The AFL draft is just weeks away. Here’s where the top-40 prospects could landMarc McGowan
The Age
November 2, 2024 The AFL draft is less than three weeks away, and the 2024 class has recruiters excited with its depth of talent and variety, after originally being all about midfielders.
We have spoken to recruiters at 14 of the 18 clubs to get the lowdown on this year’s top 40 prospects and which clubs they might end up at. Father-son and academy bids will alter the order and that has been factored into our phantom draft.
Our rankings in August were based on a consensus across AFL club recruiters who spoke to this masthead, whereas the October edition began to place prospects – particularly in the top 10 – according to which clubs were likely to select them. That is also the process for these latest rankings.
1. Sam Lalor (Richmond)GWV Rebels/Vic Country
Midfielder/forward, 188cm, 30/8/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 23 disposals, 6.3 clearances, 6 inside 50s
The Age’s August top 30: 5 October top 30: 1
Agility test: N/A 20m sprint: N/A 2km time trial: N/A
There is only one Dustin Martin, but the Tigers could anoint a teenager with many of the same characteristics as the triple Norm Smith medallist with this year’s No.1 pick. Recruiting sources believe Richmond are deciding between Lalor and Finn O’Sullivan, with Jagga Smith another possibility. Lalor, who was also a talented cricketer before focusing on football, was unable to put his best foot forward in 2024 because of a series of injuries, but the consensus is he will thrive, and improve his running, once he is in an AFL system. He is powerful, skilful, tough, equally impactful as a midfielder and forward, and overflowing with tantalising upside.
2. Levi Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions match North Melbourne’s bid)
3. Alix Tauru (North Melbourne)
4. Finn O’Sullivan (Carlton)
5. Harvey Langford (Adelaide)
6. Jagga Smith (Melbourne)
7. Josh Smillie (Richmond)Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
Midfielder, 195cm, 17/5/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 25.5 disposals, 11.3 contested possessions, 4.8 clearances
The Age’s August top 30: 4 October top 30: 8
Agility test: 8.391 secs 20m sprint: 3.09 secs 2km time trial: 6:38 mins
Smillie was once a pick one contender, but an up-and-down season left him a polarising prospect. His physical traits and playing style as a midfielder provoke comparisons to Carlton’s dual Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps. Smillie’s admirers rave about his stoppage work and how he can hang tough in a tackle before finding a teammate by hand, while he has also proven he can step up in crunch moments. Tigers list manager Blair Hartley and performance boss Tim Livingstone both have links to Smillie’s junior club Park Orchards. Whether that connection is being overblown will soon be known. Richmond could take a key forward here instead.
8. Leo Lombard (Gold Coast match St Kilda’s bid)
9. Isaac Kako (Essendon match St Kilda’s bid)
10. Sid Draper (St Kilda)
11. Xavier Lindsay (St Kilda)
12. Harry Armstrong (Melbourne)
Armstrong’s been linked with
Richmond, St Kilda and Melbourne, and is viewed as the best key forward in the draft – a status he earned with a terrific under-18 championships.
13. Tobie Travaglia (Richmond)Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country
Defender/midfielder, 187cm, 26/10/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 23.6 disposals, 11.6 contested possessions, 6.4 tackles
The Age’s August top 30: 13 October top 30: 12
Agility test: 8.261 secs 20m sprint: 3.19 secs 2km time trial: 6:13 mins
This might be too low for a player who is universally loved by recruiters and improved in leaps and bounds this year. Melbourne could even take him at the previous pick. There are talent scouts who rate Travaglia inside the top 10, but he is typically considered to be narrowly outside that company. Only Sydney academy prospect Joel Cochran ran a quicker 2km time trial at the combine. That endurance makes him an early candidate to fill a wing or play off half-back, but there is confidence he could develop into an inside midfielder. Travaglia is highly competitive, hates being beaten, dependable and one of the safer picks in the first round.
14. Jobe Shanahan (Richmond)Bendigo Pioneers/Allies
Tall forward, 195cm, 2/8/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 12.9 disposals, 8.5 contested possessions, 2.1 goals
The Age’s August top 30: 21 October top 30: 17
Agility test: 8.77 secs 20m sprint: 3.1 secs 2km time trial: 6:39 mins
Shanahan just kept getting it done this year, from the Talent League to the under-18 championships then in the VFL for Essendon, where he kicked 11 goals in three appearances. He is an endurance athlete, an excellent field and set-shot kick, constantly presents in the right areas (including being a smart judge of aerial balls) and makes good decisions. Many recruiters believe there is little between Shanahan and Harry Armstrong, and the former has the added appeal of proving he can play at the other end of the ground.
15. Bo Allan (West Coast)
16. Jack Whitlock (Port Adelaide)
There is a scenario where the taller of the Whitlock twins is a Saint, Demon or
Tiger and already off the board.
17. Joe Berry (Fremantle)
18. Taj Hotton (GWS Giants)
19. Ollie Hannaford (GWS Giants)
20. Murphy Reid (Western Bulldogs)
21. Luke Trainor (Richmond)Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Tall defender, 194cm, 10/4/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 19.8 disposals, 2.4 intercept marks, 6 intercept possessions
The Age’s August top 30: 7 October top 30: 14
Agility test: N/A 20m sprint: N/A 2km time trial: N/A
Trainor was once considered a potential top-five pick after a fast start to the season, but fellow intercept defender Alix Tauru went up, whereas he has tumbled, including not being invited to the first night of the draft. Recruiters would have liked to see him play on an opponent more and believe he can be shaky deep in defence, while there are also concerns about his concussions. But it is easy to forget all the positives Trainor would bring to an AFL team, from his strong hands to his aggressive kicking out of defence and ability to play at both ends.
22. Sam Marshall (Brisbane Lions match Sydney’s bid)
23. Jesse Dattoli (Sydney)
24. Jasper Alger (Richmond)Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Country
Forward, 183cm, 17/12/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 10.8 disposals, 2.7 tackles, 1.3 goals
The Age’s August top 30: N/A October top 30: N/A
Agility test: 8.141 secs 20m sprint: 2.931 secs 2km time trial: 6:28 mins
The newest draft bolter, and could even sneak inside the top 20. The Giants, Tigers and maybe even the Dogs could fight it out for him. Alger tested very well at the national combine and is a good athlete who performs well aerially for his height and in one-on-one situations. The zippy small forward from Warragul makes quick and smart decisions under pressure, presents well and with a purpose on the lead, and is typically a sound set shot. Alger has played various roles, but his future looks to be in attack.
25. Jonty Faull (GWS Giants)
26. Matt Whitlock (Sydney)
27. Alex Dodson (Richmond)Sturt/South Australia
Ruckman, 201cm, 15/6/2006
SANFL U18 stats (avg): 20.8 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 7.4 hit-outs-to-advantage
The Age’s August top 30: 20 October top 30: 24
Agility test: 9.08 secs 20m sprint: 3.25 secs 2km time trial: 7:06 mins
The first ruckman drafted is certain to be Dodson, a basketball convert who represented Australia at underage level and could have accepted a development spot with NBL club Adelaide 36ers. Now fully invested in becoming an AFL footballer, the teenager has great upside and plays like an extra midfielder once the ball hits the ground, but recruiters would like to see his marking develop. Most recruiters expect the Tigers to take the plunge on Dodson.
28. Cooper Hynes (Richmond)Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Metro
Midfielder/forward, 190cm, 28/2/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 23.7 disposals, 4.7 clearances, 1.5 goals
The Age’s August top 30: N/A October top 30: 27
Agility test: N/A 20m sprint: N/A 2km time trial: N/A
This might be far too low for Hynes, who could go as high as Melbourne’s second pick, with West Coast and Port Adelaide among his admirers. The common retort about the powerful Stingrays product is that he has the widest draft range of any player. Formed a great one-two punch with Harvey Langford, and they often switched between the forward line and midfield. There are some lofty AFL comparisons for him, from Cam Zurhaar to even Clayton Oliver. Hynes’ endurance needs to improve, but his forward and clearance craft are rated highly.
29. Tom Gross (Western Bulldogs)
30. Noah Mraz (West Coast)
31. James Barrat (Port Adelaide)
32. Hamish Davis (Fremantle)
33. Ben Camporeale (Carlton match St Kilda’s bid)
34. Thomas Sims (St Kilda)
35. Charlie West (Essendon)
36. Harrison Oliver (Hawthorn)
37. Christian Moraes (Western Bulldogs)
38. Angus Clarke (Port Adelaide)
39. Rhys Unwin (GWS Giants)
40. Charlie Nicholls (Sydney)
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-afl-draft-is-just-weeks-away-here-s-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-top-40-prospects-20241024-p5kl0v.html