3 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

The one and only Kevin ‘Shifter’ Sheehan’s Top 40 players

Is he called 'Shifter' because he's a tool?

On 07/11/2025 at 07:59, spirit of norm smith said:

Jack Ison – Kysaiah Pickett and Cyril Rioli 

Interesting choices, given that he is 191cm.

Sam Swadling , great ball user and ball winner . Barely hear him mentioned ....

Anyone know much about him and if he is on any clubs radar ?

Edited November 14Nov 14 by Melonmonster

Just something about this kid

He missed showing his talent at the championships but was excellent for the Eagles in underage and seniors at SANFL

Has energy to compete hard plus has the skill on both left and right. He kicks goals. He’s smart. Good mark. Definitely see him as a player.

“I’d pick myself, that’s not arrogance."

Confident youngster Jevan Phillipou thinks he should go No. 1.

But it shouldn’t be mistaken for arrogance, as he looks to follow in the footsteps of his brother.

4 hours ago, Melonmonster said:

Sam Swadling , great ball user and ball winner . Barely hear him mentioned ....

Anyone know much about him and if he is on any clubs radar ?

Absolutely. Early 2nd round range around 30-35 is likely. He’s a bargain if he slips to the later stages.

Don't know if this has been posted, but here are all the draft nominees - nearly a thousand of them:

afl.com.au

The full list of nominees for the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft

Check out all 985 players who have nominated for this year's national draft

1 hour ago, Roger Mellie said:

Don't know if this has been posted, but here are all the draft nominees - nearly a thousand of them:

afl.com.au

The full list of nominees for the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft

Check out all 985 players who have nominated for this year's national draft

I know it’s not a deep draft, but there are some very ordinary players on that list

18 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

I know it’s not a deep draft, but there are some very ordinary players on that list

Agreed!

Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

2025 AFL Draft Preview: Melbourne

On the back of an 11-player turnover, Melbourne once again has the opportunity to make two first round selections at this year's draft.

On 14/11/2025 at 10:35, Lord Travis said:

played some good games late in SANFL reserves

Genuine question: how many players get drafted having played most of their best footy the previous year in the SANFL (or WAFL) reserves?

2 hours ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

Genuine question: how many players get drafted having played most of their best footy the previous year in the SANFL (or WAFL) reserves?

A few, but generally not in the first round!

Most top draftees who play senior footy get a decent run in the VFL, WAFL or SANFL seniors. They usually show a bit too. Harley Reid for example played a few VFL games for Carlton from memory, and was superb across half back. Langford had a few great quarters for Tigers VFL team last year.

We'll see in a few nights if the Pickett chatter is legit or not, but on form it's a bit nuts he's potentially going to first round...

The Herald Sun today reports on where each club stands ahead of tomorrow’s draft. Here’s the take on the Demons -

MELBOURNE

Picks: 7, 8, 37, 63, 65

Melbourne has two picks at the top of the order and Cam Nairn is firmly in the Demons’ sights, having received a late invite to night one of the draft.

The SA medium forward or winger is highly rated by clubs, offers versatility and is well-rounded with elite endurance and clean hands overhead.

WA defender-midfielder Jacob Farrow is also right in contention, with his range set to start at Melbourne’s two picks, while Sam Cumming will be difficult to pass up if Essendon doesn’t pounce first.

Eastern Ranges goalsneak Lachy Dovaston will enter draft calculations from Melbourne’s selections onwards, while SA tall Aidan Schubert fills a need as an athletic forward-ruck.

The Demons have shown interest in Schubert, but there is a view he slides further.

There were also early murmurs Melbourne will partner Kysaiah Pickett with his cousin, Glenelg goalsneak Latrelle Pickett.

Melbourne is among the clubs in the 30s who could put bidding pressure on St Kilda for NGA prospect Kye Fincher.

Melbourne committed mid-year to taking 201cm developing tall Kalani White, son of Melbourne great Jeff, as a father-son prospect, and he appears unlikely to receive a national draft bid.

In that scenario, the Demons could either add him as a rookie or take him with their last national draft pick.

The Demons have filled their Category B rookie allotments after selecting college basketballer Oscar Berry, but NGA graduate Toby Sinnema is expected to be a train-on player with the Dees if he isn’t picked as a rookie.

Thanks @Whispering_Jack a good summary in the H/sun. Kye Fincher is another name mentioned for our “30 something pick”. He had an excellent year as a half back/utility for the Dragons and put in a good performance in the GF. Of course he’s in the Saints NGA so they’ll likely match it … or not

21 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Thanks @Whispering_Jack a good summary in the H/sun. Kye Fincher is another name mentioned for our “30 something pick”. He had an excellent year as a half back/utility for the Dragons and put in a good performance in the GF. Of course he’s in the Saints NGA so they’ll likely match it … or not

Fincher dynamic, think he'll end up quite handy

19 hours ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

Genuine question: how many players get drafted having played most of their best footy the previous year in the SANFL (or WAFL) reserves?

Lawson Humphries, from Swan Districts to Geelong the only one who comes to mind

Edited November 17Nov 17 by Pennant St Dee

On 21/09/2025 at 17:15, spirit of norm smith said:

Not sure but like all draft rankings there’s some surprise as too high and others as too low. For example, Riley Onley is often mentioned in round 1 rankings and I’d have him around pick 20 after the concessional academy and father son picks. But these guys have him at “48”. Wow. He’d be a bigger steal than Logan Morris and Joel Freijah. Onley is a big midfielder who win it inside or outside and kick it 55 metres with ease. Sure his precision kicking needs work but he’s not far away with AFL refinement. So “48”… that would be Xmas for any team at that pick Their write up …

#48: Riley Onley:

Position: Midfielder
Height: 194cm
Club: Vic Country / Murray Bushrangers
Draft Range: 40+

Riley Onley entered the 2025 season as one of the more highly regarded prospects in the country, and it’s not difficult to understand why. At his best, he is a physically imposing, explosive midfielder with rare athletic traits. Standing at an imposing size for his position, Onley possesses genuine breakaway speed, power through contact, and the ability to extract the ball cleanly from congestion.

As I said, he’s a steal. To get Riley Onley as a rookie is an excellent outcome. He can play tall as a midfield option and really stretches opposition mids. He kicks it 50+ easily. If he gets a big preseason in, he might even get a debut game during 2026 !!!

On 29/11/2024 at 11:56, Chelly said:

My long range top ten draft selections for 2025:

1. Dyson Sharp Midfielder Height: 188cm (Central District SA)

2. Zeke Uwland Midfielder Height: 178cm (Gold Coast Suns Academy)

3. Willem Duursma Utility Height: 191cm (Gippsland Power)

4. Oliver Greeves Midfielder Height: 191cm (Eastern Ranges) 

5. Daniel Annable Midfielder Height: 183cm (Brisbane Lions Academy) 

6. Riley Onley Midfielder Height: 194cm (Murray Bushrangers) 

7. Dylan Patterson Midfielder Height: 183cm (Gold Coast Suns Academy)

8. Josh Lindsay Midfielder Height: 182cm (Geelong Falcons)

9. Louis Emmett Ruck-Forward Height: 198cm (Oakleigh Chargers)

10. Archie Ludowyke Defender Height: 197cm (Sandringham Dragons)

Plenty of Academy players to bid against!

Almost twelve months out I got close with Duursma and a few of the northern academy players but I was way out with Ollie Greeves and Riley Onley. He’s still good Demon fans but the exercise shows how hard these things are to predict from a long way out.