Davos

As someone who also knows little, bit will form strong opinions on potential draftees regardless, I'm not sure that I agree that he's dependant on winning by playing like a small. He's clearly a good contested mark. One grabs almost everything, and his highlights are littered with big pack clunks and excellent 1v1 bodywork. Also think mobility is vital for KPFs in modern footy. Thilthorp is an absolute weapon aerobically. Pretty much all of the best guys at the top level are mobile - they’re just harder to defend if they can move around. He's also going to be a monster physically in short time. You can tell by looking at his shoulders. He's very broad - he'll look like Thilthorp after a few preseasons. My biggest concern is he doesn't look particularly skilled. Hideous ball drop. Reminds me of John Butcher in that regard, although despite how it looks it seems to be effective enough. Anyway, draft the best small forward and key forward in the draft and prosper.

I note a few of the players who look like they'd test poorly were ill for the combine. A bit of NFL style combine avoidance creeping into the AFL?

Which is a shame, because I reckon we're short at least 1 A grade talent amongst our young crop.

Not how I see him at all - but that's part of the fun isn't it!

Really struggling to get excited about the likely options at 7 and 8. I'm probably keenest on Dovaston - he's not as talented as Nick Watson, but he could be Papley. I can't see him being any worse than say, Ben McGlynn. His combine results will have really helped him, and I like that he played some great footy at VFL level for Box Hill. I don't mind the look of Grlj. At least he's an A+ athlete. He hasn't shown an ability to accumaulate yet, but he has all the tools. Not as skillful as Butters, so I don't love that comparison, although he does move a bit like him and seems courageous. The rest of the discussed candidates for me are a bit meh. Sharp is vanilla. Lindsay a one trick pony (it's a good trick though). Worry his ceiling is Matt Sucking. Schubert doesn't do it for me, although I think Marsh looks alright. Greeves might be okay when he gets into the weight room and put through a professional conditioning program - there's some upside there. Phillipou interests me a bit. I like the athleticism and wonder whether he would have had a better year if he wasn't often injured. The one that has me absolutely stumped is Rory Wright. How is this guy not considered at least a top 20 pick in this draft? The only real downside that I can find is that he seemingly had a quiet national champs, but there may have been a reason for that (position played ect). He's an elite kick and is clean under pressure. Looks best suited as a HBF but has inside-outside midlfield capability. Hard as a cats head. Looks plenty athletic. Wonder if he'll emerge as a bolter - JT has shown in the past that he won't always follow consensus.

Counting down to the revival of Whiteboard Wednesdays.

Cam Schwab vibes.

The sooner we see the back of Lamb and Richardson, the better.

Not great, Bob.

What an exceptionally average looking list of likely options at pick 7 + 8. He barely features in the top 30 on most lists, but I might actually favour taking@spirit of norm smith's boy Rory Wright with one of the picks.

Much like Guerra's comments soon after the King appointment, where he said something along the lines of "Petracca and Oliver were in King's best 25", this is a deliberately ambiguous answer.

Harry Oliver.

GC are zero chance of trading both 6 and 7 given they'll need at least one of those picks for points. 7 and next year's first is a reasonable deal for Petracca - although it would be nice if we could squeeze a second rounder out of them as well. Allows us to add another top end talent this year, with flexibility to either do the same in the less compromised 2026 draft, or use the picks to acquire established talent when King has had the chance to make us an attractive proposition.

Not saying it would be a wise move, but that's what it would cost.

Try Petracca and our future first, as a starting point.

Watch them speed right past us to a ceiling of 8th position 😤

He moves like Finn O'Sullivan. I wasn't really a fan last year - I might like Grlj more.

Very.

If it's going to be picks only, it'll be something like 7 this year and next year's first, maybe plus something else. Take a throw at the stumps with Humphrey, but I doubt he makes the jump given King has only just got his feet under the table, and we're hardly projecting stability right now.

You need B grade talent to supplement the A grade talent. They have Nas - that's it.

It's Hannaford time.

Hope the new brigade know what they're doing.

Like your vision. Not as confident as you are that Viney can be disciplned enough to play as a defensive mid, though. A rotation of Oliver, Flanders/Pickett and Viney doesn't do it for me - we need a Dunkley.

If we were to land Flanders, how are you using him?

If one of our smalls needs to lock down, it should be Rivers. Awful decision maker with ball in hand, but is combative and athletic enough to go with most of the dangerous guys. Bonus points for being solid in the air too.