Top prospectsBy Jason Phelan
Wed 31 Aug, 2011VICTORIAHayden Crozier, Eastern Ranges, 24 December 1993, 184cm, 68kg
AFL recruiters are all about the 'up side' and Crozier has that in spades. He's 68kg wringing wet, but has the raw talent that tell a recruiter he could be anything once he develops physically. He took that spectacular hanger during the champs for Vic Metro and finished off the season in the best players for Eastern on three occasions.
Jonathon Patton, Eastern Ranges, 20 May 1993, 197cm, 95kg
Patton still seems to be struggling with his kicking routine after a slightly wayward championships campaign, but he booted 5.4 in the Ranges' last game of the season and is still destined for GWS. He hasn't kicked many goals since the champs, but Eastern has struggled. He still has all the hallmarks of an AFL power forward with the rare agility and ability below his knees that makes him such an exciting prospect.
Dom Tyson, Northern Knights, 8 June 1993, 186cm, 82kg
Tyson launched himself into top-5 considerations with an excellent finish to the championships. He followed that up with a brilliant turn for the Associated Grammar Schools team in the annual game against Associated Public Schools. Tyson had 33 possessions, seven clearances and kicked two goals in the representative match that helped cement his standing as an elite prospect.
Billy Longer, Northern Knights, 12 May 1993, 202cm, 95kg
The Northern Knights' skipper remained the dominant ruckman in the TAC Cup competition and will be the first ruck taken at the draft. Longer finished his Knights' career with a season high 41 hit-outs. The All Australian ruckman at the champs hit the scoreboard in all but two TAC Cup games this season and his appetite for tackling has not waned.
Liam Sumner, Sandringham Dragons, 16 August 1993, 182cm, 70kg
The elusive onballer provides plenty of x-factor in a draft pool a bit short on that quality, but he's not afraid to get his hands dirty either as evidenced by his 11 tackles in a best on ground performance for the Dragons against Eastern. Sumner's burst of speed, creativity and ability to go forward and kick a goal makes him a top prospect at this draft.
Will Hoskin-Elliott, Western Jets, 2 September 1993, 190cm, 76kg
The line-breaking winger with the thumping right-foot kick has been named the Jets' best player twice since returning from championships duties where he received All Australian honours. With the premium placed on kicking by recruiters, the damaging Hoskin-Elliott won't have to wait long to hear his name called on draft day.
Brandon Ellis, Calder Cannons, 3 August 1993, 181cm, 81kg
Ellis is an instinctive footballer who followed his All Australian championships form with a solid month for the Cannons in the TAC Cup. He reads the play so well that he's never far from the action and will be one to watch as Calder attempts to defend its TAC Cup title.
Elliott Kavanagh, Western Jets, 19 May 1993, 187cm, 78kg
Kavanagh has done enough to assure recruiters he is over the hamstring issue that robbed him of a pre-season and didn't allow him to play any football until July. The speedy onballer suffered a corked thigh early in the Jets' last game of the home and away season, but before that had shown glimpses of the sort of form that should see a club spend a first-round pick on him.
Toby Greene, Oakleigh Chargers, 15 September 1993, 180cm, 78kg
Greene has kept up his ball-winning ways since the champs. He was named All Australian and Vic Metro MVP on the back of his 24.5 touches a match average and has actually taken his game to another level. He had 31 possessions and nine clearances for APS in the rep game against AGS and averaged 32 disposals in five games for Oakleigh since the champs.
Matthew Buntine, Dandenong, 19 October 1993, 188cm, 83kg
The AIS-AFL Academy's 2011 Ben Mitchell medallist looks every bit an AFL footballer. He's over the shin splints that troubled him early in the year and his rare ability to read the play coupled with his elite core strength and poise coming out of defence should see him play AFL footy early next year.
Todd Elton, Dandenong Stingrays, 29 April 1993, 197cm, 87kg
The key forward prospect struggled through the champs with a skinny return of three goals from five games, but breathed new life into his first-round chances with a best on ground performance in the Rays' win against Bendigo in the final round of the regular season. Elton used his big frame to good effect to take nine contested marks and boot three goals. Hopefully it's the start of a big finals campaign for the big guy.
Devon Smith, Geelong Falcons, 20 May 1993, 175cm, 73kg
Smith has been good in patches for the Falcons since his eye-catching carnival, but he's still shown enough to suggest he's well worth a first-round pick. He's a lively player who works hard when he doesn't have the ball as evidenced by his 12 tackles in Geelong's huge loss to Oakleigh in the last round of the TAC Cup season.
Andrew Boseley, Geelong Falcons, 4 September 1992, 194cm, 80kg
The over-age key defender has helped his chances of going in the first round with some good performances in a Falcons' team that struggled toward the end of the home and away season. He backed up a good effort against Jonathon Patton at the champs with a best on ground performance when matched against the prospective No.1 pick in Geelong's big win in round 15.
Sam Docherty, Gippsland Power, 17 Oct 1993, 183cm, 83kg
Docherty was a late inclusion in the Vic Country team for the last two games of the championships and quickly made his mark. Playing off a half-back flank, he was adjudged best on ground in Country's win against Western Australia and he's continued to play himself into first-round considerations with Gippsland. He takes the kick-ins for the Power and his poise under pressure and precise kicking from the back half are features of his game.
Taylor Adams, Geelong Falcons, 30 September 1993, 181cm, 80kg
Like his Falcons' teammate Devon Smith, Adams has found the going a little tough at times in a team not firing on all cylinders. Despite that, he remains a top-quality draft prospect with his leadership, attack on the ball carrier and work-rate a feature.
Clay Smith, Gippsland Power, 11 May 1993, 180cm, 78kg
Smith won All Australian honours at the national carnival and has continued to perform well for the Power since. He wins his own ball and is very hard at it - he laid 14 tackles in his first game back from the champs - but showed he's capable of the spectacular as well with a big grab against Calder in the final round of the TAC Cup.
SOUTH AUSTRALIAChad Wingard, Sturt, 29 July 1993, 181cm, 73kg
Wingard's combination of courage, leadership, work-rate and elite disposal skills makes him one of the blue-chip choices at this year's draft. He's played senior footy for the Double Blues and won't last past the first four picks of the draft at this stage.
Brad McKenzie, Sturt, 29 May 1993, 188cm, 75kg
McKenzie has built on his good national championships and broke through for his League debut with Sturt recently. His pace is a bit of a question mark, but he reads the play very well. He's a superb left-foot kick and is a bona fide first-round selection.
Mitchell Grigg, Norwood, 2 January 1993, 183cm, 81kg
The powerful midfielder has impressed at reserves level for the Redlegs since winning SA's MVP award and being named All Australian at the national carnival. His raking left-foot kick and strength overhead see him sit comfortably in this elite company.
Alex Forster, Norwood, 14 July 1993, 189cm, 75kg
Having won All Australian honours at the national championships, the composed defender has broken through for his senior SANFL debut with Norwood. Strong overhead and a good user of the ball.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAStephen Coniglio, Swan Districts, 15 December 1993, 182cm, 76kg
The classy onballer has played sparingly since the championships where he won the Larke Medal as the carnival's best player, but he's already shown enough for GWS to call his name with one of its first three picks.
Myles Bolger, South Fremantle, 25 March 1993, 199cm, 80kg
The Western Australian ruckman had a solid championships campaign and has steadily improved while playing with South Fremantle. He's agile and has a big tank for someone his size, but has had his development stalled by a foot stress fracture. He appears to be well over those issues now and is one of the more intriguing prospects at this draft.
Jordan Lockyer, West Perth, 15 June 1993, 190cm, 85kg
Lockyer copped a nasty knock to the head against Vic Metro that affected his national carnival for WA, but he's broken through to play senior WAFL footy with West Perth since. He can play either end of the ground and is an excellent kick.
Tom Mitchell, Claremont, 31 May 1993, 181cm, 79kg
It looks like the Sydney Swans are going to need to spend a first-round pick to secure the son of Barry via the father-son rule and it will be a pick well spent. Tom had 45 touches for Claremont Colts in round 23 to put an exclamation point behind the glimpses of class the hard-at-it midfielder showed in a couple of games for WA at the champs.
TASMANIABrody Mihocek, Burnie, 4 Feb 1993, 191cm, 86kg
Mihocek has become a regular in the Burnie Dockers' senior team since returning from the championships where he received All Australian honours for his play both down back and in attack. In six games for the Dockers he has appeared in the best players three times including one best on ground performance.
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