Some of the draftees that may be around at our later picks.
AFL Draft 2023: The best prospects who are flying under the radarThey might not be top-20 prospects in this year’s draft, but these players could prove to be late gems for AFL clubs in November.
Chris Cavanagh and Dan Batten
HeraldSun
October 18, 2023 LUKE LLOYDA 193cm forward, Lloyd emerged as a draft bolter in the second half of the year. He was unsighted at the under-18 national championships, after missing selection for Vic Metro following an early-season quad injury. However, Lloyd kicked 19 goals in a game for school side De La Salle in May to put his potential on show. His marking is a feature of his game and he booted eight goals across his final three games of the season for Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League, including two majors in a winning grand final.
COOPER SIMPSONSomewhat of a forgotten man, Simpson has slid down draft boards through little fault of his own, with an injury during the championships sidelining him for a critical part of the season. But his finish to year for the Dandenong Stingrays was a reminder of his x-factor as a midfielder, booting 2 goals from 20 disposals in his final outing. Simpson has a great sidestep in traffic and can break a game open with his penetrating kick, burst and ability to hit the scoreboard, averaging 21.5 disposals and just under a goal per game at Coates Talent League level. Had impressive results across the board at the combine and also received a VFL opportunity for Casey earlier in the year.
WIL DAWSON
A versatile tall, Dawson measured 200.3cm at the national draft combine and is still growing. Gippsland Power required him in defence this year and he impressed in that position. However, Dawson is seen as a natural forward and back-up ruck, which is where he featured in his bottom-age season in 2022. While not a finished product just yet, there is plenty of excitement about what Dawson could become given his size, competitive nature, one-on-one contest wins and ability to be clean below his knees. He has met with just about every club, suggesting he will likely land somewhere.
SHAUN MANNAGHClubs after a plug and play mature-ager who can find the footy with ease and consistently hit the scoreboard, look no further. Mannagh put an exclamation point on his dominant VFL season with an incredible grand final performance, booting six goals and racking up 28 disposals to win the best-on-ground medal in Werribee’s loss to Gold Coast. You have to have make a significant impact to get drafted at 26, but Mannagh did just that at VFL level this season as a midfielder-forward, averaging 25 disposals, 7.8 score involvements, 5.6 tackles 4.7 clearances, 1.9 goals and 117 ranking points per game. Players who can break games open in the forward half while winning 20 disposals are hard to find, and Mannagh is well worth the punt.
COOPER TREMBATH
A 193cm tall, Trembath took to his first season in defence like a duck to water this year. He was overlooked for Vic Metro’s under-18 national championships squad, but starred in the middle and later part of the year for the Eastern Ranges as a strong-marking and intercepting backman. In a round 7 match in the Coates Talent League, Trembath racked up 17 disposals and 14 marks including eight intercept marks. He has quickly learnt when to go for his marks and when to spoil and how to position his body. Trembath can play on mid-sized forwards but also a little bit bigger and has drawn comparisons to Greater Western Sydney’s Connor Idun.
MICHAEL RUDDRudd was equal fifth for goals per game at the national championships after an eye-catching carnival for Vic Country, but he was left off the national combine invite list. Club concerns centre on the medium forward’s speed, but what Rudd does have is a huge engine and strong hands overhead. Rudd showcased this at the state combine where he came equal-fifth in the 2km time trial (6:17). At 192cm, Rudd plays in a similar vein to Collingwood premiership forward Brody Mihocek and could prove to be a hidden gem for a club after a marking forward with relentless workrate.
TAYLOR GOADThe equal-tallest player at the national draft combine, Goad measured in at a towering 206.2cm. However, despite his size he is incredibly athletic and finished eighth in both the 20m sprint and vertical jump tests. Goad featured as a ruckman for South Australia in all four games of the under-18 national championships and continued his good form in the second half of the season for South Adelaide in the SANFL under-18s. He is agile, has good skills and is super competitive. Goad only began to focus on football again last year, having previously prioritised basketball.
KANE MCAULIFFEA 187cm utility from North Adelaide, McAuliffe has some fans and showcased his incredible athletic abilities at the national draft combine. He finished third in the running vertical jump and fifth in both the vertical jump and the 20m sprint tests. He was also the first South Australian across the line in the 2km time trial, finishing in a time of 6min 26sec. A member of the AFL Academy this year, McAuliffe was restricted at times by a groin injury. However, the penetrating left-footer led the way in the midfield for South Australia at the national championships and impressed across seven SANFL reserves matches in the second half of the year.
LOGAN EVANSA strong start to the season saw Evans crack into the Norwood’s senior side from the get-go, tallying 18 disposals in a promising league debut. The rangy defender has spent time at all three levels this season but has played most of his footy in Norwood’s reserves, where he has averaged 15.2 disposals, 5.8 intercepts and 91 ranking points across 10 matches. His national championships could have been better, but as his national combine snub proves, Evans’ season has flown under the radar. The 189cm prospect reads the play well, has tidy skills and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty defensively
REECE TORRENTA 184cm midfielder or rebounding halfback, Torrent had a solid national championships with Western Australia and made an even better finish to the season. He made his senior WAFL debut for Peel Thunder in the final round of the regular season, showing good composure and kicking a goal. He runs hard and can break the lines, can win his own ball when playing inside and hits targets when on the outside with his nice left foot. Torrent placed seventh in the agility test at the national draft combine, while also performing well in the 2km time trial with a time of 6min 24sec.
KOEN SANCHEZMay not have eye-catching traits of WA bolter Lance Collard, but Sanchez is a hardworking half-forward who is always keeping himself busy. Sanchez had a consistent national carnival where he averaged 17.8 disposals, 6.0 score involvments, 1.5 goals and 102 ranking points, with his three goals against Vic Metro the highlight. The East Fremantle prospect is very clean below his knees, has deft footskills and is a great decision maker. Sanchez has racked up large possession tallies as a midfielder at WAFL Colts level, suggesting he can pinch hit in the midfield at the next level. Sanchez has also made the step up to WAFL Reserves level and didn’t look out of place.
BAILEY VAN DE HEUVELThe dearth of key defenders in the AFL saw the 25-year-old burst onto the draft radar, with his invite to the state combine evidence of club interest. After crossing from Footscray to Geelong’s VFL side, Van De Heuvel went to anothett level at the back end of the season, averaging 18.2 disposals, 8.3 marks, 7.8 intercept possessions and 4.8 marks in his last five games. This was all while working as an electrician during the week. At 200cm, Van De Heuvel can win the ball back off the opposition with his reading of the play and overhead marking, and he is ultra competitive defensively. Geelong VFL coach Mark Corrigan views him as a mature-ager with significant upside given he has never been in a full-time program. Could he be the latest Cats VFL graduate to be promoted to Geelong list?
SAM CLOHESYThe Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal has been a golden ticket into the AFL for mature-age talents, with Ethan Phillips (2022) the first recipient in the last 16 years who didn’t go on to get drafted. Clohesy, the older brother of 2022 Geelong draftee Ted, was recognised with the award after coming on in leaps and bounds this year alongside Mannagh for Werribee, averaging 16.8 disposalss and 5.6 marks. The rebounding defender uses the ball well by foot, is a good size at 189cm and is strong overhead. Clohesy has played local footy all over the country and this year was his first full season playing VFL football, giving him promising upside for a club after a defender. Several clubs have shown interest, with his 26-disposal preliminary final in particular attracting attention.
https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/afl-draft-2023-the-best-prospects-who-are-flying-under-the-radar/news-story/a8ea96cd2063c67c3dad3c6dacced711
