Kevin Sheehan’s 2024 Telstra AFL Draft top prospects: Tall forwards and ruckHarry ArmstrongState: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Sandringham Dragons
Community Club: Ormond
Date of Birth: 14/06/2006
Height: 195cm
Mobile tall forward who is an outstanding contested mark, has sure hands on the burst and is a difficult player to contain with his speed on the lead. Emerged for Victoria Metro in the Marsh AFL National Championships with three goals against South Australia and then capped it off with five goals against Victoria Country in the title-decider to win All Australian honours. A long and accurate left-foot kick, he continued to show his match-winning ability with the Sandringham Dragons, kicking 27 goals in 10 matches, including four in their Grand Final win against the GWV Rebels. Capped a breakout year by earning Coates Talent League Team of the Year honours. His result in the agility test at the national Draft Combine was outstanding for a player of his type, being ranked seventh with a time of 8.13 seconds.
Floyd BurmeisterState: Victoria Country
State League Club: GWV Rebels
Community Club: Redan
Date of Birth: 04/05/2006
Height: 199cm
Mobile ruckman/tall forward who is still very raw but brings great energy and competitiveness. A first-choice athlete with a tremendous natural leap, he can be a dangerous marking target in the forward line and is clean at ground level, attributes he showed for both the GWV Rebels and Victoria Country this year. A natural left-footer, he led Victoria Country’s ruck at the National Championships and was among their best players against Victoria Metro in the final game which gave a glimpse of his future potential. Played an important role in the Rebels’ run to the Coates Talent League Grand Final, playing 15 matches and averaging 10 disposals and 10 hitouts. His testing supported his athletic profile at the national Draft Combine, with his running vertical jump of 90cm ranked sixth and his 3.05 seconds for the 20m sprint and 6:36 for the 2km time trial also strong performances.
Alex DodsonState: South Australia
State League Club: Sturt
Community Club: Payneham
Date of Birth: 15/06/2006
Height: 201cm
A developing ruckman who is extremely athletic and competitive. His mobility is a great weapon in winning the ball around the ground, while his vertical leap and reach are both assets at stoppages. Missed the opening game of the National Championships due to basketball commitments after winning a gold medal playing basketball for Australia at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany. He then emerged as the number one ruckman in the Championships with his performances in three matches for South Australia, averaging 17.3 disposals, 3.0 marks, 3.7 clearances and 19.7 hitouts to earn All Australian honours. Played nine matches for Sturt in at under-18 level and was again dominant, averaging 21 disposals, four marks and 25 hitouts.
Jonty FaullPronunciation: Fall
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: GWV Rebels
Community Club: Redan
Date of Birth: 01/02/2006
Height: 195cm
A tall forward who is agile and strong overhead with his vice-like grip. He recovered from a back complaint which interrupted his start to the year to play some outstanding football for the GWV Rebels and Victoria Country at club and representative levels. Loves the contest and attacks the ball aggressively in the air and at ground level. Finished the year kicking 27 goals in 11 matches for the Rebels, including five against the Oakleigh Chargers in the preliminary final, before winning selection in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year. Tested well on the agility test at the Draft Combine, recording a time of 8.34 seconds.
Kayle GerreynPronunciation: Jer-rine
State: Western Australia
State League Club: West Perth
Community Club: Joondalup Kinross
Date of Birth: 10/05/2006
Height: 199cm
A mobile tall forward or ruckman with excellent skills on both sides of his body for a player of his size. Had an excellent season with West Perth in the WAFL Colts, averaging 21.5 disposals and 6.2 marks to earn selection in the Team of the Year and was promoted to play two games at senior level late in the season. Showed some potential playing all four matches for Western Australia in the National Championships, averaging 12.5 disposals and nine hitouts, while also kicking five goals. Ranked sixth for the agility test at the national Draft Combine with a time of 8.08 seconds, which was outstanding for a player of his size.
Charlie NichollsState: South Australia
State League Club: Central District
Community Club: Mintaro Manoora
Date of Birth: 08/06/2006
Height: 197cm
A lightly-built but extremely athletic tall forward who also showed he can play in defence during the National Championships. He has a high work rate and keeps presenting as a marking target up forward. Looks to have enormous scope for further development with his marking and mobility real assets. Averaged 15 disposals and 7.5 marks across 11 matches at under-18 level in the SANFL. He also hit the scoreboard, booting multiple goals in eight matches for a total of 22 majors. His sharp turn of foot and work rate stood out at the national Draft Combine recording 2.96 seconds for the 20m sprint and 6:41 for the 2km time trial, both impressive results for a key position prospect.
Aiden RiddleState: Western Australia
State League Club: Claremont
Community Club: North Beach
Date of Birth: 27/12/2005
Height: 200cm
Developing ruckman who competed fiercely for Western Australia at the National Championships and was named among his team’s best against the Allies and South Australia. Averaged 19.8 hitouts, 9.3 disposals and 2.5 marks across four matches. Continued to consistently provide his team with first use of the ball at Colts level in Claremont’s run to win back-to-back premierships, averaging 14.2 disposals, three marks and 26 hitouts across the season. Presented well athletically at the Draft Combine with his speed (3.06 seconds for the 20m sprint) and agility (8.23 seconds for the agility test) both impressive results for a ruck prospect.
Jobe ShanahanState: NSW/ACT
State League Club: Bendigo Pioneers
Community Club: Moama
Date of Birth: 02/08/2006
Height: 195cm
A mobile tall forward with a vice-like grip overhead who continued to develop at multiple levels this year. Represented the Allies during the National Championships and was a real presence up forward, taking the most contested marks of any player during the tournament. Was at his very best in the Allies’ thrilling two-point loss to Victoria Country when he amassed 16 disposals, nine marks (four contested) and kicked three goals, which helped him secure All Australian honours. He kicked 42 goals in 20 matches in the Talent Pathway this season, including 11 goals in three matches for Essendon’s VFL team. Topped off an outstanding year by winning selection in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year. Also tested soundly at the Draft Combine with a strong 6:39 for the 2km time trial and leaping 86cm in the running vertical jump.
Thomas SimsState: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Northern Knights
Community: Montmorency
Date of Birth: 12/05/2006
Height: 199cm
A tall forward or ruckman whose ability in the air separates him from others. Uses his natural spring and strong grip to pull in marks and also follows up well at ground level. Had an impressive season with the Northern Knights, averaging 11.5 disposals and 4.2 marks and kicking 23 goals in 13 matches. This included kicking seven goals and taking 10 marks in a best-on-ground performance against the Oakleigh Chargers in Round 6. He was also part of Victoria Metro’s title-winning team at the National Championships, with his three-goal effort against Western Australia his most productive performance. His elite mobility was on display at the Draft Combine, ranking eighth on the agility test with a time of 8.14 seconds.
Gabriel StumpfState: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Northern Knights
Community Club: Warrandyte
Date of Birth: 23/11/2006
Height: 196cm
Mobile tall forward with good speed off the mark and strong hands overhead. A neat and reliable set shot, he kicked 27.15 for the Northern Knights across 17 matches and averaged 10 disposals and 3.5 marks. Earned selection for Victoria Metro in two matches at the National Championships. Really turned heads at the Draft Combine with his blistering speed, producing the quickest 20m sprint with a time of 2.82 seconds in a superb demonstration of his athletic ability and potential to get separation as a lead up forward.
Charlie WestState: South Australia
State League Club: Woodville-West Torrens
Community Club: Henley
Date of Birth: 01/02/2006
Height: 194cm
Tall forward who also showed he is versatile and can go back to use his marking ability to influence the game. Played predominantly for Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL U8 competition and finished the year with a premiership, racking up 17 disposals (14 contested), four marks and kicking two goals to be one of his side’s best players in the Grand Final win over Central District. He had a taste of representative football, playing two games for South Australia in the National Championships, as well as making his debut at senior level. His speed was on show at the Draft Combine, ranking sixth in the 20m sprint with a time of 2.96 seconds.
Jack WhitlockState: Victoria Country
State League Club: Murray Bushrangers
Community Club: Shepparton Bears
Date of Birth: 16/05/2006
Height: 200cm
A wiry tall forward who is super athletic, has good hands out in front and overhead, an excellent ability to read the game and consistently performs at a high level. Had an extremely promising year at both Coates Talent League and representative level. He averaged 16.4 disposals and five marks per game, as well as kicking 25 goals, for the Murray Bushrangers, as well as averaging 14.8 disposals and five marks for Victoria Country. He was added to the Australia U18 team as an injury replacement in the match against Coburg and showed slices of his enormous potential. He is the twin of a fellow Draft hopeful Matt. His running vertical jump of 91cm ranked fourth at the national Draft Combine and his time of 6:39 in the 2km time trial in windy conditions showcased his competitive edge and endurance.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1251025/kevin-sheehans-2024-telstra-afl-draft-top-prospects-tall-forwards-and-ruck
