We've seen a definite shift in recruiting strategies in the last few years with teams taking more risks on mature age players in the draft.
With the likes of Tim Kelly dominating at Geelong, Billy Gowers leading the Western Bulldogs’ goal kicking, Bayley Fritsch shining at Melbourne and a whole heap of other examples of this working, the question becomes who’s the next one to emerge?
Future Stars panellist and AFL Draft expert Callum Twomey has a short list of mature age players around the state leagues who could have an impact next year.
Corey Rich (Frankston – VFL)
“He’s a Mark LeCras type, so a smaller type but good in the air and we see him go through the midfield at stages,” Twomey told Future Stars.
“He’s kicked plenty of goals and been on fire.
“I know speaking to a couple of clubs this week, he’s definitely on their radar.”
Darcy Fort (Central District – SANFL)
“Another one who’s been through the system in recent years is Darcy Fort, he’s playing in the SANFL, he’s a ruckman and got overlooked in the draft a few years ago,” Twomey said.
“The taller types take a little bit extra time and I think he’ll get a chance later this year.”
Jordan Keras (Geelong – VFL)
“He’s actually the brother-in-law of Patrick Dangerfield and an inside midfielder, clearance winner and someone around the ball who does the job nicely,” Twomey said.
Former Western Bulldogs forward Nathan Brown said mature age recruits getting a chance in 2018 only makes the game better.
“What I love about this is when I grew up, if you didn’t get drafted when you were 17, that was just about it, you were never heard from again,” he said.
“These 23 to 24-year-olds getting drafted, it never used to happen, but it has changed and that dream for an AFL spot lives on in a lot of players.”
See the rest of Cal Twomey’s list of potential mature age recruits below.
Watch the panel break down the older recruits currently in the AFL below.