spirit of norm smith

Archie Ludowyke - ffs - just went !! Thought he’d be a great addition too

Top 40 done and these youngsters are still available … Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves, Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier (BOB), Noah Chamberlain, Matthew LeRay, Fred Rodriguez, Jack Ison, Riley Onley, Archie Ludowyke, Rory Wright, Kye Fincher , Koby Coulson … Are we using pick 56 … another off the radar smoky ???

Wow. Greeves might even not get drafted. That’s hard to believe !!!

I hate the Eagles.

Swans get Phillipou … he’s a steal !!!

Mfc pick 30, Melbourne selects a huge bolter in Victorian forward Thomas Matthews who Fox Footy had ranked 71st. That’s a JT smokie!!! Lots of talented youngsters passed up for the punt here In JT we trust

wtf !!!?!?!!! Eagles Sam Allen grew up a Dees fanatic We wanted him in red and blue

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

Phillipou…?

Blues sold out

Good call. Really hope Sam Allen gets to the Dees. He’s a Dees fanatic. That’s a boyhood dream and he’s a talented youngster who had a season ending injury so didn’t see his full talent. Saw enough in two APS games and one Chargers to see he has the ability.

Agreed If Phillipou was available, he’s the one to get. Has midfield potential as well as goal smarts to hit the scoreboard. Certainly ended the season showing his talent after missing the carnival However I do think the Bulldogs or Blues might grab him before us .

The curious case of Ollie Greeves. He has talent. No doubt. He wins the footy. He’s smart. He kicks it 50+ metres. He’s good handball options. Big bodied mid. Led the Ranges to the premiership. Was certainly considered to be a top 5 pick with his carnival and some big high possession/multiple goalkicking. He simply dominated some games. But his dominance has led to queries about his defensive side. In the AFL midfield, you have to be able to win it or defend it. Greeves missed the draft combine. His pace is being seriously questioned? Fairly or not, his two way running is raised as a concern. His pace also with the footy was seen late in the year as lacking and likely to struggle to step up to AFL. Again fair or not, footballers can be footballers but need the athletic quotient to still be there. Greeves might be the absolute steal of 2025 but who’s taking the punt?

Plenty of talented youngsters still available Jevan Phillipou, Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves, Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier (BOB), Noah Chamberlain, Sam Allen, Matthew LeRay, Sam Swading, Fred Rodriguez, Jack Ison, Riley Onley, Archie Ludowyke, Rory Wright, Kye Fincher , Koby Coulson and a few more !! Maybe if no bid comes for Kalani, the Dees might be tempted to use the extra pick and then be able Kalani as a rookie !!

Dees might test the water tonight and bid on some academy types Noah Chamberlain (Swans academy) , SKILL⭐️ He was the best player for the Swans academy in my opinion. Alongside Josh Lindsay & Jacob Farrow, Chamberlain is the best kick in the draft. Plays tall mid or sweeping half back. If we’re after skill, let’s see if the Swans buckle or not Jack Ison (Blues NGA) STRENGTH & POWER He really impressed in Chargers games with power and strength in the contest and kicked some very good goals. Has the potential to play early across half forward and then move on ball. Petracca's like power through congestion. Blues likely match but worth the push. Kye Fincher (Saints NGA) . RUN & CARRY. He played half back for the Sandy Dragons then moved into midfield and was very good as a ruck rover role, using foot skill to create. Strong at the contest. His kicking decision making really shown out this season. He played a game in the VFL late in the year for Sandringham and his run and carry even in senior footy was on show. Like to test the Saints on this youngster.

@dazzledavey36 agree. Kye Fincher had a good year. It would be interesting to push the Saints to see if they matched a bid. Alongside Rory Wright 😊& Jack Dalton, Fincher was the Dragons best player this year imv.

@Whispering_Jack Agreed. Good list very similar to mine in the AFL draft thread. Thinking that JT might use the next pick on a midfielder to help with the continued refresh and the post Trac /Clarry midfield. There’s some talent still there Not sure we will use pick “56” but it’s perhaps tempting. If there’s a young gun who slipped through, JT might stake a claim. Taj Hayes might be one to watch at this draft range as he has the pace to really add to our future midfield plus his kicking is very very good (retain rookie spot for Kalani White)

This 2026 draft will be a huge one The “one year club”… The veterans: (likely all 5 will retire at the end of 2026) … Stephen May, Jake Melksham, Tom McDonald, Tom Campbell, Shane McAdam The fringe: Bailey Laurie (?), Jai Culley (✅), Jack Henderson (x), Aidan Johnson (x) The developers: Matt Jefferson (?), Ricky Mentha (✅), Andy Moniz-Wakefield (✅), Luker Kentfield (✅) (Not sure if I’ve left anyone out) Likely again between say 7 to 10 list changes likely at the end of 2026 as the King refresh kicks in It’s fair to say the list will also have some reshaping and be active in the free agency/trade/draft period at the end of 2026

IN (+9) Max Heath (trade, St Kilda), Changkuoth Jiath (trade, Hawthorn), Brody Mihocek (trade, Collingwood), Jack Steele (trade, St Kilda) , Jai Culley (SSP to contracted) , Jack Henderson (SSP to contracted), Oscar Berry (Cat B rookie) , Xavier Taylor (National draft pick 11), Latrelle Pickett (National draft pick 12) OUT (-11) Jack Billings (delisted), Kynan Brown (delisted), Tom Fullarton (delisted), Marty Hore (delisted), Judd McVee (trade, Fremantle), Clayton Oliver (trade, Greater Western Sydney), Christian Petracca (trade, Gold Coast), Oliver Sestan (delisted), Charlie Spargo (free agent, North Melbourne), Will Verrall (delisted), Taj Woewodin (delisted)

MFC list update … key defenders: May, Tmcd, Adams tall defenders: Lever, D.Turner, Howes, +X.Taylor med//running defenders: Bowey, Salem, Lindsay, AMW, +Jiath. inside Mids: Viney, +Steele, Langford , Laurie Runners/outside Mids: Rivers, Langdon, Windsor Mid/fwd: Kozzzy, Kolt, Sparrow, Culley key forwards: +Mihocek , JVR, Petty, Jefferson , Kentfield, Johnson med-tall forwards: Fritsch, Melksham, Mcadam small forwards: Chandler, Sharp, Henderson, Mentha, +L.Pickett Rucks: Gawn, Campbell , +Heath

@demoncat that very small chance played through. We got the X (Taylor) factor at “7”😊

Some interesting youngsters to chose from … Jack Ison VIC mid/fwd (surely sometimes bids on him and see if Blues match ) Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves VIC midfield/HF👍🏻 Jevan Phillipou SA mid/hff👍🏻 Sam Allen VIC mid Ollie Greeves VIC big mid Riley Onley VIC. tall mid Matthew LeRay. SA. Mid/wing Fred Rodriguez WA midfielder Rory Wright. VIC midfielder Koby Coulson (* Suns academy) midfielder Suns would be unlikely to match Coulson if the Dees were to grab the tough running midfielder

Pick 11. Xavier Taylor. 👏👏👏 Great news. Happy days. As I said, he got the footy ability and toughness to be an excellent player. He doesn’t take a backwards step

Let’s get this moving !!