Continues from previous post ...16. Riley HardemanSwan Districts/Western Australia
Defender, 185cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 18.5 disposals, 5.8 marks, 2.3 intercept marks, 4.5 intercept possessions, 6.3 rebound 50s, 1.8 tackles, 90 ranking points (4 matches)
A left-footed rebounding defender, Hardeman led from the front as captain of Western Australia during the national championships. It was well known entering the year that he had great speed and was a booming and accurate kick, but Hardeman has also been able to add another element to his game this season with his strong overhead marking. Hardeman played in a WAFL Colts premiership for Swan Districts in 2021, still aged 16. He has also been exposed to senior WAFL football with the Black Swans this season.
17. Will McCabeCentral District/South Australia
Defender, 197cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 11.3 disposals, 3.3 marks, 4.3 intercept possessions, 2.3 rebound 50s, 3.3 tackles, 7.3 spoils, 95 ranking points (3 games)
Shaping as South Australia’s top draft prospect, McCabe was an All-Australian at under-16 level last year and has gone on to build a strong top-age season. The son of former Hawthorn star Luke McCabe – who played 138 games for the club – he is yet to officially nominate as a father-son for the Hawks but is expected to attract a first-round bid if he does. A tall defender, McCabe is a competitive player who has a good natural leap, is nice overhead mark and wins plenty of one-on-one battles. He is quite athletic, can play on talls or smalls and is an elite reader of the play. McCabe missed South Australia’s second match of the under-18 championships with groin soreness, but returned to play his best game against Vic Country with 19 disposals, six marks and six spoils.
18. Joel FreijahGWV Rebels/Vic Country
Midfielder, 191cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 12.3 disposals, 2.8 marks, 0.8 clearances, 1.8 tackles, 3.8 score involvements, 0.8 goals, 60 ranking points (4 games)
An athletic wingman at a good height, there is a lot to like about Freijah. He is an elite runner, has a strong body, possesses great composure, is clean below his knees and kicks the ball beautifully. During pre-season testing, Freijah ran a time of 2.98 seconds in the 20 metre sprint to highlight his speed, while he also holds his width when playing on a wing. Freijah caught the eye of scouts across the competition when he was best-on-ground for the Rebels in a Coates Talent League clash against Dandenong in Round 4. That day he logged 26 disposals, six clearances and kicked six goals in a best-on-ground performance, playing primarily on one wing. While his national championships campaign with Vic Country wasn’t quite to that level, he remains in the frame to be a top-20 selection.
19. Archer ReidGippsland Power/Vic Country
Forward, 203cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 8.8 disposals, 4.5 marks, 1 contested mark, 1 tackle, 5.5 score involvements, 1 goal, 63 ranking points (4 games)
The younger brother of Essendon defender Zach Reid, this towering Gippsland Power product plays at the other end of the ground. He is an exceptional overhead mark, reads the ball well in flight, is extremely mobile, good below his knees and has a strong natural goal sense. Reid was poised to make his VFL debut for Box Hill earlier this year but instead ended up going back to his local club Inverloch-Kongwak and booted 11 goals across two games in the seniors of the West Gippsland Football League. While he wasn’t able to string it all together during the national championships, he did impress early in Vic Country’s final match and finished with 8 disposals, 7 marks and 2.2. Reid isn’t ready to step straight into the AFL next year, but could provide a club with some serious long-term rewards.
20. Archie RobertsSandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Defender, 182cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 20.8 disposals, 3.8 marks, 1 intercept mark, 4.3 intercept possessions, 6 rebound 50s, 3.5 score involvements, 1.5 tackles, 87 ranking points (4 games)
A rebounding halfback with a bit of swagger about him, Roberts hasn’t put a foot wrong across his various football programs this year. He finds a way to have an impact week-in, week-out and was a key part of Vic Metro’s backline across the under-18 national championships. The left-footer is a damaging and penetrating kick, while he is also an elite runner who loves to play on and run and carry off halfback to break the lines. Roberts has also become a fine intercept player, while still being accountable to his man. He had 21 disposals as a bottom-age player in Sandringham’s premiership side last season and caught the eye with 17 disposals in the AFL Academy’s exhibition match against Carlton’s VFL side in May.
21. Cooper SimpsonDandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
Midfielder, 182cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 8 disposals, 2 marks, 1 clearance, 2 inside-50s, 2 score involvements, 33 ranking points (4 games)
A nasty corked thigh during Vic Country’s first match of the national championships sidelined Simpson for the rest of the tournament. But clubs haven’t forgotten about his talents and some still expect him to be a top-20 pick on draft night. The midfielder is a true professional and possess pace, composure, great finishing skills and a neat step through traffic. He works had both ways of the ball and has shown an ability to step up in the big moments as Dandenong’s captain. An AFL Academy member, Simpson played in exhibition matches against Port Adelaide’s SANFL side and Carlton’s VFL team earlier this year and has had a further taste of VFL football with Casey.
22. Nathan PhilactidesOakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Defender, 181cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 17.8 disposals, 3 marks, 4.5 rebound 50s, 3 intercept possessions, 1.5 tackles, 0.5 spoils, 74 ranking points (4 games)
A former athletics ace who once ranked top-five in the world in his age group in the 400m hurdles, Philactides has some serious pace to burn off a halfback flank. His agility is just as impressive as his speed, with Philactides having ranked fifth in the agility test during Victorian pre-season testing this year. The left-footer describes himself as a “run and gun” defender who likes to tuck the ball under his arm, take off and then use his penetrating kick to further propel his team forward. Philactides, who was selected as a co-captain of the Chargers this season, looks up to similar players like Richmond’s Daniel Rioli and Carlton’s Adam Saad. While recruiters would like to see Philactides continue to work on his one-on-one defending, his weapons certainly excite.
23. Jordan CroftCalder Cannons/Vic Metro
Forward, 200cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 9.3 disposals, 3.3 marks, 1.7 tackles, 6 score involvements, 1.3 goals, 68 ranking points (3 games)
Another year, another talented tall linked to the Western Bulldogs. Croft is the son of former Bulldogs key defender Matthew Croft but is making his name as a marking and goalkicking key forward and is available as a father-son prospect this year. Rival clubs expect a bid on Croft to come within the top-30 picks on draft night following a breakout season from the Calder Cannons product. While still lightly built, Croft is extremely mobile and athletic, leads well and marks the ball at the highest point, which makes him tough for opposition defenders to stop. Croft burst onto the scene with five goals against Northern Territory in Round 4 of the Coates Talent League and carried his form into the national championships, which started with three goals in Vic Metro’s first game against South Australia.
24. Koen SanchezEast Fremantle/Western Australia
Midfielder-Forward, 176cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 17.8 disposals, 4.8 marks, 3.5 clearances, 2 inside-50s, 3.5 tackles, 6 score involvements, 1.5 goals, 102 ranking points (4 games)
A speedy half-forward or wingman, Sanchez has climbed up club draft boards on the back of an eye-catching national championships campaign for Western Australia. He had been playing significant midfield time in the WAFL Colts, but featured primarily across half-forward during the national championships and was able to show his forward craft, clean hands and ability to hit the scoreboard. Sanchez’ goalkicking accuracy of 35.3 per cent was the only thing that let him down during the tournament, but recruiters loved his speed, energy and lateral movement and believe he is ready to go at the next level as a high half-forward. Sanchez had missed matches with East Fremantle earlier in the season with a hip-flexor issue.
25. Ashton MoirGlenelg/South Australia
Forward, 188cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 9.8 disposals, 3.3 marks, 3.3 score involvements, 1.5 score assists, 0.8 goals, 66 ranking points (4 games)
Considering he entered the year as a top-three prospect, Moir has been a significant slider among this year’s draft class. But given his enormous potential and what he showed in his bottom-age year, the mid-sized forward is still a good chance to be snapped up within the top-25 selections in November. Moir is a unique X-Factor player who can comfortably kick with either foot and is able to impact both in the air and at ground level. But after kicking 30 goals across 10 SANFL under-18 matches last year, he hasn’t been able to back up that form this season. Niggling hip issues earlier in the year didn’t help Moir’s cause, leading into a national championships where he both he and his team struggled. But if Moir can produce some strong performances back with Glenelg in the back half of the year, he could climb back up the rankings again.
26. Logan MorrisWestern Jets/Vic Metro
Forward, 192cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 12.3 disposals, 5.3 marks, 1.3 contested marks, 0.5 tackles, 4 score involvements, 1 goal, 70 ranking points (4 games)
There was some surprise around Princes Park when Morris went almost unsighted in the final game of the national championships with Vic Metro. But there was a reason for that – he went into the game ill. The previous week Morris had put his full potential on show against Western Australia, logging 16 disposals, 11 marks (five contested), 12 score involvements and kicking 4.1 in a performance that was the talk of the town. At 192cm, Morris has been likened to St Kilda’s Tim Membrey given he is more of a second or third tall than a key forward. But he has a nice vertical leap which helps him compete against taller opponents and a strong pair of hands overhead. Morris is also capable of playing in defence and will be a close watch for a lot of clubs in the second half of the season.
27. George StevensGWV Rebels/Vic Country
Midfielder, 189cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 19.3 disposals, 2.3 marks, 3.8 clearances, 3 inside-50s, 6.3 tackles, 4.5 score involvement, 0.5 goals, 115 ranking points (4 games)
A strong-bodied midfielder who has also spent time across halfback this year, Stevens has some clear strengths. Coming off an ACL injury which saw him sidelined for the entirety of 2022, he made an immediate impact slotting back into the fold at the Rebels in the Coates Talent League earlier this year. Stevens a contested ball beast, wins plenty of ground balls, is a penetrating kick, has clean hands, makes good decisions and reads the ball well when playing behind the ball. He’s also a natural leader who captained the AFL Academy in its match against Port Adelaide’s SANFL side in April. The one question mark over Stevens and his ability to play through the midfield is his lack of speed. That will means some clubs are less keen than others, but what scouts do know is they will be getting a quality person and true professional if they do pick Stevens.
28. Will PattonWest Adelaide/South Australia
Defender, 193cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 17 disposals, 4.8 marks, 1.3 intercept marks, 5.5 rebound 50s, 1.5 tackles, 4 spoils, 91 ranking points (4 games)
A composed left-footed defender, Patton captained South Australia’s team for the under-18 national championships and has drawn some comparisons to Hawthorn rising star Will Day. Patton has shown an ability to play on both medium and taller opposition forwards and not only reads the play well but also makes good decisions and uses the footy exceptionally well by hand and foot when he does win it back. A state representative in cricket as a junior, Patton has sharpened his focus on football in recent years but will be sidelined for the remainder of this year as he undergoes shoulder surgery.
29. Harry De MattiaDandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
Midfielder-Forward, 184cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 14.3 disposals, 2 marks, 5 inside-50s, 2.3 clearances, 4 tackles, 3 score involvements, 73 ranking points (4 games)
Another former junior cricket star who represented Victoria, De Mattia impressed recruiters during the national championships with Vic Country. He showed off his explosive speed breaking away from the contest, as well as nice agility, clean hands and his pressure game. De Mattia was also deployed in a different role in the backline during the final match of the tournament and didn’t look out of place. Dual-sport athletes have some added appeal to clubs given their ability to learn, which could enhance De Mattia’s prospects later in the year.
30. Clay HallPeel Thunder/Western Australia
Midfielder, 188cm
U18 National Championships Averages: 27.3 disposals, 43.5 marks, 4.5 inside-50s, 6 clearances, 5.3 tackles, 3.5 score involvements, 111 ranking points (4 games)
A staple in Western Australia’s midfield across the under-18 national championships, Hall only bolstered his draft rankings with a strong tournament. A WAFL Colts premiership winner with Peel Thunder as a bottom-age player last year, he stepped up to senior WAFL football earlier this season and did not look out of place. Hall’s work ethic on and off the field stands out, he has a good balance with his ability to win the ball on the inside and outside of the contest and he uses his strength to win plenty of ground balls. He is the son of former West Coast and Geelong forward Derek Hall, but is not eligible under father-son rules given his father played only two games for the Eagles and 74 matches for the Cats.
https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/afl-draft-2023-power-rankings-the-top-30-prospects-after-national-under18-championships/news-story/9739edaf94e1d80bb063de83a4056876
