2025 List Management

[dejavoodoo44]

The AFL website has posted an article summarising the machinations behind the first round of the draft: Inside the draft: The 'Grlj spill', Sharp chase and Dees' perfect Pickett plan.

Yeah, I listened to that. Quite interesting, but the thing that I was most interested in, wasn't included. That is, how did our room react, when the Bulldogs made a bid on Carmichael?

[dejavoodoo44]

Only 51 weeks to the 2026 draft. Rookie Me have got the ball rolling, by naming their best 26 prospects for 2026.

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2025/11/24/26-in-2026-a-look-ahead-to-next-years-top-prospects/

We didn't have any of our academy players in the top 26, but the Jenkin twins are mentioned in the next group. Slightly surprised that McCartney isn't there, as he could develop into a highly rated KPF prospect. Although that could be for the benefit of North, rather than us. The guy that could end up as our top prospect, McGroder, also isn't mentioned. Which is justifiable, since he didn't play that much last season, but if people are taken high on athleticism, then he could be taken very high, as he's possibly one of the most gifted athletes to ever play junior football.

I'm also mildly amused that Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker are rated one and two. Cochrane is the son of former Port player, Stuart, who didn’t play enough games for Dougie to qualify as a F/S. However, late last season, the family did discover that they had some indigenous heritage. Now Port are trying to have him tied to the club as an NGA prospect. Which begs the question of; has Port really played a big enough role in his development, to justify any sort of privileged draft access?

While with Walker: back when his father, Andrew, was drafted, Carlton had been busted for salary cap rorting. Their punishment that year was to lose their first and second round picks. However, the AFL in their wisdom, decided that they shouldn't lose their priority pick, which they gained for managing to win less than five games in the previous season. Since priority picks came at the top of the draft in those days, they were able to take Andrew Walker at pick 2. Now they are likely to reap further benefits, from a pick that many people thought that should never have been given in the first place.

[Thunder Shaker]

The AFL website has posted an article summarising the machinations behind the first round of the draft: Inside the draft: The 'Grlj spill', Sharp chase and Dees' perfect Pickett plan.

[imuninformedtwo]

Warner is the perfect example of what can happen when you back someone in and put them in the fire. I think it needs to happen for a player to be elite, rarely does a player turn into a superstar after being "hidden" for their first 3 yrs.

Doesn't always work and people forget how much Warner was allowed to screw up when he started but there is a big difference in growth when a mid isnt hidden in a pocket or a flank.

I look at Campbell and wonder if he can get to be elite the way he is played.

All true, but the unspoken bit about Chad is how committed he has been to self-improvement. I think it was after his second season that he spent his own dollars hiring a sprint and speed coach back in Perth, and then doubled down with him the next off season as well. While he had power and burst at the contest itself, he wanted to maximise it and do it over distance. He apparently also insisted the club give him extra sessions to build his skills and craft as a forward for his stints down there.

Whilst Errol rightly gets a lot of credit as an utter professional, Chad is an elite trainer and one of the most dedicated players in the system. His rise is no fluke.

[Auntie.Gerald]

McGlynn and Paps like ?

we will see soon enough

[dejavoodoo44]

Zero Hanger article on Billy Cootee, with his coach at Norwood saying plenty of nice things.

https://www.zerohanger.com/hard-to-replace-damaging-but-diligent-mature-aged-sydney-recruit-lauded-as-unique-star-171210/

[rickmat]

Kevan looks a big unit for a young talent. Looks like from the backgrounder on him that he will be hard to hold out of the 23 this next season. Great pickup

[Thunder Shaker]

Cam Mooney discusses Charlie Curnow: Why Mooney has Sydney making the four in 2026 (sen.com.au).

My criticism of this analysis is that Sydney has a lot more than one player in the team.

The Swans finished as minor premiers in 2024. After about round 15 in 2025 Sydney had the form of a top-four team including a win over Brisbane at the Gabba. This is before the recruits Sydney acquired this year. Sydney has significantly improved the list. Curnow is a good addition, but don't forget the other players.

2026 should be a good year.

[UUaswan]

Warner is the perfect example of what can happen when you back someone in and put them in the fire. I think it needs to happen for a player to be elite, rarely does a player turn into a superstar after being "hidden" for their first 3 yrs.

Doesn't always work and people forget how much Warner was allowed to screw up when he started but there is a big difference in growth when a mid isnt hidden in a pocket or a flank.

I look at Campbell and wonder if he can get to be elite the way he is played.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Chad was pretty vocal when joining us that he could not wait to rip in with Kennedy, Parker and Heeney

i quite liked that he believed he could seriously contribute to contested footy at the highest level

what emerged from that belief was an incredible ability to take the game on - well beyond my initial sightings of Warner

i mean they all evolve at different rates and roles

look at Rowbottom revel when he finally owned a tagging / run with role……..next he was given the role of general around the contested footy ………I was blown away how much he started talking around the contested footy

[dejavoodoo44]

I think we were lucky to get him at that position in the draft. He sort of drifted. I think the clubs did see that confidence as arrogance. But we have had previous experience with Errol, who has the same sort of confidence.

I sometimes hear Cal Sinclair commentating games on ABC Radio. During one game he started talking about Chad and Errol. While he reckoned that they were both great to have around and that he wouldn't really describe either as arrogant, he did get the impression, that when each arrived at the club, they both genuinely believed that they were the best player on the list.

I can't recall if he said that Errol was the most skilful player that he ever played with, or just the most skilful young player?

[wolftone57]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl...5900bc8acb81ca

interesting read

I think we were lucky to get him at that position in the draft. He sort of drifted. I think the clubs did see that confidence as arrogance. But we have had previous experience with Errol, who has the same sort of confidence.

[Roadrunner]

Yeah I think if u have King Curnow, Amartey and Macca up front on rotation with Heeney and Paps and Warner then Rosas helps ur crumb and finish with scoreboard pressure

that is a lot of leads that sort or cancels out the need of a leading Hayward

we have a stack of smalls emerging also for the forward line

at the back Ollie would have been over taken pretty quickly if not straight away

for me the balance of the squad if seriously improved when u take into account now and future stacking of talent

it’s shaping up very well for 2026 and beyond

Agreed Auntie. We really needed to strengthen our squad and revamp our forward strategy. Curnow will be a focus of course but if our talls can stay fit for most of the season, we will have plenty of options to hit the scoreboard. We also need to improve our marking at both ends and I think Coxy will have options he didn’t have this year, so we will then be able to evaluate his coaching ability. Personally, I think he will do a very good job!

[Auntie.Gerald]

Yeah I think if u have King Curnow, Amartey and Macca up front on rotation with Heeney and Paps and Warner then Rosas helps ur crumb and finish with scoreboard pressure

that is a lot of leads that sort or cancels out the need of a leading Hayward

we have a stack of smalls emerging also for the forward line

at the back Ollie would have been over taken pretty quickly if not straight away

for me the balance of the squad if seriously improved when u take into account now and future stacking of talent

it’s shaping up very well for 2026 and beyond

[BRS328]

I like what the club has done with the trades and draft period. Obviously losing Hayward and Florent was a tough one, but swapping them (and some draft picks) for Curnow is a trade I am happy with. It gives our team a different look immediately.
As for the draft, we have gone heavy on the "high ceiling, low floor" types like King, Kyle, Phillipou and on the rookie list both Chamberlain and Heatherton. There is a lot of ability amongst that lot.
After the debacle that was the 2024 grand final, i couldn't get myself that enthused over last year but for 2026 it is a different story...bring it on!

And also remember they traded in Serong and Rosa who hopefully will have a short term impact