Phantom Draft Top 20
This article originally appeared on afl.com.au.
By Cal Twomey.
The countdown to this year’s NAB AFL Draft is on after the Under-18 Championships wrapped up this week.
In the first edition of the Phantom Form Guide for 2015, AFL.com.au has ranked the best 20 prospects in our eyes at this point of the year.
Remember, this is a pure ranking and doesn’t take into account where clubs’ picks will fall and what their needs will be.
There are also a number of prospects who are managing or returning from long-term injuries, meaning things will develop as the season progresses.
The Phantom Form Guide will be updated every month in the lead-up to the draft, with a solid group of players outside of this list challenging for spots.
Weitering didn’t take long to stake his claim as a leading contender for the No.1 pick this year, with brilliant back-to-back performances for the NAB AFL Academy against VFL teams in April. The key defender has a surety about his play: it’s hard to recall any time where he gets flustered or looks rushed. He’s confident and almost unbeatable in the air, and has a long and damaging kick out of the backline that starts attack. He’s close to the full package for a prospect his age.
A standout Under-18 Championships for Vic Country has seen Schache rise further up the draft board to become a legitimate chance as the first selection. The key forward kicked 24 goals in the national carnival (an all-time record) and won the Larke Medal as the best player in division one. Schache ticks a lot of boxes for what you’d want in a goalkicker: he’s tall, can find space on the lead, has the tank to run up and down the ground, and he can pinch-hit in the ruck. Most importantly, the left-footer converts his shots.
Schache keen to ‘finish off’ his late dad’s work at Brisbane
A nagging shin injury has kept Mills from playing a game so far this year, but the midfielder is hoping to return next week in the NEAFL. Despite his absence, Mills, who was an All Australian last year as a bottom-ager, remains one of the best players in this draft pool. He’s hard, tough and competitive, and you’d back him to win most one-on-one battles. He performed impressively for the Swans’ NEAFL side last year and the club will likely need to match an early rival bid to claim him at this year’s draft.
Parish is very close to being the best midfielder in the draft because of his ability to take the game forward. The run-and-carry specialist loves to take the game on. He’s instinctive and tries to get the ball his team’s way, and quickly. He uses it well, is smart around goal, and offers a spark whenever he’s around the ball. He also belies his size to throw himself into the action, and he played with a broken thumb (which required surgery and six weeks on the sidelines) in the academy’s game against the Northern Blues.
Hopper’s dominance for NSW/ACT saw him named its most valuable player. He averaged 26 disposals and eight clearances across the Rams’ three matches and was clearly a level above. He is a competitive ball-winner capable of shaping the momentum of a game through sheer effort around the contest. Hopper, who is a member of the Giants academy and seems likely to head there at the end of the year, also likes to press forward and kick goals, evidenced by his bag of four in round one of the TAC Cup.
One of the most dynamic players in the pool who elevated himself with an outstanding carnival for South Australia. Francis started the year playing as a third tall defender who could jump and take marks. But in the championships he showed he was much more than that. He started games in the centre square as a big and aggressive midfielder, and in another game kicked 4.5 from centre-half forward. Francis finds ways to influence games.
Injuries have meant Weideman has only been able to put together a small sample of his talent. But in the key forward’s favour, the sample has been pretty good. The imposing goalkicker is athletic, jumps well at the ball, has a smooth kicking action and thinks fast. His ankle fracture from the end of last season resurfaced before the Under-18 Championships, and he required surgery. The son of former Magpie Mark Weideman and grandson of Collingwood legend Murray may play again at the end of the year or focus on getting fit for the draft combine.
Creative and able to make some hard things look easy, Balic offers a point of difference to the top-end of the draft. He’s a half-forward who has spent more and more time in the midfield as the season has gone on. The 18-year-old goes hard at the ball, but complements his game by easing through traffic and producing some more freakish moments. His basketball background sees him excel in tight spots, and when he goes forward he can manufacture space and be a hard match-up. He’s also spent some time across half-back.
The more you watch Kennedy the more things you see. The Wagga Wagga product, who is attached to the Giants academy, is a hard-working midfielder who kicks well on both feet, wins his own touches, can break away from stoppages and make an impact either way. He’s good overhead, has a few tricks near goal and does it with a minimum of fuss: he hunches his shoulders and gets things done. He missed the championships with stretched ligaments in his knee but should return in around a month.
The son of former Sydney Swans defender Andrew Dunkley will wait until later in the year before making a decision whether he nominates as a father-son selection with the club. After missing four months with a back stress fracture, the midfielder wants to concentrate on his footy first. Dunkley has the type of versatile game that lends him to playing a few different spots. He’s a tough midfielder, but can switch forward and mark overhead, or move back and lock down.
Tucker had a solid if not outstanding carnival for Vic Country, seemingly most at home when starting across half-back, putting the ball under his arm and going for a run. After making the All Australian team last year as a 17-year-old, Tucker set himself to move into the midfield this year and he has had some good games in there across the season. Well built, professional and with good pace, Tucker enjoys having the ball in control and setting up the play. Is the captain of the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup.
Ah Chee wasted little time to highlight his ability this year with strong performances for the NAB AFL Academy in April. His aerial strength (in particular one hanger at the MCG), class around goal and pace made him a standout through half-forward. Western Australia’s struggle at the championships was reflected in Ah Chee, but the 17-year-old saved his best game against Vic Metro in round five, when he stepped up to kick two final-quarter goals to steer his side to the win. He is one of the draft’s most talented prospects.
Mathieson enjoys the rough and tumble of his midfield role, and regularly jumps into packs, rips the ball out and kicks it long. He’s strong and able to use his bigger frame to outmuscle others, and after a calf injury at the start of the season he has put together a consistent year. After winning All Australian honours last year as a bottom-ager, he backed it up with another high quality carnival for Vic Country as its most prolific midfielder.
There aren’t many players in this year’s draft who can find the ball like Keays. The midfielder isn’t especially quick or classy, but he works really hard to collect disposals and make an impact with them. Across three games at the championships he averaged 29 disposals andwon the Harrison Medal as the best player in division two. Keays has already had a good taste of senior football in the NEAFL, is clean around the stoppages, runs up and down the ground and is a likable leader who captained Queensland.
Agile, athletic and with a turn of speed, Hipwood is raw and exciting. He showed across the championships he can play well at both ends of the ground, but it was a quarter up forward in round two against Tasmania where he shone.Hipwood booted four goals for the term (including a couple from the boundary line) and turned the game his team’s way. Is another member of the Brisbane Lions academy, meaning the Lions recruiting team will get first call on him if a first-round bid comes.
A kneecap injury suffered in the TAC Cup saw Curnow miss Vic Country’s championships, which was a shame as it came when he was starting to play as a midfielder. He might be held back until the end-of-year combine before returning. The younger brother of Carlton midfielder Ed started the season as a key forward, but was transitioning into a midfielder when he got hurt, in a role many recruiters see him playing in the future.
This time last year many had Burton pegged as a very early pick at the 2015 draft. He had performed well as a bottom-ager for South Australia, shown traits as a match-winner up forward and had also tasted senior SANFL action. But a badly broken leg later in the season has seen Burton focus on his off-field recovery so far this year instead of playing. The 18-year-old is progressing well, and has recently picked up his running and kicking. He hopes to return to the field by the end of this year and remains one of the most talented draft hopefuls.
McKay’s four goals in the first game of Gippsland Power’s season put him on the map for scouts, and since then there have been glimpses of the player he could become. The key forward is athletic, has some tricks and moves well. He jumps at the ball and backs himself when it hits the ground, and produced some eye-catching moments through the carnival. Given his traits and size he’s every chance to end up a little higher than this.
A bit crafty and capable of using the ball well, Cole also has the versatility to play a number of spots, from half-back through to the midfield. He’s composed with the ball, can kick on both feet and has the capacity to make an impact near goal. In May the Bendigo Pioneers prospect impressed in the VFL playing for Geelong’s state-league team and he showed some explosive signs with ball in hand for Vic Country.
Collins has added important run and intercept marking to his game in the past two months, which has seen the key defender move up the draft ranks. The 17-year-old sticks to his task and is a reliable option to hold down a key forward. But his rise as a prospect has come in his developing confidence to run the ball out of defence and add some attacking elements to his make-up.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
