I genuinely can’t tell if you guys are taking the ■■■■ or not? We could have drafted three small forwards and our list balance wouldn’t look weird. We could start round 1 next year with every small forward on our list playing and it wouldn’t attract much attention.
Edit: and I truly wish El Achkar all the best in the world, but we did get him in the Jayden Davey, Ned Cahill, Jordan Houlahan, Yestin Eades part of the draft, so from a list strategy perspective I wouldn’t be locking him in as a starter for the next 10 years just yet.
El Akkar would unlikely ever make it with Kako and Dovaston blocking his path. I can’t think of many set ups of three small forwards. Ginnivan is more of a medium for example to compliment Watson and Moore.
Much prefer having an extra gun mid and backing in El Akkar.
There is just something that gets you really excited when you draft a small forward. Bring so much excitement to the game, hopefully Huss is a success.
The video of the scenes at Huss’ when he was picked are pretty epic (see instagram). Kako involved.
Brisbane just won it with Lohmann, Cameron, and Ah Chee and they played off against Close, Stengle and Mannagh
Dons match bid to lock in El Achkar
Essendon secures NGA talent with pick No.53
Nov 20, 2025, 9:21 pm
By essendonfc.com.au
Essendon has capped off an exciting couple of nights at the draft table by matching Richmond’s bid for Hussien El Achkar at pick No.53 in the Telstra AFL Draft.
A standout from the Dons’ NGA/James Hird Academy program, El Achkar is a pure excitement machine.
The 171cm small forward took over games for the Dons’ affiliate Calder Cannons in a dynamic two-year Coates Talent League stint, slotting 47 goals from 26 appearances including an eye-catching six-goal haul against Sandringham this season.
With Vic Metro, El Achkar’s three goals against the Allies was another solid effort. In his debut with Essendon VFL on the road, he lifted his side with a quick burst of three goals after half-time.
El Achkar’s speed and natural goal sense makes him an enticing prospect alongside former JHA teammates in Kako and Nguyen.
He joins Sullivan Robey, Jacob Farrow, Dyson Sharp and Max Kondogiannis as the Dons’ newest kids on the block from this year’s draft crop.
Close is a medium IMO. And Ah Chee too.
Because Gresham guelfi are past it
Who’s going to kick our goals
Who’s going to apply
Pressure be st the drop of the ball get out the back
El Huss elhoff
El achkar has some improvement to make, his endurance mainly, that should help his defense and probably with his finishing.
But he is a natural forward who creates his own shots, he is strong for his size and was until his final few years at NAB level a midfielder. Important he has the confidence and cockiness needed to succeed in the role at AFL level.
That is laughable.
Close is 183cm and gets as far off the ground as Clive Waterhouse used to. He’s no Jamie Elliott.
And Ah Chee is even smaller at 182cm and cruises about taking chestmarks on the lead or out the back because he out works guys.
These are small forwards not Langford or Mihocek
Is that also the James Hird part of the draft?
The video at his home when he got drafted is all time. Kako was there jumping all over him.
My thoughts and footage of Huss this year.
https://x.com/bomberricko/status/1991453667678191713?s=46&t=y9oWYSpg8c5zTvCfVDAS8g
Huss is a goal kicking midfielder that got switched to small forward as a 17 year old to increase his chances of being recruited due to his height. Of course he delivered like he always has in junior footy and became the second best small forward in the coates league. But he’s pretty new to the role. His accuracy will be fixed up like kako’s was this year I think, which will help him pile on more goals.
Wait, you are Bomber Ricko?
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He is definitely a natural goal scorer. Given most of his footy was as a midfielder its remarkable how natural he looked as a crumber in his final couple of years as a junior.
Mate it’s not laughable. Google it and it says Close is a mediun forward. I get what you are saying. But for me there’s the classic zippy small forward role and then there is another level that sits between before you get to a Langford/Stringer/Mihocek size.
Guelfi, Close, Ginnivan, Ah Chee are in that slightly bigger bracket that helps them in marking contests and they rely less on crazy crumbing zip as their asset.
I just don’t think you have too many of those small smalls in a team.
Just my opinion. Maybe they would all be fine.
On an overall list balance / draft choice perspective I think taking the extra gun mid was smarter than ending up with three players who “possibly” might clash for a specialist position. It’s not a laughable view.