Buckenara’s top draft prospects for 2019
Gary Buckenara,
Herald Sun
1 August 2019
With just one month left of the AFL season for 10 clubs, our attention now starts to turn to the draft.
The 2019 Under-18 national championships have been played and won (by Western Australia), as the best talent on offer in this year’s draft showcased their talent. There were some tight results during the carnival, which reflected the even spread of talent across the teams to represent the Allies, South Australia, Vic Country, Vic Metro and WA.
That brings us to the strength of this year’s draft and what type of players fans can expect their clubs to recruit for the future.
The talent pool is even, especially after the top 5-10, but this should be a reasonably deep draft. While it’s fairly light on for ruckmen and key-position players, clubs keen to bolster their midfield stocks with all types will be very happy with the depth of talent emerging. There are also some nice skilled outside runners coming through in addition to clever forwards.
There are also quite a few sons of former players eligible to be drafted, but not all qualify under father-son rules.
Noah Anderson, son of former Hawk and Saint Dean Anderson, is the best of the lot but unfortunately for Hawthorn and St Kilda, isn’t eligible to be taken under father-son rules given his father played 83 games for the Hawks and just 67 for the Saints.
Over the next few months I will continue to track the progress of the 2019 draft class as they finish their seasons before turning attention to the testing at the draft combine, which will play a role in the final order of my top 50 prospects.
For now, here are the players who were the standouts during the U18 championships and are currently in the mix to be taken in the top 30 at the draft in November — including the top-10 performers at the carnival listed in order.
PLEASE NOTE: Gary Buckenara’s top-10 players listed below are his top-10 from the U18 championships, not his top-10 draft order.
BUCKENARA’S TOP-10 PERFORMERS
1. MATTHEW ROWELL
178cm, 74kg, midfielder, Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers
Rowell has starred on the big stage over the past 12 months. Last year he almost got Vic Metro over the line in the U18 championship decider against South Australia, he was named best afield in the TAC Cup Grand Final in a losing team, won the medal the following week for the standout player in the NAB AFL All-Stars game on Grand Final day, and in April was judged best on ground in the Australian U18 team’s win over Casey Demons. Rowell is a tough, explosive midfielder who excels at the stoppages and imposes himself on games. It’s no wonder he’s seen as one of the leading contenders to be the No.1 pick this year and his performances at the championships only cemented his position as a very early selection — most likely No.1 — in 2019.
2. NOAH ANDERSON
188cm, 86kg, midfielder, Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers
The son of my former premiership teammate Dean Anderson, Noah shows enormous talent and had excellent start to the year when he averaged 32 disposals and nearly three goals in the opening three rounds of the NAB U18s. He’s a tall midfielder with a very strong endurance base and is good overhead. Noah also regularly kicks goals as a midfielder, be it on the run from long range, a mark on the lead or a snap around his body. At this stage, he’s the player I’d take with the No.1 draft pick, but a lot can change as the season plays out.
3. HAYDEN YOUNG
188cm, 82kg defender, Vic Country/Dandenong Stingrays
Young looked every bit the early pick at the MCG against VFL side Casey when he gathered 17 disposals and took six marks in a polished performance. He has at times played in the midfield this year but looks most comfortable and is more damaging across halfback, where his vision, poise and precise kicking stands out. Young, whose brother Lachie plays for the Bulldogs, is a good size and is considered a leader within his group.
4. CALEB SERONG
178cm, 83kg, forward/midfielder, Vic Country/Gippsland Power
Vic Country’s co-captain at the carnival surely stood out to AFL recruiters with his impressive and consistent performances as a powerful small forward/midfielder who can influence games in a number of ways. The talented cricketer is sharp at ground level, neat by foot and is able to set-up teammates with his clever ball use. He’s also very clever around goal where he uses his uncanny goal sense, and when he has time in the midfield, his burst of speed is really exciting. I’m sure he’ll be an in-demand player in this year’s draft.
5. DYLAN STEPHENS
183cm, 69kg, midfielder, South Australia/Norwood
A big engine coupled with pace and a precise left foot will make Stephens one of the most talented and sought-after midfielders in this year’s draft. Stephens, who grew up in country Victoria before moving to South Australia for school, has already played for Norwood at senior level in the SANFL this season, while his U18 carnival form was consistent. He does look like a very nice midfielder-in-the-making, with his attributes to find plenty of admirers amongst AFL recruiters. He should be a top-30 selection.
6. LACHLAN ASH
186cm, 80kg, defender, Vic Country/Murray Bushrangers
Ash brings real speed to this year’s draft. He’s an exciting line-breaker off halfback who likes to put the ball under his arm and take the game on, but the best part is he doesn’t just and run blindly — he’s composed with the ball. Ash has played senior footy at country level and won a country premiership with Shepparton last year and he finished second in the Murray Bushrangers’ best-and-fairest as an underage player.
7. SAM FLANDERS
182cm, 81kg, forward/midfielder, Vic Country/Gippsland Power
Sam has a strong body already and has showcased his best football as a forward who can also have a run in the midfield. His early-season form saw him average 23 disposals, five tackles and a goal at U18s level and he’s capable of doing some eye-catching things like taking big marks and kicking freakish goals or being very clean to pluck the ball off a pack. I suspect he could get himself much fitter and getting into a full-time AFL environment will see him improve sharply.
8. WILL GOULD
191cm, 98kg, defender, South Australia/Glenelg
Gould was one of only three bottom-aged players selected for last year’s U18 All-Australian team after his impressive carnival for South Australia. He’s stepped up to play well at SANFL level, where his mature frame and booming kick is a feature of his game. He reads the game well and provides excellent rebound, which has been likened to West Coast skipper Shannon Hurn given his powerful style. He will certainly have many admirers with what he brings to the table and I’m sure he’ll be busy come the draft combine, fielding questions from many clubs.
9. FISCHER McASEY
195cm, 86kg, defender, Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons
A promising defender, McAsey was solid throughout the U18 championships playing as a key defender, where he did some of his best work in the air, taking many intercept and contested marks. He has certainly been noticed and I’m sure, given the need for key defenders, McAsey will be very high on the key-position talent flow lists at clubs. He can really elevate himself by finishing off the year well and performing well in the draft combine.
10. LIAM HENRY
179cm, 67kg, forward, Western Australia/Claremont
Fremantle will get first access to Henry as a member of the club’s Next Generation Academy. The lightly framed indigenous teenager is a lively small forward who kicked four goals from 24 disposals for Claremont’s colts’ side early this year in an exciting display. A minor knee injury has halted some of his progress, but I believe Henry is exactly the type of player Fremantle needs for its future to create chaos up forward as Michael Walters and Brandon Matera bring other attributes as higher half-forwards. A top-20 bid is not out of the question if Henry continues at his current rate of development given his blistering speed and delightful skills.
BUCKENARA’S 20 STANDOUTS
TRENT BIANCO
178, 70kg, defender/midfielder, Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers
Bianco performed really well during the carnival and what is most impressive about him is his ball use as a rebounding defender. It is a long-held opinion of mine that players who can kick the ball well hold very strong appeal to recruiters in this day and age. He’s put himself on the radar with his performances for Vic Metro and if his final part of the season goes well and can impress at the combine, then I am sure Bianco will have many suitors at this year’s draft.
NICK BRYAN
202cm, 87kg, ruck/forward, Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers
Bryan has emerged quickly as one of the best ruck prospects in this year’s draft and was selected in the Australian U18s team to face VFL side Casey. Although lightly framed, his strengths are that he’s so mobile that he virtually plays as an extra midfielder around the ground, has good skills and reads the play very well, while he can also provide a marking option up forward. Clubs will look at him as a developing ruck/forward.
CHARLIE COMBEN
199cm, 82kg, ruck/forward, Vic Country/Gippsland Power
A bit of a project player as a developing ruckman/forward who has shown some glimpses of talent very similar to a young Harry McKay during his time at Gippsland Power. We always want to see more of his good moments but at present Comben is still raw and developing. Talls always take a bit of time to grow in their frames but he showed some of what he can produce during the U18 carnival. Comben has traits that recruiters will like given his athleticism for his size, so I’m sure he’ll be given an opportunity at the draft this year, but how early remains to be seen. I suspect he’ll be a top-30 pick.
WILL DAY
187cm, 70kg, defender/midfielder, South Australia/West Adelaide
A tall rebound defender/outside midfielder, Day has a light body but it doesn’t stop him from being a fierce competitor. He has good athleticism and run of halfback and was a good consistent performer for South Australia, who often set his team up with very good running patterns to link up some attacking moves.
SAM DE KONING
200cm, 85kg, defender/forward/ruck, Vic Country/Dandenong Stingrays
The brother of Carlton’s Tom De Koning, Sam is much like his older sibling in that he’ll take time to fully develop and make his mark at AFL level. At 200cm, De Koning can play key position at both ends of the ground and can be used in the ruck, with his versatility set to appeal strongly for clubs looking to bolster their tall stocks. He’s very athletic but is still raw. He played as a key defender in the U18 nationals and looked good.
THOMSON DOW
182cm, 72kg, midfielder, Vic Country/Bendigo Pioneers
The younger brother of Carlton’s Paddy Dow, Thomson has caught the eye of recruiters this year. He’s different to Paddy in that he plays a little bit taller and occasionally drifts forward to be a target. Thomson is lightly framed but agile, has a good burst of speed, and started the season in strong form for Bendigo, so he looks like a nice prospect. It will take him some time to build up his light body, but he brings some nice attributes to the table.
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