Seven months of work is still to be done on the 2016 National Draft, but with each passing week the class starts to take shape.
But before we get into the first 2016 edition, here is what the corresponding version looked like just over 12 months ago. We had Callum Mills at No. 1; Jacob Hopper at No. 2; Charlie Curnow at No. 3; Jacob Weitering at No. 4; and Josh Schache at No. 9.
Our only top-10 player who wound up outside the top 15 on draft nig__Ht was our early No.5 Darcy Tucker (taken at Pick 27 by Fremantle).
This year you could throw a blanket over the top 10 prospects, so it looks less predictable.
As the season progresses, it’s a given that some players will rise up into the rankings (Clayton Oliver and Matt Kennedy last year) while others will drop out.
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a mock draft, purely how I rate the prospects so far!
1. Jack BOWES
Ht: 188cm | Wt: 76kg | Surfers Paradise/Gold Coast Academy
Classy ball winner from Cairns who is good overhead for his size and can push forward and hit the scoreboard. He booted four goals to go with 25 touches for the Suns reserves in a trial against Brisbane last month. Has plenty of time in traffic and is clean with his hands. Missed the championships last year after hurting his knee, but will figure heavily for Queensland and the Allies this time around.
2. Harrison MACREADIE
Ht: 195cm | Wt: 82kg | Henty/GWS Academy
Macreadie looked as cool as a cucumber in the back half for the Rams in the national championships last year as a bottom-ager to stamp himself as one of this year’s top prospects. He generally uses the ball well exiting defence, reads it well in the air and has played senior football in the Hume league since he was 16. Has played a bit on a wing and even in centre bounces in recent weeks in the TAC Cup.
3. Hugh McCLUGGAGE
Ht: 184cm | Wt: 70kg | North Ballarat Rebels
Missed a bit of pre-season so he is still working towards full match fitness, but his form in the AFL Academy games and to start the season with the Rebels has been eye-catching. Time can seem to stand still when he has the ball in congestion and he is brave overhead. Kicked five goals on the weekend to go with 30-plus touches.
4. Ben AINSWORTH
Ht: 179cm | Wt: 74kg | Gippsland Power
Played mostly as a small forward for Gippsland and Vic Country last year as a bottom-ager and was rewarded with All-Australian selection (booted 15 goals in six games). Has planned to move into the midfield on a more regular basis in 2016, which will add another string to his bow. Tweaked his knee in Round 1 of the TAC Cup and was reported on the weekend for striking, so could miss a bit of time.
5. Sam PETREVSKI-SETON
Ht: 179cm | Wt: 70kg | Claremont
Considered “Cyril #2” by some recruiters with the way he can dance through traffic and make the ball talk. Comes from Halls Creek in the East Kimberley region and kicks as well on his left side as he does on his natural right. Plays mostly at half forward but can go through midfield and won the Kevin Sheehan Medal for best player in the under-16 carnival in 2014.
6. Will BRODIE
Ht: 189cm | Wt: 82kg | Murray Bushrangers
A running midfielder who has clearly worked hard in the gym over summer and added some size across his chest and shoulders. The AFL Academy’s best player in both outings against VFL opponents (Werribee and Geelong) and averaged 19.8 disposals last year in the TAC Cup and 15.6 in the national championships. Resembles Port Adelaide’s Brad Ebert with his physique and way he moves.
7. Daniel VENABLES
Ht: 186cm | Wt: 81kg | Western Jets
Venables is a powerful midfielder who can also play in attack. He makes things happen when he is around the ball with his burst from congestion and line-breaking carry. He has averaged nearly five inside-50s a game in his short TAC Cup career. A broken leg last season restricted him to just four games as a bottom-ager but has started the season in good touch with the Jets and PEGS despite a minor knee complaint.
8. Will SETTERFIELD
Ht: 190cm | Wt: 79kg | Sandringham Dragons/GWS Academy
The Albury native relocated to Melbourne as a 15-year-old and attends Caulfield Grammar. He is a smooth moving midfielder who is now up to 190cm and might still have a bit more growing in him—cue comparisons to Marcus Bontempelli—but in reality he is a different type to the Bulldog star. A quiet country kid at heart and ticks all the boxes with his professionalism.
9. Josh ROTHAM
Ht: 192cm | Wt: 82kg | West Perth
Athletic hybrid defender who is composed with ball in hand. A good organiser in the back half and knows when to leave an opponent to get involved in transition from defence to attack. Still slender but has huge scope for improvement with the potential to push up into midfield. May even wind up as the first Western Australian picked in November.
10. Harry PERRYMAN
Ht: 184cm | Wt: 75kg | Collingullie/GWS Academy
Smart mid/forward who played at half back last year, so has great versatility. Seems not overly quick but gets to the ball first and has great balance on both sides. Played alongside GWS’s Matt Kennedy in the seniors at Collingullie for the past two seasons, booting four goals in last year’s grand final and among the best in the 2014 decider as a 16-year-old. Great to watch each week.
11. Jarrod BERRY
Ht: 191cm | Wt: 80kg | North Ballarat Rebels
The North Ballarat skipper played in last year’s national championships for Vic Country as a bottom-ager across half back and quickly emerged as a player to watch for 2016 averaging 19 disposals and four rebounds per game and was named All-Australian. He has all the athletic and personality traits you look for in an early draftee but his kicking does need some work.
12. Jacob ALLISON
Ht: 193cm | Wt: 73kg | Aspley/Brisbane Academy
Allison is an athletic utility who caught the eye playing with Queensland last year as a bottom-ager at the national championships where he averaged 18 disposals and six marks and four inside-50s. He is a hard runner who can break the lines and kicks the ball with good penetration, but can spray a few. Played five games for the Lions reserves in the NEAFL in 2015 and held his own against the mature bodies.
13. Jy SIMPKIN
Ht: 182cm | Wt: 72kg | Murray Bushrangers
Unfortunately for Simpkin he broke his leg playing for Scotch College in mid-April and will miss the season, however clubs have enough information on him. He is smart in traffic, makes things happen when he has the ball in his hands and an uncanny knack for knowing where the big sticks are. Played mostly as a small forward in 2015 with an eye on a move into the midfield this year.
14. Tim ENGLISH
Ht: 203cm | Wt: 86kg | South Fremantle
A long-term ruck prospect who’s form in the WAFL Colts has been strong having come in as a 19-year-old. He is averaging 26 hit-outs (24 per cent to advantage). He shows good touch at the stoppages with his hits where he can go forward, back, 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock, and he can get involved around the ground, displaying good kicking skills for a player of his size, and is a capable tackler.
15. Todd MARSHALL
Ht: 197cm | Wt: 87kg | Murray Bushrangers/GWS Academy
The former cricketer has turned his sights to footy and quickly caught the eye of scouts in matches with the Bushrangers and Giants reserves in the NEAFL. He is lightly framed but knows where to run and shows good speed to separate from defenders and a good kicking technique. Having come into the system so late, he has plenty of areas to work on, but his upside is big.
16. Joe ATLEY
Ht: 184cm | Wt: 80kg | Bendigo Pioneers
The brother of North Melbourne’s Shaun is a clearance-winning machine. A different body type to his more athletic brother, but still covers the ground well and his work in close is his main strength. Some 62 per cent of his possessions this season with the Pioneers have been contested, and he is averaging five clearances and four inside-50s a game.
17. Kym LEBOIS
Ht: 174cm | Wt: 65kg | North Adelaide
Hailing from Ceduna, the small left footer is blessed with silky skills and the rare ability to turn an opponent inside out within three or four steps. He is the nephew of Aaron and Alwyn Davey and shares similar exciting traits as a small forward and creative midfielder where he is averaging 15 disposals and five inside-50s in the SANFL Under 18s and reserves this year.
18. Brad SCHEER
Ht: 184cm | Wt: 82kg | Palm Beach Currumbin/Gold Coast Academy
Scheer is a physical midfielder who likes the crash and bash. He was named the best Division 2 player at the 2014 Under 16 championships and has been a member of the AFL Academy for two years. Having already tasted senior football in the NEAFL with the Suns reserves (averaged 13 disposals in six matches), he is one of the more physically advanced midfielders in this year’s crop.
19. Shai BOLTON
Ht: 177cm | Wt: 67kg | South Fremantle
A bouncy and exuberant small forward with a bag full of tricks who has started the season in blistering form for the Bulldogs in the WAFL colts. He is a willing tackler inside forward 50 but cat-like at ground level. He also has a great leap – he can sit on your head, and hunts the ball when it hits the deck. He just needs to work on his consistency.
20. Alex WITHERDEN
Ht: 186cm | Wt: 80kg | Geelong Falcons
The St Joseph’s product is just a solid citizen across half back, but he does have the scope to press into midfield as the year progresses to add another dimension to his game. He was a consistent performer last season as a bottom-ager showing good courage in the air, composure with ball in hand and a strong defensive game.
❚ On the watch list:
Andrew McGrath (Sandringham Dragons), Brandon Parfitt (North Adelaide), Calvin Thorne (Peel Thunder), Declan Watson (Aspley/Brisbane Lions Academy), Harrison Bult (Western Jets), Harry Morrison (Murray Bushrangers), Jack Henry (Geelong Falcons), Jack Scrimshaw (Sandringham Dragons), Jonty Scharenberg (Glenelg), Jordan Gallucci (Eastern Ranges), Josh Battle (Dandenong Stingrays), Josh Williams (Surfers Paradise/Gold Coast Academy), Judah Dundon (Western Jets), Kobe Mutch (Bendigo Pioneers/GWS Academy), Max Lynch (Murray Bushrangers/GWS Academy), Oscar Junker (Western Jets), Reece Piper (Dandenong Stingrays), Myles Poholke (Dandenong Stingrays), Ryan Garthwaite (Murray Bushrangers), Sam McLarty (Oakleigh Chargers), Tim Taranto (Sandringham Dragons), Willem Drew (North Ballarat Rebels).