2025 Draft Watch

[Willow18]

Dylan Alexander’s top 20

1. Willem Duursma - utility
2. Sullivan Robey - mid/fwd
3. Zeke Uwland - def/mid (Suns)
4. Sam Grlj - speedy mid
5. Cooper Duff-Tytler - ruck
6. Dyson Sharp - mid (SA)
7. Dylan Patterson - mid/fwd (Suns)
8. Daniel Annable - mid (Lions)
9. Xavier Taylor - key def
10. Lachy Dovaston - small fwd
11. Aidan Schubert - ruck/fwd (SA)
12. Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves - fwd
13. Samuel Cumming - mid (SA)
14. Mitch Marsh - fwd (SA)
15. Harry Dean - key back (Blues)
16. Jevan Phillipou - mid/fwd (SA)
17. Jacob Farrow - half back/mid (WA)
18. Oliver Greeves - mid
19. Oskar Taylor - half back
20. Josh Lindsay - rebound def

Twomey’s update should be out tomorrow, I would assume the exact same top 20 just in a different order.

[Jasper]

I enjoyed listening to this phantom draft by draftaholics anonymous.

https://spotify.link/55Q83HjoCXb

Spoiler alert, they had us taking Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves

It was a different look but I appreciate that you shared the link.
Not necessarily my cup of tea though

[Axe Man]

Nhill Tiger and Waratah player Clay Shadforth in contention to be drafted

A cattle station worker from the NT who has played footy in country Victoria could be the biggest AFL draft bolter of the year after being invited to trial with an AFL club. Meet him here.

A Northern Territory cattle station worker who played footy in country Victoria this year is shaping as one of history’s biggest AFL Draft bolters.

Clay Shadforth underwent private testing with an unnamed AFL club on the weekend as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Port Adelaide small forward Joe Richards who was plucked from local footy by Collingwood in 2022.

The 19-year-old spent the winter months playing for Nhill in the Wimmera league in western Victoria and is now back with Waratah in the NTFL.

He also made three appearances for the NT in the Coates Talent League as a small forward who enjoys stints in the midfield.

Waratah coach Ricky Nolan has worked closely with the teenager for the last two seasons and has been impressed with several of his traits.

Nolan’s coaching career has included time with Daniel Rioli, Maurice Rioli Jnr, Willie Rioli and Ben Long at St Mary’s, but he said Shadforth stood out in one area.

”He’s as hard a trainer as any of those boys I had in my time,” Nolan said.

“During the week he helps out the family cattle station, he’ll be fencing all day and then drive all the way to Darwin to train.

“He’s the full package on and off the field.

“They were all lovely kids and Clay is just the same.

“He certainly matches all the boys who have gone to make it.”

Nolan said Shadforth also had the qualities to leave the NT and embrace a new environment.

“He’s a ripper kid, so well mannered,” he said.

“His work ethic is as good as anyone I’ve ever seen.

“He’s the first to training and last to leave.

“He went to Adelaide for boarding school.

“He’s proven he can leave the Territory.”

To start the NTFL season, he’s been used through the middle and has shown an ability to have an impact inside and outside of contested areas.

At Nhill, Shadforth showcased his X-Factor, according to Tigers coach Jake McQueen.

He kicked 22 goals in 16 games including four in the preliminary final against premier Ararat.

“He was a brilliant player for us this year,” McQueen said.

“He can kick you three or four goals in a quarter or make a courageous tackle that we need at a pivotal time.

“He tends to pop up at the most important time.

“That’s part of the reason why he’s getting looked at, he’s got a lot of talent and is skillful on both feet.

“I’m really hoping he gets the opportunity, he’s got every attribute to go far in the AFL if he gets into the system.”

McQueen said while Shadforth would be a major loss to the Tigers, who have signed him for next year, he wanted to see him excel.

“He just really enjoyed himself at our club and I think his family have said he came back a new man,” he said.

“All of those things just add up and now he has the opportunity.

“We couldn’t be more proud of him as a club.”

The AFL national draft will be held on November 19 and 20.

[GVGjr]

A top 20 Draft candidate is having a tour of the club this morning.
I'll give it some thought if I can share his name.

[Willow18]

If these are genuine deficits in his game, why are we so keen to add him in this scenario? Do you think he can cover those weaknesses in our development program, or the upside of his attributes mean it doesn’t matter - he’ll fill a need and we don’t need him to win ball / have a defensive ability / break a tag?

Think he’s a high end talent who if fallen to us, is a steal. He’s not walking into the AFL and getting tagged and he compliments Dale.

I’m happy to live in hope that our development team could help him reach his potential

[Go_Dogs]

Think clubs have decided he’s an extremely outside player, so doesn’t have that top end quality to end up as a midfielder, and I heard teams started putting a player on him in the second half of the year and he struggled, I haven’t seen or read much about his defensive work either

If these are genuine deficits in his game, why are we so keen to add him in this scenario? Do you think he can cover those weaknesses in our development program, or the upside of his attributes mean it doesn’t matter - he’ll fill a need and we don’t need him to win ball / have a defensive ability / break a tag?

[Mofra]

I enjoyed listening to this phantom draft by draftaholics anonymous.

https://spotify.link/55Q83HjoCXb

Spoiler alert, they had us taking Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves

A Bulldogs supporter as a kid. Wins games. I like it

[Warrnambulldog]

I enjoyed listening to this phantom draft by draftaholics anonymous.

https://spotify.link/55Q83HjoCXb

Spoiler alert, they had us taking Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves

[Bulldogs201616]

My current mock projection:

ROUND ONE

1. West Coast - Willem Duursma
2. Gold Coast - Zeke Uwland
3. West Coast - Cooper Duff-Tytler
4. Gold Coast - Dylan Patterson
5. Brisbane - Daniel Annable
6. Richmond - Sullivan Robey
7. Richmond - Sam Grlj
8. Carlton - Harry Dean
9. Essendon - Xavier Taylor
10. Essendon - Sam Cumming
11. Melbourne - Jevan Phillipou
12. Melbourne - Lachy Dovaston
13. Hawthorn - Oliver Greeves
14. Carlton - Aidan Schubert
15. Greater Western Sydney - Jacob Farrow
16. West Coast - Dyson Sharp
17. Western Bulldogs - Josh Lindsay
18. Adelaide - Mitch Marsh
19. Geelong - Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves
20. Fremantle - Oskar Taylor

I don’t love the Taylor fit with Dons but I do love the Cumming fit. Sharp probably a chance for them as well, and considered Schubert but they grabbed May & McMahan in the MSD.

Found Dees really hard to pick, they’ve obviously just lost Trac & Clarry but I feel like they pushed them out so I doubt they’d grab a Greeves/Sharp, went similar types to who we want, Athletic/quick.

Hawthorn - Greeves is lazy, they wanted him as an NGA.

Schubert makes so much sense to me to go to Carlton but Lindsay & Farrow also appeal to me here.

Silly to guess what GWS do so just went best available who wasn’t a big bodied mid.

Sharp & Lindsay are the big sliders, this would be a wet dream for the Eagles, and while we might prefer Oskar Taylor here, Lindsay was once rated a top 3 prospect. Would also consider NHH.

Would be absolutely stoked if we got Lindsay.

[Willow18]

Willow18 why has Josh Lindsy slid?

Think clubs have decided he’s an extremely outside player, so doesn’t have that top end quality to end up as a midfielder, and I heard teams started putting a player on him in the second half of the year and he struggled, I haven’t seen or read much about his defensive work either

[azabob]

Willow18 why has Josh Lindsy slid?

[Stevo]

Good work Willow18. I'll do some research on those players around our position.
From what I have read, Marsh has some appeal.

[Stevo]

The go home factor I would be happy to push that aside if it meant getting a key defender. I'm hoping Therdgold gets to our second pick.

This really isn't an issue you know? You might be over thinking it.
There might be a bit of speculation that Sanders is leaving but lets face it he's going to earn more in Hobart than he could with us and that's the main reason.

When Griffen left us he went to NSW not back to SA
Cooney to Essendon not SA
Dunkley to QLD, Smith to Geelong
You get the picture

We really haven't been burned by the go home factor and seems strange to limit ourselves.

Phillipou's brother is here anyway.
I don't know much about him other than he's a bit full of himself but I wouldn't pass on him because he lives in another state.

[Willow18]

My current mock projection:

ROUND ONE

1. West Coast - Willem Duursma
2. Gold Coast - Zeke Uwland
3. West Coast - Cooper Duff-Tytler
4. Gold Coast - Dylan Patterson
5. Brisbane - Daniel Annable
6. Richmond - Sullivan Robey
7. Richmond - Sam Grlj
8. Carlton - Harry Dean
9. Essendon - Xavier Taylor
10. Essendon - Sam Cumming
11. Melbourne - Jevan Phillipou
12. Melbourne - Lachy Dovaston
13. Hawthorn - Oliver Greeves
14. Carlton - Aidan Schubert
15. Greater Western Sydney - Jacob Farrow
16. West Coast - Dyson Sharp
17. Western Bulldogs - Josh Lindsay
18. Adelaide - Mitch Marsh
19. Geelong - Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves
20. Fremantle - Oskar Taylor

I don’t love the Taylor fit with Dons but I do love the Cumming fit. Sharp probably a chance for them as well, and considered Schubert but they grabbed May & McMahan in the MSD.

Found Dees really hard to pick, they’ve obviously just lost Trac & Clarry but I feel like they pushed them out so I doubt they’d grab a Greeves/Sharp, went similar types to who we want, Athletic/quick.

Hawthorn - Greeves is lazy, they wanted him as an NGA.

Schubert makes so much sense to me to go to Carlton but Lindsay & Farrow also appeal to me here.

Silly to guess what GWS do so just went best available who wasn’t a big bodied mid.

Sharp & Lindsay are the big sliders, this would be a wet dream for the Eagles, and while we might prefer Oskar Taylor here, Lindsay was once rated a top 3 prospect. Would also consider NHH.

[Willow18]

One that doesn't get spoken about is NHH he is in our range.

He’s got that Dyson Sharp variability on draft night, could sneak top 10, could fall out to the 2nd round