Top Trio: Footyology’s Jesse Robertson has Sam Walsh (left), Jack Lukosius (centre) and Izak Rankine (right) the likely first three picks on Thursday night.
We’ve arrived on the doorstep of what has been dubbed the second coming of the famous 2001 ‘Superdraft’, as club recruiters have eagerly scouted the nation for the cream of a reportedly elite crop.
Among the prize finds through 2018’s junior competitions are a more varied mix of players near the top of the pile than was discovered 12 months prior.
Where the draft class of 2017 possessed top-end “engine room” inside midfielders en masse, many of the top picks this year are expected to involve smaller, pacy wingers and dynamic half-forwards in greater numbers.
That said, however, Carlton’s coveted first pick is widely tipped to be utilised on another cog in an inexperienced but developing young core midfield group.
So without further ado, and because it’s difficult not to get swept up in the numbers and possibilities this time of year, Footyology predicts the top 20 selections at Marvel Stadium this Thursday and Friday.
1. CARLTON: SAM WALSH (184cm 77kg, Geelong Falcons/Vic Country)
Shouldn’t be too big a surprise to start the list, as the highly renowned medium-sized midfielder was a dominant force all season long, scooping the Vic Country MVP at the under-18 carnival, best and fairest at the Falcons and being named captain of the All-Australian side at the end of the national championship. By far the most highly regarded Victorian prospect, Walsh is most likely to settle into the Blues’ young engine room.
2. GOLD COAST: IZAK RANKINE (179cm 79kg, West Adelaide/South Australia)
Rankine has electrified the Under-18 championships both as a bottom-ager and then this year as an eligible draftee, being named All-Australian in consecutive campaigns. Demonstrated supreme movement skills at the Combine winning the agility test and finishing third in the 20m sprint (2.93sec) and brings three seasons of SANFL experience to the table. Despite lacking endurance, Rankine should bring plenty of goals and excitement to the rebuilding Suns, who also have the next pick.
3. GOLD COAST: JACK LUKOSIUS (195cm 83kg, Woodville-West Torrens/South Australia)
The burgeoning key forward registered great athletic results in the Combine, nailing a 2.98sec 20m sprint time and a 21.2 in the Yo-Yo test. Previously billed as a top selection, Gold Coast can afford to take him at No.3 with Carlton’s Walsh priority all but assured, and Lukosius’ ability to push up the ground should present him as a mobile target up forward, filling the void left by departed co-captain Tom Lynch.
4. ST KILDA: MAX KING (204cm, 90kg, Sandringham Dragons)
Despite rupturing his ACL following a single game in the TAC Cup with Sandringham, King’s eight goals on that occasion would have raised the eyebrows of recruiters, who also no doubt took note of his AFL Academy testing results, including a 91cm vertical jump. As he worked on his frame, he underwent rehab with the Saints and they may well find it too difficult to pass up a player of his calibre.
5. PORT ADELAIDE: CONNOR ROZEE (185cm, 74cm, North Adelaide/South Australia)
The Adelaide native is among the most versatile of talents available and the Power will be keen to pick up the homegrown cruiserweight. Residing primarily as a half-forward flanker, Rozee has pushed into midfield and during the latter stages of North Adelaide’s SANFL campaign dropped into a half-back role, followed by impressive showings at the Combine in both agility (eighth) and the 20m sprint (second). An overhead marking ability belying his size complete the package for this likely early pick.
6. GOLD COAST: BAILEY SMITH (185cm, 83kg, Sandringham Dragons)
This could be considered a toss-up. Smith comes with a high reputation after taking Vic Metro’s MVP award at the Under-18 Championships whilst captaining Sandringham Dragons, although he missed the Draft Combine with an achilles injury. Smith’s strongest attributes are his endurance and leadership, though for the latter the Suns may also wish to consider fellow TAC captain Xavier O’Halloran (Western Jets) or SA captain Luke Valente for a similar influence through the corridor.
7. WESTERN BULLDOGS: BEN KING (202cm, 85kg, Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
Both King twins are touted as top-10 prospects individually, and Ben comes as more of an effective swingman option than his brother. An Under-18 All-Australian, he began the year as a key defender before being switched to produce consecutive bags of goals at the carnival. May fit into the Bulldogs’ spine at centre half-back in front of fellow youngster Aaron Naughton and complementing the preferred forward duo of Josh Schache and Tom Boyd.
8. ADELAIDE – IAN HILL (175cm, 65kg, Perth/Western Australia)
A Crows forward line featuring the tall targets of Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch, as well as an aging Eddie Betts, will need some spark around goals, and the diminutive Western Australian brings all that and more. Though he didn’t test at the Combine, he recorded a blistering 2.86 20m sprint time during AFL Academy testing, and much is expected in the way of highlights from this prospect.
9. SYDNEY: NICK BLAKEY (195cm, 80kg, Sydney Academy/Allies)
This pick belongs to GWS, but it’s highly unlikely this likely tall will slip much further down the order, and the Swans should comfortably match any Academy bid coming their way. Blakey can lead a forward line but also makes his worth on the inside of the midfield, a Charlie Curnow type. There’s also no doubt Blakey’s father John, an assistant coach at Sydney, will be keen to make the move happen before much time has passed.
10. GWS: JORDAN CLARK (185cm, 81kg, Claremont/Western Australia)
Clark is the type of medium defender that the Giants will want to invest in to cover the impending loss of backline general Heath Shaw. A medium-sized general defender that comes with renowned disposal efficiency levels, the former Australian junior cricket prodigy registered a top-10 finish in the two-kilometre time trial at the Combine and is well worth GWS taking an early punt. Otherwise, Gippsland Power skipper Xavier Duursma can provide similar cover.
11. PORT ADELAIDE: JACKSON HATELY (190cm, 81kg, Central District/South Australia)
Hately’s experienced gained in the SANFL this year should help his case, as the SA midfielder accrued 18 touches per game for Central District. A taller inside midfield talent, Hately won Under-18 All-Australian honours for South Australia before registering an impressive 84cm vertical jump, and should acquit himself well as the Power’s midfield undergoes something of a rebuild.
12. NORTH MELBOURNE: TARRYN THOMAS (189cm, 82kg, North Launceston/North Melbourne NGA)
An assumption here that GWS will launch a bid with their Pick 12 for the Tasmanian medium forward, who linked up with North Melbourne’s VFL side late in the year following a display at the AFL Academy series that impressed recruiters. Thomas overcame a thumb injury that impacted on his Allies duty at the national carnival to position himself as an attacker who can drop to wide positions at either end to believably be taken by a matched bid from his Next Generation host club.
13. GWS: JYE CALDWELL (184cm, 82kg, Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country)
Caldwell has attracted a range of potential suitors following the tough Bendigo youngster’s past two years of competition. 2018 didn’t go as planned in the wake of myriad injuries, most notably to his hamstring, which curtailed his campaign with Vic Country, but prior to those setbacks, his competitive spirit and fearless contested efforts would have tempted the Giants to snap him up before clubs such as Adelaide are given two chances shortly after them.
14. GEELONG: ZAK BUTTERS (181cm, 71kg, Western Jets/Vic Metro)
As seen in Footyology’s chat with Butters in the lead-up to the draft, confidence abounds in the efficient ball-getter, and the creativity he generates from midfield should serve him nicely, adding to the flair of the Cats’ current stars. Though his season ended early thanks to an aggravation of a niggling shoulder problem he’d carried through the year, recruiters had seen enough of the Western Jets standout to rate him as a classy prospect who gets more out of fewer touches.
15. ADELAIDE: CHAYCE JONES (180cm, 77kg, Launceston/Allies)
As a bid on Collingwood NGA prospect Isaac Quaynor would almost certainly be matched by his hosts, the Crows may instead want to consider the agile Tasmanian midfielder, who has demonstrated worth as a running defender. Some may be surprised if Jones should slip all the way to 15 given his strong series of performances for the Allies at the carnival (averaged nearly seven tackles per game), but after rehabbing a major lower leg issue, the utility continued to impress in 2018.
16. FREMANTLE: RILEY COLLIER-DAWKINS (190cm, 91kg, Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
The game-breaking influence of Lachie Neale will be sorely missed in the Dockers’ midfield as he departs for Brisbane, but Collier-Dawkins should be considered an ideal long-term replacement as Fremantle’s young core continues its rebuild with Nat Fyfe at the helm. This ready-made inside bull can rack up contested possessions, as 50 per cent of his touches at Oakleigh displayed, but Collier-Dawkins has the pace to receive on the outside as well, evidenced by his 3.01sec 20m sprint.
17. PORT ADELAIDE: LIAM STOCKER (183cm, 83kg, Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
Stocker’s Morrish Medal triumph in 2018 as the TAC Cup’s best and fairest positions him for fairly early interest from the Power, and despite missing the entire national titles with a broken jaw, he has already demonstrated an uncanny ability to break games open from stoppages, also recording a flying 2.94sec 20m time during state testing. A good user of the ball on either foot, Stocker averaged 22 disposals per game in the TAC Cup, of which 13 were contested, and also averaged five clearances.
18. COLLINGWOOD: ISAAC QUAYNOR (180cm, 83kg, Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
If Adelaide can secure Chayce Jones with its first of two picks between 10 and 20, what’s to stop the Crows from a cheeky bid on the Collingwood NGA signee the second time around? For the Magpies, however, Quaynor should deliver them exceptional options in defence, both as a line-breaker and as a more conservative lockdown backman. Though the Pies risk losing the opportunity to bid on father-son pick Will Kelly later in the draft, Quaynor will bring exciting skills to the back half of the 2018 runner-up.
19. ADELAIDE: LUKE VALENTE (187cm, 82kg, Norwood/South Australia)
Valente brings a lot of tools to the table for a club in his home state to select. He registered excellent disposal efficiency with South Australia, which he captained to victory at the Under-18 titles, and is coveted for his ability to cleanly use either side of his body, especially in traffic. Averaging 23 possessions per game en route to being named All-Australian vice-captain, Valente would be a terrific pickup for either SA side.
20. RICHMOND: XAVIER DUURSMA (186cm, 73kg, Gippsland Power/Vic Country)
The Tigers have no real pressing issues they desperately need to address at the draft, but after losing Reece Conca in the trade period, they may seek a young medium defender in return, and Gippsland captain Duursma would be the best available option. More than able to push into the centre and with great pace off half-back, Duursma was one of the TAC Cup’s most consistent performers on his way to a preliminary final berth, and can play a number of roles.
