Oakleigh Chargers midfielder George Wardlaw is expected to be an early selection in this year’s National Draft.
Currently ranked second in Cal Twomey’s phantom form guide on AFL.com.au, Wardlaw looks certain to be taken within the first few picks this November as he’s been the player closest to consensus top prospect Will Ashcroft.
Twomey himself explained what he sees in the powerful midfielder who he compares to Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver.
“There’s a bit of Clayton Oliver in the way he plays, that’s real,” Twomey said on AFL Trade Radio.
“He’s tough, he’s combative, he’s explosive out of the stoppage, he’s powerful.
“His big games, we talk about the right time to play well, he did that this year, he was best on ground for the AFL Academy against Collingwood’s VFL side, Will Ashcroft played for that side as well.
“In Round 1, George Wardlaw was best on ground for the Oakleigh Chargers against the Sandringham Dragons, Will Ashcroft played in that game too.
“Probably the two games when Will Ashcroft wasn’t best on ground across the year was when George Wardlaw was playing in them.
“That’s a little marker with how well he would’ve gone in that championship had he played.”
While Wardlaw possesses clean skills and a high footy IQ, Twomey says his athleticism is also a standout, which he uses to take the game on aggressively.
“He’s 182-183cm midfielder, he’s got a strong body, but he’s got a leap, he had the second best leap at the NAB League testing day earlier this year, he can jump, he goes for his hangers,” Twomey explained.
“He kicks goals, he fends off, he plays on, he’s an aggressive player in physicality and in mindset, he enjoys taking the ball forward.
“He’s going to be fun to watch I think at the next level because he can do some surprising things at stages too.”
Destined to be taken early in the draft, Twomey named the teams he could see the on-baller headed to for the start of his AFL career.
“I think North Melbourne whether they keep pick no. 1 or bid on Will Ashcroft … they’ll be looking very closely at him,” Twomey said.
“I’m sure West Coast as well, should they keep pick no.2 will be looking at him very closely.
“The Giants have been linked a lot to Aaron Cadman, but I think as a midfield option he’d be right in their thoughts.
“And Essendon well, he’s got a bit of a yearning to get to the Bombers, he’s a Bombers supporter he said he can dream about getting to the Bombers.”
Clubs haven’t seen Wardlaw since the first half of the year due to hamstring injuries, with his ranking proving how highly rated he is amongst recruiters and talent scouts.