Lord Travis

Cripps probably wouldn't even be top 10 for me. Great ball winner, but his influence on matches is often far overhyped and I don't believe he's a very good leader either. Bontempelli is basically better in every facet bar pure inside contest work, and it's a mystery bigger than the Bermuda Triangle how Cripps has two Brownlows and Bont has zilch. If I had to pick a player to build a team around, I'd be tossing up between Bont or deciding on the best key position player.

Here's what I got from a single role based prompt asking it to factor in player movement, pre-season injuries, and form of the past few years. It looks pretty good to me other than GWS finishing last randomly! Based on the analysis of team performances over the past few seasons, current pre-season injury reports, and player movements, here is a projected ladder for the conclusion of the 2025 AFL home and away season: 1. Brisbane Lions: With a robust defense and key players returning from injury, the Lions are poised to maintain their top-tier status. 2. Hawthorn Hawks: Significant defensive acquisitions, including Tom Barrass and Josh Battle, combined with the return of key forward Mitch Lewis, position the Hawks as strong contenders. 3. Sydney Swans: Consistent performers in recent seasons, the Swans’ balanced squad is expected to secure a top-four finish. 4. Melbourne Demons: The return of Christian Petracca from injury bolsters their midfield strength, enhancing their prospects. 5. Fremantle Dockers: A talented young roster suggests potential for a breakthrough season, aiming for a strong finals presence. 6. Geelong Cats: Despite an aging core and some pre-season injuries, the Cats’ experience should keep them competitive. 7. Western Bulldogs: Pre-season injuries to key players present challenges, but the team’s depth may secure a finals spot. 8. Port Adelaide Power: Early-season injuries, including Zak Butters’ knee surgery, may impact their performance, but they remain in contention for the finals. 9. Collingwood Magpies: Inconsistent pre-season form and injury concerns could see them just missing the finals. 10. Adelaide Crows: Recent key player acquisitions may improve their standings, but a finals appearance remains uncertain. 11. Carlton Blues: Despite a strong list, pre-season injuries might hinder their ability to break into the top eight. 12. Essendon Bombers: A developing squad with potential, but likely a year away from serious finals contention. 13. St Kilda Saints: Inconsistent performances and injury challenges may result in a lower-mid table finish. 14. North Melbourne Kangaroos: Optimism surrounds the club with new acquisitions and internal growth, but significant improvement may take time. 15. Gold Coast Suns: Continued development of young talent, but immediate success remains elusive. 16. Richmond Tigers: Retirements of key senior players and pre-season injuries suggest a challenging season ahead. 17. West Coast Eagles: Despite optimism about retaining key players, recent injury setbacks could impact their performance. 18. Greater Western Sydney Giants: Facing a rebuilding phase, the Giants may struggle to climb the ladder this season. Please note that this projection is based on current information and is subject to change as the season progresses and teams’ circumstances evolve.

Culley makes most sense and seems most likely. A 194cm mid/forward who has already been in an AFL environment. He'd provide midfield depth in the short term, and at only 21 years of age and a mature age recruit, he could still develop to be a decent AFL player longer term also.

Thanks for a great write-up Gator. And the doubters at draft time thought Langford was too slow and wouldn't be up to AFL speed 😆 If he can get his hands on Kozzie, he'll adjust fine!

You've got Trent Rivers confused with Jared Rivers. J Rivers was a Rising Star winner who played 150+ games for us in the 2000s and was a great rangy CHB type. He's definitely in the conversation for this team. Trent Rivers is nowhere near it. He's had a few good but not outstanding seasons, but is young and has a long way to go to be at this level. He may well get there in years to come. There's a number of players mentioned in this thread like Garry Lyon who didn't play in this century, so aren't part of this discussion. One named is Schwarz. I loved him as a kid, and his 1994 season is one of the best ever, but he only played 2000-2002 and was average at best due to his body being shot. Basically went at a goal a game at the end of his career and is nowhere near this conversation. Others like Febey brothers, Tingay, Charles, S White aren't eligible either. My 21st team thus far would be as follows: B: Jetta May Hibberd HB: Salem Lever Yze C: Johnstone Oliver Langdon HF: Bruce Robertson Green FF: Davey Neitz Farmer R: Gawn Jones Petracca Interchange: McDonald White Viney Fritsch

Langford already showing signs he will be a midfield superstar for us long term. His footy IQ and power are tantalising to watch. The fact he's strong in the air too means he can play forward and be a tricky matchup due to his size. You'd love to see him and Petracca form a rotation of roles mid/forward and forward/mid, with Trac more mid and Langford more forward, then gradually swap them over time as Trac winds down and Langford develops. Can't wait for round 1!

I'd wager Sharp plays high half forward similar to Nibbler in previous years. Has the running capacity and pace to do damage in that role. We'll rotate a few through the wings this year.

Thanks heaps to all the track watchers for getting down and sharing some great insights and photos. Love hearing about youngsters like Kolt stepping up!

Big year for Dees to be competitive again? Or big year to keep their career on track? If it's big year for Dees to be competitive, then it's our A graders and core leaders like Trac, Clarry, Gawn, May, Lever, Viney. Pretty self explanatory. We saw what happened when most of them were injured or not firing this year, and it will continue to happen if they don't perform and lead again like 2021-2023. If it's a big year for their own careers, we have a fair few but here are the ones that stand out to me: Petty - Obviously struggled with injury in 2024, but his season was poor and for position and experience he was rated one of the worst players in the league. He's not a natural forward. Send him back to defence. Bowey - Not convinced he makes it longer term without a position change. He started his career well, but has regressed in the years since, to the point where IMO he has minimal impact on games. We rarely see his supposedly elite kicking, and he doesn't have the speed or skillset to be made into a pure lockdown small defender either. He should be tried at half forward and used similar to how Spargo was a few years back in an attempt to improve our forward connection issues. I respect his bravery in attacking the ball, but he needs to impact games or he's wasting a crucial spot in the team as a rebounder off half back that doesn't actually rebound. Sparrow - Regressed and isn't up to AFL midfielder standard on output. Coming into his seventh season now and career best is averaging 17 touches. He needs a big season or he'll no longer be best 22 as other youngsters pass him. He had a big opportunity to step up in 2024 as he was fit and ready to step into a core midfield role with the loss of Trac and other depth, but he didn't step up and looks likely to be overtaken and be depth/delisted. Had decent success off half back as a junior, could potentially be trialled there. Laurie - Coming into his fifth year he needs to establish himself in the team or he's delist material (despite inexplicably being given a contract extension). Appears one of JT's biggest misses. Salem - I rate him highly and don't feel his 2021 season is given credit or kudos. He's constantly injured though, and when he returns from injury he struggles. His impact on games this past few years has been minimal, and at 30 years old next year he needs to fire and lead. OOC 2026, so he's likely only got two seasons left before he's cooked if he can't get himself fit and performing. McAdam - 30 year old who battled injury and form. Given we essentially traded ANB for him, we need him best 22 and playing his role. Likely will be delisted end of 2025.

The failure was mostly down to development and culture, not recruitment. We drafted talented footballers, then couldn't develop them and ruined them both mentally and physically. They had a horrible work environment, poor leadership infield and off field, poor resources, mountains of pressure etc. I feel sorry for those kids getting drafted to such a pathetic club and having their careers ruined. Their failure is on the club. It's a miracle Gawn survived and became the champion he is. Interestingly he did multiple ACL's and wasn't around the club as much, not getting on the park consistently for 5 years. Ironically those 5 years of ongoing injuries saved him from the rubbish environment. Trengove was on his way to being a star of the competition and was basically on par with Dusty for the first few years. Injuries and shoving captaincy on him when he wasn't ready for that pressure is what ruined him. As a draft option, he was 100% a great recruitment and it's a shame injuries and poor development ruined him.

Great to hear Langford already showing he'll settle in fine. We've definitely got another gun there. So excited by what he could become. He said in an interview the other day he tries to play like Petracca, and he could become a gun mid/forward like Trac with time. Thanks to all the track watchers today! Awesome stuff!

He's a serious weapon and will drive our engine room for years to come. He's adept inside, outside, defending and in the air. Ultra consistent and no-one can stop him. If they get their hands on him, he either just breaks through it or has the Clarry like ability to get hands free and fire the handball off. He's super fit too, had one of the best 2km times at the combine, so will be able to step in straight away. Pair him with Windsor, Rivers, Lindsey and our midfield is set for the next generation after Viney, Trac and Clarry wind down. Others like Tholstrup, Kozzie and McVee will also contribute there too. We've managed to draft these kids all while being in premiership contention. Huge tick for our recruitment and list management teams! Midfields win premierships, and we've rejuvenated ours nicely.

Said in an interview he'd be ready to go for preseason starting in December. He'll likely be managed since it's his first one though. I'd expect him to play early next year and wager he'll be ahead of those listed very quickly. Salem struggles with injury and form, and I'm not convinced Bowey has a place in the team long term unless he can reinvent himself in another role.

Great selection. Been keen on him for months. Bont mach 2 and will be core to our next premiership midfield. Welcome to the Dees Harvey!

The clubs know more than Cal. Cals phantom drafts he shares are just a less educated version of what clubs have told him. They have zero influence on the draft. Clubs have lists of 50 plus with tools to alter based on factors like position, specific attribute, location etc. What we read and hear about is a fraction of it all.

In the unlikely event that occurred, then Smilie would still be there and would be a likely target.

I'm still worried he's a flight risk. He was WA captain and is from the suburbs not far south of Perth, so he's entrenched in Perth city. Whispers he's a flight risk too, so it has me spooked given gun WA players often heading home. He's got a great athletic profile, one of the best in this draft. He's more of a half back flanker though, hasn't shown much in the midfield and is a low possession winner in all possessions. We'd have to do a good job coaching him for him to realise his midfield potential.

It's an interesting one as no-one is talking about Travaglia being slow despite his sprint time for a running half back flanker being poor.

Where did the midfield talk come from? Blind hope? He's an intercepting defender who shows a bit as a leading forward too. He hasn't really shown anything as a midfielder, and has poor skills and decision making with ball in hand, so seems unlikely. It reminds me of the Brodie Kemp draft talk a few years back. He was a tall forward who had played tall back. He slid due to doing his ACL, but everyone was frothing he'd become a big midfielder like Fyfe. He's ultimately become an average third tall defender...

Sounds like FOS may slide to our pick. I haven't bothered looking at him properly due to assuming he'd be pick 1-2. He was awesome last year, but was limited by playing injured this year. Anyone got an opinion of if he'd be the best option at 5 for us should he be available? He smashed testing at the combine, so looks a great athlete as well as being a renowned impactful ball user...

Worth a punt with rookie spot. He did some good jobs shutting down highly rated ket forwards.

New favorite for pick 1. Make him a demon! 😈 I don't really see the movement part. Trapper had a more punchy penetrating kick too. Reid does have great decision making and good skills though and wouldn't be the worst option at 9 if we get a ball winning mid at 5 too.

Hotton would be a bold call for sure. I'm thinking longer term though. I think our windows shut now and we're building the core of our next premiership team. Trac did his ACL preseason and missed entire first year. Didn't stop him becoming a superstar and Norm Smith medalist. Hotton is a talent, but how talented is hard to judge.

5 - Smith, next best Langford 9 - Smilie, next best Hotton

He's an interesting one for me. Despite being labeled the big inside bull, on my viewing he's at this best on the outside using a side step and driving the ball forward with nice kicking when he has time. His contest work could use improvement. He doesn't have the same natural ability of a Smith or Langford to get his hand free and nail quick handballs. He's also not strong or clean enough in aerial contests to develop into a key position player instead despite his decent size if he's still growing. If his inside work could be improved with good coaching, he could be an absolute weapon. His ceiling is Patrick Cripps then basically. My fear is his floor is a tall average paced rebounding halfback flanker. I won't be disappointed if we draft him due to potential ceiling, but he's definitely a more risky prospect than others around the same projected draft position.