The consensus among Melbourne fans is that our draft aims should concentrate this year on midfield types to help replace recently departed superstars Clarry and Tracc but the pundits think otherwise. Most of the media experts doing mock drafts are suggesting the Demons will select 198cm tall SA key position player Aidan Schubert with one of their first round picks so I figure he needs to have his own thread.

Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

Aidan Schubert Draft Profile

Central District spearhead Aidan Schubert shot up draft boards after a dominant National Championships campaign.

Hard pass

Lucas Cook mk 2.

12 minutes ago, Ted Lasso said:

Hard pass

Why? That kid looks good. He gets to the right spots, marks it and slots them. Lots of examples of playing it to teammates advantage and setting them up for scores too

That is a horrendous looking ball drop!

1 hour ago, Blistering said:

Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

Aidan Schubert Draft Profile

Central District spearhead Aidan Schubert shot up draft boards after a dominant National Championships campaign.

So many demons fans traumatised by poor key position draft selections over the past 10 years

Doesn't change the fact that we need a quality KPF

Having said that, no idea if this bloke is any good. But I won't be discounting him based on his position

11 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

That is a horrendous looking ball drop!

I thought the exact same thing James Manson mk2.

But im yet to see any tape of the lad.

Edited October 30, 2025Oct 30 by YesitwasaWin4theAges

Wouldn't have to be much chop compared to VanRooyen, Kentfield and Jefferson.

I’ve seen reports saying he is 194 but generally reported that he’s 198cm with a December birthday so every chance he ends up 200cm+.

Basketball background with a late focus on footy.

Pros: He’s not afraid to bang bodies in the ruck, he jumps confidently and extends his big long arms at the ball and he moves very well for his size with a big tank. Finds the pill - 17 disposals in champs, 19 in sanfl 18’s

Cons: the decision making with the footy needs plenty of work, his hands look nice but not amazing and his kicking is somewhat effective but looks hideous.

To me he fits in the range of super athletic big guys from other sports: Ethan Read, Shannon Neale, Sam Day.

Long odds to become a champion goal kicker but can become a crucial part of how a forward line functions.

Pick 12 in a normal draft - unlikely. Pick 12 in this years, I wouldn’t be overly enthused but I can see him being a useful player.

1 hour ago, Blistering said:

The consensus among Melbourne fans is that our draft aims should concentrate this year on midfield types to help replace recently departed superstars Clarry and Tracc but the pundits think otherwise. Most of the media experts doing mock drafts are suggesting the Demons will select 198cm tall SA key position player Aidan Schubert with one of their first round picks so I figure he needs to have his own thread.

Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

Aidan Schubert Draft Profile

Central District spearhead Aidan Schubert shot up draft boards after a dominant National Championships campaign.

Looks like the player we are missing up forward the “Big Unit”, could be handy in 2-3 years time when we start to come good.

55 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Lucas Cook mk 2.

Nah, even guys who played on Cook in HS football knew that if you clipped him behind the ears early, and he'd be hearing footsteps for the rest of the game.

Schubert isn't that.

I think he could be a good honest forward. I'm not really keen, but would be okay with us picking him.

Just now, Davos said:

Nah, even guys who played on Cook in HS football knew that if you clipped him behind the ears early, and he'd be hearing footsteps for the rest of the game.

Schubert isn't that.

I think he could be a good honest forward. I'm not really keen, but would be okay with us picking him.

Okay no worries.

John Butcher then.

Unco skinny looking forward that has no physical presence

Even this game footage from against his peers at normal under 18 level and its thr most underwhelming 4 goal game you'll see.

He'll be another Josh Schache at AFL level.

Schubert looks the classical footballer to me. Reminds me of Josh Wagner.

Edited October 30, 2025Oct 30 by John Demonic

5 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Okay no worries.

John Butcher then.

Unco skinny looking forward that has no physical presence

Even this game footage from against his peers at normal under 18 level and its thr most underwhelming 4 goal game you'll see.

He'll be another Josh Schache at AFL level.

Yeah, the ball drop is extremely unco.

He might pan out, or he may not. Unfortunately though, every option likely available at our picks are real "squint and you see it" prospects.

12 hours ago, Davos said:

Yeah, the ball drop is extremely unco.

He might pan out, or he may not. Unfortunately though, every option likely available at our picks are real "squint and you see it" prospects.

I've gone from being worried about the quality of the players that will be available at our picks to being ok with it.

Players like Cumming, Grjl, Sharp, Farrow and Dovaston will all be solid players that I would be happy to pick that should be available.

I worry about Lindsays deficiencies.

If we take Schubert then it would show that the club has lost faith in Jeffo.

Pros

• Excellent height

• Good contested mark

• Can push into the ruck

• Tall players take longer to develop, could be the best player available long term in a shallow draft

Cons

• Goal kicking accuracy

• Lack of KPD this year. Who is keeping him honest at the junior level?

• We already have Jeffo, Kentfield and Johnson as developing KPF as well as White coming in. Thats a lot of players getting in each others way at Casey.

Terrible ball drop, horrible preparation but very nice touch. Odd combo.

Just from those highlights I wonder if his mobility is a concern.

He is a project player and needs a lot of development.

I’d rather we look at mids, small forwards and half backs.

23 minutes ago, JJJ said:

He is a project player and needs a lot of development.

This is exactly the term that came to mind when I watched highlights: project player. A player you'd be happy to work on for three or four years after using a late pick on them or taking them as a Rookie.

Extraordinary that he's being talked of as a clear first rounder and the best KPP behind Dean.

I reckon recruiting teams will be earning their money this year.

for a guy with supposedly sticky mitts he drops his first 6-7 marks in that video. Not great to see

3 minutes ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

This is exactly the term that came to mind when I watched highlights: project player. A player you'd be happy to work on for three or four years after using a late pick on them or taking them as a Rookie.

Extraordinary that he's being talked of as a clear first rounder and the best KPP behind Dean.

I reckon recruiting teams will be earning their money this year.

HS article today says the crows are eager to trade up for him, fits a need for them for sure and a local lad so maybe we can work with them to slide back and gain something in the future to still get dove, if not us where is schuberts next landing spot? maybe giants? but they took gruzewski not too long ago with cadman so he probably does get to the crows current pick,

dogs, blues (would be but dean bid), suns, hawks, eagles probably not in the market for him

Don’t think he fits into the narrative “we aim to be playing final in the short term”

He would be a longer term prospect who could be very good or not.

Some great contested ability but do we need another ruck that can't kick for goal?

Seems more ruck than forward.

2 hours ago, Turner said:

HS article today says the crows are eager to trade up for him

Interesting (if true, which is always an important caveat with the Herald Sun). Not sure they have a lot to work with to trade up. Their finals series was awful, but they didn't fluke the minor premiership, so I'm not sure if clubs will be rubbing their hands together for future picks.

19 minutes ago, layzie said:

Some great contested ability but do we need another ruck that can't kick for goal?

Seems more ruck than forward.

We might soon with Max’s age, but Heath & White arriving, wouldn’t think another tall is a necessity.

Similarly we are ok for smalls Picket, Viney, Chandler, Tholstrop, Laurie.

More bigger fast running Mids , to replace Trac and Clarrie seem to be the requirement.