Tweet
Interesting article, read more here
This is the way Champion Data rate this years crop.
1. Jacob Hopper (NSW-ACT, North Ballarat Rebels, GWS academy)
A tough, classy midfielder with a ready-made AFL frame, a big presence around stoppages and the ability to hit scoreboard. As NSW-ACT Rams skipper, Hopper starred during this year’s Under 18 national championships, averaging 27 disposals, 16 contested possessions, six inside 50s, nine clearances, one goal and 157 SuperCoach points over three games.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Arguably the most complete player of the draft. Melbourne or Essendon are likely to bid on Hopper between the third and fifth picks. But the Giants will have no hesitations matching the bid by using the array of mid-draft selections they accumulated during October’s exchange period.
2. Callum Mills (NSW-ACT, Sydney academy)
Still very highly rated despite missing most of the 2015 season due to shin and foot injuries, the in-and-under midfielder can extract the ball cleanly by either hand or foot. He was crowned an under 18s All-Australian in 2014 after averaging 21 disposals in the championships
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Twelve months earlier, he was the like No. 1 pick. Like Hopper, should cop a bid from the Dees or Dons within the first five picks, probably as early as pick No. 3. The Swans have ample picks up their sleeve and will match the bid.
3. Josh Schache (Vic Country, Murray Bushrangers)
A star forward who has excellent size, power and marking ability. He won the Larke Medal this year as the best player in Division 1, booting a record 24 goals from six games for Vic Country.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Think Travis Cloke — but a much better and more accurate kick for goal. Brisbane, which is desperately in need of a tall forward, will snap him up with pick No. 2.
4. Jacob Weitering (Vic Country, Dandenong Stingrays)
An excellent intercept defender who can play both loose or one-on-one. Had a brilliant year for the Stingrays in the TAC Cup, averaging 19 disposals, eight marks (four intercept), five rebound 50s and 118 SuperCoach points.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Don’t let these rankings turn you off. Blues are certainties to select him with pick No. 1.
5. Darcy Parish (Vic Country, Geelong Falcons)
Has electric pace, great strength for his size and a real knack for accumulating the footy. He averaged 22 disposals in the national championships and 28 in the TAC Cup this season.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: The most in-demand midfielder of this year’s draft class outside of the academy prospects. When Melbourne — a team desperate for outside run — traded with Gold Coast to acquire pick No. 3, our ears pricked up. Dees the favourite, but if they look elsewhere, Dons will snap him up.
6. Aaron Francis (South Australia, West Adelaide)
A genuine utility at 191cm and 92kg who’s just as comfortable playing at either end of the ground. In defence he’s an excellent intercept player with great game sense, highlighted by his 11 intercept marks for SA in this year’s national championships. Up forward, he just knows where the goals are.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Could slip down the order a little, despite his talent, making him a potential bargain pick. Don’t be surprised to see the Gold Coast Suns pounce on him with pick No. 6 after early academy bidding.
7. Ben Keays (Queensland, Redlands, Brisbane academy)
A strong, inside midfielder who starred for his state and averaged 29 disposals and 162 SuperCoach points in this year’s under 18 national carnival. Could be a future captain, too.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Likely to be Brisbane’s second academy selection and third overall pick in the draft, after taking Josh Schache with pick No. 2 and Eric Hipwood with its first academy selection.
8. Ryan Burton (South Australia, North Adelaide)
An athletic key forward at 191cm who leads well and has an accurate set-shot for goal.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Would’ve been a top-five prospect if he hadn’t have broken his leg. With pick No. 13, the Crows would love to keep him in South Australia. But will he last that long? Carlton (pick No. 8) might pounce.
9. Matthew Kennedy (NSW-ACT, Collingullie-GP, GWS academy)
One of the best and toughest midfielders of this year’s draft class. A bull at stoppages, yet uses his 187cm frame to take contested marks around the ground. Can also push forward and impact the scoreboard.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Hopper will be the Giants’ first academy pick, but they won’t hesitate matching a rival club’s bid — likely within the first 10 picks — on Kennedy.
10. Eric Hipwood (Queensland, Aspley, Brisbane academy)
Incredibly athletic for a man who stands 202cm, the academy prospect can play either back or forward. Won All-Australian honours for his carnival campaign, kicking four goals and averaging 21 disposals and seven marks from three games.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Will be the first Lions academy player — and probably the fourth overall after Mills, Hopper and Kennedy — to attract a bid from a rival club. Lions will match.
11. Charlie Curnow (Vic Country, Geelong Falcons)
Forward or back, midfield or ruck, the brother of Carlton’s Ed Curnow is one of the most versatile players in the draft, but probably plays his best footy forward. Possesses excellent overhead marking ability and is an accurate kick for goal.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Won’t last long, with Essendon eyeing him off with either pick No. 4 or No. 5.
12. Rhys Mathieson (Vic Country, Geelong Falcons)
Of all the midfielders of this year’s draft class, the tough, inside on-baller with clean hands could be the most ready-made for the AFL environment. A footy nut who’s always watching games, the contested ball animal averaged 20 disposals and five clearances per game in the this year’s carnival.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Could be a bargain as a late first-round selection. Before academy selections, could land somewhere between pick No. 11 (Carlton) and 14 (St Kilda) — the Saints could do with him the most.
13. Jade Gresham (Vic Metro, Northern Knights)
An explosive, inside midfielder and prolific ball magnet who couldn’t have done much more in 2015 to enhance his prospects. He starred in the TAC Cup (averaged 29 disposals and kicked 15 goals), national championships (23 disposals and five clearances) and draft combine (top-10 finishes in the clean hands and kicking tests).
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Recruiters won’t be put off by his height (178cm), but hard to put a finger on exactly where he’ll selected. Could go as early as pick No. 10 (Carlton) or as late as pick No. 25 (Essendon)
14. Sam Weideman (Vic Metro, Eastern Ranges)
His 2015 campaign was hampered by an ankle stress fracture, but that hasn’t stopped the tall forward from slipping out of top-10 contention. The grandson of Collingwood legend Murray Weideman is a good contested mark and has an accurate set-shot kick for goal.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Won’t be available after Melbourne’s second pick (selection No. 7). Bombers considering him, but will they choose fellow tall forward Curnow too?
15. Kieran Lovell (Tasmania, Kingston Tigers)
Height is no barrier for the 174cm midfielder, who has racked up incredible numbers at both TAC Cup (averaged 34 disposals) and national carnival (35 disposals) levels this season. He’s a tough tackler, natural ball magnet and clearance machine.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Not a first-round pick, according to AFL clubs, but should find a home at sometime during the second round (between picks 25-40).
16. Mitch Hibberd (Tasmania, Clarence)
A versatile 19-year-old half-back that looms as Tasmania’s best draft prospect, despite Lovell’s incredible numbers this year. With great athleticism and footy smarts, he averaged 24 disposals in both the TAC Cup and national championships this year.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Could sneak into the first round, but more likely to land at the Western Bulldogs with one of the club’s first two selections (No. 20 and 21) in the second round.
17. Ryan Clarke (Vic Metro, Eastern Ranges)
The fit, hard-working on-baller had an impressive back-end to the TAC Cup season, which included hauls of 45, 42 and 30 disposals — as well as three goals — in the space of three games.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: One of the bolters of this year’s draft bolters that could be picked up late in the first round, or early second round. The Blues may look at him with their end of round one compensation pick, as would the Bulldogs in the second round.
18. Clayton Oliver (Vic Country, Murray Bushrangers)
A gun midfielder who won the Morrish medal as the best TAC Cup player for the season. He finished the year with an average of 24 disposals and 135 SuperCoach points, as well as a total of 20 goals, from 16 games.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Bolted into first-round selection thanks to a scintillating finish to his TAC Cup season. The Blues have reportedly flagged interest in the midfielder and could use one of their middle first-round selections (either pick No. 8 or 11) to nab him.
19. Riley Bonner (South Australia, West Adelaide)
Your quintessential rebounding defender who possesses an accurate left-foot kick but can also play on a small or tall opponent. Won All-Australian honours thanks to his excellent under 18 carnival campaign.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: If fellow South Australians Francis, Burton and Wayne Milera are all gone by pick No. 13, the Crows could land the boy from West Adelaide. If not, the Hawks might like to add another classy left-footer to their list with either pick No. 15 or 18.
20. Harley Balic (Vic Metro, Sandringham Dragons)
A talented junior basketballer who ultimately chose football, the half-forward/midfielder averaged 23 disposals per game in the TAC Cup and 22 touches in the national championships. However a question mark over his kicking efficiency still lingers.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Solid overhead mark for a midfielder who knows where the goals are. Should land at an AFL club before the end of the first round, with Richmond (pick No. 12) and St Kilda (pick No. 14) in the box seat.
This is the way Champion Data rate this years crop.
1. Jacob Hopper (NSW-ACT, North Ballarat Rebels, GWS academy)
A tough, classy midfielder with a ready-made AFL frame, a big presence around stoppages and the ability to hit scoreboard. As NSW-ACT Rams skipper, Hopper starred during this year’s Under 18 national championships, averaging 27 disposals, 16 contested possessions, six inside 50s, nine clearances, one goal and 157 SuperCoach points over three games.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Arguably the most complete player of the draft. Melbourne or Essendon are likely to bid on Hopper between the third and fifth picks. But the Giants will have no hesitations matching the bid by using the array of mid-draft selections they accumulated during October’s exchange period.
2. Callum Mills (NSW-ACT, Sydney academy)
Still very highly rated despite missing most of the 2015 season due to shin and foot injuries, the in-and-under midfielder can extract the ball cleanly by either hand or foot. He was crowned an under 18s All-Australian in 2014 after averaging 21 disposals in the championships
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Twelve months earlier, he was the like No. 1 pick. Like Hopper, should cop a bid from the Dees or Dons within the first five picks, probably as early as pick No. 3. The Swans have ample picks up their sleeve and will match the bid.
3. Josh Schache (Vic Country, Murray Bushrangers)
A star forward who has excellent size, power and marking ability. He won the Larke Medal this year as the best player in Division 1, booting a record 24 goals from six games for Vic Country.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Think Travis Cloke — but a much better and more accurate kick for goal. Brisbane, which is desperately in need of a tall forward, will snap him up with pick No. 2.
4. Jacob Weitering (Vic Country, Dandenong Stingrays)
An excellent intercept defender who can play both loose or one-on-one. Had a brilliant year for the Stingrays in the TAC Cup, averaging 19 disposals, eight marks (four intercept), five rebound 50s and 118 SuperCoach points.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Don’t let these rankings turn you off. Blues are certainties to select him with pick No. 1.
5. Darcy Parish (Vic Country, Geelong Falcons)
Has electric pace, great strength for his size and a real knack for accumulating the footy. He averaged 22 disposals in the national championships and 28 in the TAC Cup this season.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: The most in-demand midfielder of this year’s draft class outside of the academy prospects. When Melbourne — a team desperate for outside run — traded with Gold Coast to acquire pick No. 3, our ears pricked up. Dees the favourite, but if they look elsewhere, Dons will snap him up.
6. Aaron Francis (South Australia, West Adelaide)
A genuine utility at 191cm and 92kg who’s just as comfortable playing at either end of the ground. In defence he’s an excellent intercept player with great game sense, highlighted by his 11 intercept marks for SA in this year’s national championships. Up forward, he just knows where the goals are.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Could slip down the order a little, despite his talent, making him a potential bargain pick. Don’t be surprised to see the Gold Coast Suns pounce on him with pick No. 6 after early academy bidding.
7. Ben Keays (Queensland, Redlands, Brisbane academy)
A strong, inside midfielder who starred for his state and averaged 29 disposals and 162 SuperCoach points in this year’s under 18 national carnival. Could be a future captain, too.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Likely to be Brisbane’s second academy selection and third overall pick in the draft, after taking Josh Schache with pick No. 2 and Eric Hipwood with its first academy selection.
8. Ryan Burton (South Australia, North Adelaide)
An athletic key forward at 191cm who leads well and has an accurate set-shot for goal.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Would’ve been a top-five prospect if he hadn’t have broken his leg. With pick No. 13, the Crows would love to keep him in South Australia. But will he last that long? Carlton (pick No. 8) might pounce.
9. Matthew Kennedy (NSW-ACT, Collingullie-GP, GWS academy)
One of the best and toughest midfielders of this year’s draft class. A bull at stoppages, yet uses his 187cm frame to take contested marks around the ground. Can also push forward and impact the scoreboard.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Hopper will be the Giants’ first academy pick, but they won’t hesitate matching a rival club’s bid — likely within the first 10 picks — on Kennedy.
10. Eric Hipwood (Queensland, Aspley, Brisbane academy)
Incredibly athletic for a man who stands 202cm, the academy prospect can play either back or forward. Won All-Australian honours for his carnival campaign, kicking four goals and averaging 21 disposals and seven marks from three games.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Will be the first Lions academy player — and probably the fourth overall after Mills, Hopper and Kennedy — to attract a bid from a rival club. Lions will match.
11. Charlie Curnow (Vic Country, Geelong Falcons)
Forward or back, midfield or ruck, the brother of Carlton’s Ed Curnow is one of the most versatile players in the draft, but probably plays his best footy forward. Possesses excellent overhead marking ability and is an accurate kick for goal.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Won’t last long, with Essendon eyeing him off with either pick No. 4 or No. 5.
12. Rhys Mathieson (Vic Country, Geelong Falcons)
Of all the midfielders of this year’s draft class, the tough, inside on-baller with clean hands could be the most ready-made for the AFL environment. A footy nut who’s always watching games, the contested ball animal averaged 20 disposals and five clearances per game in the this year’s carnival.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Could be a bargain as a late first-round selection. Before academy selections, could land somewhere between pick No. 11 (Carlton) and 14 (St Kilda) — the Saints could do with him the most.
13. Jade Gresham (Vic Metro, Northern Knights)
An explosive, inside midfielder and prolific ball magnet who couldn’t have done much more in 2015 to enhance his prospects. He starred in the TAC Cup (averaged 29 disposals and kicked 15 goals), national championships (23 disposals and five clearances) and draft combine (top-10 finishes in the clean hands and kicking tests).
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Recruiters won’t be put off by his height (178cm), but hard to put a finger on exactly where he’ll selected. Could go as early as pick No. 10 (Carlton) or as late as pick No. 25 (Essendon)
14. Sam Weideman (Vic Metro, Eastern Ranges)
His 2015 campaign was hampered by an ankle stress fracture, but that hasn’t stopped the tall forward from slipping out of top-10 contention. The grandson of Collingwood legend Murray Weideman is a good contested mark and has an accurate set-shot kick for goal.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Won’t be available after Melbourne’s second pick (selection No. 7). Bombers considering him, but will they choose fellow tall forward Curnow too?
15. Kieran Lovell (Tasmania, Kingston Tigers)
Height is no barrier for the 174cm midfielder, who has racked up incredible numbers at both TAC Cup (averaged 34 disposals) and national carnival (35 disposals) levels this season. He’s a tough tackler, natural ball magnet and clearance machine.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Not a first-round pick, according to AFL clubs, but should find a home at sometime during the second round (between picks 25-40).
16. Mitch Hibberd (Tasmania, Clarence)
A versatile 19-year-old half-back that looms as Tasmania’s best draft prospect, despite Lovell’s incredible numbers this year. With great athleticism and footy smarts, he averaged 24 disposals in both the TAC Cup and national championships this year.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Could sneak into the first round, but more likely to land at the Western Bulldogs with one of the club’s first two selections (No. 20 and 21) in the second round.
17. Ryan Clarke (Vic Metro, Eastern Ranges)
The fit, hard-working on-baller had an impressive back-end to the TAC Cup season, which included hauls of 45, 42 and 30 disposals — as well as three goals — in the space of three games.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: One of the bolters of this year’s draft bolters that could be picked up late in the first round, or early second round. The Blues may look at him with their end of round one compensation pick, as would the Bulldogs in the second round.
18. Clayton Oliver (Vic Country, Murray Bushrangers)
A gun midfielder who won the Morrish medal as the best TAC Cup player for the season. He finished the year with an average of 24 disposals and 135 SuperCoach points, as well as a total of 20 goals, from 16 games.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Bolted into first-round selection thanks to a scintillating finish to his TAC Cup season. The Blues have reportedly flagged interest in the midfielder and could use one of their middle first-round selections (either pick No. 8 or 11) to nab him.
19. Riley Bonner (South Australia, West Adelaide)
Your quintessential rebounding defender who possesses an accurate left-foot kick but can also play on a small or tall opponent. Won All-Australian honours thanks to his excellent under 18 carnival campaign.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: If fellow South Australians Francis, Burton and Wayne Milera are all gone by pick No. 13, the Crows could land the boy from West Adelaide. If not, the Hawks might like to add another classy left-footer to their list with either pick No. 15 or 18.
20. Harley Balic (Vic Metro, Sandringham Dragons)
A talented junior basketballer who ultimately chose football, the half-forward/midfielder averaged 23 disposals per game in the TAC Cup and 22 touches in the national championships. However a question mark over his kicking efficiency still lingers.
FOX FOOTY SAYS: Solid overhead mark for a midfielder who knows where the goals are. Should land at an AFL club before the end of the first round, with Richmond (pick No. 12) and St Kilda (pick No. 14) in the box seat.
Comment