2020 AFL Draft

[WilliamPowell]

Reckon Rookie lists are a thing of the past now

that's the first cut to AFL lists

[pmac21]

Kane Cornes on Footy Classified trying to keep himself in work looking to have a trade period in next 4 week's.

Most ridiculous suggestion of all time. 

[one-eyed]

No MRJ in this top 20 draftee rankings.

AFL Draft Power Rankings: The top 20 prospects for 2020

Chris Doerre
ESPN
31 March 2020

The 2020 AFL season has been postponed, as have all junior, state league and lower level competitions across the country.

Despite no live action to assess, ESPN.com.au draft expert Chris Doerre has revealed his first Power Rankings of the 2020 draft, having scrutinised the prospects' 2019 seasons closely.

All future draft columns will depend on when footy resumes.

1. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy)

Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 194cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 1-10

Rationale: He is like Lance Franklin with hops. Ugle-Hagan is the most unstoppable inside-50 threat that I've seen at this age and stage - unstoppable when launching at the football aerially, timing his jumps to perfection, leaping high and protecting the ball drop in the air so he can't be spoiled. Scouting reports will simply state: 'you can't give him a run and jump at the football, or he's taking the mark.'

Strengths:

Leap, timing of leaps at the ball aerially, body control in the air, protects the drop zone so he can't be spoiled, agility, speed, aerial marking, speed to create separation on the lead, freakish one-touch and instinctive when the ball hits the deck, takes advantage of opposition defenders when isolated one-on-one, scoreboard impact

Weaknesses:

Kicking penetration, set shot reliability, prone to dropping marks, endurance, unclear versatility
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan competes during the yo-yo test at the 2020 NAB League Testing Day. Martin Keep/AFL Photos via Getty Images

2. Will Phillips

Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 179cm, 78kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 1-10

Rationale: Impact for Oakleigh during the 2019 finals series was comparable to last year's top-two selections Matthew Rowell and Noah Anderson.

Strengths:

First possession winner at stoppages, contested ball-winning, tackling, acceleration with ball in hand, endurance, production

Weaknesses:

Kicking consistency, unclear versatility, scoreboard impact

3. Finlay Macrae

Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 1-10
Rationale: Younger brother of Western Bulldogs star Jack, Finlay is a mirror image of his older brother in the way he moves and plays. He also finds the ball just as easily.

Strengths:

Class and composure in traffic, evasion, agility, speed, distribution by hand, clean ball user, production, improving contested ball-winner, improving inside midfield craft

Weaknesses:

Unclear versatility, scoreboard impact

4. Elijah Hollands

Best position: Midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 188cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Projected draft range: 1-10
Rationale: If not for an ACL injury, would be in the No. 1 mix and may have been No. 2 on this board otherwise.

Strengths:

Damaging both forward and through the midfield, high impact per possession, makes quick and sound decisions with ball in hand, moves the ball on quickly, takes ground balls on the move at speed, agility, evasion, avoids tackles in traffic, takes on the game aggressively with his run, long-range goalkicker, kicking penetration and hurt factor, composure under pressure, contested ball-winning

Weaknesses:

Improvement not as rapid as many of his peers in 2019, unclear best position, nclear scope to be a full-time midfielder
Despite a season-ending ACL injury, Elijah Hollands is still one of this year's brightest draft prospects. Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

5. Tanner Bruhn

Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 182cm, 73kg
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Projected draft range: 1-20
Rationale: One of the standout talents in this draft but has had his injury setbacks, sitting out most of last year due to a knee injury and has already had surgery to his meniscus in the same knee this season.

Strengths:

Precise ball user of left foot, composure with ball in hand, evasion, agility, speed, versatility to play forward or through the midfield, wins first possession at stoppages, contested ball-winning, scoreboard impact

Weaknesses:

Durability, limited exposed form due to ACL

6. Reef McInnes (Collingwood Next Generation Academy)

Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 191cm, 83kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 1-20
Rationale: A potential tall, ball-winning midfielder with the scope to play forward. Upside among the highest in the pool.

Strengths:

Contested ball-winning. marking threat inside-50, scoreboard impact, versatility to play midfield, forward or defence, mobility, clean skills

Weaknesses:

Unclear best position, unproven as a full-time midfielder against good opposition
Reef McInnes of the Chargers runs with the ball during the NAB League Grand Final match between Eastern Ranges and Oakleigh Chargers. Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

7. Riley Thilthorpe

Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 199cm, 96kg
Recruited from: West Adelaide
Projected draft range: 1-10
Rationale: Freakishly quick key forward who hits the scoreboard in bunches.

Strengths:

Scoreboard impact. contested marking, clean at ground level, endurance, speed, agility, leap, X-factor, versatility to play key forward, ruck or as a high leading forward

Weaknesses:

Ruck craft, accumulation

8. Jackson Callow

Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 192cm, 88kg
Recruited from: Tasmania Devils
Projected draft range: 10-40
Rationale: A key forward with a deceptively hard-to-defend game - his strength and one-on-one marking blending in nicely with his agility, work at ground level and capability to turn opponents inside out.

Strengths:

Overhead marking, one-on-one marking, contested marking, body size and strength, reading of the ball in flight, keeps his feet in the contest, clean at ground level, agility, turns opponents inside out

Weaknesses:

Athleticism, unclear versatility
Jackson Callow of team Dal Santo tackles James Borlase of team Brown during the NAB League 2019 All Stars match. Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos via Getty Images

9. Kaine Baldwin

Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 192cm, 89kg
Recruited from: Glenelg
Projected draft range: 1-20
Rationale: Playing only one game in 2019 due to a ruptured ACL, Baldwin is one of the most exciting players in this year's draft. Dominant in the Under-16s, Baldwin has proven he is damaging close to goal and had planned to show he has the versatility to push up the ground more this year.

Strengths:

Contested marking, one-on-one marking, strength, aerial marking, high leaper, scoreboard impact, creates separation on the lead

Weaknesses:

Ground level craft, speed, agility, endurance, unclear midfield capabilities

10. Jack Ginnivan

Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 180cm, 73kg
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers
Projected draft range: 3-25
Rationale: A smart forward who is just as effective through the midfield.

Strengths:

Precision ball user, kicks placed out in front of targets to lead onto, makes things happen with ball in hand, draws high frees, clean and dangerous at ground level, football smarts, dangerous around goal, forward pressure, contested ball-winning, endurance, work rate, agility, versatility to impact games either as a forward or midfielder

Weaknesses:

Size, capable but not threatening mark inside 50m

11. Sam Berry

Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 180cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Gippsland Power
Projected draft range: 5-40
Rationale: Exciting midfielder with enviable combination of ball-winning, clean skills and speed.

Strengths:

Contested ball-winning, first-possession winner at stoppages, acceleration with ball in hand out of stoppages, speed, kick placement on left foot out in front of targets to lead onto, composure with ball in hand, versatility to play midfield, defence or forward, tackling

Weaknesses:

Endurance, contested marking

12. Wil Parker

Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 180cm, 76kg
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Projected draft range: 5-35
Rationale: One of this draft's premier intercept marking defenders and one who scouts had hoped to see tried through the midfield this season.

Strengths:

Intercept marking, reading of the ball in flight, attacks the ball aerially, one-on-one strength, one-touch at ground level, evasive, classy with ball in hand, provides meaningful drive by foot from defence, precise kick placement out in front of targets to lead onto, wins a high proportion of ball in contested situations by position, scope to push through the midfield

Weaknesses:

Unclear versatility, endurance

13. Archie Perkins

Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 87kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Projected draft range: 3-30
Rationale: Strong medium marking forward who plays a high-impact-per-possession style of game but at this stage lacks the endurance to go through the midfield and can lacks the consistency of performance of those rated ahead of him.

Strengths:

Strength, one-on-one marking, aerial marking, impact per possession, contested ball-winning, takes on the game, line breaker, speed, damaging by foot, composure with ball in hand, capacity to impact games as a forward or midfielder

Weaknesses:

Endurance, consistency

14. Zane Trew

Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 81kg
Recruited from: Swan Districts
Projected draft range: 3-30
Rationale: Prolific ball-winner and tackler who managed 40 disposals and 10 tackles in the WAFL Colts the last time he played. He missed most of 2019 due to a shoulder injury so has had less 2019 exposure than most of his peers.

Strengths:

Production, stoppage specialist, contested ball-winning, aggressive tackler, classy ball user, composure in traffic and with ball in hand, vision, precise ball user by hand and foot

Weaknesses:

Limited exposure due to shoulder surgery in 2019, speed, endurance

15. Nathan O'Driscoll

Best position: Inside midfield/general defence
Height, weight: 182cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Perth
Projected draft range: 5-35
Rationale: One of the best hard ball-winners in the draft.

Strengths:

Aggressive attack on the ball, tackles to hurt, versatility to play midfield or defence, one-on-one strength, intercept marking, run and carry, reliable ball user

Weaknesses:

Intercept marking, contested marking, speed, endurance

16. Sam Collins

Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 185cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Tasmania Devils
Projected draft range: 5-35
Rationale: One of this year's premier intercept marking defenders.

Strengths:

Intercept marking, reading of the ball in flight, one-on-one marking, attacks the ball aerially for marks, negatives the influence of his opponents, leap, clean at ground level, reliable kick, versatility to play defence or midfield

Weaknesses:

Low hurt factor, needs to generate more meaningful drive from defence

17. Denver Grainger-Barras

Best position: General defence/key defence
Height, weight: 192cm, 77kg
Recruited from: Swan Districts
Projected draft range: 3-15
Rationale: One of this year's premier defenders, Grainger-Barras is one of the best as both a shutdown defender and interceptor.

Strengths:

Intercept marking, reading of the ball in flight, one-on-one defence, shuts down opposition forwards, clean ball user, athleticism

Weaknesses:

Endurance, unclear whether future is as a key or general defender, pProduction

18. Alex Davies (Gold Coast Academy)

Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 189cm, 76kg
Recruited from: Gold Coast Academy
Projected draft range: 5-30
Rationale: One of this year's premier tall inside ball-winners.

Strengths:

Contested ball-winning, distribution by hand, evasion, movement through traffic, clean at ground level

Weaknesses:

Endurance, prone to rushing kicks rather than assessing and spotting options

19. Braeden Campbell (Sydney Academy)

Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 178cm, 71kg
Recruited from: Sydney Academy
Projected draft range: 10-30
Rationale: Awarded player of the match in the Under-17 All Star match.

Strengths:

Contested ball-winning, aggressive tackler, damaging left foot kick, acceleration, run and carry with ball in hand, scoreboard impact, best-on-ground in the 2019 AFL Grand Final curtain raiser., versatility to impact games forward or midfield

Weaknesses:

Height, contested marking

20. Errol Gulden (Sydney Academy)

Best position: General forward/outside midfield
Height, weight: 172cm, 68kg
Recruited from: Sydney Academy
Projected draft range: 10-30
Rationale: One of the best performed and most productive in this pool, but at his height and size is unlikely to have as much upside as many of his more highly touted peers.

Strengths:

One-touch pickups, high production, ready-to-go, one-touch at ground level, speed, agility, reads the play, gets to the right spot, natural crumber, finishing around goal, scoreboard impact, class, precision kicking, kicking out in front of inside 50m targets to lead onto

Weaknesses:

Height, size, limited scope to develop as an inside midfielder, unclear upside

https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/28968733/afl-draft-power-rankings-top-20-prospects-2020

[one-eyed]

The prospect of clubs playing games every four to six days once the 2020 season resumes means there is talk of a mini-draft to help teams add players to negotiate those periods.

However, many list bosses prefer a US-style waiver system, as AFL.com.au revealed in March, where reverse ladder order would be used.

If that system came in, the club highest on the waiver order that bids on an eligible player would win his services.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/390818/how-will-the-afl-look-with-smaller-list-sizes-

[one-eyed]

FOOTY GREATS TO RETURN UNDER FORMER STAR’S RADICAL IDEA

Former AFL live wire Nathan Brown has suggested a ‘recently exited players draft’ that would allow some of the game’s greats to return to an AFL list one last time.

Brown believes the extended window before footy returns, along with what will be a shortened season, gives some former players the perfect opportunity to stage an AFL comeback.

Brown’s revealed his hypothetical list on Channel Nine.

Nathan Brown’s radical draft idea would see several big names make a return to an AFL list.Source: Channel 9

Pressed on Brendan Fevola’s ability to play football at the elite level again, Brown suggested the extended break from the game would give him ample time to prepare.

“Brendan Fevola has played football since he retired, yes he’s a bit overweight at the moment but he can still play footy… I think if he got fit enough he could still play AFL football, it’s a stretch but we’re talking about an AFL season like no other,” he said.

“He’s got four months now to get fit, maybe even five months.”

Sources: Ch 9, Foxsports

[one-eyed]

Two years of real life, then footy: Hardwick calls for dramatic draft rule change

April 15, 2020
by Max Laughton with AAP
FOX SPORTS

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said earlier on Tuesday raising the age from 18 was an “absolute no-brainer” decision.

But Hardwick went even further, arguing it would do draftees a world of good to spend two years out of high school before entering the AFL system.

“For the benefits of the kids coming through in future, I think I could probably go a little bit higher (than 19) … One year out of school is OK but two years would be even better for mine,” Hardwick said on Fox Footy Live.

“I understand it’s going to be detrimental to the kids that are possibly drafted now.

“What I do love about lifting the draft age is the players will have some sort of education or some sort of training behind them.

“The AFL career only averages out to about three or four years for most so at least they can fall back onto something.”

The Tigers coach argued players who were coming straight out of high school weren’t being given the right preparation for life outside the ‘AFL bubble’ if they were to flame out.

“We’re drafting kids at 18 years of age and they haven’t even experienced life really,” he said.

“The more we can give the experience about what it is to live a normal life and not in an AFL bubble is going to be very important for them for the back-end of their career.

“The life experience is so important.”

Football’s coronavirus shutdown, which has put all senior and underage competitions on hold, has created a unique opportunity to lift the draft age to 19 should the AFL so desire.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-damien-hardwick-says-raise-draft-age-to-20-afl-draft-fox-footy-live-coronavirus-shutdown/news-story/714ca2bb605a94891ee1c850c9c89274

[one-eyed]

The top 25 AFL draft prospects for 2020

Clubs might get little chance to see this year’s draft crop in action, but that doesn't mean there is a lack of power!

Paywall: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/riley-thilthorpe-luke-edwards-and-more-who-are-the-afls-and-south-australias-best-draft-prospects-in-2020/news-story/4a0efce942c48fcfd81b3efde89b203a

[Diocletian]

Hardwick's right....but the  AFL will do nothing because - among other equally stupid reasons- the draft will provide them and the all-powerful broadcasters badly needed "content" this year...the next best compromise is to not make club participation in the draft mandatory this year & next or at least reduce the minimum to just one player...would be quite ludicrous IMO is clubs have to cut - if all the media speculation is to be believed- between 9-14 players likely including kids they only just drafted in thr last year or two and have to cut another three on top of that in order to bring in more kids or meet some stupid draft quota...   

[WilliamPowell]

Hardwick's right....but the  AFL will do nothing because - among other equally stupid reasons- the draft will provide them and the all-powerful broadcasters badly needed "content" this year...the next best compromise is to not make club participation in the draft mandatory this year & next or at least reduce the minimum to just one player...would be quite ludicrous IMO is clubs have to cut - if all the media speculation is to be believed- between 9-14 players likely including kids they only just drafted in thr last year or two and have to cut another three on top of that in order to bring in more kids or meet some stupid draft quota...   

 

That is the reason why lists should only be reduced to 42-44, if they have to be

Personal view is they shouldn't be but the 19th team on the comp always gets what it wants

[one-eyed]

They mentioned in passing on the news last night that the draft is expected to go ahead this year.

[Rampsation]

For me there should be no draft but each club should be given a maximum of 3 x form 4s so each club can sign 3 kids outside of the draft system. This would allow our clubs recruiters to get 3 of the best kids available. Bring back the form 4s.

[Diocletian]

Scrap the draft and bring back zones....

[one-eyed]

Gil said oday that there will be a draft this year and that there will be no change to the age limit.

No change to list sizes this year either.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

ON WHAT THE DRAFT WILL LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR …

"I'm very confident that the draft will go ahead. Clearly, there's a possibility that it will be in a different form. But we will need a draft. The draft age is being discussed by working groups. I know there are various views on all of that, but one thing I've heard in the last 24 hours from various people around football – and, again, this is trying to help without being definitive – is that the best 18-year-old kids are walking straight into very good teams and are having an impact straightaway. People are looking for the whole draft class to be more mature, but they certainly don't want to have less access to the best 18-year-olds. Hopefully that gives you a level of direction."

ON WHETHER CUTS TO LISTS WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR …

"No, there's certainly not anything I'm aware of where it would happen this year. For reasons that are obvious, all aspects of football are under review going forward. List sizes have come up, but I have no information that it would mean it would have any impact this year."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/391467/gill-on-longer-seasons-the-draft-and-when-footy-could-return

[one-eyed]

This year's AFL Draft might be held in 2021, with the League considering pushing the event back to January.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/391832/the-draft-in-january-rookie-draft-dumped-afl-considers-options

[one-eyed]

AFL draft state of play: Why clubs who’ll own the first round can breathe sigh of relief

April 23, 2020 12:51pm
Matt Balmer
FOX SPORTS

But at least club’s can breathe a sigh of relief, after AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed there will be a draft in some shape or form.

With final year school exams potentially pushed back around the nation due to the coronavirus crisis, it could well be the early stages of 2021 before any names are called out.

“I’m very confident that the draft will go ahead. Clearly, there’s a possibility that it will be in a different form. But we will need a draft,” McLachlan said.

“The draft age is being discussed by working groups. I know there are various views on all of that, but one thing I’ve heard in the last 24 hours from various people around football – and, again, this is trying to help without being definitive – is that the best 18-year-old kids are walking straight into very good teams and are having an impact straightaway.

“People are looking for the whole draft class to be more mature, but they certainly don’t want to have less access to the best 18-year-olds. Hopefully that gives you a level of direction.”

With uncertainty in recent weeks, some AFL clubs certainly would’ve been fearing the worst, following what they would’ve described as shrewd moves in last year’s trade and draft period.

Most recruiters around the country have been stood down until the AFL begins again, with underage fixtures needing to be revamped.

It might well be a draft with just one or two rounds.

YOUR CLUB’S PICKS – AND WHO THEY COULD TARGET

Richmond: 1x first-round pick, 1x second-round pick, 1x third-round pick, 1x fourth-round pick, 1x fifth-round pick

When you’ve won two premierships in three years, there isn’t a pressing need for the club at the draft. But there will be plenty of hype around small forward Maurice Rioli Jnr, who is a father-son prospect for the club. While very raw, the lively prospect might push himself up the draft board with a good season. Nevertheless, Richmond won’t need to use its top pick on the prospect.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-afl-draft-2020-afl-draft-top-prospects-draft-order-geelong-north-melbourne/news-story/be1c9373cdef2c24790960f0af72fbbf