For what its worth I think Jasper’s list is pretty solid. My own list has a few differences.
Someone has to start ranking these kids at some point right?! It’s as good a place as any and I like it because you get to read about the flavours of the month and start getting a general feel of who the draftees are and what might be of interest for your club. Certainly will take the rankings with a pinch of salt but love the work all of you do.
For sure I totally get that sentiment, and if everyone had that kind of positive attitude to it and just treated it as a bit of fun to kick off the discussion then I imagine we would get a lot more lists posted. Unfortunately that’s not the case.
I remember last year, a guy on bigfooty called Haggas who posts early lists was getting attacked relentlessly by a poster for not putting his favourite prospect high enough on his list.
Oi don’t spoil my next list!
To the academies chat, I’m pretty sure I’ve heard the suns spend about 2 million annually.
It’s definitely worth the investment, but the AFL need to be careful they don’t disincentivise clubs from putting money into them with the proposed changes. At Essendon we get lucky that a lot of our academy talent gets developed by the Bachar houli academy these days. In saying that, Kako and Nguyen are quality academy pick ups too and they only came through our academy.
What about Darwish
I like Marlon. I think he would be the Neocleous of a good forward line.
I’ll get my coat…
One of the hardest to place on a list is Blake Justice. Might be biased but i am big on this kids upside and what i think we’re going to see.
In the spirit of early season calls/predictions, for the purpose of fun in the chat.
My early call on what we need from this draft and next:
2026
2027
What is likely because we are Essington and will have a poor season but win enough games to miss out on a top 3 draft pick…
Butler
2nd small fwd, hopefully a Kako clone
Justice
Wingman with pace but inconsistent foot skills hence why he is a draft “slider”
2027
On Caddy, I think he is potentially more dangerous in the Fyfe/Hird type role than he is as a FF in the Curnow hopes.
Edit - so if noobermensch and Don1 wouldn’t mind nominating who they think fills each vacant category in the above list so we can place all our hopes on the shoulders of these kids…
Thank you
Don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve heard he’s a slow skinny injury prone plodder with a terrible kicking action and panics under pressure.
I heard he’s giving up footy for cricket…or paddleball. Anycase, he has no commitment and one leg is shorter than the other.
This was a “I just got the joke” deleted post, wasn’t it?
lol yes
I see it pretty much the same:
For me, we have Visentini and Bryan as developing rucks. So no need to get another one.
We do need to think about Wright’s replacement. But arguably, we have already done that with Gerreyn.
On 4, I would view it a tad differently and say we need a marking small forward. Someone like an Elliot, Lohman, etc who can be an aerial threat. I liked the look of Pickett last year for that reason.
Totally agree on the need for some Neal-Bullen types. Let’s see how Day-Wicks develops this year.
I also think we need a bit of speed. We’re still a bit one paced. That is my concern with the likes of Caldwell, Parish, Sharp, Farrow, etc.
Not the biggest stat haul but a typically industrious and skillful display from Neocleous who was a late call up to represent the Academy and proved why he should have been part of the squad all along. He pushed up high off a forward flank, ran hard to get involved in the play, chased and tackled, and damaged with the ball using his elite evasive skills and excellent field kicking.
Hey mate, I got a bit confused with your post midway down when you started to list years next to player names… Perhaps they were supposed to be dot points?
Fortunately when it comes to ruckman with midfield attributes we have both HVH and Herbert. Where Herbert lands is still a toss up, but HVH feels likely to be in the premium picks at the pointy end. Chatting with Tigers and Eagles fans they’re both super keen on HVH as well, and when an elite talent also fits the list needs of the teams at the top of the draft it become super unlikely that he slides.
This isn’t an amazing group for pure small forwards. Love El Souki but he’s tied to the Dogs. Prasad could justify a second round pick… he’s tiny but pretty dynamic, damaging and works hard defensively. Gabe Patterson has played both deeper forward and higher up the ground, it’ll be interesting to see how his game presents as he plays more games this year. I suspect he’ll end up inside the top 20. There may be others that I’m forgetting that fit this mold.
Half forward/mid there are stacks of. Butler, Edwards, Neoc, Templeton, Phillips (more mid) take your pick really. Check out the footage and decide which you prefer, they all bring slightly different skill sets, some more defensive, some more damaging.
Talented wingmen that might slide? Difficult to pick sliders at this early stage.
Good luck to the Dogs trying to get him and Butters
Yeah fair point. Have to wait and see how that all plays out.
Its extra interesting because in many ways El Souki is exactly the type of player the Dogs could use and would really round out their incredible forward line.
But of course you take Butters if you can get him.
He’s a difficult evaluation.
Love the skills and general craft. Defensive application looks good. Will obviously be a small forward or Caleb Daniel half back at the next level. What’s his speed like compared to other small forwards? Looks like he’s more agile than he is quick but it’s hard to judge long-speed from youtube vids.