I agree that it could all be a beat up. But it isn't one that helps us, whether we want Tauru or not. We would be better off denying it or talking about how much we valued disposal or outside run or any of the things that Tauru isn't about.
Preview 2024 National Draft Preview Thread
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Anyone got access to the pay-walled Herald Sun 2 man phantom draft?
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PICK 3 - ALIX TAURU (NORTH MELBOURNE)
Club Gippsland Power/Warragul Industrials
State VIC
Height 193cm
DOB 26/11/2006
DAN BATTEN SAYS: The golden rule of recruiting is to draft on talent rather than needs at the top-end, but this is the exception to the rule. On pure talent, others may be ahead of Tauru – which is why we put in a couple of calls to Richmond hoping to slide back. But after taking Colby McKercher, George Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel, Will Phillips and Tom Powell in the first round since 2020, I decided to look at another position type. The 193cm interceptor has been strongly linked to the Roos and he has matchwinning traits with his overhead marking, freakish leap and reading of the play. With intercepting so important in the modern game, Tauru could quite easily end up as a top-five prospect in this draft – and he has potential as a marking forward, too.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: We had Tauru at 30 in our last rankings and that was probably underselling him at that point. Since then, the biggest bolter of the draft class has improved his standing considerably and he is thoroughly deserving of a bump up. Tauru sat out the entirety of last season with a string of injuries to his ankles and finger, but he has certainly made up for lost time. He forced himself into the Vic Country side with two monster Coates Talent League games where he won 29 intercept possessions – 15 of those marks
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Who picked for which clubs?
Which clubs our experts picked for in our 2024 Mock Draft
Chris Cavanagh – Richmond, Carlton, Adelaide, GC, Port, Fremantle, Bulldogs
Dan Batten – North, Melbourne, St Kilda, West Coast, GWS, Sydney, Brisbane, Essendon
Richmond dominates the first round with seven picks, Carlton managed to move up the order to secure the third selection, while St Kilda and Melbourne both have two prized top-10 picks.
Chris had the task of setting up Richmond’s future as Dan worked out how to add some of the best young talent to St Kilda and Melbourne’s lists.
The mock draft is different to our Phantom Draft, which predicts who every club will take on draft night.
That will be dropping early next week – stay tuned.
Scroll down to see who was taken in the first round, which spanned 27 picks.
The second round will be online on Thursday.
PICK 1 - LEVI ASHCROFT (Brisbane Lions)
PICK 2 - SAM LALOR (RICHMOND)
PICK 3 - ALIX TAURU (NORTH MELBOURNE)
PICK 4 - FINN O'SULLIVAN (CARLTON)
PICK 5 - SID DRAPER (ADELAIDE)
PICK 6 - JAGGA SMITH (MELBOURNE)
PICK 7 - JOSH SMILLIE (RICHMOND)
PICK 8 - HARVEY LANGFORD (ST KILDA)
PICK 9 - LEO LOMBARD (GOLD COAST SUNS) *Matching St Kilda bid
PICK 10 - TOBIE TRAVAGLIA (ST KILDA)
PICK 11 - HARRY ARMSTRONG (MELBOURNE)
PICK 12 - ISAAC KAKO (ESSENDON) *Matching Richmond bid
PICK 13 - LUKE TRAINOR (RICHMOND)
PICK 14 - JOBE SHANAHAN (RICHMOND)
PICK 15 - BO ALLAN (WEST COAST)
PICK 16 - MURPHY REID (PORT ADELAIDE)
PICK 17 - XAVIER LINDSAY (FREMANTLE)
PICK 18 - TAJ HOTTON (GWS GIANTS)
PICK 19 - JACK WHITLOCK (GWS GIANTS)
PICK 20 - JOE BERRY (WESTERN BULLDOGS)
PICK 21 - COOPER HYNES (RICHMOND)
PICK 22 - JONTY FAULL (SYDNEY)
PICK 23 - ALEX DODSON (RICHMOND)
PICK 24 - JESSE DATTOLI (GWS GIANTS)
PICK 25 - SAM MARSHALL (BRISBANE LIONS) *Matching Sydney bid
PICK 26 - CHRISTIAN MORAES (SYDNEY)
PICK 27 - MATT WHITLOCK (RICHMOND)
PICK 1 - LEVI ASHCROFT (Brisbane Lions)
Club Sandringham Dragons/Old Brighton Grammarians State VIC Height 179cm DOB 18/12/2006
DAN BATTEN SAYS: It seems unlikely Ashcroft will be bid on at No.1 on draft night, but personally I feel he is the standout prospect in 2024 draft crop. This is a doomsday scenario for Brisbane, who have to give up 2400 points if a bid comes at one. Brisbane’s first six picks – 27, 34, 42, 43, 49 and 60 – amount to 2451, and there is still Sam Marshall to come… Yikes. But going into draft deficit – meaning picks in 2025 will be impacted – is a small price to pay for Levi, who has shown similar dominance to Will in his draft year – with more goals from the boundary.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: A Brisbane Lions father-son prospect, Ashcroft has arguably been the best-performed junior talent in the country over the past two years. The son of three-time Lions premiership player Marcus and brother of current Brisbane young gun Will, Ashcroft brings plenty to the table. He possesses elite workrate, has explosive burst speed from stoppage, makes good decisions with ball in hand, displays outstanding leadership and has a great ability to push forward and kick a classy goal.
PICK 2 - SAM LALOR (RICHMOND)
Club GWV Rebels/Bacchus Marsh State VIC Height 188cm DOB 30/08/2006
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: I’m looking at Richmond’s list and wondering how many match-winners are left. Clearly, Dustin Martin and Shai Bolton were the top two players in that bracket over recent years and Dusty has sailed into retirement and Bolton has headed home to Western Australia. So, I think Lalor is a logical first pick. He’s got a lot of Martin and Jordan De Goey about him as a powerful midfielder-forward who can win clearances but also go forward, take marks and kick goals. He had a frustrating year with injury but he’s going to be a serious player.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: Lalor’s season has been cruelled by injury, with his pre-season wiped out by a hip issue before minor setbacks to his knee, foot and quad. But he has shown his game-breaking ability as a midfielder-forward from his very first game of the season, where an underdone Lalor booted seven goals for Geelong Grammar at APS level. His first game for the Rebels during the APS break was just as dominant, racking up 34 disposals, nine inside 50, eight marks, seven clearances and 170 SuperCoach points.
PICK 3 - ALIX TAURU (NORTH MELBOURNE)
Club Gippsland Power/Warragul Industrials State VIC Height 193cm DOB 26/11/2006
DAN BATTEN SAYS: The golden rule of recruiting is to draft on talent rather than needs at the top-end, but this is the exception to the rule. On pure talent, others may be ahead of Tauru – which is why we put in a couple of calls to Richmond hoping to slide back. But after taking Colby McKercher, George Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel, Will Phillips and Tom Powell in the first round since 2020, I decided to look at another position type. The 193cm interceptor has been strongly linked to the Roos and he has matchwinning traits with his overhead marking, freakish leap and reading of the play. With intercepting so important in the modern game, Tauru could quite easily end up as a top-five prospect in this draft – and he has potential as a marking forward, too.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: We had Tauru at 30 in our last rankings and that was probably underselling him at that point. Since then, the biggest bolter of the draft class has improved his standing considerably and he is thoroughly deserving of a bump up. Tauru sat out the entirety of last season with a string of injuries to his ankles and finger, but he has certainly made up for lost time. He forced himself into the Vic Country side with two monster Coates Talent League games where he won 29 intercept possessions – 15 of those marks.
PICK 4 - FINN O'SULLIVAN (CARLTON)
Club Oakleigh Chargers/Koroit State VIC Height 182cm DOB 30/05/2006
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: I think everyone can see that Carlton needs to add a bit more speed and power though its midfield and O’Sullivan can provide that. He’s another one who had a rough run with injury this year, but is a tough and athletically-gifted midfielder who showed his class when he was on the park this season. It is a bonus for the Blues that O’Sullivan not only fits their list needs but is also a second-cousin of Sam Walsh.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: After entering the year as a highly-touted No.1 pick contender, O’Sullivan couldn’t take a trick. His top-age year was severely interrupted, first by a fractured thumb, then broken fingers and later a hip complaint. The Koroit product was restricted to just two games for Vic Country at the under-18 national championships and struggled after and entering the carnival without much match fitness under his belt. However, he went on to make a classy VFL debut for Richmond in August, kicking two goals from 12 disposals. O’Sullivan also had an eye-catching finals campaign for Oakleigh in the Coates Talent League, including a 20-disposal, eight-mark and two-goal preliminary final.
PICK 5 - SID DRAPER (ADELAIDE)
Club South Adelaide/Willunga State SA Height 182cm DOB 05/07/2006
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: It was a toss-up here between Draper and Harvey Langford, who would both fit in beautifully at the Crows. But when you’re weighing up two players of comparable talent and you have had some retention issues in the past, I think you go with the South Australian local. Draper can provide Adelaide with something a little bit different through the midfield with his speed and power breaking away from contests and he looks ready to go at the next level after playing six games of senior footy with South Adelaide in the SANFL this year.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: A standout prospect from South Australia, Draper is a dynamic onballer who has proven his abilities against men this season. He had a huge campaign in 2023 as he won his state’s MVP award as a bottom-age player at the under-18 national championships. However, there was a delayed start to 2024 as Draper battled a stress fracture in his shin. While underdone, he returned to the field in time to captain South Australia in its first match of this year’s under-18 national championships in late May. Draper warmed into the tournament and had some eye-catching moments with his acceleration and power away from contests, particularly in his side’s final match against Vic Metro.
PICK 6 - JAGGA SMITH (MELBOURNE)
Club Oakleigh Chargers/Richmond Juniors State VIC Height 182cm DOB 28/01/2006
DAN BATTEN SAYS: Smith was my No.2 ranked player in the pool – behind Will Ashcroft – so I’m very pleased to get him at this point. There are doubts over the future of Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, but expect Smith be alongside those two and Viney in round one. Smith gives the Dees midfield a point-of-difference with his agility and work in traffic – think Zak Butters – and he finds the footy for fun.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: A classy ball-winner, Smith has found the footy with incredible consistency at every level he has played this year. He racked up 50 disposals (24 contested) and 17 clearances in one Coates Talent League match for Oakleigh in May, before going on to record a game-high 31 touches in his VFL debut for Richmond in July. Smith also averaged 29 disposals across four games for Vic Metro at the under-18 national championships. He has elite running patterns, wins his own footy in tight, is incredibly clean in all conditions and has become more damaging with his disposals forward of centre.
PICK 7 - JOSH SMILLIE (RICHMOND)
Club Eastern Ranges/Park Orchards State VIC Height 195cm DOB 17/05/2006
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: Tough pick here for the Tigers, with two big-bodied Victorian midfielders still on the table in Smillie and Harvey Langford. But I’ve landed with Smillie. He didn’t have as good a year as Langford, but I just feel there could be more upside there. He’s 195cm so he’s got 4cm on Langford and having spoken to him a couple of times this year and also some people around him, I get the impression he could be a future club captain like his idol Patrick Cripps. Richmond has a bit of a leadership void at the moment so I think Smillie would be a perfect addition here.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: One of few taller midfielders at the pointy end of this year’s draft class, Smillie is an intriguing prospect. He entered the year as a likely No.1 draft pick and had a strong campaign, but perhaps didn’t reach the heights that he would have hoped to. An onballer who models his game on Carlton’s Patrick Cripps, he has the ability to change matches with his clearance wins. In one game for Vic Metro during the under-18 national championships Smillie recorded nine clearances, including seven centre clearances. When he wins first possession, he either drives forward with strength and power or will cleverly release teammates into space.
PICK 8 - HARVEY LANGFORD (ST KILDA)
Club Dandenong Stingrays/Mount Martha State VIC Height 191cm DOB 15/03/2006
DAN BATTEN SAYS: Doesn’t offer the explosive speed that some other top-end midfielders in the pool have, but his combination of size, ball-winning, marking and scoreboard impact gives St Kilda’s engine room another dimension. Langford was joint Larke medallist as the best player at the national championships and has been consistently dominant all year long.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: Langford’s strong form had been flying under the radar before the national championships, but now he shapes as a potential No.1 contender after continued dominance for Vic Country and the Dandenong Stingrays. The strong 191cm midfielder – who models his game on Western Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli – was a joint winner of the Larke Medal after an outstanding campaign on the big stage of the under-18 national championships. He averaged 26 disposals, eight score involvements, six clearances, six marks and 130 SuperCoach points for Vic Country. Langford’s contested ball-winning, penetrating left boot, overhead marking and forward-half impact stood out throughout a well-rounded tournament where he broke games open on a consistent basis.
PICK 9 - LEO LOMBARD (GOLD COAST SUNS) *Matching St Kilda bid
Club Gold Coast Suns Academy/Broadbeach State QLD Height 179cm DOB 05/10/2006
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: This bid’s probably come a few spots higher than we would have liked at the Suns, but we’ll be matching it. Lombard’s another Touk Miller-type midfielder who can also have an impact across half-forward with his speed, agility, clean hands and pressure game. He was a joint-winner of the Larke Medal at the under-18 national championships this year and looks like being a dependable player for the Suns for a long time.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: It takes a special talent to play in a VFL premiership at the age of 16, but Lombard did just that as part of Gold Coast’s flag-winning side in 2023. The Suns Academy member has only gone from strength-to-strength since then, winning plenty of the footy at every level this year. Lombard is a tough, quick and agile midfielder or half-forward who has worked closely with 2023 Suns Academy graduate Jake Rogers and has long looked to model his game on Touk Miller. When he doesn’t have the footy, he’s a fierce competitor who loves to lay a tackle or apply some pressure on the opposition ball carrier.
PICK 10 - TOBIE TRAVAGLIA (ST KILDA)
Club Bendigo Pioneers/Sandhurst State VIC Height 187cm DOB 26/10/2006
DAN BATTEN SAYS: Travaglia or key forward Harry Armstrong? I agonised over this choice, but went with the running power of Travaglia, with this area a clear target in last year’s draft. Travaglia has drawn comparisons to Will Day with his size, line-breaking and ball-use. Will likely start in defence or on a wing, but I can see him moving into the engine room eventually.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: One club coach has dubbed Travaglia the ‘Albino Whitfield’, and it is easy to see why. Just like the Giants star, Travaglia has elite skills, breaks the lines and can run all day. He showcased that running ability by finishing second in the 2km time trial at the national draft combine in October, crossing the line in 6min 13sec. Travaglia’s national championships ended in heartbreak after he gave away that infamous free kick and a 50 metre penalty to Luke Trainor at the death of the final match. But that game alone saw his draft stocks rise regardless. Stationed at half back, Travaglia cut through the Vic Metro defence with his run and neat footskills, racking up 25 disposals, nine marks, six intercepts and 130 SuperCoach points.
PICK 11 - HARRY ARMSTRONG (MELBOURNE)
Club Sandringham Dragons/Ormond State VIC Height 195cm DOB 14/06/2006
DAN BATTEN SAYS: We strongly considered taking Armstrong with our first pick fearing Richmond and St Kilda would pounce, but fortunately the Sandringham Dragons target man got through. Armstrong did have some of his better games against smaller opponents this year, so he may take a bit of time to adjust to AFL-level key defenders. But his strong contested marking and mobility can fill a pressing need for the Demons once he develops.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: Injury late last year meant Armstrong was not exposed at Coates Talent League level before his top-age season. However, the key forward has had no problems stepping up from school football and has arguably been the biggest draft bolter in the country. An athletic tall, Armstrong is lightning quick, powerful and has some ground level game. But his two biggest strengths are clearly his goalkicking and his exceptional contested marking in the air. The marking was on full display during the under-18 national championships, with Armstrong taking two important pack marks in Vic Metro’s final game against Vic Country. The thumping and accurate left-footer also booted five goals in that match – including three in a quarter – to back up a three-goal haul against South Australia in the previous match.
PICK 12 - ISAAC KAKO (ESSENDON) *Matching Richmond bid
Club Calder Cannons/Northern Saints State VIC Height 176cm DOB 07/03/06
DAN BATTEN SAYS: We were hoping Kako wouldn’t attract a bid this early, but 1014 draft points – including the 20 per cent discount – is still good value for this livewire. Kako can provide immediate spark to the Bombers forward line with his freakish goal sense, speed and elusiveness. I feel he can have a similar impact in his first year as Nick Watson at the Hawks.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: Changes to Next Generation Academy bidding rules this year have come at a prime time for Essendon, which will be able to match a bid on this livewire small forward wherever it comes in November’s draft. Born in Australia to Iraqi parents, Kako is exactly what the Bombers’ need as a high-impact player inside-50. His ability to get front and centre to crumb packs is elite, while he also applies good pressure, is clean at ground level, finds space and sets up goals when he’s not kicking them himself. Likened to Adelaide’s Izak Rankine, Kako was named in a forward pocket of the All-Australian team after booting eight goals across four matches for Vic Metro in the under-18 national championships.
PICK 13 - LUKE TRAINOR (RICHMOND)
Club Sandringham Dragons/Old Brighton Grammarians State VIC Height 194cm DOB 10/04/2006
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: I went with two midfielders with the first two picks for the Tigers so with these two picks I’m looking for a couple of taller bookends to help complete the spine. I’m a big fan of the way Luke Trainor went about things this year – particularly early in the season – and I can just picture him teaming up nicely with Josh Gibcus and Noah Balta in the backline for many years to come. Trainor’s more of that third-tall type at 194cm but is a quality interceptor and defends pretty well one-on-one.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: A former junior forward, Trainor has moved into the backline in recent years to great effect. He has drawn comparisons to Geelong’s Tom Stewart as a third-tall defender type who can lock down on an opponent but also reads the play incredibly well to roll off and intercept the footy when the time is right. He then has the ability to provide good rebound from the back half and break the lines through his long and efficient kicking. Trainor won the best-on-ground medal for the AFL Academy in its first match against Coburg’s VFL side in April and also performed well in a second game against Footscray.
PICK 14 - JOBE SHANAHAN (RICHMOND)
Club Bendigo Pioneers/Moama State VIC Height 195cm DOB 02/08/06
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: I got Trainor for the defensive end, so now I’m grabbing a key forward in Shanahan. You only had to look at what this guy did for Essendon at VFL level late in the year to see his considerable talent. He kicked 11 goals across three games for the Bombers, while also showing off his strong marking abilities as a 195cm tall. Clearly the Tigers are thin in attack and Tom Lynch is coming to the end, so Shanahan looks an ideal target to me.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: A contested marking key forward with vice-like hands overhead, Shanahan produced eye-catching performances at all levels this year. He had spent time in defence and as a big-bodied midfielder with the Bendigo Pioneers during his bottom-age season in 2023, but settled in attack in 2024. After some quiet games to start the season, Shanahan got to work on his contests in the air and did not look back from there. The Moama product was held goalless in two of his national championships matches for Vic Country, but his other two performances were dominant on his way to a earning an All-Australian spot. Shanahan finished the tournament with a bang, tallying 16 disposals, nine marks, four contested marks and three goals against Vic Country.
PICK 15 - BO ALLAN (WEST COAST)
Club Peel Thunder/Halls Head State WA Height 191cm DOB 16/02/2006
DAN BATTEN SAYS: The obvious choice as a local talent, but Allan also fills a need for the rebuilding Eagles with his run and carry off half back and has exciting potential as a midfielder. His 191cm size and athleticism – he came fourth in the agility test, running vertical jump and standing vertical jump – saw us take him over Xavier Lindsay and Murphy Reid. Eagles fans have been critical of the pick three trade, but our mock draft highlights the quality still available in this range.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: The best prospect from the west this year, Allan has proven himself to be a very capable half-back or midfielder. He started the year in defence, playing senior football for Peel Thunder in the WAFL as a third-tall defender. However, Allan was unleashed into the midfield during the under-18 national championships and quickly adjusted. He missed his side’s first game of the tournament with a back injury, having also battled a foot issue early in the year. But Allan was still named in the midfield of the All-Australian side after averaging 20 disposals and 6.3 score involvements across three games in which he served as captain of his state.
PICK 16 - MURPHY REID (PORT ADELAIDE)
Club Sandringham Dragons/South Melbourne Districts State VIC Height 181cm DOB 30/07/2006
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: Port is a hard one because I don’t see too many gaps in the list, so I think it will just be a case of best available and we do have a slider. Some have Reid as a top-10 prospect, so if he gets to pick 16 you would have to take him I think. There’s been comparisons between Reid and Scott Pendlebury given how clean and composed he is with ball in hand. I know the Power already have a stacked young midfield, but I think they could find room for Reid in time.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: A talented midfield prospect, Reid is clean, clever, classy, creative and consistent. It surprised some that he was overlooked for the AFL Academy squad this year, but that matters little now after a strong top-age campaign. Reid he has drawn comparisons to Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury for his ability to remain calm and composed in the contest, along with his clean hands and sound decision making. He has been described as a player who has “eyes in the back of his head”, so good is his vision when in traffic.
PICK 17 - XAVIER LINDSAY (FREMANTLE)
Club Gippsland Power/Leongatha State VIC Height 183cm DOB 03/08/06
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: I don’t think there’s a huge gap between Lindsay and some of the other top midfielders in this year’s draft class, so I think the Dockers would be quite happy to land him here. He’s reliable, quick, steps up in big matches and has a good balance between his inside and outside game. The Gippsland Power product won the Morrish Medal in the Coates Talent League this year and was best-on-ground for Vic Country in the deciding match of the under-18 national championships so there’s a lot to like.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: Lindsay’s emphatic performances for the Gippsland Power – which won him the Coates Talent League best-and-fairest – translated on the big stage against Vic Metro in the under-18 national championships. With the title on the line, Lindsay produced a best-on-ground display for Vic Country, tallying 30 disposals, 11 marks, eight score involvements, eight tackles and 169 SuperCoach points. It underlined the AFL Academy member’s well-rounded traits as a midfielder. Lindsay hurts opposition sides with his penetrating and pinpoint left boot, wins it on the inside and the outside and defends strongly when he hasn’t got the footy. He was also a class above in challenging conditions against Western Australia, going at 90 per cent by foot and winning 19 disposals and eight clearances.
PICK 18 - TAJ HOTTON (GWS GIANTS)
Club Sandringham Dragons/Hampton Rovers State VIC Height 182cm DOB 17/06/06
DAN BATTEN SAYS: Hotton wowed recruiters at the start of the year at school level and for the Dragons before suffering an ACL injury. Could quite easily have been a top-10 pick if it wasn’t for that blow, so it’s hard to pass up Hotton’s exciting blend of speed and agility here. He may be slow to get going, but this could end up being serious value if he becomes a full-time midfielder.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: A huge talking point early in the season, Hotton made an exceptional start to the year as a high half-forward and midfielder. His ability to step in and out of traffic around the contest stood out in some of his early games, along with his willingness to compete one-on-one, his classy ball use, overhead marking, hard-running and creative play forward of centre. Hotton had 32 disposals, 10 marks, 13 score involvements and kicked four goals playing across half-forward in a round 2 match against Oakleigh.
PICK 19 - JACK WHITLOCK (GWS GIANTS)
Club Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton State VIC Height 200cm DOB 16/5/2006
DAN BATTEN SAYS: Like Hotton, Whitlock may not provide an immediate boost but his scope as a mobile 200cm marking forward is significant. Whitlock booted 25 goals for the Bushrangers while spending time in the ruck, where he covered the ground well and found plenty of the ball. A key forward duo of Aaron Cadman and Whitlock in five years time looks pretty good on paper.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: While his brother has played at both ends, Jack Whitlock has played purely up forward with stints in the ruck this season, where he has been a consistent performer for the Bushrangers and Vic Country. Whitlock is well-rounded for a 199cm key forward: he has strong hands overhead, a great leap – he finished second in the standing vertical jump and fifth in the running vertical at the national combine – is very mobile around the ground and is good below his knees. One of his most defining performances of the season came in the championships decider against Vic Metro, where he took three telling contested marks – two of those in the final term with the game on the line – and kicked two goals.
PICK 20 - JOE BERRY (WESTERN BULLDOGS)
Club Murray Bushrangers/Wangaratta State VIC Height 181cm DOB 18/4/2006
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: We know the Bulldogs have some good tall forwards in Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy. But there might be a spot up for grabs for another small alongside Cody Weightman and Rhylee West. So I’m looking firmly at Berry. He’s got virtually everything you would want in a forward with his workrate, speed, power, defensive pressure and goalsense. So if I’m the Dogs, I’m thinking we bring him in to hopefully complete a great young forward line for years to come.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: Berry is the standout small forward in the open draft, given Isaac Kako is tied to Essendon. The Benalla product has plenty going for him with his speed, defensive pressure, clever ball-use and innate goal sense. Berry surged into first-round contention with 16 goals in his first five matches for the Murray Bushrangers to start the season. The dangerous forward kept the momentum going in both the Coates Talent League and the national championships, earning All-Australian recognition after kicking eight goals for Vic Country.
PICK 21 - COOPER HYNES (RICHMOND)
Club Dandenong Stingrays/Bonbeach State VIC Height 190cm DOB 28/2/2006
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: The Tigers have already grabbed two midfielders, an intercept defender and a key forward so far in this Mock Draft. So now I’m looking for a few different types and Hynes looks a good fit as a 190cm half-forward who finds the footy, his the scoreboard and can also have a run through the midfield. He was a co-captain of the Dandenong Stingrays this year and finished second in the Morrish Medal. There’s also a little bit of romanticism here, given Hynes has grown up a big Richmond fan.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: Dominating for Dandenong Stingrays throughout the season, finishing second in the Morrish Medal, Hynes also showcased his damaging forward half traits on the national stage for Vic Country. The Bonbeach prospect’s best performance came in their win over Western Australia where he gathered 20 disposals, nine score involvements and kicked two snap goals. Hynes also kicked a bag of five and had 23 disposals in a stunning display against the Suns Academy. A 190cm forward-midfielder who is tough, powerful and hits the scoreboard, Hynes tore the Coates Talent League to shreds before suffering a torn ligament in his ankle in round 17.
PICK 22 - JONTY FAULL (SYDNEY)
Club GWV Rebels/Redan State VIC Height 195cm DOB 1/2/2006
DAN BATTEN SAYS: Sydney can do with key position depth at both ends, and with Academy key defender Joel Cochran set to join the Swans later in the piece, I opted to take Faull here. We didn’t see him at his best this year due to a back injury and his competitiveness and marking has him not far off Armstrong and Shanahan. Faull almost singlehandedly got the Rebels into the Coates Talent League grand final with five goals.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: Faull is dangerous around goal because he doesn’t just take marks, he is also very clean below his knees and can snap goals from general play in a way few key forwards can. Sidelined until June with a stress reaction in his back, Faull made a rousing return for the Rebels with five goals, including a freakish checkside from the boundary. The key forward slotted 16 goals in his first five games for the Rebels this season and booted five majors across his three games at the national championships. That included an impressive three-goal haul against the Allies, where he clunked five marks – two of those contested.
PICK 23 - ALEX DODSON (RICHMOND)
Club Sturt/Payneham State SA Height 201cm DOB 15/6/2006
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: The Tigers’ ruck stocks currently consist of three players – a 30-year-old Toby Nankervis, a soon-to-be 24-year-old Samson Ryan and a mature age Category B rookie in Oliver Hayes-Brown. So, I think it’s an area that they need to add to and Dodson looks to be the best ruck in this draft. The South Australian measures 201cm and has a little bit of Luke Jackson about him with his mobility and follow-up work after the ruck contest. There’s also plenty of upside, given he hasn’t played a lot of football in recent years because he has been playing basketball for Australia.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: A mobile big man with “sky high” potential, Dodson looks set to be the first ruckman picked in this year’s draft. A dual-sport athlete, he did not play football as a 17-year-old, instead focusing on his other sporting love of basketball. He won a gold medal playing basketball for Australia at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany earlier this year and missed South Australia’s first match of the AFL under-18 national championships to attend a national under-19 basketball program at the AIS in Canberra.
PICK 24 - JESSE DATTOLI (GWS GIANTS)
Club Northern Knights/Heidelberg State VIC Height 179cm DOB 07/08/06
DAN BATTEN SAYS: Considered pairing Jack Whitlock with his twin brother Matt, but feel Dattoli is a nice fit at the Giants after losing Harry Perryman and James Peatling. Dattoli will start as a creative half-forward but I think he can push into the midfield in time. Another who can add to the Orange Tsunami as soon as next year.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: A draft riser this year, Dattoli is a clever half-forward who can also push into the midfield and have an impact. He had an injury-interrupted bottom-age year in 2023, but was kicking goals at all levels – and in all areas – this season. Dattoli has had some monster games at school level with Carey Grammar, after starting the Coates Talent League season in fine fashion with the Knights. During the under-18 national championships with Vic Metro he played as a half-forward, before being used as a genuine wingman in the final game against Vic Country. Dattoli gathered 20 disposals and eight marks in that game, showing an ability to read the play, run good patterns and get back to support his defence.
PICK 25 - SAM MARSHALL (BRISBANE LIONS) *Matching Sydney bid
Club Brisbane Lions Academy/Sandringham Dragons/Old Melburnians State QLD Height 185cm DOB 19/01/06
DAN BATTEN SAYS: This bid will cost 605 draft points, and just about all of the Lions’ picks were wiped out from the Levi Ashcroft bid earlier in our mock draft. It means the Lions will go into draft deficit, but it is well worth it. Marshall starred on the big stage in Coates Talent League grand final and will add to their midfield stocks – likely starting on the outside or as a flanker. Feel Levi Ashcroft and Marshall can have a similar influence to Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: Originally from Queensland and part of the Brisbane Lions Academy, Marshall has been playing for Sandringham the past two years while boarding at Melbourne Grammar. A prolific ball-winning midfielder, he is an elite runner who works hard on the outside and generally picks out the right option with his disposals. The AFL Academy member impressed for the Allies during the under-18 national championships, finishing as the side’s top-ranked player as he averaged 27 possessions on his way to earning a spot in the All-Australian team. Marshall also played some exceptional school football at APS level, suffering leather-poisoning as he registered 50 disposals in one 138-point loss to Haileybury.
PICK 26 - CHRISTIAN MORAES (SYDNEY)
Club Eastern Ranges/Knox State VIC Height 183m DOB 08/11/06
DAN BATTEN SAYS: After picking up Jonty Faull, we were as in the market for a midfielder or small forward and Moraes’ offensive weapons will fit in nicely with the Swans’ attacking game style. His 27 disposals and five goals in one game for the Ranges late in the year underlines his potential. Was rated as a top-10 pick entering the year and if any club can realise his immense talent, it’s the Swans.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: A run-and-gun midfielder who can also rotate forward and kick goals, Moraes entered the year as a potential top-10 pick but was slow to get going. A knee injury made for a limited pre-season, following an impressive bottom-age campaign where he averaged 26 disposals across 16 games for the Ranges. Moraes then copped a heavy knock in the second AFL Academy game in April and was required to play a different role across half-back in Vic Metro’s first matches of the under-18 national championships. However, he returned to the onball group for Vic Metro’s last two matches and showed off his workrate, hard-running and creative ball-use going forward.
PICK 27 - MATT WHITLOCK (RICHMOND)
Club Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton State VIC Height 198cm DOB 16/5/2006
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: I mentioned earlier that the Tigers are light on for key position stocks and this Murray Bushrangers swingman could fill a hole at either end of the ground and complete a varied first-round haul for Richmond. Whitlock is 198cm and spent time playing both as a key defender and key forward this year. There was one week he took 11 marks including five intercepts down back and then the following week he moved forward and kicked four goals. He’s really happy playing at either end so I think he could be a valuable asset for the Tigers going forward.
DRAFT DOSSIER NOTES: His twin brother, Jack, just pipped him in the vertical jump tests at the national combine, was named in the Coates Talent League team of the year instead of him and is sitting six ahead in our rankings. But there isn’t much separating Matt and Jack. The main strength in Matt’s favour is his versatility, with the 199cm swingman impressing at both ends this season. Whitlock has excelled up forward for the Bushrangers where he finished with 27 goals in 14 games – playing at least four of those in defence. He capped his year with four goals against the Western Jets in round 18 and another three against Bendigo in their first final. His national carnival was solid, winning seven intercepts – two of those marks – against Vic Metro in defence and slotting two goals and presenting well as a forward in their win over the Allies.
Surely we’re not going to reach for Tauru at 2
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[QUOTE="Reagan Smash, post: 86005262, member:142365”]Surely we’re not going to reach for Tauru at 2[/QUOTE]
I’m with you on that. When Brady mentioned only dropping back a few spots, Tauru didn’t even seem a top 10 consideration. I think we might have another target in mind.
I’m with you on that. When Brady mentioned only dropping back a few spots, Tauru didn’t even seem a top 10 consideration. I think we might have another target in mind.
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A lot of work has gone into that. Wow wee
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I don't understand how they can both consider FOS one of the "more complete prospects in this year's draft pool" and visualise his attributes like this:
Can't kick lol
He can kick but is a bit lazy/careless atm.
I'm hoping the Tauru talk is a decoy unless we land the right picks to take him around 10.
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You keep insisting that the club should be saying something, why? Not one other club is talking about who they will or won’t take, why should we show our hand? The less said the better.
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I'm just a casual footy enthusiast but I regard myself one of the chief proponents of grabbing Tauru around here, and yet I reckon his Achilles heel for teams with a top 3 pick is his ball-in-hand decision-making and execution.
Why is that controversial?
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Said it a month or so ago, he reminds me of Taylor Garner.
Beautiful ability to power into opponents with a lean bit tough frame. Gifted leap and mark and that frenetic playing style.
But also a rough kicking style that's more effective in chaos than open play.
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They do a mountain of work but are pretty much ignored by the AFL media who defer to their everyday journos to do phantom drafts, which is why everyone has us taking Tauru at 2.
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Please don’t mention Alix Tauru, Taylor Garner and Achilles heel in subsequent posts.
When someone issues a blanket statement of 'can't kick', that is leagues different to makes the odd howler or loopy pass (decision making/lazy technically)
Tauru is a good talent but an absolute reach at pick 2.
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I’m very judgemental of his kicking and decision making. His kicking technically is fine, but he puts way too much height on the ball which leads to easy intercepts.
He is being touted as a interceptor across half back, generally with those types (Sicily, Luke Ryan, Tom Stewart ect) you want the ball in their hands because they are so damaging.
I don’t think Tauru will ever be that player across half back. I’ll happy if we pick him and I’m wrong, but I just don’t see it at present.
They have missed the mark with his aerial/disposal and endurance all those traits of his are definitely elite.
We don't have to show our hand. But if Tauru is our target, we already have. If he isn't, we have allowed a rumour to circulate that weakens our trading position. Neither is good.
Other teams spread rumours to their advantage, Melbourne managed to get pick 9 off Essendon by pretending to be interested in Kako. Now they are pretending to be interested in Tauru in the hope we will take him at 2 and they will get an extra mid to pick from at 5. We should be showing heaps of interest in FOS and Draper, even if we have none at all.
Disposal is 100% elite.
Endurance and aerial has to be considered as well imo.
They’ve missed the mark on a few things.
They have Lombard as above average speed and he ran a 2.851 and topped the combine.
Neither, but North reaching at pick 2 and therefore Richmond getting a gun mid at pick 6 gets clicks.
Twomey on Gettable said today something along the lines of "North has been meeting with a lot of the expected 10-20 range group." And thinks something is in play.
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To be fair, although I wasn't on BF a decade ago, I bet neither Sicily in 2013, nor Stewart nor Ryan in 2016 would have been talked up as particularly well regarded on that front either.
The difference with Tauru is that we're talking about using pick 2/3 on him, when they were all taken in the lowest echelons of the draft.
He's no Sicily, but he's definitely no Benny McKay by foot either. If he plays an intercepting role at AFL level and loops his kicks, he will learn the hard way very quickly.
I find it strange we would be into Tauru to move him fwd when there are bonafide kpfs in the draft at around the same range or later. His kicking won't be so much of an issue if he plays as a chf, though.
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Melb bloke is actually a very good operator. Wouldn’t surprise if they are spreading the “into Tauru at 5” talk.
Brady is either a genius and has used Tauru as a red herring or not a great operator if we are really keen on him with our first pick and then are trying to slide back. You’d have to hope he was much smarter than that.
He did well out of the Judas mess, so we gotta trust the process here.
I think a deal is already in place, which is good and bad.
I think things could get a little loose in that first 5 pick range on the night.
We could’ve been in a great position, and still might be.
Brady is either a genius and has used Tauru as a red herring or not a great operator if we are really keen on him with our first pick and then are trying to slide back. You’d have to hope he was much smarter than that.
He did well out of the Judas mess, so we gotta trust the process here.
I think a deal is already in place, which is good and bad.
I think things could get a little loose in that first 5 pick range on the night.
We could’ve been in a great position, and still might be.
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