2025 List Management

[UUaswan]

I actually think midfield is the least of our concerns, don't see the value in picking up a fringe mid from elsewhere, we have Heeney, Warner, Rowy, Sheldrick, Errol who rotates through there, JJ, Juzzy. Plus arguably our best mid in Mills who is playing in the backline, then the young guys like Cleary and Dattoli who could certainly develop into great mids. I am also an advocate of trying Blakey in the midfield so I don't think we need to improve that area of the ground. Key Forward and Key Back are our two clear areas for improvement, plus small forward possibly. We really only have McCartin and Melican as AFL standard key backs and both have an extensive injury history. When it comes to KF's we have options but no standout matchwinner. Amartey I think has the most talent and ability but has had a lot of injury issues, Logan the jury is out on still as to how good he really is and McLean is serviceable at best. Buller has shown promise but is unlikely to be the solution.

Agree with you on the mids, all about getting someone at the right price

I think our fwds are enough if they are available to be played collectively

Dont really see the Small fwd needs, as if we play enough talls in the fwd line, Wilbur, Paps, Datolli, maybe Hannily are enough then add Heeney, Warner and JJ that go fwd as well, even Rowy looked good fwd.

Tall Defence is the most critical need, Tom and Melican are fantastic but vulnerable.
Would love a 3rd tall down there. Maybe 1 of Riak, Snell or Edwardes has the potential but you would be crazy going into a season relying on 3 guys that haven't played as your option

[BFG]

Zerohanger have an interview with Lachy Carmichael, sorry I don't post links but I'm sure someone can.

After his U18 championships he's moving up draft boards that will be putting a squeeze on us as we have to operate in the new points scale world. No more getting Daicos, Ashcrofts, Darcy etc with a bag of junk picks.

15 weeks to go until the ND

[dejavoodoo44]

Zerohanger have an interview with Lachy Carmichael, sorry I don't post links but I'm sure someone can.

After his U18 championships he's moving up draft boards that will be putting a squeeze on us as we have to operate in the new points scale world. No more getting Daicos, Ashcrofts, Darcy etc with a bag of junk picks.

15 weeks to go until the ND

Seems a smart young guy. Of this year's academy cohort, it's Carmichael that I most want us to take.

“One-trick pony” no more: confident Swans-linked prospect elevates stock | AFL Draft - AFL News - Zero Hanger https://share.google/4v0BySVI2qAthkvZy

[imuninformedtwo]

Seems a smart young guy. Of this year's academy cohort, it's Carmichael that I most want us to take.

“One-trick pony” no more: confident Swans-linked prospect elevates stock | AFL Draft - AFL News - Zero Hanger https://share.google/4v0BySVI2qAthkvZy

Agree that he's the surest bet.

Think we also need to manage expectations on this year's crop, given the general weakness of the draft crop - which is presenting as a stinker. King at 15, is really 25-30 in a normal draft. Likewise Kyle getting a look in. The Hun had him at 40 this week, which is probably a rookie pick most years - and how most of us probably view him.

It's why - for the right target - I'd be relaxed at us trading away our first rounder, as long as we're confident we don't need it for the Academy kids. And even then, if one squeezes out the bottom because we did, we're not exactly losing a generational talent.

[UUaswan]

I hope we land all 3 but could see a few clubs try to screw us over based on the Academy

[BFG]

I hope we land all 3 but could see a few clubs try to screw us over based on the Academy

Nothing like not matching a bid on an academy player to warn clubs against making non genuine bids. We didn't match Joel Cochran last year and from the reaction in the Pies box I think they got a shock, maybe? landing a player they may have merely been bidding on to get us to use draft capital.

Full confidence in the club to know exactly who the most important academy prospects are this draft and to position our picks to land those players.

Max King appears to be drifting on the back of any solid performances to cement his standing, Carmichael conversely is rising after solid displays at the U18 Championships.

We'll have pick 9 as our first pick but it will be pushed out by possibly two FA Compo picks before us and as many as four matching bids before us in Uwland, Patterson GC, Annable Brisbane and Dean Carlton F/S. Much trickier to trade high picks for multiple later picks under the new points values from this draft so difficult to know what will play out.

[Thunder Shaker]

Nothing like not matching a bid on an academy player to warn clubs against making non genuine bids. We didn't match Joel Cochran last year and from the reaction in the Pies box I think they got a shock, maybe? landing a player they may have merely been bidding on to get us to use draft capital.

I'm waiting for the time when one of these Academy players drafted by a Victorian club seeks a trade back to their home state after three years to "return home".

The howls of outrage from the poor aggrieved Victorian club will be immense.

[imuninformedtwo]

I'm waiting for the time when one of these Academy players drafted by a Victorian club seeks a trade back to their home state after three years to "return home".

The howls of outrage from the poor aggrieved Victorian club will be immense.

Won’t it be wonderful.

We've been screwed a couple of times in recent years. We were red hot on Josh Weddle, until he made perfectly clear in interviews, we could draft him but he’d seek a trade back home at the first opportunity. Not draft tampering per se, but as good as. (We weren’t the only non-Vic club he said it to. He was apparently the most blatant since Bailey Smith). Kinnear rightly gets a lot of crap for the rest of his work in that draft, but we effectively had no real shot at a player who’d be perfect for our list and right in the draft range of our first pick.

[UUaswan]

Won’t it be wonderful.

We've been screwed a couple of times in recent years. We were red hot on Josh Weddle, until he made perfectly clear in interviews, we could draft him but he’d seek a trade back home at the first opportunity. Not draft tampering per se, but as good as. (We weren’t the only non-Vic club he said it to. He was apparently the most blatant since Bailey Smith). Kinnear rightly gets a lot of crap for the rest of his work in that draft, but we effectively had no real shot at a player who’d be perfect for our list and right in the draft range of our first pick.

The last sentence ?
Caleb Serong ?

[dejavoodoo44]

Won’t it be wonderful.

We've been screwed a couple of times in recent years. We were red hot on Josh Weddle, until he made perfectly clear in interviews, we could draft him but he’d seek a trade back home at the first opportunity. Not draft tampering per se, but as good as. (We weren’t the only non-Vic club he said it to. He was apparently the most blatant since Bailey Smith). Kinnear rightly gets a lot of crap for the rest of his work in that draft, but we effectively had no real shot at a player who’d be perfect for our list and right in the draft range of our first pick.

And Kinnear might soon cop a bit more retrospective stick, if Mitchell is delisted. Which is fairly likely. Though going through that draft, there's some obvious quality right at the top, a bit more talent scattered around and a lot of duds. But of course, in 2025, you'd like to have more than one fringe player still at our club.

[imuninformedtwo]

The last sentence ?
Caleb Serong ?

Different draft, but yes, and he’s openly acknowledged he got that one badly wrong.

[UUaswan]

Different draft, but yes, and he’s openly acknowledged he got that one badly wrong.

KB isn't coming back from that

[imuninformedtwo]

With the Dogs winning today, we’re officially locked into 10th to finish the season. So we begin with pick 9.

[BRS328]

The last sentence ?
Caleb Serong ?

No, that’s the second last sentence. Chad Warner in the same draft is better

[Dow]

Reports Wilkie from Stkilda is unhappy and will seek a trade,
this has to be the guy we chase !