Top 25 information Sheet
1. Harley Reid - Bendigo - 185cm 85kg - a player that reminds me a bit of Luke Hodge, im not saying he is going to be as good, but i like his intercepting, defensive work, his strong midfield burst, his kicking isnt as good as Hodge nor his Leadership, but he has that aggressive aura and strong build
2. Jed Walter - GCS A - 195cm 91kg (GCS) - he reminds me of Tom Hawkins, a strong bodied, thick boned athlete, i mean this is a rare commodity, could turn into an absolute star of the comp, a player every club wants, if Gold Coast develop him right and keep him fit and healthy he could be an exciting player for over a decade
3. Colby McKercher - Tasmania - 181cm 72kg - reminds me a lot of Zach Merrett in that he has an inside and outside game, beautiful left foot kick and the speed and ability to find space, can also kick some lovely goals on the run
4. Zane Duursma - Gippsland - 189cm 79kg - Bailey Fritsch look alike, star medium forward potentially, with the option of going through the midfield, his movement in traffic is fantastic and his accuracy at goal with his height makes him useful and potentially a finals winner as these types really step up in finals
5. Dan Curtin - Claremont - 196cm 91kg - a player i was hoping would confirm himself as a great tall defender, but spent most of his year in the midfield, he looks good in the midfield showing off his endurance that i didnt realise he had.
6. Ethan Read - GCS A - 200cm 90kg (GCS) - a player i wasnt sure of last year, but really dominated games and has some great athletic traits, really stamped himself on the champs as a player to look out for, dominant in the ruck and around the clearance or with his athleticism could play kpp
7. Ryley Sanders - Tas/Sand - 186cm 85kg - i think he will become an elite inside mid, 2021 i thought he was a lock for top 10, 2022 he came to Sandy put on weight and looked a little out of sorts, but 2023 he reminded everyone why he was so highly rated when he was in Tassie, ball magnet, team orientated, star for the Allies, looks like JHF but plays slightly different roles and more consistent
8. Nick Watson - Eastern - 170cm 67kg - skillful strong small forward, has played roles off of hbf and small stints in the midfield, but it his marking and goal kicking from anywhere which is where his real value lies, amazing speed and agility, tough, overhead is brilliant for his height, lacks a little defensively
9. Connor O'Sullivan - Murray - 198cm 92kg - a player for Murray that didnt set the world on fire early, but it was obvious he has amazing athletic traits, then to see him really step it up in the rep season to guarantee top 10 selection, a tall guy that can play the tall defender blanketing a tall forward as well as be the running player off half back or the interceptor from nowhere
10. Nate Caddy - Northern - 192cm 91kg - a player last year that would fly into half a dozen packs every game, really exciting forward from Northern Knights, but his accuracy at goal was woeful, he improved his accuracy, put on weight, struggled a little with injury this year, but has generally seemed slow or not as aggressive this year which i would like to see fixed, he is an undersized kpf but he has so many positive traits that he is a prospect some teams would be looking seriously at, but he has dropped down the order a little imo and might be top 10
11. Darcy Wilson - Murray - 185cm 73kg - a player that grew on me early this year, had some good performances for Murray/AFL Academy he did well at the champs but didnt star, moves well on the outside, he is a goal kicker, so when he is in range he is a danger, plays wing and hff pretty well, should go first round somewhere or early 2nd round
12. Jake Rogers - GCS A - 172cm 67kg (GCS) - a player that was playing at a high level for GCS A in the CTL before being one of the best if not the best player for the 2 games AFL Academy series pipping H.Reid, his champs were good but he played 3rd fiddle to Sanders and McKercher, has good speed to find space, tries to keep kicks low too often, but can kick a goal, tackles hard, gets into good position and runs both ways
13. Harry Demattia - Dandenong - 184cm 77kg - had a few games for Dandenong that caught my eye, 1 play he intercepted a kick on the wing, burst forward and kicked a long goal, had a few burst plays that really stood out from everyone else, so i was big on him pre-champs, had a decent champs, in a couple games really showed off his speed and burst and caught the attention of people, i thought his kicking from defence in one of the latter games showed off his kicking skills, has a few similarities with Jai Newcombe but he has a burst of speed Newk doesnt have
14. Caleb Windsor - Eastern - 184cm 74kg - a player that was playing beautifully for 2 years now for Eastern, but it was this years champs that solidified him as a real top end prospect, he stepped up to the pressures of rep footy and performed, he didnt go in his shell, he took every opportunity and really shun
15. James Leake - Tasmania - 188cm 74kg - another player that was good for their CTL team, in this case Tassie, but it was the fact he stepped up to the next level at the champs that got people excited about his prospects, he then went on to play top tier footy as a defender and then as a forward in the CTL and CTL Finals series
16. Jack Delean - Sth Adel - 181cm 73kg - 2 years ago he was being talked up as a possible pick 1 and being compared to Isaac Heeney (when Heeney was a t the top of his powers in 2021), had a quiet 2022 and everyone forgot about him, his year this year has been great, he was a highlights reel at the champs going for speccies or kicking freak goals, real excitement machine and unfortunately because SA were so average i think a few have been under rated imo
17. Will McCabe - Central Dist - 197cm 81kg (HAW) - a player that stood out to me at last years u16s and to find out he was a FS for the Hawks was a bonus, he was one of few highlights for SA at the champs, he got beaten by Walter until he got help, but otherwise looked good back there on most opponents, great in the air, quick on the ground, has been used as a hbf mostly at club level, stacking up disposals and using his run, but at the next levels he will have to do more KPD work as well as general play
18. Charlie Edwards - Sandringham - 190cm - came onto the scene later in the year, he is one im a bit unsure about, but i cant deny his abilities, very quick, good clearance speed, decent skills, disposal numbers not so high, but his traits are exciting
19. Koltyn Tholstrup - Subiaco - 188cm 80kg - a player that has a great personality if the interviews and youtube shows he has been on are any indication, had good agility and 2k time trials, really good overhead, tough, clever, skillful, can play as an x factor forward or a endurance midfielder, plays both positions well, but i would say better forward
20. Mitch Edwards - Peel - 207cm 90kg - a contested marking ruck, tap winning ruck, 207cm Tim English type ruckman, was ok at the champs, i think he had injury issues, but probably fell a little in rankings from knocking on top 10 to close to first round selection, personality wise seems a little withdrawn, needs a bit more aggression imo
21. Zane Zakostelsky - Claremont - 196cm 90kg - a player im excited by, i thought he was a solid player at the champs which is when i 1st saw him, then he goes on to play good footy in the wafl colts finals series, not just playing well, but he had to play ruck and killed it for a short ruck, his work in traffic sold me on his ability, his run and ability to rebound from a loss, these things point to a strong competitive mind on top of his athletic abilities and his height and his combine results make me want to put him on the verge of 1st round selection
22. Ollie Murphy - Sandringham - 200cm 85kg - a player that can control the air, uses it ok, interceptor, tall, he had a fantastic champs as a tall defender controlling the aerial contests, his athletic ability and endurance are a bit of an unknown, i really like his potential, but a few similar players to him have been busts in recent years and so im cautious with this 1, so i have him going a little later than others
23. Billy Wilson - Dandenong -182cm 71kg - speedy hbf that played a good group of games in the midfield and looked fantastic in there, i really like his workrate and speed and ability to find space, decent skills, he reminds me of Impey, CJ or Seamus Mitchell at the Hawks, we always seems to have these types, but he has shown an ability to also play inside midfield and have bursts out of the clearance which is really exciting to see in a prospect
24. Koen Sanchez - East Frem - 178cm 71kg - has been injured for the last year and a half, but was an absolute gun as a youngster prior to injury, had a good champs last year between injuries and was fantastic as a forward again this champs, really steps up to the occasion and is usually a midfielder, but can play as a forward as his 2nd position
25. Jordan Croft - Calder - 200cm 80kg (WB) - athletic talented kpp, very tall at 2m, good on a lead, decent mark, kicking accuracy issues, played a little in the ruck, Bulldogs may see him as a defensive option with his athletic traits?
i will write up the next 25 soon...
26. Archer Reid - Gippsland - 203cm 93kg - inconsistent player, last year caught my attention at a vic country trials game, got a few opportunities for vic country last year and didnt do much unfortunately but was a good player for Gippsland, this year played 1 good game early at Gippsland, then went missing injured i believe, then came this year champs and again didnt do much until the last game or 2, had a few big games against weakened CTL teams, i was hoping for more, but at his height he should get on a list, but unfortunately he didnt live up to expectations
27. Logan Morris - Western - 192cm 90kg - a good undersized kpf, not sure if 191-192cm so undersized, knows where the goals are, works hard, had a good game for Werribee in the vfl, had a couple games in defence for VM and a couple forward games for VM, seems to have worked on his fitness and running ability
28. Harvey Johnston - Sandringham - 184cm 76kg - talented player for Sandringham, has played in all sorts of roles, as a forward, defender, wing and midfielder, very versatile and skillful player, should be given an opportunity at an AFL club, long limbs, clever disposal, good running player
29. Wil Dawson - Gippsland - 200cm 86kg - a player that really caught peoples attention clunking marks in the vic country trials and then playing a key role as FB for VC, getting help from Gawith to cover all options, he really dominated defence and with his forward potential gives clubs who are thinking of recruiting him options of where they can play him, followed up with good outings for Gippsland later in the season
30. Riley Hardeman - Swan Dist - 188cm 80kg - a player that was a star in Swan Dist WAFL Colts Premiership win in 2021, so has been on the radar for awhile, seems to have a desire to be a leader, turned himself from a winger into a running hbf who creates counter attack from defence
31. Ashton Moir - Glenlg - 188cm 84kg - had a strong 2022 which had a few in the media go nuts about him, i thought he was over rated as pick 2, in 2022 kicked 4 goals against WA i believe in the champs, had a good goal tally in 2022 sanfl u18s, but this year he came back to reality and it seems is destined to go in the 2nd round, the issues that stand out are his lack of speed and lack of winning his own ball in the forward zone, also his lack of speed on a lead, but when he does get it he generally uses the ball well when not going for impossible shots at goal
32. Will Lorenz - Oakleigh - 186cm 70kg - last year he burst on the scene with a few top tier games and everyone got excited by what he could do, unfortunately the Midfield was given to the 2024 youngsters at Oakleigh and he couldnt grab a midfield spot for VM either, but even so i thought he played quality football even though he wasnt in positions to accumulate, i still think he is a good option mid draft and could develop into a good player
33. Luca Slade - Sturt - 180cm70kg - played some good footy last year, but really showed some quality for an average SA unit this year, also had a strong sanfl u18s finals series for Sturt, a good winger option for a team mid draft or late
34. Clay Hall - Peel - 190cm 85kg - accumulating midfielder for Peel and WA, work rate is his best quality, his skills can be a bit sloppy, but he is always running past working hard in the contest, just blue collar footy
35. Joel Freijah - GWV - 191cm 86kg - a goal kicking winger, has a bit of Hugh McCluggage about him, which could see him go earlier, he can be a bit underwhelming at times, but his big games are impressive, so its hard to judge a talent that in some games he doesnt do much, but in others he is a match winner, he just doesnt have enough match winner games for me to have him higher
36. Phoenix Gothard - Murray - 178cm 70kg - speedy forward who like a few others really stepped up to be a part of the unbelievably strong Allies team, he was also a pretty good player at Murray, but his speed could be used in the forward line at the AFL level
37. Arie Schoenmaker - Tasmania - 194cm 89kg - a very penetrating kick, good endurance, 194cm flanker, theres a lot to like and he is a very unique player, a club may want to try him as a big midfielder? or have other ideas about how to best use his assets
38. Archie Roberts - Sandringham - 184cm 77kg - running half back, has played good footy over 2 years, played a little safe this year on the half back, was a part of an underwhelming VM team, being imo the 3rd best team at the champs and lacking punch and drive, has won 2 premiership for Sandringham which is a fair effort
39. Lance Collard - Subiaco - 185cm 70kg (WCE) - quick skillful small forward, good agility and movement, if he did better at the champs wouldve been considered higher in the rankings, but i think his wafl colts finals series put his name back in the group of draftable talent rather than the late/rookie uncertainty
40. Aiden O'Driscoll - Perth - 177cm 70kg - his speed at the combine and hot form at the champs and since then has him right on track to getting drafted, could be an exciting wing option for a team looking to develop his body up to the rigours of AFL footy
41. Tarkyn O'Leary - Sandringham - 178cm 70kg - a player that goes a little unheralded, he has some fantastic plays every now and then, playing hbf and midfield, he hasnt really locked down a position, but has played his role and has good athletic traits which should see him drafted
42. Lachlan Smith - Gipps - 202cm 97kg - big bodied ruck, he looks ready made and has a very AFL Ruck Body already, so should be able to plug and play for a team within a couple years if he makes it and after his dominant Gippsland Finals Series i think thats a good possibility
here is where the talent starts to drop off a little and its more speculation................................................................................
43. Will Patton - Wst Adel - 192cm 79kg - competitive 3rd tall defender, captain for SA, i really like him as a player, but im not sure if he gets drafted, i dont know if he plays KPD, i dont know if he can play quality medium defender footy, but i really like him as a footballer at the level and he deserves a mention as a good junior talent
44. Jack Callinan - Tasmania - 179cm 77kg - plays forward and can pop off every now and then, good leading small forward, good kick at goal, reads the play to try and get opportunities
45. Luamon Lual - GWV - 181cm 71kg (WB) - athletic hbf, running hbf, can tackle, uses the ball well, inconsistent form
46. George Stevens - GWV - 189cm 84kg - a player that is already physcially built, good goal sense, can impact a contest, unsure what he looks like at the next level, is he a Shannon Hurn or a Will Gould?
47. Caiden Cleary - Syd A - 180cm 77kg (SYD) - very vanilla type, in and under midfielder, earlier in the season was poor, but again stepped up at the champs and then started producing good footy to end the season, should find himself at the swans mid draft
48. Heath Ollington - Tasmania - 190cm 81kg (19yo) - classy medium forward, plays at a high standard for most of the year, came into the Allies team and really showed some dominant form as a hff, linking the midfield to the forwards as well as kicking a few goals, missed selection at the MSD, but the fact he got champs exposure and finals exposure means he might get an opportunity late.
49. Michael Rudd - Geelong - 192cm 91kg - another undersized kpf who was a good target for VC at the champs, which saw clubs take more of a notice of him and a possible to get drafted
50. Taylor Goad - Sth Adel - 205cm 90kg - tall ruck that was one of SAs few dominant players and has a good chance of being picked up in the draft imo
51. Will Green - Northern - 204cm 89kg - a ruck that a few in the media seem really excited by, i think he is similar to the other rucks i mentioned in this area of the draft, good long limbs and seems competitive in the ruck
52. Vigo Visentini - Sandringham - 203cm 97kg - similar to his brother Dante who debuted this year for Port Adelaide and didnt look too bad at the level, so i expect hes a good chance to get drafted also
53. Riley Weatherill - Eastern - 195cm 87kg - a player who if he gets it all together could be an exciting option, very much a smokey, but we'll see if a club is wanting to develop a young 195cm KPF late draft like Lewis and Larkie in 2017? maybe? good long kick at goal, good mark on a lead, could be a focal point for a team?
54. Angus Hastie - Geelong - 189cm 77kg - top tier agility, good run and carry, seemed to do it more for Geelong than he did for VC, but his run and carry is exciting to watch and he is a great height
55. Tew Jiath - Gippsland - 187cm 71kg (HAW) - hbf with good disposal and intercepting marks, plays loose, mostly uncontested it seems, i would rate higher if he won more contests, being talked up by the media so might be bid on within the top 40?
i will do the remaining talent that are i guess long shots from my pov, soon...
The Long Shots
56. Nathan Philactides - Oakleigh - 181cm 78kg - a player that had an amazingly strong underage year, his intercepting and ability to win the footy as well as his defensive work in the backline with run and carry was of the highest quality, performed strongly for VM, unfortunately in his draft year his intercepting seemed to drop off, the intensity dropped off and he focused more on his run and carry, still a good player, but he moved away from what could make him really good(played less contested, worrying about self preservation?)
57. Kynan Brown - Oakleigh - 181cm 72kg - played good footy this year especially for VM, he seems smaller than 181cm and has a small build, but he performed this year at the rep level and might be an option for Melb as a FS?
58. Oscar Hine-Bastion - Perth - 178cm 74kg - WCE NGA 19 yo, I think he showed enough at the champs as a lock Down defender on some decent opponents, that can win 1 on 1s and use the footy out of defense to get picked up by the eagles
59. Josh Docking - Sandringham - 178cm 69kg - StK NGA, likely to be picked up, skillful player with good run and carry
60. Jake Smith - Western Jets - 185cm 79kg - tough midfielder, that has good breakaway speed from the contest, a standout mid from the Jets, wins contests, good disposal, a real smokey
61. Evan Smith - Swan Dist - 199cm 84kg - tall forw/ruck, I liked what I saw from him at the champs playing mostly forward, contests well, good height, good athletic profile from what I could see in game
62. Amin Naim - Calder - 187cm 82kg - Ess NGA - I really liked what I saw from him early in the season, good mark on a lead, has a competitive streak, good kick at goal, good med forw prospect
63. Geordie Payne - Tasmania - 184cm 73kg - small defender, wins contests in defense, rebound counter attacking player, interceptor, plays quite well and seems to have interest from a few clubs
64. Caleb May - Syd A - 206cm - a ruck from Sydney that has been on my radar for the last couple of years, strong, good tap ruck, good around the ground, was the 2nd ruck for the dominant Allies team this year
65. Ry Cantwell - Eastern - 186cm 78kg - a player that stood out this finals series for Eastern, getting all the way to the GF, his combine results put him right up there with the best wingers in this draft for speed ect, he has bolted from nowhere to be a real draft chance
66. Oscar Ryan - Murray - 187cm 77kg - good shut down defender who can intercept and use the footy well, no frills, but an affective defender
67. Kane McAuliffe - North Adel - 187cm 86kg - a player that struggled to impact games or accumulate poss as a midfielder in rep footy, but he does have very good athletic traits and might get an opportunity based on his speed, endurance ect
68. Cam Nyko - Eastern - 179cm 76kg - a winger who has speed and is a good kick, got injured late in the year, played well for VM
69. Coen Livingstone - Perth - 200cm 96kg - a player who has not performed very well at rep level for the most part over the last 2 years, but has put in good performances at wafl colts level, good height and size and has decent movement around the ground, could be a late option for a team looking for a big man
70. Charlie Harrop - Sandringham - 186cm 79kg - a medium forward who is good on a lead and knows where the goals are, had a couple good games for VM, could be an option late
71. Calsher Dear - Sandringham - 194cm 88kg - Haw FS, he is a tall prospect, being talked about a little, hasn't had the best year, but is a good height and got experience playing in the strong Sandringham line up during finals
There are a few more I think could get drafted, but these are the main group of possibles
added my last list of rankings for the year, goes to 71 players, i'm sure a few state league players and some i may have missed will get drafted as well, i apologise if i miss any in the coming draft.
i might comment on the first round night and what i think, maybe theres a Deven Robertson or a Matthew Johnson who gets ignored and slides for some good value?
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