Latest news with #TheDraftBoard
7NEWS
25-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
AFL Draft Board: South Australia emerge as dominant force in under 18s National Championships
Welcome back to monthly AFL draft series, The Draft Board. In the lead-up to November's draft, we will hand-pick players from around the country who are impressing each month. The June edition is predictably dominated by South Australians, with the Croweaters sitting atop the under 18 national championship standings by some margin — albeit having played one more game than anyone else. They've won all three of their clashes, including a 61-point win over Vic Metro and 76-point win over Western Australia. And with only one player tied to an AFL club (Louis Kellaway, son of Richmond 180-gamer Duncan) in what is expected to be the most compromised draft ever, clubs are watching SA very closely. SA skipper Dyson Sharp has reminded everyone of his top-10 credentials as an inside midfielder, and would be leading all comers for the Larke Medal at this point. Plus, do SA now have the best key forward in the draft pool? Aidan Schubert is surging up draft boards around the country as we speak. He's leading a star-studded forward line that has included eye-catching performances from Mitch Marsh, Cameron Nairn and Zane Peucker. Scroll down to read the June edition of The Draft Board. This list is not exhaustive, and is ranked in no particular order. On last month's Draft Board: Koby Coulson (Gold Coast Suns Academy), Jai Murray (Gold Coast Suns Academy), Max Hudson (Gold Coast Suns Academy), Sam Grlj (Oakleigh Chargers), Xavier Bambert (Sandringham Dragons), Josh Lindsay (Geelong Falcons), Ryda Luke (South Fremantle/Fremantle Next Generation Academy), Tairon Ah-Mu (Dandenong Stingrays), Cody Walker (Bendigo Pioneers), Koby Bewick (Calder Cannons), Tallis McMillan (GWS Giants Academy), Harry Van Hattum (Northern Knights), Sam Swadling (West Perth), Ryan Commandeur (Northern Knights). Mitch Marsh West Adelaide/South Australia Medium forward 191cm DOB: 15/02/2007 What a game he played to kick off the under 18s championships. The man who shares a name with the Australian cricket T20 captain had everyone talking with his 4.2 and seven marks up forward for South Australia against the Allies. Not a big ball-winner but he presents well at the footy, has a great pair of hands and consistently hits the scoreboard. Kicked 15 goals from seven games for the Bloods in the SANFL under 18s. Jack Cook Woodville-West Torrens/South Australia Midfielder 181cm DOB: 02/07/2007 Cook's left foot is a thing of beauty. He's played all three of SA's games in the champs and while his numbers aren't massive (averaging 16.3 disposals), his impact is. Can win it on the inside at centre bounce and spread from stoppages on the outside. One of the best kicks in the draft pool, along with Josh Lindsay, Tom McGuane and co. Dyson Sharp Central District /South Australia Midfielder 187cm DOB: 23/05/2007 After a somewhat flat start to the season for his lofty standards, Sharp has well and truly re-established himself as one of the headline name of the 2025 draft. Would be hard to argue that he hasn't been the best player in the best team of the national champs so far. Tallies of 20, 32 and 33 disposals, plus four goals, across his first three games for SA would have him as the clear favourite for the Larke Medal as the best player in the national championships. Sharp sits at the very pointy end of inside midfielders in the draft. Aidan Schubert South Australia's best key forward is becoming one of the country's best, if he wasn't already, and is one of the youngest players int the pool with a December birthday, so has plenty of development left in him. The lanky goalkicker is capable of taking big clunks in the forward 50 and further up the field where he regularly roams. With eight goals from three games in the carnival to date, Schubert has been SA's most dangerous forward — barring of course when Cameron Nairn went nuts against Western Australia. Cameron Nairn Seven goals from 10 touches against WA was the most noteworthy performance of the championships so far. Everything he touched just seemed to turn to gold. He started on fire with three goals in the first quarter and just couldn't be stopped. One goal in each of his other two games for SA. Matt LeRay Central District/South Australia Wing 189cm DOB: 22/02/2007 It's tempting to group LeRay and Harley Barker together in one, A) because they play on either wing for SA, B) because they have been just as good as each other this year and in recent weeks, and C) because they look so similar! You'd be mistaken for thinking you're seeing double on both sides of the centre square from a distance with their curly locks. LeRay is classy, a great size for a winger, and so consistent. You'll rarely see him make a bad decision or play a bad game. Harley Barker Sturt/South Australia Wing 187cm DOB: 02/05/2007 Slightly shorter than his South Australia and AFL Academy wing partner but more well built. Barker is similar to LeRay in so many ways, but there are some differences. Barker uses his burst of speed a bit more than LeRay, but probably isn't as much of a threat in the air. He'll hurt you in other ways though; the Sturt star always seems to get himself into good spots and can regularly hit the scoreboard. Sam Cumming North Adelaide/South Australia Midfielder 186cm DOB: 27/07/2007 SA's vice-captain and last year's SANFL under 18s MVP has been building nicely throughout the champs. He's such a smooth mover, he's evasive, has a great turn of speed, can kick on both feet, and always looks active. His best game of the carnival was in the Croweaters' 61-point win over Vic Metro in Round 2, when he had 21 disposals and two goals. Dan Annable Brisbane Lions Academy/Allies Midfielder 183cm DOB: 05/04/2007 The Brisbane Lions Academy product surely can't slip past the first two or three picks on draft night. I don't think I've seen him play a game this year where he hasn't been the best player on the ground. Dominated yet again in the Allies' championships opener against SA, getting his side to within seven points of the title favourites — which is around 10 goals closer than any other state so far. We're going to run out of adjectives to describe this bloke for the rest of this year and his upcoming career at the Lions. Taj Murray Northern Territory/North Adelaide/Allies Ruck/forward 199cm DOB: 05/02/2007 A few more performances like the one he produced against SA in Round 1 of the championships and he will rocket into first-round contention. To be clear, Murray hasn't come from nowhere — he is a member of the AFL Academy. But his performances against SA was one out of the box. Murray kicked goals that players of his size have no right to kick, including a dribble from the boundary line and a snap around the corner that some of the draft pool's most nimble and diminutive forwards would be happy with. Fred Rodriguez South Fremantle/Western Australia Midfielder 184cm DOB: 10/07/2007 The WA captain has been his state's best player of the carnival so far, in a team that has lacked real standouts. Jacob Farrow and Toby Whan have shown something but Rodriguez has been their best across the first two games — which is a surprise to precisely no one. His goal against Vic Country bursting away from the centre square stoppage — one of two for the game — was a touch of brilliance, and showed what he is capable of. Harry Dean Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country Key defender 193cm DOB: 13/11/2007 The son of dual Carlton premiership star Peter Dean is building nicely this seaon. Vic Country would have gone down by more against WA if not for his intercepting, along with Lindsay, at half back that day. Josh Lindsay Geelong Falcons/Vic Country Defender 183cm DOB: 07/04/2007 One of five players in this list to feature on his second Draft Board. Lindsay had a blinding first half against WA for Country and finished with 28 disposals, including 24 kicks. And why wouldn't you want him kicking it as much as possible? No one in his draft class uses the ball better than Lindsay. Other notable mentions Gold Coast Academy product Koby Coulson is rising up draft boards around the country but will probably be snapped up by the Suns, despite them having a host of other top prospects under their nose as well. Gippsland Power utility Willem Duursma and Calder Cannons ruck Cooper Duff-Tytler are always worth mentioning, and could be the quinella come draft night. Woodville-West Torrens goalsneak Zane Peucker has looked very likely in a star-studded forward line for South Australia, and Dandenong Stingrays Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves remains among the country's top prospects with recent performances.
7NEWS
15-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
AFL Draft Board: Gold Coast Suns' embarrassment of draft riches increasing by the week
Welcome back to monthly AFL draft series, The Draft Board. In the lead-up to November's draft, we will hand-pick players from around the country who are impressing each month. May's edition centres around the Gold Coast Suns Academy. A quick look at the Coates Talent League ladder tells you all you need to know about the rude health of the Queensland academies. Gold Coast and Brisbane sit first and second on the ladder, both undefeated, with massive percentages. AFL Academy trio Beau Addinsall and Dylan Patterson (both Suns) and Daniel Annable (Lions) are the obvious standouts, but there are a host of others following their lead. The Suns boast five first-round academy draft picks in the past two years, including four in 2023, when they wheeled and dealed their way through the trade period to accumulate enough points to secure all four. They may have a similar problem this year — albeit a good one to have — as their star-studded academy goes from strength to strength. With the Suns in the mix to potentially play finals for the first time in their history, there is a chance their first-round pick will fall later than in previous years. Luckily for them, they have two extra first-rounders they got as part of the Lukosious-Noble-Houston mega trade last October, which could allow them to match any bid that comes for their academy prospects. Scroll down to read the May edition of The Draft Board. This list is not exhaustive, and is ranked in no particular order. On last month's Draft Board: Oliver Greeves (Eastern Ranges), Hussien El Achkar (Calder Cannons), Adam Sweid (Calder Cannons), Daniel Annable (Brisbane Lions Academy), Beau Addinsall (Gold Coast Suns Academy), Dylan Patterson (Gold Coast Suns Academy), Dyson Sharp (Central District), Cooper Duff-Tytler (Calder Cannons), Willem Duursma (Gippsland Power), Archie Ludowyke (Sandringham Dragons). Koby Coulson Gold Coast Suns Academy Midfielder 180cm DOB: 31/07/2007 In a stacked Suns Academy, Coulson has established himself as one of their best. Needless to say Addinsall and Patterson are leading the charge for the elite Suns crop, but don't sleep on Coulson. After getting a taste of VFL footy against Southport, Coulson has come back to the Coates Talent League and averaged 28 touches from three games. Gets involved at both ends of the ground as a midfielder and has a booming kick on him. Jai Murray Gold Coast Suns Academy Midfielder 187cm DOB: 09/03/2007 Another one less heralded than Addinsall and Patterson, and even Coulson, but Jai Murray is yet another exciting prospect coming out of the Suns Academy. Hit the Talent League with a bang in his the Suns' first game of the season against Dandenong, which was Round 4, with 29 disposals and 1.1. Less prolific against Eastern the following week, but looked just as good as he oozed class coming out of centre bounce stoppages. Max Hudson Gold Coast Suns Academy Key forward 192cm DOB: 11/01/2007 Hudson has lit up the Talent League since the Suns began their campaign, kicking 12.4 from three games, including 5.2, 17 disposals and nine marks against Dandenong in Round 4. The clever key forward is such a tough prospect for defenders to handle because he reads the ball so well so well in the air and is fiercely competitive. Hudson took marks from easy goal-kicking spots in Round 5 against Eastern and could have had a couple more majors if not for some missed chances. Sam Grlj Oakleigh Chargers/Camberwell Grammar Midfielder 182cm DOB: 26/07/2007 Along with Tom McGuane and Max King, Grlj can consider himself one of the unluckiest to have missed AFL Academy selection. But the classy midfielder hasn't let that worry him in the first third of the season, with prolific games for the Chargers, Camberwell Grammar, and Vic Metro's trial squad rocketing him into top-10 calculations. Grlj stood out for Metro during the trial match against Vic Country last month, averaged 21 disposals and kicked three goals in his three Coates Talent League games, and has had his own footy for Camberwell in the AGSV. Clearly best on ground against Ivanhoe Grammar last weekend despite his side getting smashed by over 10 goals as a host of recruiters watched on. Grlj has a good mix of inside ball-winning ability and outside burst away from stoppages. Xavier Bambert Sandringham Dragons Midfielder/forward 185cm 29/01/2007 The Sandy skipper is hard not to notice when you watch him play; his explosiveness is just so eye-catching. Bambert's 20 touches are most impactful than most players' 30. He can burst from stoppages as a midfielder or burn defenders on the lead as a forward, and did both of those things in a great game against the Giants Academy in Round 5. Josh Lindsay Geelong Falcons Defender 183cm DOB: 07/04/2007 If he wasn't already, Lindsay confirmed himself as a top-10 prospect with best-on-ground honours for the AFL Academy against Coburg last month. This bloke just doesn't make mistakes. If you could pick one player to give the ball to coming out of half back, it's Lindsay every time. He makes things happen with his creative vision and laser-like left-foot kicking, provides run and drive out of the defensive 50, and just never gets flustered with the ball. A pleasure to watch. Ryda Luke South Fremantle/Fremantle Next Generation Academy Forward 185cm DOB: 19/09/2007 Not a prolific ball-winner but Ryda Luke will hurt you on the scoreboard. He's kicked 13 goals from three WAFL Colts games this year, including eight from eight disposals against Swan Districts in Round 3, when everything he touched turned to gold. The medium-sized forward is lightning quick, flies for marks, and devastating when the ball hits the ground. Tairon Ah-Mu Dandenong Stingrays/Haileybury College Key forward 198cm DOB: 06/06/2007 Tairon Ah-Mu is putting the fear of god into 16 and 17-year-olds around Victoria at the moment. A brute at full forward for Haileybury and the Stingrays, Ah-Mu takes pack marks, has an AFL-ready body, and plays with a noticeable presence. Dominated for the Vic Country trial squad against Metro last month and will be a handful for defenders at the national championships. Kicked 2.5 in what could've been a massive day for the Stingrays in Round 3, which was his last Talent League game before Country and school footy duties took over. Cody Walker The bottom-ager and son of Carlton great Andrew Walker is one of the most exciting prospects ahead of next year's draft and the Blues will no doubt make sure they're stocked up with enough points to match a bid that could come within the top couple of picks. Walker has starred for the Pioneers this year, averaging 19 touches and just under a goal a game, and was probably the best player on the ground for the first of two trial games between Vic Metro and Vic Country last month. He's a damaging midfielder who hits the scoreboard when he goes forward. Dad's shoes are big ones to fill, but Cody has got all the tools he needs to do it. Koby Bewick Calder Cannons Midfielder 178cm DOB: 10/01/2009 Essendon fans have a lot to be excited about in Bewick, who is the son of two-time premiership player Darren Bewick, making him eligible as a father-son. The 2027 draft prospect doesn't even turn 17 until next year, but has already shown he is comfortable at Talent League under-18s level. Under-16s aren't typically allowed to play under-18s for their Talent League clubs until after the national championships but, due to injury and unavailability, Calder asked for special permission to play Bewick against Northern Territory in Round 4 — and he put on a show. The youngster had 28 classy disposals and kicked a nice goal on the run from about 50 metres out. Tallis McMillan GWS Giants Academy Key forward 191cm DOB: 11/04/2007 One of the more unheralded key forwards of this year's class, but that won't continue for much longer if McMillan maintains the form he's hit since the Giants' season kicked off. He's kicked 9.3 from three Coates games, including 4.1 against Murray and 4.2 against Sandringham. The Dragons were without most of their stars, but take nothing away from McMillan's performance that day. He took contested marks, led up strongly at the ball, and kicked well. Plays much taller than his 191cm stature suggests. GWS monitoring him closely. Harry Van Hattum Northern Knights/Ivanhoe Grammar Ruck 202cm DOB: 01/07/2008 He hasn't played yet this year for the Knights this year but big Harry has turned heads for Ivanhoe in school footy. Van Hattum is still only bottom age, not eligible to be drafted until 2026, but clubs have already got him in first-round calculations for next year. A traditional tap ruckman who tends to push back behind the ball in the same way that — dare it be said — Max Gawn does, where he is capable of taking contested intercept marks. Would be leading Ivanhoe's best and fairest comfortably to this point of the season, as a year 11, after three massive games against Marcellin, Yarra Valley and Camberwell. One of three bottom-agers included in Vic Metro's train-on squad. Sam Swadling West Perth Midfielder 187cm DOB: 16/01/2007 Through pure weight of numbers, Swadling simply must be acknowledged as a force of the WAFL Colts competition. He is racking up video game-like numbers at will for West Perth, with tallies of 36, 30, 40, 42 and 39 touches in his past five matches. It's ridiculous consistency from the medium-sized midfielder, who has made it difficult for WA state coaches not to pick him for the national champs. Swadling can find the footy, that much is clear. But to get to the next level and be considered among the best of this year's draft class, he needs to use the ball better, have more impact with his possessions, and get the ball in more damaging positions. He had the ball on a string against Claremont in Round 5 but often turned it over or had little impact with it. Ryan Commandeur Northern Knights Medium defender 181cm 25/02/2007 Commandeur plays so much taller than his 181cm suggests. He reads the ball well in the air and gets involved when it hits the ground. Made a statement to recruiters with his 26 disposals and 10 marks in a best-on-ground performance against Calder in Round 3. Has missed out on Vic Metro selection but recruiters will continue to monitor. Other notable mentions Harry Heathcote is yet another promising prospect out of the Suns Academy, a key position player who can take a contested mark and is happy to put pressure on when the opposition get it. Bendigo Pioneers defender Finlay Lockhart played really well for Vic Country in the trial match against Metro, as did Murray's Zac Harding, who is a mid-season draft hopeful. Also putting his hand up for the mid-season draft is Calder Cannons key defender Gus Papal, who had 27 disposals and a whopping 13 marks last weekend. His Cannons teammate Sam Harris, two years his junior, has started his bottom-age year on fire. Harris is the son of North Melbourne champion, Daniel Harris, and is eligible as a father-son.
