Rumour 2024 Rumours and Speculation Part 3

[GROTTO]

Saw this post on the Blues board, if there is any truth to it pretty much locks in Draper at 4 for us.

 

[GROTTO]

Pick 1: Brisbane – Levi Ashcroft, Midfield, Sandringham, 179cm (F/S Selection)

So where does Levi Ashcroft get selected in this draft? It’s quite even at the top, but he’s generally the top pick for most in 2024. But Richmond also did a pick swap with Brisbane to allow Richmond to maximise their draft hand so I could see a Nick Daicos-esque situation where the #1 player in the class falls. For now though, I’ll have the Tigers making a bid.

Ashcroft is a high intensity runner all over the field with the ability to move forward and slot goals. He isn’t quite as hyped as Harley Reid, but he can be a very special player in the AFL.


Pick 2: Richmond – Sam Lalor, Midfield/Forward, GWV Rebels, 187cm

Richmond did phenomenally. They got maximum value for Shai Bolton

15

Shai Bolton

Age

26

Ht

176cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.3

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

12.7

3star

K

9.2

4star

HB

3.5

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.7

4star

CL

1.8

4star

D

9.2

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

4.6

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.0

1star

, Liam Baker

3

Liam Baker

Age

26

Ht

173cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.7

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

7.9

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.6

4star

MG

222.2

3star

D

14.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

7.9

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

3star

MG

191.9

3star

D

14.4

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

224.2

4star

and Daniel Rioli

17

Daniel Rioli

Age

27

Ht

179cm

Wt

78kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.2

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

2.7

3star

T

3.2

5star

MG

179.2

3star

D

8.1

2star

K

4.9

2star

HB

3.3

2star

M

2.0

2star

T

2.6

4star

MG

144.9

3star

D

9.0

3star

K

3.8

2star

HB

5.2

4star

M

0.8

1star

T

3.8

5star

MG

160.2

3star

to give themselves a draft haul that only the expansion clubs have ever seen before. And they got it in quite literally the perfect draft to do it before future drafts deal with Tasmania entering the competition.

But who becomes the centrepiece of the rebuild? Well, Sam Lalor is the early favourite for this and it’s not hard to see why. Lalor has been drawing some Dustin Martin comparisons, and you can see why with his willingness to impact the contest either in the middle or up forward.

While most of the midfielders in this group are athletically gifted, Lalor is one who loves the physical side of the game.

Pick 3: North Melbourne – Jagga Smith, Midfield, Oakleigh, 181cm

North brought in a lot of experience but really have to break up this #2 pick given they only have pick #62 after this. Even worse, there’s no key position prospect worth taking in this point of the draft, but as the rule says we just aren’t going to be doing trades here.

So with that in mind I’m going for the best player available for me and that’s Jagga Smith, the hyper-consistent ball magnet from Oakleigh who’s been breaking games open at will in 2024 and racked up as many as 50 disposals in a game in the Coates Talent League. A natural leader and captain for Oakleigh, he’s a big favourite to go #1 overall.

Pick 4: Carlton – Finn O’Sullivan, Midfield, Oakleigh, 182cm

The heavy rumour is Carlton went aggressive into moving up to select Finn O’Sullivan, an exciting midfielder who’s been emulating his game on Sam Walsh

18

Sam Walsh

Age

24

Ht

184cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

25.1

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

5.1

5star

T

3.2

5star

CL

3.4

5star

No current season stats available

D

26.2

5star

K

15.4

5star

HB

10.8

5star

M

6.0

5star

T

3.2

5star

CL

4.8

5star

and Isaac Heeney

5

Isaac Heeney

Age

28

Ht

185cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

7.7

5star

M

4.9

5star

T

4.1

5star

CL

2.2

4star

D

14.3

3star

K

8.8

4star

HB

5.5

3star

M

4.8

4star

T

2.5

3star

CL

0.8

3star

D

10.4

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.4

4star

CL

0.8

3star

.

A stronger runner with an excellent grab of the footy and a good head for the game, injuries somewhat blunted his 2024 but a fresh start in 2025 could see teams remembering why he was so highly touted in an already excellent class of midfielders. While O’Sullivan was considered the consensus #1 prospect (other than perhaps Ashcroft) 12 months ago and he’s not quite there now, he’s still a chance to go at the top spot to Richmond.

Pick 5: Adelaide – Sid Draper, Midfield, South Adelaide, 180cm

Sid Draper to the Crows is one of those picks that just makes too much sense. Midfield is a big need for the club, Draper is the top SA talent on the board and there’s been no secret of the love the club has for the talented player.

Draper is a born leader, captaining South Australia’s U/18 side this year. He also was the captain of South Adelaide’s U/18 team that won the title last year and was best afield in the decider. He works relentlessly, and can hit the scoreboard and already has some impressive results against older players averaging 22 disposals and five clearances for South Adelaide’s senior side.

The Wolfman's 2024 Phantom Draft - V 2.0 - The Mongrel Punt

Phantom Draft time, and nobody knows the field as well as The Wolfman. Here are his picks ahead of the 2025 AFL Draft

themongrelpunt.com

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Make them feel welcome and they stay. Simple as that. Haven't lost too many in recent years. Name a young kid that went home recently.

Only if "not making them feel welcome" is an abstract way of describing "not paying them".

 

[119others]

Saw this post on the Blues board, if there is any truth to it pretty much locks in Draper at 4 for us.

View attachment 2151657

I thought he (FOS) was likely going top 2?

 

[GROTTO]

I thought he (FOS) was likely going top 2?

A few weeks to go, probably each player in the Top 5 will be rotated as Pick 1 for this years draft.

 

[Chances Are]

Only if "not making them feel welcome" is an abstract way of describing "not paying them".

You're reaching again.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

You're reaching again.

We tried to get stars to take less than their market value because we didn't manage the salary cap properly.

 

[Chances Are]

We tried to get stars to take less than their market value because we didn't manage the salary cap properly.

which stars are you talking about?

 

[whattagun07]

Late to the jaggs pun party
But the one I thought dwayne might use was Alanis Morissette
"Jagga with the pill...it feels so good"

 

[spenze]

We tried to get stars to take less than their market value because we didn't manage the salary cap properly.

That was a while back, they have adjusted how they do it really nicely in the last few years. There are some exceptions Cough bus driver Laird cough but the smart way we have structured ourselves to have money to grab people has worked really well.

Not going into details here but I like the way Reid has set us up to have a competitive side

 

[FullyBigKPro]

That was a while back, they have adjusted how they do it really nicely in the last few years. There are some exceptions Cough bus driver Laird cough but the smart way we have structured ourselves to have money to grab people has worked really well.

Not going into details here but I like the way Reid has set us up to have a competitive side

Got to pay off next year (or at least show signs) or we will be in no mans land for a long time....

 

[Mr_Moogle]

That was a while back, they have adjusted how they do it really nicely in the last few years. There are some exceptions Cough bus driver Laird cough but the smart way we have structured ourselves to have money to grab people has worked really well.

Not going into details here but I like the way Reid has set us up to have a competitive side

I was referring to when our player retention was bad in the late 2010s. A lot of that stemmed from being either unwilling or unable to pay players their market rate. Lever and Cameron come to mind. Lyons and Gov too though I wouldn't refer to them as stars. The club culture treated younger players like apprentices who had to "do their time".

 

[Chances Are]

I was referring to when our player retention was bad in the late 2010s. A lot of that stemmed from being either unwilling or unable to pay players their market rate. Lever and Cameron come to mind. Lyons and Gov too though I wouldn't refer to them as stars. The club culture treated younger players like apprentices who had to "do their time".

why are you going back that far into history for? Those days are long gone. We've moved on and now even have players choosing us over other teams. Our young want to be here. Their contracts reflect this.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

why are you going back that far into history for? Those days are long gone. We've moved on and now even have players choosing us over other teams. Our young want to be here. Their contracts reflect this.

Because you have to go back that far if you're going to compare it to today. Our player retention issues never had anything to do with making players feel welcome and everything to do with making them feel valued. No amount of positive vibes and pizza night at Nicksy's is going to matter if you're trying to make a bloke accept 200k less than he'd get elsewhere.

 

[baldandbroke]

Late to the jaggs pun party
But the one I thought dwayne might use was Alanis Morissette
"Jagga with the pill...it feels so good"

Did we miss linking Jagga with the strut?

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Are my eyes deceiving me, or does Langford have a high & awkward ball drop ?

Jeffcrowe it appears the trackwatchers at Demonland also had queries on Langfords kicking

Langford - looks very comfortable in main training. Not the most pure kicking action and I think he’ll miss targets with depth control. His strengths look like really fast accurate hands and he just know where to run to get the ball.

TRAINING: Monday 2nd December 2024

There were many Demonland Trackwatchers braving the morning heat at Gosch's Paddock today to witness the players go through the annual 2km time trials. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Max, TMac & Melksham the first ones out on the track. Runners are on. Guess they will be doing a ...

demonland.com

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Jeffcrowe it appears the trackwatchers at Demonland also had queries on Langfords kicking

Langford - looks very comfortable in main training. Not the most pure kicking action and I think he’ll miss targets with depth control. His strengths look like really fast accurate hands and he just know where to run to get the ball.

TRAINING: Monday 2nd December 2024

There were many Demonland Trackwatchers braving the morning heat at Gosch's Paddock today to witness the players go through the annual 2km time trials. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Max, TMac & Melksham the first ones out on the track. Runners are on. Guess they will be doing a ...

demonland.com

Gonna be pretty damaging once he’s in the full time professional program for 6 months given he was leading score assist and score involvements player in the draft

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Gonna be pretty damaging once he’s in the full time professional program for 6 months given he was leading score assist and score involvements player in the draft

I think everyone at the Deamons are impressed with Langfords competitiveness, and run .....it does worry me that during the Draft most of the talk was about his fwd exploits, rather than midfield

I hope he doesn't become another Kyle Langford player type .....not that Kyle is an average player, he's a great player, great reader of the game ....but a cruiser with in his running

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Jeffcrowe it appears the trackwatchers at Demonland also had queries on Langfords kicking

Langford - looks very comfortable in main training. Not the most pure kicking action and I think he’ll miss targets with depth control. His strengths look like really fast accurate hands and he just know where to run to get the ball.

TRAINING: Monday 2nd December 2024

There were many Demonland Trackwatchers braving the morning heat at Gosch's Paddock today to witness the players go through the annual 2km time trials. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Max, TMac & Melksham the first ones out on the track. Runners are on. Guess they will be doing a ...

demonland.com

Did you read the report ? Another track watcher re Langford

‘Harvey Langford has a beautiful pass by foot’

Can cherry pick statements each way all day

No surprise to see McAdam in the rehab group post the off season , plenty of buyers remorse at Melbourne there

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I think everyone at the Deamons are impressed with Langfords competitiveness, and run .....it does worry me that during the Draft most of the talk was about his fwd exploits, rather than midfield

I hope he doesn't become another Kyle Langford player type .....not that Kyle is an average player, he's a great player, great reader of the game ....but a cruiser with in his running

Dominant national champs as a midfielder in probably the strongest midfield draft of the last 10 + years

I wouldn’t be too worried

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Did you read the report ? Another track watcher re Langford

‘Harvey Langford has a beautiful pass by foot’

Can cherry pick statements each way all day

No surprise to see McAdam in the rehab group post the off season , plenty of buyers remorse at Melbourne there

Yep on McAdam

Yes, it's like most player opinions isn't it .....one supporter says player X was amongst the teams best .....another says he should be dropped

Most supporters look at games & players with bias

TWT on Langford's kicking, under AFL pressure

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Yep on McAdam

Yes, it's like most player opinions isn't it .....one supporter says player X was amongst the teams best .....another says he should be dropped

Most supporters look at games & players with bias

TWT on Langford's kicking, under AFL pressure

Not worried re his kicking , he will get better and better and it’s just so damaging when he gets it right

Consistent of it will improve and it’s already a weapon

 

[Crow-eater]

 

[1990crow]

Shit. Murray gone.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Reid has done a good job of re-signing key players well before their contracts are up for renewal.