List Mgmt. 2024 National Draft - November 20-21
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For me it makes sense to be looking at a guy like that - someone that bit older that if needs be can come in and do a role, especially if there are questions marks over Frampton and Dean. I know they're very rare finds, but if someone could come in and have half the career Mihocek has had, but in defense (acknowledging the irony of where Checkers was meant to be recruited to play) I think we would be ecstatic with that find.
Smoky time?
He’s 23, already has four best-and-fairests and a premiership medal to his name — and AFL clubs are taking notice. Meet the country footy defender bound for the big smoke.
The whispers out of Gippsland football are becoming more frequent. AFL clubs are watching Traralgon’s Tye Hourigan — and he may be the bolter in this year’s drafts. The 23-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best players in Victorian country football and it’s believed at least one club had recruiters running an eye over him in the Gippy league grand final three weeks ago.
Hourigan, a 193cm defender, played in Traralgon’s premiership win over Leongatha and claimed his fourth senior best and fairest despite missing a few games with injury. For the third consecutive season he was also named at centre half back in the Gippsland team of the year.
Even as a key backman, Hourigan has sometimes been tagged by rival teams. “I hope so. There’s been different inklings here and there,’’ Maroons coach Troy Hamilton responded to speculation that recruiters were on to Hourigan.
“It would be brilliant for him and brilliant for our club.
“I think he could play in the AFL. He’s the best country footballer I’ve seen. I think he could play in the AFL for sure. He’s 6’3 and a bit, he can play on talls or smalls, he’s an elite mark, he runs a 6:20 2km, he’s got pace, he’s an elite user and he reads the footy better than anyone I’ve seen. There is no weakness.’’
Hamilton said Hourigan was “lame’’ with an ankle injury in a match against Morwell this year, prompting the Maroons to play him out of the goalsquare. He kicked six goals.
Former Traralgon coach Jake Best was similarly effusive when asked about Hourigan.
The former Casey VFL player and Vermont premiership forward called him an outstanding player, “in the best three I’ve ever played with’’. “He’s a star mate,’’ Best said. “He’s a tall intercept defender with great skills and he reads the play like someone I’ve never seen.’’
Hourigan has been named in Traralgon’s best players 49 times in his 65 games in the past four seasons.
An official from an opposition Gippsland league club said of Hourigan: “Everything is one-touch clean. He kicks the footy like a mule – hits a bloke on the chest with a 60m drop-punt – and he’ll pick the ball up at pace below his knees, sidestep someone coming the other way and off he goes. “He’s as good a key position player as I’ve seen at our level.’’
Hourigan was runner-up in Gippsland Power’s 2018 best and fairest and trained briefly with Casey Demons before returning to Traralgon.
VFL clubs have sounded him out in the past two years but he’s been content to play for the Maroons as he completes his university studies to be a schoolteacher.
Hourigan is also an accomplished cricketer, captaining a local A grade team
Traralgon defender Tye Hourigan looms as a bolter for 2024 AFL draft
He’s 23, already has four best-and-fairests and a premiership medal to his name — and AFL clubs are taking notice. Meet the country footy defender bound for the big smoke.
The whispers out of Gippsland football are becoming more frequent. AFL clubs are watching Traralgon’s Tye Hourigan — and he may be the bolter in this year’s drafts. The 23-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best players in Victorian country football and it’s believed at least one club had recruiters running an eye over him in the Gippy league grand final three weeks ago.
Hourigan, a 193cm defender, played in Traralgon’s premiership win over Leongatha and claimed his fourth senior best and fairest despite missing a few games with injury. For the third consecutive season he was also named at centre half back in the Gippsland team of the year.
Even as a key backman, Hourigan has sometimes been tagged by rival teams. “I hope so. There’s been different inklings here and there,’’ Maroons coach Troy Hamilton responded to speculation that recruiters were on to Hourigan.
“It would be brilliant for him and brilliant for our club.
“I think he could play in the AFL. He’s the best country footballer I’ve seen. I think he could play in the AFL for sure. He’s 6’3 and a bit, he can play on talls or smalls, he’s an elite mark, he runs a 6:20 2km, he’s got pace, he’s an elite user and he reads the footy better than anyone I’ve seen. There is no weakness.’’
Hamilton said Hourigan was “lame’’ with an ankle injury in a match against Morwell this year, prompting the Maroons to play him out of the goalsquare. He kicked six goals.
Former Traralgon coach Jake Best was similarly effusive when asked about Hourigan.
The former Casey VFL player and Vermont premiership forward called him an outstanding player, “in the best three I’ve ever played with’’. “He’s a star mate,’’ Best said. “He’s a tall intercept defender with great skills and he reads the play like someone I’ve never seen.’’
Hourigan has been named in Traralgon’s best players 49 times in his 65 games in the past four seasons.
An official from an opposition Gippsland league club said of Hourigan: “Everything is one-touch clean. He kicks the footy like a mule – hits a bloke on the chest with a 60m drop-punt – and he’ll pick the ball up at pace below his knees, sidestep someone coming the other way and off he goes. “He’s as good a key position player as I’ve seen at our level.’’
Hourigan was runner-up in Gippsland Power’s 2018 best and fairest and trained briefly with Casey Demons before returning to Traralgon.
VFL clubs have sounded him out in the past two years but he’s been content to play for the Maroons as he completes his university studies to be a schoolteacher.
Hourigan is also an accomplished cricketer, captaining a local A grade team
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There's no way a 23 year old country footballer is going to walk into the AFL and do a passable job on AFL key forwards.
It's just not happening. Even if he made it in the future, it will take a full season for him to get his legs under him, start understanding the game at that higher level, and then be able to compete with these AFL players.
No doubt. Everyone has the Tom Stewart obsession though. But then you get situations with players like Sam Sof. Be interesting to see if someone gives him a chance.
manicpie
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It's a yes from me
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Even then, Tom Stewart went through the VFL program before being selected in the National Draft. He didn't just walk from South Barwon onto an AFL field.
He won a premiership at South Barwon in 2013 under Matthew Scarlett, didn't get onto Geelong's VFL list until 2016, and they drafted him at the end of that season.
Maybe, maybe this dude is worth rookie listing so you can get a look at him in your VFL program and assess if there's AFL level tools there, but look more at a Joe Richards trajectory where the earliest he might be able to play AFL games is halfway through his second season on the list, and that's not accounting for the fact that playing key defense in the AFL is a lot harder than playing on the HFF.
sr36
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Never say never Vinnie. This year Logan Morriss slotted into a tall role in the premiers coming off the back off lesser performance in a lower standard of footy.
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I think I’d be looking at him more as a longer term Howe replacement (3rd tall interceptor) than KPD given his size and traits. Love to see kids like this get a go. If it’s with us, great, if it’s not, good luck to him.
I have been looking at some of the less well-known & less- mentioned & less-discussed players who have nominated for the forthcoming 2024 National Draft. OK. So I am wondering if anybody on this site knows anything about the following players? OK. They are are all apparently either key defenders or key forwards. Anyway here they are:
Charlie West
Thomas Cathcart
Cooper Bell
Caleb Nancarrow
Oliver Dean
Tom Bell
Riak Andrew
Regardless goodnight & goodluck.
BEEG
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Hine doesn't have much to work with this year which is great, the delistings in 2 years will be much easier to take.
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Logan Morris was a high level talent who came through the top pathways, was trained to become an AFL footballer on the standard trajectory that a high level talent does so, and performed in a big way during his first season.
That's not the same thing as a guy who hasn't been indentified as a draftable talent for a minimum of 5 years beyond turning 18.
It's also way easier playing as a forward in a stacked forward line, where the attention isn't on you, and even if you don't do everything perfectly, it doesn't look like you're getting massacred.
KPD is a tough task. You don't see many guys coming straight in after being drafted and playing that role effectively.
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I'm just saying, I think people are seeing 23 year old key defender and thinking he'll solve our current key defensive issues, but if he takes a year and a half to even debut, than our current issues may not look the same.
Obviously he may become an okay player in time, but so may hundreds of other prospects from a range of sources.
This is just a random longshot that someone posted an article about.
"AFL clubs are watching this guy"? They're also watching every player in the NAB league, the VFL, SANFL and WAFL.
manicpie
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I don't know anything about any of these guys
JuniorB
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Charlie Dean was thrown to the wolves early this season - he's older, but hadn't played for a couple of years due to his foot problems.
He came to us highly rated, and will hopefully be able to show us why in 2025
sr36
TheBrownDog
Isaac Smith was drafted at 21 from half a season of VFL following country footy. Kicked on in Y1. I don't see why it couldn't happen again.
But he'd be a draftee. Why would him being ready year 1 matter?
Because if it doesn’t impact their draft order there is no advantage to them.
In fact from a marketing and player relationship standpoint they are better not to.
sr36
TheBrownDog
Yep. Even many years down the track, I think guys like JUH and Rayner still create a bit more of a buzz of expectation and anticipation than they would if they didn't go pick 1.
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Jen2310
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Richmond’s reluctance to part with pick six could force North Melbourne to use their No.2 selection in next month’s AFL draft or find another taker.
There is a strong group of midfielders, including Sam Lalor, Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft, Finn O’Sullivan, Jagga Smith, Sid Draper, Harvey Langford and Josh Smillie, set to be chosen early in the draft, which has put the Kangaroos in a challenging spot.
North already have Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jy Simpkin, George Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel, Colby McKercher and even Will Phillips, and just traded for Luke Parker, but need key position players at both ends.
That is why the Roos are open to offloading pick two for multiple later selections, where they would slide only a few picks back in the draft.
The Tigers boast an extraordinary seven first-round selections, as well as the coveted opening pick of the second round on day two, but are set to re-sign Thomson Dow, a source familiar with negotiations told this masthead, meaning they will have only seven list spots available.
Richmond’s almost unprecedented draft hand – picks one, six, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23 and 24 – owes largely to them agreeing to trade Daniel Rioli (Gold Coast), Shai Bolton (Fremantle) and Liam Baker (West Coast).
However, the Tigers’ second-round selection could fetch them a future first-rounder, and reduce their number of picks to seven, in line with how many players they’ll need to fill their list, should they retain Dow.
Richmond are tipped to use the No.1 selection on GWV Rebels rising star Lalor, who is being likened to Dustin Martin for his physicality, power, skills and ability to impact the game equally as a midfielder or forward. This masthead ranked Lalor at the top of our draft rankings at the start of this month.
Carlton star Sam Walsh’s second cousin, hard-running midfielder O’Sullivan, and Smith, the draft’s best ball, are also in that mix, but most recruiters who spoke to this masthead are certain Lalor will be the first player taken.
Another factor is the Tigers’ interest in 195-centimetre Patrick Cripps clone Josh Smillie, who hails from junior club Park Orchards, where Richmond list boss Blair Hartley is a coach and Hartley’s son plays.
Smillie looms as Richmond’s selection if they maintain pick six, but there is less certainty he would still be there four selections later.
North Melbourne are linked to Gippsland Power’s athletic interceptor Alix Tauru, who looms as the draft’s biggest bolter, and Sandringham Dragons key forward Harry Armstrong, but both players should be available at a lower selection in the top 10.
Melbourne (picks five and nine), St Kilda (seven and eight) and Richmond (10) could also consider Tauru or Armstrong with one of their top-10 picks, while another tall defender, Luke Trainor, looms as a later first-round choice.
The Demons used most of their draft collateral trading up for Essendon’s No.9 selection and are not expected to try to move up again, leaving the Saints as the likeliest potential trade partner for the Roos’ pick two if nothing eventuates with the Tigers.
North Melbourne lost Tarryn Thomas this year, so could select a midfielder-forward type at No.2 instead of reaching for a taller bookend, unless the plan is for Sheezel to spend more time in attack than in an on-ball role.
Some rival recruiters believe the Kangaroos’ bulk drafting of midfielders in the past five years means they might need to consider their list needs instead of taking the best available player, as clubs typically do when selecting at the pointy end of the draft.
Another option is North using their future first-rounder to trade into the top 10 for a second selection, meaning they could take a midfielder first and still address their key-position need.
That would require a team to trade out of a highly touted, deep and even draft, so the Roos may need to offer a sweetener for that to happen.
One of Richmond or North Melbourne could place a bid on Ashcroft with the first two picks, but the Lions are certain to match either way.
www.theage.com.au
There is a strong group of midfielders, including Sam Lalor, Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft, Finn O’Sullivan, Jagga Smith, Sid Draper, Harvey Langford and Josh Smillie, set to be chosen early in the draft, which has put the Kangaroos in a challenging spot.
North already have Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jy Simpkin, George Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel, Colby McKercher and even Will Phillips, and just traded for Luke Parker, but need key position players at both ends.
That is why the Roos are open to offloading pick two for multiple later selections, where they would slide only a few picks back in the draft.
The Tigers boast an extraordinary seven first-round selections, as well as the coveted opening pick of the second round on day two, but are set to re-sign Thomson Dow, a source familiar with negotiations told this masthead, meaning they will have only seven list spots available.
Richmond’s almost unprecedented draft hand – picks one, six, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23 and 24 – owes largely to them agreeing to trade Daniel Rioli (Gold Coast), Shai Bolton (Fremantle) and Liam Baker (West Coast).
However, the Tigers’ second-round selection could fetch them a future first-rounder, and reduce their number of picks to seven, in line with how many players they’ll need to fill their list, should they retain Dow.
Richmond are tipped to use the No.1 selection on GWV Rebels rising star Lalor, who is being likened to Dustin Martin for his physicality, power, skills and ability to impact the game equally as a midfielder or forward. This masthead ranked Lalor at the top of our draft rankings at the start of this month.
Carlton star Sam Walsh’s second cousin, hard-running midfielder O’Sullivan, and Smith, the draft’s best ball, are also in that mix, but most recruiters who spoke to this masthead are certain Lalor will be the first player taken.
Another factor is the Tigers’ interest in 195-centimetre Patrick Cripps clone Josh Smillie, who hails from junior club Park Orchards, where Richmond list boss Blair Hartley is a coach and Hartley’s son plays.
Smillie looms as Richmond’s selection if they maintain pick six, but there is less certainty he would still be there four selections later.
North Melbourne are linked to Gippsland Power’s athletic interceptor Alix Tauru, who looms as the draft’s biggest bolter, and Sandringham Dragons key forward Harry Armstrong, but both players should be available at a lower selection in the top 10.
Melbourne (picks five and nine), St Kilda (seven and eight) and Richmond (10) could also consider Tauru or Armstrong with one of their top-10 picks, while another tall defender, Luke Trainor, looms as a later first-round choice.
The Demons used most of their draft collateral trading up for Essendon’s No.9 selection and are not expected to try to move up again, leaving the Saints as the likeliest potential trade partner for the Roos’ pick two if nothing eventuates with the Tigers.
North Melbourne lost Tarryn Thomas this year, so could select a midfielder-forward type at No.2 instead of reaching for a taller bookend, unless the plan is for Sheezel to spend more time in attack than in an on-ball role.
Some rival recruiters believe the Kangaroos’ bulk drafting of midfielders in the past five years means they might need to consider their list needs instead of taking the best available player, as clubs typically do when selecting at the pointy end of the draft.
Another option is North using their future first-rounder to trade into the top 10 for a second selection, meaning they could take a midfielder first and still address their key-position need.
That would require a team to trade out of a highly touted, deep and even draft, so the Roos may need to offer a sweetener for that to happen.
One of Richmond or North Melbourne could place a bid on Ashcroft with the first two picks, but the Lions are certain to match either way.
Why Richmond might not trade for North Melbourne’s pick two
The Kangaroos are open to cashing in the No.2 pick in the draft if they can get two decent later picks for it, but the Tigers - who have a wealth of picks - have their eyes on Sam Lalor at No.1 and are reluctant to give up their next selection.
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He's 23 years old, so if he takes 2 years to figure out the pace of AFL footy, he'll be a 25 year old with barely any experience.
If we're looking to fill a current hole in our playing list, I just don't see this being the most viable way to address it.
If he won't play this year, then why pick him up? Just wait and see what the landscape is next year. Maybe a team with a good key defender falls in a heap and becomes open to trading him. Maybe someone unexpectedly walks out on their club like Dan Houston did.
I just don't think we have two years to devote to a 23 year old country footballer who plays a very high-pressure AFL position.
