HeraldSun's Jay Clark's top 10 mock draft:
Early call: Is this how the draft will play out?Next month’s national draft is fast approaching. Which kids are lighting up talent boards and who is your club looking at? Jay Clark makes an early top ten prediction.
Jay Clark
HeraldSun
18 October 2021The 2021 AFL national draft is fast approaching.
As clubs finalise their talent boards many are also working the phones, with trades still permitted that could shake up the order.
Who is your club looking at?
Jay Clark looks at how the cards may fall.
1. North Melbourne: Jason Horne-Francis - South Adelaide184cm midfielder-forward
The player: The buzz around Jason Horne-Francis has gone through the roof over the past fortnight after North Melbourne knocked back a truckload of top picks from Adelaide and Richmond for rights to the goal kicking playmaker. Likened to Sydney Swans’ Isaac Heeney, the exciting blonde turned on a blinder in the SANFL preliminary final snagging three goals from 24 disposals and 11 clearances. Recruiters already knew he was the top talent, but this was an astonishing performance on the eve of the draft that will surely see the competitive midfield-forward make an immediate impact for the Kangas next season. Wins his own footy in the air and on ground level and is polished and impactful with his ball use. Will put bums on seats.
The pick: Adelaide offered three first-round selections for the Roos’ No. 1 pick and will keep knocking on that door for as long as the South Australian Horne-Francis is wearing football boots. Watch North Melbourne attempt to lock in Horne-Francis with a very early contract extension.
2. Collingwood: Nick Daicos (Father-son bid) - Oakleigh Chargers183cm midfielder
The player: Nick Daicos would have played a considerable number of games for the Magpies this year if he was already on their senior list. The big-time ballwinner zips through congestion and has regularly shown he has elite vision in tight spaces, finding tough targets by hand and foot. Played some exceptional football in the NAB League this year and could have a Sam-Walsh style impact in his first few seasons, according to the talent gurus. Son of Collingwood great Peter Daicos and the younger brother of Josh. Averaged 36 touches and two goals a game in the NAB League. Will be the face of the Collingwood list rebuild.
The pick: This hurts. Collingwood originally had this pick but traded it to GWS last year, meaning the Magpies could have taken Daicos plus another top-three talent if they held it. Ouch. Instead, GWS or any club the Giants trade this pick to will surely bid on Daicos here, making the Pies pay full tote odds for one player.
3. Western Bulldogs: Sam Darcy (Father-son bid) - Oakleigh Chargers204cm key forward-ruck
The player: The Bulldogs are truly blessed to have access to this skillful and versatile big man, adding to the incredible riches already down the club’s spine. Darcy has excelled playing at centre half forward, kicking six goals in a Vic Metro trial game, and in defence where he set tongues wagging with his aerial work and rebounding earlier in the year. There hasn’t been as much hype around Darcy as there is around Horne-Francis and Daicos, but as one top scout said, the big man is equally special. Can kick on both sides of his body and is smooth around the ground.
The pick: The Dogs are certain to match a bid for Darcy at this spot and will have a wealth of talented tall options over the next decade, if they can all be kept at the club, with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton, Tim English and Darcy. Son of Bulldogs’ great and club director Luke Darcy.
4. GWS: Finn Callaghan - Sandringham Dragons189cm midfielder
The player: This left-footed wingman has significant upside and has risen up recruiters’ draft boards all season long. The speedster is damaging on the outside in a way that has drawn comparisons to Hugh McCluggage, but it is his size, creativeness, and potential growth as a tall inside midfielder that has clubs wondering whether he can blossom like Marcus Bontempelli. That is why a club can hit the jackpot with this pick. Callaghan takes on the opposition with his weaving run and carry and is a nice marking option at his height. Has lots of tricks by hand and is a penetrating kick.
The pick: This is where the big moves can start. GWS owns this pick and would happily take Callaghan, but the reality is the club already has loads of gun midfield talent and would prefer a tall such as Mac Andrew or Josh Gibcus. That is why the Giants are considering trading several spots down the order if they can get something else in a deal, such as an early future pick. A swap with Hawthorn makes sense as it would give the Hawks a blue-chip midfielder such as Callaghan (which they need) and allows the Giants to nab a big man. But Richmond, Gold Coast and Adelaide are all in the same conversation.
5. Gold Coast: Josh Gibcus - Greater Western Victoria Rebels195cm key defender
The player: Springy defender is an intercept marking specialist. Gibcus has a canny knack of floating in from the side and reaching above the rest of the pack as he reels in his grabs. He was impressive in a recent series of club interviews and is a top-six lock for some recruiters. Like Alex Rance, Gibcus is handy linking up on the rebound and will look to develop that side of his game. Given the emphasis on scoring on the turnover in the modern game, Gibcus’s marking power makes him a stand-out prospect.
The pick: Gold Coast is loaded with midfielders and has been found wanting in the key position department, especially in the back end. Gibcus would help form an excellent twin tower combination with Ben King at the opposite end as part of sound long-term play. Suns could try to shuffle this pick up or down the order depending on where the Suns think Gibcus will be taken, if the club is prepared to be patient with him. Stuart Dew may prefer a midfielder such as Ben Hobbs to get the instant impact.
6. Adelaide: Ben Hobbs - Greater Victorian Western Rebels183cm midfielder
The player: Already been dubbed a future-captain in the making, Hobbs is certain to thrive at AFL level as a hard-as-nails inside midfielder. The strong-bodied onballer stepped up impressively this season after an early ankle injury and will be a safe bet at the pointy end of the draft. The competitive beast won admirers for his excellent contested ball work, all-round defensive application and team-first attitude. Vic Country captain shines in the clinches and will be a key pillar in an AFL onball unit in a similar manner to Collingwood’s Taylor Adams.
The pick: Adelaide has been strongly linked to Josh Rachele as an exciting and creative small forward and could yet trade up or down the order. But it would be hard to pass up Hobbs here as a long-term Rory Sloane replacement.
7. Hawthorn: Josh Ward - Northern Knights181cm midfielder
The player: Reliable onballer has earned comparisons to Essendon star Zach Merrett for his polish and work rate in the middle. Might not be as flashy as others but Ward is a consistent performer who is clean around the stoppages and hits targets. Was named captain of the NAB league team of the year averaging 25 disposals a game. May not have the size as some of the other top draft prospects but he uses his huge tank and determination to work hard to get to the next contest. Scouts say coaches will love knowing that they can count on him on game day. Averaged 30 disposals and six clearances a game in the NAB League. He would be right up Sam Mitchell’s alley.
The pick: This would be a dream get for the Hawks at this pick as Ward could become the face of the next generation Hawthorn midfield alongside Will Day. Sam Mitchell would rate Ward’s foot skills, work ethic and ability to connect through the middle of the ground. His great grandfather, Alex Lee, played 31 games for the Hawks between 1933-35.
8. Fremantle: Jye Amiss - East Perth195cm key forward
The player: The smart key forward is a snug fit for the Dockers as they can lock-in a local talent to become a spearhead for the next decade. Amiss has impressed in the WAFL Colts bagging 53 goals and is the best key forward prospect in the country. He has a strong-lead up game and works hard to kick goals in different ways, either second-chance opportunities at ground level, pressuring the opposition or linking up. Even better, he is an accurate kick for goal from set shot and general play. Has nice hands.
The pick: The Dockers need another developing key forward and it will be hard to pass up on the local star goal kicker. Richmond has the next pick and could also snap him up after losing Mabior Chol and Callum Coleman-Jones, so if the Dockers really want they may have to pounce here.
9. Richmond: Josh Rachele - Murray Bushrangers180cm forward-midfielder
The player: Rachele this low in the top-10 would be an excellent pickup for the Tigers if he is still available. The crafty goal kicker has an exciting mix of speed and talent in the forward half and could develop into an absolute match winner at AFL level as his fitness builds. He can blow past defenders, create play out of nowhere and hit the scoreboard and there is significant upside in his midfield prospects. Lethal in the air and at ground level, and will be a fan favourite.
The pick: The Tigers would be keen to get their hands on Hobbs as a Trent Cotchin replacement, but there is a lot to like about Rachele if he slides this far. Easy to see the Tigers snapping him up given the way they have used small forwards like him in the past. And could impact early.
10. Fremantle: Mac Andrew - Dandenong Stingrays 200cm ruck-key forward
The player: One of the buzz players of this year’s draft has continued to rocket up draft orders across the season. At 200cm the exciting ruck-forward has Nic Naitanui-like qualities the way he can reach above those around him to either mark the ball or tap down to his teammates. And in-play he has a capacity to have a big impact with his tackling and follow-up and ground level. The spring-heeled Andrew is also developing his game in the forward half and according to the talent gurus can be anything in a few years.
The pick: Is this Fremantle’s Nic Natanui moment? Fremantle has two choices inside the top-10 which gives them flexibility to take the key forward they need (Amiss) and if not a midfield replacement for Adam Cerra, then the super athletic Andrew. Greater Western Sydney could take him as high as pick two, they rate Andrew so highly. He is tied to Melbourne’s next generation academy but there is no chance he slides past pick 20 which is what needs to happen to land at the Demons. Tall midfielder Neil Erasmus also in the mix.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-2021-jay-clark-looks-at-how-the-cards-may-fall-in-next-months-afl-national-draft/news-story/a348a3c9e3e0b0a0f4874108d1c7f354
