Draft Expert PMBangers 2025 Draft Thread

[Mofra]

Arnt you judging the draft class before it even exists yet . I think its a prediction more then a fact and its a fairly fair prediction based on evidence so far

The 2024 draft class had quite a bit of representation as underagers at the 2023 champs. That's rare. Most recruiters think it's a better than average draft.

Given many recruiters think this is a "weaker" draft and is heavily compromised, 1 or 2 clubs could buck the trend and try and trade up. I think Dovaston is a long term player, I like Grieves from what I've seen. There's still some quality in the open pool even if it projects a little lower ceiling than in other years.

 

[Holy Rioli]

Good comparison is to draw a line of players

FB: Roberts, Draper, Archer
HB: Humphries, ??? , Evans
C: Dempsey, Reid, McKercher
HF: Lohmann, Darcy, Jones
FF: Caddy, Morris, Watson
R: ??? , Wardlaw, Graham
I/C: Gallagher, Wilson, Windsor, Harrison, Nankervis, Thomas, Dear

to 2025 of

FB: FOS, O'Sullivan, Roberts
HB: Dewar, Trainor, ???
C: Lindsay, Langford, Curtin
HF: Reid, Caddy, Lalor
FF: Moir, Clarke, Kako
R: ??? Allan, L.Ashcroft
I/C: Hall, Lord, Garcia

Difference is night and day.

why do people keep putting Caddy above Dear? Seriously.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

why do people keep putting Caddy above Dear? Seriously.

Just because of injury to be honest. I think Dear > Caddy career wise myself

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

The 2024 draft class had quite a bit of representation as underagers at the 2023 champs. That's rare. Most recruiters think it's a better than average draft.

Given many recruiters think this is a "weaker" draft and is heavily compromised, 1 or 2 clubs could buck the trend and try and trade up. I think Dovaston is a long term player, I like Grieves from what I've seen. There's still some quality in the open pool even if it projects a little lower ceiling than in other years.

Recruiters can be wrong and have poor judgment. Injuries been a huge issue lets be honest but they are not like small insignificant injuries, they are major ones that could be a problem down the line. Outside of that I think you just have a bunch of flankers doing good things without any real signs of any strong midfielders or strong KPP players coming up in the ranks. One KPP forward is in this years noms list compared to 4 last year and the 4 last year are the talk of the town is a giant part of the problem.

 

[brownezaka]

The 2024 draft still has the potential to produce a high number of A+ grade players. I’d argue that five of the first six picks — Same Lalor, Jagga Smith, Sid Draper, Harvey Langford, and Levi Ashcroft — will be A-grade players at a minimum within 4–5 years. All five are, in my view, bankable talents.

Even looking at the next tier — players like Kako, Taurau, Travaglia, Trainer, Hotton, Lombard, Reid, and Lindsey — it wouldn’t surprise me if the majority of them also developed into A-graders.

When all is said and done, even if this draft doesn’t produce the absolute top-tier superstars, it will still go down as the deepest in recent history, having delivered the highest number of AFL-level players overall.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

The 2024 draft still has the potential to produce a high number of A+ grade players. I’d argue that five of the first six picks — Same Lalor, Jagga Smith, Sid Draper, Harvey Langford, and Levi Ashcroft — will be A-grade players at a minimum within 4–5 years. All five are, in my view, bankable talents.

Even looking at the next tier — players like Kako, Taurau, Travaglia, Trainer, Hotton, Lombard, Reid, and Lindsey — it wouldn’t surprise me if the majority of them also developed into A-graders.

When all is said and done, even if this draft doesn’t produce the absolute top-tier superstars, it will still go down as the deepest in recent history, having delivered the highest number of AFL-level players overall.

I think it will produce mostly B-C graders

Its not even close to when in 2021 we had JHF, Darcy, Callaghan and Nick Daicos as the top 4 as a example of what id call a top end draft

 

[brownezaka]

I think it will produce mostly B-C graders

Its not even close to when in 2021 we had JHF, Darcy, Callaghan and Nick Daicos as the top 4 as a example of what id call a top end draft

The 2021 Draft has only really started being viewed as a potential “super draft” this year. After their first seasons, players like Sam Darcy spent most of their time in the VFL, Callaghan has only truly found his form in 2024, and Jason Horne-Francis showed flashes early on but hadn’t fully arrived — much like Lalor now. Similarly, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera didn’t have a huge impact in his debut season either. Comparing the 2021 and 2024 drafts highlights how development takes time — not everything clicks in the first year.

 

[PMBangers]

Arnt you judging the draft class before it even exists yet . I think its a prediction more then a fact and its a fairly fair prediction based on evidence so far

I'm predicting off player traits that generally do/ don't transfer into an AFL environment, you're marking a class down because there's been more guys, that have been in the system longer and have had more physical development, earning Rising Star nominations in their first year

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

I'm predicting off player traits that generally do/ don't transfer into an AFL environment, you're marking a class down because there's been more guys, that have been in the system longer and have had more physical development, earning Rising Star nominations in their first year

Im suggesting both are the issue as opposed to one. I dont see these superstar AFL traits in the 2024 draft lot. Which one has elite traits and which are they? Murphy Reids decision making, Taurus leap is about it in my eyes

Who am I waiting for in 2026 to be spoken about at the same level as Reid/Curtin/Morris/Caddy/Watson and so forth? Who are the picks in the 50s+ that will play like Dear/Roberts/Garcia/Humphries have? Its not there

 

[PMBangers]

Im suggesting both are the issue as opposed to one. I dont see these superstar AFL traits in the 2024 draft lot. Which one has elite traits and which are they? Murphy Reids decision making, Taurus leap is about it in my eyes

Yeah fair i can cop that based on performance, I think there's a few yet to debut that have AFL Elite traits at least from GWS, and I'd argue guys like Lindsay (Kicking), Smith (Cleanliness, Handballing), Ashcroft (Cleanliness), Allan (Athleticism), etc. have some elite traits, but admit i probably haven't watched enough AFL this year to back it up

 

[Chris25]

To be fair, 13 of the top 16 draftees from last year are on shockingly bad teams with little recent track record for developing players.

Even Daicos would struggle if the players around him weren’t good enough to execute a cheap one two.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

To be fair, 13 of the top 16 draftees from last year are on shockingly bad teams with little recent track record for developing players.

Even Daicos would struggle if the players around him weren’t good enough to execute a cheap one two.

I think the issue is 2023 draft had better A grade talents spread out in it, players who got games in A grade sides right away.

By this time last year we could see Morris/Caddy/Dear tearing it up as KPP forwards. So far Jonty Faull at 9 goals in 16 games is the highest goal scoring KPP forward from 2024. Last year Morris/Dear kicked 20+ . Caddy/Walter all at 10+ but on less games then 16. You also had Watson with 20+ kicking goals as a small

Pick 40+ just had alot more players showing more also so it wasnt the top tier only. You had Frejiah/Roberts/Dear/Thomas/Humphries in it showing a heap, especially Dear and Humphries who were absolute bargains... not ones im seeing in 2024s draft.

 

[Chris25]

But still, put Dear on Richmond and he probably doesn’t get a touch. Or put Faull in the Hawks side from last year and he probably kicks 20.

Where you get drafted matters a great deal.

Not that I’m actually arguing against you. I didn’t think the first round last year was that great, just had a good spread of decent players.

 

[briztoon]

You know it’s not a great draft when head recruiters are saying it’s not a great draft on Gettable and other podcasts or radio.

 

[briztoon]

I think it will produce mostly B-C graders

Its not even close to when in 2021 we had JHF, Darcy, Callaghan and Nick Daicos as the top 4 as a example of what id call a top end draft

Last year, everyone said the 2024 lacked the very top end talent. There was no Harley Reid or JHF or Daicos talent at the top end.

What people are saying this year is that this drafts top end isn’t even as strong as last year’s. And it lacks the depth of last year’s draft.

These aren’t criticisms of the draft crop, it’s just the reality of this year’s cohort.

Next year might have a stronger top end, but a couple of the top kids are club tied.

And 11 players from the U16 AA team are either father sons, academy or Tassie kids.

 

[captain bloodsport]

Arnt you judging the draft class before it even exists yet . I think its a prediction more then a fact and its a fairly fair prediction based on evidence so far

It's been 20 rounds, never seen someone so salty about a draft. Not the kids fault you liked baker better

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

It's been 20 rounds, never seen someone so salty about a draft. Not the kids fault you liked baker better

It was 20 rounds last year too... And the output and potential was 10x better.

Faull has 9 goals from 16 games and pick 56 in Dear kicked 25 in 17 . Like the stats just don't lie here

 

[pileitinho]

What is your current view on Jack Dalton? Looks a ball-pig, very good defensive pressure and inside game but the kicking is not great. I reckon his outside game is OK because of his huge running capacity, lack of size another knock. Where would you have him drafted at this stage?

He missed most of the season as he snapped his wrists doing front squats over the summer, I believe.

 

[PMBangers]

What is your current view on Jack Dalton? Looks a ball-pig, very good defensive pressure and inside game but the kicking is not great. I reckon his outside game is OK because of his huge running capacity, lack of size another knock. Where would you have him drafted at this stage?

He missed most of the season as he snapped his wrists doing front squats over the summer, I believe.

I personally don't view him as draftable but think the clubs that like him would be thinking he's a 30+ pick

 

[Thunderstruck]

Dalton smells like a state league type but might sneak a late pick or rookie

 

[LemmingMaster]

You know it’s not a great draft when head recruiters are saying it’s not a great draft on Gettable and other podcasts or radio.

It just has a feeling of a slightly flat draft year, that is often the case when the Vic Metro side is down on previous years.
A few players that we hoped would go bang, have not really lifted to the heights we may have projected.

You obviously cannot judge a draft class completely until a few years time, but currently it feels on the weaker side.

I don't have a Hayden Young, Murphy Reid, Cerra, Rivers... bandwagon this year and it feels strange. I was on the Whan train but I've jumped off a few stops ago.

I am going to have to watch some more Farrow as he may be my WA Homer selection to jump on board.

 

[JDavey]

why do people keep putting Caddy above Dear? Seriously.

Going to preface this with: im a huge dear fan, he's looked great and an absolute steal for the hawks, the stories with Gunston and him have been heart warming too.

See the same complaints get lodged with Logan Morris too who also could have a claim to best young key forward in the draft.

To answer the question - all have similar output career to date in terms of on field performance, Caddy has the distinct disadvantage of playing for Essendon but then gets over exposure (comms team need something positive to talk about as we get pumped by 10 goals in prime time). That + high draft capital invested. It could also be that Caddy gets higher up the ground and involved in plays a bit more and people overrated that vs. the stay at home aspect of Dear/Morris.

All look like they are going to have great careers ahead of them though, too early to say who will end up being the best of them

 

[eaglespremiers]

Zaydyn Lockwood had a very good game recently. Richmond NGA who we didn't look at last year.

Was this an anomoly or has he put in other good performances?

Zaydyn has been our best player over both our last two games. He has been winning clearances at will, clunking intercept marks, he is in the form of his career.
Hopefully he has another big game on Sunday. He is a great kid and would love for him to get an opportunity at AFL level.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Any thoughts on Louie Montgomery in the GWS VFL? F/S to Port not taken but getting noticed this season.

 

[Hazardinho]

why do people keep putting Caddy above Dear? Seriously.

If Caddy was in that Hawthorn team you’d be top of the ladder. Dear takes one good mark and is suddenly disrespected for being put below Caddy rightfully. He’s the main forward in a side that is 17th for inside 50’s, and has over 20 goals.