This is NOT a mock draft. However, including academy picks, our first two picks are around #16 and #47.
Brett's Final 2015 AFL Draft Big BoardBrett Anderson
SEN
16 Nov 2015, 01:46PMFinally. We can stop ranking players, and clubs can start drafting them. So here are my final rankings of prospects for the 2015 NAB AFL Draft to be held in Adelaide on Tuesday November 24.
The completion of the 2015 season and the hectic trade period that we covered on TradeSENtral has allowed me some time to watch hours and hours of vision of games that I hadn’t previously seen – many from interstate, or replays of games that I watched live from the grandstand.
Again, these rankings are NOT a prediction about draft order (my final mock draft will be revealed the week of the draft and we are expecting approximately 55-60 live picks), only how I rank the players based on my own evaluations over the course of the past 12 months.
1. Jacob WEITERING (previous rank: 1)23/11/97 | 195cm | 94kg | Defender | Dandenong Stingrays
The status quo remains at the top as it has through our past two updates. It would take a major shock for Weltering not to be the first name called on draft night. He has earned top billing with his performances in defence for Dandenong, Vic Country and the AFL Academy. Cool, composed, smart and clean.
2. Matthew KENNEDY (8 )6/4/97 | 187cm | 88kg | Midfielder | Collingullie-Glenfield Park
The more vision you watch of him (at all levels – including for Collingullie), the more you like him. The way he moves through traffic, his ability to take contested marks or shrug off tacklers – he nearly has it all. He could wind up being the best player from this draft in five years time.
* GWS Giants academy
3. Josh SCHACHE (2)21/8/97 | 199cm | 101kg | Forward | Murray Bushrangers
Smart, strong marking and more importantly, straight kicking tall forwards don’t grow on trees and Brisbane will get a player that they can build their forward-line around for the next decade. His ruckwork is a bit underrated too – he has soft hands.
4. Callum MILLS (3)7/4/97 | 188cm | 80kg | Midfielder | North Shore
Only three outings for the year (averaged 17 possessions in the NEAFL) but its hard to forget what he did as a 17-year old in 2014. It would have been nice for everyone to see him on Grand Final day but a hamstring niggle ruled him out.
* Sydney Swans academy
5. Charlie CURNOW (7)3/2/97 | 191cm | 95kg | Utility | Geelong Falcons
The 'could be anything' of this draft. Can play as a strong marking key forward – he’s the same height as Jack Darling – or as a big midfielder. When in midfield, he has similar attributes and athleticism as Jarryd Roughead when the Hawks throw him into the middle. Most clubs spoken to feel he is a no-brainer at pick three, but who knows the Dees will do!
6. Jacob HOPPER (4)6/2/97 | 185cm | 83kg | Midfielder | North Ballarat Rebels
Hopper couldn’t have done much more this year for the Rebels and Rams – he wins clearances, contested possessions and can hurt on the outside as well. He will be able to play from day one at GWS next year as a midfielder who can rest forward and kick goals.
* GWS Giants academy
7. Wayne MILERA (14)14/9/97 | 183cm | 78kg | Forward | Central District
Classy, smooth and smart, Milera has overtaken Aaron Francis as the top South Australian prospect on my board. His form for Central Districts in the SANFL was eye-catching – especially his 5-goal, 24 possession outing against Glenelg. His competitiveness is a bit underrated too.
8. Jade GRESHAM (12)24/8/97 | 178cm | 77kg | Midfielder | Northern Knights
A veteran recruiter once provided me with some very good advise, “when in doubt, back your first impression”. My first impression of Gresham was that he could be the best sub-180cm to come through the draft in many years. I still hold that thought – he just makes things happen when he is around the ball.
9. Darcy PARISH (5)25/7/97 | 180cm | 74kg | Midfielder | Geelong Falcons
Some will be surprised by Parish falling behind Gresham but I’m not the only one to have them ranked this way. Parish is a classy ball user who has plenty of grunt. If there is a knock, I would like him to tackle a bit more but his record over the past two years is extremely impressive.
10. Aaron FRANCIS (6)10/8/97 | 191cm | 92kg | Utility | West Adelaide
I see Francis as a third-tall defender at the next level and although he has shown glimpses in midfield and attack, there isn’t enough exposed form in either role (against decent opposition) to be able to be confident that he could play those roles full time at AFL level. He'll be a star in defence though.
11. Clayton OLIVER (25)22/7/97 | 187cm | 86kg | Midfielder | Murray Bushrangers
A look back at his vision from early in the season should glimpses of what we began to see on a regular basis in the back half of the season. He sees things unfold quicker than most others and uses the ball very well by hand and foot. He is also very strong overhead and shows great courage when backing back with the flight of the ball.
12. Eric HIPWOOD (9)13/9/97 | 202cm | 84kg | Utility | Aspley
Hipwood continues to grow – he now stands at 202cm and has the ability to play at both ends of the ground. With his height, he looms as an intriguing ruck prospect on a part-time basis for the Lions. Some of his form at NEAFL level this year, against strong opponents was very good.
* Brisbane Lions academy
13. Rhys MATHIESON (10)10/1/97 | 186cm | 82kg | Midfielder | Geelong Falcons
If you want a player to win a clearance for your life, Mathieson is as good of an option as anyone currently in the AFL. Yes, his running needs to improve and he still needs to clean up his kicking but at times we need to look at what a player can do, rather than what they can’t. He was the best player in the country at under 16 level and he hasn't exactly fallen off a cliff.
14. Sam WEIDEMAN (13)26/6/97 | 196cm | 94kg | Forward | Eastern Ranges
Courageous and strong in the air and could well wind up in the top 5 or 6 on draft night. He has a few more strings to his bow than just being a ‘mark and kick’ key forward as he has played back at times in recent years. From all reports his medical should come back fine despite some concerns.
15. Harry McKAY (11)24/12/97 | 200cm | 95kg | Forward | Gippsland Power
Had and twin Ben been born a week later, they would be in the early conversation to be top three picks next year. His athleticism allows him to get up the ground as a roaming tall forward and in many ways he is still extremely raw.
16. Riley BONNER (16)7/3/97 | 190cm | 85kg | Defender | West Adelaide
I can’t remember too many left footers who are as adept on their right side as the long-striding South Australian. At the moment he is a Grant Birchall-type with his run and ball use from defence, but I can see him swinging into midfield in years to come.
17. Ben McKAY (15)24/12/97 | 199cm | 95kg | Utility | Gippsland Power
If twin Harry is raw, Ben is rawer than raw! All we have is glimpses from the strong bodied key position prospect but they are more than encouraging. He probably played his best footy in defence but also shone in attack in Round 18. Some clubs have him rated higher on their boards than twin Harry.
18. Ryan BURTON (17)31/1/97 | 191cm | 88kg | Forward | North Adelaide
Its hard to line up a player who hasn’t played in over a year – at least Nakia Cockatoo got on the park at the back end of 2014. Some clubs are comfortable with the medical prognosis on his knee/leg, others have major concerns. If it holds up, he is a top five talent but he sits at 17 purely due to the uncertainty.
19. Ryan CLARKE (-)17/6/97 | 185cm | 84kg | Midfielder | Eastern Ranges
Like I said earlier – first impressions. My first impression was on a chilly Friday night early in the season at Bayswater when his first 15 minutes were as electric as you are likely to see. No one in this draft gut-runs as well as he does.
20. Ben KEAYS (22)23/2/97 | 185cm | 80kg | Midfielder | Redlands
Keays has stepped up to the plate at every level he has played at over the past few years and hasn't put a foot wrong. He isn't the most fashionable player, but he is damn effective and he'll be a plug and play midfielder for Brisbane who can also rest at half forward.
* Brisbane Lions academy
21. Kieran COLLINS (21)14/12/97 | 194cm | 100kg | Defender | Dandenong Stingrays
I can see Collins being drafted higher than this ranking and would have no problems if Melbourne for instance picked him with their second 1st round selection. Personally I would have loved him to play a few games in the VFL for Frankston in the back half of the year to see how his game translates against more physically mature bodies, but his improvement this year has been vast.
22. Mitchell HIBBERD (23)23/9/96 | 190cm | 86kg | Midfielder | Clarence
In many ways Hibberd has the prototypical size and shape for the modern day midfielder. His skill-set also translates well considering his is a good kick and can take a strong mark overhead. Whichever club picks him is also getting a very impressive young man.
23. Callum AH CHEE (20)9/10/97 | 181cm | 72kg | Forward | South Fremantle
Probably projects best to being a small forward at this stage but his dazzling speed and athletic ability should lend itself in time to being a burst player through midfield. Only slight, but he is smart and makes things happen with ball in hand.
24. Tom COLE (-)28/8/97 | 186cm | 80kg | Midfielder | Bendigo Pioneers
Flies under the radar a touch possibly as he is a jack of all trades and master of none. If you go back and watch his performances in the VFL for Geelong you will see a player who just gets the job done and doesn't appear overawed by whats going on around him.
25. Darcy TUCKER (18 )23/1/97 | 183cm | 80kg | Midfielder | North Ballarat Rebels
As a hard running small defender, Tucker is a very good prospect but what saw him drop slightly down the rankings throughout the year were question marks over whether he can develop into a midfielder at the next level. If professionalism and commitment are any guide, he'll find a way to get there.
26. Harley BALIC (19)5/1/97 | 187cm | 82kg | Midfielder | Sandringham Dragons
Balic is an intriuging prospect. His kicking can be iffy at times and he hasn't shown the ability to be an out and out midfielder just yet – he is more of a half forward – but his athletic traits can't be overlooked. He can glide through traffic as well as anyone in the draft.
27. Brayden FIORINI (-)22/8/97 | 187cm | 76kg | Midfielder | Northern Knights
Not many players found the ball as often as Fiorini this year. Averaging 32 possessions a game in the TAC Cup and going at 76% effectiveness are eye-catching numbers, but so is his height and overall physical makeup. I wouldn't be shocked if he went a lot earlier than many expect.
28. Aidyn JOHNSON (24)31/10/97 | 184cm | 75kg | Utility | Bendigo Pioneers
Johnson possesses a few traits that few in this draft class have – a knee-buckling side-step, dogged competitiveness and pure athleticism. But he has has his shortfalls – such as his kicking and the fact that he missed nearly the entire season with a niggling quad injury. He is a hard one to get a read on but his upside is enormous.
29. Mason REDMAN (-)26/8/97 | 186cm | 77kg | Utility | Glenelg
Has played most of his junior footy in defence but showed that he can also play across half forward in the championships and could even progress to being a midfielder at the next level. Plays with good competitiveness, kicks and marks it well and is a nice size.
30. David CUNINGHAM (-)30/3/97 | 184cm | 81kg | Midfielder | Oakleigh Chargers
There are times when Cunningham looks like a top-15 talent, and others that have you questioning just here he sits. He has great speed and burst away from congestion but at times can be haphazard with his kicks from clearances. He didn't have a breakout game with 30+ touches but his game against Gippsland in Round 12 highlighted what he can do.
31. Brandon WHITE (-)13/1/97 | 189cm | 80kg | Defender | Dandenong Stingrays
Beautiful athletic profile for a running defender and kicks the ball with depth. A likely type.
32. Daniel RIOLI (-)16/4/97 | 180cm | 69kg | Forward | St Mary’s
Combination of speed and endurance make him a Bradley Hill-type prospect. Flew up boards late.
33. Ben CROCKER (-)19/2/97 | 185cm | 84kg | Forward | Oakleigh Chargers
Better suited to the front half rather than midfield and can out-work a defender on the lead.
34. Jesse GLASS-McCASKER (-)3/1/97 | 196cm | 92kg | Defender | Swan Districts
Good size and athleticism for a developing key defender. Tested well for agility at the combine.
35. Josh DUNKLEY (-)9/1/97 | 189cm | 85kg | Midfielder | Gippsland Power
Needs to win more ball for my liking and kicking is a big question mark. Hampered a bit by a back issue though.
36. Matthew ALLEN (-)18/10/97 | 193cm | 92kg | Utility | Glenelg
Played mostly as a key leading forward, but has a nice step that may see him develop into a tall midfielder.
37. Bailey RICE (-)10/2/97 | 184cm | 84kg | Defender | Dandenong Stingrays
One of the few players in the draft who you can say is a generally a good kick of the ball.
* St Kilda father-son
38. Jock CORNELL (-)2/4/97 | 186cm | 84kg | Forward | Mangoplah CUE
Not quick but super overheard and doesn't need many touches to hurt the opposition – ala Luke Breust.
* GWS Giants academy
39. Blake HARDWICK (-)5/2/97 | 181cm | 79kg | Forward | Eastern Ranges
Just knows how to kick goals in big bunches – that's a rare trait at any level. Very good one-on-one.
40. Tom PHILLIPS (-)7/5/96 | 186cm | 75kg | Midfielder | Oakleigh Chargers
Found plenty of the ball at all levels this year – including match in the VFL. Has a decent left boot too.
41. Luke PARTINGTON (-)5/3/97 | 181cm | 78kg | Midfielder | Norwood
Good ball winner at all levels and a professional kid. Kicking at times can be rushed though.
42. Harrison HIMMELBERG (-)8/5/96 | 194cm | 87kg | Forward | Eastlake
Continues to grow and is very raw in many ways. A hard worker but needs to clean up his goalkicking.
* GWS Giants academy
43. Alex MORGAN (-)28/1/96 | 181cm | 79kg | Midfielder | Oakleigh Chargers
Didn't play last year so a lack of commitment is a concern for a few. But has speed and a few tricks.
44. Corey WAGNER (-)23/3/97 | 180cm | 74kg | Midfielder | Sandgate
Not overly big but a smooth mover in midfield and a very good decision maker with ball in hand.
* Brisbane Lions academy
45. Reuben WILLIAM (-)7/10/97 | 182cm | 79kg | Defender | Wilston Grange
The best of the small defenders. Competitive, smart and has big scope for improvement. Will Lions' take him?
* Brisbane Lions academy
46. James PARSONS (-)12/4/97 | 189cm | 77kg | Midfielder | Eastern Ranges
Has all the physical traits and if he discovers more consistent competitiveness, could be a steal late on.
47. Will SNELLING (-)6/8/97 | 173cm | 78kg | Midfielder | West Adelaide
Only tiny but plays with a huge motor and heart. Numbers at SANFL very impressive.
48. Callum MOORE (-)3/9/96 | 193cm | 87kg | Defender | Calder Cannons
As athletic as anyone in the draft. Defence is where he should settle but kicking needs a lot of work.
49. Declan MOUNTFORD (-)13/2/97 | 182cm | 72kg | Midfielder | Claremont
Strong end to season in Claremont reserves and Colts. Hard runner and good ball winner.
50. Yestin EADES (-)10/2/97 | 184cm | 82kg | Utility | North Ballarat Rebels
Has had to do it tough moving from WA but has talent to burn. His VFL game for the Roosters was a standout.
NOTE: No mature-age VFL (Mitch Brown), SANFL (Tom Keough) or WAFL (Sam Menegola, Marcus Adams) players have been included in these rankings as they are solely for fresh draft talent.http://www.sen.com.au/news/11-15/bretts-final-2015-afl-draft-big-board#aH28F2gHeIuparUZ.97
