AFL Draft 2023: Scouting notes, ranking points from preliminary final between Sandringham Dragons and Geelong Falcons
A father-son gun stole the show in Sandringham Dragons’ win over Geelong Falcons, but plenty of prospects improved their draft claims. Full scouting report and SuperCoach points.
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The Sandringham Dragons are roaring towards back-to-back Coates Talent League premierships after withstanding a gallant Geelong Falcons at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.
The Falcons took it up to the talent-stacked Dragons for the first three quarters before Rob Harding’s side ran away with the match, winning by 34-points as Brisbane father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft — the brother of young gun Will — led the way with three goals.
Check out who impressed and all the SuperCoach points.
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
Levi Ashcroft
It’s hard to believe this kid is still 16. Ashcroft kicked three stunning goals in a best-on-ground display, two of those on the run from 45m in the second half. He should have had a fourth in the final quarter, missing a snap close to goal that was his easiest chance of the lot. Ashcroft oozed class and was clean and creative by hand, regularly gathering off the deck in congestion and releasing a teammate in space. Scary to think he is only going to get better – much to Lions fans’ delight.
Charlie Edwards
There is plenty of buzz surrounding this draft bolter and he only enhanced his draft credentials against the Falcons. His exciting traits were encapsulated in a single play when he burst through the middle with a bounce and booted a long goal. Edwards showed off his speed in congestion on other occasions where Falcons defenders couldn’t lay a finger on him. Was one of the best players on the ground despite fading a touch later in the contest, finishing with 21 disposals, six tackles and five inside 50s in a well-rounded performance.
Ryley Sanders
Sanders was the leading disposal winner on the ground, something of a fait accompli this season. The top-10 prospect had 23 handballs from his 28 touches, setting up his teammates with his creative use by hand after winning the ball in tight. Also kicked a nice set shot goal from 50m after sitting in the hole and taking an intercept mark from a wayward Falcons kick.
Archie Roberts
Was always looking to provide run from behind, giving the Dragons serious attacking drive out of defence. Roberts broke the lines with a blistering run with several bounces in the final term in perhaps his best play of the day. The running defenders had the second-most possessions on the ground with behind Sanders with 25 and generally used it well, but sometimes tried to be too cute with his disposals.
Ollie Murphy
Got better as the game went on in the key defensive post, taking two intercept marks late in the piece that showcased his reading of the play and strong overhead marking. Murphy’s elite ball-use out of defence stood out, particularly for a player standing 200cm. His follow-up work at ground level was also impressive, with his athleticism was one of his key traits. Has great appeal for a club looking for a developing key defender inside the top 20.
Vigo Visentini
This was arguably Visentini’s best performance of the year and was his top-ranked game for the season according to Champion Data. Visentini had a significant impact around the ground, clunking five intercept marks and gathering 20 disposals. This was down to his workrate and athleticism, which allowed him to win 15 uncontested possessions for the match. Had an intriguing duel with Joe Pike in the ruck, winning 28 hit-outs.
Harvey Johnston
Was one of the better players on the ground in the second half where he had an impact through the midfield and up forward. Johnston launched the inside 50 in the last quarter and then followed up his work to take a gutsy intercept mark 30m out that resulted in a goal. Johnston was agile in congestion and worked hard defensively, highlighted by a brilliant rundown tackle in the second quarter.
Archer May
The over-ager made his possessions count, kicking three goals from six disposals in a promising showing up forward. An early goal was the highlight of May’s day, gathering off the deck in a one-on-one contest and snapping on his right from 30m and putting it through the big sticks. It was a nod to the 197cm prospect’s athleticism, which he showed in the second half with a mark on the lead at full speed in the second half that resulted in his second goal.
Murphy Reid
Another impressive display from the bottom-ager who looms as a player to watch next year. Reid did it on the offensive end and tackled ferociously against the Falcons, winning 18 disposals, booting a goal and laying 10 tackles. Will be on show on in the grand final curtain raiser in the U17 All Stars match.
GEELONG FALCONS
Angus Hastie
Fitting that the Falcons’ top draft prospect was their best player in their final game. Hastie came to life in the second half, with one dashing from run described by AFL Talent Lead Kevin Sheehan as “AFL-like”. The Geelong West product gathered the ball deep in defence, danced around two tacklers and put on the afterburners to burst all the way to the middle before dishing off handball that led to a goal. Hastie won a crucial 1-on-1 ball on the wing and worked his way around his opponent with ease in the fourth, another example of his speed and agility. Made his possessions count as he always does and defended well throughout the day aside from a free kick he gave away in the last.
Pat Hughes
Started the second half with a bang by winning the first two centre clearances with his trademark brute strength. The bullocking midfielder had six clearances to three-quarter-time – no mean feat up against the talent-laden Dragons on-ball brigade, led by arguably the top inside midfielder in the pool in Sanders. At one stage showed off his burst by bustling through two tacklers and accelerating up the middle. There are clearly some question marks, but he is worthy of a state combine invite at the very least after an eye-catching finish to the year.
Joe Pike
The stats will show that Visentini won the disposal and hitout count but Pike, who spent more time forward than his opponent, had plenty of big moments in the preliminary final battle. Pike stood tall to take a couple of strong intercept marks in packs down the line, and his best moment of the day came with a miraculous goal from the boundary. After dropping a mark, Pike followed up with a handball over his head, following up and managing to get ball to boot despite a heavy tackle. His follow-up work at stoppages was promising particularly early. Another to improve his draft standing with a strong back-end to the season.
Michael Rudd
Rudd had an impressive first half where he took a couple of strong grabs. The St Mary’s prospect hauled in a juggling mark in a one-on-one and coolly slotted the set shot from outside 50 in his best play of the day. Worked hard up and down the ground as he always does to finish with 15 touches and six marks, and spotted up Tom Burke late in the game with a deft pass inside 50.
Will McLachlan
After seven goals in two games during the Talent League finals series, McLachlan started with a bang against the Dragons. The forward showcased his exciting power and athleticism with two goals from contested marks in the first quarter. One of those he shoved his opponent away with brute strength, while the other was a strong pack mark in the square. McLachlan was then denied another juggling grab shortly after that should have been paid. He faded in the second half and missed a gettable snap at goal in the final quarter, but the Colac product couldn’t have done much more in his past few games.
Ethan Borys
Had his second-highest disposal tally of the year in the year but his most important play was on the defensive end. As the ball spilled to a Dragon deep in the forward 50, Borys put on a desperate smother to save a goal. Showed a good turn of step at times and used the ball well coming out of defence, finishing with equal-team high 20 disposals and seven rebound 50s.
Tom Anastasopoulos
Anastasopoulos’ game-breaking ability was on show when he kicked two goals in the space of as many minutes in the second quarter to give the Falcons the momentum. The dangerous small forward gathered the bouncing ball, burst through with speed and slotted it on the run from the outside of the boot from 35m. However, he was well held after that, restricted to seven disposals for the game. His match-up on Billy McGee Galimberti at stages was a commentators nightmare. While he has been inconsistent this season, he has proved throughout the year that he can influence games from limited opportunities, finishing with an incredibly accurate 21.2 for the year.
SUPERCOACH POINTS
DRAGONS
V.Visentini 125
L.Ashcroft 125
A.Roberts 120
R.Sanders 118
M.Reid 112
C.Edwards 107
H.Johnston 106
O.Murphy 101
A.May 84
B.McGee Galimberti 84
L.Voss 82
C.Lord 80
E.Williams 80
M.Szonyi 70
N.Sullivan 60
C.Dear 59
C.Harrop 58
M.Carroll 54
T.O’Leary 49
L.Young 49
W.Nish 42
W.Brown 40
J.Dolan 39
FALCONS
A.Hastie 114
P.Hughes 108
M.White 96
E.Borys 92
X.Ivisic 87
M.Rudd 82
T.Burke 80
L.Kershaw 73
J.Pike 71
K.George 69
C.Ward-Devlin 68
W.McLachlan 67
J.Henderson 63
T.Anastasopoulos 59
T.Barlett 49
R.Page 47
E.Ibbetson 47
A.Sinnott 40
M.Butcher 35
N.Tullio 33
R.Stevens 27
J.Grigsby
Originally published as AFL Draft 2023: Scouting notes, ranking points from preliminary final between Sandringham Dragons and Geelong Falcons
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