MELBOURNE has added to its forward line mosquito fleet, selecting the Gippsland Power’s Thomas Matthews with pick No. 30 in the 2025 Telstra AFL National Draft.

The Demons could have found value in the Gippsland captain, after a knee injury left the 171cm forward sidelined for much of 2025 and put a ceiling on his draft prospects.

In 2024 the powerful tackling machine thrived on pressure and powerful athleticism, bringing plenty of x-factor to kick 18 goals in 13 matches.

A dynamic pre-season this year, including four goals in a trial match for Vic Country, had Matthews poised to make a name for himself before injury hit.

Despite his height, Matthews is a pocket rocket in every sense of the word, regularly flying high to pull down soaring grabs.

Matthews joins fellow small forward Latrelle Pickett who was taken at pick No. 12 in last night’s first round.

Humphrey's best mate

Kids good. Be happy people. We have an excellent group of talented small forwards now.

Cal just said he is best mates with Bailey Humphrey we playing the long game

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/thomas-matthews-2/

1 minute ago, Tom Dyson said:

Left field?

Left field???? Maybe outer edges of the Alpha Centauri System but I wonder

Ricky Jackson like?????

At 171cm (5'6" in the old money), he's only a bee's appendage taller than Nick Watson.

2 minutes ago, BoBo said:

Who’s this bloke??

Bailey Humphrey best mate. That’s who

Just now, Demonstone said:

At 171cm (5'6" in the old money), he's only a bee's appendage taller than Nick Watson.

Paul Callery says HI!

Have the Dees looked at Brisbane’s small forwards success and started to build our own mosquito fleet?

5 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Paul Callery says HI!

Callery would say 'Lo wouldn't he?

9 minutes ago, picket fence said:

EH ????? Speculative pick or utter genius???

I’m only discovering this guy exists right now so…. Both?? Neither??

8 minutes ago, Colm said:

Bailey Humphrey best mate. That’s who

For realsies?

What pick are they using for Kalani White?

Charlie Spargo replacement ...

Just now, Demonsone said:

What pick are they using for Kalani White?

If he doesn't get bid on he goes straight to the rookie list

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Mickey

7 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Paul Callery says HI!

Paul Callery was a neighbour of mine when I was a kid in South Oakleigh (now renamed East Bentleigh). He was great, even at age 11.

1 minute ago, BoBo said:

For realsies?

Yup.

7 minutes ago, DeeMee said:

Have the Dees looked at Brisbane’s small forwards success and started to build our own mosquito fleet?

Brisbane’s?

I reckon every premiership team since Cyril at the Hawks in 08 had great small forwards, including our side in ‘21.

If we want Pickett on ball, and the flexibility to run Chin on the wing we need at least 2 new ones.

17 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

At 171cm (5'6" in the old money), he's only a bee's appendage taller than Nick Watson.

5’7”(.32)

Tom Matthews (Gippsland Power, small forward)
The athletic forward was lauded for an enormous pre-season and a big start to 2025 earned him selection in the Vic Country squad at the U18s National Championships. Remarkably, though, he did all that with a PCL knee injury, suffered early in 2025 which meant he hardly trained, working hard just to get himself on the park on Saturdays. Eventually, the injury worsened and he featured in only half a game after early game - a wildcard round final for Gippsland where he showed his point-of-difference - forward 50 pressure - on a treacherous day for footy. The stymied year was highlighted by a four gaul outing in a Vic Country trial game against the Young Guns in May.
Draft range: Late-rookie

JT is never afraid to work off the radar!

Feels like it’s going to be very fun being a Dees supporter for the next few years!

25 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

Sam Allen gone to WCE.

Here we go. Our turn now.

wtf !!!?!?!!! Eagles

Sam Allen grew up a Dees fanatic

We wanted him in red and blue

Is that us done for the night?

11 minutes ago, DeeMee said:

Have the Dees looked at Brisbane’s small forwards success and started to build our own mosquito fleet?

All prelim teams were stacked with gun small forwards. It's the biggest hole on our list.

Wonder if the football dept/recruiting team knew this, or whether King's assessment of our list has shaped how we've drafted.