I hope so. We desperately need a clever small forward to replace Bolton (and Cumberland). We have no X factor small forwards.
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List Mgmt. 2024 Draft - Post Trade Period Edition
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Well, stuff all the time and money we waste on the recruiting department, that settles it, don't touch FOS. Thank God for Coach's arthritic bones.
Herbyliscious
Draftee
- Aug 28, 2024
- 7
- 28
- AFL Club
- Richmond
I see in several mock drafts that the general consensus is that we are selecting (before bids).
1. Sam Lalor
6. Josh Smillie (or slider in FOS, Jagga, Draper)
10. Harry Armstrong
11. Bo Allan (if no Travaglia)
People may say that is too tall going for Smillie and Allan as our 2 mids in this draft and that's probably fair. But I'm starting to wonder with most rebuilding sides and what we saw under Yze's first year is that draftees are trialed in different positions or mostly played behind the ball to learn the game at AFL level, If a Travaglia or Tauru is gone by our 10 and 11 picks, do they see Bo Allan as the hole that Rioli has left?
Doing a bit of reading and watching on Allan we apparently like him, he ticks a lot of the boxes that modern coaches love in exiting the defence by foot. Burst of speed, loves a contest, disposal penetration, leadership and versatility. Whilst Smillie can rotate in the Midfield and forward line with his height. Allan can rotate from defence to midfield when Smillie is up forward or resting?
could we see something like this early on?
FB: Vlastuin - Balta - Gibcus
HB: Allan - Broad - Brown
C: Ralphsmith - Hopper - Mcintosh
Foll: Nankervis - Tarranto - Smillie
HF: Lalor - Bauer - M. Rioli
F: Mansell - Lynch - Campbell
INT: Kosi - Ross - Prestia - Short
1. Sam Lalor
6. Josh Smillie (or slider in FOS, Jagga, Draper)
10. Harry Armstrong
11. Bo Allan (if no Travaglia)
People may say that is too tall going for Smillie and Allan as our 2 mids in this draft and that's probably fair. But I'm starting to wonder with most rebuilding sides and what we saw under Yze's first year is that draftees are trialed in different positions or mostly played behind the ball to learn the game at AFL level, If a Travaglia or Tauru is gone by our 10 and 11 picks, do they see Bo Allan as the hole that Rioli has left?
Doing a bit of reading and watching on Allan we apparently like him, he ticks a lot of the boxes that modern coaches love in exiting the defence by foot. Burst of speed, loves a contest, disposal penetration, leadership and versatility. Whilst Smillie can rotate in the Midfield and forward line with his height. Allan can rotate from defence to midfield when Smillie is up forward or resting?
could we see something like this early on?
FB: Vlastuin - Balta - Gibcus
HB: Allan - Broad - Brown
C: Ralphsmith - Hopper - Mcintosh
Foll: Nankervis - Tarranto - Smillie
HF: Lalor - Bauer - M. Rioli
F: Mansell - Lynch - Campbell
INT: Kosi - Ross - Prestia - Short
I think what your post highlights is why most, if not all, mock drafts have us taking 3-4 talls.
Because it's seen as us having a bucket load of picks, so why not try and address all of the list needs in one fell swoop?
What you and countless others are ignoring is that the draft is just one means of building a list.
We are going to have a massive war chest in 2 years time, where we can bank 10% of TPP's as well as front loading contracts with the huge amount of salary cap that's being made available by the departures. We'll be able to buy any FA in the country.
Pick purchasing and the ability to use two future years of pick trading will give us plenty of draft capital to target contracted players.
I'm sure that Blair & Co. are all over this and unless they see a KPP that projects as being a focal point that a Premiership team can be built around then they won't be taken, we'll just buy them.
TigerRoar2012
Senior List
- Nov 27, 2012
- 292
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I don’t hate the idea of 3 talls. Cadman & Armstrong leading up the ground and a big behemoth in the goal square (who can ruck). 3 quick smalls crumbing. I hate medium forwards, I’d rather an extra tall.
Edit: unless that “medium forward” is one of our taller midfielders resting forward - that’s ok. In that case, switch them with one of the quick smalls whilst they rest.
- Oct 29, 2017
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StKilda and Melbourne both have their second picks before our pick 10. They both need key forwards and I cant see them taking 2 mids each.
thats okay i feel there it isnt night and day between Armstrong and Whitlock,Jobe. The game is going towards forwards that crash packs and can take marks further up the ground when we are trying to get out. Jonty is the guy for that.
Small forwards will win premierships. We have to pick Joe Berry at 10 or 11
prodigy
Manifesting FOS to Richmond
- Jun 20, 2013
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If Bauer is a general forward then so is Lefau.
All I'm saying is that it doesn't need to be done all in one year though.
We have every chance of being bottom again next year and we are likely going to end up with another 3 first round picks through trading.
If we need key position players id rather take them higher up the order or simply trade for them. I'd prefer a Cadman within the next couple of years vs a gamble on a tall between picks 18 and 30 this year.
I'm not saying we don't take any key position players, but one or two is plenty for one draft.
- Dec 5, 2012
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- Other Teams
- Knicks, Giants
The 2024 AFL national draft is now less than two weeks away and clubs are close to finalising their draft boards.
Here’s the latest draft news from around the country, after this week’s mock draft of the first round, and continued with an expanded second round.
If North Melbourne keeps hold of pick 2, a bid on Ashcroft may be left to Carlton at pick 3 — saving the Lions a significant number of draft points.
Brisbane would have to stump up 2,400 points (after a 20 per cent discount) to match a bid on Ashcroft at pick 1, but a bid at pick 3 would only cost it 1787 points.
It could be the difference between heading into next year with a points deficit or not, given the Lions will also need to match a bid on Academy member Sam Marshall around pick 20.
It appears Levi Ashcroft won’t be the first pick of the draft. Picture: Riley Lockett/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Clubs expect two other bids to be placed on Academy members within the top-10 selections on draft night, with St Kilda favoured to bid on Gold Coast Suns Academy member Leo Lombard with one of its first two selections.
The Saints (picks 7 and 8) and Melbourne (pick 9) have also been linked to placing an early bid on Essendon Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Isaac Kako.
Carlton will be sweating on whether a bid comes for father-son Ben Camporeale before its second selection at No. 38, with recruiters having the South Australian midfielder either just before or just after that pick on their draft boards.
Twin brother Lucas is expected to come into play later in the order.
St Kilda NGA member Adrian Cole is considered likely to attract a bid in the late 30s or early 40s, after St Kilda’s third selection which currently stands at No. 32.
Leonardo Lombard of the Gold Coast Suns U18 boys academy kicks the ball during the 2024 Coates Talent League Boys Round 06 match. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos.
Giants Academy ruckman Logan Smith is also set to come into calculations at that range, with a bid in the 30s considered a good chance.
Some clubs believe Sydney Swans Academy defender Joel Cochran could attract a bid anywhere from pick 25 onwards, with one scout saying the Swans had done “a good job of hiding him away”.
Cochran won the 2km time trial at the national draft combine last month.
Another St Kilda NGA member, defender Lennox Hofmann, is expected to receive a bid later in the draft, while Hawthorn NGA midfielder Cody Anderson is also said to have “lots of fans” from about pick 45 onwards.
Adelaide father-son prospect Tyler Welsh has attracted little interest, despite scouts recognising the marking forward’s potential.
The Crows are therefore likely to be able to secure Welsh — the son of former Adelaide goalkicker Scott — with their second and final pick in the draft, which currently sits at No. 64.
North Melbourne should be able to secure River Stevens — the son of two-time premiership player Anthony — as a rookie.
The trading window opened immediately after the trade period but closes at 5pm Friday.
Trades are then unable to be completed until draft night.
No deals have yet been done during the window, despite some discussions which have largely centred around North Melbourne’s pick 2.
That selection has been shopped around to Richmond, while Adelaide has also engaged in talks with the Kangaroos about trading pick 4 to jump a couple of spots up the board.
North Melbourne has been strongly linked to Gippsland Power bolter Alix Tauru at pick 2, but could likely still secure him if it slides back a few spots in the order.
This article contains features which are only available in the web versionTake me there
These days, it is fellow Coates Talent League club Sandringham Dragons that is churning out AFL players.
In 2021, the Dragons had eight players selected in the national draft – including No. 3 pick Finn Callaghan – plus one Next Generation Academy selection.
In 2022, there were six players selected from the Dragons – headlined by No. 2 pick Will Ashcroft – plus one zone selection.
Then in 2023, the club had seven players picked up through the national draft, plus two players who were selected in the rookie draft.
Harry Armstrong is likely to be one of the Dragons’ latest draftees come November 21. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
If you add in Cooper Lord – a mid-season draft selection for Carlton this year – that makes 10 players from last year’s crop and 26 players across three years who have found AFL homes.
This year, the Dragons are every chance to have double-figure draftees once again.
Levi Ashcroft, Harry Armstrong, Murphy Reid, Taj Hotton, Luke Trainor, Sam Marshall and Harrison Oliver all shape as top-30 selections, while Adrian Cole, Lennox Hofmann and Josh Dolan are also firmly in the frame to have their names read out a little later in the order.
TOP 60 RANKED: OUR EXPERTS’ FINAL POWER RANKINGS OF THE YEAR
In addition, there has also been interest in a number of other players, including Luke Kennedy, Jhett Haeata, Lachie Voss, Mitch Kirkwood-Scott and Bailey McKenzie.
Recruiters are tipping around 65 picks in this year’s national draft, meaning an extraordinary percentage of this year’s draft pool looks set to be plucked from Sandringham.
The numbers which prove the Sandringham Dragons have taken
the Calder Cannons' crown as the nation's "footy factory".
Marshall soaked up the atmosphere in the rooms at the MCG a week earlier after Brisbane’s last gasp win over Geelong.
But the ball-winning midfielder, who could attract a rival bid late in the first round, picked up an illness which also kept him out of testing at the national combine testing in early October.
“I got to watch the prelim against Geelong. That was a pretty good game to watch, but just watched (the grand final) on TV. I was quite sick, so I was just in bed the whole time,” Marshall said.
“It was pretty disappointing.
“I didn’t have a ticket, but I probably could have somehow managed to get a ticket.”
While Marshall didn’t get to see it live like his Sandringham Dragons premiership teammate Levi Ashcroft, who jumped onto the ground post-game to join his Norm Smith Medal-winning brother Will, it lit a fire within him.
![Sam Marshall is destined to be a Lion. Picture: [PLAYERCARD]Chris Hyde[/PLAYERCARD]/AFL Photos/via Getty Images](/forum/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.md%2FyuwgY%2Fa5c661372474482a5ea13ab9b590f594f25f41a3.jpg&hash=1c593cf71f5619d2b7610425f3a72abe "Sam Marshall is destined to be a Lion. Picture: [PLAYERCARD]Chris Hyde[/PLAYERCARD]/AFL Photos/via Getty Images")
Sam Marshall is destined to be a Lion. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
Especially after spending five weeks with the club at the start of the year, living with Lions star Hugh McCluggage and delisted defender Jaxon Prior.
“It was pretty cool, because I spent a fair bit of time with them in the pre-season,” Marshall said.
“Building that connection with most of them and just seeing them get the ultimate team success was great to see them get the premiership.
“To see guys like Will and stuff like that – not long ago they were in my shoes in under-18s, now they are out doing it on the biggest stage.
“So it is pretty inspiring and pretty cool.
“It’d be awesome to join the Lions, pretty close to home and stuff like that. But nothing is a guarantee, so happy to go anywhere I think.”
Marshall had a defining grand final performance of his own, taking out the best on ground medal in the Coates Talent League decider with 28 disposals, two goals and 175 SuperCoach points.
Sam Marshall being awarded best on ground in the Coates Talent League grand final. Picture: Riley Lockett/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
From Kawana on the Sunshine Coast, Marshall joined the Dragons program this year while boarding at Melbourne Grammar.
He said it took him a while to adjust, but he hit his straps when it mattered most.
“I thought I was building in the finals and thought I had a pretty decent finals series,” Marshall said.
“Then in the first quarter I got onto the end of a few, so it sort of gave me a bit of momentum throughout the game.
“It was good to get the win really because the whole team really, hadn’t had much team success with Melbourne Grammar. But I’ve really enjoyed all those sort of programs as well, so it was good to get the win in the end.”
The athletic talls have been pumping iron together and downing protein shakes in a bid to add some more muscle to their big frames.
Working with a dietitian, both have added up to 10kg since last year.
“I took a pretty big emphasis on gaining weight this year,” Jack said.
“I’ve definitely hopped on the protein supplements. Then we have chickens at home so I’ve had lot of scrambled eggs every night, pretty much.”
Jack and Matt Whitlock are both rated as top 30 prospects in this month’s draft. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
Jack measures 2cm taller than Matt and is also two minutes older.
But both twins are rated as top-30 draft prospects this year.
“You always throw them in together; that’s just the way it is,” Murray Bushrangers coach Mark Brown said.
“But they’re different people and they’re different footballers. While they’re very similar in shape and size and athletic ability, they play differently, there’s no doubt about that.”
The Whitlock boys have drawn comparisons to fellow AFL twins Max and Ben King – and they don’t shy away from them.
“They’ve both had great careers and we hope to have good careers in the AFL too,” Matt said.
However, they play slightly different games.
Jack is a 200cm mobile marking key forward who boasts an impressive leap, but Matt is a 198cm versatile swingman who featured at both ends of the ground this year.
Jack Whitlock. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
Matt Whitlock. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
Off the field, the twins are also a little different.
“I feel like we’re pretty different personality-wise,” Matt said.
“Jack’s a bit more of the older brother and I’m the younger brother. I’m probably a bit more easygoing than Jack, but we’re both pretty driven and passionate people.”
The pair have spent little time apart growing up, but are prepared to be split in different directions in this draft.
“We’re ready for that. That’s probably going to be the reality,” Jack said.
“It might be better,” Matt added.
“You don’t really want to live with your brother your whole life.”
We asked this year's AFL draft prospects to show us their screen time, with some … interesting results!
Well, since the beginning of this year at least.
Bullocking inside midfielder Cody Anderson, who lives 65 kilometres east of Melbourne’s CBD in Healesville, still isn’t quite sure how the nickname came up.
But the Hawthorn Next Generation Academy prospect suspects it was prominent player agent Nick Gieschen and his brother, Rhy, a recruiter with Richmond.
“I don’t know how it actually came up, I think it might have been Nick Gieschen that came up with it or his brother,” Anderson said with a smile.
“And then my manager got onto it and it kind of went from there and then there was a couple of articles and stuff, and then that’s just what it was.”
Cody Anderson has been dubbed ‘the beast from the east’. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos.
The Eastern Ranges product certainly lives up to the name with his strong frame and his fierce intent at the contest.
And his unique work outside of footy has seen him become even more physically imposing.
Finishing school last year, Anderson has been working with his uncle most of the week as a tree arborist.
But he has stayed out of the trees, not wanting to put a potential AFL career in jeopardy.
“I’m on the ground crew, so they all climb and I usually drag the branches and cut the branches and just a lot of cutting and dragging I guess,” Anderson said.
When Anderson isn’t cutting branches, he is crunching opponents with tackles and bumps.
Anderson averaged six tackles per game at the Ranges along with 23 disposals, 12 contested possessions and six clearances.
It should come as no surprise that the manchild fit in seamlessly in his VFL debut at Hawthorn, where he booted two goals and won 16 disposals.
Anderson also racked up a whopping 48 disposals in one senior game for Healesville in the past.
Midfielders his size are typically slow, but Anderson point-of-difference is his speed, recording a top-10 finish in the 20 metre sprint at the Coates Talent League pre-season testing day in the pre-season.
Cody Anderson in action at the draft combine. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos.
Unfortunately a syndesmosis blow in the opening minutes of his first national championships game sidelined Anderson for two months, interrupting his strong season to date.
But he still has plenty of fans despite the Hawks having first dibs on him.
“I managed to get back for two games just before finals, which I was probably underdone, but I just wanted to get back to help my team in finals,” Anderson said.
“We got done, so it was good to just play again.”
Anderson has shared the centre square at the Ranges with another midfield bull in Josh Smillie.
He believes the 195cm midfielder is worthy of being taken with the number one pick in the draft.
“It has been really good. I’m really hoping he goes one, he deserves it,” Anderson said.
“We grew up playing, we’ve been at Eastern since we were 16, we were the two youngest there, and gone through together.
“So it’s been really good and we’ve got a good friendship.”
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The youngest of five children, Kako was born in Australia to Iraqi parents who had their first three kids in Iraq.
While soccer is the predominant sport in the Iraqi community, Kako followed in the footsteps of his older brother Eliot and took up football as soon as he could.
“Ever since I was little, four years old or whatever it was, I always went to his (Eliot’s) trainings, Tuesday, Thursday and I loved going to his games,” Kako said.
Isaac Kako - 2023 U17 AFL National Futures
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“I used to run out with the senior boys. I just fell in love with it from there.
“My brother’s mates wanted him to try out footy. Hopefully I can help influence a lot more of the Iraqi community to start picking up footy.”
Kako, who has been part of Essendon’s Next Generation Academy since age 12, shapes as the best small forward in this year’s draft pool.
Bombers list boss Matt Rosa has described him as “a real threat” around goal and “a player with some special talents”.
Kako’s curly hair also might help him become a cult figure at the Bombers in the years to come.
Isaac Kako will land at Essendon in the draft. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.
“I’ve always had them, but I never really took much care of them,” Kako said of the curls.
“I started taking more care of them, but it’s all natural. Everyone thinks it’s fake, but it’s not. I just get in the shower, let water get into them, dry off. That’s it.”
Kako has spent most of his junior career at the Northern Saints Football Club in the Melbourne suburb of Fawkner, where his older brothers Eliot and Bronell also play.
“It’s every kid’s dream to play AFL football, so hopefully I’ll have my name called out in November,” Kako said.
“It will be pretty special for me and my family and definitely mean a lot to be a role model to the community as well.”
Levi is set to join Will at the Lions in this month’s national draft, with the gun midfielder expected to attract a top-five bid.
While the brothers have been physically separated in different states the past two years since Will was drafted to Brisbane in 2022, that hasn’t got in the way of their strong relationship.
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“He’s my best mate,” Levi said.
“We talk almost every day on the phone if I’m in Melbourne and he’s up in Brisbane. We’re always talking, not always just about football, just about life mainly. I have such a close relationship with him and it’s going to be really, really special that we’ll be able to hopefully pull on the same jumper next year.”
Levi officially nominated as a father-son for the Lions in August and said it was one of the easier decisions he had ever made to join Will at the club.
Levi and Willl Ashcroft on the MCG after Will won the Norm Smith Medal in a premiership-winning side. Picture: Michael Klein
“Brisbane is such an amazing club. It has so much history over time, not only for my family but for the whole club,” Levi said.
“You’ve got so many great people in the club, people like Danny Daly, Chris Fagan, all these guys that have even been supporting me for the last couple of years I’ve been around the club. They’re just great people to be around and people you want to play for and win for. To be able to play with Will was also a factor. I got a taste of that playing for Sandringham and winning a premiership with him (in 2022). I wanted that again in the big time.”
Meet draft prospect Levi Ashcroft, the Brisbane Lions father-son who is set to take the AFL by storm.
Faull is one of the best key forwards available and has been interviewed by almost every club, with his draft range set to start in the teens.
Port Adelaide, Fremantle, GWS, Richmond and Sydney all currently hold picks from 13-19 — four states in the space of seven selections — and could target a tall forward.
Clubs hold their cards close to their chest ahead of the draft with talent orders and plans kept quiet, meaning prospects are often left in the dark.
Faull, a 195 centimetre goalkicker, will be moving away from home regardless given he is from Redan in Ballarat and can’t wait to play for an AFL club.
Asked if there was one thing he would change about the current draft system, Faull said it would be greater transparency between players and clubs during the interview process.
Jonty Faull isn’t sure where he’ll be heading. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
“I feel it’s so hard to sort of gauge sort of where you’re going, what you’re doing, what a club views about you. Well that’s my personal experience,” Faull said.
“It’s so tough, you just know that in the middle of November you are going to Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, you could go anywhere and it’s sort of hard to wrap your head around that.
“But it is hard for the clubs as well, can’t complain.”
Faull said his school studies at Ballarat Grammar have been a welcome distraction for him.
No matter where Faull goes, it will be a lot different to what he is used to back in Redan.
“We used to play on the Western Oval. It’s a bit of a mud pile actually, it is probably the size of the (MCG) 50 almost,” Faull said.
“So back when I was in under 12s I could 50 already because it was only 20 metres.
“Compared to the Western Oval, (playing on AFL grounds) would be the best.”
However, they are not the only players from the state league who are in the mix to achieve their AFL dreams.
Carlton VFL forward Liam McMahon — a former Collingwood-listed AFL player — is also considered a good chance to earn another opportunity at the top level, headlining a list of other hopefuls.
CODE Sports compiled a comprehensive guide to the 15 top prospects from the VFL, who you can learn more abou
Here’s the latest draft news from around the country, after this week’s mock draft of the first round, and continued with an expanded second round.
WHERE THE BIDS ARE SET TO COME
Reigning premier Brisbane is set to avoid paying top dollar for father-son gun Levi Ashcroft, with Richmond looking increasingly unlikely to place a bid on the midfielder at No. 1 in this month’s national draft.If North Melbourne keeps hold of pick 2, a bid on Ashcroft may be left to Carlton at pick 3 — saving the Lions a significant number of draft points.
Brisbane would have to stump up 2,400 points (after a 20 per cent discount) to match a bid on Ashcroft at pick 1, but a bid at pick 3 would only cost it 1787 points.
It could be the difference between heading into next year with a points deficit or not, given the Lions will also need to match a bid on Academy member Sam Marshall around pick 20.
It appears Levi Ashcroft won’t be the first pick of the draft. Picture: Riley Lockett/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Clubs expect two other bids to be placed on Academy members within the top-10 selections on draft night, with St Kilda favoured to bid on Gold Coast Suns Academy member Leo Lombard with one of its first two selections.
The Saints (picks 7 and 8) and Melbourne (pick 9) have also been linked to placing an early bid on Essendon Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Isaac Kako.
Carlton will be sweating on whether a bid comes for father-son Ben Camporeale before its second selection at No. 38, with recruiters having the South Australian midfielder either just before or just after that pick on their draft boards.
Twin brother Lucas is expected to come into play later in the order.
St Kilda NGA member Adrian Cole is considered likely to attract a bid in the late 30s or early 40s, after St Kilda’s third selection which currently stands at No. 32.
Leonardo Lombard of the Gold Coast Suns U18 boys academy kicks the ball during the 2024 Coates Talent League Boys Round 06 match. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos.
Giants Academy ruckman Logan Smith is also set to come into calculations at that range, with a bid in the 30s considered a good chance.
Some clubs believe Sydney Swans Academy defender Joel Cochran could attract a bid anywhere from pick 25 onwards, with one scout saying the Swans had done “a good job of hiding him away”.
Cochran won the 2km time trial at the national draft combine last month.
Another St Kilda NGA member, defender Lennox Hofmann, is expected to receive a bid later in the draft, while Hawthorn NGA midfielder Cody Anderson is also said to have “lots of fans” from about pick 45 onwards.
Adelaide father-son prospect Tyler Welsh has attracted little interest, despite scouts recognising the marking forward’s potential.
The Crows are therefore likely to be able to secure Welsh — the son of former Adelaide goalkicker Scott — with their second and final pick in the draft, which currently sits at No. 64.
North Melbourne should be able to secure River Stevens — the son of two-time premiership player Anthony — as a rookie.
PICK SWAP WINDOW COMING TO A CLOSE
Clubs are poised to take their current draft hands into November 20 as the pick swap window comes to a close.The trading window opened immediately after the trade period but closes at 5pm Friday.
Trades are then unable to be completed until draft night.
No deals have yet been done during the window, despite some discussions which have largely centred around North Melbourne’s pick 2.
That selection has been shopped around to Richmond, while Adelaide has also engaged in talks with the Kangaroos about trading pick 4 to jump a couple of spots up the board.
North Melbourne has been strongly linked to Gippsland Power bolter Alix Tauru at pick 2, but could likely still secure him if it slides back a few spots in the order.
This article contains features which are only available in the web versionTake me there
THE NEW ‘FOOTY FACTORY’ CHURNING OUT PROSPECTS
Commentator Brian Taylor used to constantly reference the Calder Cannons “footy factory”.These days, it is fellow Coates Talent League club Sandringham Dragons that is churning out AFL players.
In 2021, the Dragons had eight players selected in the national draft – including No. 3 pick Finn Callaghan – plus one Next Generation Academy selection.
In 2022, there were six players selected from the Dragons – headlined by No. 2 pick Will Ashcroft – plus one zone selection.
Then in 2023, the club had seven players picked up through the national draft, plus two players who were selected in the rookie draft.
Harry Armstrong is likely to be one of the Dragons’ latest draftees come November 21. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
If you add in Cooper Lord – a mid-season draft selection for Carlton this year – that makes 10 players from last year’s crop and 26 players across three years who have found AFL homes.
This year, the Dragons are every chance to have double-figure draftees once again.
Levi Ashcroft, Harry Armstrong, Murphy Reid, Taj Hotton, Luke Trainor, Sam Marshall and Harrison Oliver all shape as top-30 selections, while Adrian Cole, Lennox Hofmann and Josh Dolan are also firmly in the frame to have their names read out a little later in the order.
TOP 60 RANKED: OUR EXPERTS’ FINAL POWER RANKINGS OF THE YEAR
In addition, there has also been interest in a number of other players, including Luke Kennedy, Jhett Haeata, Lachie Voss, Mitch Kirkwood-Scott and Bailey McKenzie.
Recruiters are tipping around 65 picks in this year’s national draft, meaning an extraordinary percentage of this year’s draft pool looks set to be plucked from Sandringham.
FOOTY FACTORY
The numbers which prove the Sandringham Dragons have taken
the Calder Cannons' crown as the nation's "footy factory".
2021 MID-SEASON DRAFT
| Player | Pick | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Jai Culley | 1 | West Coast |
| Max Ramsden | 6 | Hawthorn |
| Hugo Hall-Kahan | 11 | Sydney |
| Luke Nankervis | Pre-season | Adelaide |
2021 NATIONAL DRAFT
| Player | Pick | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Finn Callaghan | 1 | GWS |
| Josh Sinn | 12 | Port Adelaide |
| Campbell Chesser | 14 | West Coast |
| Mitchito Owens | 33 | St Kilda |
| Blake Howes | 39 | Melbourne |
| Marcus Windhager | 47 | St Kilda |
| Dante Visentini | 56 | Port Adelaide |
| Luke Cleary | 61 | Western Bulldogs |
2022 NATIONAL DRAFT
| Player | Pick | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Will Ashcroft | 2 | Brisbane Lions |
| Harry Sheezel | 3 | North Melbourne |
| Cam Mckenzie | 7 | Hawthorn |
| Charlie Clarke | 24 | Western Bulldogs |
| Toby McMullin | 34 | GWS |
| Oli Hotton | 35 | St Kilda |
| Angus McLennan | Zone | St Kilda |
| Jack Peris | Zone | St Kilda |
2023 NATIONAL DRAFT
| Player | Pick | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Ryley Sanders | 6 | Western Bulldogs |
| Charlie Edwards | 21 | Adelaide |
| Ollie Murphy | 41 | Fremantle |
| Luke Lloyd | 42 | Brisbane |
| Harvey Johnson | 49 | West Coast |
| Archie Roberts | 54 | Essendon |
| Calsher Dear | 56 | Hawthorn |
| Vigo Visentini | Rookie | Essendon |
| Matt Carroll | Rookie | Carlton |
| *Cooper Lord | Mid-season | Carlton |
POSSIBLE 2024 DRAFTEES
| Player | Power ranking |
|---|---|
| Levi Ashcroft | 1 |
| Murphy Reid | 7 |
| Harry Armstrong | 9 |
| Luke Trainor | 13 |
| Taj Hotton | 17 |
| Sam Marshall | 19 |
| Harrison Oliver | 34 |
| Adrian Cole | 42 |
| Josh Dolan | 49 |
| Lennox Hoffman | 51 |
| Jhett Haeata | Unranked |
| Lachie Voss | Unranked |
| Mitch Kirkwood-Scott | Unranked |
| Bailey McKenzie | Unranked |
THE OTHER DRAFT GEM ON THE WAY TO LIONS
Brisbane academy prospect Marshall was bedridden for the Lions’ premiership triumph, but he was still left inspired by the players who will likely become his teammates in a fortnight.Marshall soaked up the atmosphere in the rooms at the MCG a week earlier after Brisbane’s last gasp win over Geelong.
But the ball-winning midfielder, who could attract a rival bid late in the first round, picked up an illness which also kept him out of testing at the national combine testing in early October.
“I got to watch the prelim against Geelong. That was a pretty good game to watch, but just watched (the grand final) on TV. I was quite sick, so I was just in bed the whole time,” Marshall said.
“It was pretty disappointing.
“I didn’t have a ticket, but I probably could have somehow managed to get a ticket.”
While Marshall didn’t get to see it live like his Sandringham Dragons premiership teammate Levi Ashcroft, who jumped onto the ground post-game to join his Norm Smith Medal-winning brother Will, it lit a fire within him.
Sam Marshall is destined to be a Lion. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
Especially after spending five weeks with the club at the start of the year, living with Lions star Hugh McCluggage and delisted defender Jaxon Prior.
“It was pretty cool, because I spent a fair bit of time with them in the pre-season,” Marshall said.
“Building that connection with most of them and just seeing them get the ultimate team success was great to see them get the premiership.
“To see guys like Will and stuff like that – not long ago they were in my shoes in under-18s, now they are out doing it on the biggest stage.
“So it is pretty inspiring and pretty cool.
“It’d be awesome to join the Lions, pretty close to home and stuff like that. But nothing is a guarantee, so happy to go anywhere I think.”
Marshall had a defining grand final performance of his own, taking out the best on ground medal in the Coates Talent League decider with 28 disposals, two goals and 175 SuperCoach points.
Sam Marshall being awarded best on ground in the Coates Talent League grand final. Picture: Riley Lockett/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
From Kawana on the Sunshine Coast, Marshall joined the Dragons program this year while boarding at Melbourne Grammar.
He said it took him a while to adjust, but he hit his straps when it mattered most.
“I thought I was building in the finals and thought I had a pretty decent finals series,” Marshall said.
“Then in the first quarter I got onto the end of a few, so it sort of gave me a bit of momentum throughout the game.
“It was good to get the win really because the whole team really, hadn’t had much team success with Melbourne Grammar. But I’ve really enjoyed all those sort of programs as well, so it was good to get the win in the end.”
WHITLOCK TWINS BULK UP BEAUTIFULLY
When they haven’t been on a football field this year, twin brothers Jack and Matt Whitlock could be found in a gym.The athletic talls have been pumping iron together and downing protein shakes in a bid to add some more muscle to their big frames.
Working with a dietitian, both have added up to 10kg since last year.
“I took a pretty big emphasis on gaining weight this year,” Jack said.
“I’ve definitely hopped on the protein supplements. Then we have chickens at home so I’ve had lot of scrambled eggs every night, pretty much.”
Jack and Matt Whitlock are both rated as top 30 prospects in this month’s draft. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
Jack measures 2cm taller than Matt and is also two minutes older.
But both twins are rated as top-30 draft prospects this year.
“You always throw them in together; that’s just the way it is,” Murray Bushrangers coach Mark Brown said.
“But they’re different people and they’re different footballers. While they’re very similar in shape and size and athletic ability, they play differently, there’s no doubt about that.”
The Whitlock boys have drawn comparisons to fellow AFL twins Max and Ben King – and they don’t shy away from them.
“They’ve both had great careers and we hope to have good careers in the AFL too,” Matt said.
However, they play slightly different games.
Jack is a 200cm mobile marking key forward who boasts an impressive leap, but Matt is a 198cm versatile swingman who featured at both ends of the ground this year.
Jack Whitlock. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
Matt Whitlock. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
Off the field, the twins are also a little different.
“I feel like we’re pretty different personality-wise,” Matt said.
“Jack’s a bit more of the older brother and I’m the younger brother. I’m probably a bit more easygoing than Jack, but we’re both pretty driven and passionate people.”
The pair have spent little time apart growing up, but are prepared to be split in different directions in this draft.
“We’re ready for that. That’s probably going to be the reality,” Jack said.
“It might be better,” Matt added.
“You don’t really want to live with your brother your whole life.”
We asked this year's AFL draft prospects to show us their screen time, with some … interesting results!
HOW HAWKS TIED BULL WAS DUBBED ‘BEAST FROM THE EAST’
They call him the ‘Beast from the East’.Well, since the beginning of this year at least.
Bullocking inside midfielder Cody Anderson, who lives 65 kilometres east of Melbourne’s CBD in Healesville, still isn’t quite sure how the nickname came up.
But the Hawthorn Next Generation Academy prospect suspects it was prominent player agent Nick Gieschen and his brother, Rhy, a recruiter with Richmond.
“I don’t know how it actually came up, I think it might have been Nick Gieschen that came up with it or his brother,” Anderson said with a smile.
“And then my manager got onto it and it kind of went from there and then there was a couple of articles and stuff, and then that’s just what it was.”
Cody Anderson has been dubbed ‘the beast from the east’. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos.
The Eastern Ranges product certainly lives up to the name with his strong frame and his fierce intent at the contest.
And his unique work outside of footy has seen him become even more physically imposing.
Finishing school last year, Anderson has been working with his uncle most of the week as a tree arborist.
But he has stayed out of the trees, not wanting to put a potential AFL career in jeopardy.
“I’m on the ground crew, so they all climb and I usually drag the branches and cut the branches and just a lot of cutting and dragging I guess,” Anderson said.
When Anderson isn’t cutting branches, he is crunching opponents with tackles and bumps.
Anderson averaged six tackles per game at the Ranges along with 23 disposals, 12 contested possessions and six clearances.
It should come as no surprise that the manchild fit in seamlessly in his VFL debut at Hawthorn, where he booted two goals and won 16 disposals.
Anderson also racked up a whopping 48 disposals in one senior game for Healesville in the past.
Midfielders his size are typically slow, but Anderson point-of-difference is his speed, recording a top-10 finish in the 20 metre sprint at the Coates Talent League pre-season testing day in the pre-season.
Cody Anderson in action at the draft combine. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos.
Unfortunately a syndesmosis blow in the opening minutes of his first national championships game sidelined Anderson for two months, interrupting his strong season to date.
But he still has plenty of fans despite the Hawks having first dibs on him.
“I managed to get back for two games just before finals, which I was probably underdone, but I just wanted to get back to help my team in finals,” Anderson said.
“We got done, so it was good to just play again.”
Anderson has shared the centre square at the Ranges with another midfield bull in Josh Smillie.
He believes the 195cm midfielder is worthy of being taken with the number one pick in the draft.
“It has been really good. I’m really hoping he goes one, he deserves it,” Anderson said.
“We grew up playing, we’ve been at Eastern since we were 16, we were the two youngest there, and gone through together.
“So it’s been really good and we’ve got a good friendship.”
AFL: The Fox Footy boys look into the news that the West Coast Eagles has traded pick 3 in the AFL draft.
KAKO WANTS TO BE A ‘ROLE MODEL’
Essendon draft prospect Isaac Kako says he wants to be a “role model” to his community as he looks to become the first player from his small suburban football club to be drafted to the AFL.The youngest of five children, Kako was born in Australia to Iraqi parents who had their first three kids in Iraq.
While soccer is the predominant sport in the Iraqi community, Kako followed in the footsteps of his older brother Eliot and took up football as soon as he could.
“Ever since I was little, four years old or whatever it was, I always went to his (Eliot’s) trainings, Tuesday, Thursday and I loved going to his games,” Kako said.
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“I used to run out with the senior boys. I just fell in love with it from there.
“My brother’s mates wanted him to try out footy. Hopefully I can help influence a lot more of the Iraqi community to start picking up footy.”
Kako, who has been part of Essendon’s Next Generation Academy since age 12, shapes as the best small forward in this year’s draft pool.
Bombers list boss Matt Rosa has described him as “a real threat” around goal and “a player with some special talents”.
Kako’s curly hair also might help him become a cult figure at the Bombers in the years to come.
Isaac Kako will land at Essendon in the draft. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.
“I’ve always had them, but I never really took much care of them,” Kako said of the curls.
“I started taking more care of them, but it’s all natural. Everyone thinks it’s fake, but it’s not. I just get in the shower, let water get into them, dry off. That’s it.”
Kako has spent most of his junior career at the Northern Saints Football Club in the Melbourne suburb of Fawkner, where his older brothers Eliot and Bronell also play.
“It’s every kid’s dream to play AFL football, so hopefully I’ll have my name called out in November,” Kako said.
“It will be pretty special for me and my family and definitely mean a lot to be a role model to the community as well.”
ASHCROFT CAN’T WAIT TO JOIN BROTHER
Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft says he has learnt plenty of lessons from his older brother Will, with whom he has remained “very close”.Levi is set to join Will at the Lions in this month’s national draft, with the gun midfielder expected to attract a top-five bid.
While the brothers have been physically separated in different states the past two years since Will was drafted to Brisbane in 2022, that hasn’t got in the way of their strong relationship.
AFL: Levi Ashcroft joins the Fox Footy podcast ahead of the national draft, as the hype continues to build around the young midfield star
“He’s my best mate,” Levi said.
“We talk almost every day on the phone if I’m in Melbourne and he’s up in Brisbane. We’re always talking, not always just about football, just about life mainly. I have such a close relationship with him and it’s going to be really, really special that we’ll be able to hopefully pull on the same jumper next year.”
Levi officially nominated as a father-son for the Lions in August and said it was one of the easier decisions he had ever made to join Will at the club.
Levi and Willl Ashcroft on the MCG after Will won the Norm Smith Medal in a premiership-winning side. Picture: Michael Klein
“Brisbane is such an amazing club. It has so much history over time, not only for my family but for the whole club,” Levi said.
“You’ve got so many great people in the club, people like Danny Daly, Chris Fagan, all these guys that have even been supporting me for the last couple of years I’ve been around the club. They’re just great people to be around and people you want to play for and win for. To be able to play with Will was also a factor. I got a taste of that playing for Sandringham and winning a premiership with him (in 2022). I wanted that again in the big time.”
Meet draft prospect Levi Ashcroft, the Brisbane Lions father-son who is set to take the AFL by storm.
SPEARHEAD’S UNCERTAINTY AHEAD OF DRAFT
GWV Rebels spearhead Jonty Faull concedes the uncertainty around where he might get picked up has been challenging.Faull is one of the best key forwards available and has been interviewed by almost every club, with his draft range set to start in the teens.
Port Adelaide, Fremantle, GWS, Richmond and Sydney all currently hold picks from 13-19 — four states in the space of seven selections — and could target a tall forward.
Clubs hold their cards close to their chest ahead of the draft with talent orders and plans kept quiet, meaning prospects are often left in the dark.
Faull, a 195 centimetre goalkicker, will be moving away from home regardless given he is from Redan in Ballarat and can’t wait to play for an AFL club.
Asked if there was one thing he would change about the current draft system, Faull said it would be greater transparency between players and clubs during the interview process.
Jonty Faull isn’t sure where he’ll be heading. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
“I feel it’s so hard to sort of gauge sort of where you’re going, what you’re doing, what a club views about you. Well that’s my personal experience,” Faull said.
“It’s so tough, you just know that in the middle of November you are going to Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, you could go anywhere and it’s sort of hard to wrap your head around that.
“But it is hard for the clubs as well, can’t complain.”
Faull said his school studies at Ballarat Grammar have been a welcome distraction for him.
No matter where Faull goes, it will be a lot different to what he is used to back in Redan.
“We used to play on the Western Oval. It’s a bit of a mud pile actually, it is probably the size of the (MCG) 50 almost,” Faull said.
“So back when I was in under 12s I could 50 already because it was only 20 metres.
“Compared to the Western Oval, (playing on AFL grounds) would be the best.”
THE TOP VFL PROSPECTS IN DRAFT MIX
Richmond’s Sam Davidson and Werribee pair Jack Henderson and Riley Bice have attracted attention as mature-age draft options from the VFL.However, they are not the only players from the state league who are in the mix to achieve their AFL dreams.
Carlton VFL forward Liam McMahon — a former Collingwood-listed AFL player — is also considered a good chance to earn another opportunity at the top level, headlining a list of other hopefuls.
CODE Sports compiled a comprehensive guide to the 15 top prospects from the VFL, who you can learn more abou
prodigy
Manifesting FOS to Richmond
- Jun 20, 2013
- 18,981
- 61,347
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- Liverpool
The criteria was who was going to be on the list in three years.
Who "makes it" is a completely different kettle of fish. I don't want that to be misconstrued. I personally wouldn't have signed Ryan for another three years, let alone one.
Lord of the Wings
Premiership Player
Allan is shite. Forget him
Herbyliscious
Draftee
- Aug 28, 2024
- 7
- 28
- AFL Club
- Richmond
ahh yes, 18 year old kid being considered in the top 15 of what recruiters calling the most even and in-depth draft in years is 'shite'. got it.
wegetpumped
Norm Smith Medallist
He wouldn't come anyway Pies got a better list
- Oct 25, 2006
- 26,239
- 39,807
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- B.S.C youngboys.. Borussia Dortmund
If that is bait ,and it's by the master?
Does that make it master bait
Muddiemoose
Moderator
- Aug 24, 2017
- 28,517
- 103,273
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Moderator
- #7,090
Agree
Especially with so many “maybe” guys that fall into that bracket Bauer, Lefau, Grey, Blight ect
A lot of our list is already dedicated to speculative talls so I’m cautious about adding 3+ more talls to the list when we need to be sure about what we currently have first
As you alluded this rebuild isn’t going to happen over 1 draft so it better the club concentrate on the best players for this draft and what we need (midfielders) and make decisions over the next two more years about what the other viable tall options will be
Be it draft, free agency or simply backing in what we already have
- Oct 25, 2006
- 26,239
- 39,807
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- B.S.C youngboys.. Borussia Dortmund
Did they forget about pick 20View attachment 2160633
Richmond holds eight of the top 25 picks in the upcoming National Draft, leaving them with many possible strategies for those selections.
It has been suggested that they are likely to trade either up the draft order or into the 2025 draft, in order to space out the picks – given draft contracts all come up at the same time and obviously to give themselves some ammunition for next year.
The Tigers hold picks 1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 23 and 24, following the departures of Shai Bolton, Liam Baker and Daniel Rioli to Fremantle, West Coast and Gold Coast respectively.
Former Geelong forward Daniel Menzel praised their job cashing in during the trade period.
“I think Richmond did a good job too. They got rid of all of those players and stacked as much draft capital as they could. They’re not winning the flag in the next couple of seasons,” Menzel told SEN SA’s Sportsday.
“They’ve got to stock up on kids before Tassie comes in and you don’t want to be down the bottom then. You might as well be down the bottom for the next couple of years and get yourself ready to go, rather than peter around 12th or 13th and then have to rebuild.”
Menzel however would not be trading out of their incredible draft hand, saying they’re giving themselves eight chances to land star players and increasing their odds at nailing five or six of the selections.
“I am not swapping anything. I’m keeping as many picks as possible,” he said.
“The reality is, number one draft picks don’t always hit and neither do picks 2, 3 and 4.
“So if they’ve got eight of the top 24, they’re probably going to hit on four or five of them. Play the percentages.
“If you get five quality players out of this draft, you’d absolutely take that.
“They could try and get a couple picks higher and then what happens if they miss a few and only end up with two good players?
“I quite like that plan and I think it’ll set them up to be able to reload and go again in a few years.”
A similar comparison would be GWS’ 2011 draft crop. The Giants held the top five picks in the draft, as well as 7, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14.
While they stumbled somewhat on selections like Dom Tyson at pick 3, Matt Buntine at pick 5 and Liam Sumner at 10, they landed Stephen Coniglio at 2, Nick Haynes at 7, Toby Greene at 11, Taylor Adams at 13 and Devon Smith at 14.
This offset middling picks as well like Jon Patton at 1, Will Hoskin-Elliott at 3 and Adam Tomlinson at 9.
Similarly in 2010, the Suns held picks 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 13 – selecting David Swallow, Harley Bennell, Sam Day, Josh Caddy, Dion Prestia, Daniel Gorringe, Tom Lynch and Seb Tape.
Could sheer quantity be the way for the Tigers in the 2024 National Draft?
Why sheer quantity is the best path for Richmond at the 2024 AFL Draft
“I am not swapping anything. I’m keeping as many picks as possible.”www.sen.com.au
- Mar 1, 2010
- 24,475
- 17,854
- AFL Club
- Richmond
nah, I reckon he could slide on what he has shown
- Oct 25, 2006
- 26,239
- 39,807
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- B.S.C youngboys.. Borussia Dortmund
Wonder if there is someone else under 24 who we might be targeting end of next year
The name of which has not been mentioned by anyone in the mejia or in here ???
- Mar 1, 2010
- 24,475
- 17,854
- AFL Club
- Richmond
Gibcus is a forward.
If Gibcus does not learn how to protect himself on landing he is not even a viable footy player, which means he is better off forward at the moment for his development and growth so less need for him to spring back up off the ground
- May 23, 2017
- 1,673
- 8,004
- AFL Club
- Richmond
If Smith is available at 6, we're taking him.
Holding 6 is a play for Smith, with Smillie as the backup.
If we don't rate Smith, we'll trade 6+18 for pick 2 and take Lalor+FOS.
- Mar 1, 2010
- 24,475
- 17,854
- AFL Club
- Richmond
I think we should do the trade for 2, just gives us more certainty, stronger base, more confidence to build going forward in terms of stronger foundations
should be able to get Smillie later anyway, I think he will slide
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- May 23, 2017
- 1,673
- 8,004
- AFL Club
- Richmond
To take Lalor + FOS, or another combination?
I don't think we do the straight trade (I think we're after Smith as a slider). We might do 6+11 for 2 and F1. It's too good to turn down.
- Nov 19, 2012
- 2,454
- 5,768
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- Richmond
Defence is the least important area we should be focusing on in the draft. Plus decent key defenders are easy and cheap to pick up later in the draft.
- Mar 1, 2010
- 24,475
- 17,854
- AFL Club
- Richmond
take Lalor and FOS, I am less confident about some of the others and I like some of the options with later picks and being later, less risk as value is not as great in terms of investment, with deep draft more bang for buck
other clubs have to make selections but RFC, being where we are at, are able to look a little longer term with some options a little later, if the cost is less the risk to us falls as we are looking longer term with more flexibility in terms of our path and projections
If I was RFC, and we had 6 I would pick Tauru for sure, no doubt it, which North do not want I assume
given where we are in terms of windows puts RFC in a position to make a few later selections this year theoretically because we have time on our side to see how they develop, without going to loose in our range of player possibilities. For example I think the players in the thirties this year are arguably competitive with players in better draft rounds of some previous years but no need for RFC to go too wild
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Danog
17 19 & 20 - Dynasty
Idk why we don't just wait til he's OOC...
