memoryofmchale
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It says much about affluence and money and the role it has on sport.
Preview 2024 AFL Draft General Discussion
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I know Richmond have been keeping a very close eye on Max Roney for a few years. As you mentioned AFL clubs view his ability to transition run as a massive weapon. The knock would be that he’s not a massive accumulator of possessions but maybe they look past that and he gets on a rookie list.
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What’s going on with West adelaide
Was a good breading ground in the 90s and 2000s?
StopAndDrain
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Not sure where thier "Zones" these are but the Squads are dominated by SANFL teams in the growth corridors with young families like Centrals and WWT. lot of the talent that used to come though port districts and Port Magpies go through WWT now. and the junior talent pools in the yuppies like norwood,glenelg and sturt don't have any kids, its all boomers and empty nesters there now. and the old private schools of sacred hart and rostrevor well they recruit talent to prop up thier football program.
StopAndDrain
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yep you could include Oakleigh and Sandy in that mix, If you have access to money and resources you have access to better coaches and medical care. Hell Lloydy coaches Hailebury and runs the football program thier doesn't he. I Would suspect Vic Country and their squad is a similar story apart from a few farmboy brutes , how many are coming out of the elite school system there ala Geelong Grammar.
memoryofmchale
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All the APS schools have elite facilities, elite coaching around future elite players. If they're not at the school, they can be recruited, even interstate. Eg. Ryley Sanders, Nathan Sulzberger.
Most of the kids can afford the extras, the parents have high expectations, the coaching staff are experienced, everyone's connected to someone professionally, agents sign kids there, recruiters turn up to games - it builds this system. Nobody is scouting a Year 12 game out at Western suburbs game.
Vic Country still has a heavy private school influence. Few more public school or genuine country kids but still, money makes the difference.
There are fewer kids these days who grew up tough. That said, there are examples and that's why I rate the kids like Seth Campbell who overcame a lot just to make it.
100% would be the first wing selected
The Allies team of this season is going to be a far cry from last season!
Going to be interesting to see how Metro balance their squad, not too many role players (small defenders ect) as it’s stacked with midfielders.
I think SA will surprise a few especially if Draper is fit. Draper, Sharp, Hargrave and Camporeale x2 is a pretty solid midfield! Outside of Welsh, I’ll be curious to see how their talls go!
Going to be interesting to see how Metro balance their squad, not too many role players (small defenders ect) as it’s stacked with midfielders.
I think SA will surprise a few especially if Draper is fit. Draper, Sharp, Hargrave and Camporeale x2 is a pretty solid midfield! Outside of Welsh, I’ll be curious to see how their talls go!
You have the likes of Nguyen and Oliver as small defenders and wouldn’t surprise me if the likes of Zac Johnson/ Grego/Retschko spend some time at half back although I could see those 3 playing on a wing aswell. I think alot of the midfielders will rotate forward and from the bench
Mister_Football
Splitting packs since '54
Metro will have easily the deepest midfield. Keen to see how the best 1-2 punch of O'Sullivan and Lalor goes against them.
Is Bailey McKenzie rising up the draft board?
Looks to be the type of player I would like at Freo.
TIMELY HAUL FOR KEY FORWARD
A key forward who missed selection for the Sandringham Dragons last year has bolted into the Vic Metro squad on the back of a timely bag of goals last weekend.
Bailey McKenzie booted 7.3 from 23 disposals and 13 marks (six contested) in the Dragons’ win over the GWS Giants Academy in the Coates Talent League last Sunday.
He recorded 216 SuperCoach ranking points in what was the second-highest rated game of any player for the round.
The performance came a day before a final meeting of Vic Metro selectors on Monday.
McKenzie, who measures 191cm, has played four games for the Dagons this season after being overlooked for the club’s 69-player squad as a bottom-age prospect in 2023.
“We always rated Bailey as a high-level talent,” Dragons coach Rob Harding said.
“He just wasn’t going to get an opportunity, potentially, last year. But he’s come back with a greater application to his training and he’s got incredible footy smarts, Bailey.
“The seven-goal performance against GWS’s Academy on the weekend certainly helped his prospects of getting into this squad.”
SHARP START TO BOTTOM-AGE YEAR
One of the leading prospects for the 2025 national draft is again dominating the SANFL under-18 competition this year.
Central District midfielder Dyson Sharp produced his highest-ever rated game as he propelled his side to a 30-point win over Woodville-West Torrens last weekend.
Sharp racked up 34 disposals (24 contested possessions), six marks, 17 groundball gets, 11 clearances, 12 tackles and booted two goals.
Those stats saw him post a whopping 239 SuperCoach ranking points.
Across his first six games in the competition, Sharp has now averaged 26.8 disposals and 157 ranking points – despite still being 16 years old.
A back-to-back All-Australian at under-16 level, Sharp is a fierce competitor and has been named as one of 11 underage player in South Australia’s squad for the under-18 national championships this year.
That squad is headlined by top-age players including Sid Draper, Ben and Lucas Camporeale and Tyler Welsh, who are among the state’s top draft prospects this year.
South Australia begins its campaign with a clash against the Allies on May 26.
Looks to be the type of player I would like at Freo.
TIMELY HAUL FOR KEY FORWARD
A key forward who missed selection for the Sandringham Dragons last year has bolted into the Vic Metro squad on the back of a timely bag of goals last weekend.
Bailey McKenzie booted 7.3 from 23 disposals and 13 marks (six contested) in the Dragons’ win over the GWS Giants Academy in the Coates Talent League last Sunday.
He recorded 216 SuperCoach ranking points in what was the second-highest rated game of any player for the round.
The performance came a day before a final meeting of Vic Metro selectors on Monday.
McKenzie, who measures 191cm, has played four games for the Dagons this season after being overlooked for the club’s 69-player squad as a bottom-age prospect in 2023.
“We always rated Bailey as a high-level talent,” Dragons coach Rob Harding said.
“He just wasn’t going to get an opportunity, potentially, last year. But he’s come back with a greater application to his training and he’s got incredible footy smarts, Bailey.
“The seven-goal performance against GWS’s Academy on the weekend certainly helped his prospects of getting into this squad.”
SHARP START TO BOTTOM-AGE YEAR
One of the leading prospects for the 2025 national draft is again dominating the SANFL under-18 competition this year.
Central District midfielder Dyson Sharp produced his highest-ever rated game as he propelled his side to a 30-point win over Woodville-West Torrens last weekend.
Sharp racked up 34 disposals (24 contested possessions), six marks, 17 groundball gets, 11 clearances, 12 tackles and booted two goals.
Those stats saw him post a whopping 239 SuperCoach ranking points.
Across his first six games in the competition, Sharp has now averaged 26.8 disposals and 157 ranking points – despite still being 16 years old.
A back-to-back All-Australian at under-16 level, Sharp is a fierce competitor and has been named as one of 11 underage player in South Australia’s squad for the under-18 national championships this year.
That squad is headlined by top-age players including Sid Draper, Ben and Lucas Camporeale and Tyler Welsh, who are among the state’s top draft prospects this year.
South Australia begins its campaign with a clash against the Allies on May 26.
memoryofmchale
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Vic Metro is a strong squad this year.
Calder's time as the footy factory has ended. Sandringham and Oakleigh have replaced them.
Can someone explain why Dandenong aren't included in Metro? I thought Dandenong included relatively urban Melbourne? Or is it a quirk.
Calder's time as the footy factory has ended. Sandringham and Oakleigh have replaced them.
Can someone explain why Dandenong aren't included in Metro? I thought Dandenong included relatively urban Melbourne? Or is it a quirk.
RedmanWasHere
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Yeah not sure why it happened but, between the 2009 and 2010 TAC Cup seasons, Dandenong Stingrays went from VM to VC.
FWIW, in 2009, Tom Scully and Ryan Bastinac, both Dandy teammates, were assigned VM and VC respectively.
Pretty stunned Sharp isn't playing league SANFL. He is just bullying Under 18's like he did Under 16's last year. Dogs maybe holding him back, might give him some ressies games later in season and then if he goes well there perhaps some league footy late. As good as the doggies are going atm, he's good enough to force his way into that side.
memoryofmchale
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It did wonders for almost all of the Tasmanians who have been drafted.
Leake and Schoenmaker would not be playing AFL if not for the TSL. Leake’ was a senior premiership player at 16 I believe. McKercher and Sanders both debuted as teens and it accelerated their development. Campbell kicked ten and got selected as a result. Most Tasmanian kids benefit from it, really.
There are risks of playing teenagers against men, though so I understand why they don’t. Better to dominate than end up in A&E.
The Kaiser Chief
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My understanding is METRO become very dominant if Dandy is included in their catchment. Better to spread the talent out across the 2 Victorian teams
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Big bodied West Adelaide inside mid mid Sam Burbridge a surprise omission IMO, plays almost a lone hand a in a very very ordinary West Adelaide U18's team. Reckon SA could do with some of his inside grunt come the Nationals
RedmanWasHere
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memoryofmchale
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That is true. It will be a battle for any side to challenge Vic Metro this year, although I do rate the Allies given they’ve got strong talent options in Queensland and Tasmania.
noobermensch
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My understanding is that in this year group at u16 level SA won the champs and defeated Metro? They should be really strong through the midfield at least if they're injury free.
memoryofmchale
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SA did win.
I don’t read into performances in U/16s too much. A close game, injury, poor performance, early developers … whatever the story, things change.
noobermensch
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Still though. Draper, Sharp, Hargrave and Ben Campo through the middle, Lucas Campo on a wing kicking to Welsh in the forward line. That's a nice start to a competitive team.
memoryofmchale
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That’s some talent there. Shows SA footy is as strong as ever before.
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