Game Day 2022 AFL National Draft Thread (North's current picks - Sheezel, Wardlaw, #23, #63)

Remove this Banner Ad

Status
Not open for further replies.


2022 REPLAYS

Metro v Young Guns: Colgate Young Guns v Victoria Metro - Round 1
Country v Young Guns: Colgate Young Guns v Vic Country - Round 2
Fitzroy Cubs v Carlton VFL: AFL Diversity Talent Programs
Match Replay: NAB AFL Academy v Collingwood
Match Replay: 2022 SA v Allies: 2022 NAB AFL National Championships - U18

AFL DRAFT COMBINE RESULTS 2022

Vertical Jump

75cm – Darcy Jones (WA)
75cm – James Van Es (VIC C)
72cm – Jack O’Sullivan (VIC M)
70cm – Olli Hotton (VIC M)
70cm – Reuben Ginbey (WA)
70cm – Elijah Hewett (WA)
69cm – Jacob Konstanty (VIC C)
68cm – Blake Drury (VIC M)
68cm – Tyrell Dewar (WA)
68cm – Josh Weddle (VIC M)
68cm – Edward Allan (WA)

Running Vertical Jump

98cm – James Van Es (VIC C)
90cm – Josh Weddle (VIC M)
90cm – Will Verrall (SA)
89cm – Jack O’Sullivan (VIC M)
87cm – Darcy Jones (WA)
87cm – Mattaes Phillipou (SA)
84cm – Toby McMullin (VIC M)
83cm – Mitch Szybkowski (VIC C)
83cm – Reuben Ginbey (WA)
83cm – Anthony Munkara (ALLIES)
83cm – Lachlan Cowan (ALLIES)

Agility

7.072sec – Darcy Jones (WA)
8.182sec – Jaxon Binns (VIC C)
8.217sec – Elijah Hewett (WA)
8.247sec – Steely Green (WA)
8.255sec – Edward Allan (WA)
8.267sec – Luke Teal (VIC M)
8.285sec – Toby McMullin (VIC M)
8.292sec – Jacob Konstanty (VIC C)
8.325sec – Harry Rowston (ALLIES)
8.343sec – Noah Long (VIC C)

20m Sprint

2.814sec – Edward Allan (WA)
2.880sec – Toby McMullin (VIC M)
2.883sec – Coby Burgiel (VIC C)
2.910sec – James Van Es (VIC C)
2.912sec – Darcy Jones (WA)
2.924sec – Olli Hotton (VIC M)
2.928sec – Reuben Ginbey (WA)
2.929sec – Cooper Vickery (VIC C)
2.937sec – Josh Weddle (VIC M)
2.951sec – Lloyd Johnston (ALLIES)

2km Time Trial

5min 54sec – Ollie Hollands (VIC C)
5min 54sec – Jason Gillbee (ALLIES)
6min 00sec – Jaxon Binns (VIC C)
6min 03sec – Josh Weddle (VIC M)
6min 15sec – Reuben Ginbey (WA)
6min 16sec – Jakob Ryan (SA)
6min 17sec – Steely Green (WA)
6min 21sec – Will Dowling (SA)
6min 25sec – Blake Drury (VIC M)
6min 25sec – Seth Campbell (ALLIES)
6min 25sec – Mattaes Phillipou (SA)
Player Profiles and Updated Top 50 - Post Championships & Combine.

Comment -
Not much changed in the top 5,but a fair bit has changed beyond that. Also added in half a dozen more profiles which mostly feature at the end.

1. Will Ashcroft 06/05/04 - Sandringham Dragons - 183cm Midfielder - Professional and balanced midfielder who accumulates the footy at will. Consistency at all levels has been seriously impressive. Has nominated Brisbane to be a F/S selection. Will no doubt be taken inside the top 2 picks. Unfortunately didn't test at the combine.

2. George Wardlaw 18/07/04 - Oakleigh Chargers - 182cm Midfielder - Tough, fast and explosive inside midfielder. Has the ability to take first possession and explode from the contest making him very damaging. Had a tough run over the past 3 months with re-occurring hamstring injuries. Has excellent defensive intent and pressure. Didn't test at the combine as a precaution.

3. Harry Sheezel 13/10/04 - Sandringham Dragons - 183cm Forward/Mid - Classy half forward/mid who can find space in a phone booth. Sums up situations quickly and can hit the hardest of kicks. Duel sided, smart, and excellent over head. Composure and overhead marking a real feature in his game. Question marks on his speed and ability to transition to the midfield at AFL level, but I think he has the footy IQ to overcome those deficiencies.

4. Aaron Cadman 03/03/04 – GWV Rebels – 194cm Forward - High work rate and elite leading CHF. Works up and down the ground and get involved in possession chains. Has dynamic movement for a big man and is a decent grab, particularly on the lead. Needs to improve his set shot goal kicking. Cadman is no doubt the premier key forward in this years draft class, but I still have concerns about his height and game style and whether that will translate to being a 50+ goal key forward at AFL level.

5. Elijah Tsatas 18/10/04 - Oakleigh Chargers - 184cm Midfielder - Powerful running midfielder who can play inside and outside. He is a true line breaker, with a combination of long running gait and long kicking. High footy IQ with positioning around the ground allowing him to always stay involved. Kicking can sometimes be a little bit hit and miss. Missed a big portion of the year due to a foot fracture.

6. Oliver Hollands 16/01/04Murray Bushrangers – 182cm Midfielder/Defender - Versatile midfielder who can play inside/outside, wing or across half back. Has an elite tank, and is arguable one of the best disposer in the draft. A long kick who can also provide some run and carry. Won the 2km time trial at the combine to highlight his elite running capacity. Have him ranked far higher than others mainly due to his kicking.

7. Bailey Humphrey 11/09/04 – Gippsland Power – 184cm Forward - A tough and a powerful athlete who loves the physical side of the game. A real game breaker with his overhead contested marking, goal kicking, physicality and ability to step up in pressure situations. Large scope of development due to his power and general footy IQ.

8. Mattaes Phillipou 27/12/04 – Woodville-West Torrens – 192cm Midfielder/Forward - Powerful left footer who can break the game open either in the midfield or across half forward. Strong overhead and has goal kicking ability when playing forward. Huge amount of upside, but no obvious best position at AFL level at this stage.

9. Jedd Busslinger 11/03/04 - East Perth - 195cm – Defender - Elite intercept defender who is good overhead but also has an excellent kick for a big man. Isn't afraid to take the game on, but also can lock down on the big tall forwards. Equally at home to playing that third tall interceptor role. Has a slight frame at this stage so will take some time to mature before playing AFL footy. While I think he is an elite intercept defender I do have concerns as to whether he will be big enough (physically) to play as a genuine KP at AFL level.

10. Cam Mackenzie 21/01/04 – Sandringham Dragons – 187cm Forward/Mid - Rarely plays a bad game and has benefitted from playing alongside Ashcroft. Can win the footy at the coal face but can also provide some run on the outside. Is crafty around goal when resting forward.

11. Jhye Clark 23/07/04 - Geelong Falcons - 180cm Midfielder - Consummate professional who rarely has a bad game. Fantastic balance between inside and outside game. Balanced, clean and always stays involved. Lacks an athletic point of difference to those rated above him, but in my opinion he is a sure bet to be a 200 gamer. Slips down the rankings due to a poor combine.

12. Elijah Hewett 27/05/04 - Swan Districts – 27/05/04 - 186cm Midfielder - Powerful, tough and physical goal kicking midfielder. Has a good turn of speed and is explosive off his first 3-4 steps allowing him to get separation from the contest.

13. Reuben Ginbey 10/10/04 – East Perth - 189cm Midfielder/Defender - A shift from half back to inside mid seen him thrive at the championships. Has a mature body, and is at home in the contest. Ball use by hand is really solid, but decision making and execution by foot is a big area of his game that needs to improve. Showed a lot of form in the WAFL playing as an intercept half back with his marking a real feature. Tested really well at the draft combine.

14. Lachlan Cowan 01/12/04 - Tasmania Devils - 187cm Defender - Arguably the best half back in the draft, Cowan provides a tonne of drive with his ability to intercept and kick long. Provides good run and carry but also has good balance between his offensive and defensive game. Sees the game well and has a damaging footskills that make him a serious weapon across half back. Rarely has a bad game.

15. Lewis Hayes 17/12/04 – Eastern Ranges – 195cm Key Defender - Rangy intercepting key defender who I rate a lot higher than most. Has all the attributes you could want in a defender; closing speed, long limbs, positioning and ability to intercept. Can accumulate the footy as well if allowed to play a loose role. Impressive decision making and has the foot skills to be damaging when exiting D50. Will take some time to mature physically.

16. Isaac Keeler 23/04/04 - North Adelaide - 197cm Ruck/Forward - Freakishly gifted tall forward, who has impressive movement below his knees and goal kicking ability. A special athlete, who has a good leap and speed. Bucket loads of potential but still very raw.

17. Oli Hotton 06/09/04 – Sandringham Dragons – 181cm Midfielder - Skillful midfielder who is at home both on the inside and out on a wing. Works hard both ways and is an attacking threat inside forward 50. Has a touch of class and his decision making is excellent.

18. Matthew Jefferson 08/03/04 – Oakleigh Chargers – 194cm Forward - Strong marking athletic key forward who kicked 7 goals against WA in the champs. Is slight, and will take some time. Doesn't seem to accumulate much footy around the ground at this stage and does his best work closer to goal.

19. Alwyn Davey Jr 26/02/04 – Oakleigh Chargers – 180cm Forward - Slick & quick is the best way to describe Davey. Slices through traffic with speed and agility. Has beautiful finishing skills and loves getting forward of centre to impact the scoreboard. F/S to Essendon.

20. Henry Hustwaite 20/07/04 – Dandenong Stingrays – 193cm Midfielder/Defender - Tall mid/key defender who has been consistent in the NAB League. Equally at home across half back or as an inside mid, he shows composure where ever he plays. When playing midfield he is a clearance machine who takes first posession and always manages to get his hands free. Across half back he sets up play with his good decision making and skill. Hard to see where his best position is at AFL level, too small to be a key back, and probably doesn't have much point of difference to be a mid. I think he ends up being a 3rd tall defender who can setup behind the play.

22. Billy Dowling 01/07/04 – North Adelaide – 187cm Midfielder - Putting up stupid numbers in the SANFL U 18's, averaging nearly 32 disposals and 1.5 goals per game. Also had a consistent champs where he was arguably SA's most consistent mid. Hard worker who impacts the contest with physicality. Has a mature body and isn't afraid to put it on the line. Works hard both ways and is often seen in D50 while playing in the midfield. His ability to accumulate is up there with the best in the draft and I feel he is underrated because he lacks a point of difference athletically. His ability to find the footy highlights his high footy IQ.

22. Charlie Clark 04/01/04 – Sandringham Dragons – 182cm Forward - Had him ranked far lower in previous rankings, but after watching a few of his previous games he has surged up my rankings. He is crafty, has a mean streak and has an appetite for the goals. Has an impressive side step and loves to carry the ball with aggression. He is the type of player that doesn't need a lot of the footy to generate scoring opportunities. Has kicked 23.15 in 12 games this year including a bag of 7.

23. Mitch Szybkowski 09/01/04 – Dandenong Stingrays – 186cm Midfielder - Big bodied inside mid who thrives at the coal face. He is strong, and uses his big frame to advantage when extracting the footy. Displays excellent hands and vision to release players on the outside. Most have him inside the top 15 but he is a little bit one paced and doesn't have much versatility, which is why I rank him lower than others.

24. Jaspa Fletcher 24/02/04 – Brisbane Academy – 184cm Midfielder - Hard running winger who has shown he can also play inside. Has a bit of pace that he likes to use to break the lines. Has good skills and already has a good tank. Brisbane will do all they can to ensure he is a F/S.

25. Harry Barnett 22/01/04 – West Adelaide – 202cm Ruck - Best tap ruckman in the draft. Not to dissimilar to our very own Todd Goldstein, with his ruck craft and follow up work. Good below his knees and a good kick for a big man. Decent mark, and already covers the ground well.

26. Jed Hagan 15/10/04 – East Fremantle – 175cm Midfielder/Defender - Tenacious, physical and well rounded footballer. Arguably one of my favourite players in the draft, simple because he always shows up to play. Despite his height, he can play as an inside mid, winger, lock down defender or as a small forward. Has recently kicked multiple goals in the seniors for East Freo in the WAFL. Has very neat skills, a bit of toe and absolutely thrives in the contest. I think whoever picks him up will get a gem.

27. Harry Lemmey 30/01/04 - West Adelaide - 199cm Forward - Was a sure bet to be a top 5 pick after his impressive under age year. Hasn't quite come in as well as many expected this year. At his best, he is a strong contested mark and smart footballer who has really good skills for a guy his size. His inconsistency and failure to really dominant any games this year is concerning.

28. Tom Scully 02/11/04 – West Adelaide – 204cm Forward - Tall forward who burst on to the scene earlier this year with bag after bag of goals in the SANFL under 18's. Tall, long and mobile for a guy his size, Scully has good lead up play and positioning. He has good agility and ground level game for a kid his size. Form has dropped away a bit over the last couple of months and he failed to have an impact in his one champs game.

29. Darcy Jones 03/04/04 Swan Districts – 173cm Wing - Small, zippy midfielder who has a number of attributes well suited to AFL. Quick, agile, evasive and courageous. Jones loves taking the game on using his speed and creativity. Has neat skills and composure in space. Had an excellent draft combine by breaking the agility record.

30. Brayden George 13/01/04 – Murray Bushrangers – 185cm Forward - Medium powerful forward who has a real dynamic presence when inside 50. The type of player who just makes things happen either at ground level or in the air. One of the better contested marks in this years draft class. Recently done his ACL, which is why he has fallen down my draft rankings. In all reality, due to his talent he will most likely go far earlier than this pick.

31. Jacob Konstanty 09/11/04 - Gippsland Power - 176cm Forward - Clever goal sneak who has a real evasiveness in his game. Is arguably the most consistent small forward in this years draft class, he plays the game with a real physical edge. Run down tackles and defensive intent are a real feature of his game. Can push up into the midfield and get involved too. Has a good centre of balance, and rarely goes to ground in the contest. In order to be a real premium small he just needs to sharpen up his goal kicking and skill level around the ground.

32. Adam D'Aloia 09/04/04 - Woodville-West Torrens - 184cm Midfielder - SA skipper, who is a grunt midfielder who loves the physical stuff. High footy IQ who runs to the right areas to be damaging. Loves a goal, but is also very accountable. One of the best tacklers and two way runners in this draft pool.

33. Jakob Ryan 20/09/2004 – Glenelg – 188cm Defender - Athletic defender who sees the game well. Long kicking half back who likes to take the game on, he has a nice leap and solid contested mark. Can play up the ground on a wing or even across half forward.

34. Jaxon Binns 29/10/04 - Dandenong Stingrays - 182cm Wing - Hard running wingman who has the ability to accumulate the footy at will. Doesn't have much of an inside game, but uses his elite tank to find space and break the game open. Despite his ability to find the football, his disposal is sometimes questionable. Due to his athleticism and ability to play as an outside runner, there is still plenty of scope for development. Tested really well at the draft combine for most athletic traits, which is why he has moved up my draft order.

35. Max Gruzewski 21/07/2004 - Oakleigh Chargers - 193cm Forward/Defender - Athletic key position player who is happy playing at either end of the ground. Has strong hands and good lateral movement for his size. Some draft watchers believe he is now shaping as a top 30 pick, while I like him as a prospect I'm still unsure as to his best position at AFL level.

36. Anthony Munkara 3/10/04 - West Adelaide – 190cm – Forward - Mercurial and freakishly talented, Munkara has an eye for goals and has the ability to win games off his own boot. Has beautiful vision in traffic and the skills to match. Was touted as potential top 10 pick at the start of the year but has only played one championship game and a couple of games at SANFL. Unsure if he is injured or simply not playing footy. On talent alone he deserves to be placed much higher.

37. Sam Gilbey 14/05/04 - Claremont - 185cm Defender - Another classy half back, who has strong rebounding ability. Reads the play well and uses his elite vision and kicking to setup across half back. Reads the play well and is solid in the air. He has slipped down my rankings due to a broken leg a few weeks ago.

38. James Van Es 07/08/04 – GWV Rebels – 196cm Defender - Dour and tough key defender who locks down on the oppositions best key forwards. Has decent closing speed and is an aerial threat with his intercept marking. The type of footballer you can just rely on to do the basics right all of the time. Surprised a fair few at the combine with the way he tested.

39. Kobe Ryan 17/02/04 – West Adelaide – 183cm Midfielder - Quick midfielder who is at home either inside or outside the contest. Has a long kick and clean hands inside the contest. Works hard both ways, but also likes to impact the scoreboard. Has played some league footy at SANFL level which highlights his potential, average 30+ disposals per game at under 18's level.

40. Josh Weddle 25/05/04 – Oakleigh Chargers – 191cm Defender - Intercepting defender who often made to play as genuine key position player. Has strong hands and is excellent one v one. He provides good skill off half back but also has a bit of run in his game. Has excellent closing speed. He is now a couple of cm's taller, but still not quite tall enough to be a genuine key defender, which is why I have him lower than most.

41. Cooper Harvey 12/07/04 – Northern Knights – 180cm Midfielder - Nuggety and tough midfielder who has come back two consecutive fractured arms to play a big role in the Knights resurgence. Has a real defensive edge in his game which results in him providing multiple efforts in the contest. His tank and foot skills need some work, but there is plenty to work with. F/S to North this year, it is a bit of an unknown as to where a bid will come.

42. Jonti Schuback 18/03/04 - Gippsland Power - 183cm Wing - Dashing half back/wingman who isn't afraid to take the game on. Has a bit of toe and good evasiveness. One of my favourites from this years draft, has he has good footy IQ and rarely plays a bad game. Has good balance between his offensive and defensive game.

43. Coby Burgiel 09/09/04 - Gippsland Power - 183cm Midfielder - Hard running, consistent midfielder who can play on every line. Has really neat skills and is very capable around goals. At home either inside or outside the contest. Has an excellent agility which allows him to find space in and around the contest.

44. Callum Verrell 22/04/04 – Eastern Rangers – 187cm Defender - Reliable defender who rarely gets beaten. Verrell has good balance between his offensive and defensive game. Can lock down on opponents, but also provide some run and carry. His composure and balance in the contest really stands out. Is capable of going with both talls and smalls.

45. Nick Sadler 08/01/04 – Sturt – 180cm Midfielder/Defender - Capable of playing on every line, Sadler is a reliable footballer who does all the team things. Tackling and defensive effort are features of his game. Has very neat skills and decision making and is capable both inside and outside the contest. Biggest question mark is to what role best suits him at AFL level.

46. Max Michalanney 26/02/04 – Norwood – 191cm Defender - Half back who can play a variety of roles and is suited to playing on both talls and smalls. Offers some rebound but can also lock down on his direct opposition. F/S to Adelaide.

47. Luke Teal 20/05/04 – Oakleigh Chargers – 188cm Wing - Attacking half back/wing who can win the footy in the air and on the ground. He is smart, balanced and composed. Was looking as a likely top 25 pick before the start of the season but has played less than 10 games due to a number of niggly injuries.

48. Blake Drury 11/01/04 – Oakleigh Chargers – 177cm Wing - Zippy half forward/mid who loves kicking a goal. Drury has leadership qualities, effort and competitiveness in spades. Works up and down the ground and can get involved in the inside and on the outside as a link up player. Probably ends up being a half forward at AFL level, but there are concerns as to whether he has enough tools to overcome his stature.

49. Lloyd Johnston 10/08/04 – NT Thunder - 184cm Defender - Dashing and evasive half back who loves the take the game on either by foot or by using his speed. Has excellent intercept marking for his size due to his athleticism and leap.

50. Jaiden Magor 16/02/04 - South Adelaide - 185cm Forward/midfielder - Talented midfielder forward who has some serious assets. Has natural forward craft, and can kick goals from anywhere. Is both an aerial threat and a threat at ground level. Very capable in the midfield as well where he uses his ball use and evasiveness to good affect.


Next 10 in no particular order:

Jason Gillbee
15/04/04 – Bendigo Pioneers – 190cm Midfielder - Tall, lean and hard running midfielder who can also play as a running half back. Likes to take the game on with his run. Has no worries finding the footy, but his disposal often lets him down.

Kane Bevan 25/4/2004 - West Perth - 192cm Midfielder - Big bodied, strong inside mid who can get forward and provide a marking target. Bevan is a clearance/contested machine who uses his clean hands around the contest. Loves the physical side of the game, but lacks in the outside game department.

Noah Long 23/08/04 – Bendigo Pioneers – 178cm Forward/Midfielder - Creative small mid/forward who uses his zip in and around the contest to create separation. Played more forward in the championships and had an impact on the scoreboard. Has natural goal sense and the skills/creativity to finish. Has had an injury interrupted year.

Harry Rowston 12/08/04 – GWS Academy – 181cm Midfielder - The Allies MVP, a hard two way midfielder who thrives in the contest. Covers the ground well and uses the ball well particularly by hands. He is really good overhead and isn't afraid to go back with the flight of the ball when pushing back into defence. Lacks a little of a point of difference which is why he is down my order. GWS will no doubt match a bid for him which could come as early as the top 30.

Tom McCallum 15/05/2004 - Tasmania Devils - 192cm Defender - Undersized key defender who uses his body and positioning to beat bigger opponents. Is slight, but has good core strength that allows him to compete. Has some speed that allows him to break the lines. He is let down by an awkward kicking style that sometimes results in poor kicks particularly when he is on the move. His intercept game is really impressive which will translate well to AFL level. However, he will take some time to get a mature body.

Finn Emile-Brennan 07/05/04 – Dandenong Stingrays – 181cm Defender - Skinny, slight but classy half back who has composure and a nice turn of foot. Uses his speed and agility to break the lines, and despite his smaller stature he is a long, powerful kick of the football. Linked to the Demons academy, but I wouldn't imagine he will receive a bid inside the top 40. Looks a long term prospect and will take time considering his weight.

Hugh Bond 25/09/04 – GWV Rebels – 184cm Midfielder - Physical and tough inside mid that likes to heap the pressure on his opponents when they don't have the footy. Tackling and defensive intent, along with his inside work are real features of his game. Has an elite tank which allows him to get from contest to contest. His hands in close are excellent, but can sometimes seem rushed when using the ball by foot. Lacks a bit of composure and can sometimes be slow to dispose of the ball.

Rye Penny 03/01/04 – Calder Cannons – 185cm Defender - Elite athlete who has a good leap, some speed and agility. Suited to playing across half back or on a wing where he can put his running capacity and speed to good use. Can break the lines with run and carry but is equally at home flying for marks and intercepting. His decision making particularly when under pressure is what lets him down, but there are plenty of athletic traits to work with.

Edward Allen 26/05/2004 - Claremont - 194cm Midfielder - Rangy outside midfielder who has come onto the scene late in the piece, after avg close to 25 disposals per game late in the season at WAFL colts level. Despite testing incredibly well for both speed and agility, he is one of those players that doesn't seem to use it during the game. Clubs would see a huge scope for potential considering his athleticism and height.

Harvey Gallagher 26/09/2003 - Bendigo Pioneers - 179cm Defender - Overage defender, who was incredible consistent this year for the pioneers. Provides run and carry off half back, but is equally at home defending one on one.

Late Draft or Rookie List Options:

Paul Pascu
20/08/2004 - Calder Cannons - 183cm Midfielder - Balanced midfielder who can also play across half back. Has a beautiful kicking action and can kick well on both sides of his body. Is equally at home inside or outside the contest. Attacks the contest with vigour, but has finishing skills outside the contest as well. Has had an injury interrupted which has impacted his consistency and draft standing. Earlier this year he was considered a top 30 prospect. Players like him don't lose their talent so it wouldn't surprise me if he was taken in the top 40.

Toby McMullin 06/0/2004 - Sandringham Dragons - 182cm Forward/Mid - Solid midfielder/forward who has some AFL capable qualities. Tested well for the 20m sprint with a 2.88, but also has good game sense and finishing. Some clubs may see some potential in him, despite only avergaing 11 disposals per game at NAB league level.

Jack O'Sullivan 22/10/2004 - Oakleigh Chargers - 177cm Midfielder - Physical small midfielder who has good balance between his inside and outside game. Has excellent vision and kicking to match often opening up the play with neat kicking. Has had some injury concerns this year. Question marks has to whether he has enough tools to overcome his height at AFL level.

Shadeau Brain 13/02/2004 - Brisbane Academy - 185cm Forward - Physical half forward who has some impressive athletic tools. Has a defensive edge to his game, often applying high amounts of pressure inside forward 50. Not only is he defensive, but he has some flair with his speed, leap and agility. Needs to work on his production and finishing skill, but does have some AFL qualities.

Darcy Edmends 28/04/2004 - Northern Knights - 183cm Midfielder - Classy ball user who doesn't need a heap of possessions to have an impact. Makes good decisions with ball in hand, and is particularly damaging when kicking inside forward 50. Avg'd 18.6 disposals and close 7 marks per game at NAB league level which highlights his work rate.

Oscar Murdoch 24/09/2004 - Geelong Falcons - 190cm Defender - No fuss defender who toils away doing his job. Only avg'd 11 disposals across 11 games for the Falcons, but will come under consideration to be drafted after he featured in the final championship game where he was one of VC's best players. Provided excellent intercepting marking and disposal while playing on the dangerous Harry Sheezel.

Archie Lovelock 19/12/2001 - Glenelg - 178cm Midfielder - Classy midfielder who seems to be somewhat underrated. Has played good footy at every level he has played at this year. Featured in the bests for SA for 2 out of his 3 games. Was also best afield in the SANFL u 18's grand final where he outshone much more fancied draftees in Will Dowling and Jakob Ryan. Avg'd 26.3 disposals per game in under 18's as well as 6 tackles and 3 clearances. Is a strong runner with good defensive application.

Angus Anderson 31/12/2003 - Sydney Academy - 189cm Midfielder - Overage midfielder from Northern NSW. Anderson had 2 covid impacted years during his development as a 17 and 18 year old. Tough inside mid, who thrives at the coal face. Wins the ball and distributes well by hand. Has a good tank so gets from contest to contest well. Has a mature body which he loves to throw around. Has played AFL most of his life, but has played some rubgy as well which results in him having an exceptional tackling technique. Biggest knock on him is that he struggles to have an impact when not playing as a clearance midfielder.

Seth Campbell 29/12/04 – Tasmania Devils – 182cm Forward - Zippy half forward/wing who loves getting on the scoreboard. Pushes up the ground to provide an option through the midfield, and then works back hard into inside 50. Plays with real flair and creativity. This is matched with good vision and a skillset that allows him to hit some lower % kicks. Defensive intent is solid too. Still very raw but plenty to work with.

Oliver Northam 28/07/2004 - Geelong Falcons - 195cm Forward/Ruck - Athletic player who has been playing as a genuine ruckman for the Falcons. Has a solid leap that allows him to ruck against opposition far taller than him. Has good follow up work and is solid below his knees. Can go forward and kick a goal. Will be more suited to playing as a key forward at AFL level. Still very raw.

Jack Cleaver 22/05/04 – East Fremantle – 188cm Defender - Tough and courageous half back who can also push into the midfield. Has good balance between his defensive and offensive work. Can lock down on an opponent, but can also provide some run and carry when playing a more loose role. Kicking can be a little bit hit and miss. Has played a couple of senior games in the WAFL.

Noah Bradshaw 01/01/2003 - Murray Bushrangers - 183cm Midfielder - Son of Brisbane champion Daniel Bradshaw, he is a uncompromising and tough overage inside midfielder who thrives in the contest. Likes to release teammates by hand but also works well around the ground to provide an option. Has good defensive application, averaging nearly 6 tackles per game. Lacks a bit of speed, but makes up for it with Footy IQ. Potential F/S to Brisbane.

Jackson Broadbent 2/12/2004 - Peel - 201cm Ruck - Excellent tap ruckman who provides some follow up at ground level. Was rated as an early first round choice prior to this year but he hasn't had much of a consistent impact at WAFL level or in the championships. He covers the ground well and has neat skills for a ruckman, but he isn't much of a threat aerially at this stage.

Phoenix Foster 12/9/2004 - Norwood - 196cm Forward - Key Forward who has kicked 26 goals from 11 games in the SANFL under 18's. He is an aerial threat with strong contested marking and a good leap. He attacks the footy with vigour and can provide an option up the ground. Also can pinch hit in the ruck. Plenty to work with if taken later in the draft or as a rookie.

Nick Madden 17/5/2004 - GWS Academy - 204cm Ruck - Monster lumbering ruckman in the Braydon Pruess mould. Physical type who isn't afraid to throw his weight around. Because of his huge frame he has solid contested marking and can be a threat up forward. Endurance and overall athleticism is below average which means he is a rookie at best. In the GWS academy.

Will Verrall 11/03/2004 – South Adelaide – 200cm Ruck - Mobile ruckman who works hard once the footy hits the deck. Wins clearances and finds the footy around the ground. Has good skills for a ruck and can be a threat in the forward line. Biggest question mark is is he tall enough to be a genuine ruck at AFL level?

Max Knobel 27/06/2004 - Gippsland Power - 204cm Ruck - Son of Trent Knobel. Raw, but has plenty of upside. Looks to have a good tank and has a nice deft touch when palming the ball. Has improved out of sight in the last two months, getting more involved around the ground and with clearances. Will be a slow burn as it will take him a fair while to fill out.

Tyrell Dewar 27/03/2004 - Subiaco - 185cm Forward - General forward who is a threat both aerially and at ground level. Has excellent lateral movement which allows him to get separation. When in range he has excellent goal sense. Lacks a bit of consistency and is still quite raw.

Taj Campbell-Farrell 29/06/04 – Dandenong Stingrays – 185cm Midfielder - Morrish Medal winner, who is the epitome of consistency. Tough inside mid, who uses his physicality on the inside to win the footy, Has clean hands around the contest, and he knows his limits with his kicking. At this stage he lacks a bit of versatility in his game and there are questions marks as to how much upside he has.

Cooper Vickery 16/12/04 - Gippsland Power - 180cm Defender - Neat small defender who does all the team things, while also providing some run and carry. His skills combined with his good decision making means he is always makes the most of is possessions. Lacks a little bit of a point of difference compared to other defenders in the draft pool.

Ted Clohesy 09/06/04 – Geelong Falcons – 184cm Midfielder - Prolific inside mid who does his best work at the coal face. Avg 24 disposals and 7 tackles per game for the Falcons this year, which highlights the balance between his ball winning and defensive application. Releases the ball well by hands, but is also a good option when kicking the ball inside 50. Has a neat short field (30m) particularly to leading targets. At this stage lacks some versatility in his game.

Steely Green 09/01/2004 - East Fremantle - 178cm Midfielder/Defender - No fuss footballer who does all the basics right. A real footballer's footballer who can play a variety of roles inside and outside the contest or in the back pocket. he has defensive intent, neat skills and composure with ball in hand. Has played WAFL seniors this year in a strong side, which highlights his footy IQ and ability to step up to any level.

Kelsey Rypstra 02/05/2004 - North Adelaide -172cm Forward - Zippy small forward who has a real energy about his game. Provides excellent pressure and defensive intent, but is also crafty around goals. He is tough, and has a low centre of gravity which makes him hard to tackle. Played more midfield at U 18's level but will be suited to a small forward role at AFL level. Unfortunately done his ACL just after mid year, which may impact his draft chances.

Jovan Petric 17/4/2004 - Western Jets - 196cm forward - Athletic key forward who works hard around the ground. Has good speed off the mark which allows him to get separation on his opponents. Decent at ground level and can also rotate through the ruck. Was consistent at Nab League level but didn't have much of an impact at championship level.

Will Splann 25/10/2003 - Tasmania Devils - 195cm Forward - Overage key forward who has a mature body. Very much a lead, mark and kick Full Forward. Doesn't offer a heap around the ground, but does the basics well. Leading patterns and multiple efforts repeat leads highlight his forward craft. Lacks a bit at ground level and overall athleticism which is why he is a rookie option.

Casey Voss 14/9/2000 - Sturt - 182cm Defender - Mature age intercepting half back who's game has gone from strength to strength over the last 2 years. He was looked at as a mature age option for the MSD but was overlooked. His pure weight of numbers in the SANFL is hard to ignore. Averaging 24 disposals, 9 marks, 6 rebound 50's. Voss is strong in the air, composed and very neat by foot. His overall athleticism is probably the only thing holding him back.

Mutaz El Nour 14/8/2001 - Northern Bullants - 192cm Defender - Athletic defender who has impressive skills, overhead marking and closing speed. After a solid first half of the year, El Nour was unlucky not to be drafted in the MSD. Unfortunately didn't play much in the 2nd half of this year due to a number of niggling injuries. In a draft that is lacking a bit of depth after the top 40. Development players like El Nour who have high potential may appeal in the rookie draft.

Ethan Phillips 17/7/1999 - Port Melbourne - 196cm Defender - The premier key defender in the VFL won the Fothergill medal for most talented player under 24 years old. Phillips has strong hands, and has elite positioning that allows him to cut off attacks. He has excellent one on one but lacks a little bit of top end speed which means he can be exposed on the lead against quicker opponents. With a lack of key position players in this draft he will appeal as a ready made option.

Another extended write up for a lesser known prospect who I really like:

Jaiden Magor 16/02/04 - South Adelaide - 185cm Forward/midfielder - Talented midfielder forward who has some serious AFL qualities. Prior to this year it was looking as though he could be a first round prospect, but he probably didn't come on as much as expected, especially as a genuine mid. He also didn't have as much impact as he would've been hoping for at the championships. Nonetheless, he still has stacks of natural potential. He has natural forward craft, and can kick goals from anywhere. It doesn't matter if they are snaps, on the run or from a set shot. Magor, is also both an aerial threat and a threat at ground level. Outside of Sheezel, he is probably the cleanest and most balanced ground level player in this draft. He has also shown that he is very capable in the midfield as well where he uses his ball use and evasiveness to good affect. For a 185cm player, his marking is impressive. The reason why his marking is so impressive is his ability to time the ball while also protecting the ball drop. He has natural footy IQ and goal sense but also has defensive tenacity, with solid tackling and pressure. He has performed consistently in the SANFL under 18's over the past two years and represented SA at both under 17 and under 18 level.

At championship level he played 2 of 4 games. He got squeezed out of the midfield due to the likes of Ryan, D'Aloia and Dowling dominating the centre square. Played mainly across half forward and showed small flashes of brilliance and vision. Featured in the bests against the Allies where he had 20+ disposals and kicked 2 goals.

At SANFL U18's level he played 10 games, avg'd 22.4 disposals, 6 marks and 3 tackles, 4 clearances and 2.3 goals per game. He only went goalless once, splitting his time between deep forward and the midfield. His best game came in round 8 against Glenelg where he was a level above the opposition. He stuffed the stat sheet with 41 disposals, 9 marks, kicked 2.1 and 4 tackles. Also kicked a bag of 6 and another bag of 5 in the last two games on the season. Was surprising he didn't get a chance in the reserves or seniors considering his consistent form.

 
Last edited:
Brisbane currently have 34,35,36 and 38.

On that metric alone after the Ashcroft bid our picks become 36 and 39, So youre planning on using those two picks to move up three or four spots?

Aim higher

Intent was just to discuss options from the board's draft gurus if we had an extra list spot and a pick in the 30-40 range. Not the trade itself.
 

Log in to remove this ad.

Pick 23 in this order: Cowan -> Konstanty -> Keeler-> Clarke -> George -> Gruzewski

Pick 31 in this order (assuming none of the above are available): Lemmey -> Scully -> Barnett -> Weddle -> Hagan -> Dowling -> Binns

#23 - Cowan, Hustwaite, Weddle, Gruzewski, Konstanty <------- In that order

#31 - Binns, Jakob Ryan, Jack Cleaver, Jed Hagan, Charlie Clarke <----- In that order

For those interested this would be the "cross them off" merged list if RF08 and Souupy were running our drafting.

Selected by both recruiters, in descending order of preference.
  1. Cowan
  2. Konstanty
  3. Gruzewski
  4. Weddle
  5. Charlie Clark
  6. Binns
  7. Hagan
Extra time needed, only one of our recruiters nominated these guys.
  1. Hustwaite
  2. Keeler
  3. George
  4. Scully
  5. Jakob Ryan
  6. Jack Cleaver
  7. Dowling
Be interesting how this wisdom of the mini-crowd maps against our eventual pick(s).
 
Herald Sun released an article and it has something to do with Wardlaw, but not wiling to give money to a subscription. Can someone hook us up in the thread?
 
For those interested this would be the "cross them off" merged list if RF08 and Souupy were running our drafting.

Selected by both recruiters, in descending order of preference.
  1. Cowan
  2. Konstanty
  3. Gruzewski
  4. Weddle
  5. Charlie Clark
  6. Binns
  7. Hagan
Extra time needed, only one of our recruiters nominated these guys.
  1. Hustwaite
  2. Keeler
  3. George
  4. Scully
  5. Jakob Ryan
  6. Jack Cleaver
  7. Dowling
Be interesting how this wisdom of the mini-crowd maps against our eventual pick(s).
What about Ethan Phillips from port is he a option I would rather him as a rookie but other clubs looking at drafting him in national draft
 
Scott Gumbleton, Paddy McCartin, Tim Walsh, Mitch Thorp…
Did all these players miss most of the year they got drafted through injury?
I remember Gumbelton played a lot of senior footy for Peel Thunder his draft year.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t recall the others having concerns on their bodies holding up coming into the draft?
Freeman wasn’t considered a big injury risk when drafted… he didn’t miss big chunks of junior footy, it was only after he got drafted that his hammies went
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Did all these players miss most of the year they got drafted through injury?
I remember Gumbelton played a lot of senior footy for Peel Thunder his draft year.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t recall the others having concerns on their bodies holding up coming into the draft?
Freeman wasn’t considered a big injury risk when drafted… he didn’t miss big chunks of junior footy, it was only after he got drafted that his hammies went
You're right. Even the "misses" I put up aren't the flip side of the Judd / Selwood coin. Who are some players who were injured for most of their top age year, were drafted high anyway and turned out to be busts?
 
Herald Sun released an article and it has something to do with Wardlaw, but not wiling to give money to a subscription. Can someone hook us up in the thread?
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...ws-story/73889d2e5aaab688f1c462a9ec6101d8?amp this?


https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...s-story/73889d2e5aaab688f1c462a9ec6101d8?amp#



anonymous-breach-pixel registered-breach-pixel subscriber-breach-pixel

AFL draft 2022: All the latest news and whispers​

Joe Richards is a 22-year-old school teacher, who hasn’t played any state-league football this year – but he could be picked in the first half of the draft. Here are the interested clubs.

Chris Cavanagh, Dan Batten and Jay Clark

14 min read
November 12, 2022 - 8:04AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...89d2e5aaab688f1c462a9ec6101d8?amp#share-tools
Media-link

Get an insight into this year's AFL draft class!
There are less than three weeks to go until the AFL national draft as clubs continue to piece together their final draft boards.

Here’s all the latest news from around the traps.

COUNTRY SMOKEY CONTINUES TO RISE

The meteoric rise of country footy smokey Joe Richards continues with the livewire set to be taken in the national draft from relative obscurity.
Interest has ramped up significantly for the 22-year-old school teacher, who has turned heads in the Ovens and Murray League for the Wangaratta Magpies this year.
Draft bolter Joe Richards tests at the Victorian State Combine. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos

Draft bolter Joe Richards tests at the Victorian State Combine. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos
An exciting forward with speed and innate goal sense, Richards could be taken as early as the second round — an incredible feat given he hasn’t played state league football this season.
His coach, former Magpies premiership player Ben Reid, told the Herald Sun last month that he possesses plenty of AFL traits and believed he he would improve exponentially in an AFL system.
Reid’s former club Collingwood, Port Adelaide and grand finalists Geelong and Sydney are among the clubs to show interest in Richards.
Loading video




ROOS EYEING DUO DESPITE CLUB CONCERNS

North Melbourne has been urged to take explosive underage midfielder George Wardlaw with complete confidence that his nightmare hamstring issues are behind him.
The Kangaroos are eyeing Wardlaw, who has been likened to Patrick Dangerfield, and jet forward Harry Sheezel with picks two and three in this year’s draft.
It leaves Essendon with a tough choice at pick four between a group of talented midfield products including Oakleigh’s Elijah Tsatas (186cm) and Gippsland’s Bailey Humprey (186cm), and three other bigger-bodied ballwinners Mattaes Phillipou (190cm), Reuben Ginbey (189cm) and Cam Mackenzie (188cm).
Wardlaw suffered three hamstring strains in the back half of the season which have concerned clubs and prompted recruiters to zero in on his medical screening results.
But Wardlaw’s Oakleigh Chargers coach, Jason Davenport, said there were zero long-term concerns over his run of hamstring problems which saw him miss the national carnival and draft combine testing.
Davenport said the explosive midfielder was an incredible talent who was simply a victim of bad luck combining school footy with St Kevin’s and the NAB League this season.
George Wardlaw has been sidelined with hamstring injuries this year. Picture: Getty Images

George Wardlaw has been sidelined with hamstring injuries this year. Picture: Getty Images
“Medically there are zero ongoing concerns in regards to the injury because he could have played in the last (Vic) Metro game and it was the same with the draft combine,” Davenport said.
“We all just wanted to be extremely conservative with him so he could really just prepare for when he goes into an AFL program and be ready to start from the get-go.
“He is a pretty special player and an excitement machine, who fans will quickly fall in love with.
“There’s some Dangerfield in him with regard to his overhead marking, because he plays like he is on pogo sticks the way he can get up off the ground.
“And he is very, very tough. His willingness in the contest and in the big moments to win the ball – and this is the Dangerfield comparison – to dive on hand grenades or do something out of the ordinary to put teammates in better positions impacts the outcomes of games.
“He is very courageous with his contest stuff.”
Greater Western Sydney is set to take Vic Country key forward Aaron Cadman with the No. 1 pick it traded from North Melbourne.
The Kangaroos stepped back in the order from one to two because of how highly it rated Wardlaw (182cm) and Sheezel (185cm) despite pleas for the club to target another key forward.
Sandringham gun Will Ashcroft is considered the best player in this draft and is headed to Brisbane Lions as a father-son with the first move on draft night on November 28.
For North, Sheezel provides some firepower and class to the forward half where he could slot alongside Nick Larkey, Cameron Zurhaar and, in time, Charlie Comben.
Essendon face one of the toughest calls on draft night where it will likely attempt to add more size and power to its engine room to join Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish.
Attacking ball magnet Tsatas is widely considered the top talent at the Bombers’ pick four, and Davenport backed his attitude and capacity to deliver for his AFL club from next season.
“I love Elijah and George and Elijah are very different, yet best of friends,” Davenport said.
“Elijah is super competitive and unbelievably determined and he wants to be great.
“I certainly found him to be extremely coachable.”

BLUES FAN A CHANCE TO JOIN HERO

A Carlton fan who models his game on Sam Walsh is firmly in the mix to join to the Blues with the club’s first pick in this year’s draft.
Ollie Hollands is a wingman or onballer from the Murray Bushrangers who is understood to be in the sights of Carlton and is one of 12 players who has been invited to the first night of the national draft.
The Blues – who hold pick 10 – are interested in bolstering their stocks of strong-running midfielders and Hollands fits the bill as a player who finished equal-first in the 2km time trial at the national draft combine last month.
Oliver Hollands is a strong-running midfielder. Picture: Getty Images

Oliver Hollands is a strong-running midfielder. Picture: Getty Images
The 18-year-old hails from Wodonga but has spent the past three years at Geelong Grammar and is the brother of Gold Coast Suns wingman Elijah Hollands.
The pair’s great-grandfather Martin Cross played 36 VFL games for Carlton in the 1960s and their father Ben played eight games for Richmond in 1999.
“I spent the first half of the year playing different types of roles like half forward, wing, halfback, spent a little bit of time in the midfield,” Hollands said.
“So I definitely feel like being able to have that experience and play a mix of different roles has really helped develop my game.”
Hollands has had multiple interviews with the Suns this year, but Gold Coast is believed to have other targets at pick 5.
That means Hollands looks more likely to play against his brother at AFL level than with him.
“I feel like we’d probably get into each other a little bit, just that competitiveness between the two of us,” he said.
“But I think it would be good fun and a good challenge.”
Essendon has also expressed strong interest in Hollands, but currently only hold picks 4 and 22.
This article contains features which are only available in the web versionTake me there

DONS DRAFT DOMINO TO SHAPE TOP 10

Essendon is set to shape the top-10 of this month’s draft with their prized selection at pick four the domino that can shake up the order.
As has been the case in previous years with the notoriously cryptic Bombers, those in the draft space are finding it difficult to get a read on who they will take with their first pick – which will be at No. 5 after Will Ashcroft’s expected bid inside the first two selections.
A host of midfielders – Elijah Tsatas, Mattaes Phillipou, Reuben Ginbey, Bailey Humphrey and recently Elijah Hewett – have been linked to the Bombers’ prized pick.
Essendon has shown strong interest in South Australian Phillipou, a dynamic 190cm prospect who is the son of former Bulldog Sam, with the club interviewing him three times in the lead-up.
Top South Australian AFL draft prospect Mattaes Phillipou, with his dad, Sam, and grandfather, Peter, who are both former Eagles. Picture: Dean Martin

Top South Australian AFL draft prospect Mattaes Phillipou, with his dad, Sam, and grandfather, Peter, who are both former Eagles. Picture: Dean Martin
The midfielder-forward would bring something different to their midfield mix with his height, composure in traffic and his capacity to be used in attack.
Tsatas has been billed as a top-five selection throughout the year despite sitting out most of the year with injury, with the ball magnet adding inside skills his damaging outside game in a stellar season where he won Oakleigh Chargers’ best and fairest from just five matches.
But the 187cm midfielder could be as a potential slider in the top 10 if the Bombers look elsewhere, with the Bombers’ selection poised to have a significant say on what happens next.
Geelong Falcons prospect Jhye Clark has been strongly linked to Geelong’s selection, while West Australian youngster Ginbey is unlikely to get past West Coast’s selection (pick nine after Ashcroft bid), with the athletic midfielder also linked to both Essendon and Gold Coast.
Humphrey, who bolted into top-10 calculations with his game-breaking feats as a powerful midfielder and dangerous forward, is expected to be taken anywhere from the Bombers’ selection to Carlton’s at pick 11.
Is the next Alex Rance coming out of the draft? Picture: Michael Klein

Is the next Alex Rance coming out of the draft? Picture: Michael Klein

THE RANCE-LIKE DEFENDER IN SIGHTS OF PIES, HAWKS, BOMBERS

A defender who has drawn comparisons to former Richmond star Alex Rance has “come with a bullet” in the second half of the year to firm as a top draft prospect.
Recruiters believe Oakleigh Chargers backman Josh Weddle has “enormous upside”, which has seen him attract significant interest ahead of this month’s national draft.
Weddle had looked a mid-to-late draft pick early in the year but is now expected to be snapped up somewhere between picks 15 and 30 on the back of his rapid improvement.
He measures 192cm but can play taller given he has a great athletic profile and is ultra competitive.
“He’s athletically very strong. He’s explosive. He can play on talls, he can play on smalls,” Oakleigh talent manager Jy Bond said.
“AFL clubs are pretty excited about him and his ability to play both ends – mid, back, forward. He’s come on really well.”
Weddle ranked second in the running vertical jump at the national draft combine and also posted impressive results in the 20m sprint and 2km time trial tests.
He is believed to have attracted interest from clubs including Collingwood, Hawthorn and Essendon – who all hold picks in the 20s.
Clubs including Collingwood, Hawthorn and Essendon have been linked to defender Josh Weddle. Picture: Getty Images

Clubs including Collingwood, Hawthorn and Essendon have been linked to defender Josh Weddle. Picture: Getty Images

MOMENTUM BUILDING ON ALLAN

Rival clubs believe West Coast may pounce on strong-running midfielder Ed Allan with their first pick as other sides circle this year’s big draft bolter.
The Eagles – who hold picks 8, 12, 20 and 26 – have shown significant interest in the 194cm West Australian, who is the son of former Hawthorn and Fremantle player Ben.
But Carlton (pick 10) also likes the look of Allan, along with the likes of Melbourne (pick 13) and Sydney (pick 14).
Given the Blues’ interest, if the Eagles don’t take Allan at pick 8 he could be off the board by pick 12.
Allan has good size and speed and is a strong runner who was the quickest player over 20m at the national draft combine.
He played limited football this year due to a stress fracture in his back but starred in the five games he played late in the season for Claremont in the WAFL Colts.
West Coast has also been strongly linked to 196cm West Australian key defender Jedd Busslinger at pick 8 and are also believed to be considering South Australian midfielder-forward Mattaes Phillipou and Victorian midfielder Cameron Mackenzie.

TWO CLUB PLAYER, VFL GUN LOOM AS MATURE-AGE DRAFTEES

Two Port Melbourne mature-agers loom as possible pick-ups in this month’s draft intake, including a former AFL player who has been compared to All-Australian Jack Sinclair by one of the Saints’ former coaches.
VFL intercept king Ethan Phillips – who won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal after breaking Sam Collins’ intercepts record in the VFL – and former Roo and Demon Corey Wagner have both attracted interest from clubs ahead of the draft.
Phillips, who would become the 16th consecutive recipient of the VFL’s best young player award to land on an AFL list, has generated interest from three clubs as a ready-made 198cm key defender with the ability to intercept like Paddy McCartin.
Ethan Phillips with the 2022 Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Ethan Phillips with the 2022 Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images
Wagner, 25, emerged as a contender to get his third crack in the AFL system after a move to halfback this year which proved a revelation.
Fremantle is his most likely destination as a rookie with the club showing strong interest in the speedy defender.
Wagner has been out of the AFL system since he was delisted by the Demons after one season at the club in 2019.
Borough coach Adam Skrobalak says his speed and ball-use draw similarities to Sinclair – who Skrobalak coached for seven years at St Kilda during his time at the club as a line coach – and believes he would be an “unbelievable” addition for a club.
Corey Wagner with the Demons in 2019. Picture: AAP

Corey Wagner with the Demons in 2019. Picture: AAP
He has been compared to St Kilda’s Jack Sinclair. Picture: Mark Stewart

He has been compared to St Kilda’s Jack Sinclair. Picture: Mark Stewart
“To me (Wagner) plays very, very similar to Jack Sinclair. He’s come up and made All-Australian this year and he’s got similar attributes,” Skrobalak said.
“He’s a great runner, he’s got speed, he’s really strong in the contest and he has great ball-use, he just sees gaps and can open up the play. If there’s a team there that is looking for someone who can defend really well and then really help them on offence, he’d be unbelievable.”
“He’s had two cracks at it before but now playing off a halfback and getting a greater understanding of where he is at with his footy, he has just gone to another level.”
He also said Phillips’ reading of the play and elite intercept traits have elements of Sydney pick-up Paddy McCartin.
“Ethan is obviously a bit bigger than Paddy but he has always been able to read the ball very well, even when he was a forward at St Kilda when I was there from a young age,” he said.
“There’s definitely some similarities in how they read the ball off the boot and the confidence to come off their opponent and intercept.”

HOW BIDS WILL IMPACT THE DRAFT

The Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Melbourne will be among the clubs to benefit from father-son and academy bids which will cause picks to move in considerably from the second round of the draft.
Brisbane, who has access to father-son prospects Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher, will be forced to use significant draft capital to match rival bids.
Media-link
This is certain to include their four selections in the 30s - 34, 35, 36 and 38 - with Ashcroft expected to attract a bid inside the first two selections and a bid for Fletcher set to come in the 15-25 range.
Father-son and academy prospects can be matched at a 20 per cent discount — a bid at pick one for Ashcroft would require 2400 draft points alone to match, with Brisbane’s four picks in the 30s worth 2031 points in total.

Will Ashcroft could receive a bid at pick one. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
It means the North Melbourne (40 and 43) Hawthorn (41 and 48), Western Bulldogs (pick 39) and Melbourne (pick 37) will come in several spots in a promising stage of the draft.
Sydney, Fremantle, Carlton are other clubs that hold selections in the 40s which will move up.
Intrigue also surrounds where bids will come for Essendon father-son Alwyn Davey Jr, Giants Academy forward-midfielder Harry Rowston and Adelaide father-son defender Max Michalanney.
Media-link
Rowston is now tipped to receive a bid at the back-end of the first round, shaping as a late bolter after a strong finish to the season.
A bid at this stage would wipe out the Giants’ next pick at 19 — a valuable selection at the beginning of the second round — which would give West Coast the first pick on the second night of the national draft.
The Giants are expected to match a bid for the Binya product, who told the Herald Sun last month that he would be happy to play at any club.
“It doesn’t worry me, obviously coming from the country (travel is) not something that I’m foreign to. Wherever I go I’m more than happy to move and make it work,” Rowston said.
The Bombers hold pick 22 and a bid before this stage on Davey would likely swallow up that second round selection.

BARNETT THE BEST RUCK

This year’s draft isn’t flush with exciting young ruckmen, but clubs who are shopping around for a big man to develop are keeping a close eye on South Australian Harry Barnett.
The 202cm giant from West Adelaide is the standout ruck prospect in this year’s draft and looms as a potential late second-round or early third-round selection.
“He’s a bit inconsistent but his best is pretty good,” one recruiter said.
Barnett’s follow-up work around stoppages has caught the eye this season, while he has also shown an ability to impact up forward on occasion.
Barnett played three games for South Australia in the under-18 national championships, averaging 11.7 disposals and 14.7 hit-outs.
He also featured in two senior SANFL games.
Giants Academy member Nick Madden is another ruckman who has attracted some attention this year.
While he is relatively raw and will take time, Madden has some upside as an 18-year-old who is already 204cm and 112kg.

Harry Barnett is the best ruckman in this year’s draft pool. Picture: Getty Images

SAINTS MAY USE FOUR PICKS

While a number of clubs only have – or are only planning to use – two picks in this year’s draft, other sides are considering making up to four selections.
St Kilda is one club which could come away with a more sizeable draft haul than most, given it holds picks 9, 28, 32 and 47.
Even if the Saints use all four selections, they would still be left with two open list spots to use during the pre-season supplementary selection period or next year’s mid-season draft.
While there are question marks over the depth of this year’s draft, some clubs believe there could still be players they like available in the 40s.
The Saints have been linked to their Next Generation Academy prospect Cameron Mackenzie at pick 9 and are also believed to have some interest in West Australian key defender Jedd Busslinger.
A player like explosive Gippsland Power midfielder-forward Bailey Humphrey would also be a nice fit for St Kilda.
However, Humphrey is expected to already be off the board by pick 9, given he has some strong interest from Hawthorn (pick 6).
The Saints were thrilled with their draft haul last year and believe another good draft could help set them up for success under new coach Ross Lyon.

DANDENONG DRAFT SLIDER

Will Mitch Szybkowski be the latest inside midfielder to slide?
In recent drafts we have seen midfielders Jack Graham (taken at pick 53 in 2016) — who won the Larke Medal as the best player at the national championships — and James Worpel (45 in 2017 draft) slide down the board, and Szybkowski could be a similar story this year.
Interest has waned for the tough inside midfielder, who was one of Vic Country’s best players at the national championships, where he averaged 24 disposals and 102 ranking points.
He put in modest performances in Dandenong’s losing NAB League grand final and the final championships game, but he played in both in the space of a week after returning from illness.
Szybkowski could slide as far as the 40s, where Hawthorn looms as a suitor with their picks at 41 and 48, which are set to come in after father-son bids are matched.
The standing of Syzbkowski’s Stingrays teammate Jaxon Binns has been elevated in recruiting circles with the elite runner shaping as an option from the second round onwards for a club looking for a wingman.

Mitch Szybkowski (left) looms as a draft slider. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Dons, Crows make big calls on top NGA talents

—Matt Turner
Essendon has nominated West Adelaide forward Anthony Munkara through the Next Generation Academy process.
But the Crows have not committed to North Adelaide forward/ruck Isaac Keeler, who will instead be in the open pool at this month’s national draft.
Munkara, 18, has been viewed as something of a mystery prospect because he has not played since July after returning home to the Tiwi Islands due to a series of family tragedies in a short period.
Clubs had until last Wednesday to decide on their NGA nominees.

Anthony Munkara.
The Bombers chose to ensure priority access for the 188cm talent but Adelaide did not do the same with SA under-18 big man Keeler.
Under the system’s rules this year, clubs cannot match bids on nominated NGA players until after pick 40, giving other teams the chance to draft them beforehand.
Essendon will be able to rookie-list Munkara if no one selects him.
Munkara, who tested at last month’s national combine, impressed playing for an AFL academy team against Collingwood’s VFL side in May.
But recruiters did not see much of him this year.
He lined up in just two official under-18 games for West Adelaide in 2022, kicking 4.1 in the first and 2.0 in the second, and sparingly in college ranks for Westminster.
In his sole national under-18 championships match for the Allies, he injured his ankle.
Recruiters rate Munkara’s talent but are split about his draft prospects because of his limited appearances.

Adelaide has not nominated Isaac Keeler.
Father-son duo Alwyn and Jayden Davey are also tied to the Bombers this year.
Essendon has picks 4, 22, 54, 62, 68 and 72.
There is a reasonable chance Keeler, who has been likened to Paddy Ryder, will not be available after pick 40 anyway, given he is viewed as a potential second-round selection.
Adelaide, which is tipped to make two picks, holds 46, 56 and 59.
It had already nominated Norwood defender Max Michalanney as a father-son prospect.
The national draft will be held on November 28 and 29.
 
Brisbane currently have 34,35,36 and 38.

On that metric alone after the Ashcroft bid our picks become 36 and 39, So youre planning on using those two picks to move up three or four spots?

Aim higher
Incorrect.
After the Ashcroft bid our picks will be 37 and 40.
Ashcroft eats 4 picks yes.
But one pick goes the other way. For example our pick 2 becomes pick 3.
Your right in that will be the best our picks will be post Ashcroft and before Davey/ Fletcher bids happen. But everyone's picks go back one pick ours included.
 
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...ws-story/73889d2e5aaab688f1c462a9ec6101d8?amp this?


https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...s-story/73889d2e5aaab688f1c462a9ec6101d8?amp#



View attachment 1552672View attachment 1552671View attachment 1552670

AFL draft 2022: All the latest news and whispers​

Joe Richards is a 22-year-old school teacher, who hasn’t played any state-league football this year – but he could be picked in the first half of the draft. Here are the interested clubs.

Chris Cavanagh, Dan Batten and Jay Clark

14 min read
November 12, 2022 - 8:04AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...89d2e5aaab688f1c462a9ec6101d8?amp#share-tools
Media-link

Get an insight into this year's AFL draft class!
There are less than three weeks to go until the AFL national draft as clubs continue to piece together their final draft boards.

Here’s all the latest news from around the traps.

COUNTRY SMOKEY CONTINUES TO RISE

The meteoric rise of country footy smokey Joe Richards continues with the livewire set to be taken in the national draft from relative obscurity.
Interest has ramped up significantly for the 22-year-old school teacher, who has turned heads in the Ovens and Murray League for the Wangaratta Magpies this year.
Draft bolter Joe Richards tests at the Victorian State Combine. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos

Draft bolter Joe Richards tests at the Victorian State Combine. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos
An exciting forward with speed and innate goal sense, Richards could be taken as early as the second round — an incredible feat given he hasn’t played state league football this season.
His coach, former Magpies premiership player Ben Reid, told the Herald Sun last month that he possesses plenty of AFL traits and believed he he would improve exponentially in an AFL system.
Reid’s former club Collingwood, Port Adelaide and grand finalists Geelong and Sydney are among the clubs to show interest in Richards.
Loading video




ROOS EYEING DUO DESPITE CLUB CONCERNS

North Melbourne has been urged to take explosive underage midfielder George Wardlaw with complete confidence that his nightmare hamstring issues are behind him.
The Kangaroos are eyeing Wardlaw, who has been likened to Patrick Dangerfield, and jet forward Harry Sheezel with picks two and three in this year’s draft.
It leaves Essendon with a tough choice at pick four between a group of talented midfield products including Oakleigh’s Elijah Tsatas (186cm) and Gippsland’s Bailey Humprey (186cm), and three other bigger-bodied ballwinners Mattaes Phillipou (190cm), Reuben Ginbey (189cm) and Cam Mackenzie (188cm).
Wardlaw suffered three hamstring strains in the back half of the season which have concerned clubs and prompted recruiters to zero in on his medical screening results.
But Wardlaw’s Oakleigh Chargers coach, Jason Davenport, said there were zero long-term concerns over his run of hamstring problems which saw him miss the national carnival and draft combine testing.
Davenport said the explosive midfielder was an incredible talent who was simply a victim of bad luck combining school footy with St Kevin’s and the NAB League this season.
George Wardlaw has been sidelined with hamstring injuries this year. Picture: Getty Images

George Wardlaw has been sidelined with hamstring injuries this year. Picture: Getty Images
“Medically there are zero ongoing concerns in regards to the injury because he could have played in the last (Vic) Metro game and it was the same with the draft combine,” Davenport said.
“We all just wanted to be extremely conservative with him so he could really just prepare for when he goes into an AFL program and be ready to start from the get-go.
“He is a pretty special player and an excitement machine, who fans will quickly fall in love with.
“There’s some Dangerfield in him with regard to his overhead marking, because he plays like he is on pogo sticks the way he can get up off the ground.
“And he is very, very tough. His willingness in the contest and in the big moments to win the ball – and this is the Dangerfield comparison – to dive on hand grenades or do something out of the ordinary to put teammates in better positions impacts the outcomes of games.
“He is very courageous with his contest stuff.”
Greater Western Sydney is set to take Vic Country key forward Aaron Cadman with the No. 1 pick it traded from North Melbourne.
The Kangaroos stepped back in the order from one to two because of how highly it rated Wardlaw (182cm) and Sheezel (185cm) despite pleas for the club to target another key forward.
Sandringham gun Will Ashcroft is considered the best player in this draft and is headed to Brisbane Lions as a father-son with the first move on draft night on November 28.
For North, Sheezel provides some firepower and class to the forward half where he could slot alongside Nick Larkey, Cameron Zurhaar and, in time, Charlie Comben.
Essendon face one of the toughest calls on draft night where it will likely attempt to add more size and power to its engine room to join Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish.
Attacking ball magnet Tsatas is widely considered the top talent at the Bombers’ pick four, and Davenport backed his attitude and capacity to deliver for his AFL club from next season.
“I love Elijah and George and Elijah are very different, yet best of friends,” Davenport said.
“Elijah is super competitive and unbelievably determined and he wants to be great.
“I certainly found him to be extremely coachable.”

BLUES FAN A CHANCE TO JOIN HERO

A Carlton fan who models his game on Sam Walsh is firmly in the mix to join to the Blues with the club’s first pick in this year’s draft.
Ollie Hollands is a wingman or onballer from the Murray Bushrangers who is understood to be in the sights of Carlton and is one of 12 players who has been invited to the first night of the national draft.
The Blues – who hold pick 10 – are interested in bolstering their stocks of strong-running midfielders and Hollands fits the bill as a player who finished equal-first in the 2km time trial at the national draft combine last month.
Oliver Hollands is a strong-running midfielder. Picture: Getty Images

Oliver Hollands is a strong-running midfielder. Picture: Getty Images
The 18-year-old hails from Wodonga but has spent the past three years at Geelong Grammar and is the brother of Gold Coast Suns wingman Elijah Hollands.
The pair’s great-grandfather Martin Cross played 36 VFL games for Carlton in the 1960s and their father Ben played eight games for Richmond in 1999.
“I spent the first half of the year playing different types of roles like half forward, wing, halfback, spent a little bit of time in the midfield,” Hollands said.
“So I definitely feel like being able to have that experience and play a mix of different roles has really helped develop my game.”
Hollands has had multiple interviews with the Suns this year, but Gold Coast is believed to have other targets at pick 5.
That means Hollands looks more likely to play against his brother at AFL level than with him.
“I feel like we’d probably get into each other a little bit, just that competitiveness between the two of us,” he said.
“But I think it would be good fun and a good challenge.”
Essendon has also expressed strong interest in Hollands, but currently only hold picks 4 and 22.
This article contains features which are only available in the web versionTake me there

DONS DRAFT DOMINO TO SHAPE TOP 10

Essendon is set to shape the top-10 of this month’s draft with their prized selection at pick four the domino that can shake up the order.
As has been the case in previous years with the notoriously cryptic Bombers, those in the draft space are finding it difficult to get a read on who they will take with their first pick – which will be at No. 5 after Will Ashcroft’s expected bid inside the first two selections.
A host of midfielders – Elijah Tsatas, Mattaes Phillipou, Reuben Ginbey, Bailey Humphrey and recently Elijah Hewett – have been linked to the Bombers’ prized pick.
Essendon has shown strong interest in South Australian Phillipou, a dynamic 190cm prospect who is the son of former Bulldog Sam, with the club interviewing him three times in the lead-up.
Top South Australian AFL draft prospect Mattaes Phillipou, with his dad, Sam, and grandfather, Peter, who are both former Eagles. Picture: Dean Martin

Top South Australian AFL draft prospect Mattaes Phillipou, with his dad, Sam, and grandfather, Peter, who are both former Eagles. Picture: Dean Martin
The midfielder-forward would bring something different to their midfield mix with his height, composure in traffic and his capacity to be used in attack.
Tsatas has been billed as a top-five selection throughout the year despite sitting out most of the year with injury, with the ball magnet adding inside skills his damaging outside game in a stellar season where he won Oakleigh Chargers’ best and fairest from just five matches.
But the 187cm midfielder could be as a potential slider in the top 10 if the Bombers look elsewhere, with the Bombers’ selection poised to have a significant say on what happens next.
Geelong Falcons prospect Jhye Clark has been strongly linked to Geelong’s selection, while West Australian youngster Ginbey is unlikely to get past West Coast’s selection (pick nine after Ashcroft bid), with the athletic midfielder also linked to both Essendon and Gold Coast.
Humphrey, who bolted into top-10 calculations with his game-breaking feats as a powerful midfielder and dangerous forward, is expected to be taken anywhere from the Bombers’ selection to Carlton’s at pick 11.
Is the next Alex Rance coming out of the draft? Picture: Michael Klein

Is the next Alex Rance coming out of the draft? Picture: Michael Klein

THE RANCE-LIKE DEFENDER IN SIGHTS OF PIES, HAWKS, BOMBERS

A defender who has drawn comparisons to former Richmond star Alex Rance has “come with a bullet” in the second half of the year to firm as a top draft prospect.
Recruiters believe Oakleigh Chargers backman Josh Weddle has “enormous upside”, which has seen him attract significant interest ahead of this month’s national draft.
Weddle had looked a mid-to-late draft pick early in the year but is now expected to be snapped up somewhere between picks 15 and 30 on the back of his rapid improvement.
He measures 192cm but can play taller given he has a great athletic profile and is ultra competitive.
“He’s athletically very strong. He’s explosive. He can play on talls, he can play on smalls,” Oakleigh talent manager Jy Bond said.
“AFL clubs are pretty excited about him and his ability to play both ends – mid, back, forward. He’s come on really well.”
Weddle ranked second in the running vertical jump at the national draft combine and also posted impressive results in the 20m sprint and 2km time trial tests.
He is believed to have attracted interest from clubs including Collingwood, Hawthorn and Essendon – who all hold picks in the 20s.
Clubs including Collingwood, Hawthorn and Essendon have been linked to defender Josh Weddle. Picture: Getty Images

Clubs including Collingwood, Hawthorn and Essendon have been linked to defender Josh Weddle. Picture: Getty Images

MOMENTUM BUILDING ON ALLAN

Rival clubs believe West Coast may pounce on strong-running midfielder Ed Allan with their first pick as other sides circle this year’s big draft bolter.
The Eagles – who hold picks 8, 12, 20 and 26 – have shown significant interest in the 194cm West Australian, who is the son of former Hawthorn and Fremantle player Ben.
But Carlton (pick 10) also likes the look of Allan, along with the likes of Melbourne (pick 13) and Sydney (pick 14).
Given the Blues’ interest, if the Eagles don’t take Allan at pick 8 he could be off the board by pick 12.
Allan has good size and speed and is a strong runner who was the quickest player over 20m at the national draft combine.
He played limited football this year due to a stress fracture in his back but starred in the five games he played late in the season for Claremont in the WAFL Colts.
West Coast has also been strongly linked to 196cm West Australian key defender Jedd Busslinger at pick 8 and are also believed to be considering South Australian midfielder-forward Mattaes Phillipou and Victorian midfielder Cameron Mackenzie.

TWO CLUB PLAYER, VFL GUN LOOM AS MATURE-AGE DRAFTEES

Two Port Melbourne mature-agers loom as possible pick-ups in this month’s draft intake, including a former AFL player who has been compared to All-Australian Jack Sinclair by one of the Saints’ former coaches.
VFL intercept king Ethan Phillips – who won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal after breaking Sam Collins’ intercepts record in the VFL – and former Roo and Demon Corey Wagner have both attracted interest from clubs ahead of the draft.
Phillips, who would become the 16th consecutive recipient of the VFL’s best young player award to land on an AFL list, has generated interest from three clubs as a ready-made 198cm key defender with the ability to intercept like Paddy McCartin.
Ethan Phillips with the 2022 Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Ethan Phillips with the 2022 Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images
Wagner, 25, emerged as a contender to get his third crack in the AFL system after a move to halfback this year which proved a revelation.
Fremantle is his most likely destination as a rookie with the club showing strong interest in the speedy defender.
Wagner has been out of the AFL system since he was delisted by the Demons after one season at the club in 2019.
Borough coach Adam Skrobalak says his speed and ball-use draw similarities to Sinclair – who Skrobalak coached for seven years at St Kilda during his time at the club as a line coach – and believes he would be an “unbelievable” addition for a club.
Corey Wagner with the Demons in 2019. Picture: AAP

Corey Wagner with the Demons in 2019. Picture: AAP
He has been compared to St Kilda’s Jack Sinclair. Picture: Mark Stewart

He has been compared to St Kilda’s Jack Sinclair. Picture: Mark Stewart
“To me (Wagner) plays very, very similar to Jack Sinclair. He’s come up and made All-Australian this year and he’s got similar attributes,” Skrobalak said.
“He’s a great runner, he’s got speed, he’s really strong in the contest and he has great ball-use, he just sees gaps and can open up the play. If there’s a team there that is looking for someone who can defend really well and then really help them on offence, he’d be unbelievable.”
“He’s had two cracks at it before but now playing off a halfback and getting a greater understanding of where he is at with his footy, he has just gone to another level.”
He also said Phillips’ reading of the play and elite intercept traits have elements of Sydney pick-up Paddy McCartin.
“Ethan is obviously a bit bigger than Paddy but he has always been able to read the ball very well, even when he was a forward at St Kilda when I was there from a young age,” he said.
“There’s definitely some similarities in how they read the ball off the boot and the confidence to come off their opponent and intercept.”

HOW BIDS WILL IMPACT THE DRAFT

The Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Melbourne will be among the clubs to benefit from father-son and academy bids which will cause picks to move in considerably from the second round of the draft.
Brisbane, who has access to father-son prospects Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher, will be forced to use significant draft capital to match rival bids.
Media-link
This is certain to include their four selections in the 30s - 34, 35, 36 and 38 - with Ashcroft expected to attract a bid inside the first two selections and a bid for Fletcher set to come in the 15-25 range.
Father-son and academy prospects can be matched at a 20 per cent discount — a bid at pick one for Ashcroft would require 2400 draft points alone to match, with Brisbane’s four picks in the 30s worth 2031 points in total.

Will Ashcroft could receive a bid at pick one. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
It means the North Melbourne (40 and 43) Hawthorn (41 and 48), Western Bulldogs (pick 39) and Melbourne (pick 37) will come in several spots in a promising stage of the draft.
Sydney, Fremantle, Carlton are other clubs that hold selections in the 40s which will move up.
Intrigue also surrounds where bids will come for Essendon father-son Alwyn Davey Jr, Giants Academy forward-midfielder Harry Rowston and Adelaide father-son defender Max Michalanney.
Media-link
Rowston is now tipped to receive a bid at the back-end of the first round, shaping as a late bolter after a strong finish to the season.
A bid at this stage would wipe out the Giants’ next pick at 19 — a valuable selection at the beginning of the second round — which would give West Coast the first pick on the second night of the national draft.
The Giants are expected to match a bid for the Binya product, who told the Herald Sun last month that he would be happy to play at any club.
“It doesn’t worry me, obviously coming from the country (travel is) not something that I’m foreign to. Wherever I go I’m more than happy to move and make it work,” Rowston said.
The Bombers hold pick 22 and a bid before this stage on Davey would likely swallow up that second round selection.

BARNETT THE BEST RUCK

This year’s draft isn’t flush with exciting young ruckmen, but clubs who are shopping around for a big man to develop are keeping a close eye on South Australian Harry Barnett.
The 202cm giant from West Adelaide is the standout ruck prospect in this year’s draft and looms as a potential late second-round or early third-round selection.
“He’s a bit inconsistent but his best is pretty good,” one recruiter said.
Barnett’s follow-up work around stoppages has caught the eye this season, while he has also shown an ability to impact up forward on occasion.
Barnett played three games for South Australia in the under-18 national championships, averaging 11.7 disposals and 14.7 hit-outs.
He also featured in two senior SANFL games.
Giants Academy member Nick Madden is another ruckman who has attracted some attention this year.
While he is relatively raw and will take time, Madden has some upside as an 18-year-old who is already 204cm and 112kg.

Harry Barnett is the best ruckman in this year’s draft pool. Picture: Getty Images

SAINTS MAY USE FOUR PICKS

While a number of clubs only have – or are only planning to use – two picks in this year’s draft, other sides are considering making up to four selections.
St Kilda is one club which could come away with a more sizeable draft haul than most, given it holds picks 9, 28, 32 and 47.
Even if the Saints use all four selections, they would still be left with two open list spots to use during the pre-season supplementary selection period or next year’s mid-season draft.
While there are question marks over the depth of this year’s draft, some clubs believe there could still be players they like available in the 40s.
The Saints have been linked to their Next Generation Academy prospect Cameron Mackenzie at pick 9 and are also believed to have some interest in West Australian key defender Jedd Busslinger.
A player like explosive Gippsland Power midfielder-forward Bailey Humphrey would also be a nice fit for St Kilda.
However, Humphrey is expected to already be off the board by pick 9, given he has some strong interest from Hawthorn (pick 6).
The Saints were thrilled with their draft haul last year and believe another good draft could help set them up for success under new coach Ross Lyon.

DANDENONG DRAFT SLIDER

Will Mitch Szybkowski be the latest inside midfielder to slide?
In recent drafts we have seen midfielders Jack Graham (taken at pick 53 in 2016) — who won the Larke Medal as the best player at the national championships — and James Worpel (45 in 2017 draft) slide down the board, and Szybkowski could be a similar story this year.
Interest has waned for the tough inside midfielder, who was one of Vic Country’s best players at the national championships, where he averaged 24 disposals and 102 ranking points.
He put in modest performances in Dandenong’s losing NAB League grand final and the final championships game, but he played in both in the space of a week after returning from illness.
Szybkowski could slide as far as the 40s, where Hawthorn looms as a suitor with their picks at 41 and 48, which are set to come in after father-son bids are matched.
The standing of Syzbkowski’s Stingrays teammate Jaxon Binns has been elevated in recruiting circles with the elite runner shaping as an option from the second round onwards for a club looking for a wingman.

Mitch Szybkowski (left) looms as a draft slider. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Dons, Crows make big calls on top NGA talents

—Matt Turner
Essendon has nominated West Adelaide forward Anthony Munkara through the Next Generation Academy process.
But the Crows have not committed to North Adelaide forward/ruck Isaac Keeler, who will instead be in the open pool at this month’s national draft.
Munkara, 18, has been viewed as something of a mystery prospect because he has not played since July after returning home to the Tiwi Islands due to a series of family tragedies in a short period.
Clubs had until last Wednesday to decide on their NGA nominees.

Anthony Munkara.
The Bombers chose to ensure priority access for the 188cm talent but Adelaide did not do the same with SA under-18 big man Keeler.
Under the system’s rules this year, clubs cannot match bids on nominated NGA players until after pick 40, giving other teams the chance to draft them beforehand.
Essendon will be able to rookie-list Munkara if no one selects him.
Munkara, who tested at last month’s national combine, impressed playing for an AFL academy team against Collingwood’s VFL side in May.
But recruiters did not see much of him this year.
He lined up in just two official under-18 games for West Adelaide in 2022, kicking 4.1 in the first and 2.0 in the second, and sparingly in college ranks for Westminster.
In his sole national under-18 championships match for the Allies, he injured his ankle.
Recruiters rate Munkara’s talent but are split about his draft prospects because of his limited appearances.

Adelaide has not nominated Isaac Keeler.
Father-son duo Alwyn and Jayden Davey are also tied to the Bombers this year.
Essendon has picks 4, 22, 54, 62, 68 and 72.
There is a reasonable chance Keeler, who has been likened to Paddy Ryder, will not be available after pick 40 anyway, given he is viewed as a potential second-round selection.
Adelaide, which is tipped to make two picks, holds 46, 56 and 59.
It had already nominated Norwood defender Max Michalanney as a father-son prospect.
The national draft will be held on November 28 and 29.
Essendon “cryptic”? Have they actually pulled off massive draft surprises? Or are they just usually in a spot where any club has a range of options and equally doesn’t telegraph their moves?
 
Essendon “cryptic”? Have they actually pulled off massive draft surprises? Or are they just usually in a spot where any club has a range of options and equally doesn’t telegraph their moves?
I think * don't tell reporters who they are taking. Which in the reporters eyes means they are shaping the picks that follows there's.
It's nonsense.
 
You're right. Even the "misses" I put up aren't the flip side of the Judd / Selwood coin. Who are some players who were injured for most of their top age year, were drafted high anyway and turned out to be busts?
I’d like to know too…
Just rolling out names of draft busts who also had injuries during their AFL career doesn’t really prove anything!
 
Did all these players miss most of the year they got drafted through injury?
I remember Gumbelton played a lot of senior footy for Peel Thunder his draft year.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t recall the others having concerns on their bodies holding up coming into the draft?
Freeman wasn’t considered a big injury risk when drafted… he didn’t miss big chunks of junior footy, it was only after he got drafted that his hammies went

I have a theory that with some blokes, genetically their bodies just can't handle the volume and intensity of training at AFL level. Maybe with a better understanding of a person's genetic makeup, training/recovery will become more personalised in the same way medications are starting to be.

On SM-G781B using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
I have a theory that with some blokes, genetically their bodies just can't handle the volume and intensity of training at AFL level. Maybe with a better understanding of a person's genetic makeup, training/recovery will become more personalised in the same way medications are starting to be.
Not always genetic, but I agree.

Greg Oden, for example, had surgery as a kid and it resulted in one leg being 8mm shorter than the other. He was the number 1 pick in the NBA draft but that small issue, when magnified by the demands of professional sport, lead to constant injuries and eventual retirement.

For Wardlaw, a review of his mechanics and structure should be able to determine if the hamstring issues were a freak occurrence or if he needs to modify some of his movements or do some work to rebuild his body.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Remove this Banner Ad

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top