WA’s best 2022 draft prospects: Elijah Hewett, Jackson Broadbent, Jedd Busslinger and more
Jordan McArdleThe West Australian
Sat, 27 November 2021 2:25PMComments
Jordan McArdle
Elijah Hewett, Darcy Jones & Jedd Busslinger. Credit: WAN
Sixteen West Aussies were picked up across this week’s national and rookie drafts in a huge result for the State.
But early indications are next year’s crop could be even better.
Led by powerful Swan Districts midfielder Elijah Hewett, who already has a WAFL colts premiership and Alcock Cup under his belt at Scotch College, there’s several exciting first-round prospects.
Peel Thunder and Collie-bred giant Jackson Broadbent experienced senior WAFL footy at just 16 last season and even earlier in the South West league.
East Perth and Trinity College defender Jedd Busslinger overcame lower-back issues to impress as an intercept-marking defender, even breaking into the State 19s squad.
East Fremantle and Geraldton product Jed Hagan made the WAFL colts team of the year in 2020 as a 15-year-old with his elite disposal and ability to find the footy standing out.
We take an early look at the State’s best 10 2022 draft prospects.
Elijah Hewett
Club: Swan Districts
From: Caversham JFC/Scotch College
Age: 17
Height: 186cm
Weight: 82kg
Position: Midfielder
Colts premiership player. Alcock Cup champion. Elijah Hewett is building quite the footy CV already.
The big-bodied Swan Districts midfielder impressed as a bottom-ager at colts level, averaging 22 possessions including a strong performance in a winning grand final against Claremont at Optus Stadium.
Played State 17s and was best-afield in their final match against South Australia in Adelaide which resulted in a narrow win.
His PSA numbers were even better, averaging 28 touches, six clearances, five tackles and 1.4 goals per game for Scotch College.
Genuine top-10 chance if he keep progressing and don’t be surprised if he breaks into the Swans’
Jedd Busslinger
Jedd Busslinger. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West Australian
Club: East Perth
From: Coolbinia JFC/Trinity College
Age: 17
Height: 195cm
Weight: 83kg
Position: Key defender
Busslinger is shaping up to be one of the best key defender in next year’s draft pool.
He’s a great size at 195cm, reads the play well, has good skills and is strong overhead.
Is still slightly framed but that will no doubt improve with time.
Has some lower-back issues early days but that appears a thing off the past judging by his output last season at WAFL colts and PSA levels.
Made both the State 17s team and took a whopping 18 marks in game one against South Australia before getting added to the 19s as injury cover.
Jed Hagan
[IMG alt="WA v South Australia, AFL national under-19s carnival opener. Pictured - WA's Jed Hagan and SA's Lachlan Grubb compete for the ball
Picture: Daniel Wilkins"]https://images.thewest.com.au/publi...7566ed2.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3[/IMG]
Jed Hagan (left). Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian
Club: East Fremantle
From: Brigades, Geraldton
Age: 17
Height: 174cm
Weight: 71kg
Position: Midfielder
If feels like this kid has been dominating WAFL colts forever.
Hagan made the 2020 colts team of the year at just 15 years old and continues to improve, making both the State 17s and 19s squads last year which shows just how highly he’s rated.
Can play as an inside midfielder and across half-back with his good skills, running power and ability to read the game among his strengths.
Will move to Perth ahead of his draft year after racking up some serious mileage over the past two seasons which will further help his development.
Remarkably won the JL Williams Medal, as the best player in the national under-15s carnival, twice which hasn’t been done before.
Jackson Broadbent
Club: Peel Thunder
From: Collie
Age: 17
Height: 202cm
Weight: 92kg
Position: Ruck
When you’re playing senior WAFL football at 16, you’ve got to be doing something right.
Peel Thunder man mountain Jackson Broadbent, from Collie, achieved something only two other player had before him at the club, following in the footsteps of ex-AFL pair Daniel Wells and Brock O’Brien.
Represented the State 17s and even got a game in the 19s.
Move around the ground well for a big man and uses it well.
Expect to see more of Broadbent, who has been likened to West Coat premiership ruck Dean Cox, in the seniors in 2022.
Darcy Jones
Club: Swan Districts
From: Kalamunda JFC
Age: 17
Height: 173cm
Weight: 60kg
Position: Midfield/wing/half-back
Jones is another exciting talent to keep an eye on at Swan Districts.
Known for his outside run and carry, the pocket rocket starred in an inside-midfield role in his WA under-17s debut against South Australia in Adelaide in October.
It came a week after he impressed on with his pace and elite foot skills as the Black Ducks claimed the WAFL colts flag against Claremont.
His helmet and size automatically make people think of Caleb Daniel, but he models his game on St Kilda’s Bradley Hill.
Is keen to develop his inside-midfield craft next year.
Chase Bourne
Club: South Fremantle
From: Fremantle City Dockers
Age: 17
Height: 180cm
Weight: 67kg
Position: Small forward/midfielder
Bourne has some serious x-factor about him and can turn the game off his own boot.
Part of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy, Dockers recruiters - and supporters - will be hoping he slips outside of the top-40 protected zone.
But the way he’s progressing, the explosive small forward/midfielder will follow in fellow Dockers NGA talent and South Fremantle product Jesse Motlop’s footsteps and get snapped up by a rival before that.
Sam Gilbey
Sam Gilbey. Credit: Peter Argent/TheWest
Club: Claremont
From: Wembley Downs JFC/Hale School
Age: 17
Height: 185cm
Weight: 67kg
Position: Half-back/midfielder
Gilbey has some of the silkiest foot skills going around as he’s shown at PSA, WAFL colts and national under-17s levels.
The classy left-footer plays his best footy across half-back but can also pinch hit in the midfield where he might spend more time in 2022.
Former Fremantle and Melbourne player Jason Norrish, who coaches GIlbey at Hale, is predicting big things from his first XVIII regular.
Kane Bevan
Club: West Perth
From: Joondalup-Kinross JFC
Age: 17
Height: 192cm
Weight: 86kg
Position: Midfielder/defender
From a rangy half-back to a genuine inside midfielder, Bevan transformed his game in 2021 thanks to a savvy move from West Perth colts coach Ryan Lasscock.
Like Hagan, Bevan has been playing colts for two full seasons and made the 2020 WAFL colts team of the year.
Is a similar size to Nat Fyfe at 192cm, playing that big-bodied midfield role to perfection.
Racks up the footy and is strong defensively and overhead, averaging 27 touches in the last month of the season including 31 against East Fremantle in a losing elimination-final cause.
Could easily return to that intercept-marking defender role if needed, with his versatility no doubt exciting AFL recruiters.
Ed Allan
Club: Claremont
From: Mosman Park JFC/Scotch College
Age: 17
Height: 191cm
Weight: 77kg
Position: Half-back/wing/midfielder
The son of inaugural Fremantle captain and Hawthorn premiership player Ben Allan has been making a name for himself for quite a while now.
Is a different type of player to his dad, more of a rangy outside type who’s played a lot on the wing and half-back.
Produced some massive games for PSA school Scotch College and WAFL side Claremont, including a 41-possession effort against Trinity.
Ben Allan fell two games short of Ed qualifying for Hawthorn under the father-son rule and 53 short at Fremantle.
Jasper Scaife
Club: West Perth
From: Quinns Districts JFC
Age: 17
Height: 195cm
Weight: 85kg
Position: Key forward
Yet another Fremantle Next Generation Academy prospect, Scaife is an exciting key forward with the physical attributes to succeed at the top level.
Is a great size at 195, has a good set of hands and deadly left boot.
Had a breakout game in round 22 against East Fremantle, booting three goals, and is one to watch for next year.
Others to watch
Jordan McArdleThe West Australian
Sat, 27 November 2021 2:25PMComments
Jordan McArdle
Elijah Hewett, Darcy Jones & Jedd Busslinger. Credit: WAN
Sixteen West Aussies were picked up across this week’s national and rookie drafts in a huge result for the State.
But early indications are next year’s crop could be even better.
Led by powerful Swan Districts midfielder Elijah Hewett, who already has a WAFL colts premiership and Alcock Cup under his belt at Scotch College, there’s several exciting first-round prospects.
Peel Thunder and Collie-bred giant Jackson Broadbent experienced senior WAFL footy at just 16 last season and even earlier in the South West league.
East Perth and Trinity College defender Jedd Busslinger overcame lower-back issues to impress as an intercept-marking defender, even breaking into the State 19s squad.
East Fremantle and Geraldton product Jed Hagan made the WAFL colts team of the year in 2020 as a 15-year-old with his elite disposal and ability to find the footy standing out.
We take an early look at the State’s best 10 2022 draft prospects.
Elijah Hewett
Club: Swan Districts
From: Caversham JFC/Scotch College
Age: 17
Height: 186cm
Weight: 82kg
Position: Midfielder
Colts premiership player. Alcock Cup champion. Elijah Hewett is building quite the footy CV already.
The big-bodied Swan Districts midfielder impressed as a bottom-ager at colts level, averaging 22 possessions including a strong performance in a winning grand final against Claremont at Optus Stadium.
Played State 17s and was best-afield in their final match against South Australia in Adelaide which resulted in a narrow win.
His PSA numbers were even better, averaging 28 touches, six clearances, five tackles and 1.4 goals per game for Scotch College.
Genuine top-10 chance if he keep progressing and don’t be surprised if he breaks into the Swans’
Jedd Busslinger
Jedd Busslinger. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West Australian
Club: East Perth
From: Coolbinia JFC/Trinity College
Age: 17
Height: 195cm
Weight: 83kg
Position: Key defender
Busslinger is shaping up to be one of the best key defender in next year’s draft pool.
He’s a great size at 195cm, reads the play well, has good skills and is strong overhead.
Is still slightly framed but that will no doubt improve with time.
Has some lower-back issues early days but that appears a thing off the past judging by his output last season at WAFL colts and PSA levels.
Made both the State 17s team and took a whopping 18 marks in game one against South Australia before getting added to the 19s as injury cover.
Jed Hagan
[IMG alt="WA v South Australia, AFL national under-19s carnival opener. Pictured - WA's Jed Hagan and SA's Lachlan Grubb compete for the ball
Picture: Daniel Wilkins"]https://images.thewest.com.au/publi...7566ed2.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3[/IMG]
Jed Hagan (left). Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian
Club: East Fremantle
From: Brigades, Geraldton
Age: 17
Height: 174cm
Weight: 71kg
Position: Midfielder
If feels like this kid has been dominating WAFL colts forever.
Hagan made the 2020 colts team of the year at just 15 years old and continues to improve, making both the State 17s and 19s squads last year which shows just how highly he’s rated.
Can play as an inside midfielder and across half-back with his good skills, running power and ability to read the game among his strengths.
Will move to Perth ahead of his draft year after racking up some serious mileage over the past two seasons which will further help his development.
Remarkably won the JL Williams Medal, as the best player in the national under-15s carnival, twice which hasn’t been done before.
Jackson Broadbent
Club: Peel Thunder
From: Collie
Age: 17
Height: 202cm
Weight: 92kg
Position: Ruck
When you’re playing senior WAFL football at 16, you’ve got to be doing something right.
Peel Thunder man mountain Jackson Broadbent, from Collie, achieved something only two other player had before him at the club, following in the footsteps of ex-AFL pair Daniel Wells and Brock O’Brien.
Represented the State 17s and even got a game in the 19s.
Move around the ground well for a big man and uses it well.
Expect to see more of Broadbent, who has been likened to West Coat premiership ruck Dean Cox, in the seniors in 2022.
Darcy Jones
Club: Swan Districts
From: Kalamunda JFC
Age: 17
Height: 173cm
Weight: 60kg
Position: Midfield/wing/half-back
Jones is another exciting talent to keep an eye on at Swan Districts.
Known for his outside run and carry, the pocket rocket starred in an inside-midfield role in his WA under-17s debut against South Australia in Adelaide in October.
It came a week after he impressed on with his pace and elite foot skills as the Black Ducks claimed the WAFL colts flag against Claremont.
His helmet and size automatically make people think of Caleb Daniel, but he models his game on St Kilda’s Bradley Hill.
Is keen to develop his inside-midfield craft next year.
Chase Bourne
Club: South Fremantle
From: Fremantle City Dockers
Age: 17
Height: 180cm
Weight: 67kg
Position: Small forward/midfielder
Bourne has some serious x-factor about him and can turn the game off his own boot.
Part of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy, Dockers recruiters - and supporters - will be hoping he slips outside of the top-40 protected zone.
But the way he’s progressing, the explosive small forward/midfielder will follow in fellow Dockers NGA talent and South Fremantle product Jesse Motlop’s footsteps and get snapped up by a rival before that.
Sam Gilbey
Sam Gilbey. Credit: Peter Argent/TheWest
Club: Claremont
From: Wembley Downs JFC/Hale School
Age: 17
Height: 185cm
Weight: 67kg
Position: Half-back/midfielder
Gilbey has some of the silkiest foot skills going around as he’s shown at PSA, WAFL colts and national under-17s levels.
The classy left-footer plays his best footy across half-back but can also pinch hit in the midfield where he might spend more time in 2022.
Former Fremantle and Melbourne player Jason Norrish, who coaches GIlbey at Hale, is predicting big things from his first XVIII regular.
Kane Bevan
Club: West Perth
From: Joondalup-Kinross JFC
Age: 17
Height: 192cm
Weight: 86kg
Position: Midfielder/defender
From a rangy half-back to a genuine inside midfielder, Bevan transformed his game in 2021 thanks to a savvy move from West Perth colts coach Ryan Lasscock.
Like Hagan, Bevan has been playing colts for two full seasons and made the 2020 WAFL colts team of the year.
Is a similar size to Nat Fyfe at 192cm, playing that big-bodied midfield role to perfection.
Racks up the footy and is strong defensively and overhead, averaging 27 touches in the last month of the season including 31 against East Fremantle in a losing elimination-final cause.
Could easily return to that intercept-marking defender role if needed, with his versatility no doubt exciting AFL recruiters.
Ed Allan
Club: Claremont
From: Mosman Park JFC/Scotch College
Age: 17
Height: 191cm
Weight: 77kg
Position: Half-back/wing/midfielder
The son of inaugural Fremantle captain and Hawthorn premiership player Ben Allan has been making a name for himself for quite a while now.
Is a different type of player to his dad, more of a rangy outside type who’s played a lot on the wing and half-back.
Produced some massive games for PSA school Scotch College and WAFL side Claremont, including a 41-possession effort against Trinity.
Ben Allan fell two games short of Ed qualifying for Hawthorn under the father-son rule and 53 short at Fremantle.
Jasper Scaife
Club: West Perth
From: Quinns Districts JFC
Age: 17
Height: 195cm
Weight: 85kg
Position: Key forward
Yet another Fremantle Next Generation Academy prospect, Scaife is an exciting key forward with the physical attributes to succeed at the top level.
Is a great size at 195, has a good set of hands and deadly left boot.
Had a breakout game in round 22 against East Fremantle, booting three goals, and is one to watch for next year.
Others to watch
- Will Bailey (Claremont and Christ Church/midfielder)
- Jordyn Baker (East Perth and West Coast NGA/wing)
- Jack Cleaver (East Fremantle and Aquinas College/midfielder)
- Connor Carbone (Peel Thunder/medium defender)
- Hugh Davies (Claremont and Christ Church/key defender)
- Jacob Evitt (Subiaco/midfielder)
