2025 Draft Watch

[GVGjr]

Found this one interesting
PIES OPT AGAINST FATHER-SON NOMINATION

COLLINGWOOD has told father-son prospect Tom McGuane it won't be committing to him as a national pick in this year's draft, but are keeping the door ajar for a rookie position.

McGuane, who impressed in Sunday's testing at the Telstra State Draft Combine, will be available in the open draft after the Pies recently communicated their position to the classy left-footed prospect.

The son of former Magpie Mick, McGuane debuted for the Pies' VFL side in the second half of the season and has spent plenty of time around the Collingwood program given his father-son links.
Tom McGuane playing for Collingwood's VFL side in August, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos
The Magpies will not commit to McGuane so are unlikely to select him in the national draft, with the possibility of a rookie spot to be decided following the trade period.

It leaves other clubs open to swoop on McGuane, who has had rival clubs interview him throughout the year and keep tabs. He will be able to continue to lean on the Pies for training support in the lead-up to the draft.
McGuane ran a 2.93 second 20-metre sprint and completed the 2km time trial in 6:20 minutes on Sunday in a strong showing, having averaged 28 disposals playing with the Western Jets this season.
His father Mick played 152 games for the Magpies between 1987-1996, including playing in the 1990 premiership, before finishing his career with one season at Carlton. – Callum Twomey

[GVGjr]

In Draft Combine news

DASHER'S COMBINE BLITZ
LATE Draft Combine call-up Oskar Taylor has proven to be the standout performer across testing, with the dashing half-back further enhancing his stocks on Sunday.

Taylor, along with Eastern Ranges teammate Sullivan Robey, was only added to the national Telstra AFL Draft Combine list last month but dominated in the testing, winning the 20-metre sprint with a time of 2.82 seconds.

He also finished second in the agility test results.

Taylor has climbed to be in the mix as a top-20 pick after his impressive finish to the season with the Ranges and did his chances no harm at the Combine.
Oskar Taylor at the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft Combine. Picture: AFL Photos
Others to post strong 20 metre sprint times were: Tylah Williams (2.89 seconds), Avery Thomas (2.89), Hunter Holmes (2.89), Tom Burton (2.91), Cooper Duff-Tytler (2.93) Zane Peucker (2.95) and Leon Kickett (2.95).

Taylor was beaten in the agility test by Eastern teammate Lachy Dovaston, who posted a time of 7.794 seconds, which was the fourth fasted in Combine testing history. Oskar Taylor was next at 7.84 seconds, with their fellow Ranges premiership star Xavier Taylor third.

Williams (7.87 seconds) and Zeke Uwland (8.1) were others to perform well in the agility test.

Sydney Academy talent Max King claimed the vertical jump test, with a leap of 80cm, ahead of Thomas and Uwland, who both jumped 75cm, while fellow Swans Academy prospect Harry Kyle won the running vertical jump. His 98cm leap was ahead of Uwland at 95cm and Jevan Phillipou (90cm).
Max King at the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft Combine. Picture: AFL Photos
The morning of testing on Sunday followed Friday's 2km time trial, when Jack Dalton (5:53 minutes) won ahead of Sam Grlj (5:59) and Louis Emmett (6:07).

Nearly 20 players were unable to test across the weekend, with illness ruling Dyson Sharp out on Sunday, following Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves and Ollie Greeves also not attending due to illness.

A hamstring injury meant Carlton father-son Dylan Patterson did not test, while Carlton father-son Harry Dean was recovering from a shoulder injury so didn't partake in the testing. Sam Allen and Harley Barker (ACLs), Liam Heatherton (back) and Archie Ludowyke (knee) were others unable to test as they worked through their long-term injuries, while Jack Ison, Hugo Mikunda, Wes Walley, Toby Murray, Will Darcy, Jesse Mellor and Riley Onley were among the others sidelined. – Callum Twomey

[The_Bont]

I've noticed a couple of phantom drafts saying the same., I've watched a couple of highlights based on what you have said and I agree he would be a strong selection for us.

I personally don't get how he could slide quite that far - he was pretty clearly the best performed U/18 player this year

[Bulldogsman]

I personally don't get how he could slide quite that far - he was pretty clearly the best performed U/18 player this year

I agree with the bolded part, although best performed u18 player doesn't mean the best in 5 - 10 years time, that's the difficulty of recruiting. Given the traits of Farrow, and with further development, I could see him out growing Sharp. I'm a fan of Sam Grlj as well and would place both of these above Sharp.

Leon Kickett later on in the draft is one I wouldn't mind taking also.

[Willow18]

Interestingly if we drafted Sharp, he’d fill that role they were trying to fill with Robertson, Knevitt etc

[Jasper]

I agree with the bolded part, although best performed u18 player doesn't mean the best in 5 - 10 years time, that's the difficulty of recruiting. Given the traits of Farrow, and with further development, I could see him out growing Sharp. I'm a fan of Sam Grlj as well and would place both of these above Sharp.

Leon Kickett later on in the draft is one I wouldn't mind taking also.

Good to have another new member to the forum with a lot of draft knowledge. Welcome to WOOF

[Axe Man]

All the standouts and results from 2025 AFL Draft Combine

A Victorian tall who has been labelled a ‘unicorn’ showed just how athletic he really is by posting some remarkable results at the AFL National Draft Combine over the weekend.

Cooper Duff-Tytler – who stands 200cm – recorded top-10 finishes in both the 2km time trial and 20m sprint tests, further stamping himself as a top-three prospect in next month’s national draft.

The Calder Cannons product ran a time of 6min 21 sec in the 2km time trial last Friday, before clocking a time of 2.922 sec in the 20m sprint test on Sunday.

“I was happy with myself,” Duff-Tytler said of his results.

“I’ve been working hard in the gym and stuff to improve my power and speed, so hopefully that showed.

“I got a few personal bests, which is good.”

Duff-Tytler is widely expected to join West Coast in this year’s draft with one of the first two selections.

The Eagles currently hold pick 1 in the draft but are also tipped to secure pick 2 as free agency compensation for Oscar Allen’s departure to the Brisbane Lions.

A former junior basketball star, Duff-Tytler models his game on Fremantle’s Luke Jackson.

He came into the year as a mobile ruckman but spent significant time playing forward in the second half of the season as he developed that area of his game.

“At the end of the year, they gave me a bit more chance to play forward and show what I can do up there, and I was happy with how I played in the majority of the games and showed a different part to my game,” Duff-Tytler said.

“I think this year I probably played better as a ruck-forward, but going into the future I’m open to playing anywhere the coach wants me and I think I can play good footy in any position.”

Oakleigh Chargers ruckman Louis Emmett also impressed in the 2km time trial, finishing third in a time of 6 min 7 sec.

Sydney Swans Academy member Max King, a 191cm marking forward, put his natural leap on show as he posted a vertical jump of 80cm – 5cm more than any other player at the combine.

Eastern Ranges small forward Lachy Dovaston recorded the fourth-fastest agility time on record, stopping the clock at 7.794 sec.

COMBINE RESULTS – BOYS

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[Bornadog]

ESPN Rankings October - read here

Top 20

1 Willem Duursma
2 Zeke Uwland (Suns Academy)
3 Dan Annable (Lions Academy)
4 Cooper Duff-Tytler
5 Dyson Sharp
6 Xavier Taylor
7 Dylan Patterson (Suns Academy)
8 Sullivan Robey
9 Sam Grlj
10 Sam Cumming
11 Harry Dean (Carlton father-son)
12 Aidan Schubert
13 Lachy Dovaston
14 Josh Lindsay
15 Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves
16 Jacob Farrow
17 Mitch Marsh
18 Oskar Taylor
19 Ollie Greeves
20 Adam Sweid (Essendon NGA)

[Willow18]

I really see very little value in trading up to the Suns pick if the plan is to use the pick. All these draft guys can’t settle on an order, so even around our pick

[jazzadogs]

I really see very little value in trading up to the Suns pick if the plan is to use the pick. All these draft guys can’t settle on an order, so even around our pick

Really just comes down to our internal ratings, not the media ratings.

If we think there's a guy at the earlier pick who is significantly better than the later pick, and we are only giving up 'points' to make it happen, then I'm okay with it.

[lemmon]

Really just comes down to our internal ratings, not the media ratings.

If we think there's a guy at the earlier pick who is significantly better than the later pick, and we are only giving up 'points' to make it happen, then I'm okay with it.

It'll be a bit of a needs thing too - if we really like Xavier Taylor as a third-tall defender, or Grlj as a running player, I could see us trying to get up the order to snag one of those guys.

It seems that one of Dovaston, Lindsay, Farrow, or Oskar Taylor will be around at our pick, so I don't see us doing something drastic to get up the board. I don't watch a heap of the kids, but I'd be pretty happy with any of those four.

[Willow18]

Really just comes down to our internal ratings, not the media ratings.

If we think there's a guy at the earlier pick who is significantly better than the later pick, and we are only giving up 'points' to make it happen, then I'm okay with it.

This is fair, and I would back in our guys to absolutely make the right call.