By Marc McGowan
It was the pick that triggered chaos on the first night of what was already billed as the most unpredictable of AFL drafts.
West Coast selecting Gippsland Power’s brilliant utility Willem Duursma at No.1, and pairing him with Calder Cannons ruck-forward Cooper Duff-Tytler – either side of bids on Gold Coast academy talent Zeke Uwland and Carlton-father-son gun Harry Dean – was expected.
An emotional Sam Grlj was swamped by friends and family after Andrew Dillon read his name out.Credit: AFL Photos
But Richmond’s two picks, after lodging unsuccessful bids on academy players Dylan Patterson (Suns) and Daniel Annable (Brisbane Lions), promised to have a trickle-on effect, particularly for Essendon and Melbourne.
The rumblings among recruiters in recent months revolved around the Tigers’ need for speed, which ended up being on the money – but meant overlooking draft bolter Sullivan Robey.
The Tigers opted for Sam Cumming with pick No.7.Credit: Justin McManus
The first hint of Richmond’s intentions came when their recruiting team’s flight to Mildura last week to visit midfielder-forward Sam Cumming became public knowledge, so it was also not a shock to see the Tigers select him at pick seven.
Richmond mulled over Robey and speed demons Xavier Taylor and Sam Grlj – one of only two players at the draft combine to run the two-kilometre time trial in less than six minutes – in the lead-up. But Grlj and his sizzling pace made him their man.
There was pre-draft talk among rival recruiters that Grlj might slide, potentially to Hawthorn or maybe beyond.
However, the Tigers’ recruiting manager Rhy Gieschen revealed afterwards they settled on Cumming and Grlj about a week-and-a-half ago – and he was chuffed their plans remained a secret.
Grlj’s two standout performances for Richmond’s VFL team convinced them of his bona fides before his brilliant testing at the combine effectively sealed the deal. The Tigers have now drafted nine players inside the top 30 of the past two drafts as their rebuild under Adem Yze goes into overdrive.
“We picked three key forwards last year, two inside mids, and Luke Trainor, who’s an intercept back, then Taj Hotton, who’s a bit of a hybrid forward-mid,” Gieschen said.
“Sam Grlj gives us that bounce and run. We think he could start at half-back; he’s got speed, lateral movement, and then he came out and ran a 5:59 in the 2km [trial], and it gave us great confidence that he can play back, mid [or] wing.”
Richmond named nine debutants this past season, and Gieschen believes both Grlj and Cumming can make an instant impact in 2026.
Cumming finished third in the best-and-fairest award for NSW club Wentworth’s senior side at the tender age of 14, and also played senior SANFL football for North Adelaide this year.
The Grlj selection meant new possibilities for Essendon, who had already secured Carlton’s pick nine (before bids) to arm them with three first-round selections. The last time that happened was in 2020, when the Bombers picked Nik Cox, Archie Perkins and Zach Reid.
The Bombers also did a good job of keeping their cards close to their chest, but gleefully selected Robey, the kid no one wanted at the start of the year.
The hulking teenager, who grew 17 centimetres in the past two years, went from dominating for Rowville’s senior side to setting games alight for Eastern Ranges after Dandenong Stingrays continually overlooked him.
They then opted for West Australian Jacob Farrow, who, similarly to Robey, was off-Broadway in the pre-season – and not even in his state squad then – but his name was up in lights long before Robey’s.
Essendon came away thrilled with their first-round haul, including Sullivan Robey.Credit: Justin McManus
Essendon also wanted Larke medallist and midfield brute Dyson Sharp, but had to wait for two Demons selections first.
Melbourne rated Cumming, Robey and Taylor very highly, so they were always going to snap any of that trio up if they slipped through.
The Dees went for Taylor, who was best afield in Eastern Ranges’ grand final victory, at No.11. Reflecting on that performance, Melbourne’s new dashing defender declared he was the standout performer on and off the ground that day.
Essendon’s first-round selections, Jacob Farrow, Robey, and Dyson Sharp.Credit: Justin McManus
That confidence appealed to Demons recruiting manager Jason Taylor.
“He’s a player who plays with real spirit and aggression. He’s got real speed and agility, gets through the first line of defence, and turns defence into offence – and that’s really important in today’s footy,” the recruiter said.
Latrelle Pickett was chosen with the same selection by the Demons as his cousin Kysaiah, pick No.12.Credit: Justin McManus
“He’s got a bit of spunk about him, the way he presents and plays, and a real will to win. He’s confident in a good way, and we feel like he plays footy in the manner that breeds success.”
Melbourne then went for All-Australian forward Kysaiah Pickett’s cousin, mercurial goalsneak Latrelle Pickett, who took off as a 19-year-old in the SANFL this year.
Taylor described the Pickett selection as filling a list need, but certainly keeps “Kozzy” happy. The Demons were so set on him that they made sure he was at the draft, and organised for his cousin to present him with his red-and-blue jumper.
South Australian winger-forward Cameron Nairn, who was on Melbourne’s shortlist, ended up getting to Hawthorn at pick 20.
But back to Essendon. With Sharp making it past the Demons, the Bombers were able to continue to replenish their midfield stocks with someone who looks a readymade player.
Essendon flirted with trying to score West Coast’s No.2 pick, and held discussions with the Eagles, but list boss Matt Rosa – the man entrusted with leading the Bombers’ recruiting after Adrian Dodoro’s departure – was pleased regardless to have a strong presence in this draft.
There were not always nice things said about the 2025 crop, but people at four clubs with great need for a change in fortune walked away happy.
The Eagles nabbed highly rated Victorians Duursma, Duff-Tytler and Josh Lindsay, while Richmond, Essendon and Melbourne all added top-tier talent that fit their needs.
“We really believed in the top end of this draft,” Rosa said.
“We wanted as much access to the high end of the draft as we could, and we wanted to pick as high as we could ... and we feel like we’ve walked out with a really good balance.”
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