ChaserJ

AFLW phantom draft: Shock calls, bids galore as top 25 picks predicted in MEGA late mail and from AFL.com.au: First-round fun: Sarah Black's guide to the most unpredictable AFLW draft yet

If McMillan got to us that would be outstanding, but would be happy with Russo or Bowering at pick 9: 2025 AFLW Draft Preview: Melbourne - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

I just knew it'd be Guerra when I saw the headline.

@Pennant St Dee will tell you that Heath Mellody is one to keep both eyes on for next year's draft, now a Mellody/Malady double would be something!

Endurance and defensive running were the criticisms that seemed to go around, but are very much things a player can improve in an AFL environment. Loved his game against the Allies this year and there is more than enough to work with. An exciting get!

I do like watching him wheel on to that left foot in this clip. Can see him putting his running capacity to good use here as well.

The reason Carlton are trading the picks out is that WC have likely signalled they are serious about bidding that high. The shenanigans will be if they don't bid now.

That's the Foxsports phantom by Ben Waterworth, yeah? AFL Draft 2025: Phantom draft, top 29 picks predicted in Fox Footy mock draft, live trades, bids, form guide, date, time

We also placed the bid on Isaac Heeney back when teams could match with just their next best selection.

Oxy, he may not be in draft experts top 10s, but at this point it's becoming clear that a number of clubs rank him in the 10-15 range. By the time we pick it'll be around pick 10 after bids are in for Academy & F/S. It's long been a draft crop where little separates pick 11 & pick 35. Under a week to go, sit back, enjoy the ride.

To be fair we now have access to every Coates Talent League game and National Championship game on AFL on Demand, and there are some really comprehensive highlight packages on YouTube, Cal Twomey does regular prospect rankings through the season and every major publication has phantom drafts in the lead up. I really think the old draft machine content probably doesn't add much value in light of all that.

It's tough this year, because so many have as many questions about them as answers. Duursma looks the most bullet proof prospect and rightfully is favourite for pick one. Many of the others have a lot of good traits but really hard to project their respective ceilings. I like Farrow and Cumming (really good chance that he doesn't get to us) in our range and see the appeal in Dovaston and Grjl. I also understand why others mightn't warm to each of those for one reason or another. I think there's a reason there's a lack of consensus outside the top 12 or so, so if JT picks someone from outside this group, I'm more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I can't remember another year where expert rankings mean as little going into the draft as this year.

He would have always been there and thereabouts on the fringes of rankings by Twomey, Chellapah, etc. This is a draft where it's been frequently said that you could throw a blanket from pick 10 - 40. The gaps aren't that large, recruiters will earn their money because some will have to stick their necks out for certain players.

I reckon you've hit the nail on the head @Adam The God . Toughness or the expected level of urgency/intensity. Very much a Smillie mach 2.

FWIW Sammy Edmund just said Bailey will keep trying until the end of the window (still highly unlikely).

Thanks @Dannyz . It sounds like we had a massive crack at Humphrey and couldn't get it over the line, but I'm glad we did. I do wonder whether we pushed for any other players (e.g. Walter) at any stage and if not whether we should have (but didn't because we put all of our eggs in the Humphrey basket).

Yeah, poor old @Demon4Life was torched for suggesting that BH was doing a medical, so nice to have another poster that’s heard the same thing.

Grlj, pronounced ‘grill’ as in the bbq…after all the bbq talk today there would be some irony if we missed BH and ended up with the Grlj instead.

They're trolling us at this point.

Kozzie's cousin Latrelle.

4 of those 8 are tied to clubs and is around 9-10 of the 30 that are club tied. I think it’s maybe 3 or 4 non club tied standouts at the top, and then pretty even afterward.

Thanks @Demon Forever . Sounds to me like a major barrier is Bailey being comfortable enough to request the trade publicly. Any read on how likely it is that will change?

Yep, 2nd rd would have been about right for Josh given his junior performances as a small forward. Would have loved us to have a throw at the stumps in the 3rd rd.