Whispering_Jack

afl.com.auCal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' Oct...AFL.com.au's draft guru Cal Twomey delivers his fourth Phantom Form Guide ahead of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft

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

Thanks for your comprehensive report Meggs. A concern I have for the team is its poor finishing in its defeats. We can’t seem to score goals under pressure in final quarters. Winning finals is all about being able to see out tough games.

Cal Twomey’s October Phantom Form Guide came out today. Worth looking at - especially in the range 10 - 15 where our picks could come from in November. afl.com.auCal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' Oct...AFL.com.au's draft guru Cal Twomey delivers his fourth Phantom Form Guide ahead of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft

Here’s an interesting article from Jonty Ralphsmith on some draft prospects who have been injured or otherwise unexposed with projected draft positions - Out of sight, out of mind: Nine draft prospects on AFL Draft radar • Zeke Uwland (Gold Coast Academy, utility) - projected # 1 • Koby Evans (Perth, forward/midfielder) - late rookie • Jevan Phillipou (Woodville-West Torrens, midfielder) - 15 to 20 • Liam Hetherton (Murray Bushrangers, key forward) 25 to 45 • Sam Allen (Oakleigh Chargers, midfielder) - late rookie • Felix Kniepp (Calder, halfback) - late rookie • Will Darcy (Oakleigh Chargers, tall defender) - late rookie • Harrison Bridge (Brisbane Academy, defender) - late rookie • Tom Matthews (Gippsland Power, small forward) - late rookie Possibly of limited use for the MFC because a few are academy or father/son which is where we already have our own prospects.

All of the player movements in the free agency and trade periods ~ FREE AGENCY • Jack Silvagni to St Kilda - Carlton receives an end of round one compensation pick (19) • James Worpel to Geelong - Hawthorn receives an end of second round compensation pick (39) • Tom De Koning to St Kilda - Carlton receives a round one compensation pick (9) • Sam Draper to Brisbane Lions - Essendon receives an end of round one compensation pick (20) • Jacob Wehr to Port Adelaide - GWS receives no compensation • Charlie Spargo to North Melbourne - Melbourne receives an end of round two compensation pick (41) • Oscar Allen to Brisbane Lions - West Coast Eagles receive a round one compensation pick (2) TRADES • Carlton receives Liam Reidy, a third-round pick (currently 53) and a fourth-round pick (currently 71) - Fremantle receives a third-round pick (50) and a fourth-round pick (68) • Sydney Swans receive Malcolm Rosas Jnr and a fourth-round pick (62), Gold Coast Suns receive a third-round pick (51) and a fourth-round pick (69), West Coast Eagles receive Brandon Starcevich, a first-round pick (12) and a third-round pick (currently 52), West Coast Eagles give Picks 16, 22 and 23, • Brisbane Lions receive two first-round picks (16 and 22) and two third-round picks (44 and 50), Brisbane Lions give Brandon Starcevich, Picks 19, 46 and 52, Fremantle receives a first-round pick (19), a second-round pick (currently 23) and a third-round pick (currently 46), Fremantle gives Picks 12, 33, 44 and 50 • Fremantle receives Judd McVee - Melbourne receives a second-round pick (23) • St Kilda receives Sam Flanders - Gold Coast Suns receive a first-round pick (7) • Melbourne receives Max Heath - St Kilda receives a 2027 fourth-round pick (tied to Melbourne) • St Kilda receives Liam Ryan and a 2027 third-round pick (tied to West Coast) - West Coast Eagles receive a 2026 second-round pick (tied to St Kilda) • Melbourne receives Brody Mihocek and a third-round pick (71) - Collingwood receives a third-round pick (61) and a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) • Carlton receives Campbell Chesser - West Coast Eagles receive a second-round pick (41) • Carlton receives Ben Ainsworth and a fourth-round pick (67), Carlton gives Corey Durdin and a 2026 second-round pick, Gold Coast Suns receive a second-round pick (currently 29), Gold Coast Suns give Ben Ainsworth, Port Adelaide receives Corey Durdin and a 2026 second-round pick (tied to Carlton), Port Adelaide gives a second-round pick (currently 29) and a fourth-round pick (currently 67) • GWS receives a first-round pick (12) - Western Bulldogs receive a first-round pick (14) and a second-round pick (37) • GWS receives: a first-round pick (12) - Western Bulldogs receive a first-round pick (14) and a second-round pick (37) • Port Adelaide receives Will Brodie - Fremantle receives a sixth-round selection (103) • Brisbane Lions receive a third-round pick (59) and a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) - Collingwood receives two third-round picks (45 and 56) • Essendon receive Brayden Fiorini - Gold Coast Suns receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Essendon) • GWS receives a first-round pick (12) - Western Bulldogs receive a first-round pick (14) and a second-round pick (37) •West Coast Eagles receive Tylar Young - Richmond receive a second-round pick (38) • Port Adelaide receives Will Brodie - Fremantle receives a sixth-round selection (103) • Brisbane Lions receive a third-round pick (59) and a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) - Collingwood receives two third-round picks (45 and 56) • Essendon receive Brayden Fiorini - Gold Coast Suns receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Essendon) • Western Bulldogs receive Connor Budarick and a fourth-round pick (70) - Gold Coast Suns receive a second-round pick (37) • Carlton receives Oliver Florent - Sydney Swans receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Carlton) • Melbourne receives Changkuoth Jiath - Hawthorn receives a second-round pick (42) and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Melbourne) • Sydney Swans receive Jai Serong and a 2026 fourth-round selection (tied to Hawthorn) - Hawthorn receives a 2026 third-round selection (tied to Sydney) • Carlton receives a first-round pick (currently 9) and three second-round picks (31, 42 and 43) - Hawthorn receives two first-round picks (10 and 22) • Adelaide Crows receive Finnbar Maley and a fourth-round pick (64) - North Melbourne receive a third-round pick (57) and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Adelaide) • Gold Coast Suns receive Jamarra Ugle-Hagan - Western Bulldogs receive a fourth-round pick (74) • Collingwood receive Jack Buller and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Sydney) • Sydney Swans receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Collingwood) • Richmond receive Patrick Retschko - Geelong receive a sixth-round pick (99) • Gold Coast Suns receive Christian Petracca, two second-round picks (24 and 28) and a 2026 second-round pick (tied to Melbourne) - Melbourne receives two first-round picks (7 and 8), a second-round pick (37), a 2026 first-round pick (tied to Gold Coast) and a 2027 third-round pick (tied to Gold Coast) • Melbourne receives Jack Steele - St Kilda receives a 2027 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) • GWS receive Clayton Oliver - Melbourne receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to GWS) • Sydney Swans receive Charlie Curnow, two second-round picks (31 and 42) and a 2027 second-round pick (tied to Carlton) - Carlton receives Will Hayward, a first-round pick (11), a 2026 first-round pick (tied to Sydney) and a 2027 first-round pick (tied to Sydney)

Undoubtedly, your esteemed panel will discuss the trade deals, including the significant ones involving Trac and Clarry, which have been extensively documented in the media. It is unfortunate to see two great superstars of the game depart simultaneously, and I am particularly disappointed by the dramatic decline in fortunes of Clarry. I wish him well for the future, but one intriguing aspect of the trade deal is the amount of his contract that Melbourne will be paying him over the next five years. Initially, it was stated that Melbourne would cover half of his contract, but negotiations on this point persisted for over a week. Will the exact amount ever be disclosed? If not, would it be worth inquiring about this at the AGM?

Progressive Voting: 131. Tyla Hanks 109. Kate Hore 70. Elizabeth McNamara 69. Maeve Chaplin 51. Tayla Harris 48. Megan Fitzsimon 36. Eden Zanker 32. Shelley Heath 17. Paxy Paxman Ryleigh Wotherspoon 15. Olivia Purcell 14. Sinead Goldrick 4. Tahlia Gillard Lauren Pearce Saraid Taylor 2. Maggie Mahony 1. Alyssa Bannan Gabrielle Colvin Laela Ebert Molly O’Hehir Jemma Rigoni

I think he’s a few years away, possibly 2028.

The 2025 AFL National Draft order after the trades - ROUND ONE 1 West Coast Eagles 2 West Coast Eagles 3 Richmond 4 Richmond 5 Essendon 6 Essendon 7 Melbourne 8 Melbourne 9 Carlton 10 Hawthorn 11 Carlton 12 GWS Giants 13 West Coast Eagles 14 Western Bulldogs 15 Gold Coast Suns 16 Adelaide 17 Brisbane Lions 18 Gold Coast Suns 19 Geelong 20 Fremantle 21 Essendon 22 Hawthorn 23 Brisbane Lions ROUND TWO 24 Gold Coast Suns 25 North Melbourne 26 North Melbourne 27 Essendon 28 Gold Coast Suns 29 Gold Coast Suns 30 Essendon 31 Sydney 32 Sydney 33 Western Bulldogs 34 West Coast Eagles 35 GWS Giants 36 Gold Coast Suns 37 Melbourne 38 Richmond 39 Collingwood 40 Geelong 41 West Coast Eagles 42 Sydney 43 Carlton ROUND THREE 44 Brisbane Lions 45 Collingwood 46 North Melbourne 47 Fremantle 48 Adelaide 49 Port Adelaide 50 St Kilda 51 Brisbane Lions 52 Gold Coast Suns 53 West Coast Eagles 54 Carlton 55 Adelaide 56 Collingwood 57 North Melbourne 58 West Coast Eagles 59 Brisbane Lions 60 Geelong 61 Collingwood ROUND FOUR 62 Hawthorn 63 Sydney 64 Adelaide 65 St Kilda 66 Melbourne 67 Carlton 68 Brisbane Lions 69 Fremantle 70 Western Bulldogs 71 Melbourne 72 Carlton 73 Adelaide 74 Western Bulldogs 75 Adelaide 76 Hawthorn 77 Collingwood 78 Geelong 79 Brisbane Lions

Not a biggie here. • Richmond receive Patrick Retschko - Geelong receive a sixth-round pick (99) But how about this one? Melbourne has reeled in three first round picks while giving back three seconds as Christian Petracca finally became a Gold Coast Sun. In a deal that dragged on into the final day as the two clubs haggled over the picks that were swapped back and forth. Melbourne netted picks 7, 8 and a future first while sending the second rounders back to Gold Coast. • No deals for Zac Merrett, Callum Ah Chee, Baku Khamis and Rowan Marshall

• “Jack Steel has been traded to Melbourne for a future third round pick.” - Cal Twomey • Deal lodged for Clayton Oliver to become a Giant. Future third-round pick leaving the Giants to Melbourne.

• Melbourne's interest in Jack Steele is reciprocated by the St Kilda captain. Steele has stated his preference is to stay at the Saints, but he is open to joining the Demons subject to a trade. Two years to run on a contract so negotiations would take place on who pays what.

Trades ~ • Carlton receives Oliver Florent - Sydney Swans receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Carlton) • Melbourne receives Changkuoth Jiath - Hawthorn receives a second-round pick (42) and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Melbourne) • Sydney Swans receive Jai Serong and a 2026 fourth-round selection (tied to Hawthorn) - Hawthorn receives a 2026 third-round selection (tied to Sydney) • Carlton receives a first-round pick (currently 9) and three second-round picks (31, 42 and 43) - Hawthorn receives two first-round picks (10 and 22) • Adelaide Crows receive Finnbar Maley and a fourth-round pick (64) - North Melbourne receive a third-round pick (57) and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Adelaide)

Midday mail • Tom Morris on Rowan Marshall - "Geelong is still adamant they still want him. This will go down to the wire. St Kilda might flat bat it. Geelong are still trying. He doesn't want to play for St Kilda next year. This one will go down to the wire." • Cal Twomey - "They (Melbourne) lose Judd McVee at half back and bring in CJ, who has always been on the fringe of the Hawks 23. That will be a late pick." (Me: make that late pick the one we get from GWS for Clarry) • Cal Twomey - Melbourne has emerged as a contender for St Kilda midfielder Jack Steele. The midfielder has to weigh up whether he would leave the Saints.

Just to start the day ~ • Tom Morris on the Petracca deal: "The Petracca deal will happen, with Picks 7 & 8 to Melbourne and Pick 24 going back to the Suns. There is also a range of other pick swaps going on with Melbourne and Gold Coast. The Demons will get more draft capital over the next two years, and the Suns will get more points." • Morris on the Oliver deal: "GWS are offering a future 3rd round pick for Clayton Oliver." That might sound like a bad deal but look at what Gold Coast’s offering the Bulldogs for JUH - Pick 70. That makes the deal offered by GWS an absolute steal.

If that’s what we’ve done for two years (and none of us know for sure) then it wasn’t done particularly well. I understand the club wanting to cut its losses and I want nothing more than to see him rehabilitated and happy. But I question whether the course being taken is in his best interests.

To be clear, I’m not sure as to whether we backed ourselves into a corner or whether we were backed into a corner and if it was the latter, at the behest of who? I didn’t make my comment lightly because I’ve always been a supporter of Clarrie, he’s been a much loved and highly decorated player at the club and, by it’s implications, the Giants’ offer demeans him and his character more than anything else. In the long run, it might be better to show some strength, for both him and the club to sit back, take our time and find a way to help an individual who has lost his way.

Who handles player transfer negotiations in today's landscape? Within an hour of Steven King's meeting with Clayton Oliver, the media had already picked up on the story. Although the source of the information from Melbourne was unclear, it was widely accepted that the Demons would need to pay out half of Clarry's contract, and even then, they would receive minimal compensation in return. In line with those reports, Jon Ralph stated this morning: "Demons potentially paying as much as $700,000 to the Giants, which represents about 3.8 per cent of the salary cap". As expected, the Giants' offer now on the table mirrors the one proposed shortly after King's meeting. Melbourne is told to take it or leave it and the media expects (demands) it to do so. Another response could be that all negotiations are off the table. The Melbourne Football Club requires Clarry to report for duty when training commences in November, fully prepared to fulfill his contractual obligations and in suitable condition to do so. If not (on either count), the matter could become a legal issue between the player and the club and we possibly go one player short for season 2026.

MONDAY TRADES • GWS receives a first-round pick (12) - Western Bulldogs receive a first-round pick (14) and a second-round pick (37) • GWS receives: a first-round pick (12) - Western Bulldogs receive a first-round pick (14) and a second-round pick (37) • Port Adelaide receives Will Brodie - Fremantle receives a sixth-round selection (103) TUESDAY TRADES Brisbane Lions receive a third-round pick (59) and a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) - Collingwood receives two third-round picks (45 and 56) • Essendon receive Brayden Fiorini - Gold Coast Suns receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Essendon)

Progressive Tally 120. Tyla Hanks 96. Kate Hore 69. Maeve Chaplin 64. Elizabeth McNamara 51. Tayla Harris 48. Megan Fitzsimon 24. Eden Zanker 17. Paxy Paxman Ryleigh Wotherspoon 16. Shelley Heath 15. Olivia Purcell 14. Sinead Goldrick 4. Lauren Pearce Saraid Taylor 2. Maggie Mahony 1. Alyssa Bannan Gabrielle Colvin Laela Ebert Molly O’Hehir

Turned out a positive day for the Demons in the end - • Sam Edmund has some late news, Changkuoth Jiath agrees to join Melbourne on a three-year deal, but a trade needs to be agreed, of course. (I can see Tom Morris grinning as he tells his listeners that CJ is worth 3 first rounders) • Connor Budarick has been traded to the Western Bulldogs. Gold Coast will receive Pick 37 for Budarick and Pick 70 • Brayden Fiorini is officially an Essendon player. Gold Coast get a 2026 3rd rounder.

More explosive revelations ~ • North Melbourne won’t be pursuing Leek Aleer. The Roos have considered a move for him after St Kilda pulled out, but won’t be going any further. Aleer expected now to stay at GWS on the three-year offer the club has made for him. • Tom Morris - Hawthorn has offered a deal to Essendon for Zach Merrett - Pick 9, a future first, a second rounder this year or next and Henry Hustwaite. • Sam Edmund: Melbourne has an interest in Changkuoth Jiath. Jiath has an agreement with the Hawks to explore the market in search of greater playing opportunity. The Demons have emerged as a potential suitor for the rebounding defender, but there is no offer yet. • clarifying that swap of picks ~ Brisbane Lions receive a third-round pick (currently No.59) and a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) - Collingwood receives two third-round picks (currently No.45 and 56) Only involves a pick tied to Melbourne as a result of the Brody Mihocek trade. • and the big one for today. A player likely to end up at GWS or GCS where he will find good company

The day begins a bit like Groundhog Day but no doubt something will eventually happen to bring the AFL Radio team to life. • some news on JUH (he’s just emerged from the nightclub?) - "The Suns board is on board, the AFL is on board. All that is left is for Robbie D'Orazio and Craig Cameron to sort it out. It will happen today or early tomorrow." - Tom Morris on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to the Suns Callum Twomey • Sam Edmund expects Changkuoth Jiath to be on the move, but Carlton won't be his next home... • a three-way trade has been approved. Brisbane trade 2025 Round Three Pick 45 and 2025 Round Three Pick 56 to Collingwood for 2025 Round Three Pick 59 and 2026 Round Three selection (tied to Melbourne) in the respective Telstra AFL Drafts. There has to be more to this than reported and will try to find out. - "Gold Coast and Melbourne are meeting today around the Christian Petracca deal and the Jamarra chase is likely to tip into tomorrow. The Fiorini deal, there's some talking to be done there." • soon after the above statement was made, there followed an interview with Michael Oakes the manager of Bailey Humphrey in which he explained why his client was keen to get back to Victoria. Also on the subject of a trade: "Bailey is a contracted player and whilst contracted he has always known it is at the club's discretion. I think the Suns have been consistently resolute they won't trade him. I'd say so (he won't be traded). " • Sydney's first official trade offer for Charlie Curnow is in.