Preview 2024 AFL Draft General Discussion

[briztoon]

IIRC the top academy players and father-son prospects still have to get permission to train with an AFL senior team over the preseason but that appears to be commonplace these days. I remember Nick Daicos was given permission to train with Collingwood in the 2020-21 preseason period and you're obviously already aware of Ashcroft doing the same with Brisbane a year later. Not sure about Walter or Read but I know Rogers did a portion of this year's preseason with our midfield group (before returning to the academy program in February) because there was an article released last week about him learning a lot from Touk Miller and Noah Anderson during that period of time. It's important to point out that not all northern academy players are given that privilege though, just the top prospects.

For Welsh he gets that standard preseason training block with an AFL team plus the rest of the season (excluding four weeks for National Championships) to reap the benefits of being involved in a professional AFL environment. That's massive for his development and should put him in a fantastic position to be developed into a top draft prospect (if he isn't already). By the way, Walter hurt his PCL during the victorious Allies campaign this year which is why they shut his season down in late July but he was only going to play a maximum of two games for our VFL team this year anyway. Read was healthy all season and played just one VFL game for us. Welsh should get at least 10-15 games for the Crows' SANFL team next year.

Do you see what I'm saying in terms of the difference between Welsh's development pathway and a player involved in a northern academy?

I did say just the top prospects.

2019 we had 5 academy kids doing preseason with the senior team. 3 went on to be drafted that year. Only Coleman to us.

This year, we had both Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall spend a week midseason training with the senior team, after Vic Metro played the Allies up here.

End of 2021 (preseason for 2022), Will and Jaspa Fletcher were already training with the the senior team, before our draftees arrived. I remember watching a full ground practice match with Will and Jaspa playing, while our draftees watched on, during the draftees first week up here.

 

[Haggas]

Port did the exact same thing with Jase Burgoyne and NGA prospect Nathan Barkla

Did we? Ok il just shut my mouth haha

 

[eDPS]

AFL Academy named

 

[marcmurphy3]

Any surprises there? Looks like most the big names got in.

 

[PMBangers]

Zak Johnson and Murphy Reid wouldn't have looked out of place, but given the mandate of at least 1 per state makes it impossible to not have a few stiff to miss out

A couple of surprises as well, but that's just the joy of this isn't it

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Zak Johnson and Murphy Reid wouldn't have looked out of place, but given the mandate of at least 1 per state makes it impossible to not have a few stiff to miss out

A couple of surprises as well, but that's just the joy of this isn't it

Tobie Travaglia, Ollie Warburton, Jacob Newton and Phoenix Hargrave also stiff to miss out

 

[PMBangers]

Tobie Travaglia, Ollie Warburton, Jacob Newton and Phoenix Hargrave also stiff to miss out

Nah not really

 

[SydneyPhilly]

Thought Noah Chamberlain was tough to miss. Can't have too many Academy kids in there though.

 

[liz]

Thought Noah Chamberlain was tough to miss. Can't have too many Academy kids in there though.

Don’t think he’s eligible for the 2024 draft.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Don’t think he’s eligible for the 2024 draft.

He's for 2025 IIRC.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Zak Johnson and Murphy Reid wouldn't have looked out of place, but given the mandate of at least 1 per state makes it impossible to not have a few stiff to miss out

A couple of surprises as well, but that's just the joy of this isn't it

What are your thoughts on Xavier Ivisic?

I went to school with his old man. Highly rated coming into this year but i wasn't that impressed. I think his foot skills are very limited from what I seen this year.

 

[PMBangers]

What are your thoughts on Xavier Ivisic?

I went to school with his old man. Highly rated coming into this year but i wasn't that impressed. I think his foot skills are very limited from what I seen this year.

Need to see more of him in general but I just haven't seen anything that says 'AFL' yet tbh, maybe a more midfield orientated role next year will unleash something

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Need to see more of him in general but I just haven't seen anything that says 'AFL' yet tbh, maybe a more midfield orientated role next year will unleash something

He wasn't poor by any stretch but he's still slight so I'll reserve judgement until I see a few more games next year. His old man is a big unit so there's still scope for growth.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

phoenix hargrave v stiff, what am I missing ??

 

[eDPS]

phoenix hargrave v stiff, what am I missing ??

A few midfielders were stiff, can’t fit them all in. Would argue he should be ahead of Lucas Camporeale but the AFL would have wanted both boys In

 

[Jeffcrowe]

A few midfielders were stiff, can’t fit them all in. Would argue he should be ahead of Lucas Camporeale but the AFL would have wanted both boys In

yep agree re lucas

i guess in terms of midfield balance couldn;t have too many indide guys and need some outside guys too for wing/back flank roles

 

[Jen2310]

Do they add more to this squad in the new year, or this is it?

 

[GC2015]

AFL Academy named

It'll be interesting to see how Lombard goes in what looks like a much weaker Allies team when compared to this year. I guess he and Sam Marshall will be the ones leading the charge in the Allies' midfield but you can only do so much if you don't have the support in other positions. Probably ends up hurting both of their draft prospects which is a shame considering Queensland footy had such a strong 2023 at the U18 level. Having said that, there's always the possibility that a few bottom agers from the 14 Allies eligible players that were named in the U16 AA team this year get selected.

 

[briztoon]

It'll be interesting to see how Lombard goes in what looks like a much weaker Allies team when compared to this year. I guess he and Sam Marshall will be the ones leading the charge in the Allies' midfield but you can only do so much if you don't have the support in other positions. Probably ends up hurting both of their draft prospects which is a shame considering Queensland footy had such a strong 2023 at the U18 level. Having said that, there's always the possibility that a few bottom agers from the 14 Allies eligible players that were named in the U16 AA team this year get selected.

I think the Allies will have a decent enough team.

How many other GC boys are the Suns supporters talking about?

There a few Lions boys who we’re watching next year.

 

[GC2015]

I think the Allies will have a decent enough team.

How many other GC boys are the Suns supporters talking about?

There a few Lions boys who we’re watching next year.

At the start of this year everyone thought Caleb Nancarrow was going to be one of the top tall prospects of this draft class after an AA U16 season the year before but he seems to have really dropped away. Leo Lombard appears to have jumped up on the draft boards though so I guess there's swings and roundabouts when it comes to this. There's always the possibility that we see a prospect or two make a big jump up the draft board like Ethan Read this year. Read was rated outside the top 30 when the season started and now some are saying he'll be bid on in the pick 3-5 region. Success breeds success so if the Allies have a good campaign then I'd imagine some of these Queensland prospects will start to rise up the draft boards.

Brisbane's standouts are Marshall and Gillett in this draft class, right?

 

[briztoon]

At the start of this year everyone thought Caleb Nancarrow was going to be one of the top tall prospects of this draft class after an AA U16 season the year before but he seems to have really dropped away. Leo Lombard appears to have jumped up on the draft boards though so I guess there's swings and roundabouts when it comes to this. There's always the possibility that we see a prospect or two make a big jump up the draft board like Ethan Read this year. Read was rated outside the top 30 when the season started and now some are saying he'll be bid on in the pick 3-5 region. Success breeds success so if the Allies have a good campaign then I'd imagine some of these Queensland prospects will start to rise up the draft boards.

Brisbane's standouts are Marshall and Gillett in this draft class, right?

We might have a couple of others as well.

 

[Thunderstruck]

With the names that are missing, it just goes to show how deep the midfield quality is in the 2024 draft.

 

[GC2015]

We might have a couple of others as well.

Who do you think will be the highest rated Queensland prospect this time next year? From what I've seen, Lombard and Marshall appear to be rated around the same range (just outside the top 10) with some thinking Lombard is the slightly higher rated of the two as of right now but that can obviously change pretty quickly. They'll play together in the Allies midfield but at the club level Marshall will get to play alongside another highly rated player (Queenslander?) Levi Ashcroft at Sandingham and I wonder if Ashcroft will overshadow Marshall to the point that it prevents Marshall from entering the top 5/10 on the draft boards. Lombard on the other hand will probably continue playing VFL footy with the Suns reserves and if he starts to thrive then he could really shoot up the draft boards.

Anyway. It seems like it'll either be Lombard or Marshall but I can't really tell at this stage which one will be higher rated in 12 months time.

 

[Futbolista]

I posted this on the WA 2024 forum but it's appropriate to be seen here also. Might surprise a few pundits who are getting their national 2024 lists together early. (Including me) A few notable exclusions due to injury or reasons unknown. From my current list those excluded from the top 30 are 13-Caylon Seelander (S/inj), 16-Trent Hiscock (WP), 17-William Akec (EP/inj), 20-Harrison Creighton (SD), 22-Bailey Morgan (EF/inj), 24-Andre Gulluni (EP), 25-Koopa Walsh (S), 27-Jack Wooden (WP), 28-Ali Al Shuweli (P), 29-Xavier Hickey (S), 30-Tyler Rowe (SF)

WAFL state 18's summer squad announced further additions to be made closer to the 2024 national championships

+ = overager
** = below ager

Aiden Riddle+ Claremont
Austin Van Der Struyf Claremont
Clancy Dennis Claremont
Cody Angove Claremont
Hamish Davis Claremont
Jaxon Douglas Claremont
Lucas Ravenhill Claremont
Will.Hayes Claremont
Luke Urquhart East Fremantle
Sage Clarke East Fremantle
Basil Hart** Peel Thunder
Bo Allan Peel Thunder
Darcy Peterson Peel Thunder
Deian Roberts Peel Thunder
Jesse Grant Peel Thunder
Joel Brown Peel Thunder
Luke Bennett Peel Thunder
Matthew Becker** Peel Thunder
Cooper Moore Perth
Robert Warrell Perth
Fred Rodriguez** South Fremantle
Harry Heaton** South Fremantle
Hudson Pivac South Fremantle
Jaxon Artemis South Fremantle
Max Skerritt** South Fremantle
Orlando Keleman South Fremantle
Toby Whan** South Fremantle
Charlie Burke Subiaco
Darcy Montgomery** Subiaco
Hayden Windsor Subiaco
Malakai Champion Subiaco
Tore Nelson Subiaco
Anthony Hansen Swan Districts
Blake Kelly** Swan Districts
Chayce Martinson Swan Districts
Otis Harvey Swan Districts
Thomas Cathcart Swan Districts
Kayle Gerreyn West Perth

 

[briztoon]

Who do you think will be the highest rated Queensland prospect this time next year? From what I've seen, Lombard and Marshall appear to be rated around the same range (just outside the top 10) with some thinking Lombard is the slightly higher rated of the two as of right now but that can obviously change pretty quickly. They'll play together in the Allies midfield but at the club level Marshall will get to play alongside another highly rated player (Queenslander?) Levi Ashcroft at Sandingham and I wonder if Ashcroft will overshadow Marshall to the point that it prevents Marshall from entering the top 5/10 on the draft boards. Lombard on the other hand will probably continue playing VFL footy with the Suns reserves and if he starts to thrive then he could really shoot up the draft boards.

Anyway. It seems like it'll either be Lombard or Marshall but I can't really tell at this stage which one will be higher rated in 12 months time.

Haven't given it any thought at all.

We'll just be happy if Marshall continues to improve his all round game.

I'm much more interested in who of our other academy boys might be genuine draft chances.