The young guns pushing their case for a mid-season draft lifelineMay 8, 2019
Matt Balme
FOX SPORTSHow 18 AFL clubs will approach the mid-season draft is completely fascinating.
And with less than three weeks until the inaugural draft, clubs are working the phones and making contact with potential recruits, ahead of an AFL run medical test on May 22.
More than 300 players nominated for the draft, which will be held on the night of Monday May 27.
Will clubs go for experienced players to fill holes on their lists? Or will they look to draft an overlooked young gun who can kickstart his development in an AFL program, before a potential deal for 2020 and beyond?
Foxfooty.com.au looks at 11 youngsters who could take the fancy of the AFL clubs ahead of the mid-season draft.
JACOB ATLEY (VICTORIA)The brother of AFL-listed players Joe (Port Adelaide) and Shaun (North Melbourne) was overlooked for the draft in 2018, with the Vic Country onballer signing with Essendon’s VFL team for this season. Atley is yet to make his VFL debut, but has played two NAB League matches for the Bendigo Pioneers. Standing at 191cm, Atley has the ability to spread from the contest and accumulate the ball around the ground. He averaged 17.1 disposals and 5.6 marks in 14 appearances for the Pioneers in his draft year. Atley turns 19 in July.
KYLE DUNKLEY (VICTORIA)The brother of Western Bulldogs player Josh, was overlooked last season and returned to NAB League competition with Gippsland Power. Dunkley has had a strong overage year for the Gippsland Power, playing four matches and averaging 18.5 disposals. He spent most of 2018 at school level, but his inside work at NAB League has been impressive where he regularly is one of the Power’s biggest ball winners. The Swans had the chance to select Dunkley last year as a father-son prospect, but elected to overlook him.
ANGUS HANRAHAN (VICTORIA)The brother of Hawthorn listed player Ollie, is a player with plenty of upside for a club looking to fast-track the development of a young gun. Hanrahan played for Vic Metro in 2018 Under 18 Championships, but was overlooked in the draft. The lively outside type can play at either end and has shown his ability to hit the scoreboard consistently. For the Sandringham Dragons in 2019, Hanrahan has lifted his output from an average of 15.6 disposals in 2018 to 20.2 disposals this season. He is also averaging just under four inside 50s per game and has booted seven goals.
CODY HIRST (VICTORIA)Injuries have held Hirst back in the last 24 months and would’ve played a part in why he was overlooked in the 2018 national draft. But Hirst has taken his draft snub on the chin, working extremely hard in his overage year for Eastern Ranges in the NAB League. Hirst can play across half back and through the midfield, with Hirst having averaged 22 disposals and 4.8 tackles in four NAB League matches for 2019. The 19-year-old is agile around stoppages and was part of the initial Vic Metro squad.
TRISTAN HOBLEY (WESTERN AUSTRALIA)The Subiaco ball-magnet was best on ground in the WAFL Colts Grand Final for 2018, but was overlooked entirely when the draft rolled around. Hobley is part of the Western Australia Under 18 hub and has been named as an overager in their squad for the upcoming Under 18 Championships. The 182cm onballer has averaged 32.7 disposals and 7.0 tackles in three WAFL Colts appearances for 2019.
WILL KENNEDY (VICTORIA)The mobile tall moved from Sandringham Dragons to Western Jets in the off-season and has been a strong performer in the NAB League this season. Kennedy covers the ground well and can leap high above his opponents. He has averaged 31.2 hitouts in the NAB League this season, also averaging 16.6 disposals and 4.6 marks. If a club is looking to take a young developing ruckman, Kennedy might just be the best available youngster in the mid-season draft. Could Essendon be a club that need a young developing ruckman?
MIHAIL LOCHOWIAK (SOUTH AUSTRALIA)The dashing 19-year-old was overlooked in 2018 after winning the running vertical jump at the South Australia state combine. In the SANFL Reserves this season, Lochowiak has been utilised in the attacking half of the ground, booting 13 goals from six matches. The 186cm player can be used as a utility, averaging 13.7 disposals at 66 per cent efficiency. He has an attacking state of frame, averaging 3.5 tackles and booted a bag of five goals against Glenelg in Round 4. His brother Anzac, is eligible for the 2019 draft. Lochowiak could suit a club like Gold Coast or Carlton, looking for a goalkicking forward.
HUGO MUNN (SOUTH AUSTRALIA)
The AFL Academy member wasn’t drafted in 2018 despite spending time in the Sturt SANFL League team. The 197cm tall can play at either end of the ground and played 10 games in the SANFL League in his draft year, booting seven goals. In 2019, he has mixed between the Reserves and League competition, booting four goals in the Reserves to start the season before pushing into the senior team. Munn is mobile and also competes well in the ruck and can spread to mark the ball around the ground. He would be a player a club would look to develop, as he wouldn’t play AFL football this season.
DILLON O’REILLY (WESTERN AUSTRALIA)
The East Fremantle tall’s father Stephen played 98 games for the Dockers, therefore meaning Dillon fell two games short of father-son status. But nevertheless the tall has shown signs to suggest he could be worth a punt on as a development player, with O’Reilly having played WAFL League football. His best performance on 2018 came in the WAFL Colts Elimination Final where he booted six goals from 19 touches, clunking nine marks. O’Reilly has done most of his work up forward, but has at times shown his ability down back.
JAKE RICCARDI (VICTORIA)Riccardi has been a consistent member of the Werribee VFL line-up in 2019, excelling right across the ground. The 194cm tall turns 20 in November and might have an advantage on other young talls that nominated for the mid-season draft, given his experience at VFL level against AFL listed players. Riccardi was part of the Calder Cannons program over the last two seasons, showing off his aerial ability at centre half back in 2018, averaging 6.2 marks. Up forward, Riccardi has booted eight goals in four VFL games this year, including three against Geelong last month. His mobility and athleticism is what will make him appealing to clubs.
MITCH RIORDAN (VICTORIA)The Dandenong Stingrays premiership player was a surprise player overlooked for the 2018 draft, but continues to push his case at NAB League level as he hunts an opportunity to join an AFL list. The midfielder has averaging a career-best season in the elite underage competition, averaging 17.5 disposals with a 50 per cent contested possession rate. He has shown his tenacity, averaging five tackles per game as he hunts a chance on an AFL list. Riordan stands at 187cm and has shown off his speed as he bursts away from stoppages, with the 19-year-old invited to the state combine in 2018.
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