Sunday. May 19. 2013
Sunday. May 19. 2013
THIS year’s Victorian AFL draft hopefuls were on display for the first time in 2013 on Sunday at Visy Park as the TAC Cup season kicked off with a triple header featuring all six metro teams. Northern Knights 15.7 (97) def Calder Cannons 11.9 (75) Game one saw the Calder Cannons take on the Northern
This week’s national draft looms as the biggest recycler of AFL talent in a decade
Having lost Robbie Campbell to premature retirement, Hawks forced to mine draft
Melbourne will take former St Kilda midfielder in national draft whether he likes it or not
Barry Prendergast is the person who will make the first and second picks in the 2009 national draft
Barry Prendergast is the person who will make the first and second picks in the 2009 national draft
Melbourne certain to take former Brisbane defender Joel Macdonald with first pick in pre-season draft
Hawthorn may take punt on former Brisbane Lion, with 2008 premier contemplating selecting him in national draft
Former St Kilda midfielder Luke Ball confirms his nomination for the national draft, after walking out on the Saints
Former first-round draft pick Mitch Thorp will enter the forthcoming draft chasing a fresh start at a new club
2:02pm Richmond is adamant it intends to re-draft tram accident victim Graham Polak
Hawthorn shows sixth pick in the 2006 draft the door after he managed just two senior games due to injuries
Daniel Harris will nominate for the national draft after no longer being wanted at North Melbourne
Veteran forward yet to sign contract with Lions and still in Carlton’s calculations for the pre-season draft
Geelong gives up on No. 7 pick of 2003 AFL draft by delisting Kane Tenace, along with three other players
Melbourne may use first-round draft pick to snare Luke Ball in national draft, so desperate are the Demons to lure the former Saint
With the trade period over, next on the AFL agenda is the national draft.
Lewis Jetta could be one of the first 15 players chosen in this year’s national draft and could be gone by pick seven
Salary cap could force Geelong to trade for draft picks, but club committed to retaining its flag-winning stars
St Kilda gets 47-point win over Melbourne, ensuring Dees get double dip in national draft
Carlton wins, and so did Melbourne as their prized priority draft pick moves a step closer with another sizeable defeat
If Barry Hall is continue playing AFL football in 2010, it seems he would be a good fit for only one team: the Western Bulldogs
Demons say early sceptics of its schoolboy No. 1 draft pick should bite their tongues
Top draft pick’s father believes that what you do in the first 100 hours of your sporting life is critical
Excitement is gathering about the next young crop of potential AFL footballers, with several rated players performing strongly in the early stages of the U18 Championships. Heading the charge is Vic Country key forward John Butcher
Check out Anthony Morabito in action for Western Australia in the 2008 AFL U18 Championships
The future looks bright for the fledgling Gold Coast club considering the strength of the recent performance of the AIS/AFL Academy tour to South Africa and the dominating hand the club will play in the next two national drafts. Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna and club recruiter Scott Clayton toured with the academy group through
Four premiership-winning players were strangely connected through the twists and turns of the 1999 draft
Extremely highly rated midfielder who has worked hard to play AFL from his early teens. Has a fantastic work ethic, great attack on the football and skills and speed to match. Seems to know where the ball is going before anyone else does and is an out-and-out footballer. Plays for Dandenong Stingrays and will represent Vic Metro again in
The clear standout key forward in the early part of 2009, Butcher is a shade under 200cm (and could keep growing). Outstanding performance for Vic Country in the 2008 U18 Championships. Has great contested marking ability and is excellent at ground level for a big man. With so much upside and ability it is hard to see him drafted outside the top three in
Another young gun to impress in the WAFL this year, Duncan is a quality young prospect. Has been touted as a natural leader and has played mostly across the halfback line. Is not tall but is well built and certainly has great disposal. He has the ability to collect high possessions, as he showed in the U16 Championships a couple of years ago. He could be drafted in the first round if he puts in a good champs for WA in
The dreadlocked ruckman was the centre of plenty of hype in the months preceding the 2008 AFL draft, and West Coast responded by snapping him up with their first pick. Dominant for the WA U18 team for two years, Naitanui has a terrific work rate, exceptional athleticism and great skills. Expect the 201cm excitement machine
Everyone knew Stephen Hill could play ball but his first AFL preseason really got Dockers fans excited. The skinny utility boasts a top-notch skill set and silky moves, including a penetrating left foot that regularly scores from outside 50 metres. Hill nailed a supergoal in an excellent first-up performance for Fremantle against Richmond in round
The first midfielder picked in the 2008 AFL draft, Hartlett is a silky operator who has already played senior footy for West Adelaide in the SANFL. Features of his game are clean hands and neat kicking, as well as carrying a good general ability to read the play. Hartlett stood out at the 2008 U18
Hurley is a versatile key position player who won All-Australian honours in both 2007 and 2008 and is an AIS/AFL graduate. Trademarks of his game include strength over the contested ball and long kicking – attributes which saw him play both forward and back for Vic Metro and the Northern Knights. Hurley has previously said
A real livewire forward, Yarran could be a great support act to the firepower of Brendan Fevola and the crumbing skills of Eddie Betts. Yarran has already shown glimpses of his talent in the preseason competition, most notably with his sharp evasive skills and clever kicking. The AIS/AFL graduate booted three goals for WA against
They love hard-at-it midfielders at Brisbane, and Daniel Rich will continue that tradition. Touted as a possible number one draft pick for much of 2008, the Lions couldn’t believe their luck when Rich was still available at pick seven. Rich already has two senior premierships to his name with Subiaco in the WAFL. His key
Richmond have got something to look forward to with this potential power forward and ruckman making his way to Punt Road. Vickery was excellent in the 2008 AFL U18 competition in spite of the fact that he was recovering from a knee reconstruction. Features of Vickery’s game include strong marking and a good turn of
Ziebell confirmed his reputation as a committed, talented midfielder with successful TAC Cup and U18 Championship campaigns last year. The Kangaroos are excited about Ziebell’s work ethic and leadership skills, as well as his quality decision-making, neat kicking and competitive spirit. Ziebell has already seen action in the 2009 preseason competition, where he looked like
Making his way to Adelaide is this 196cm, 85kg key forward from SANFL team North Adelaide. Although Davis has missed a lot of football in the past 12 months with a shoulder injury, he is known for his fierce attack on the ball, which has been attributed to his rugby background. Davis takes a strong
St Kilda picked up the hard-running Irishman with the final pick of the 2008 AFL draft. Begley leaves the Brisbane Lions after three years and only 27 games, and the Saints will probably look to use him in a running halfback role. With the likes of Jason Gram, Sam Fisher, Farren Ray and the Clarke
The Blues used their final pick on medium forward Caleb Tiller, who represented Vic Country at the 2008 U18 Championships. Tiller’s game is based around his strong leading and good kicking for goal. At just 17 years old and with a rangy build he will be given time to develop, but watch this space. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EseRjAsaK_c
A player who only needs to have a little bit of the footy to impact the game, Chris Hall is a lively small forward who could eventually develop into a quality onballer. Hall’s game features clean hands and excellent disposal, as well as a great awareness of the game around him. Very prominent for SA
A skinny midfielder who possesses an excellent kick and who can play inside or outside, Shane Savage has good legspeed and plays with composure. Originally from New Zealand, Savage is only 17 but observers have suggested he may be capable of playing AFL footy in 2009. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2PgboR5Ss
Many people were surprised to see this quality key forward drafted so late. Paul Cahill uses his athleticism to full advantage, leading strongly up the ground, taking plenty of marks and regularly kicking multiple goals. He troubled highly rated Essendon draftee Michael Hurley in a game for SA during the U18 Championships, and could be
After an accomplished and workmanlike career at North Melbourne, Leigh Brown begins the third stage of his AFL journey (the first was at Fremantle) with Collingwood. A strong-bodied player who can shut out opposition players and rebound with grunt, Brown, 27, will be hoping he can play three or four more good years for the
Will Young is a 192cm forward who marks strongly and who could also play in defence if needed. When Young combines his terrific hands with his good endurance and speed, he can be a real headache for opposition defenders. Represented Vic Country at the U18 Championships and played particularly well against Vic Metro in the
Despite being 198cm tall, McCulloch is a very agile footballer with good endurance. While he mainly played key position and in the ruck for Tasmania during the 2008 U18 carnival, he also spent some time on the wing. Has clean skills at ground level but needs to work on his contested marking. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnIQtXEVTt
A super-fast small forward or midfielder, Tim Ruffles played some excellent games for the Ballarat Rebels in 2008. Ruffles is lightly framed but uses his pace and strong leap to get the better of opponents. Knows where the goals are and was regularly a multiple goal scorer in the TAC Cup competition
A versatile running defender, Slattery is good in contested one-on-one situations but also runs and carries the football. He played for SA in both 2007 and 2008, and impressed with his ability to break the lines while carrying the ball. Slattery recorded a strong 14.3 in the beep test and could be a real boost
The Power have added another midfield speedster to their brigade with Glenn Dawson. Dawson represented SA at the 2008 U18 Championships where he demonstrated his powerful kicking off both feet and strong overhead marking. At the state screening sessions he recorded the fastest 20m sprint time – a lightning 2.75 secs
Rhys O’Keefe is a no-nonsense, hard at it midfielder/defender who has a penetrating left boot. He represented SA at the U18 Championships, picking up about 20 possessions in the first game and impressed with dashing run from defence. O’Keefe runs in straight lines and always commits his body to the contest. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzAgj4cCAig
Rohan Bail is not your typical AFL draftee. Bail played in the AFLQ last year as a 19-year-old, winning Rookie Of The Year and finishing fourth in the league best and fairest. An elite endurance runner who would have performed very well in the 3km time trial at draft camp had he attended, Bail has
Hawks fans probably won’t see Luke Lowden in action any time soon, but the tall ruckman could be a long term bonus for the club’s big man division. Lowden only played a handful of games in 2008 due to a back injury, but he is known for handling the ball well. Kicks on the left
Hailing from WA is this skillful midfielder who has a turn of pace about his game. Smith represented WA for two games in the U18 Championships before signs of osteitis pubis forced him to stop playing. Has been known to collect possessions in prolific numbers but will need to add size to his frame. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9jeuowmac
The Swans snapped up this bottom-aged player from Vic Country at the U18 Championships, impressed with his run of the half back line and quality use of the football. Heath will complete his schooling in 2009 before joining Sydney full time in 2010. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mmD_ja
A 190cm forward who can run 20m in less than three seconds is always a real chance to become an AFL success. Tom Lee comes to Adelaide from Scotch College and Claremont and is known as a quality all-round player and an excellent athlete. He is skinny but growing, and was a very good basketballer.
North Melbourne will look to develop Nathan O’Keefe as a key forward. O’Keefe had a terrific second half of the 2008 TAC Cup, playing for the Eastern Ranges. In that time he played seven games and averaged 13 disposals, seven marks and three goals. Features of his game include good endurance and strong marking, and
Thrown a lifeline by Richmond after being delisted by the Bombers, Hislop will no doubt be looking to restart his career. Known for his hardness at the ball and with seven games of AFL experience already, Hislop might be able to add a tough edge to the Tigers’ midfield. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd3WgAKrHw
This Tasmanian footballer came into draft week with big raps, having played as an underage player with the AIS/AFL Academy and regularly performing well in representative footy. Has played VFL football with the Tassie Devils and at 192cm and 84kg could see AFL action in 2009. Brisbane will probably look to use him as a
Bucovaz is capable of playing as a mid-sized forward or defender, and his game is based around his long, penetrating kicking. He is a good shot on goal and will likely play as a genuine utility for Fremantle. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfB3q
Essendon will look to include Michael Still in their long-term forward line plans. The strong leading, strong marking forward played for the Northern Knights in 2008 and finished second in the TAC Cup goalkicking. Has a good pair of hands but is lightly built so will need to gain size. Still finished 2008 strongly, kicking
Jarrad Redden is a strapping ruckman who is only going to get bigger and more effective as his career progresses. Featuring a great vertical leap and the capacity to play as a forward, Redden finished third in the U18 Championships for hitouts and hitouts to advantage. Is big enough to play straight away but needs
Walters, a supremely skilled small midfielder/forward with terrific balance, was drafted lower than perhaps he might have been. Fremantle could have picked up an absolute bargain with pick 53, with Walters capable of setting up damaging passages of play with his clever left boot. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrcQ1s02MOk
West Coast will look to bolster its long term defensive options with Jordan Jones, a 189cm defender from Geelong Falcons and Vic Country. With agility and a keen attack on the contest, Jones set up plenty of rebounding attacks for Vic Country during the U18 carnival. Loves to run off his opponent and create and
Neville Jetta could be the latest exciting small forward to hit the AFL. But he has a couple of points of difference from the sterotypical small forward – he can win the footy through the middle of the ground, lay plenty of tackles, setup other players inside 50 and he always hits the contest hard.
A key forward who could also play in defence, Lisle has a safe pair of hands and is strong in contested situations. Although he is not the quickest player in the AFL he reads the game very well and plays with plenty of courage. Made the All-Australian team after representing Vic Metro at U18 level
Hunt lifted his rating significantly in an excellent U18 Championship campaign for Vic Metro, where he took his competitive game to a new level at times. Running out of defence and using his attack on the ball and good pace to advantage, Hunt is a reliable type who really wants to win. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYEYP-go
A running midfielder or half forward with a damaging left foot, Nick Heyne will start his AFL career at St Kilda in 2009. The former Gippsland Power player knows how to find the goals and has also shown he can take a good mark up forward. Doesn’t need a lot of possessions to impact a
St Kilda is looking to deepen its ruck stocks with former West Adelaide big man Rhys Stanley. The young ruckman was impressive for SA during the U18 Championships, where he took a few outstanding pack marks. Stanley’s game is also noticeable for his speed (he can run 20m in less than three seconds) and his
It’s been a little while since a helmeted player made his way through the AFL, but Luke Rounds could be about to change that. The mid-sized onballer is a fantastic athlete, and recording terrific all-round results at the AFL draft camp: 14.7 for the beep test, 8.29secs for agility, and 2.84secs for the 20m sprint.
A versatile player who at 17 could have nominated for the 2009 AFL draft, Jarrad Blight can play in any area of the football field. With terrific speed and agility, Blight played for Swan Districts Colts in 2008 and was snaffled by Collingwood, who clearly didn’t want to let him through to the 2009 “Gold
Sloane was a standout at the AFL Draft Camp, as much for his jovial manner as for his undeniable football talent. He recorded the second best beep test score (14.5) at the camp and was a real leader for Vic Metro – where he played mainly in the backline – during the U18 Championships. Sloane
Anthony was one of the oldest players in the 2008 AFL draft, and was rewarded by the Kangaroos for his excellent form with East Fremantle in the WAFL last year. His game features a monster kick and a turn of pace, classy disposal and the ability to break the lines. At the age of 21
Mitch Banner is a good quality, all-round small midfielder. He has had to improve his skills in terms of disposals but he has always racked up possessions. Also capable of taking a good mark, Banner represented Vic Metro in 2008 and comes from Werribee FC originally. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALILD3PtnHo
The redhead was snapped up with Brisbane’s third-round selection after strong performances for WA and Swan Districts. Has a turn of pace which he sometimes uses to great effect, and is capable of breaking games open with his running through the lines. Banfield is also happy in contested situations and features tidy foot skills. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp_Jwdwft
Like Dayne Beams at Collingwood, it is hard to imagine Mitch Robinson having a better start to his AFL career. The hardworking ball magnet played two NAB Cup games and was very impressive, gathering the ball all around the ground and looking comfortable at AFL level. Won the medal for best player in Division 2
The Motlop name is synonymous with on-field magic, and Steven certainly continues this tradition. Featuring terrific evasive skills and an uncanny goal sense, Motlop is likely to be a long term small forward option for Geelong, who currently have no shortage of good small forwards. Represented NT at the U18 Championships and is from Wanderers
Described as a player every coach wants to have in his team, Broadbent is a hardworking running defender that can also play run-with roles. Broadbent can do a bit of everything and is courageous with clean hands. Long kicking was a particular feature of his games for SA during the U18 Championships. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk290tpAj
Clarke comes from a basketball background and played mostly in the ruck for Vic Metro in the U18 Championships. However, he also demonstrated a great ability to play useful stints as a forward or backman, and has good endurance with a terrific vertical leap. A real possibility to see AFL action for Fremantly in 2009.
West Coast picked up this strong-bodied, super-quick defender with a penetrating boot. Smith spent some time with the AIS/AFL Academy a couple of years back and has since improved his reading of the play. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK5n3dXp
The Demons could have picked up a qaulity player in this WA youngster, who hails from Bunbury and has played Colts football for Swan Districts. Bennell sports a slight frame but recorded terriffic results at the WA state screening: 2.99secs for the 20m sprint and 8.34secs in the agility test. Features of Bennell’s play include
Liam Shiels is a medium midfielder or forward who has been described as a quality all-round footballer. Shiels is more than capable of winning his own footy but can run the ball too. Played with the AIS/AFL Academy squad in 2007 and for Vic Country in the 2008 U18 Championships. He will spend 2009 completing
Geelong has said it drafted Tom Gillies as a long-term replacement for current key defenders Tom Harley and Matthew Scarlett. Gillies took out the Dandenong Stingrays’ best-and-fairest in a stellar 2008, and has the capacity to play on medium and tall forwards. He has good size and a committed attitude, meaning he could see AFL
Although this agile tall is capable of playing at both ends of the ground, it is likely that the Bulldogs had a key defensive post in mind when they picked up Liam Jones at number 32. Jones overcame a knee injury last year to play at the AIS/AFL Academy, where his marking and reading of
The Bulldogs have deepened their ruck stocks with this good all-round ruckman, who has a good pair of hands and is strong at ground level. What Roughead is lacking in athleticism he makes up for in endurance and competitiveness. Could see action in 2009 but is more likely to spend the year developing. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgJHnVngp
There are not many players who can outrun Daniel Hannebery, and Sydney will look to use this asset in its midfield. Hannebery confirmed his worth by winning the endurance category at the AFL draft camp. Other features of his game include courage over the ball and a high possession count. Played Xavier College and the
It didn’t take long for this tattooed midfielder to make his mark at Collingwood; featuring in four NAB Cup games was an excellent start to what is a promising AFL career for Dayne Beams. Beams is known for his composure and ability to rack-up possessions, and will likely add to the Magpies’ growing brigade of
The younger brother of former North Melbourne ruckman Corey McKernan has a bright future as a competitive ruckman for Adelaide. McKernan recorded strong results for speed and agility at the AFL draft camp but it was his hard-at-it approach in games that turned heads. Capable of taking strong marks and kicking multiple goals, he won
Football fans will think they are seeing double when Sam Wright debuts for North Melbourne, because he looks very similar to Collingwood’s Dale Thomas. Wright will probably play as an agile half forward with stints through the middle of the ground. His assets include a strong goal sense and clean hands overhead. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yc4APqBy
Post is capable of filling a key position role for the Tigers either forward or back, on will bolster Richmond’s big man stocks. He takes a terrific overhead mark, and led the TAC Cup competition for contested and uncontested marks in 2008. With good hands and a neat kick, Post looks set for a good
The Brisbane Lions are excited about this talented forward/midfielder, who wins his own footy despite being slight in stature. Strong over the ball and great at clearances, Redden has been endorsed by no less a footy legend than Graeme “Gubby” Allan, who says he could become a top-notch AFL player. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN-uxNzSv
A strong-bodies small midfielder, Suban thrives on contested situations and boasts a powerful left boot. He showed his flexibility during a game for Vic Country – the side he captained – against WA. In that match, Suban was playing on dynamic forward Chris Yarran and totally shut Yarran out of the game. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X08wv0dsM7g
Zaharakis nominated for the 2007 AFL draft and was unsuccessful, but selectors saw something different in the mid-sized onballer in 2008. He kicks with penetration and is quick and agile, and he had a good campaign with Vic Metro in the U18 Championships. A leader at the Northern Knights, Zaharakis is an “in and under”
Trengove sat very high on AFL recruiters’ checklists until he tore his hamstring from the bone in mid 2008. The 196cm, 88kg forward was required to have two operations to address the issue, but has since resumed training and, if he can fully recover, will be a real boost to the Port Adelaide forward line.
A small forward who can kick 75 goals in a season is a rare and valuable commodity, but that is exactly what Hayden Ballantyne showed himself to be last year. Ballantyne won the Sandover Medal in the WAFL last year and is a little different from the average draftee. He is 21 years old and
If Sidebottom’s U18 All-Australian selection after a successful carnival with Vic Country didn’t grab attention, his 10-goal, 34-possession effort in the TAC Cup Grand Final did. The Magpies snapped up this well balanced tough-nut with their first pick, and will look to use him through the midfield and across half back. A couple of solid
Hailing from North Adelaide, Johnston is genuine key position prospect for the Swans. Johnston’s best asset is probably his overhead marking, which saw him take the most grabs in last year’s U18 Championships. In addition to his aerial talent, Johnston is more than capable at ground level and is most likely to emerge as a
A quality all-round footballer who co-captained Vic Metro in the 2008 U18 Championships, Lynch will probably play as a leading forward for the Saints. Features of Lynch’s game include good pace and endurance; assets that could see him fill a midfield or defensive post at some stage. A knee reconstruction affected Lynch’s game in 2008
