While the AFL season is in full swing, the nation’s top Under 18 players are about to officially begin their draft campaigns.
Victoria’s Coates Talent League and the SANFL Under 18s begin on Saturday before the WAFL colts commence on March 30.
Foxfooty.com.au assesses the top prospects to track this year in AFL Draft Watch!
Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
TRADE WATCH: WHY RIVALS EXPECT BUSY TIGERS
The Tigers loom as one of this year’s big list management stories.
Rival clubs spoken to by foxfooty.com.au this week expect Richmond to attack this year’s draft hard, considering the make-up of its list and recent draft history.
The Tigers have only had one top-15 pick in the past eight drafts: Josh Gibcus (Pick 9, 2021), who’s out for the rest of the season due to an ACL rupture. That’s because the Tigers were firstly in the midst of a premiership dynasty then, essentially, traded out of two drafts to land Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper from the Giants. So they need more top-end talent.
Prestia injury blow worse than expected | 00:24
The Tigers, as it stands, have their natural first, second and third-rounders, as well as both of Fremantle’s second and third-round selections and three fourth-round picks.
It means they have options to either replenish the list with young talent, or trade those picks to point-needy sides.
And recruiters wouldn’t be surprised if the Tigers packaged up some of those second to fourth-round selections in an attempt to acquire earlier picks.
Then there’s also the possible compensation should players like Liam Baker (trade) or Jack Graham (free agent) look for another home.
WA product Baker has interest from both West Coast and Fremantle. While the Eagles, like Richmond, are expected to attack the draft considering their list position, the Dockers are expected to be busy at the trade table considering they’re loaded with three first-rounders. They’ve also been linked to Swans key forward Logan McDonald – another WA native.
Reid to delay re-signing with Eagles? | 01:46
Carlton, which holds its natural first-rounder, could also look to trade down the order considering it has two father-son products in Ben and Lucas Camporeale, but recruiters at this stage believe the twins aren’t at the pointy end of the draft calculations – at this stage. Brisbane will likely also need points for their father-son and academy prospects but, like the Blues, are also expected to be at the top-end of the ladder this year.
But as one recruiter told foxfooty.com.au this week, every club will be extra wary of its list position in the coming years, considering the concessions expected to be given to the Tasmania Devils ahead of their entry into the AFL competition later this decade.
FATHER-SON AND ACADEMY GUNS TO WATCH
It was the Gold Coast Suns last year who wheeled and dealt their way through the trade period to ensure they could match bids on four Academy prospects in this year’s draft – a scenario that brought the AFL’s points system into sharp focus.
This year, it’s local rival Brisbane’s turn to prepare for an early bid onslaught, with up to three players tied to the Lions in the first-round mix.
Two years after the Lions took father-son gun Will Ashcroft with Pick 2, younger brother Levi Ashcroft looms as an early 2024 selection. Regarded just as highly as what his brother was at the same age, Ashcroft is a natural ball-winner, personified by his game-high 32 disposals for Vic Metro against South Australia as a bottom-ager at last year’s national championships. He stands out on the field with his workrate, cleanliness, consistency, inside-outside balance and class.
The Lions also have two promising Academy prospects in hard-running 185cm on-baller Sam Marshall and 201cm ruck Tom Gillett. Marshall, who relocated from the Sunshine Coast to Victoria in 2022, racked up big numbers for the Lions’ academy team as a bottom-ager last season, thanks to his incredible workrate. Recruiters are also excited about Gillett – a ruck who covers the ground well for his size and can play either back or forward.
The Suns, though, do have a first-round Academy prospect in Leonardo Lombard, who had a whirlwind 2023 campaign. Not only did Lombard play for the Allies in the Under 18 champs then grace the MCG for the Under 17s AFL Grand Final curtain-raiser match, he played in the Suns’ inaugural VFL premiership side as a 16-year-old. Lombard is lively around the goals, but can also push up the field to have an impact around the ball.
The other northern academy prospect to track is Joel Cochran – an athletic and versatile 195cm utility who’s tied to the Swans.
As aforementioned, the Blues have two father-son prospects to consider in twins Ben Camporeale and Lucas Camporeale – the sons of premiership player and All-Australian Scott Camporeale. Ben was best afield in 2023 AFL Futures game – which was played on the MCG as a curtain-raiser to the Grand Final – with 30 disposals, eight marks and eight rebound 50s, while brother Lucas had 19 touches in the same game.
Recruiters believe Ben would be ahead of Lucas on most draft boards at the moment – especially after the former’s strong 17th year – but that both players loom as middle to later national draft selections. Of course, there’s a lot of games to be played between now and this year’s draft.
The Crows are also keeping close tabs on Tyler Welsh – the son of four-time Adelaide leading goalkicker Scott Welsh. The latter also played for North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, Tyler is only father-son eligible to the Crows as that was the only club his dad played over 100 games for. Adelaide is well placed to match an early bid for Welsh – it holds its own first, second, third and fourth-rounders this year, as well as Melbourne’s second-rounder – but recruiters find it hard to put a draft range on him at this stage.
A 190cm forward, Welsh has terrific hands and goalkicking ability – highlighted by his seven goals from two Under 18s games for South Australia last year.
Port Adelaide has four possible father-son prospects this year: Rome Burgoyne (son of Peter), Louie Montgomery (son of Brett), Oliver Francou (son of Josh Francou) and Ky Burgoyne (son of Shaun Burgoyne, so also tied to Hawthorn). Of the quartet, the hard-working Montgomery is arguably the most likely to land at Port at season’s end, but Rome Burgoyne is seen by most recruiters as the most talented prospect of the crop – and could usurp Montgomery on draft boards by season’s end.
Alice Springs product – and Melbourne NGA prospect – Riley Mentha has clubs excited. A speedy 179cm forward, Mentha applies great defensive pressure and knows where the goals are.
Essendon has links to NGA prospect Isaac Kako – a dynamic 175cm forward who kicked two goals for Team Selwood in the Under 17s futures game – while 190cm defender Lennox Hoffman is tied to the Saints via their NGA.
And after missing out on Lance Collard last year, the Eagles will be hopeful they can retain NGA member Malakai Champion – an explosive and exciting 170cm forward. After making the 2022 Under 16 All-Australian team, Champion kicked 25 goals from 17 WAFL colts games Subiaco. Clearly he has the best name in this draft class.
TOP OF THE OPEN CLASS
The top-end of last year’s draft class predominantly featured players ‘outside the centre square’, with only 11 Victorians in the top 25.
This year is a different story: A midfield-heavy crop – and most of them are from Victoria.
Finn O’Sullivan is the early Pick 1 favourite. The Oakleigh Chargers star – he’s from Koroit but is boarding at Xavier College – is an explosive, ball-winning 182cm midfielder. O’Sullivan made the Under 18 All-Australian team last year, booting 2.1 and averaging 17 disposals, eight contested possessions and four inside 50s from three games. That came after he won the 2022 Kevin Sheehan Medal as the Division 1 best and fairest player at the Under 16 national championships.
Fellow Chargers Jagga Smith and Tom Gross are also expected to be near the top of the draft pool this year. Smith (181cm) has caught the eye as a midfielder over recent years, but is expected to start the Coates Talent League campaign across half-forward. He could be rotating with Gross, whose power and strong overhead marking ability means he can impact games both close to goal and at stoppages.
Then there’s the two Eastern Ranges on-ballers to watch out for: Josh Smillie and Christian Moraes. A great big-bodied midfield size at 194cm, Smillie starred for Vic Metro in two national Under 18s games last season, averaging 21 disposals nine contested possessions and seven inside 50s. Moraes (183cm) wowed on-lookers during his bottom-age year at Coates Talent League level, averaging 26.4 disposals and 5.4 inside 50s from 16 games for the Ranges.
GWV Rebels’ Sam Lalor – a tough, clean midfielder who played as a bottom-ager for Vic Country last year – is another in the early top-10 mix. Although the start of his 2023 campaign has been delayed by injury, with Lalor expected to be sidelined for another four to six weeks. Lalor is one of three Rebels stars unavailable for selection early due to injury, with key forward Jonty Faull and ruck Flynn Perry also sidelined.
The only open-draft non-Victorian at the pointy end at this stage is South Adelaide’s Sid Draper, who has already proven himself at national Under 18 level. Draper last year played with maturity beyond his years as a 16-year-old – he turned 17 after SA’s campaign had finished – taking out his state’s MVP award as he averaged 25 disposals, 12 contested possessions, seven inside 50s and four clearances across four games. Draper, the brother of ex-Collingwood player Arlo Draper, is a powerful yet speedy 180cm midfielder-forward with a terrific workrate.
Here are some other draft prospects to keep an eye on this season …
Luke Trainor: An emerging Sandringham Dragons defender who’s grown in size – recruiters reckon he’s around 195cm – and stature in recent times. He’s been likened to Essendon’s Jordan Ridley.
Harry O’Farrell: A 196cm key defender from the Calder Cannons, O’Farrell looms as a first-round pick, especially for a club in need of a tall back in a midfield class dominated by midfielders. He played one game for Vic Metro’s Under 18 side last year.
Bo Allan: One of just two WA products to be in the AFL National Academy for 2024, Allan is a 189cm defender from Peel Thunder who played all four Under 18s carnival games for his state last year. Allan is a great athlete with good footy nous.
Xavier Lindsay: A 183cm left-footed utility from the Gippsland Power who can play in any third of the ground, but recruiters like him as a defender due to his decision-making and kicking ability.
Murphy Reid: A 180cm Sandringham Dragons midfielder/forward who impressed at Under 18s level for Vic Metro last year, eight contested possessions and five clearances against WA.
Zak Johnson: A 185cm midfielder with great leadership skills who also has the ability to play in either arc if needed. We also know clubs love a draftee with a December birthday – and Johnson doesn’t turn 18 until Christmas Eve this year.
Harvey Langford: A 190cm goalkicking midfielder from the Dandenong Stingrays who can stuff the stats sheet. Has great composure at stoppages and is dangerous forward of centre.
Kade Herbert: A classy 183cm wingman from Woodville-West Torrens who had a cracking bottom-age season that included making his league debut for the Eagles.
Taj Hotton: A 182cm Sandringham Dragons player who can be dangerous and creative forward of centre. The son of ex-Collingwood and Carlton player Trent Hotton and brother of 2022 Saints draftee Olli Hotton.
Noah Mraz: A 198cm key defensive prospect from the Dandenong Stingrays who trained at Collingwood during the off-season. He’s strong both in the air and at ground level.
Tassie community embraces new Devils | 03:01
Lucca Grego: The Western Jets’ top prospect this year who got a taste of Vic Metro life with one game as a bottom-ager in last year’s Under 18 champs. A 183cm utility, Grego did have dreams to be a rugby league player – he was part of the Victorian Under 12 state team – before being selected in the Under 16 Vic Metro footy squad for 2022.
Jack Whitlock: A 200cm key forward from Shepparton. He’s arguably Murray Bushrangers’ top prospect this year.
Jobe Shanahan: A 194cm player from Moama who’s strong in the air. Has shown off his goalkicking traits in recent years, but has also been swung into defence with great effect.
Jesse Dattoli: Ample intrigue around this 179cm Northern Knights product after his strong pre-season. He’s uber-talented and has match-winner traits written all over him.
Nash King: A 181cm Calder Cannons inside midfielder who’s had rotten luck with injury over the years.
Source Agencies
