https://x.com/caltwomey/status/1858391012219252901?s=46&t=7da_RTBaGiPwKBo1aKmuVg
P1 -> Lalor
P7 -> Smillie
P12 -> Lindsay
P14 -> Shanahan
P21 -> Dattoli
P23 -> M.Whitlock
P27 -> Alger
P28 -> Trainor
Cal Twomey's Phantom Draft: Top 30, late picks, whispersBy Callum Twomey
afl.com.au
18 Nov 2024IT IS the perfect storm for one of the toughest Phantom Drafts yet.
A very even draft all the way through the first round, a year without an obvious No.1 pick and clubs with multiple selections galore – 12 clubs own the first 26 selections, making the game-playing and cat-and-mouse at high stakes. The possibilities of trading, too, has added an extra degree of unpredictability.
The uncertainty has clubs predicting surprises while not being sure who gets through to their respective selections and how it will shake out, other than believing the early stages of this year's draft has plenty of depth.
Here is AFL.com.au's Phantom Draft for 2024. It includes where bids on father-son and Academy players may come, meaning the draft order in this top-30 has changed from how the draft order will begin. On Tuesday evening, we will release a late mail Phantom Draft as well, ahead of the first round of the Telstra AFL Draft taking place on Wednesday night.
It is the most even race for the No.1 pick in some time but the Tigers are poised to snare the gamebreaker in the pack. Where previous years had standout contenders, all of the top candidates this season have been very evenly ranked. Lalor's season was hit by different injury problems, including groin, hip and a hamstring strain to finish the year and saw him sit out of the Rebels' ascent to the Coates Talent League Grand Final. He is a powerful, explosive midfielder who likes a fend-off, a high mark, kicks goals at important stages of games and has genuine leadership within him. He has had all of the top-five clubs – Richmond, North Melbourne, Adelaide, Carlton and Melbourne – be in touch for chats or interviews over the past week or so and is the favourite to be crowned No.1.
If not him? It has really come down to two – Lalor or Finn O'Sullivan. The Tigers have still been keen on O'Sullivan and he is the other significant contender, having spoken with Richmond on Monday, but Lalor looks the guy.
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2. North - Finn O'Sullivan
3. Carl - Jagga Smith
4. Adel - Sid Draper
5. Bris - Levi Ashcroft (bid)
6. Melb - Harvey Langford
Smillie has been linked to the Tigers by rivals for some time. Big-bodied, 195cm midfield bulls don't come around often and Smillie was the dominant midfielder in the first half of the season with the Eastern Ranges. He didn't have as many standout games in the second half of his campaign but remains a big ball-getter who uses it well by foot. He can play forward and tested well for his running at the Telstra AFL Draft Combine in the 2km time trial.
If not him? The Tigers have travelled to see West Australian Bo Allan in recent days and they could look to grab him here in case they don't see him getting through to their picks at 10 and 11. That is seen as a real option, as is Tobie Travaglia at this pick, which hasn't been mentioned much but is one to watch. If Alix Tauru comes into the top group then one of the midfield talents – such as Sid Draper, Jagga Smith or Harvey Langford – could also squeeze out to here and give Richmond a tough decision to make.
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8. St Kilda - Tobie Travaglia
9. Gold Coast - Leo Lombard (bid)
10. St Kilda - Alix Tauru
11. Melbourne - Bo Allan
Lindsay established himself as a first-rounder at the back end of the national carnival, when he picked up 30 disposals for Vic Country against Vic Metro and locked in his All-Australian guernsey. He took that form into the back end of Gippsland Power's season, storming home with a run of consistency and taking out the Morrish medal as the competition's best player. He is a left-footed midfielder who can play anywhere around the centre square – or inside it – and has a piercing kick that complements their other mix.
If not him? In terms of the other midfielders in the group, there's a possibility the Tigers try their luck of getting Josh Smillie through to these picks. Otherwise, Bo Allan is a real contender if available, while Murphy Reid and Joe Berry have also attracted interest. With back-to-back picks they could flip it and take a tall here.
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13. Essendon - Isaac Kako (bid)
Clubs expect Richmond to start looking to diversify its group of picks with one of the talls using its third and/or fourth selections, and Shanahan is right in the mix. The straight-kicking key forward pushed his stocks further up draft boards during a run of impressive games for the Bombers' VFL side late in the season. He was named in the Coates Talent League team of the year and produced some excellent games at under-18 level, including a three-goal outing for the Allies against Vic Country at the national carnival. A super straight kick for goal, Shanahan doesn't need many chances to make his impact inside-50.
If not him? Harry Armstrong has been long linked to the Tigers and it will be a tight call – as it will for Jack Whitlock around this range as well if the club goes for a key position prospect here. If it's a small, the Tigers have considered taking Joe Berry here given he likely isn't available at their next pick.
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15. West Coast - Murphy Reid
16. Port Adelaide - Harry Armstrong
17. Fremantle - Joe Berry
18. GWS Giants - Jack Whitlock
19. GWS Giants - Taj Hotton
20. W.Bulldogs - Cooper Hynes
Richmond met with Dattoli last week and if the Tigers want to add a small forward/midfielder to their mix then he might be the guy. Dattoli loves the big moments and performed well in those games late in the Northern Knights' season. He's a small forward who can also be very impactful around the midfield, where his toughness, game sense and overhead marking give him a different package of weapons. He averaged 23 disposals (11 contested) and nearly two goals a game for the Knights and tends to drill his chances inside-50.
If not him? At this stage the Tigers are expected to start getting some seriously tempting offers for picks from rivals so it will be fascinating to see if they hold or move any into the future to stagger their rebuild. They could continue looking at talls, and don't be shocked if Harry Armstrong actually got through to the Tigers’ selection here. Jobe Shanahan and the Whitlocks will also be in the mix depending on how the earlier take on talls goes. They like Jasper Alger as a creative forward as well as Harry Oliver as an uncompromising half-back and will be right in the mix for Taj Hotton if he's there.
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22. Sydney - Jonty Faull
Whitlock showed he can go forward and do well, having kicked 27 goals for the Murray Bushrangers, but will be selected as a key defender who can shift forward rather than the other way around. His development across the season gave clubs a good insight into what can be to come for the 18-year-old, who is athletic and can get around the ground alongside the key forwards he will be opposing. His marking is a strength as both a defender and forward and he is trusted with the ball in hand.
If not him? One of the other talls may be preferred and still available, such as Jobe Shanahan, Jack Whitlock or Jonty Faull. Plus, the Tigers have looked closely at Thomas Sims and Harry O'Farrell, so may consider either under a certain circumstance.
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24. GWS Giants - Harry Oliver
25. Brisbane - Sam Marshall (bid)
26. Sydney - Oliver Hannaford
Alger is capable of some exciting things inside-50, regularly finding separation on the lead and being an aerial presence despite his medium forward size. He is good at ground level too and can create something from nothing. Alger showed some of those tricks for Vic Country at the under-18 carnival and with the Oakleigh Chargers but missed the end of their season with a finger injury.
If not him? Richmond is a club that has looked at Cooper Hynes and he will be a chance to be still up for grabs. Would the Tigers look early at one of their own in VFL prospect Sam Davidson? He has a lot of clubs keen on him in the back half of the draft but at this point they don't have any selections there.
Trainor started the year as a top-five candidate but is not among the group of 20 players invited to the first night of the draft so is not expected to feature early on. The rebounding, attacking, intercept defender is a backman who likes the ball in his hands – he goes for his marks, he kicks well and averaged 20 disposals and six marks for Vic Metro at the carnival, having also gone forward to kick the title-sealing goal with the last kick of the championships.
If not him? This will be the first pick of night two, which has traditionally become a highly sought after selection between the first and second rounds as clubs spend the day mulling trade options. So it could well be in another club's hands if the Tigers have used the rest of their allotment. Should they stay, ruckman Alex Dodson has been linked here if the club wants to add a young big man to its draft haul.
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29. W.Bulldogs - Christian Moraes
30. West Coast - Ned Bowman
CLUB-BY-CLUB WHISPERS AFTER PICK 30
Draft picks: 1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23, 24 (likely to use seven or eight selections)
It's the draft of the Tiger and the thrill of the night on Wednesday, with Richmond expected to use the majority – if not all – of its allocated top-30 picks. The Tigers have fielded trade offers but won't be packaging to go up to pick No.2 and are expected to take at least their first four picks to the draft as it stands. For the last four – 18, 20, 23 and then 24 to open night two – clubs are expected to throw future first-round picks at the Tigers as part of very attractive pick packages. The No.24 pick that will be the first of the second day will also get plenty of interest as that spot has become in-demand since the draft became a two-night event. Currently Richmond has 27 senior-list players, so using all eight of their picks in the first round is a chance, but they will also upgrade rookie Tylar Young to the senior list. They've recently done some work on back-end draft prospects, indicating if they do make a trade they could grab a late pick and eye using a selection deep into night two.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1256531/cal-twomeys-2024-phantom-draft-top-30-late-picks-whispers
