight through contact.

 

[noobermensch]

Another strong Champs game from Willem who seems to be a permanent fixture now as a tall defender. He was matched up on Noah Chamberlain for much of the game and kept him quiet, while also intercepting a number of balls and dashing off his man with incisive moments of play. His kicking was still inconsistent as always, but the extra time and space he gets in this defensive role helps with his efficiency.

 

[noobermensch]

Cats NGA Jesse Mellor was super dangerous all game here. He's an interesting hybrid of small forward with excellent contested marking skills which he showed on a number of occasions. His pressure in the forward line caused a number of turnovers from his opponents, and he was able to create a significant number of scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.