AFL talent ambassador Kevin ‘Shifter’ Sheehan has put forward a number of names that might be called out at the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft on Wednesday night.
Sheehan has been in the game long enough to be considered draft royalty among his peers and has come armed with intel on who may be taken.
He has 11 players who he feels will be right in the mix for what he has described as a potentially “unpredictable” draft which will see younger players given an opportunity over mature age.
Sheehan said on SEN SA’s The Run Home: “Which way will the clubs go?
“It’s hard to second guess, it really is. It’s so unpredictable.
“I’m thinking most clubs will go young. They’re saying it will be a younger group, the 19 and 20-year-olds.”
Expected to go at pick 1 to West Coast or pick 2 to North Melbourne, 19-year-old Jai Culley is one player Sheehan is confident on.
Jai Culley
(Dandenong Stingrays)
“He looks like he’d play for North or West Coast straight away.
“I’m not sure he gets to four (to Adelaide) but he may.”
‘Shifter’ went through more players who he believes will be given a chance at an AFL club.
See the rest below:
Max Ramsden
(Sandringham Dragons)
“I like him for the long term. A ruckman at 203(cm).
“He plays like a ruck-rover in the old term we used to use.
“He’d go early if you’re looking to the future.”
Josh Carmichael
(West Adelaide)
“He’s grabbed his opportunity this year, he played well in the state game.
“I think looks certain to get an opportunity.
“The clubs have surrounded him and had a good look at him.”
Oskar Faulkhead
(Bendigo Pioneers)
“He has AFL attributes but just hasn’t had that breakout game.
“This year he’s had about six of those breakout games. Outstanding in the Young Guns game, outstanding for the Bendigo Pioneers.
“At 19 years of age, he’s starting to mature and he’s another name to look for.”
Mutaz Al Nour
(Northern Bullants)
“He’s a Sudanese boy from the Northern Bullants.
“He plays a lot taller than his height. He’s 192(cm), probably plays like a 196 with his leap and athleticism.
“He’s a definitely a chance. Has played in the VFL all year and comes out of local footy in the years past.
“He’s a contender to play that tall defender role (for a club in need).”
Wade Derksen
(Peel Thunder)
“Wade Derksen is 197(cm) and is more of a forward than a defender.
“He’s a bit of a goalkicker. He kicked four games in a game for Peel Thunder against the Eagles reserves.
“Hasn’t played a lot of footy. Comes from up in the NT. He’s big, a genuine size.”
Harvey Gallagher
(Bendigo Pioneers)
“He’s a chance later on.
“He’s kicked his four and five goals playing as a small forward.”
Lachlan Carrigan
(Richmond VFL)
“I think he’s a lock.
“He had compartment syndrome and missed two years of footy in ‘20 and ‘21.
“He was on the radar last year and taken to the combine to check his injuries, but we had no form on him except a practice match at the start of the year.
“He’s killed them this year. He looks a real player.
“He starred across half-back in those Young Guns games. Left-footer, great user of the footy.”
Jye Menzie
(South Adelaide)
“He kicked 10 goals in the first couple of games.
“He was a boy in Allies contention last year and the year before.
“He’s special around goals. He can surprise one-on-one with his marking and his jump.”
Brandon Leary
(Tassie Mariners)
“He kicked close to 40 goals at senior level in their state league last year.
“I’ve seen him kick six in a game this year. He might have kicked about 15 in five games.
“He’s got some tricks. He makes the freakish goals look quite normal.”
Casey Voss
(Sturt)
“I could see him getting a go.
“Casey deserves a chance. You can’t do much more than win the Fos Williams Medal in a state game.
“He’s played well, he’s always been able to find the footy, his footy IQ is very high, uses it well.
“He can play straight away. I’d love to see him get a chance.”
The mid-season draft kicks off at 6:30-pm AEST on Wednesday night.