2025 Academy Games.

[dejavoodoo44]

The Age has a write up of the top-25 draft prospects. Max King is there at 16, with the author highlighting that it is King's potential that has him highly rated, not his actual output.
The other Swans academy prospect listed is Harry Kyle at 22, with a note that he is working his way into first round calculations.

I'm also surprised that they have Kyle so high. Nothing against him, but I suspect that rating will be an outlier. I think Carmichael is our player who's done the most to work his way up the rankings.

[imuninformedtwo]

I'm also surprised that they have Kyle so high. Nothing against him, but I suspect that rating will be an outlier. I think Carmichael is our player who's done the most to work his way up the rankings.

I've actually heard Cal Twomey give his name a nudge a couple of times. Whether it's because he likes him, or it's what he's heard from recruiters, not sure - but it stood out to me that there were clearly some positive views around his performances for the Allies.

[dejavoodoo44]

I've actually heard Cal Twomey give his name a nudge a couple of times. Whether it's because he likes him, or it's what he's heard from recruiters, not sure - but it stood out to me that there were clearly some positive views around his performances for the Allies.

While I think he's done well to get into contention, to me he seems a bit hit and miss with his disposals. However, it's possible that he's a recent convert to the game, as I don't recall seeing him before this season. If that's the case, then that could be a reason to rate him a bit higher?

[dejavoodoo44]

Rookie Me have released their latest power rankings. They have King drifting to 16 and Carmichael making his first appearance at 24..

AFL Draft Power Rankings: July 2025 - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central https://share.google/v2gzXRV5dYHK7jBeK

[dejavoodoo44]

A dozen of our academy players are part of the NSW/ACT side, that takes on Vic Country at 10.30 today. Looks like it can be streamed via the link.

Future stars set for double-header at Casey Fields - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1382794

[dejavoodoo44]

NSW in front 14-13 at the first break. Both NSW goals were to Swans. McCartney, when he was in the right place to receive an obvious downfield free, and put through an easy set shot. While Chambers snapped from about 35m, after some nice work from Luke, who spoiled his opponent and then won the ground ball.

[dejavoodoo44]

Now behind 23-28. Our only goal was a nice bit of roving from Chambers. Most of our Swans have had some useful involvements.

[dejavoodoo44]

Vic Country skipped away late in that quarter, to lead 56-36. Another Swan, Meaney, got a goal, with a nice leading mark and a strong set shot from around 40m. McCartney went off injured about halfway through the quarter, possibly with a head knock.

[BFG]

Thanks for the reporting deja

[dejavoodoo44]

Ended up losing 56-66. Which is probably a pretty good result, considering the traditional strengths of Vic Country v NSW.

Kingsley bobbed up for a couple of goals in the final term, both from marks on the half forward flank. One set shot was a good effort from around 45m, the other was made a lot easier with a 50.

Of our players overall efforts: Will Jenkin showed that he doesn't need twin Guy on the field to have a good game and was possibly our best. I thought Price and Blackwell-Smith had decent games on the ball. Chambers did well with a couple of goals and had some creative involvements when on the wing. Luke was also useful as a small forward, both when in possession and when harassing the opposition. Possibly needs to hit the scoreboard more regularly, though, if he's really going to put himself into draft contention.

Anyway, looking forward to who amongst this cohort, will be able to get themselves noticed by the recruiters next season.

[liz]

Anyway, looking forward to who amongst this cohort, will be able to get themselves noticed by the recruiters next season.

We'll find out something about how they're regarded sooner that that - this game is effectively one of the trials for the pre-grand final exhibition game. Though the selection for that team seems to be heavily weighted to those already in the AFL academy.

[lwjoyner]

to academy watches. who do we spend out ltd concessions on. Is it M king the big bodied mid we crave who has difted down the draft boards lately, Lachlan Carmichael (u18 aa) half back .Kaiden McNamara , Naah Chamberlaine or Harry Kyle

[lwjoyner]

I forgot to ask is Aiden McCartney eligible this year or next

[dejavoodoo44]

to academy watches. who do we spend out ltd concessions on. Is it M king the big bodied mid we crave who has difted down the draft boards lately, Lachlan Carmichael (u18 aa) half back .Kaiden McNamara , Naah Chamberlaine or Harry Kyle

If King had spent more time in the midfield, then I might be tempted to go for King, but he's spent most of this season playing forward. So, I'm not really sure if he's able to spend an extended amount of game time in the middle? When he is in there, he can do some brilliant things, but can also run himself into trouble. He sometimes had me thinking, that he's the answer to the question, "what would Leo Barry have been like, if we played him as an inside mid?"

Unless we trade our first pick, I doubt if we can get both King and Carmichael. If I had to choose, I'd go for Carmichael. Mainly because I'm big on players who I think see the game well. That is, they appear to process the available options quicker than other players and then select the best option. It appears to me that Carmichael sees the game very well. He constantly gets in good positions and almost all of his possessions go to advantage. I've no doubt, that if we could select him for our match on the weekend against Geelong, then he'd slot right in on the half back line. But it's an interesting choice, between the very efficient, and the sometimes brilliant, but often erratic.

Of the others, we probably should be able to pick them up late in the draft, or they could slip through to the rookie draft.

McCartney is in the 2026 draft. He could develop into a very strong KPF. Though if he does, I'm sure North would be keen to lure him away as a father/son. Which might happen, since we have other prospects, most notably, the very athletic McGroder and the tireless Jenkin twins.

[BFG]

Unless the anti Northern academy St.Kilda (yet another whinging rant in this morning's press) want to be vindictive and bid early (they appear likely to have the pick immediately prior to our first) expecting us to match, we have enough points for King (speculative but potentially very high ceiling) and Carmichael (looking a rock solid choice) at where they are currently projecting in informed rankings. The AFL Cal Twomey is the one who gets the best intel and therefore gets his draft rankings and phantom draft most accurate. Rookie Me Central seems well informed but any newspapers, and I suspect Fox, just feed off Twomey and shuffle a few about to make their phantoms look different to his.

Others in our academy should be low enough in rankings to be able to pick them up as well, if the club rates them and sees a list need for them. The non matching of Joel Cochran last draft surprised not only the Pies box but also most of us I expect, so it will be a nervous watch this year with up to five academy prospects generating interest among us supporters.

It is several times more difficult this year, IMO, to trade a high pick for two or three lower picks of substantially higher points value. It will be an interesting decision for us to make on draft night if, when it comes up, our first pick is still live. I doubt we pick swap it prior to draft night as later picks could diminish in value by the time we need to use them.

Fifteen weeks to draft night ....