Academy Northern Academy Talent 2020

[GC2015]

This thread is intended to discuss 2020 draft talent coming out of the northern academies (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney and Sydney). Let's start with the players from these academies who were invited to join the NAB National Academy this year:

Brisbane Tahj Abberley (Brisbane) Jack Briskey (Toowoomba) Blake Coleman (Brisbane) Saxon Crozier (Brisbane) Noah McFadyen (Brisbane) Carter Michael (Sunshine Coast)

Gold Coast Alex Davies (Cairns) Aidan Fyfe (Gold Coast) Jack Johnston (Gold Coast) Rhys Nicholls (Gold Coast) Ryan Pickering (Townsville) Joel Jeffrey (Darwin) Brodie Lake (Darwin) Tyrell Lui (Darwin)

Greater Western Sydney Jack Driscoll (Riverina) Josh Fahey (Canberra) Josh Green (Canberra) Sam Stenning (Riverina)

Sydney Braeden Campbell (Sydney) Errol Gulden (Sydney) Kye Pfrengle (Sydney) Marco Rossman (Sydney) Mark Sheather (Sydney)

Predictions are that three of these players will be selected in the first round. So let's breakdown their stats and playing styles.

Braeden Campbell (Sydney)
Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 178cm, 71kg
Strengths: Contested ball-winning, aggressive tackler, damaging left foot kick, acceleration, run and carry with ball in hand, scoreboard impact, best-on-ground in the 2019 AFL Grand Final curtain raiser., versatility to impact games forward or midfield
Weaknesses: Height, contested marking

Alex Davies (Gold Coast)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 189cm, 76kg
Strengths: Contested ball-winning, distribution by hand, evasion, movement through traffic, clean at ground level
Weaknesses: Endurance, prone to rushing kicks rather than assessing and spotting options

Errol Gulden (Sydney)
Best position: General forward/outside midfield
Height, weight: 172cm, 68kg
Strengths: One-touch pickups, high production, ready-to-go, one-touch at ground level, speed, agility, reads the play, gets to the right spot, natural crumber, finishing around goal, scoreboard impact, class, precision kicking, kicking out in front of inside 50m targets to lead onto
Weaknesses: Height, size, limited scope to develop as an inside midfielder, unclear upside


Sydney should be the team that benefits the most from this year's academy talent with two players likely to be bid on inside the first round. Campbell and Gulden are on the shorter side but it's possible they have a little growth left in them given they turn 18 this year. Alex Davies is the prospect that excites me the most and I'm not just saying that because he'll likely end up at my club. His playing style has been compared to Scott Pendlebury and really has the build of the modern tall midfielder standing around 190cm. Many draft experts expected a bid to come on Davies in the top 10 but fortunately for us our current concessions will allow us to bypass the bidding process and secure him before the draft. I also like the look of Joel Jeffrey from the NT (his father Russell played for St Kilda and Brisbane).

What prospect excites you the most?

 

[briztoon]

This thread is intended to discuss 2020 draft talent coming out of the northern academies (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney and Sydney). Let's start with the players from these academies who were invited to join the NAB National Academy this year:

Brisbane Tahj Abberley (Brisbane) Jack Briskey (Toowoomba) Blake Coleman (Brisbane) Saxon Crozier (Brisbane) Noah McFadyen (Brisbane) Carter Michael (Sunshine Coast)

Gold Coast Alex Davies (Cairns) Aidan Fyfe (Gold Coast) Jack Johnston (Gold Coast) Rhys Nicholls (Gold Coast) Ryan Pickering (Townsville) Joel Jeffrey (Darwin) Brodie Lake (Darwin) Tyrell Lui (Darwin)

Greater Western Sydney Jack Driscoll (Riverina) Josh Fahey (Canberra) Josh Green (Canberra) Sam Stenning (Riverina)

Sydney Braeden Campbell (Sydney) Errol Gulden (Sydney) Kye Pfrengle (Sydney) Marco Rossman (Sydney) Mark Sheather (Sydney)

Predictions are that three of these players will be selected in the first round. So let's breakdown their stats and playing styles.

Braeden Campbell (Sydney)
Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 178cm, 71kg
Strengths: Contested ball-winning, aggressive tackler, damaging left foot kick, acceleration, run and carry with ball in hand, scoreboard impact, best-on-ground in the 2019 AFL Grand Final curtain raiser., versatility to impact games forward or midfield
Weaknesses: Height, contested marking

Alex Davies (Gold Coast)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 189cm, 76kg
Strengths: Contested ball-winning, distribution by hand, evasion, movement through traffic, clean at ground level
Weaknesses: Endurance, prone to rushing kicks rather than assessing and spotting options

Errol Gulden (Sydney)
Best position: General forward/outside midfield
Height, weight: 172cm, 68kg
Strengths: One-touch pickups, high production, ready-to-go, one-touch at ground level, speed, agility, reads the play, gets to the right spot, natural crumber, finishing around goal, scoreboard impact, class, precision kicking, kicking out in front of inside 50m targets to lead onto
Weaknesses: Height, size, limited scope to develop as an inside midfielder, unclear upside


Sydney should be the team that benefits the most from this year's academy talent with two players likely to be bid on inside the first round. Campbell and Gulden are on the shorter side but it's possible they have a little growth left in them given they turn 18 this year. Alex Davies is the prospect that excites me the most and I'm not just saying that because he'll likely end up at my club. His playing style has been compared to Scott Pendlebury and really has the build of the modern tall midfielder standing around 190cm. Many draft experts expected a bid to come on Davies in the top 10 but fortunately for us our current concessions will allow us to bypass the bidding process and secure him before the draft. I also like the look of Joel Jeffrey from the NT (his father Russell played for St Kilda and Brisbane).

What prospect excites you the most?

Campbell is taller. Now 180cm or 181cm.

 

[RUNVS]

Campbell is taller. Now 180cm or 181cm.

That is great news. He is now at a height where his height can't be considered a negative. He is still on the smaller side for a player, but now in the average range. I hope Gulden reaches the high 170's

 

[GC2015]

That is great news. He is now at a height where his height can't be considered a negative. He is still on the smaller side for a player, but now in the average range. I hope Gulden reaches the high 170's

Reminds me of Connor Budarick who was hovering around the low 170 mark in his underage year but then gained some centimetres in his draft year and ended up around 177cm which allowed him to properly compete and gain All Australian honours at the U18 national championships. It's always an interesting one when a junior midfielder gets painted with the "he's too short" brush but then you see guys like Dayne Zorko and Dion Prestia who have become legitimate stars of the competition with their 175cm frames. I guess you can get a way with a lack of height a little more when you're a small forward like Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (171cm) or Eddie Betts (174cm).

If Campbell is 180cm now then that's absolutely acceptable for a midfielder in 2020. It's a little on the shorter side but it shouldn't be used against him in any way. You would hope Gulden grows a bit because low 170s is rarely good enough for an AFL list these days. Either way, I'm sure the Swans will still draft him so it probably won't matter in terms of him getting drafted.

The NSW teams seem to be doing a good job of producing first round talent through their academies. I hope we in Queensland can produce more first round talent over the next decade.

 

[Cadillac]

That is great news. He is now at a height where his height can't be considered a negative. He is still on the smaller side for a player, but now in the average range. I hope Gulden reaches the high 170's

Yep. Your club continues to get kissed on the d**k when it comes to your academy players. How many first round picks will that be over the last 5 years ?

 

[briztoon]

Yep. Your club continues to get kissed on the d**k when it comes to your academy players. How many first round picks will that be over the last 5 years ?

3 in the last 5 years. Far less than the Giants.

I know the Swans put a lot of money (from sponsors), time and coaching in to their academy. More than any other academy.

So it’s not exactly pure luck (Blakey aside) it produces so many quality kids.

 

[PMBangers]

Love the idea of the thread, can't imagine that the people missing the point of Northern Academies won't venture in to give us their highly thoughtout and relevant opinions on the system

 

[PMBangers]

Nothing any of our Academy kids have done has screamed out draftable at this stage, Green looks like he'd be a solid depth player so I'd imagine we take him (likely as a cat B, don't think anyone would bother in the ND)
I was really looking forward to seeing Driscoll this year though, had shown glimpses that he could be a good KPD/KPF so he's one that will be hurting from the break.

If we don't see too much footy this year I hope that we look to Delahunty who we overlooked last year

 

[Giant Strides]

Sam Stening (one 'n') & Josh Fahey are next year's draft crop.

For Driscoll & Josh Green, what PMBangers said, low chance of being drafted (especially if list sizes are reduced) or Cat B rookie at best.

The GWS Academy has done a great job, developing a lot of players beyond the fist round picks that everyone outside of the northern states like to solely focus on, and many taken by other teams. Some 35 players who've spent significant time in our academy have been drafted at some level since 2012 - only 20% were first round picks for GWS, 26 are still active, 15 of those with other clubs!

 

[GC2015]

Yep. Your club continues to get kissed on the d**k when it comes to your academy players. How many first round picks will that be over the last 5 years ?

It's interesting to assess the performance of northern academies by way of producing first round picks over the last 5 years since the bidding system was altered due to Isaac Heeney being drafted with pick 18 in 2014:

Greater Western Sydney - 7 first rounders
2015: Jacob Hopper (7), Matthew Kennedy (13), Harrison Himmelberg (16)
2016: Will Setterfield (5), Harry Perryman (14), Isaac Cumming (20)
2019: Tom Green (10)

Sydney - 2 first rounders
2015: Callum Mills (3)
2018: Nick Blakey (10)

Gold Coast - 1 first rounders
2016: Jack Bowes (10)

Brisbane - 1 first rounders
2015: Eric Hipwood (14)

You can see the production of first rounders in the northern academies has really slowed down in recent years and GWS's early success was mainly due to the southern Riverina towns which are no longer a part of their academy zone.

Nothing any of our Academy kids have done has screamed out draftable at this stage, Green looks like he'd be a solid depth player so I'd imagine we take him (likely as a cat B, don't think anyone would bother in the ND)
I was really looking forward to seeing Driscoll this year though, had shown glimpses that he could be a good KPD/KPF so he's one that will be hurting from the break.

If we don't see too much footy this year I hope that we look to Delahunty who we overlooked last year

Sounds like it could be one of the few years GWS don't really have draftable talent in their academy. I'm sure you guys will trade your way up the draft ladder to secure top talent like previous years. Having said that, everything can change in a few months when we actually see these kids play. Someone may emerge that you can't predict at this stage.

Also interesting to point out that it's possible these kids won't get the opportunity to play for the Allies in the national championships this year and how that affects everything.

 

[eDPS]

It's interesting to assess the performance of northern academies by way of producing first round picks over the last 5 years since the bidding system was altered due to Isaac Heeney being drafted with pick 18 in 2014:

Greater Western Sydney - 7 first rounders
2015: Jacob Hopper (7), Matthew Kennedy (13), Harrison Himmelberg (16)
2016: Will Setterfield (5), Harry Perryman (14), Isaac Cumming (20)
2019: Tom Green (10)

Sydney - 2 first rounders
2015: Callum Mills (3)
2018: Nick Blakey (10)

Gold Coast - 1 first rounders
2016: Jack Bowes (10)

Brisbane - 1 first rounders
2015: Eric Hipwood (14)

You can see the production of first rounders in the northern academies has really slowed down in recent years and GWS's early success was mainly due to the southern Riverina towns which are no longer a part of their academy zone.

Would be nice to see how they balance out against the Victorian clubs in recent years and I wouldn’t be surprised if in the coming years it skews way to far in advantage to the Victorian clubs

 

[Ysaye]

How early will Alex Davies go?

 

[Virgin Dog]

How early will Alex Davies go?

He won't, he'll be prelisted by Gold Coast and not actually enter the draft.

 

[Rioli8217]

How early will Alex Davies go?

What about Errol Gulden?
He's an interesting prospect. Small yet very skilful and knows how to find the ball (averaged 27 across the NAB League as a bottom ager).
Also to note is he won best on ground against Sydney University in the Sydney Mens Premier Division Grand Final for UNSW playing alongside multiple former AFL players.

Some phantoms have him ranked in the first round whilst some have him ranked around the 30s. It's intriguing to see such a fluctuation between these rankings because usually they stay pretty close.

Personally I think he is a top 20-25 pick, top 10 if he was 180-182 cm.

 

[briztoon]

How early will Alex Davies go?

He won't, he'll be prelisted by Gold Coast and not actually enter the draft.

Yep, Gold Coast should be prelisting Davies and Joel Jeffrey at a minimum.

They will most likely have the ability to prelist academy and Darwin zone players next year as well, before the AFL review their concessions.

 

[RUNVS]

What about Errol Gulden?
He's an interesting prospect. Small yet very skilful and knows how to find the ball (averaged 27 across the NAB League as a bottom ager).
Also to note is he won best on ground against Sydney University in the Sydney Mens Premier Division Grand Final for UNSW playing alongside multiple former AFL players.

Some phantoms have him ranked in the first round whilst some have him ranked around the 30s. It's intriguing to see such a fluctuation between these rankings because usually they stay pretty close.

Personally I think he is a top 20-25 pick, top 10 if he was 180-182 cm.

I suspect you are right as I think the massive disparity between where people rate Gulden in the 2020 draft is down to his height. Skill wise he could be top 10, but his height is a problem, and will almost certainly push him back in how clubs rate him. If he was 185cm he would be a lock for a top 10 selection.

 

[Mt Isa Mustang]

Yep, Gold Coast should be prelisting Davies and Joel Jeffrey at a minimum.

They will most likely have the ability to prelist academy and Darwin zone players next year as well, before the AFL review their concessions.

Listening to Craig Cameron on the podcast with Cal Twomey he seemed to really want to get Jeffries into GC camp ASAP, I got the feeling it was because they weren't 100% sure Jeffries was sold on coming to the suns.

 

[andleanback]

Listening to Craig Cameron on the podcast with Cal Twomey he seemed to really want to get Jeffries into GC camp ASAP, I got the feeling it was because they weren't 100% sure Jeffries was sold on coming to the suns.

Or maybe they don’t think he’s getting the adequate development where he’s currently living.

 

[Mt Isa Mustang]

Or maybe they don’t think he’s getting the adequate development where he currently living.

No one is really getting positive Footballing development at the moment. But some home / social environments may be more conducive to positive outcomes than others.

 

[Davo-27]

Gold Coast -

Alex Davies is an exciting tall inside mid prospect, he should be around the 10-30 range, but is likely to be pre-list

Brodie Lake is an energetic mid, with good work rate and has been playing in the WAFL system as a junior and showed some talent in the futures game last year

Joel Jeffery is a good half back option, played well for NT in the northern academy, just needs to hit targets more regularly as he can win his own ball off of half back

Brisbane -

Blake Coleman is a good small forward who kicked some lovely goals in the northern academy and I expect him to join his brother at the lions

Saxon Crozier is a smooth moving mid who also looked good in the futures game, he is a chance to be picked up by the lions

Carter Michael is an energetic mid/flanker who was very active in the futures game, another possible pick up for the lions

GWS -

Josh Green is the only GWS prospect I have seen to impress me, brother of Tom, but plays mostly as a tall defender, I think he could be a good option for GWS

Sydney -

Braeden Campbell is a beautiful user of the footy, his left foot kicking is good, he plays mostly as an outside mid and flanker with good athletic traits and goal kicking ability

Errol Gulden is high production in and under mid who can play really well as a general forward as we saw in the u18 carnival, where he linked with Rosas and Ace to give the Allies some punch up forward, his height is obviously an issue.

For me they are the standouts this year from the northern academies, I also want to mention Kobe Tozer who has been injured for a long time and is a 19 year old in the Brisbane lions system who is also a chance if he comes back from injury and starts playing well.

 

[GC2015]

Gold Coast -

Alex Davies is an exciting tall inside mid prospect, he should be around the 10-30 range, but is likely to be pre-list

Brodie Lake is an energetic mid, with good work rate and has been playing in the WAFL system as a junior and showed some talent in the futures game last year

Joel Jeffery is a good half back option, played well for NT in the northern academy, just needs to hit targets more regularly as he can win his own ball off of half back

Do you think we (the Suns) will pre-list Brodie Lake as well? I know our list manager has already said we intend to pre-list Davies and Jeffery.

 

[Davo-27]

Do you think we (the Suns) will pre-list Brodie Lake as well? I know our list manager has already said we intend to pre-list Davies and Jeffery.

i have no idea how clubs rate these players, these calls are just from my PoV.

 

[GWS Goose]

There seems to be a wide array of opinion on Josh Green. Ive heard him described as a handy acquisition, barely draftable and only talked about due to his family.
Those with a good handle on him, how do you see him. I imagine he lands on our list, possibly as a rookie.

 

[RUNVS]

Anyone know if Gulden has grown 15cm in the last month?

 

[Giant Strides]

Sure, and he's also put on 50 kg.