Resource 2025 AFL Draft prospects and discussion.

[Jeffcrowe]

Wekk if that's the case WCE likely going to be better placed than the Crows. On what I've seen lacks the athleticism og Dan,

He’s much more aggressive than Dan and more a true key position player

Lacks a yard of speed/ agility which will be a watch

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Dyson Sharp looks like he is a 35 year old divorcee.

I reckon he plays a little bit like our Scott Thompson did

But with a bit more speed and class

Makes for a very good player , Thommo was no slouch + extra bit of speed / class on top

 

[Eddie Murphy]

He’s much more aggressive than Dan and more a true key position player

Lacks a yard of speed/ agility which will be a watch

I do think we need to draft and start developing another KPD as I don’t think we’ll be able to hide Butts in the SANFL for too long.

Wouldn’t hurt in retaining Dan too.

 

[Thunderstruck]

There's plenty of quality around in the underage department, Van Dyk, Cochrane, Webb etc all can play pretty well....

As for testing, I often find most of the time the best players never test that well. They simply just play well.

 

[noobermensch]

Thanks to the SANFL U18s comp kicking off earlier than everyone else we have new draft prospect footage from season 2025 to check out, starting with one of SA's best Sam Cumming. He showed signs of rust here with his typically excellent kicking skills letting him down a little and the connection piece with his leading forwards not quite being there, but there was plenty to like as well. He looks to have added plenty of muscle to his frame over the preseason and showed some power inside the contest. If he can emerge as a balanced inside/outside midfield threat in his top age year he could push his case as a top 10 fancy.

 

[Mutineer]

Son of Crows and Centrals Tim Cook

 

[Mutineer]

Looks the pick of the SA Talls at this point.

 

[Mutineer]

Relative of former Swan Lewis Roberts-Thompson

 

[Mostyn]

Son of Crows and Centrals Tim Cook

He's a good kick, isn't he

 

[jimvic]

He's a good kick, isn't he

not enough Crows games by his old man to help us

 

[Betts are off]

Holy Moly, Cody Curtin listed at 200cm and 100kg in the Western Australian article from this month.

Imagine the grocery budget in that house over the last 5 years. In need 1 Cow per week to feed my boys!

 

[Mutineer]

He's a good kick, isn't he

Another left foot bazooka

 

[Mutineer]

High stakes by the looks here. Level playing field? Maybe not.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/insiders-blow-whistle-on-alleged-nepotism-at-oakleigh-chargers/news-story/e0e1bfc9666f7a742edd8d7a29431027

Insiders blow whistle on alleged nepotism at Oakleigh Chargers​

Claims of nepotism and favouritism have been made against a key AFL draft pathway club, with parents calling for bans on officials selecting and coaching their own children. Nothing to see here?

Such links to private schools also give rise to perceptions of bias among those whose children attend state schools or less prestigious private schools.

This year’s Oakleigh Chargers team was dominated by private school players, including eight from Scotch College, seven each from Carey Grammar, Xavier College and Camberwell Grammar and only five from state high schools. There are five from Caulfield Grammar.

Claims of nepotism and favouritism have been made against a key AFL draft pathway club, with parents calling for bans on officials selecting and coaching their own children.
The allegations centre on the Oakleigh Chargers, an elite club based in the south-eastern metropolitan region responsible for training and selecting top draftable junior players.

An assistant coach at the Oakleigh Chargers stepped aside last year amid a number of complaints about a conflict of interest because his son was part of the elite squad.

A number of parents and coaches have spoken to the Herald Sun about a widespread perception of favouritism in the way the Oakleigh Charges chooses its coveted 60-player squad from which the final 30 players are selected.

The stakes are high: the 2024 AFL draft picks number two and three both came from the Oakleigh Chargers - Finn O’Sullivan and Jagga Smith. Other greats of the game including Darcy Moore, Josh Gibson, Jack Viney, Jordan De Goey, Marc Murphy and Toby Greene have come through the club.
Certain clubs, such as the Hawthorn Citizens, are thought to have an advantage due to their ties with Oakleigh personnel.

Analysis of the 60-person squad shows the Hawthorn Citizens had 11 players, Ashburton Redbacks ten, Blackburn eight and Balwyn Tigers seven.

Long-time Oakleigh Chargers coach Anthony Phillips also runs a coaching academy called Phillips Coaching.

Parents and other coaches told the Herald Sun there is a perception that players who do Phillips Coaching clinics are more visible to selectors.

Mr Philips declined to speak to the Herald Sun but has long denied any perception of bias. He is not directly involved in the selection of the 60 players.

The CEO of Phillips Coaching, which charges $150 for a three-hour session, is Simon Lloyd, brother of Essendon great Matthew Lloyd, the head coach at Haileybury.

Mr Phillips is also the head coach of Caulfield Grammar’s first XVIII side.

 

[noobermensch]

I suspect you're going to end up being too good to get a top end draft selection so let me know if you'd rather I stopped posting these in here.

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Sam Cumming could hardly have been more impressive through the first two rounds of the SANFL U18 season. He's too powerful and evasive for this level, impossible to stop as he consistently navigates from inside the contest to the outside to release his teammates or create space to deliver a high quality ball. In this game he had his hand in a number of score involvements, including kicking a couple of crucial goals of his own as his Roosters side powered ahead in the second half to record a comfortable win.

 

[Mutineer]

I suspect you're going to end up being too good to get a top end draft selection so let me know if you'd rather I stopped posting these in here.

----

Sam Cumming could hardly have been more impressive through the first two rounds of the SANFL U18 season. He's too powerful and evasive for this level, impossible to stop as he consistently navigates from inside the contest to the outside to release his teammates or create space to deliver a high quality ball. In this game he had his hand in a number of score involvements, including kicking a couple of crucial goals of his own as his Roosters side powered ahead in the second half to record a comfortable win.

I suspect we might go tall so maybe Aiden Schubert would be of interest to the Crows

 

[Sizzlepack]

I suspect you're going to end up being too good to get a top end draft selection so let me know if you'd rather I stopped posting these in here.

----

Sam Cumming could hardly have been more impressive through the first two rounds of the SANFL U18 season. He's too powerful and evasive for this level, impossible to stop as he consistently navigates from inside the contest to the outside to release his teammates or create space to deliver a high quality ball. In this game he had his hand in a number of score involvements, including kicking a couple of crucial goals of his own as his Roosters side powered ahead in the second half to record a comfortable win.

Nah, please keep posting here. Love your work.

 

[noobermensch]

I suspect we might go tall so maybe Aiden Schubert would be of interest to the Crows

Yep Schubert is up next in a couple of hours. He was really solid on the weekend.

 

[Crow till I die]

I suspect you're going to end up being too good to get a top end draft selection so let me know if you'd rather I stopped posting these in here.

----

Sam Cumming could hardly have been more impressive through the first two rounds of the SANFL U18 season. He's too powerful and evasive for this level, impossible to stop as he consistently navigates from inside the contest to the outside to release his teammates or create space to deliver a high quality ball. In this game he had his hand in a number of score involvements, including kicking a couple of crucial goals of his own as his Roosters side powered ahead in the second half to record a comfortable win.

No please keep sharing as we have no idea what might happen at trade time for what pick we have or may end up with

 

[Mutineer]

Yep Schubert is up next in a couple of hours. He was really solid on the weekend.

A very promising versatile athletic tall with a late December birthday always peaks my interest big time...21/12/2007.
Born a fortnight later and he's a 2026 draftee.

 

[noobermensch]

Aidan Schubert is an imposing and physical forward/ruck with sticky hands. In the ruck he competes well, is often able to overpower his opponent with strength, and doesn't mind following up at ground level with a tackle. As a forward he presents strongly at the footy, able to mark on the lead or in contested situations. He main deficiency is his slow and awkward kicking technique which has caused his set shot conversion to be inconsistent.

 

[Cleric]

Unfortunately I think the only way we get a decent pick to get Sharp is if we lose a player like Curtin.
Is Sharp more of a need?

 

[Sizzlepack]

Unfortunately I think the only way we get a decent pick to get Sharp is if we lose a player like Curtin.
Is Sharp more of a need?

It's getting to the stage where we can say that the only urgent addition needed to the list in terms of midfielders is a Crouch replacement (e.g. a first extractor type) – especially if the club doesn't believe Berry is at the required level. The chat is that Sharp is that type, but Pick 1 seems like a very expensive price to pay for that archetype. I'd hold on Curtin and look at a mid slightly lower down the order (and also look to draft at least one small and one tall – each).

 

[Cleric]

It's getting to the stage where we can say that the only urgent addition needed to the list in terms of midfielders is a Crouch replacement (e.g. a first extractor type) – especially if the club doesn't believe Berry is at the required level. The chat is that Sharp is that type, but Pick 1 seems like a very expensive price to pay for that archetype. I'd hold on Curtin and look at a mid slightly lower down the order (and also look to draft at least one small and one tall – each).

I think a couple of Vic kids will rise past him in the draft rankings this year, but I think we would need a top 3 pick for him.
If West Coast finish bottom or near, and they also lose Allen and Reid, they will be primed with picks and cap space to try and get Curtin. Him leaving is the only way I see us getting the ability to get Sharp, unfortunately.

It also needs to be said, that we have some decent mids playing in the seconds that could replace Crouch in the future, like Ryan or Dowling. Even Schoenberg could get back to his form of a couple of years ago and play that position. Dowling is the one that can get 40 possessions a game out of the lot.

 

[Mutineer]

It's getting to the stage where we can say that the only urgent addition needed to the list in terms of midfielders is a Crouch replacement (e.g. a first extractor type) – especially if the club doesn't believe Berry is at the required level. The chat is that Sharp is that type, but Pick 1 seems like a very expensive price to pay for that archetype. I'd hold on Curtin and look at a mid slightly lower down the order (and also look to draft at least one small and one tall – each).

Tht's the exact type of player Hugh Bond was at the GWV Rebels for the 2 year's before the Vic Country coaches couldn't fit him into their midfield mix at the Nationals and thought his hardness, aggressiveness, combativeness and one on one strength would be suited to the defender role to put the clamps on the oppo's dangerous small/medium forwards. It's likely his outstanding lockdowns over the Nationals carnival that caught Hamish's eye as the Luke Brown heir apparent hence the trade up via the Lions to nab him..

 

[Mutineer]

I think a couple of Vic kids will rise past him in the draft rankings this year, but I think we would need a top 3 pick for him.
If West Coast finish bottom or near, and they also lose Allen and Reid, they will be primed with picks and cap space to try and get Curtin. Him leaving is the only way I see us getting the ability to get Sharp, unfortunately.

It also needs to be said, that we have some decent mids playing in the seconds that could replace Crouch in the future, like Ryan or Dowling. Even Schoenberg could get back to his form of a couple of years ago and play that position. Dowling is the one that can get 40 possessions a game out of the lot.

Ryan and Dowling aren't inside extractors, not even close. Taylor would be the most likely to get a shot at that role though not sure he has the body strength for it.