manny100

Gold Coast have Lombard as an Academy pick this year. Their 1st 3 picks are 6,12 and 20. He is expected to go in the Top 12 or so picks. We will know closer to the draft. They have plenty of picks from 20 on to match a bid. They likely plan to use pick 6 on Rioli. They plan to trade out players and bring Noble in, We may make a play for pick 12 or 20 using a future pick or combination of picks.

The Lions will have to trade a future in or trade out players. Otherwise they will have to pass on Marshall. I suspect they will trade out player/s. Both Ashcroft and Marshall are mids.

Yep, a lot of supporters still suffer from PTSD over that one. Especially since Curnow went later. Can't win them all i guess.

In the mix is our likely FS Kalani White in 2025. We will have to assess the draft picks we need next year. At this stage he is not regarded as a 1st rounder maybe a late 2nd or 3rd rounder. But things can change. He has been playing back and we will have a couple of spots available when May and TMc hang up the boots.

The Lions will be on the hunt for points. We may try to get their pick 17/18. They have Ashcroft and Sam Marshall to bring in. They may have to trade out player/s or a future.

I emailed the MFC outlining my concerns and requested they have dialogue with the AFL.

Could look at a future 3rd or 4th rounder.

Cal Twomey just dropped his September phantom on the AFL website.

ESPN power rankings drop tomorow. Evidently 4 new faces added.

Twomey and Rookie me have him at pick 6. So rated highly. ESPN have him at 18 with a Q on athletic abilities but do say he is a pure footballer.

Its the strategic advantage that comes with Father/sons and NGA picks that is part of the deal. For example if we know we are getting 2 talls in 2025 via those avenues we can go 'hell for leather' recruiting/drafting mid type players in earlier drafts. The Swans played this very well. They knew they had gun Academy type players coming through and that enabled them to go for a few 'riskier' taller types in the draft.

I sent the club an email saying that it would be appropriate to ask the AFL to review these rules. The issue is whether players of a multicultural background but are not 'draft' eligible should be allowed to be part of the Academy? Members and supporters in a way can 'pin their hopes' on some of these players and naturally feel deflated when it all goes 'belly up'. The other issue is that the club invests $$$ and time which end up benefitting another club. We have already been bent over in this regard via Mac Andrew. Its a sure thing the AFL did not reimburse our development costs. Also the Pacific islands are a rugby heartland and Samoa has its own language. Then there is the talent squeeze with Tassy coming in.

Yze may get the stopper role on Langford???

Yes, the game will have to be stopped for regular incontinence breaks.

I think its either the Saints at pick 7 or 8 plus change or he stays at Port.

Ooops, still take pick 5 any day of the week.

We would have to be nuts to trade a pick 5 plus change for a player who is 29 years old next year.

To many kids with crayons working at the AFL. Why wouldn't the AFL be trying to pry talent from a Rugby Heartland of the Pacific Islands. Crazy, crazy. We are just about to embark on a huge talent squeeze with Tassy coming in and the AFL are turning their back on a huge pot of talent. It's embarrassing.

Is he eligible to be drafted by us as an Academy player???

This is probably our most important draft since 2019. We really need to nail pick 5 and snare a future elite player. In this draft we may even land a very good player with a late 1st or earlyish 2nd round pick.

To be eligible he must have at least one parent born in a non-English speaking country or identify as Aboriginal or Torre Strait Islander. It appears in the case of Ah-Mu even though Samoa has its own language English is widely spoken as a sort of 2nd language. Its the multicultural background you have when you don't have a multicultural background. In the context of the AFL’s Next Generation Academy (NGA), a “diverse background” refers to players who come from either an Indigenous or multicultural background. Here’s a breakdown: Indigenous Background Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander: Players who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander are considered to have an Indigenous background1. Multicultural Background Non-English Speaking Country: Players who have at least one parent born in a non-English speaking country are considered to have a multicultural background1.

Its the Academy you have when you do not have one.

List of VFL/AFL players with international backgrounds - Wikipedia Bit of a joke. How many non Academy multi cultural players are from the Pacific Islands - none. See Wiki list above. From the AFL ruling you would think it was common. No encouragement from the AFL it seems. The Dees should request a review of the decision.

Depending on what we see is available next year i would not be surprised if we traded our future 1st back into this draft. Given that Ah-Mu is now off the 'books' we make look at a tall with a traded back future 1st given that both TmC and May are heading towards the sunset.

Interesting, KPF at 5 and we have a choice of a few good mids at the effective pick 7.