2025 Draft Watch

[Willow18]

If we could get Xavier Taylor I'd be all for it. I feel like he has to be our number 1 target and if Essendon don't get a first round compo for Draper then it's a genuine chance to get him with that Sun's pick

If Dons go in with 3 picks, I’ll be shocked if they don’t use one on Taylor

[Bulldogs201616]

If Dons go in with 3 picks, I’ll be shocked if they don’t use one on Taylor

Yeah it could come down to the draper compo.

[The Underdog]

Yeah it could come down to the draper compo.

If they end up with a top 10 pick for losing Draper, I’ll vomit. For all of the talk of Father Son’s and Academy picks, ridiculous free agent compo is the worst draft distortion of them all. No first round compo should be a minimum.

[Stevo]

If we could get Xavier Taylor I'd be all for it. I feel like he has to be our number 1 target and if Essendon don't get a first round compo for Draper then it's a genuine chance to get him with that Sun's pick

A few questions
Could he play key position at a pinch or is he more of 3rd tall defender option?
I seem to recall reading that he's a Dale Morris type in the range of opponents he could play on
Is he similar to Cleary, Dale or Sellwood?

[Bulldogs201616]

A few questions
Could he play key position at a pinch or is he more of 3rd tall defender option?
I seem to recall reading that he's a Dale Morris type in the range of opponents he could play on
Is he similar to Cleary, Dale or Sellwood?

This is what Cal had to say about him.


"Finished his season with a bang, being named best afield in the Coates Talent League Grand Final after collecting 25 disposals and 15 marks across half-back. Taylor was a key member of Eastern's premiership season throughout the year and shapes as an early selection on draft night. There's a bit of Josh Weddle to Taylor in his attacking mindset and capacity to take the game on and work it out on the go. Taylor is a taller defender who can play on a range of different forwards and he has shut plenty of the dangerous options out of games across this season. At AFL level he could be the type of backman to be used wherever required."

[Bulldogs201616]

A few questions
Could he play key position at a pinch or is he more of 3rd tall defender option?
I seem to recall reading that he's a Dale Morris type in the range of opponents he could play on
Is he similar to Cleary, Dale or Sellwood?

"Here is another article I found about him. There isn't any point me trying to pretend Im an expert who has watched all his games I just go off what the pros say."






"Eastern Ranges defender Xavier Taylor entered 2025 known as a shrewd interceptor, a player capable of reading the ball early, cutting the angles, peeling off his man and backing himself to take marks. He finishes the season as a complete defender.




Having played on small forwards such as Wes Walley and Hussien El Achkar, and taller types including Mitch Marsh and Max King, quelling their goalkicking and presence, he's proven he's an excellent lockdown player.

Taylor has the athleticism to stick with the smalls and strength and aerial capacity to play on those slightly taller. Crucially, though, he's been able to turn himself into a hybrid defender.


Alongside his intercepting and lockdown ability, he can provide offensive dash when he gets the footy. He has composure when the ball hits the deck and ultra clean hands, so he can straight line the footy, power through a pack and set up dangerous transition play.

If there is an area that's questioned, it's his kicking, but that is viewed as something which can be rectified. His overall firepower and flair have been the big lift in Taylor's game in 2025.

[Stevo]

Thank you Bulldogs201616. He seems like a perfect fit for us especially if we miss on Wilkie.

[Bulldogs201616]

Thank you Bulldogs201616. He seems like a perfect fit for us especially if we miss on Wilkie.

It is looking very likely we will have to trade down to get Sun's pick 6 to have any chance getting him. but that's the issue.

[jazzadogs]

Was Levi West eligible for the young guns game today? Was he not picked because he's not seen as a top 40 prospect for next year, or was there something else in the eligibility?

[The_Bont]

Thank you for the updates. Are there any other "less known" sites you can recommend for draft coverage?
And by the way, who would you think are good targets for 1str and 2nd selections?

There's a guy on Twitter (Ed Pascoe) who was with Rookie Me Central but now scouts for one of the Coates League clubs. And there's stracks of small timers with varying degrees of 'knowledge' on big footy.

I like this Reading the Play website because their profiles are long form write ups.

Personally, I'd like one of Farrow, Barker or Phillipou with our first. I think they're all good sized and athletic, with huge upside. Then with our second it's hard - I don't know who's likely to be avaible but based on the rankings available online I'd like Rory Wright or Fred Rodriguez. Skillful and strong footballers than are seen maybe outside the first round

[GVGjr]

There's a guy on Twitter (Ed Pascoe) who was with Rookie Me Central but now scouts for one of the Coates League clubs. And there's stracks of small timers with varying degrees of 'knowledge' on big footy.

I like this Reading the Play website because their profiles are long form write ups.

Personally, I'd like one of Farrow, Barker or Phillipou with our first. I think they're all good sized and athletic, with huge upside. Then with our second it's hard - I don't know who's likely to be avaible but based on the rankings available online I'd like Rory Wright or Fred Rodriguez. Skillful and strong footballers than are seen maybe outside the first round

If we trade our first pick then the draft becomes a scramble for those mid pick players who slide down the order.
I really like your Rory Wright suggestion who's tough, skillful and versatile.

[The_Bont]

Yeah, I reckon Wright will be good value wherever he gets picked up. Just has that feel of being a well rounded and powerful footballer that makes a career of it.

These guys released their top ten today with a phantom draft scheduled for midweek:

https://readingtheplay.wordpress.com/2025/09/28/2025-draft-power-rankings-1-10/

[Bulldogs201616]

This was posted on the bigfooty Phantom draft page by an Essendon called Yoda that I thought would be interesting to post here.



"Bit of ranking update, from some of the best minds in the draft space. Our own eDPS, Haggas, Smythe, ESPN, Cal Twomey, Craft of the Draft and the new Reading the Play which is a breath of fresh air and somewhat against the norm."

Pick Average;
the ranking total divided by the amount of selections
eg. Duursma was selected 8 times, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 4 = 13
13 draft points divided by amount of sections (8 rankings used)
13 / 8 =1.625 1.625

High Pick
self explanatory really. The highest they were taken. Gives an idea of how widely viewed some players were.

Low Pick
Opposite to the 'high pick', good to see how low some rated these players.

The players listed below are sorted on this metric. All players were viewed in two rankings across the 8. Some of these selections are skewed by being out of date (ie. Craft of the Draft still had Sullivan Robey at 28, the last update from them was 3 weeks ago)

Also gives a reasonable enough view of where the groups sit

Ranking	Name	Pick Average	High Pick	Low Pick
1	Willem Duursma	1.625	1	4
2	Zeke Uwland	2.25	2	3
3	Daniel Annable	4	2	5
4	Dyson Sharp	5	1	9
5	Cooper Duff - Tytler	5.125	3	7
6	Dylan Patterson	5.5	4	10
7	Sam Cumming	8.25	6	15
8	Oliver Greaves	9.75	7	16
9	Harry Dean	10.125	6	15
10	Sullivan Robey	10.75	4	28
11	Xavier Taylor	11	7	14
12	Sam Grjl	11.5	5	15
13	Josh Lindsay	12.5	10	17
14	Aiden Schubert	12.875	9	18
15	Mitch Marsh	14.25	11	18
16	Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves	14.625	9	25
17	Jacob Farrow	15.5	12	17
18	Lachy Dovaston	17.375	15	22
19	Jeevan Phillipou	18.5	12	24
20	Adam Sweid	22	20	32
21	Max King	22.5	20	25
22	Cameron Nairm	23.375	24	47
23	Harley Barker	23.5	18	27
24	Archie Ludowyke	23.75	21	31
25	Oskar Taylor	24.25	16	34
26	Lachlan Carmichael	24.4	20	29
27	Beau Addinsal	26.25	24	32
28	Louie Emmet	27	23	32
29	Matt Leray	28.5	22	34
30	Zac McCarthy	30.166	24	36
31	Fred Rodriguez	30.5	23	39
32	Sam Swaddling	32	19	48
33	Blake Oudshorn-Benier	32.166	23	43
34	Jack Dalton	32.857	14	41
35	Hussein El-Achkar	33	28	42
36	Kye Fincher	34.166	27	41
37	Max Kondogiannis	35.333	30	39
38	Toby Whan	36	31	49
39	Talor Byrne	36.166	32	40
40	Thomas Burton	36.25	29	40
41	Riley Onley	36.5	30	48
42	Jack Ison	38	25	46
43	Jesse Mellor	38.166	34	42
44	Koby Koulson	38.333	35	42
45	Hugo Mikunda	38.5	32	45
46	Thomas McGuane	40.5	37	44
47	Liam Hetherton	42.25	38	48
48	Noah Chamberlain	47	45	49
49	Cody Curtain	47.5	46	49

[Willow18]

Really cool little table that! Shows how even this draft is in that middle part of the 1st round. I’d imagine that Robey number comes in once whoever had him at 28 readjusts.

Duursma & the bids are the only ones who we know confidently don’t get past the top 10.

sharp & CDT look clear of the rest but for different reasons could fall a bit. Robey & Taylor probably round out that group that goes top 5-6 outside the bids.

I think every other prospect has a legitimate chance to fall to our pick (some more likely than others)

I’ve seen Tigers pumping up Cumming & Grlj at their picks and one of them could still somehow fall to us

[Mofra]

I’ve seen Tigers pumping up Cumming & Grlj at their picks and one of them could still somehow fall to us

Grlj would be amazing. I've been huge on Dovaston all year but I think I'd be even happier if Grlj slipped.
Genuine burst mid, high impact player. Could probably start his career off the HB like Griffen/Freijah as you want him receiving the ball, not winning it.