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AFLW 2025 - AFLW Trade and Draft - All the player moves
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QAFL 2025
- Thread starter damochandler
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Very true your last statement Miller. Fair bit of who you know and not how good you are going on across the board in AFL system coming through.
- Jun 15, 2020
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150 or 200 games?
the old saying "if you're good enough, you will eventually be found" isn't accurate I don't think either.
I think its more "if you are a star, you will eventually get an opportunity"
But just being good enough isn't enough anymore, there are thousands of other factors at play and politics is in the top 5 unfortunately. There are stacks of VFL, SANFL, WAFL (and likely other local leagues) players that are just as good as the bottom 15% of AFL listed players. You certainly want to be at the top of your game in your draft year too, otherwise you need to be alot better than 'good enough' to get a look in when you dare to turn 19!
- Feb 10, 2018
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I think in a nutshell that is the root cause of the issue - recruiters...
To think that a kid taken at 17.5yrs at pick 58 is potentially going to be better than a proven 23yr old who has won a couple of b&f at VFL/SANFL level is just bizarre.
Weagles and Bombers would be pretty happy too right now with their mature agers.
- Jun 15, 2020
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To think Shaun Mannagh nearly wasn't picked up is remarkable, and his teammate Dom Brew continues to sit on the shelf
Among others...
I must admit I've never spoken to a recruiter about why they think like this - logically makes no sense when the vast majority of players don't reach 20 games, let alone make a career out of the sport. (average AFL career is 16 games).
And if you had guys coming in at 20-24 playing for 6-8 years I'm positive less development would be required hence saving a whole lot of money in your soft cap again. The mid season draft alone has unearthed a few rippers with these poor buggers on minimum wage
I have always wondered why clubs in the bottom half of the AFL ladder especially don't draft at least one mature aged player at the national draft.
If a club had five picks and a notable deficiency in that area (e.g. key backman), why wouldn't they go for the most suitable 22-25 year old VFL/SANFL/WAFL defender to fill that hole as well as another state league player with 30+ senior games in their legs and the other three as 18-year olds.
You look at the recruitment profile of a VFL club in the early 1980s and most players signed from other states were around 22-25 years old, played at least 50-75 matches in the WAFL or SANFL and were highly regarded in the position that they played.
The end result was that many were able to quickly make the transition to the VFL from day one (e.g. especially the Carlton and Hawthorn recruits between 1980 and 1986). In the case of Carlton, for every Michael Jez there were a lot more success stories who slipped into the senior side from round one, e.g. Warren Ralph - eight goals on debut, Stephen Kernahan - premiership captain year two, Craig Bradley - 89 matches for Port Adelaide then 375 for Carlton. Now the Blues are lucky to get an average of 30 games out of each year's draft crop.
Since the draft came along, the career "life expectancy" of a newly-signed VFL/AFL player has dropped to barely three years.
If a club had five picks and a notable deficiency in that area (e.g. key backman), why wouldn't they go for the most suitable 22-25 year old VFL/SANFL/WAFL defender to fill that hole as well as another state league player with 30+ senior games in their legs and the other three as 18-year olds.
You look at the recruitment profile of a VFL club in the early 1980s and most players signed from other states were around 22-25 years old, played at least 50-75 matches in the WAFL or SANFL and were highly regarded in the position that they played.
The end result was that many were able to quickly make the transition to the VFL from day one (e.g. especially the Carlton and Hawthorn recruits between 1980 and 1986). In the case of Carlton, for every Michael Jez there were a lot more success stories who slipped into the senior side from round one, e.g. Warren Ralph - eight goals on debut, Stephen Kernahan - premiership captain year two, Craig Bradley - 89 matches for Port Adelaide then 375 for Carlton. Now the Blues are lucky to get an average of 30 games out of each year's draft crop.
Since the draft came along, the career "life expectancy" of a newly-signed VFL/AFL player has dropped to barely three years.
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Great points Mortlock - and there was still an U19 comp the equivalent of todays U18 league. It has never made sense to me and yes, grabbing a player at age 18 and developing into a star by age 22 is always going to be an option too but it takes 2-4 years for this kid to develop into anything that resembles a decent AFL footballer generally. Esp a tall fwd. Then you have to keep him these days!
Like you said may as well buff up your needs with Tom McCarthy types who will be possibly a 6-8 yr player now whilst you develop a couple of 18yr olds. Love to hear from a recruiter as to why they travel the more well worn path of taking 18yr olds consistently no matter how good or otherwise.
Like you said may as well buff up your needs with Tom McCarthy types who will be possibly a 6-8 yr player now whilst you develop a couple of 18yr olds. Love to hear from a recruiter as to why they travel the more well worn path of taking 18yr olds consistently no matter how good or otherwise.
- Jun 15, 2020
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Yes and for every freak like Tim Watson who was ready at 15, and Nick Daicos, Will & Levi Ashcroft etc who are ready to go at 18, there are blokes who don't even physically develop until after they are 20.
The focus on teenagers at the draft is mind boggling
The focus on teenagers at the draft is mind boggling
I get to watch a fair bit of the VFL and am blown away when I see the draft kids playing and they miles off that level let alone looking like playing AFL.
The more mid season players that go into the AFL and settle straight in makes a bit of a mockery of the system. Be interesting this year as everyone keeps saying how shallow the draft is that more mature age players may go in the draft than actual draft than 18 year olds.
AFL boys club at the private schools will have kittens if that occurs.
- Aug 8, 2019
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Careful we may get another round of the Academy apologists getting upset to read through on here.
Jokes aside. The comments all seem to make sense. The Academies provide one pathway and are needed in the northern states, but they tap out at ages 18/19. There is still so much physical & mental growth in young men after that age.
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plus there are always exceptions.
Levi Ashcroft came up last year for 1 x VFL appearance aged 17 and was clear best on ground and had 35+ disposals, 10 clearances and a goal.
Dan Annable is close to the best mid in the Lions VFL most weeks.
But these guys are Top 5 picks. Look at other potential draftees who are having a run in the VFL in the last few weeks and some of them are barely touching the footy, but will get picked up in the 2nd round over the 20 year old next to them who had 30+ in the same game in the same conditions.
Levi Ashcroft came up last year for 1 x VFL appearance aged 17 and was clear best on ground and had 35+ disposals, 10 clearances and a goal.
Dan Annable is close to the best mid in the Lions VFL most weeks.
But these guys are Top 5 picks. Look at other potential draftees who are having a run in the VFL in the last few weeks and some of them are barely touching the footy, but will get picked up in the 2nd round over the 20 year old next to them who had 30+ in the same game in the same conditions.
That's the ridiculous issue imo Miller.
Nothing to do with academies this debate or even Coates League stuff - all of those have a very real place. It is the ability of people to decide between X and Y player. If you made the draftable age 17 I reckon everyone would start picking 17yr olds and not 18yr olds. Just doesn't make sense.
U19 was the most sensible age group and plenty of smart people think it should go back to that now. Allows another year of development, outside of school, probably working or studying as well. Can get a real good look at a blokes commitment.
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It also creates an enormous disparity in the assessment of kids based purely not just on their birth year, but their birth month.
Say you're in QLD for example.
Matt Owen and Caelyn Murray will complete Grade 12 this year and will be able to basically dedicate their draft year to pursuing their footy dream and basically go full-time on footy.
Cooper Hodge as just one example (granted he gets a leg up in other areas) will be in Year 12 and unable to put the same amount of time and effort into his footy, same goes for any other kid born in 2008, but after June 30.
Even this year, guys like Annable and Prindable can be full-time with footy, but Patterson, Geesu, Bridge, Lillico etc etc are all in year 12. You could even frame the argument that would guys like Geesu and Bridge been able to rehab better or prepare better to avoid injury, had they not had to balance footy and school. (I wouldn't have a clue what the exact details of their injuries are, but I imagine its easier to prepare and rehab if you're not at school 5 days a week)
Say you're in QLD for example.
Matt Owen and Caelyn Murray will complete Grade 12 this year and will be able to basically dedicate their draft year to pursuing their footy dream and basically go full-time on footy.
Cooper Hodge as just one example (granted he gets a leg up in other areas) will be in Year 12 and unable to put the same amount of time and effort into his footy, same goes for any other kid born in 2008, but after June 30.
Even this year, guys like Annable and Prindable can be full-time with footy, but Patterson, Geesu, Bridge, Lillico etc etc are all in year 12. You could even frame the argument that would guys like Geesu and Bridge been able to rehab better or prepare better to avoid injury, had they not had to balance footy and school. (I wouldn't have a clue what the exact details of their injuries are, but I imagine its easier to prepare and rehab if you're not at school 5 days a week)
Carltonboppers
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It baffles me that West Coast won’t draft a proven leader and committed player like Dom Brew, considering the club has ZERO leaders (look at Oscar Allen). Instead, they’ll happily pick up an 18-year-old private school kid that grew up in Brighton and slots straight into an AFL program the moment he’s age-eligible.
Also,
Is Harrison Bridge still in draft conversation? I remember he was U15 player of the National Carnival in 2022, beating the likes of zeke, duursma, CDT, etc however I havent heard him brought up much this year.
Would love to see him get picked up, would be great for Brisbane footy.
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I wouldn't think so, he's been injured since the first 5 mins of the first Allies game - I imagine he will get a full crack at it including allies again as a 19 year old.
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Which is why over age allowances were put into place to counteract this a little bit but the argument about being at school vs out of school is a very valid one when in your draft year.
Whilst on drafting a fair bit of chat happening that 2026 will have some real adjustments around father/son and academy picks. Possibly 1st round will be considered untouchable and/or some restrictions being put in place or very heavy prices to be paid. Could make things interesting and for boys who thought their cards had been dealt will suddenly open up a whole raft of possibilities.
- Feb 26, 2013
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Which is becoming more and more entrenched as for the last 13 yrs the AFL has been run by ex VAFA people with their strong private school backgrounds and old boy connections. Whether by design or stealth the APS comp is now a de facto AFL U18s which effectively excludes most kids from a suburban club pathway.
can we get back to the competition please ,,,,final round this weekend ,, final 8 finisners looks set,
Don’t get me wrong I love the way Brew goes about his footy, but the knock on him at Bulldogs preseason was his leg speed and ability to spread from contest. Plus he is not an elite kick.
Not many midfielders get opportunities from VFL Level to AFL unless they play multiple positions which he doesn’t.
Werribee’s entire game plan is set up around contested game which helps him be prolific ball getter in their system.
