This is what picks in 30s is for - injured players with leadership qualities that might have a higher ceiling and lower floor.

People were freaking out about LSP jumping 3-4 positions so Jason Taylor picks Thomas Matthews 41 positions early the night after, haha

Welcome to the Dees young fella

7 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

They met at a BBQ, apparently.

The BBQ down that country road

12 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Apart from anything else, it shows how much more homework clubs and recruiting teams do on draftees than random or not-so-random track watchers.

Or have the inside knowledge from the coach. Gippsland Power seem to be a pretty happy hunting ground for us of late. Wounder if this is how it works at Geelong scooping the cream off the Falcons?

16 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Or have the inside knowledge from the coach. Gippsland Power seem to be a pretty happy hunting ground for us of late. Wounder if this is how it works at Geelong scooping the cream off the Falcons?

This kid wouldn't be a surprise or secret to any club. Good recruiters will be across literally 1000's of kids through the major talent pathways. Tom was captain of gippsland and made the vic country squad before injury.

I saw him last year at la trobe put on some showreel stuff and looked a cut above most kids in their draft year. Even took a few centre bounces.

I'm super excited he's on board.

One thing I noticed from the limited available highlights is he does have a bit of the Melksham ability to kick the ball effectively across sharp angles. That'll be a mentorship for sure.

The end of 2026 will likely see a total of four small forwards or alleged forward-mids retiring or delisted, which would have left just Chandler and Mentha alongside an increasingly midfield-destined Kysaiah. Chandler appears to be developing towards the Nibbler role across half forward, rather than a crumber or chaos-maker.

By the end of 2026 Pickett and Tomato (I'm committing to 'Tomato' right here and now) could be our only true small forwards on the primary list.

Let's imagine a future forward line with everything going well in the new young cohort -

F: L Pickett Kentfield Jefferson

HF: Matthews Van Rooyen Chandler

Rotating: K Pickett, Tholstrup, Culley, Werridee.

I can see that working and can see that L Pickett and Tomato would be necessary cogs.

But no doubt a 'courageous' draft move, to go for two relatively unquantified players in a notoriously difficult to quantify role.

3 minutes ago, Random Task said:

This kid wouldn't be a surprise or secret to any club. Good recruiters will be across literally 1000's of kids through the major talent pathways. Tom was captain of gippsland and made the vic country squad before injury.

I saw him last year at la trobe put on some showreel stuff and looked a cut above most kids in their draft year. Even took a few centre bounces.

I'm super excited he's on board.

Great insight.

Thanks mate!

50 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

No doubt we had inside intel here from Rhett McLennan🤔

LiSTNR

Talking Gippsland - Episode 47 - Tom Matthews 2025 AFL Dr...

in this episode Ed has a yarn with the 2025 Captain of the Gippsland Power Tom Matthews ahead of the this years AFL National draft. Tom has been on a roller coaster of a ride over the past 18 months

Just now, Bleasey as that said:

LiSTNR

Talking Gippsland - Episode 47 - Tom Matthews 2025 AFL Dr...

in this episode Ed has a yarn with the 2025 Captain of the Gippsland Power Tom Matthews ahead of the this years AFL National draft. Tom has been on a roller coaster of a ride over the past 18 months

Great interview from last week. The host is a mad dees fan!

About to log off Demonland for the summer, Ashes tomorrow, but bloody hell talk about post season whiplash! The changes during trade period and our draft selections. Feels like we’re going to be seeing a radically different team next year which is a bit exciting…

Have a good summer ya’ll

Great pick up! We desperately need small forwards.

Fwd pressure and tackling (plus goals) is always a critical part of any game plan

55 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

One thing I noticed from the limited available highlights is he does have a bit of the Melksham ability to kick the ball effectively across sharp angles. That'll be a mentorship for sure.

The end of 2026 will likely see a total of four small forwards or alleged forward-mids retiring or delisted, which would have left just Chandler and Mentha alongside an increasingly midfield-destined Kysaiah. Chandler appears to be developing towards the Nibbler role across half forward, rather than a crumber or chaos-maker.

By the end of 2026 Pickett and Tomato (I'm committing to 'Tomato' right here and now) could be our only true small forwards on the primary list.

Let's imagine a future forward line with everything going well in the new young cohort -

F: L Pickett Kentfield Jefferson

HF: Matthews Van Rooyen Chandler

Rotating: K Pickett, Tholstrup, Culley, Werridee.

I can see that working and can see that L Pickett and Tomato would be necessary cogs.

But no doubt a 'courageous' draft move, to go for two relatively unquantified players in a notoriously difficult to quantify role.

Fritta says hello.

47 minutes ago, Bleasey as that said:

LiSTNR

Talking Gippsland - Episode 47 - Tom Matthews 2025 AFL Dr...

in this episode Ed has a yarn with the 2025 Captain of the Gippsland Power Tom Matthews ahead of the this years AFL National draft. Tom has been on a roller coaster of a ride over the past 18 months

As at the date of this (13 Nov) he was 'learning to walk again after surgery'. So, not a big pre-season ahead of him?

47 minutes ago, Bleasey as that said:

Great interview from last week. The host is a mad dees fan!

...and arguably tipped the selection (and was first with the Bailey Humphrey link, too: not you, Twomey!)

7 minutes ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

As at the date of this (13 Nov) he was 'learning to walk again after surgery'. So, not a big pre-season ahead of him?

As in 2025? What did he miss this season with them if he is just having surgery now

Take it with a grain of salt, but my mate (who knows a lot more about the draft than me) just messaged me, and said that had it not been for injury, Matthews would've been rated as the best small forward prospect of this year's crop.

2 hours ago, Demon_JB said:

He's a livewire. Zippy, tough, strong footy IQ and will be an absolute menace up forward. Gippsland captain, drifted out due to PCL injury. If he had played all year, he would have been top 15 pick potentially. Keep an eye on this one, think Papley.

Watch this space. Good outcome Dees fans.

Thanks Bailey.

Look forward to seeing you in the red and blue in 2027 as well.

36 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Bailey in a Brisbane top?

2 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Bailey in a Brisbane top?

Moe Lions.

8 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Moe Lions.

Thanks.