2022 Draft Watch

[The Doctor]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/687377/eye-on-the-future-10-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-2022

Draft guru Callum Twomey looks ahead to the best prospects in 2022


Will Ashcroft

183cm/74kg
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
6/5/04
Midfielder

Ashcroft showed why many think he is a possible top pick at next year's draft with a standout game for Vic Metro against Vic Country in its opening under-17s match in June. The talented midfielder collected 33 disposals, 12 clearances and booted two terrific goals to show his dynamic nature around the ball. The son of Brisbane triple premiership player Marcus, Ashcroft will be eligible to join the Lions as a father-son in 2022.


Jhye Clark

180cm/76kg
Geelong Falcons/Vic Country
23/7/04
Midfielder

Clark looks set to follow in a long line of Falcons midfield ball-winners, with the physical prospect able to get his hands dirty and feed the ball out of the midfield. He was named Vic Country's best player at the under-17s championships, he's good in the air for a player his size and he's comfortable with the body contact that comes with playing in and around the ball.


Lewis Hayes

195cm
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
17/12/04
Key defender

A tall defender worth tracking through next year after showing promising signs as an under-17s prospect with Vic Metro. Hayes, whose older brother Sam is a developing ruckman at Port Adelaide, is a good overhead mark and distributes the ball well out of defence when it's in his hands.


Elijah Hewett

182cm/82kg
Swan Districts/Western Australia
27/5/04
Midfielder

An eye-catching bottom-age season finished with Hewett playing a key role in Swan Districts' Grand Final win in the WAFL colts competition. Hewett, a powerful midfielder, collected 22 disposals in the premiership decider, seeing him finish the season averaging 22 disposals from eight games at the level.


Oliver Hollands

182cm/70kg
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country
16/1/04
Midfielder

The younger brother of Gold Coast's Elijah Hollands, who was pick No.7 at last year's draft and is an exciting forward/midfield talent. The younger Holllands is more of a pure midfielder, with the Murray Bushrangers prospect picking up 22 disposals in the clash against Vic Metro as Country's best player mid-year. Hollands got a taste of things for the Bushrangers this season, averaging 17 disposals in three games, and looks a top-10 contender next season.


Harry Lemmey

199cm/93kg
West Adelaide/Vic Metro
30/1/04
Key forward

It was an exciting season for the talented tall forward in 2021, with Lemmey's performances in West Adelaide's under-18s side seeing him elevated to their League team, where he played two senior games. At under-18s level, he booted 17 goals from seven games, including kicking three goals in each of their finals games (including a 20-disposal and 12-mark display in the preliminary final). Looks a standout key forward option in 2022.


Harry Sheezel

183cm/73kg
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
13/10/04
Forward

Sheezel caught the eye for Vic Metro when he kicked three goals in the under-17s carnival clash against Vic Country. The crafty medium forward has a few aspects to his game inside-50 and is dangerous when the ball is up for grabs around goal, where his smarts and finishing skills come to the fore.


Luke Teal

184cm
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
20/5/04
Defender/midfielder

A smart and attacking player who creates and takes the game on when positioned at half-back. Teal had some exciting moments through the under-17s trials and carnival for Vic Metro and has also displayed some of his qualities with midfield opportunities. He can mark well above his head and is adept at being an intercepting defender for his side.


Elijah Tsatas

184cm/73kg
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
18/10/04
Midfielder

A very exciting midfield talent who has some jets. Tsatas has shown his speed and line-breaking ability on the wing and through midfield roles, and also played for the Chargers this season as a bottom-ager. He can provide link up play and is able to whiz through stoppages and come out the other side with the ball in his hands. Plenty of clubs are viewing him as a No.1 contender a year out from his draft.


George Wardlaw

181cm/72kg
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
18/6/04
Midfielder

A midfielder with a tough, competitive edge, Wardlaw was among Vic Metro's best players in its clash with Vic Country at GMHBA Stadium when he kicked up 22 disposals. Wardlaw is a tough player at the stoppages and smart with the ball in his hands, and later in the NAB League season was given some opportunities with the Chargers to feature as a bottom-ager.

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Just had a look at the 'draft watchers' early predictions for the 2022 draft.
Very mid-heavy at the pointy end, a bit less so in the latter half of the first round where (hopefully) we'll be picking. I do wonder how we'll approach this year as I doubt we'll have the cap space to trade heavily. I'd expect we take our first rounder to the draft this year.

[comrade]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Just had a look at the 'draft watchers' early predictions for the 2022 draft.
Very mid-heavy at the pointy end, a bit less so in the latter half of the first round where (hopefully) we'll be picking. I do wonder how we'll approach this year as I doubt we'll have the cap space to trade heavily. I'd expect we take our first rounder to the draft this year.

It will be nice not to have our hands tied this year.

[MrMahatma]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

It will be nice not to have our hands tied this year.

But not nice to be out of the top 2 selections for the first time in a while.

[comrade]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

But not nice to be out of the top 2 selections for the first time in a while.

Well, truth be told it remains to be seen whether we drafted actual jets or a couple of lemons landed in our laps.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Too early to tell with JAH and Darcy. Can see JAH playing more games this year than last year, but given he is not in the senior team for the practice game you would have to think he is an outside chance at best for a Rd 1 start. I am not opposed to making him work his way in to the team through the 2's. That said I can see the upside merit of giving him game time. He should belooking to play a minimum of 10 games this year and be part of our finals push.

Darcy, if he plays a game this year great, but really can't see him making an impact until next season.

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Too early to tell with JAH and Darcy. Can see JAH playing more games this year than last year, but given he is not in the senior team for the practice game you would have to think he is an outside chance at best for a Rd 1 start. I am not opposed to making him work his way in to the team through the 2's. That said I can see the upside merit of giving him game time. He should belooking to play a minimum of 10 games this year and be part of our finals push.

Darcy, if he plays a game this year great, but really can't see him making an impact until next season.

Darcy only played a handful of games last year too.
The kid's miles off so we have to be patient. If he doesn't debut next year either I don't think it's a disaster, as long as he gets senior football experience under his belt.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

where is Croft at and will we be bidding?

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

From one of the better draft watchers going around:

- I was fortunate enough to speak to a few higher ups at the NAB league Boys testing day and everyone was pretty unanimous in agreeing that this is a high standard draft year in their minds, and naturally there's a lot of excitement for the talls in this crop
- This led to clubs being very reluctant to part with their 2022 First Rounders which is why we probably didn't see as much pick trading as we expected at the draft
- The Country and Metro hubs are still 'open' in a sense, they expect to invite quite a few players to trainings when they happen just from them popping up through the season

[Bornadog]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

NAB LEAGUE TESTING TOP PERFORMERS

20m sprint


Rye Penny (Calder) 2.83 seconds
Coby Burgiel (Gippsland) 2.85
Caleb Windsor (Eastern) 2.87
Brodie Hicks (Western) 2.87
Cooper Vickery (Gippsland) 2.88
Olli Hotton (Sandringham) 2.89
Matthew Payne (Western) 2.90
Levi Young (Murray) 2.90
Tyler Norton (Murray) 2.91
Cam Mackenzie (Sandringham) 2.91

Running vertical jump


Rye Penny (Calder) 109cm
George Wardlaw (Oakleigh) 101
Levi Young (Murray) 101
Sam Houghton (Gippsland) 101
Rhys Galvin (Gippsland) 97
Max Dow (Bendigo) 96
Thomas Hamilton (Gippsland) 96
Nicholas Watson (Eastern) 94
Elijah Tsatas (Oakleigh) 93
Brayden George (Murray) 93
Yo-yo endurance


Dillon Goss (Tasmania) level 22.3
Mitchell Rowe (Sandringham) 22.1
Brodie Hicks (Western) 22.1
Hugh Bond (GWV) 21.8
Josh Hamilton (Northern) 21.8
Jonathan Tomasiello (Northern) 21.8
Jaxon Binns (Dandenong) 21.8
Oliver Hollands (Murray) 21.8
Harry Sheezel (Sandringham) 21.7
Josh Weddle (Oakleigh) 21.7


Standing vertical jump


Rye Penny (Calder) 89cm
George Wardlaw (Oakleigh) 83
Harvey Gallagher (Bendigo) 81
Levi Young (Murray) 78
Harrison Hewitt (Murray) 78
Max Dow (Bendigo) 77
Shane Clough (Calder) 77
Brayden George (Murray) 76
Michael Ktona (Calder) 76
Olli Hotton (Sandringham) 75

Agility


Cameron Kizan (Western) 7.84 seconds
Hugo Nosiara (Dandenong) 7.87
Matthew Payne (Western) 7.90
Max Dow (Bendigo) 7.91
Connor Byrne (GWV) 7.95
Callum Verrell (Eastern) 7.96
Vinnie Caia (Gippsland) 8.02
Mason Helleran (Eastern) 8.02
Beau Tedcastle (GWV) 8.04
Caleb Windsor (Eastern) 8.05

[mjp]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

- I was fortunate enough to speak to a few higher ups at the NAB league Boys testing day and everyone was pretty unanimous in agreeing that this is a high standard draft year in their minds, and naturally there's a lot of excitement for the talls in this crop

So...let me get this straight.

A group of kids who basically haven't played footy since 2019 - and who would normally have participated in the first big talent showcase (the u16s Nationals) in 2020 but missed out due to COVID - are a high standard crop???

How do they actually know this?

The country and metro hubs are still open as they have absolutely no idea who should be in the squads as there have been no games for two years in Victoria. Sure, WA and SA played full seasons in 2021 but when the recruiters are talking about 'high talent' draft pools we know they aren't talking about WA and SA...

[Axe Man]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Obviously it's unlikely as we firstly need a list place and secondly would have to rely on him not being picked before us, but a developing ruckman anyone?

YOUNG TALL ON MID-SEASON RADAR

AN EARLY name has emerged as a contender for the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

Sandringham Dragons ruckman Max Ramsden has taken the attention of recruiters and last week had 11 disposals, 16 hitouts and five clearances in the opening round of the NAB League season.

Ramden, who turns 19 this month, was eligible for the draft last year and nominated (meaning he qualifies as a mid-season option) but was not taken having played school football with Melbourne Grammar over two COVID-hit years.

But the athletic and nimble 202cm prospect has improved with a pre-season at the Dragons and ran a 6:04 minute 2km time trial. For context, Gold Coast gun Matt Rowell ran 6:17 in his year's draft combine time trial.

"We watched him last year and what stood out to us was his ability to get around the ground for the size he was. He was showing some really good traits for a big man with the standout being the athletics side but also his hands above his head," said Dragons talent manager Mark Wheeler.

"He's definitely raw but he's going up in the rankings each week he plays. The clubs all saw what he did on the weekend. He plays like another on-baller so we have to educate him to be a ruckman and we're doing some more ruck craft with him."

Ramsden could be a similar story as Jacob Edwards, who last year impressed in the early stages of the NAB League season with Sandringham to be the mid-year No.1 pick. He was the first of seven ruckmen taken in the mid-season draft as clubs looked to invest in talls.

This year's mid-season draft is scheduled for the week leading up to round 12. – Callum Twomey

[SquirrelGrip]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Obviously it's unlikely as we firstly need a list place and secondly would have to rely on him not being picked before us, but a developing ruckman anyone?

YOUNG TALL ON MID-SEASON RADAR

AN EARLY name has emerged as a contender for the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

Sandringham Dragons ruckman Max Ramsden has taken the attention of recruiters and last week had 11 disposals, 16 hitouts and five clearances in the opening round of the NAB League season.

Ramden, who turns 19 this month, was eligible for the draft last year and nominated (meaning he qualifies as a mid-season option) but was not taken having played school football with Melbourne Grammar over two COVID-hit years.

But the athletic and nimble 202cm prospect has improved with a pre-season at the Dragons and ran a 6:04 minute 2km time trial. For context, Gold Coast gun Matt Rowell ran 6:17 in his year's draft combine time trial.

"We watched him last year and what stood out to us was his ability to get around the ground for the size he was. He was showing some really good traits for a big man with the standout being the athletics side but also his hands above his head," said Dragons talent manager Mark Wheeler.

"He's definitely raw but he's going up in the rankings each week he plays. The clubs all saw what he did on the weekend. He plays like another on-baller so we have to educate him to be a ruckman and we're doing some more ruck craft with him."

Ramsden could be a similar story as Jacob Edwards, who last year impressed in the early stages of the NAB League season with Sandringham to be the mid-year No.1 pick. He was the first of seven ruckmen taken in the mid-season draft as clubs looked to invest in talls.

This year's mid-season draft is scheduled for the week leading up to round 12. – Callum Twomey

He's very skinny and light frame.

[Axe Man]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

He's very skinny and light frame.

I've never seen him but if he's running 2kms in 6 minutes I could assume he isn't built like a brick outhouse.

Certainly no answer to our ruck issues in the short term but exactly the type to develop on the rookie list in my opinion.

[The Doctor]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

A few small-medium forwards have started the season well in their respective leagues. Here is a few who could be worth keeping an eye on this season.

Jye Menzie (South Adelaide) The North Hobart old boy has kicked 10 goals in the opening 2 rounds of the SANFL in the seniors. He is 19 and eligible for the mid season draft.

Harry Sheezel (Sandringham) mid sized forward and AFL Academy hotshot. Touted as a first round pick in this year's national draft.

Blake Drury (Oakleigh) high production pocket rocket who hopefully will get a gig for the Metro side this year. Kick 3.5 last week.

Hugo Hall-Kahan (Sandringham) leading mid sized forward kicked 5 last week. Eligible for the mid season draft.

Brayden George (Murray) strong marking mid forward also kicked 5 last week. Moving up the draft boards.

Anthony Munkara (West Adelaide) 190 cm forward is an Essendon NGA but they are likely to miss out according to Cal Twomey as he is expected to be picked in the first 2 rounds at the draft. Here is a snippet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3zxO4c4sJ0