Follows from previous post:40. COOPER SIMPSONPosition: Midfielder
Size: 182cm
Clubs: Dandenong Stingrays/Mt Martha
AFL player comparison: Luke Davies-Uniacke
An ankle injury in his first champs game meant he missed the remaining three matches for Vic Country, but recruiters certainly haven’t gotten the AFL potential of this well-balanced on-baller. He averaged 24 disposals across his first three Talent League games for the Stingrays, while also finishing with 11 touches, seven contested possessions and three centre clearances for the AFL Academy against Port’s SANFL side. He then finished with three strong games for Dandenong: 2.1 from 22 touches against the Bushrangers, 28 disposals and eight marks against the Devils then 2.1 from 20 disposals against Gippsland. Speedy, cool under pressure and clean with ball in-hand, Simpson is also a big moments player that steps up when his team needs him most. Add in his ultra professionalism, elite burstaway speed and evasive step in traffic and you’ve got yourself an AFL player. He could be taken a lot earlier on draft night.
41. CAIDEN CLEARYPosition: Midfielder
Size: 182cm
Clubs: Sydney Swans Academy/Sydney University
AFL player comparison: Josh Dunkley
The Swans are likely to use two picks at the draft: One on a prospect with their first-rounder and another on matching a bid on Cleary, who couldn’t have done much more to push his prospects throughout 2023. Cleary thrived in the star-studded Allies midfield to produce a consistent champs campaign where he increased his disposal count with every game – 24, 28, 29 and 36 – while also being a consistent tackler. Then he went on to impress for the Swans’ VFL team, averaging 17.7 tackles across six matches against bigger bodies. Cleary is everything you want in a young inside midfielder: Ferocious attack on the ball, clean in congestion and powerful in how he covers the ground, which was punctuated by his 6:06 effort in the 2km time trial at the national draft combine. A bid could come on him as early as the 20s, but it’s more likely he’ll go on night two – and the Swans will be prepared to match that bid.
42. BODIE RYANPosition: Medium defender
Size: 187cm
Clubs: Glenelg/Brighton
AFL player comparison: Zach Guthrie
Could be taken a lot earlier than this ranking suggests, as Ryan has ample fans at AFL club level. Speedy, agile and an excellent interceptor, Ryan averaged 19.6 disposals and 5.3 marks at SANFL Under 18s level. His standout game was for SA against Vic Country in the carnival, where he curtailed Harley Reid’s influence after the Pick 1 favourite’s hot start at Ikon Park. Fellow SA prospect Ashton Moir told foxfooty.com.au that 187cm Ryan “can play any role in the backline”, adding: “He reads the ball really well, whether that’s in the air or at ground level, and he’s a really good lockdown defender.” Ryan is the cousin of Jakob Ryan, who was drafted by Collingwood 12 months ago.
43. AIDEN O’DRISCOLLPosition: Wing
Size: 175cm
Clubs: Perth/Northern Saints
AFL player comparison: Hayden Ballantyne
The draft combine MVP — but he’s more than just an athlete. O’Driscoll – the brother of Fremantle AFL/AFLW duo Nathan and Emma O’Driscoll – recorded top-10 finishes in all five combine tests, producing the quickest 20m sprint time (2.871 seconds) and finishing sixth in the 2km time trial (6:06), seventh in the running vertical jump (92cm), ninth in the standing vertical jump (73cm) and ninth in the agility test (8.302). But clubs all year have been well aware of O’Driscoll’s elite running capacity, neat ball use and discipline to keep his width on the wing. O’Driscoll was a consistent performer in his six WAFL colts matches for Perth, averaging 16.5 disposals per game, but his standout performance was for WA against South Australia, booting one goal from 19 disposals and 12 marks.
44. ASHTON MOIRPosition: Medium forward
Size: 187cm
Clubs: Glenelg/Plympton
AFL player comparison: Bayley Fritsch
Moir told foxfooty.com.au “it kills me” he’s not in the top-five mix ahead of the draft, but he also believes the adversity he’s faced this year will help him in the long run. After entering the season as a top-10 prospect, Moir endured a rollercoaster draft year where he struggled for consistency across all levels, primarily due to a nagging hip issue while some clubs believed his cause wasn’t helped by spending so much time deep inside 50. Moir kicked three goals and averaged 10 disposals from his four carnival games for SA — and while he was solid in the SANFL Under 18s, clubs were hoping he’d kick on at reserves or league level. Yet recruiters are well aware of the mid-sized forward’s incredible, freakish talent, which he displayed as a bottom-ager for South Australia last year with his high marking, goalkicking nous and kicking efficiency using both feet. Has worked hard in recent months to get his body right, which helped him run a time of 8.24 seconds on the agility test. No doubt a big slider, but could he be a big bargain?
45. SHAUN MANNAGHPosition: Small forward/midfielder
Size: 175cm
Clubs: Werribee (VFL)/Lavington
AFL player comparison: Jordan De Goey
The best mature-age prospect up for grabs after a mighty VFL campaign full of eye-catching performances. He won the Norm Goss Medal for the best player in the VFL grand final — despite Werribee’s loss to Gold Coast — after kicking six goals from 28 disposals. But it wasn’t his only standout game for the year. He kicked four goals from 40 touches against Southport in Round 3 then slotted a lazy seven majors from 25 disposals against Sandringham in Round 15. From his 21 games, he’s kicked 40.32 and averaged 25 touches per outing. AFL clubs in recent years have preferred to take mature-age players via the SSP after having a close look at them as train-on players. But Mannagh’s form has been so good that a club surely has to take him in the national draft.
46. JOE FONTIPosition: Medium defender
Size: 188cm
Clubs: Claremont/East Fremantle
AFL player comparison: Trent Rivers
A late bolter who’s attracted interest from several clubs throughout the back-half of the year. After starting the year as a raw wingman, Fonti was moved to half-back for Claremont’s colts team where he thrived, impressing with his run and intercept marking. It led to a late call-up to WA’s national carnival squad where he played three games. After playing a key role in Claremont’s colts flag, Fonti tested superbly well at the WA state draft combine, running the 20m sprint in 2.88 seconds and the agility test in 7.97 seconds. Those times were ranked first and second respectively among all players who tested at the three state draft combines.
47. JACK CALLINANPosition: Small forward
Size: 179cm
Clubs: Tasmania Devils/Clarence
AFL player comparison: Tyson Stengle
A dynamic forward who knows where the goals are and is dangerous both in the air and at ground level. After a dominant start to his draft year in the Coates Talent League with 14.1 from his first four games for Tassie, Callinan — the son of former Crow Ian Callinan – was exciting for the Allies across half-forward across the carnival, booting 5.3 and averaging 11 disposals. Callinan showed off impressive footy nous, class and finishing ability, hence he finished with a competition-high eight score assists. He then produced two three-goals in Tassie’s last two finals against the Gippsland Power and Eastern Ranges. Doesn’t have a long list of clubs interested in him, but the ones that are have significant interest, so he should go in the national draft.
48. CLAY HALLPosition: Midfielder
Size: 189cm
Clubs: Peel Thunder/Harvey Brunswick Leschenault
AFL player comparison: Jack Crisp
A shining light in a tough mid-season national championships campaign for WA and showed great consistency across his draft campaign. Hall had more AFL clubs interested in him after his consistent carnival where he averaged 27 disposals, 11 contested possessions, six clearances and five inside 50s to earn All-Australian honours. He returned to WAFL league level and averaged 18.6 disposals from six games for Peel Thunder playing alongside Fremantle-listed players, although his output dipped later in the year. Hall – the son of former Eagles and Cats forward Derek Hall – is an appealing midfielder for AFL clubs considering his professionalism, size and outstanding aerobic capacity, although scouts would like to see an improvement in his kicking efficiency.
49. JOEL FREIJAHPosition: Wing
Size: 190cm
Clubs: GWV Rebels/Horsham Saints
AFL player comparison: Jason Johannisen
Was much higher on draft boards at the start of the year, but Horsham product still has big upside. Freijah started his 2023 campaign with a bang, averaging 22 disposals and one goal from his first eight games for the Rebels. His six-goal, 26-disposal display against the Stingrays in Round 4 was mesmerising. But he was a little quiet at the carnival for Vic Country – he kicked 3.1 and averaged 12 disposals from four games – and didn’t quite kick on for GWV in the back-half of the year. Still, Freijah is quick, agile, classy with his hands on the inside and can hit the scoreboard. He’s inside a unique size, so he can play as a tall midfielder, wing or even third forward/defender, which excites scouts. Could be a late bargain if it clicks for him at AFL level.
50. VIGO VISENTINIPosition: Ruck
Size: 204cm
Clubs: Sandringham Dragons/Brighton Beach
AFL player comparison: Rhys Stanley
The brother of Port Adelaide’s Dante Visentini, who was taken with Pick 56 in the 2021 draft. But two years later, you could argue younger brother Vigo is ahead of Dante at the same age. The athletic ruck played in both of the Dragons’ Coates Talent League premierships, averaging 12 disposals and 20.6 hit-outs across 11 games this season. He also played a couple of games for Vic Metro in the national championships. One of the most impressive aspects about the former volleyballer’s game is how ambidextrous he is — especially in the clinches — with the ability to dispose of the ball with both hands and feet with aplomb. But he’s also a good overhead mark with an eye-catching leap. The fact he’s one of five rucks in foxfooty.com.au’s 2023 draft power rankings shows how deep the ruck pool is in this year’s class.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/afl-draft-2023-power-rankings-2650-afl-draft-prospects-2023-news-fox-footy-rankings-50-to-26-shaun-mannagh/news-story/9ee29cf2709722c2ae31bb448586cd53
