Inside Football Draft Special

Recruitment, it’s often been said, is an inexact science, and even in the age of media saturation and instant communication this holds true.

Despite the resources poured into talent and identification programs, recruiting comes with no guarantees. The experts have been saying for some time that this year’s draft pool is shallow and next year’s deep, a consensus that coloured the trade period.

Also not in dispute, fortunately, is that the top handful of kids (we've dubbed them The Fantastic 5) in this year’s draft are top shelf.

What is featured this month…

17-Page Draft Guide
We profile over 200 prospects who took part in the AFL draft combines – and throw in the odd ‘smokey’ from the state leagues whose names could be called out on draft night, November 24.

Twenty Good Men
Led by former Port Adelaide, Hawthorn and St Kilda recruiter and list manager Chris Pelchen, Pro Scout International has been tracking and ranking this year’s youngsters ahead of the AFL National Draft. It reveals the predicted top 20.

A question of character
When it comes to successful recruiting, talent spotting is only half of the job. Recruiters increasingly want to select players they consider to be made of the right stuff – to have leadership qualities and resilience. An interview with the family is not necessarily to discover more about the son, but to assess the family dynamics. As Nathan Burke explains, this has become a crucial aspect of the decision-making of AFL clubs.

What price a top 10 pick?
Recruitment, it’s often been said, is an inexact science, and even in the age of media saturation and instant communication this holds true. Despite the resources poured into talent and identification programs, recruiting comes with no guarantees.

Drafting ruckmen? That’s a stretch!
Despite dire predictions, the game has always found a place for its tallest citizens, albeit with growing requirements on fitness and general skills. But recent trends have consequences for recruiters and young ruckmen in the national draft like Sam Hayes.

VFL | Coburg’s patch-up job
Ex-Kangaroo Leigh Adams has collected many coaching accolades in a short time, and now faces his biggest task by taking over the reins at Coburg.

WAFL | Best of the west
The three mature-aged recruits who can step straight into AFL senior teams.

SANFL | Slim pickings in South
Glenelg youngster the standout in a shallow pool of SA draft prospects.

NEAFL | Northern exposure
The NEAFL is poised to provide a number of mature-aged and academy prospects to the AFL drafts.

LOCAL | We are the champions!
The siren has sounded on the 2017 season and it’s time to run through more of community football’s victors and vanquished!

Plus…

THE LOCAL WHITEBOARD
All your tibdits from what is happening around the country in grassroots footy.

And finally…

The truth behind Gold Coast's failed Hinkley raid; the lengths clubs go to in researching draft prospects; Trigg's Blue departure; Saints and Roos trade disappointments; new deal for Bolts?; Key Dog to leave the kennel? We reveal some of the whispers around the corridors of power.

All this and more in the November issue of Inside Football magazine.

ON SALE 6 NOVEMBER at your local newsagent, Woolworths, Coles, 7-Eleven, Caltex and Coles Express for just $6.95.