2025 Academy Games.

[dejavoodoo44]

Rookie Me scouting notes for the NSW v Vic Country game.

Scouting Notes: 2025 Under 17 Futures - Vic Country vs. NSW/ACT - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central https://share.google/uFwQf5Gid4xV72YmW

[imuninformedtwo]

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.

My other reason for potentially leaning towards Carmichael - beyond the ones you’ve rightly articulated - is players who improve susbstantially in their draft years tend to be more successful. It’s a sign that they’ll flourish in an AFL environment. The Bont and Clayton Oliver are prime examples of coming with a rush, having been nowhere in the year prior. Whereas there is a fair history of blokes stagnating in their draft year after a stellar junior career, not really kicking on meaningfully. And in a year in which the draft is extremely weak, it’s likely an even greater indicator.

[liz]

My other reason for potentially leaning towards Carmichael - beyond the ones you’ve rightly articulated - is players who improve susbstantially in their draft years tend to be more successful. It’s a sign that they’ll flourish in an AFL environment. The Bont and Clayton Oliver are prime examples of coming with a rush, having been nowhere in the year prior. Whereas there is a fair history of blokes stagnating in their draft year after a stellar junior career, not really kicking on meaningfully. And in a year in which the draft is extremely weak, it’s likely an even greater indicator.

While I don't dispute your general premise, I'm not sure whether it applies to Carmichael. He hasn't really come with a rush in his draft year. He made the AA team at U16 level.

I see him as someone who has consistently been a solid contributor throughout his junior career and has continued on with that this year. He probably lacks the x-factor that gets fans (and maybe some recruiters) excited, but he seems like a solid, reliable player, not unlike Mills in many of his attributes, albeit a little shorter.

One of the things that I take note of when watching these young men is how easily they are able to step up to the next level. I was instantly sold on Gulden, for example, when I saw him play his first official U18 game (a few months short of his 17th birthday), and he was BOG, looking like he'd played many games at that level. He played a couple of VFL games later that same season (after he turned 17) and, while he didn't star, he instantly looked comfortable. Similarly, Heeney was very good on his NEAFL debut (towards the very end of his U17 year), kicking two goals. And Mills, of course, was a NEAFL regular throughout his U17 year and frequently one of the better performers.

I was similarly taken by how easily Carmichael slotted into our VFL team a few weeks ago. He was not the least bit overawed and made a valuable contribution to the team.

[crackedactor 01]

Carmichael, Chamberlain, Kyle and King have all been invited to the Draft Combine, which I believe means multiple clubs are interested in them.
I was surprised to see that Kaiden McNamara didn't even get an invite to the State Combine. I've only seen him play for our VFL side a couple of times, and he impressed me as a strong mark and a good kick for goal. Given he plays as a running defender at U18 his versatility is notable. I'd be delighted if we pick him as a rookie - I think we can put him straight on the rookie list if he isn't drafted (not sure if that is the rule now).

Just want to say I agree with McNamar comments. Though his efforts in the 2 VFL attempts were quite good as he is a strong mark and good kick and happy to put his body on the line if needed.

[BFG]

Brad Scott, former high level official at the A(V)FL, quoted in a new article on the AFL website talking about this year's draft -

"The northern states have got a mortgage on the top five or six or seven or eight in the draft this year"

This is typical VIcbias rubbish that is spouted south of the Murray. Please Brad you should know better than to spout such crap - there are possibly three Northern Academy draftees in the top ten this draft, Uwland and Patterson for GC, Annable for Brisbane.

Three is NOT the top five or six or seven or eight in the draft this year!!

And let's not confuse academy draftees and muddy the water with the three top F/S that Brisbane has taken the last two drafts.

Vicbias very alive and well grrrrr

[dejavoodoo44]

Brad Scott, former high level official at the A(V)FL, quoted in a new article on the AFL website talking about this year's draft -

"The northern states have got a mortgage on the top five or six or seven or eight in the draft this year"

This is typical VIcbias rubbish that is spouted south of the Murray. Please Brad you should know better than to spout such crap - there are possibly three Northern Academy draftees in the top ten this draft, Uwland and Patterson for GC, Annable for Brisbane.

Three is NOT the top five or six or seven or eight in the draft this year!!

And let's not confuse academy draftees and muddy the water with the three top F/S that Brisbane has taken the last two drafts.

Vicbias very alive and well grrrrr

Yes, it's utter garbage. And it'd be nice if the AFL, just for once, actually defended the northern academies.

In regards to Brad Scott and Essendon, I found the latest ESPN draft rankings interesting. The rankings had our Max King slipping to 23 and Carmichael at 25. Meanwhile, Essendon has a couple of NGA prospects at 22 and 28. So, a roughly equivalent haul, for which the Swans spent a large amount of time and money, running a highly professional academy program, while Essendon perhaps staged a couple of open days, in order for them to better identify which ethnic kids are showing promise.

AFL Draft Power Rankings: The names to know ahead of draft season - ESPN https://share.google/k7sJrke4UnZnOFcS1

[BFG]

ESPN top 30 draft prospects has us in a fine position, let's see what the accurate draft reader Twomey has in a couple of weeks.

We have pick 9 for certain which will get pushed out by up to two Compo picks and out another three by Qld bid matching, so pick 14 at worse. That's a long way earlier than where our academy prospects currently project.

13 weeks to the ND

[imuninformedtwo]

Yes, it's utter garbage. And it'd be nice if the AFL, just for once, actually defended the northern academies.

In regards to Brad Scott and Essendon, I found the latest ESPN draft rankings interesting. The rankings had our Max King slipping to 23 and Carmichael at 25. Meanwhile, Essendon has a couple of NGA prospects at 22 and 28. So, a roughly equivalent haul, for which the Swans spent a large amount of time and money, running a highly professional academy program, while Essendon perhaps staged a couple of open days, in order for them to better identify which ethnic kids are showing promise.

AFL Draft Power Rankings: The names to know ahead of draft season - ESPN https://share.google/k7sJrke4UnZnOFcS1

For all the whingeing, we're hardly getting high end talent in this draft. Picks 23 and 25 this year would be around pick 40 in a good draft. Not exactly generational stuff.

[dejavoodoo44]

The Jenkin twins and McCartney run around in today's Futures Game, at 9.35am. Slightly irritating that they've picked the Jenkin twins on opposing teams. Presumably the game can be watched via the AFL site, but I haven't seen anything confirming that.

2025 National Under 17 Futures squads finalised - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central https://share.google/pQsuLGKO0riIzdREB

[dejavoodoo44]

Guy Jenkin having a pretty good game for Team Docherty. I haven't really noticed Will Jenkin or McCartney.

[dejavoodoo44]

Seems that Will Jenkin was unfortunately a late out due to illness. His brother Guy has been very clean for Team Docherty. McCartney bobbed up for a couple of possessions in that quarter, also for Team Docherty.

[dejavoodoo44]

Quite an enjoyable game. McCartney took a mark in the pocket and managed to curl through the set shot. And while Jenkin hasn't got a huge amount of possessions, I reckon he's going at 100% disposal efficiency.

[BFG]

So we have picks 30, 31, 42 & maybe 63 in the ND in under five weeks. I've crunched the scenarios, they'll likely be 27, 28, 38, 55 by the time they're needed which seems plenty of points to match bids on our academy players.

Harry Kyle being talked up as a late riser but I suspect King, Carmichael and Kyle may all attract bids within ten or so picks of each other. Let's wait and see what the next Twomey ratings say eh?

[KSAS]

This is the bio on Harry Kyle, including highlights video. Looks impressive.

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/harry-kyle/

[imuninformedtwo]

Cal Twomey's been talking up the likelihood of Kyle as a mid-range draft pick since the middle of the year, which suggests other clubs have also noticed his efforts.

Probably the most encouraging part of him is how far he has come so quickly. It suggests a lot of room for more growth and development.