I actually want us to pick this guy with pick 1.
I think he would compliment Sharp and Robey so well.
I love how he doesnt panic in congestion and almost always looks to run with the ball.
Just looks like the exact kind of midfielder Sydney or Brisbane would take.
Same here. Look at taking a small forward between Neocleous, El Souki, Patterson, Dimer, Templton with one of our next picks. Decent enough key position targets for a defender or ruck potentially with another pick. Id be happy with that haul.
This is the way
And Justice. Dude is clean with it.
I reckon that’s exactly the goal.
Wait so THIS is the Cooper Hodge draft year?
I haven’t seen him really feature in any draft power rankings so I guess that means he’s not really considered an out and out gun then? Funny how the media latch onto father son chat and make it seem like these guys are young stars. Still, will be interesting to see which club he chooses when it comes to the crunch.
Akermanis rates him.
“He’s got that ruthless ferocity and attack on the ball. He’s got that in spades," Akermanis told Zero Hanger.
"He will improve his kicking, but his handball and game-sense and everything else is excellent.
"His athleticism is really strong and he can run really well so he’s got what’s needed for repeat efforts and go through different gears.
"He’s super brave. Those two (Luke and Cooper) are crazy, they call it white line fever, but they just don’t seem to think about consequences – they go at every ball so hard.
“They’re so tough, so they’re the sort of players you want on your team.”
Both are also a similar height but that is where the similarities end, with Cooper a much more athletic, leaner type.
He was a starting midfielder for the Lions Academy throughout their seven-game Talent League series which is viewed as his most natural position given his contested strength and clearance-winning.
“He’ll develop into a midfielder - that’s where he’s going," Akermanis added.
“He can also play back flank because he’s got the discipline to shut someone down and run off him. His forward pressure could be really good but he’s got the body shape and will be able to handle the different types who go in there.”
Hodge spent part of pre-season with Hawthorn and Brisbane and both clubs have been vocal in not putting any pressure on him to make a decision
He is at this stage viewed as a prospect in the second half of the AFL National Draft so the rule changes which makes it harder for clubs to match bids for tied talent should not significantly affect either club, but a strong showing at the Under-18s National Championships for the Allies could boost his projection.
He played through the midfield in an Allies trial match last weekend and finished with 20 disposals and a goal with his trademark tenacity on display.
Kicking is viewed as the knock on his profile, but he has shown improvement in that area in 2026, particularly in front of goal.
Akermanis also pointed to the intangible traits which make him ready for an AFL environment.
“He was a good leader because he led by example and by voice. He’s still developing and learning so being a runner I would deliver messages but the best thing about him was that he was coachable and would listen,” Akermanis said.
"He’s not a finished work of art but he’s developing and growing well.
“He’s one of the easy ones to work with. He would talk well for his age and communicate well in meetings. He asks sensible questions and has good ideas which he is happy to share, always looking at ways to get better. He’s very professional and ready to go.”
Probably end up being one of those guys who doesn’t go until say late 2nd or 3rd round yet slots in seamlessly and looks like a gun from day dot and has people bewildered asking how did he not go earlier.
Or not. I have no idea.
like a Errol Gulden type - would be top 5 in a redraft.
Hodge’s attributes, are things that we should be looking for - athletic, good runner, Super Brave, go hard at every ball, has discipline to play a negating role. <Maybe we should bid on him.
Then could have Dermott Brereton and Luke Hodge in the EFC rooms.
I wouldn’t say he’s super athletic myself. Good runner endurance wise, but not overly quick. Okay kick of the footy without being great.
He’s a pretty vanilla midfielder, which can be okay if he has the right mentality which I think he does have from what I’ve seen of him. Always works really hard, tough at the contest and plays his role.
Do you know why Arki is the Butler? Cause he cleans up at stoppage and polishes off his shots.
Heard from a couple of people at the club that Dougie has looked mint at training and was a chance to play SANFL this weekend but they will be cautious with him and give him another week or two. Will play limited minutes just to get some game time in him. The league bye is in a fortnight and then Port plays us so I’ve got a feeling that will be his debut
How hard would it be to collapse our picks in the teens/20s and get another top 5 pick this year?
2 of Drever, Butler, Gus T, HVH would be incredible..
You’re the coach mate - you tell us?!?
we could potentially move later picks up (ridley/merrett picks and afl compo if we receive it) for carlton or Ports pick, but won’t be able to use our compo pick.
I imagine we do a deal with carlton for their first round pick and give them a couple of later picks worth more points plus don’t bid on walker.
won’t be an early look though.
maybe around ten
The two top 5 picks that might be available are Port and the Suns (if the suns finish bottom 5). Port because they’ll be matching on Cochrane so they won’t get the end of round compo pick anyway, and the Suns because they seemingly don’t care at all about draft picks.
The availability of Port’s pick 4 will be heavily dependent on what they get for Butters as they’re still going to need the capital to match a bid at 1 with 2 picks.
There’s an outside chance that Butters chooses the Tigers, which would I’m sure involve the Tigers pick 2. Once that’s been traded once it can be traded again more easily as end of round compo is no longer a factor.
The suns pick is with Melbourne, but they could get it back if they trade Bailey Humphrey.
Ah true. So Melbourne could freely trade that pick to us if we can find a deal as end of round compo is already out of the question.
@noobermensch do you think collapsing our later picks for 2 top 5 picks it’s a good drafting strategy?
Or would you be happy to hold an extra 1-2 picks and take them between 18-25..
