Academy Rorts - The 2025 Draft Thread

[Whatamark]

How dare we draft Father / sons and local talent - the sheer nerve of us !

 

[knaf]

Getting to the stage that it will be truely debatable who was the better mid field:
Voss, Black, Aker, Lapin, Power etc or
Neale, McCluggage, Dunkley, Ashcroftsx2, perhaps Annable. Berry and Fletcher wings. Bailey and Rayner for spice.

I never thought I’d see a better midfield than the 2001-2004 group, but the current group could be even better.

 

[BuntonRules]

I was hoping we could draft rort a 191+ gun midfielder instead of another dwarf.

 

[Whatamark]

Getting to the stage that it will be truely debatable who was the better mid field:
Voss, Black, Aker, Lapin, Power etc or
Neale, McCluggage, Dunkley, Ashcroftsx2, perhaps Annable. Berry and Fletcher wings. Bailey and Rayner for spice.

I never thought I’d see a better midfield than the 2001-2004 group, but the current group could be even better.

Indeed - plus you are forgetting young Sam Marshall - also a potential gun mf.

 

[briztoon]

Then there’s Charlie Cameron

23

Charlie Cameron

Age

30

Ht

180cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.6

2star

K

7.9

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.2

4star

’s successor running around in our academy as well, Raph Geesu.

 

[irel]

Then there’s Charlie Cameron’s successor running around in our academy as well, Raph Geesu.

 

[bungalow_bill]

Getting to the stage that it will be truely debatable who was the better mid field:
Voss, Black, Aker, Lapin, Power etc or
Neale, McCluggage, Dunkley, Ashcroftsx2, perhaps Annable. Berry and Fletcher wings. Bailey and Rayner for spice.

I never thought I’d see a better midfield than the 2001-2004 group, but the current group could be even better.

You can probably include Headland even though he left in '02.

 

[KissKiss]

McCluggage back to wing !!

ducks for cover from the Nooooooo mob **

18 months ago I would have said yes. Now I dunno if I want to push Fletcher out

 

[KissKiss]

I was hoping we could draft rort a 191+ gun midfielder instead of another dwarf.

Its probably the only real gap in our future midfield. Dunkley will be around for quite some time, but with how the academy is playing out we should probably be keeping on a couple of the young bigger potentially defensive mids around the comp. We might have to trade / Free agent one in

 

[irel]

McCluggage back to wing !!

ducks for cover from the Nooooooo mob **

 

[Tom14]

I was hoping we could draft rort a 191+ gun midfielder instead of another dwarf.

I think Annable plays bigger than 183. Not in terms of being a great mark, but in the championship games I watched last year I thought he was quite physical in the contest.

Reminds me of Andy Brayshaw actually, good both inside and out without being necessarily absolutely elite at any one trait. Then again maybe similarish hairstyle is the thing I notice.

 

[Elixuh]

When the Brisbane lions team is 100% academy and fs rorts, then the VFL has my permission to die

 

[Tom14]

McCluggage back to wing !!

ducks for cover from the Nooooooo mob **

You post this when Clug is leading the coaches votes as an inside mid, with like maybe 1-2 wing appearances at CBs all season?

 

[Sproj]

Yeah goodbye Neale, what's he ever achieved?

Can't be Zorko either, he shalt never retire...in fact, he will still be playing in 2050.

 

[LionCub29]

I think Annable plays bigger than 183. Not in terms of being a great mark, but in the championship games I watched last year I thought he was quite physical in the contest.

Reminds me of Andy Brayshaw actually, good both inside and out without being necessarily absolutely elite at any one trait. Then again maybe similarish hairstyle is the thing I notice.

One major difference between Annable and Brayshaw is that Annable can kick.

 

[Tom14]

One major difference between Annable and Brayshaw is that Annable can kick.

I'll leave it to others but I think a knock on Annable last year was that he wasn't a great kick? From the highlight videos I've watched this year it looks like he has cleaned up his technique and is now pretty neat.

Brayshaw's kicking is totally fine for a good AFL inside mid, but agree it holds him back from being a great one.

 

[braddsey]

Getting to the stage that it will be truely debatable who was the better mid field:
Voss, Black, Aker, Lapin, Power etc or
Neale, McCluggage, Dunkley, Ashcroftsx2, perhaps Annable. Berry and Fletcher wings. Bailey and Rayner for spice.

I never thought I’d see a better midfield than the 2001-2004 group, but the current group could be even better.

Get back to me in October 2026 after this group’s got a threepeat, then we can talk…

 

[Crusha]

Some clips of Ryan Gilder from the Swans vs Lions Academy match 15/4/25

Ryan Gilder #34

 

[Crusha]

Clips of Raph Geesu from the Swans v Lions Academies game 15/4/25.

Raphael Geesu #4




I have clips of some of the "underagers" (2026 draft) from this game that I could put together .... if anyone is interested.
(Murray, Hodge, Grills (J) )

 

[Tom14]

Clips of Raph Geesu from the Suns v Lions Academies game 15/4/25.

Raphael Geesu #4




I have clips of some of the "underagers" (2026 draft) from this game that I could put together .... if anyone is interested.
(Murray, Hodge, Grills (J) )

Gee did some really nice things in this game. Will be interesting to see if he gets a go with the Allies.

 

[scoman]

I was hoping we could draft rort a 191+ gun midfielder instead of another dwarf.

True, and that's why Dunkley and possibly Berry are so important. Although, there has been some talk lately of the game becoming less contested and more about ball movement, so there's a chance the taller powerful mids might not be as important?

Anyway, we can always look at recruiting a taller mid in a couple of years if required.

 

[buttermuffs]

Berry has shown he can go inside and thrive if we need a matchup against a taller mid. Did it against Bont and Oliver. Dunkley has towelled up Cripps before as well.

Shouldn’t get sucked into recruiting someone just because they are taller. Clubs passed on Morris because of his size. Don’t won’t to end up with someone like Setterfield on the list just because he’s big.

 

[briztoon]

Gee did some really nice things in this game. Will be interesting to see if he gets a go with the Allies.

He should do. Pretty sure he's been part of the preseason Allies camps.

 

[Not a Psycho]

Clips of Raph Geesu from the Swans v Lions Academies game 15/4/25.

Raphael Geesu #4




I have clips of some of the "underagers" (2026 draft) from this game that I could put together .... if anyone is interested.
(Murray, Hodge, Grills (J) )

Fantastic work Crusha, his play at 2:45 really shows how high level his offensive nous is. Obviously not expecting it from a highlight video but does anyone who's seen him know what his defensive work rate is like? Can be the difference between a Cameron/McCarthy and a Blake Coleman.

 

[KissKiss]

Berry has shown he can go inside and thrive if we need a matchup against a taller mid. Did it against Bont and Oliver. Dunkley has towelled up Cripps before as well.

Shouldn’t get sucked into recruiting someone just because they are taller. Clubs passed on Morris because of his size. Don’t won’t to end up with someone like Setterfield on the list just because he’s big.

Not saying its an urgent need. Just something to keep an eye on looking 3-5 years in the future. A lot of our young mids look to be smaller so we may need someone to balance that out once Dunkley and Berry are at the end of their careers (which may not be for a long time)