By Peter Ryan
Melbourne chose to stack their list with precocious midfield talent in the national draft, using their two first-round picks on Vic Country left-footers Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay, while the midfield-starved St Kilda took a different path in selecting exciting, hard running defenders Tobie Travaglia and Alix Tauru.
That was the tale of dual first-round picks for two clubs who believe they can contend if everything goes right in 2025.
Former Melbourne star Nathan Jones presented Xavier Lindsay with his jumper after he was selected at pick No.11.Credit: AFL Photos
The Demons’ decision future proofs the club after they lost premiership utility Angus Brayshaw to concussion-related retirement and endured a turbulent back half of the year as uncertainty surrounded the future of midfield stars Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca.
The Saints’ decisions showed their belief that run is king as they chose players well-suited to their transition game, rather than looking to fill a need after their inability to win clearance battles was an issue throughout 2024.
Melbourne’s Langford, from the Mornington Peninsula, has similar traits to Petracca as he is as adept marking forward of centre as he is playing through the midfield. He was taken at pick No.6 after Melbourne placed a bid on Lions-bound midfielder Levi Ashcroft.
The Inverloch-raised Lindsay, meanwhile, is a smooth-moving utility known for his versatility who will graduate to the midfield eventually. He was taken with No.11.
Alix Tauru is a genuine excitement machine.Credit: AFL Photos
Both are renowned for their leadership. Langford won the Larke Medal for his performances in the under-18 national championships, and Lindsay won the Morrish Medal in 2024.
Demons recruiting manager Jason Taylor, who built the club’s 2021 flag list, said the club chose the best-available talent with a leaning towards taking the chance in a quality draft to restock the midfield.
Their strategy is consistent with the model that built their 2021 premiership list, when they added Petracca, Brayshaw and Oliver to the midfield in successive drafts, and also continues their approach to have two first-round picks in the same draft. The Demons traded their future first-round pick to secure Essendon’s pick nine in this year’s draft.
“We feel like if you can get in high, you’re going to get great players,” Taylor said.
Lindsay will be given time as he works his way back to full fitness after suffering a PCL injury, while Langford could make an immediate impact.
Taylor said their presence will complement current midfield guns, Jack Viney, Oliver and Petracca.
“[Christian and Clayton] are right in their prime and with that comes added responsibility to leadership, and it is a really good opportunity for them to guide those boys in the right direction,” Taylor said.
The decision ends the Demons’ disappointing 2024 on a positive note as they move into 2025 with a new president and new CEO. Oliver met with Geelong after clubs became aware the Demons were testing the market, while Petracca had to put out a statement to confirm his commitment to the Demons.
Taylor was adamant the team could contend again for the premiership and expressed faith in Daniel Turner, Jacob van Rooyen and Matthew Jefferson to form a potent combination inside 50 in time.
Meanwhile, the Saints went for the best-available talent with noted recruiter Simon Dalrymple, who had great success at the Western Bulldogs and Sydney before joining St Kilda, backing his judgment to add Travaglia and Tauru with picks eight and 10. The Saints put in a bid for Gold Coast academy graduate Leo Lombard at pick nine.
Travaglia is a running defender from Bendigo who is known for his competitiveness, and he has the athletic attributes that could make him a midfielder. He came second in the time trial at the draft combine, while Saints football manager David Misson joked that blond high-flier Tauru “looked like a St Kilda player”.
The Saints had two picks in the top 10 after they received first-round compensation for losing defender Josh Battle to Hawthorn as a free agent. The club president Andrew Bassat, who has been very vocal about the draft system post-season, was in the Saints’ draft room alongside coach Ross Lyon watching things unfold.
Harvey Langford joined the Demons at pick 6Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Misson said the club’s philosophy was to choose the best talent available at their pick and Travaglia could play in several positions given his running ability, while Warragul’s Tauru was too talented to overlook.
“[Travaglia] has got great running capacity and all round ability, so we think there is potential for him to play midfield and Alix’s marking capacity at both ends of the ground, and his competitiveness, is something you would want in any team,” Misson said.
“[Simon Dalrymple’s] philosophy was really best-available at our picks, and we stuck to that and were really true to that.”
The Saints debated whether to split a pick for a couple later in the first round during the week, but never considered the option on the night. The Demons, meanwhile, were set on getting two players in to the club with their first two selections.
It was the tried and the true for the red and the blue as the Saints kept marching into an unknown future filled with hope and new heroes.
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