Only 12 months ago, Jack Bytel was tipped to be selected near the top 10 in this year’s National Draft.
Bytel’s 2017 was so brilliant it had set him up to be one of the elite selections in the 2018 draft according to AFL Academy coach Luke Power.
Injuries curtailed the 2018 season of the prolific Calder Cannons co-captain and midfielder but according to Power, clubs should not be overlooking his ability at tonight and tomorrow’s draft.
“At the end of last year, Jack’s Under 17 year, I had him around the fringes of the top 10,” the Brisbane Lions great said on SEN Breakfast.
“He was having 30 disposals a game and then also going forward and hitting the scoreboard.
“Unfortunately this year he’s had a couple of injuries. The latest one being a back complaint which may see him dip a little bit, but I’m sure that he’s too good a player to ignore.
“If they can get it right with him and get his injury right, he is going to be a really good pick-up.”
LISTEN to the first round of the AFL Draft LIVE on 1116 SEN from 6:00pm AEDT tonight
The 188cm modern-day mid averaged 27 possessions in the TAC Cup as a 17-year-old but had to endure a bulging disc in his back in 2018.
Compared to Sydney captain Josh Kennedy, the tackle-happy Bytel met with several clubs at the AFL Draft Combine and while he has been on the radar over the past two years, he is expected to be one of the steals of this year’s draft.
Bytel could quite possibly be taken in the second round and maybe even fall to the third with clubs such as Essendon and Melbourne believed to be keen.
Listen to the chat with Power in the player below: