From Foxsports ...EARLY WHISPERS AROUND TOP SIX PICKSThere’s still eight weeks until the national draft, but the make-up of the top selections and the players that appeal to certain clubs is already taking shape.
Recruiters believe there’s a genuine top two this year: Collingwood father-son prospect
Nick Daicos and South Adelaide’s
Jason Horne-Francis.
The definition of a ball magnet, Daicos has sat at the top of many draft boards and rankings for most of 2021 after leading the NAB League for disposals (35.8 ) and uncontested possessions (23.0), while also averaging two goals per match.
Magpies football boss Graham Wright this week confirmed his club had told the Daicos family it would match a bid on the young midfielder – “wherever it is”. Whether that’s at Pick 1 or 2 remains uncertain.
Daicos has played less games this year than Horne-Francis, who’s done his chances of being taken with Pick 1 no harm in recent weeks. Widely regarded as the best player in the ‘open draft’, Horne-Francis produced a stunning SANFL league preliminary final performance last week, kicking 3.3 from 24 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 11 clearances, 10 score involvements and 160 Champion Data ranking points.
North Melbourne, which holds Pick 1, could bid on Daicos with the first selection of the draft to force the Pies to truly earn their prized prospect before picking Horne-Francis at Pick 2. If the Roos opt for Horne-Francis first up, the Giants, who hold the next pick, would then almost certainly place a bid on Daicos.
And it mightn’t be the only father-son gun the Giants bid on, with exciting 204cm key-position prospect
Sam Darcy a strong chance to be taken in the top three.
The Dogs will bank points to ensure they can any match bid on Darcy, who possesses superb versatility and athleticism that allows him to play in any third of the ground. They could be asked to use those points on Darcy as early as Pick 3.
The Giants would then consider an array of top-end prospects – and they could pull the trigger on this year’s biggest bolter.
The Herald Sun this week strongly linked the Giants to athletic Dandenong Stingrays and Melbourne Next Generation Academy prospect
Mac Andrew, whose ability to play across all thirds of the ground at 200cm excites AFL clubs.
The AFL has changed the in-draft NGA bidding rules for 2021, with clubs that have existing links to multicultural and Indigenous Academy players unable to match bids inside the top 20 selections, meaning the Dees will almost certainly miss out on him.
It wouldn’t be a major surprise if the Giants selected Andrew, but it’s also feasible he could slide to later in the top 10 as he’s viewed as a super talented yet long-term prospect.
The
Gold Coast Suns have the next pick and would also strongly consider Andrew if he was still available. But it’s also understood they’re keeping a close eye on 189cm Sandringham Dragons midfielder
Finn Callaghan, who possesses great poise and kicking skills. One recruiter told foxfooty.com.au there’s “a bit of Bontempelli” about the way Callaghan moves in and out of stoppages.
The Suns have also been linked to key defender
Josh Gibcus – the draft class’ best interceptor at 195cm and a player recruiters can see becoming a genuine second backman at an AFL club. Gibcus would fill a defensive chasm at Gold Coast – a situation that has been hindered by Rory Thompson’s luckless run with injury, which has forced Sam Collins to shoulder big responsibility and Charlie Ballard to often play above his height.
In an ideal world for
Adelaide, SA gun Horne-Francis would still be available come its selection. But that’s not happening. And even Crows list boss Justin Reid this week hosed down speculation about a play to move up the draft order, telling AFL Trade Radio: “I wouldn’t have thought North Melbourne are moving too much on their Pick 1.”
From a pure needs perspective, the Crows would love some class around the midfield. Callaghan would be an appropriate selection, but whether he’d still be available by Adelaide’s pick is doubtful. GWV Rebel
Ben Hobbs and Northern Knight
Josh Ward are big ball-winners, but the Crows are already well stocked with inside midfielders.
It’s understood Adelaide is keeping tabs on Murray Bushrangers’
Josh Rachele – an electric, uber-talented forward-midfielder at 180cm blessed with goalkicking nous and x-factor. Clubs have been impressed with how Rachele has interviewed, too.
Still, a lot can – and will – change between the start of the trade period and national draft night.
TRADE ISSUE FACING CLUBSWhen the trade period commences on Monday, a conundrum will be nagging list managers and recruiters.
The introduction of the future trading has given clubs another layer of flexibility come negotiation time. Trades that previously would’ve been tough to strike can now be finalised by using, or adding in, a future draft selection to sweeten a deal.
But evaluating the worth of 2022 draft picks is difficult – and it’s split club recruiters.
Some believe selection in next year’s draft won’t be as valuable, considering a significant portion of the 2022 crop – primarily from Victoria – have already endured two Covid-interrupted seasons, which included missing out on an Under 16s national carnival in 2020. There’s some hope prospects can have a relatively ‘Covid-normal’ season in 2022, but that, too, is laced with uncertainty.
Several recruiters also have great confidence in this year’s draft crop, despite the limited exposure. Ideally Victorian prospects would’ve had more matches or another year of development, but clubs have seen them play between 10 and 15 games — and that’s enough.
It means you could see clubs that rate and trust the 2021 crop highly could trade out of next year’s draft.
Some recruiters, though, believe it’s worth keeping powder dry and targeting the 2022 crop, especially if a club holds picks outside the top 10 in this year’s draft as there’s a belief you could throw a blanket over the talent ranked 11 to 50.
This year’s crop has a ‘hybrid’ flavour to it, with the top of the pool to almost certainly feature more on-ballers, small forwards and rebound defenders. Next year’s draft, though, looms as a more diverse one, with a lot more key-position players set to be available.
And in 12 months, the 2022 draft crop overall could’ve played more games than their 2021 counterparts, should Covid-enforced restrictions ease in the wake of a high vaccination rate.
Over the next few weeks, some clubs won’t be thinking ahead to next year’s draft too much and will trade future picks simply to break impasses and get certain deals done.
But between the end of the trade period and the draft nights where clubs can freely trade both 2021 and 2022 picks, there’ll be ample internal debates.
YOUNG GUNS PUSH THEIR CASE ON BIG STAGEWhile Victorian-based prospects haven’t been able to push their case on the field in recent times, South Australian and Western Australian young guns have.
The two states featured in a curtain-raiser match at Optus Stadium ahead of last weekend’s AFL Grand Final, with two players catching the eye.
SA’s
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – the nephew of Brownlow Medallist Gavin Wanganeen and the son of Terry Milera that played 30 games for the Saints – continued to show why he’s bolted into mid first-round contention, using the ball superbly to finish with 15 disposals.
Subiaco tall midfielder
Matt Johnson was named WA’s best player, showing great class with 21 disposals and five clearances. He set up the match-winning goal to
Jacob Van Rooyen, who was swung forward after impressing with his intercept marking in defence earlier in the game.
Two NGA prospects also stood out.
Blayne O’Loughlin (Crows NGA) won South Australia’s best-afield medal for his 22 disposals across half-back, while
Arthur Jones (Eagles NGA) kicked two goals from 16 touches to earn himself a late invite to the upcoming WA draft combine screening.
The match, though, was somewhat marred by injuries to first-round contenders
Jye Amiss (WA) and
Arlo Draper (SA).
Amiss, a key forward that booted 51.15 from his 13 home and away WAFL colts matches, suffered a knee injury early in the game, with scans confirming a PCL tear. Midfielder Draper also underwent surgery this week to repair his right AC joint.
Prospects from South Australia will have another chance to impress recruiters in a competitive match situation over the next two weeks after two more Under 19 challenge matches were announced.
SA will host an Allies team on Sunday at Thebarton Oval before taking on WA again on October 10. But due to recent Covid-19 spikes and consequent border restrictions, the Allies team on Sunday won’t feature any prospects coming from Queensland, with 17-year-old SA players likely to help fill the chasms.
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