Welcome to Demonland: Xavier Lindsay

[adonski 12,117]

A classy midfield option to ponder....not currently rated in the top 5-10 in many phantom draft orders, but neither was Windsor this time last year

The versatile left-footer has high appeal through simply being very good at a lot of things. He can play as a midfielder or half-back, he can change the game with his angled and precise kicking, he has speed and agility and since overcoming some injury at the start of the year he plays well most weeks. After being an All-Australian at under-18 level following a great finish to the championships with Vic Country, when he picked up 30 disposals, Lindsay has averaged 28 disposals with Gippsland and also hit the scoreboard, kicking 2.4 in those three games. 

https://www.afl.com.au/video/1172060/ball-magnet-lindsay-shows-his-class-in-dominant-outing?videoId=1172060&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1720934367001&references=AFL_MATCH:6785&references=AFL_MATCH:6785&references=AFL_MATCH:6785

[Mach5 4,767]

Nice player but not what we need right now. 

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,175]

8 hours ago, Mach5 said:

Nice player but not what we need right now. 

We dont need speedy midfielders with precise kicking? 

[spirit of norm smith 16,450]

 

 

spirit of norm smith    14,869

Posted May 17

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Last weeks Coates League player of the week was Gippsland Power captain Xavier Lindsay.  Had 32 disposals in the midfield, with high efficiency, using his left foot deadly disposal.  He had the good mix of skill, smarts and athletic ability.  Lock him in as a future star.  

 

thanks @adonski

Xavier Lindsay is exactly the type of player we need right now.  He is elite. Elite skills.  Reminds me of Josh Kelly in his moves. Can play half back or on ball. Was CLEARLY best on ground in the Vic metro and Vic country game . Captain of Gippsland Power   Unfortunately injured in last weeks game and won’t play again this season   

heres my draft rankings .   He’s at 9  He’s a star  

2024 draft rankings update …

1 Finn O'Sullivan - Oakleigh⭐️

2. ***Brisbane match bid. Levi Ashcroft Father son.

3. Harvey Langford- Dandenong⭐️

4. Sid Draper - Sth Adel ⭐️

5. Sam Lalor- GWV⭐

6. Jagga Smith - Oakleigh

7. Luke Trainor - Sandringham 

8. ***Suns match bid - Leonardo Lombard (Academy )

9. Xavier Lindsay - Gippsland⭐

10. Josh Smillie - Eastern

Edited September 8 by spirit of norm smith
Aaa

[Bowserpower 141]

8 hours ago, Mach5 said:

Nice player but not what we need right now. 

And why is that?

[Colm 2,152]

If we can somehow manage to get a second first rounder this year I hope we pick him up. Didn’t watch a lot of the champs live but caught the Vic country v Vic Metro game that he starred in.

 
Moves well and is a great kick. With Rivers going to play in the guts a bit more I could see Lindsay slotting into half back for his first couple of years. Out injured now and may not play again so may not be a bolter. 
 

I did read somewhere ( think it was PM Bangers in BigFooty) that he thought Lindsay was the safest bet in the draft with his skill set. 

Edited September 8 by Colm

[adonski 12,117]

1 hour ago, Bowserpower said:

And why is that?

I reckon a mid who has genuine versatility to play inside, wing or half back might be at the top of our list!

[Kent 2,909]

1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

 

 

spirit of norm smith    14,869

Posted May 17

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Last weeks Coates League player of the week was Gippsland Power captain Xavier Lindsay.  Had 32 disposals in the midfield, with high efficiency, using his left foot deadly disposal.  He had the good mix of skill, smarts and athletic ability.  Lock him in as a future star.  

 

thanks @adonski

Xavier Lindsay is exactly the type of player we need right now.  He is elite. Elite skills.  Reminds me of Josh Kelly in his moves. Can play half back or on ball. Was CLEARLY best on ground in the Vic metro and Vic country game . Captain of Gippsland Power   Unfortunately injured in last weeks game and won’t play again this season   

heres my draft rankings .   He’s at 9  He’s a star  

2024 draft rankings update …

1 Finn O'Sullivan - Oakleigh⭐️

2. ***Brisbane match bid. Levi Ashcroft Father son.

3. Harvey Langford- Dandenong⭐️

4. Sid Draper - Sth Adel ⭐️

5. Sam Lalor- GWV⭐

6. Jagga Smith - Oakleigh

7. Luke Trainor - Sandringham 

8. ***Suns match bid - Leonardo Lombard (Academy )

9. Xavier Lindsay - Gippsland⭐

10. Josh Smillie - Eastern

How to Brisbane get this done when they have pick 14?

[Mach5 4,767]

1 hour ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

We dont need speedy midfielders with precise kicking? 

He’s a winger. We have Langdon & Windsor. We need talls & prime movers.

[Adam The God 30,243]

Lindsay seems super outside without elite disposal. He seems a good kick, but I can see why he's nowhere near the top 5, let alone top 10.

I'd be staggered if he goes top 10, and would strongly believe it'd be a decision based on needs for the club that takes him.

[dazzledavey36 54,899]

He'd be a good fit for our team dynamic but he's not a real priority at this stage.

 

[layzie 33,796]

If we're looking to develop our rebound game with angled kicks through the corridor off half-back then this would probably fit the bill. Does appear to be more the wing type but would likely spend his early days as a rebounding HBF.

I'm not totally sold on his outside game but do have that gut feeling that sleeping on him could be dangerous. If we did end up with pick 25 and he was available I'd consider.  

[spirit of norm smith 16,450]

4 hours ago, Kent said:

How to Brisbane get this done when they have pick 14?

They use points … Ashcroft is another father son pick for Lions. 

[Fat Tony 5,228]

Lindsay looks more like Jack Billings than Josh Kelly.

[Kent 2,909]

50 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

They use points … Ashcroft is another father son pick for Lions. 

Thank you where do the points go

[old55 23,564]

31 minutes ago, Kent said:

Thank you where do the points go

The AFL has got a big vault overflowing with them, they're going to change the system next year so there are fewer points which will save the money needed to be spent on extra vault space.

[DeeSpencer 25,687]

6 hours ago, Mach5 said:

He’s a winger. We have Langdon & Windsor. We need talls & prime movers.

He plays on ball at Gippsland, was a winger in the champs.

We're also wasting Windsor if we pigeon hole him as a winger long term. He should be spending plenty of his training time with the inside mids and half backs over summer no matter who we pick. Even if I think he's a few years away from a permanent on ball role, if at all.

But back on Lindsay. He has similar attributes to Josh Kelly, who we passed over twice because of doubts about his toughness under the highest of pressure but is undoubtedly a good player.

And whilst I like my midfielders big and beefy there's no doubt the league has shifted to valuing quick and skilled mids. Naicos, Gulden (playes overwhelmingly on ball), Butters, Serong were all Aus. Merrett should've been. We've just lost the one player we have who can run with those guys in ANB.

Lindsay's also 183cm and has at least some size on his frame, he's not totally skinny. Who's to say he doesn't end up a better inside ball winner and stronger than Jagga Smith, Finn O'Sullivan, Draper and Murphy Reid who are all in contention for top 5 picks.

He had 11 disposals and 5 clearances in just over a quarter in this clip and looked comfortable in traffic.

 

[Mach5 4,767]

Maybe. I see a bit of Devon Smith & a bit of Scully.

At least he’s not Smillie - looks like a 4th Cloke brother.

[DeeSpencer 25,687]

32 minutes ago, Mach5 said:

Maybe. I see a bit of Devon Smith & a bit of Scully.

At least he’s not Smillie - looks like a 4th Cloke brother.

Dev Smith is a little harsh! But yeah the downside is if he doesn't stack up as an inside player he might be more Scully ish. Although I think his kicking has far more balance and penetration that Scully's. I'd like to have him if we had a pick around 10ish, not sure he'll be in the frame at 5/6, but depends on athletic stuff. He looks like he has a nice turn of speed without being quick quick like Windsor, but does he run all day? If he's got freakish endurance that would raise him up the boards.

[58er 6,433]

18 hours ago, Mach5 said:

Nice player but not what we need right now. 

Clubs can’t always  pick draftees for now it’s a gamble very often who will take to the AFL system and how long. Whoever thought Windsor or Kossie would fit in virtually from their first games. 

So who is what we need right now Mr Mach 5? 

Yes a mid is the most needed with pick 5 but who? 

[Mach5 4,767]

Ok, Langford, Lalor or Reid, of those I expect may be available.

[spirit of norm smith 16,450]

If the Dees can trade in “pick 9” off the bombers, then I’d be keen on drafting Xavier Lindsay with this pick.  If we got either Lalor or Langford at pick “5” (inside mid bulls), Lindsay would be the perfect addition as a highly skilled left footer who can play half back or midfield. He captained the Gippsland Power team.  As previously written, he plays like Josh Kelly (GWS) offering the ability to win the ball in close as well as run and spread. Undoubtedly injury ended his year early and he didn’t test at the combine. He’s got class and skills to add a lot to our future.  

[Supreme_Demon 3,845]

I am definitely a fan of the Demons taking Xavier Lindsay at pick #9.

We desperately need players with elite kicking skills!

Edited October 15 by Supreme_Demon

[DeeSpencer 25,687]

JT took Bowey on the back of some quality ball use from half back in his corresponding version of this game.

Some stuff to iron out but Lindsay’s kicking from half back looks very good on the MCG 

[adonski 12,117]

STRENGTHS:

+ Ball use
+ Consistency
+ Inside-outside balance
+ Kick penetration
+ Versatility
+ Work rate

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Endurance
- Inside craft

Lindsay is a player whose improvement areas are difficult to identify given he does so many things well, and has no glaring weaknesses. His best trait is arguably his ball use, credit to a raking left-foot kick when is often used to penetrate the attacking 50. He uses the ball well on the run, either wheeling away from stoppages or chaining possessions on the outside. Lindsay makes the right decisions and is largely effective in the short and long-range.

If being pedantic, Lindsay's kicking is perhaps at its best when lowering his eyes. He is adept at gaining quick metres and compounding them by launching the ball long, but looks so slick when darting short passes inside, down the line, or to leading targets inside 50. Either way, he generates great momentum in attacking phases either as a connective outside runner or clearance winner.

Having cut his teeth as a wingman and defender, Lindsay began to gain midfield exposure late last year and that was his primary position for Gippsland in 2024. He still reverted back to that original posting at times for Vic Country and the AFL Academy, but came into the year wanting to improve his inside craft and followed through to average 5.4 clearances from 23.4 disposals in the Coates Talent League.

In that sense, Lindsay gets a big tick for versatility. He has maintained his quality on the wing and flanks while improving his contested work and enjoying stints up forward. Few others have the same kind of inside-outside balance as he is developing, and continuing to build his endurance base will only widen his scope. It will also lend to greater durability and see him become even more prolific from contest to contest.

Lindsay's consistency is felt through his work rate and week-on-week output. He is capable of racking up bulk possessions as a designated kicker or go-to at the centre bounces, hardly wavering in his ability to have between 20-30 touches. Even if he doesn't his ball use makes him a high-impact type. While most midfielders' defensive running could improve, Lindsay has also shown an appetite for tackling and hunts the opposition.

He's the type of leader who can drive standards and lead by example. He did so with a relatively young Gippsland group this year having garnered tips from a squad which produced six draftees in 2023, and one as an over-ager in 2024. Having had arguably his best outing on the biggest of stages - the National Championships final - Lindsay proved he can rise to the occasion and compete with the best of the best.

SUMMARY:

Clubs in the market for consistent, tough and damaging players who can fulfil a variety of roles should look no further than Lindsay. He firms as a genuine top 20 talent who could feature anywhere within night one of the draft – potentially just outside the first 10 picks. Likely to slot in as a half-back or wingman early in his AFL career, Lindsay offers good scope as a midfielder and his productive ball use suits the way many sides like to shift the ball quickly from end to end. Left footers just look a class above at times, and he fits that bill.

Edited October 16 by adonski