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Re: 2023 Draft Watch
Draft Intel: First-round draft bolter, a Marcus Bontempelli type onballer and a new role for Archer Reid
A 200cm athlete’s move to defence in the Coates Talent League this season has been hailed a ‘great success’ – and AFL clubs are very keen. Here’s the latest draft intel.
After one match last weekend, the AFL under-18 national championships will really kick into gear this weekend as two more teams begin their campaigns.
Here is the latest news from around the country on some of this year’s hottest AFL draft prospects.
BONTEMPELLI TYPE MIDFIELDER READY TO LEAD
A big-bodied midfielder who has been one of the leading clearance players in the Coates Talent League this year has been appointed as Vic Metro’s captain for the under-18 national championships.
Sandringham Dragons onballer William Brown is set to lead Vic Metro into its first match of the championships against South Australia at Adelaide’s Thebarton Oval on Sunday.
Brown played as a forward for the Dragons as a bottom-age player last year and kicked a goal in the side’s Grand Final win over the Dandenong Stingrays.
However, the 194cm Brown has shifted onball this season with great effect this season.
From his first five games in the Coates Talent League this year, Brown averaged 22.4 disposals (11.8 contested), 6.6 clearances, 6.6 inside-50s, 7.2 score involvements and 0.8 goals.
“He worked really hard on his stoppage craft over the summer,” Vic Metro and Sandringham Dragons coach Rob Harding said.
“Pretty much his first centre bounce as a midfielder was Round 1 this year and he’s one of the leading inside-50 and clearance players in Coates League. At 194cm, he’s what every club is looking for as that Marcus Bontempelli midfielder. He’s got great poise around the contest, uses his body really well and gets out well in transition. He’s a good runner and he’s pushed forward to hit the scoreboard so he ticks a lot of boxes.”
BROTHER OF DEMONS RISING STAR IMPRESSING
The younger brother of Melbourne key forward Jacob Van Rooyen is set to play for Western Australia in this year’s under-18 national championships as he shapes as a likely draft prospect at the end of the year.
Samuel Van Rooyen has kicked 12 goals from five games for Claremont in the WAFL Colts competition this season and particularly caught the eye in Round 3 when he booted 5.5 from 15 disposals and nine marks against Subiaco.
Samuel currently measures 193cm – 1cm shorter than Jacob – but plays the game in a different way despite also being a forward.
“He’s about the same height and a forward,” Jacob said of his younger brother.
“He’s probably more athletic, agile and quicker than I am but I’m probably built a bit heavier than him. He’s probably more a third-tall type of player.
“I try to watch him as much as possible when I can and when the games are live streamed. He’s going very well and I’m very proud of him.”
Jacob, who is signed with Melbourne until the end of 2025, said he would love to play alongside his brother at the Demons.
“I might have to chuck a couple of words in and just say it would be nice to have some family over here,” he said.
Jacob was named the AFL Rising Star nominee for Round 12, impressing for Melbourne since making his AFL debut in Round 3.
MURPHY SHAPING AS A FIRST-ROUND BOLTER
Victorian key defender Ollie Murphy is shaping as a potential first-round draft bolter as he thrives in a new role down back this season.
The Sandringham Dragons product, who measures in at 200cm, played two games in his bottom-age year last season as a ruckman and forward but has thrived in a new role in defence.
While still lightly-framed, Murphy has averaged 8.8 disposals, 3.8 marks, 2.3 intercept marks and 3.5 spoils across four games in the Coates Talent League this season.
He will be a key part of Vic Metro’s backline for the under-18 national championships, with the side’s campaign kicking off this Sunday.
“He’s been a great success story,” Sandringham Dragons and Vic Metro coach Rob Harding said.
“He’s 200cm and he runs a 6:20 2km, so he’s a really good athlete. He’s still got a bit of filling out to do body wise. But I went to him during pre-season and we spoke about training as a key back. Every club is looking for 200cm key defenders that can play on the Joe Daniher’s and the Max King’s of the world.
“I’m excited to see him in the champs against potentially some really top-end draft picks.”
REID TESTED IN NEW ROLE
One of the top tall forwards in this year’s draft class is being tried in a new role in the ruck to give him some greater flexibility in his game.
Archer Reid – the younger brother of Essendon defender Zach Reid – is yet to set a game on fire in the Coates Talent League this season but is showing signs of development with Gippsland Power.
Measuring 204cm tall, Reid has always played as a forward but has had some stints in the ruck for the Power this season.
As a result, he has kicked only five goals from four matches in the Coates Talent League, but he has also booted 11 majors across two games of senior football with local club Inverloch-Kongwak in the West Gippsland Football League.
“The pieces are starting to fall into place,” Gippsland Power talent manager Scott McDougal said of Reid.
“His impact around the ground last weekend was really good and he had some nice moments. He missed a couple of goals he would normally kick. But there’s still a long way in the season to go for him to hit his straps and with the nationals coming up, he’ll play a big part for Vic Country.
“He’d played minimum minutes in the ruck before this season… so he’s learning that new position and new role and he’s coming along really well.”
AN EYE ON NEXT YEAR
As is often the case at this time of year, there is already some excitement building around next year’s draft crop.
Of Vic Metro’s 36-player squad for this year’s under-18 national championships, 13 players are in their bottom-age seasons and are not eligible to be drafted until 2024.
However, bottom-age players including Levi Ashcroft, Josh Smillie and Jagga Smith are all expected to feature in Vic Metro’s first game of the championships this weekend.
Ashcroft is the younger brother of Brisbane Lions Rising Star nominee Will Ashcroft and will also be eligible to join the Lions as a father-son next year.
Levi will be one of the youngest players to feature in this year’s championships, given he does not turn 17 until December.
“He’s got an old head on his shoulders for a very young body,” Vic Metro coach Rob Harding said.
“I’ve spent a fair bit of time with him now and got to know him pretty well and I look forward to coaching him for another 18 months. By the time the Lions get him I think he’s going to be a pretty fair player coming in.”
Draft Intel: First-round draft bolter, a Marcus Bontempelli type onballer and a new role for Archer Reid
A 200cm athlete’s move to defence in the Coates Talent League this season has been hailed a ‘great success’ – and AFL clubs are very keen. Here’s the latest draft intel.
After one match last weekend, the AFL under-18 national championships will really kick into gear this weekend as two more teams begin their campaigns.
Here is the latest news from around the country on some of this year’s hottest AFL draft prospects.
BONTEMPELLI TYPE MIDFIELDER READY TO LEAD
A big-bodied midfielder who has been one of the leading clearance players in the Coates Talent League this year has been appointed as Vic Metro’s captain for the under-18 national championships.
Sandringham Dragons onballer William Brown is set to lead Vic Metro into its first match of the championships against South Australia at Adelaide’s Thebarton Oval on Sunday.
Brown played as a forward for the Dragons as a bottom-age player last year and kicked a goal in the side’s Grand Final win over the Dandenong Stingrays.
However, the 194cm Brown has shifted onball this season with great effect this season.
From his first five games in the Coates Talent League this year, Brown averaged 22.4 disposals (11.8 contested), 6.6 clearances, 6.6 inside-50s, 7.2 score involvements and 0.8 goals.
“He worked really hard on his stoppage craft over the summer,” Vic Metro and Sandringham Dragons coach Rob Harding said.
“Pretty much his first centre bounce as a midfielder was Round 1 this year and he’s one of the leading inside-50 and clearance players in Coates League. At 194cm, he’s what every club is looking for as that Marcus Bontempelli midfielder. He’s got great poise around the contest, uses his body really well and gets out well in transition. He’s a good runner and he’s pushed forward to hit the scoreboard so he ticks a lot of boxes.”
BROTHER OF DEMONS RISING STAR IMPRESSING
The younger brother of Melbourne key forward Jacob Van Rooyen is set to play for Western Australia in this year’s under-18 national championships as he shapes as a likely draft prospect at the end of the year.
Samuel Van Rooyen has kicked 12 goals from five games for Claremont in the WAFL Colts competition this season and particularly caught the eye in Round 3 when he booted 5.5 from 15 disposals and nine marks against Subiaco.
Samuel currently measures 193cm – 1cm shorter than Jacob – but plays the game in a different way despite also being a forward.
“He’s about the same height and a forward,” Jacob said of his younger brother.
“He’s probably more athletic, agile and quicker than I am but I’m probably built a bit heavier than him. He’s probably more a third-tall type of player.
“I try to watch him as much as possible when I can and when the games are live streamed. He’s going very well and I’m very proud of him.”
Jacob, who is signed with Melbourne until the end of 2025, said he would love to play alongside his brother at the Demons.
“I might have to chuck a couple of words in and just say it would be nice to have some family over here,” he said.
Jacob was named the AFL Rising Star nominee for Round 12, impressing for Melbourne since making his AFL debut in Round 3.
MURPHY SHAPING AS A FIRST-ROUND BOLTER
Victorian key defender Ollie Murphy is shaping as a potential first-round draft bolter as he thrives in a new role down back this season.
The Sandringham Dragons product, who measures in at 200cm, played two games in his bottom-age year last season as a ruckman and forward but has thrived in a new role in defence.
While still lightly-framed, Murphy has averaged 8.8 disposals, 3.8 marks, 2.3 intercept marks and 3.5 spoils across four games in the Coates Talent League this season.
He will be a key part of Vic Metro’s backline for the under-18 national championships, with the side’s campaign kicking off this Sunday.
“He’s been a great success story,” Sandringham Dragons and Vic Metro coach Rob Harding said.
“He’s 200cm and he runs a 6:20 2km, so he’s a really good athlete. He’s still got a bit of filling out to do body wise. But I went to him during pre-season and we spoke about training as a key back. Every club is looking for 200cm key defenders that can play on the Joe Daniher’s and the Max King’s of the world.
“I’m excited to see him in the champs against potentially some really top-end draft picks.”
REID TESTED IN NEW ROLE
One of the top tall forwards in this year’s draft class is being tried in a new role in the ruck to give him some greater flexibility in his game.
Archer Reid – the younger brother of Essendon defender Zach Reid – is yet to set a game on fire in the Coates Talent League this season but is showing signs of development with Gippsland Power.
Measuring 204cm tall, Reid has always played as a forward but has had some stints in the ruck for the Power this season.
As a result, he has kicked only five goals from four matches in the Coates Talent League, but he has also booted 11 majors across two games of senior football with local club Inverloch-Kongwak in the West Gippsland Football League.
“The pieces are starting to fall into place,” Gippsland Power talent manager Scott McDougal said of Reid.
“His impact around the ground last weekend was really good and he had some nice moments. He missed a couple of goals he would normally kick. But there’s still a long way in the season to go for him to hit his straps and with the nationals coming up, he’ll play a big part for Vic Country.
“He’d played minimum minutes in the ruck before this season… so he’s learning that new position and new role and he’s coming along really well.”
AN EYE ON NEXT YEAR
As is often the case at this time of year, there is already some excitement building around next year’s draft crop.
Of Vic Metro’s 36-player squad for this year’s under-18 national championships, 13 players are in their bottom-age seasons and are not eligible to be drafted until 2024.
However, bottom-age players including Levi Ashcroft, Josh Smillie and Jagga Smith are all expected to feature in Vic Metro’s first game of the championships this weekend.
Ashcroft is the younger brother of Brisbane Lions Rising Star nominee Will Ashcroft and will also be eligible to join the Lions as a father-son next year.
Levi will be one of the youngest players to feature in this year’s championships, given he does not turn 17 until December.
“He’s got an old head on his shoulders for a very young body,” Vic Metro coach Rob Harding said.
“I’ve spent a fair bit of time with him now and got to know him pretty well and I look forward to coaching him for another 18 months. By the time the Lions get him I think he’s going to be a pretty fair player coming in.”
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