2025 Draft Watch

[Uninformed]

A lot of clubs essentially follow that best available approach but also modify it when it makes sense to do so.
If you have an early pick then you should go for the best player but a bit later there is probably a bit more flexibility.

GWS certainly reach for players and go in with a specific shopping list.

The percentages favour a mid to be best available at most stages. Tim and Naughts. the obvious exceptions for us. Would it be good to allocate our best pick, say, every third year to a position of obvious need?

[jazzadogs]

Our first round picks for the last few years have been Hynes, Sanders and Croft, Busslinger, Darcy, Jamarra, Weightman, Smith, Naughton and Richards.

To my eye only two of them (Sanders and Smith) were drafted as pure mids, with Ed and Hynes hybrids.

Our issues in first round recently have not been our choices, but our access to three tall fs/academy picks. We haven't been picking enough elite mids.

[Uninformed]

Our first round picks for the last few years have been Hynes, Sanders and Croft, Busslinger, Darcy, Jamarra, Weightman, Smith, Naughton and Richards.

To my eye only two of them (Sanders and Smith) were drafted as pure mids, with Ed and Hynes hybrids.

Our issues in first round recently have not been our choices, but our access to three tall fs/academy picks. We haven't been picking enough elite mids.

It is a pretty good mix really. Hybrid, Mid. Key forward, key back, key forward/ruck, key forward, small forward, insta star, key back, half back. More key forwards than other because of father/sons. Gotta be pretty happy with recruitment having so few misses.

I would love us to have recruited a Warner and a Gulden, but maybe trading in Butters will make up for it. (Not to mention scoring with Freijah.)

[GVGjr]

Our first round picks for the last few years have been Hynes, Sanders and Croft, Busslinger, Darcy, Jamarra, Weightman, Smith, Naughton and Richards.

To my eye only two of them (Sanders and Smith) were drafted as pure mids, with Ed and Hynes hybrids.

Our issues in first round recently have not been our choices, but our access to three tall fs/academy picks. We haven't been picking enough elite mids.

I tend to agree that we haven't targeted midfielders like we probably should have. That said, losing Smith (and Dunkley before that) has weakened our depth. We have probably been fortunate to get Freijah through the door who has contributed nicely to our midfield.
We seem to be desperate to find half forwards who take turns in the midfield and smaller forwards.

I wonder what our focus will be for this draft given we will only use 2 or 3 picks at the National Draft

[Dogs 24/7]

Does anyone have some players in mind that might be worth reviewing?

[GVGjr]

Does anyone have some players in mind that might be worth reviewing?

Lachy Dovaston and Xavier Taylor have a few of our supporters interested. Also I've seen Jevan Phillipou mentioned as well so perhaps start there.

Two players with really good left foot kicking skills appeal to me.
Oskar Taylor (which I think you previously mentioned) and Rory Wright
Taylor is a 182cm defender with plenty of pace. Really takes the game on.
Wright is a 183cm midfielder who has moved to the half back line in recent weeks. Strongly built and a really nice kick

Tom Burton was mentioned a while back and he is a 178cm defender and midfielder.

[GVGjr]

The Coates League Grand Final is today at 1pm at IKON park

EASTERN RANGES
B: 37. R. Ali – 22. X. Taylor – 31. A. Barker
HB: 11. M. Gillan – 42. O. McKenzie – 25. O. Taylor
C: 38. H. Chapman – 7. J. Knapp – 1. B. Chambers
HF: 55. S. Robey – 8. L. Dovaston – 14. Z. Antonellos
F: 4. B. Lloyd – 16. T. Swainston – 29. R. McConnell
FOL: 59. M. Krasnadamskis – 9. J. Landy – 26. O. Greeves

INT: 15. M. Buckland, 34. A. Spencer, 36. J. Lawrence, 41. S. Devers, 51. C. Nash
EMG: 5. D. Jamieson, 24. C. Sizer

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
B: 20. H. Thomas – 16. T. Bradley – 59. J. Noorbergen
HB: 9. R. Wright – 41. B. Martin – 30. D. Heelis
C: 29. P. Hanover – 60. S. Levine – 49. J. Hayter
HF: 75. W. Reidy – 34. K. Fincher – 33. G. Dimer
F: 32. M. Tyrer – 15. O. Griffin – 6. A. Butler
FOL: 4. J. Galbally – 27. X. Bamert – 2. J. Dalton

INT: 8. S. Buck, 10. G. Teixeira, 12. K. Nadji, 13. A. Lambert, 63. F. Brayshaw
EMG: 17. L. Burrows, 70. K. Watt, 73. J. Davies

VIC METRO SQUAD MEMBERS
Eastern Ranges (6): Andrew Barker, Blake Chambers*, Lachie Dovaston, Oliver Greeves, Bailey Lloyd*, Xavier Taylor,
Sandringham Dragons (6): Xavier Bamert, Arki Butler, Jack Dalton, Kye Fincher, Miles Tyrer*, Rory Wright

* Injured players

[Willow18]

Scrap Xavier Taylor as a watch. Can’t see him getting passed Essendon’s picks after that game.

Dovaston was electric. Maybe I’m team Dovaston over Hibbins-Hargreaves atm

[Bulldogs201616]

Scrap Xavier Taylor as a watch. Can’t see him getting passed Essendon’s picks after that game.

Dovaston was electric. Maybe I’m team Dovaston over Hibbins-Hargreaves atm

Yeah no chance X.Taylor gets to our pick after that performance. As for the Dovaston call I would take him in a heart beat but even he might go before our pick after that performance.

[Bulldogs201616]

Not that this affects us but Robey is a legitimate chance to head to West Coast with the first 2 picks. I can't see him getting past Richmond

[Willow18]

There’s a chance the first 7 live picks fall to 3 clubs (Eagles, Tigers, Dons)

my assumption is Duursma, Duff-Tytler, Robey, Taylor, Sharp are 5 of the first 7. The other 2 then are a complete guess between the likes of Lindsay, Grlj, Cumming, Phillipou, Greaves, Dovaston, NHH, Marsh, Farrow… and any of those guys could fall to us.

[GVGjr]

Scrap Xavier Taylor as a watch. Can’t see him getting passed Essendon’s picks after that game.

Dovaston was electric. Maybe I’m team Dovaston over Hibbins-Hargreaves atm

Yes, Taylor will likely go top 10 and Dovaston performed well.

[The_Bont]

The 21-30 of this website's countdown dropped earlier today. Draft looks a bit stronger given the calibre going outside the top 20

https://readingtheplay.wordpress.com/2025/09/21/2025-draft-power-rankings-21-30/

[GVGjr]

The 21-30 of this website's countdown dropped earlier today. Draft looks a bit stronger given the calibre going outside the top 20

https://readingtheplay.wordpress.com...ankings-21-30/

When will the completed ratings be available?
Is this your site?

[The_Bont]

When will the completed ratings be available?
Is this your site?

Nah, not my site - I saw their first lot on X and have given them a follow.

Not sure when their full list will be out, but they seem to be dropping each section every 4 or so days. I saw them mention there's a phantom draft coming post the top 50 rankings too