Recently departed Werribee coach Michael Barlow is expecting two Tigers players to land on AFL lists in 2024.
The 2023 VFL runners-up have a number of quality players on their list led by Norm Goss Medallist Shaun Mannagh who had 27 disposals and kicked six goals in his side’s Grand Final loss to Gold Coast less than two weeks ago.
Barlow, who was this week appointed as North Melbourne’s head of development, is a massive fan of Mannagh who he believes would be in many AFL best 22s.
He was asked how much interest the 26-year-old has attracted from clubs at the elite level.
“A fair amount from what we’re hearing,” he said on AFL Trade Radio’s Trade Exchange.
“I would just frame it like this - If you take all the half-forward/midfielder players on AFL lists and you put them in a VFL season, maybe 5 per cent of them are having games like Shaun Mannagh had.
“Out of the almost 800 AFL players, if Shaun Mannagh isn’t in the best 400 players… I’m willing to say he’d be in the best 22 of a lot of sides at the moment.
“Disregard the age, that’s still a four or five-year career for someone who is great culturally, has got a great work ethic, is a great person.
“I was stoked for him that he had that game on the big stage. Gold Coast put young (Bodhi) Uwland onto him and he was able to work through that and show he can play under a bit of duress as well.
“I’m hoping for the best for Shaun.”
Mannagh played 21 games for the Tigers this season, averaging 25 disposals and kicking 40 goals.
His teammate Sam Clohesy is another Werribee player who is attracting attention from AFL clubs.
The 20-year-old won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal - as his coach Barlow did in 2009 - for being the VFL’s best young player.
Does Barlow expect Clohesy to be on an AFL list in 2024?
“Yes, I do,” he replied emphatically.
“We’re just putting together some reports on players and I actually just wrote about Sam. He’s just a great person that is driven, he’s competitive, he’s tough.
“He’s quite skinny so he’s going to benefit strongly (from an AFL program). He’s got two or three kilos to put on, he can run really well. He is one that all he wanted to do was compete and win the trust of his teammates.
“In the back half of the year he was running off half-back and his anticipation from defence to offence and offence to defence is a really high level.
“I know there are some clubs significantly interested in him. 20 years of age, his brother (Ted) is in the system (at Geelong), he’s a good story, Sam, and I’m hoping for an opportunity for him.”
Clohesy also played 21 games for Werribee in 2023 and averaged close to 17 touches per game.
Listen to Barlow on Trade Radio below: