eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Love Mingma, but he's lost the little speed he had to make him effective at AFL level.
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Draft Profile 2024 Mid Season draft prospects
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Will McLachlan - Geelong Falcons 185cm forw, good work rate, strong hands, he would be 1 I would take outside of the state leaguers in the MSD
FB19
Premiership Player
- Feb 2, 2022
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What’s the maximum picks you can take? looks like the tigers might need to draft a replacement for their vfl team at this rate. And yet somehow their vfl team is going unbelievably well it defies all logic. Do we have a phantom order yet?
He was always pretty good at BFL level and has a premiership medal
problem is when he steps upto AFL the speed at afl level seems to catch him out
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hawkinoz
Club Legend
- Nov 6, 2022
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Saw this Beechen guy being mentioned as a likely target of hawks. 2021 was his draft year. Any intel notes.
Seems quite speedy and excellent link player. If he is decently good can even be used as bait at end of year trade to get Ryan Maric home.
Dashing half-back flanker Beecken, who turned 23 last week, is a late bloomer who was expected to get drafted after the Eagles won their second of back-to-back premierships in 2021.
The grandson of legendary football administrator and SA Football Hall of Fame inductee John Condon, he appears to have taken his game to the next level this season, having averaged 22 disposals, five marks and four rebound 50s.
The 184cm backman has chalked up 56 disposals in the past two matches and oozes AFL qualities with his size, running power and excellent kick.
Luke Beecken
Luke Beecken
central.rookieme.com
STRENGTHS:
Athleticism
Endurance
Defensive pressure
Rebound run-and-carry
- Apr 11, 2011
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I’m really starting to think Essendon should take Kobe Ryan if he is there at 13 or there abouts where ever out pick lands. His tackling numbers are aweosme and kicks goals too. Anyone from SA know the knocks on him. I’ve watched his last 2 games and to me he looks like a kid that has to be on an afl list.
The_General#1
Team Captain
- Jun 18, 2023
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Terrible news for young Aiden O’Driscoll. Hopefully the AFL looks after him financially so he can get the financial rewards he would have got and has some comfort from entering the AFL system.
junkyard_dog
Draftee
- Nov 29, 2012
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Kobe is a bit on the skinny Side and his pace and disposal is ok without being anything special...but he loves playing, loves the contest and has a football brain. I would put money on him stepping up and becoming an AFL player
Possible St Kilda Smokey?
Max Benier from VAFA
Played for Sandringham on the weekend.
Max Benier from VAFA
Played for Sandringham on the weekend.
- Aug 16, 2010
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If Lions can draft both Daniel Lloyd and Smith both would make the Lions better this season with the outs
Funny thing is were crying out for a midfielder woth his attributes right now. Whether he can bring that form to AFL level who knows. He was always going to be a slow burn.
The VFL listed players they have brought in have been fantastic. Whoever does their recruiting deserves a raise.
Unfortunately the heart a soul of the team and captain Lachie Steet did his ACL on the weekend and El Nour is out for 10 weeks (or potentially forever if a team picks him up in the MSD). They will likely drop off a fair bit now....
Sam Davidson from our VFL team has come from nowhere and could be a smokey. Very similar story to Trezise last year.
Anyone able to bypass?
_RT_
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Box Hill Hawks coach Zane Littlejohn calls Max Hall a “plug-and-play’’ footballer.
“What we love about him is he’s ever-reliable. You put him in a spot and, what is it, the plug and play?’’ Littlejohn said of the 22-year-old.
“We plug him in and just let him play. He’s just so reliable in getting the job done, and what makes him reliable is he’s so clean and doesn’t really waste the footy.’’
In his third year at the City Oval, Hall is having a fine season for the Hawks, emerging as a contender for the AFL’s mid-season draft and an early favourite for the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal.
The right-footer had 32 disposals against North Melbourne in Round 4, 26 against the Sydney Swans a week later and 31 in Round 6 against unbeaten ladder leader Footscray.
The Bulldogs were impressed with what they saw of the former Eastern Ranger, who came through under-age teams at the Gary Ayres-coached Montrose.
Montrose saw quite a bit of Hall in 2022 but since then, his stocks at Box Hill have risen sharply. He had 15 games last season and then fixed his focus on 2024.
Littlejohn said Hall’s pre-season was “elite’’.
“He came back super-fit, strong, powerful, all that stuff, so he put himself into a position to have a good season,’’ he said.
“It doesn’t always translate straight away but he gave himself a chance by starting and doing the work early.
“Because he’s fitter, he’s lifted his tank and he gets to more contests and gets more of the footy. And like I said, when he gets it, he’s good with it. This year we’ve really started to transition him into the midfield, as that high forward to go through the mids.’’
But, he added, he would be comfortable playing Hall across half-back comfortable playing him across half-back “if we needed him there.’’
The Hawk is one of a bunch of VFL players eyeing a move to the AFL via the mid-season rookie draft, following the path 12 months ago of 200cm Brandon Ryan (Northern Bullants to Hawthorn), Ethan Stanley (Box Hill Hawks to Fremantle) and James Trezise (Richmond VFL to Richmond).
The Bullants have another big man bubbling up in 202cm Will Elliott, the son of Test match cricketer Matthew.
Two weeks ago, Elliott took eight marks against Port Melbourne, one of them a spectacular grab in the goal square. He followed up with 18 possessions and a goal in the Ants’ stirring win over Collingwood last Saturday.
Elliott, 19, has missed a lot of football through Covid and then a knee injury, but his talent has never been in dispute.
“His upside is huge … he’s going to be a serious player,’’ Ants coach Rohan Welsh said yesterday.
“What you’re seeing is really promising but he’s still really raw … his body is going to fill out in the next two years.’’
Welsh is also promoting his wingman Saad El-Hawli.
The former Western Region league Rising Star winner is averaging 24.8 disposals from his six matches and seizing the eye with his speed. Welsh likens him to Carlton dasher Adam Saad.
“When I pick players who I think are draftable, I pick AFL players who I think they play like, and to me he’s like Adam Saad,’’ he said.
“He plays exactly the same way. Speed, good overhead, tough and a good ball-user. Good footy brain too. I think he’s got all the attributes to play in the AFL, absolutely.’’
Welsh also believes 2023 Bullants best and fairest Jean-Luc Velissaris should also be in the thoughts of AFL clubs. Velissaris, 24, had 34 touches against Collingwood and is averaging 33.3 from six matches.
“He’s tough, he wins it inside, he uses it well and he’s so consistent,’’ Welsh said of the midfielder.
“He might be one of those guys who gets to the next level and rises again.’’
Collingwood newcomer Jack Hutchinson has for weeks been touted as an early selection.
The 22-year-old joined the Pies at the encouragement of their former premiership player Jarryd Blair, who coached him at Wonthaggi in 2022-23. A 190cm forward who can jump like fat in a frying pan, Hutchinson has showed bit and pieces without blowing a game to smithereens.
One recruiter told CODE Sports that the right-footer would be drafted more on what he could do in the future “in a full-time (football) environment’’ rather than what he had done in a handful of games for Collingwood.
The Magpies’ former Hawthorn player Ned Long is also expected to come into consideration.
Long, 21, opened his season with possession counts of 25, 28 and 28 and performed well for the VFL against the SANFL. A calf complaint has kept him out of the past two rounds.
In Trezise, Richmond took one of its own players in last year’s mid-season draft, and it would be no surprise if it did so again.
Unfortunately for classy defender Mutaz El-Nour, he suffered a shoulder injury in Round 6 against Coburg and will be sidelined for eight weeks. Similar misfortune struck him before the 2023 mid-season draft, when he hurt a knee.
The Tigers may look to wingman Austin Johnson, from Southern league powerhouse Cheltenham.
Richmond coach Steve Morris gave him some lift-off after his Round 4 performance, when he had 21 disposals and five rebound 50s.
“He’s in super form at the moment, he’s such a reliable player for our team. He knows exactly the way we want to play football and he runs great patterns as a result of this,’’ Morris told Richmond’s website.
“He’s strong in the contest and continues to be a big reason as to why we’ve started the season in good form.”
Southport coach Stevie Daniel believes his half-back Ben Jepson is 50-50 to be taken in the mid-season draft.
He said Jepson, recruited from Coburg at the end of last season, had been “terrific’’ in his first season with the Sharks. He also played well for the VFL in the representative match against the SANFL.
“The last three weeks, he’s had his 30-odd (possessions) and given us a lot of drive off half-back,’’ Daniel said of Coburg’s 2023 best and fairest.
“He uses the ball really well, he’s tough, strong over the ball, understands the game. Two clubs have inquired about him.’’
Frankston coach Jackson Kornberg calls George Grey the Dolphins’ “most obvious’’ draft prospect.
Changing clubs and positions, the former Casey Demon has thrived in his move to half-back, pinging forward with skill and speed. He’s averaging 23.5 possessions for his 4-2 team.
“Classy ball-user, very good decision-maker; he’s been a class above,’’ Kornberg said of Grey.
He said the Dolphins had two other players who should be in mid-season draft discussions: former Kangaroo Tom Murphy and Lachie Reidy.
Murphy returned to Frankston this year after going back to local football in 2023. Previously used as a half-back, he has revelled in his onball role, averaging 22 disposals from his six matches.
“He’s been really consistent and powerful. He’s a territory-taker who drives his legs and he’s starting to impact in the front-half too,’’ Kornberg said. “He’s a great runner and uses the ball well.’’
He said few players did what Murphy, 26, had done, dropping back to local level, returning to the state league and performing at a high level.
“Usually once you go to local, that’s it. It’s different with him. He’s lived the highs and lows of the AFL and now he’s got the passion back.’’
The Dolphins went into the season thinking Reidy would predominantly play on the wing. But the former Eastern Ranges player has come through as an inside midfielder.
“I think he’s one who’s popped up,’’ Kornberg said. “He wills himself from contest to contest and accumulates through that.’’
Key defenders Finbar O’Dwyer (Williamstown) and Nathan Cooper (Werribee) may appeal to clubs needing to bolster their backlines.
Cooper, one of the quickest players at Werribee, played in the state game against the SANFL.
“If any AFL clubs are looking for a key defender, he defends as well as anyone going around,’’ Bees coach Jimmy Allan said of Cooper, a former Sydney Swans reserve player.
‘’He’d be ready to go straight away. Defends like his life depends on it.’’
O’Dwyer joined Willy after a rookie listing at Carlton and has become a starting point for coach Justin Plapp and his selection committee.
Plapp also believes that former Carlton defender Luke Parks, ex-Richmond defender Riley Collier-Dawkins and key forward Corey Ellison will come into calculations.
“His stoppage and contest stuff has been elite for us,’’ Plapp said of Collier-Dawkins, who had 32 disposals against Essendon last Saturday. “He’s building. His last few weeks have been at a very high level.’’
He said Parks was a “genuine intercept defender, he’s tough, he can defend one-on-one’’.
“He’s not too dissimilar to Marty Hore, really,’’ Plapp said.
Midfielder Jack Toner has also hit stride in the past two rounds, having 24 touches against Casey Demons and 25 against Essendon.
Essendon small forward Oskar Smartt enhanced his chances of advancing to the AFL with two snappy performances in the Young Guns series. The Bendigo Pioneers graduate also kicked four goals from 12 touches against the unbeaten Footscray Bulldogs.
“There’s so much upside to him. But where he’s at already is pretty solid,’’ Young Guns coach Matt O’Connor said of Smartt.
“Great forward pressure. We asked a question to the group, ‘What do you bring?’ And he just said, ‘I bring pressure’. He’s got a bit of life about him, which I think is great.’’
It’s understood that former Sandringham Dragon Cooper Lord has caught the interest of clubs through his performances with North Melbourne VFL. Bar his two Young Guns selections, the midfielder has played every game for the Roos.
“He’s a talented kid. I really like him,’’ North coach Tommy Lynch said.
Former WAFL player Ben Edwards is another who could bob up. He’s made a perky start with the Sydney Swans’ VFL team, parading his pace, endurance and ball-winning ability.
Victorian recruit Phil Moimoi has also come to notice for the Swans, as a half-forward with a nose for the goals.
“He’s a very exciting player, has got real X-factor,’’ Swannies coach Damian Truslove said of the nephew of rugby league cult figure Fuifui Moimoi.
Midfielder Hugo Bromell’s move from Footscray to Coburg has brought him more opportunity and greater attention.
Lions coach Jamie Cassidy-McNamara thinks he’s a player worth tracking.
“He’s a big mid who is clean and powerful in the contest,’’ he said.
“He’s still young, with a lot of growth in his game.’’
Geelong coach Mark Corrigan believes Tobyn Murray is one player “potentially bouncing around the mark’’. A midfielder with Geelong Falcons, he’s been playing at half-forward with the VFL Cats and kicked four goals from eight touches against Box Hill Hawks in Round 2.
“I think he’s on the radar,’’ Corrigan said. “Whether he’s done enough, I’m not sure. But there’s a bit there with him. He’s got a great tank, he’s tough, loves the contest.’’
Young Port Melbourne ruckman Felix Flockart continues to interest recruiters, according to coach Adam Skrobalak.
“He’s put together a fair body of work so far,’’ he said of the former Sandringham Dragon, who is averaging 13.6 disposals and 27.3 disposals this season.
“He’s been competitive in the ruck, he’s marking the ball around the ground and when he goes forward, he kicks a goal or two.’’
Skrobalak will not lift an eyebrow if a club swoops on his former Saint Dan McKenzie, whose absence last Friday night prompted five clubs to message Port.
Footscray’s ex-Magpie Trent Bianco is another former AFL player trying to win a second chance via the VFL. Three goals and 26 disposals against Willy in Round 4 served as a reminder of his ability.
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Miguel Sanchez
(Unique injury) TBC
Who’s the player compared to Adam Saad? It looks like something’s dropped off there.
Thought the same thing
- Apr 11, 2011
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Moi Moi any relation to the Ex NRL player?
Nephew
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