16 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Now that we have a draft order of sorts that isn’t going to depart too far from the one that will apply on the first night of the 2025 AFL National Draft, it’s time for some Phantom Drafts. I found this one on Zero Hanger but it’s hard to navigate through its clicks.

AFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-23 (second edition)

Here’s the first round for your comments:-

Pick 1 - West Coast: Willem Duursma

Pick 2 - Gold Coast (Matched Bid): Zeke Uwland

Pick 3 - West Coast: Sullivan Robey

Pick 4 - Gold Coast (Matched Bid): Dylan Patterson

Pick 5 - Richmond: Xavier Taylor

Pick 6 - Richmond: Sam Grlj

Pick 7 - Brisbane (Matched Bid): Dan Annable

Pick 8 - Carlton (Matched Bid): Harry Dean

Pick 9 - Essendon: Sam Cumming

Pick 10 - Essendon: Dyson Sharp

Pick 11 - Melbourne: Aidan Schubert

Pick 12 - Melbourne: Jevan Phillipou

Pick 13 - North Melbourne (traded with Hawthorn): Cooper Duff-Tytler

Pick 14 - GWS: Josh Lindsay

Pick 15 - West Coast: Jacob Farrow

Pick 16 - Western Bulldogs: Lachy Dovaston

Pick 17 - Adelaide: Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves

Pick 18 - Geelong: Ollie Greeves

Pick 19 - Carlton: Latrelle Sumner-Pickett

Pick 20 - Sydney (Matched Bid): Max King

Pick 21 - Fremantle: Oskar Taylor

Pick 22 - Essendon: Mitch Marsh

Pick 23 - North Melbourne (Traded with Hawthorn): Harley Barker

0 chance Duff-Tytler makes it to us let alone 13, why would we take a different tall if he was still available

Eth-dog's phantom draft is pretty good, goes through all the bidding machinations and points cost, worth a look.

Phantom Draft - eth-dog's 2025 Phantom | BigFooty Forum

Has us taking Schubert and Cumming

8 minutes ago, Viscount Cardwell said:

Eth-dog's phantom draft is pretty good, goes through all the bidding machinations and points cost, worth a look.

Phantom Draft - eth-dog's 2025 Phantom | BigFooty Forum

Has us taking Schubert and Cumming

'The need for the Dees is pretty easy to see, KPP's at either end. Schubert looks like the best pure key forward in the draft, and one thing Melbourne could definitely use here.' Interesting take. No disrespect to this guy his analysis looks pretty good, but between this and fox footy's best 23 for us, I think it highlights how little insight a lot of external analysis is.

Doubt this guy would know who Kentfield or Jed Adams are. I would have thought KPP's is the least of our problems atm, especially developing talls. Not the first time we've been linked to Schubert either unless i'm missing something. It's like last year when we were linked to Harry Armstrong. The bloke kicked 6 goals in 8 games this year.

I'd say we'll give Jeffo, JVR and Kentfield another year to show they're up to it before drafting a key forward. Wouldn't mind getting Ah Mu late as a nod to the NGA if we want another tall. Anyone have any updates on him?

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by shakeandbake

8 minutes ago, shakeandbake said:

'The need for the Dees is pretty easy to see, KPP's at either end. Schubert looks like the best pure key forward in the draft, and one thing Melbourne could definitely use here.' Interesting take. No disrespect to this guy his analysis looks pretty good, but between this and fox footy's best 23 for us, I think it highlights how little insight a lot of external analysis is.

Doubt this guy would know who Kentfield or Jed Adams are. I would have thought KPP's is the least of our problems atm, especially developing talls. It's like last year when we were linked to Harry Armstrong. The bloke kicked 6 goals in 8 games this year.

I'd say we'll give Jeffo, JVR and Kentfield another yearr to show they're up to it before drafting a key forward. Wouldn't mind getting Ah Mu late as a nod to the NGA if we want another tall. Anyone have any updates on him?

100%

No shade to this guy but the “Dees need to draft a key forward” is the laziest analysis going around

We’re in much more need of more midfield depth and a small forward

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by demoncat

7 minutes ago, shakeandbake said:

'The need for the Dees is pretty easy to see, KPP's at either end. Schubert looks like the best pure key forward in the draft, and one thing Melbourne could definitely use here.' Interesting take. No disrespect to this guy his analysis looks pretty good, but between this and fox footy's best 23 for us, I think it highlights how little insight a lot of external analysis is.

Doubt this guy would know who Kentfield or Jed Adams are. I would have thought KPP's is the least of our problems atm, especially developing talls. It's like last year when we were linked to Harry Armstrong. The bloke kicked 6 goals in 8 games this year.

I'd say we'll give Jeffo, JVR and Kentfield another yearr to show they're up to it before drafting a key forward. Wouldn't mind getting Ah Mu late as a nod to the NGA if we want another tall. Anyone have any updates on him?

This was commented on in the answers to his draft later on in the replies. Agree, we need a small forward and a running half Back, Will leave it to JT.

Wasn't posting the phantom draft for our club alone, the guy has done some good work on the early bids and points cost on academy kids and where their later picks go. He has also covered all 18 clubs and does not profess to know the ins and outs of all club lists.

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by Viscount Cardwell
added content

17 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Now that we have a draft order of sorts that isn’t going to depart too far from the one that will apply on the first night of the 2025 AFL National Draft, it’s time for some Phantom Drafts. I found this one on Zero Hanger but it’s hard to navigate through its clicks.

AFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-23 (second edition)

Here’s the first round for your comments:-

Pick 1 - West Coast: Willem Duursma

Pick 2 - Gold Coast (Matched Bid): Zeke Uwland

Pick 3 - West Coast: Sullivan Robey

Pick 4 - Gold Coast (Matched Bid): Dylan Patterson

Pick 5 - Richmond: Xavier Taylor

Pick 6 - Richmond: Sam Grlj

Pick 7 - Brisbane (Matched Bid): Dan Annable

Pick 8 - Carlton (Matched Bid): Harry Dean

Pick 9 - Essendon: Sam Cumming

Pick 10 - Essendon: Dyson Sharp

Pick 11 - Melbourne: Aidan Schubert

Pick 12 - Melbourne: Jevan Phillipou

Pick 13 - North Melbourne (traded with Hawthorn): Cooper Duff-Tytler

Pick 14 - GWS: Josh Lindsay

Pick 15 - West Coast: Jacob Farrow

Pick 16 - Western Bulldogs: Lachy Dovaston

Pick 17 - Adelaide: Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves

Pick 18 - Geelong: Ollie Greeves

Pick 19 - Carlton: Latrelle Sumner-Pickett

Pick 20 - Sydney (Matched Bid): Max King

Pick 21 - Fremantle: Oskar Taylor

Pick 22 - Essendon: Mitch Marsh

Pick 23 - North Melbourne (Traded with Hawthorn): Harley Barker

this is the dumbest mock draft i’ve seen. why would we take schubert when the next best key forward/ruck is there and gets taken a pick later

Dovaston and Sharp would be a dream.

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

FINALLY a mock draft that recognises we need a small forward

Sharp and Dovaston is the best outcome for us I’ve seen so far in one of these

Sharp is noted as a contested beast...whose "athletic tools are lacking". While he sounds like a good citizen and a great extractor, given the way King wants the game played, isn't this just another Clayton Oliver 2.0. If we are looking to get speed in the midfield, how does this help? Pickett wont develop the tank to play 80-90% midfield time. Rivers is reasonably quick. I would have expected us to be targeting an outside player. Maybe I have misunderstood.

Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by Trident22

16 minutes ago, Trident22 said:

Sharp is noted as a contested beast...whose "athletic tools are lacking". While he sounds like a good citizen and a great extractor, given the way King wants the game played, isn't this just another Clayton Oliver 2.0. If we are looking to get speed in the midfield, how does this help? Pickett wont develop the tank to play 80-90% midfield time. Rivers is reasonably quick. I would have expected us to be targeting an outside player. Maybe I have misunderstood.

I think that he’s simply too good of a prospect to pass up if he slides to us - especially if the more athletic types of Grij, Robey and Cumming are off the board

I know we all want to draft fast and highly skilled mids, but you still need those extractors and I’m not convinced we actually have a young player of that type on our list (or one who can do it to the level of Sharp)

3 minutes ago, demoncat said:

I think that he’s simply too good of a prospect to pass up if he slides to us - especially if the more athletic types of Grij, Robey and Cumming are off the board

I know we all want to draft fast and highly skilled mids, but you still need those extractors and I’m not convinced we actually have a young player of that type on our list (or one who can do it to the level of Sharp)

Reckon you can always pick up a Steele type for cheap if needed

10 minutes ago, adonski said:

Reckon you can always pick up a Steele type for cheap if needed

Yeah that’s probably true, but I would say that Sharp seems to do most things well - i.e. he’s more well rounded than a lot of inside mids

Flicking through Twomey's guide again and just got the feeling like Sam Cumming looks a little bit like Harvey Langford. Similar hair, similar broad face with comparatively small eyes, they've both got the chin-knuckle.

Anyway, I'm only becoming more convinced that a Sam-based draft strategy is the way to go. If we're lucky both Cumming and Grlj will be available, and while they are different types they each would bring a great level of speed and fitness to our new midfield dynamic.

We could be terrifyingly mobile in the middle and the wings in a very short space of time, with Windsor, Lindsay, Langford, Cumming, Grlj, Rivers and Pickett all rotating through.

I have some reservations about Sharp as well, not just on his athleticism but his ability to play in any other position. We'd have to be confident he'll be a bonafide 200 gamer inside mid as I just can't see him playing anywhere else.

If he's good enough to be a long term starting inside extractor then by all means we should pick him.

Trying to project 5 years into the future of what our midfield balance could be..

Pickett (70/30), Rivers, Langford, Lindsay, Windsor, Tholstrup, D Sharp

Has this got enough balance of contested ball winning ability, outside run, speed and disposal skills?

I think it might, and what might work in Sharps favour is the fact that the rest of these mids aren't one-dimensional and can play in other positions.

49 minutes ago, adonski said:

Reckon you can always pick up a Steele type for cheap if needed

I don’t think a guy who can’t get a game for the Saints (or even the better alternatives like Worpel level players that are often available) are what you need to bring to the fight against Neale, the Ashcroft’s, Dunkley, Newcombe, Rowell, Tom Green, Serong etc.

That said, is Sharp on that level?

I don’t really see it. Hands don’t look clean enough and he doesn’t play through contact like a Green and Rowell

I’d roll the dice on Farrow, Barker, Oskar Taylor or Mitch Marsh over Sharp.

1 hour ago, Trident22 said:

. I would have expected us to be targeting an outside player. Maybe I have misunderstood.

We need to draft for our new coach and the trends in the game but we don’t need to worry too much about list needs. We need everything!

10 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I’d roll the dice on Farrow, Barker, Oskar Taylor or Mitch Marsh over Sharp.

My thoughts are constantly changing but I think my preference at this stage, should Robey and Grjl be off the table, would be Farrow and O Taylor.

Both provide run and good ball use with Farrow in particular having scope to go into the middle down the track. Taylor seems to have a rare combination of speed and excellent ball use which is perfect for the modern game.

Wouldnt be upset with Marsh as well and can see a good reason to add him to the list given our medium forwards are ageing.

37 I would look at a small forward. Hopefully one of Pickett, Byrne or Matthews will be available.

Edited 12 hours ago12 hr by Random Task

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

I don’t think a guy who can’t get a game for the Saints (or even the better alternatives like Worpel level players that are often available) are what you need to bring to the fight against Neale, the Ashcroft’s, Dunkley, Newcombe, Rowell, Tom Green, Serong etc.

That said, is Sharp on that level?

I don’t really see it. Hands don’t look clean enough and he doesn’t play through contact like a Green and Rowell

I know you're a self-appointed expert, but I was wondering how many times you've seen these guys play live ?

My view on Sharp is that he is a great size for the role as a hard ball winning inside midfielder. He should do that role well at AFL level from the bits I've seen (as some Joe Nobody on the internet). Sort of like a bigger, more inside version of Ryley Sanders.

The question is whether that's the type of player that we are wanting to pick up, given the changes that we appear to have been making. If we are then pick him. If not then it's probably a really good opportunity to trade the pick away knowing that he will probably attract several interested parties that wouldn't be knocking on the door for that pick otherwise.

But we don't really have enough information to know if he's the sort of player that would interest us at the moment or not.

6 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

That zero hanger 'one pick per reload the page' format is a proper bonfire, thank you for grinding it out for us.

Duff-Tytler sliding would be a marvel and an abomination. I'd happily live trade 6 and downgrade 7 to nudge up a couple of spots to get him.

I feel like we'll be watching the draft with some 'acceptable' picks in mind but desperately hoping for a slider.

Unless CDT has been caught doing something really scandalous i would be amazed if he gets past Richmond.

So we take Griller and Sullie at 7/8, then hit up Pickett with our later selection, then rookie White and sinnerman….. (dream scenario….)

5 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

So we take Griller and Sullie at 7/8, then hit up Pickett with our later selection, then rookie White and sinnerman….. (dream scenario….)

Robey wont last to our pick

4 hours ago, demoncat said:

100%

No shade to this guy but the “Dees need to draft a key forward” is the laziest analysis going around

We’re in much more need of more midfield depth and a small forward

Observing what passes for media analysis of list building over the last 20 years or so, there appear to be two schools of thought. One is that clubs should draft key position players at the beginning of a rebuild to give them time to develop and then supplement them with midfielders, who are generally easier to find, in subsequent drafts. The second option is draft lots of midfielders first and then trade in key position players to fill gaps.

The problem with both theories is that the analysis always seems to be post facto rationalisation. Having said that, the second option is what worked for us in 2021.