AFL: Brownlow favourite Lachie Neale looms likely to win AFL Players MVP after earning teammates’ nomination
Carlton captain Patrick Cripps didn’t earn his teammates’ nomination for back-to-back AFLPA MVP awards, with Brisbane star Lachie Neale likely to scoop a heap of votes in his absence.
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Carlton captain Patrick Cripps won’t be going back-to-back in the AFL Players Association MVP award after his teammates opted not to nominate him as a 2020 contender.
Cripps, who polled votes from the AFL coaches in seven games this season, was left out by the Carlton players who chose rising star Sam Walsh, All-Australian contender Jacob Weitering and recruit Jack Martin as their trio of picks.
Geelong players also didn’t include star Patrick Dangerfield, who has won three of the last four club best and fairest awards and is fifth in Brownlow Medal betting, among its three picks.
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Coleman Medal leader Tom Hawkins, Cam Guthrie and Sam Menegola got the nod from their teammates after stellar 2020 seasons.
The award is judged in a two-step process.
Firstly, players nominate three contenders from their club before the wider playing group vote to decide the winner.
Players cannot vote for their own teammates in stage 2 of the process.
Cripps is a back-to-back Carlton best and fairest and has also been All-Australian the past two seasons, picking up his first Leigh Matthews Trophy last year as well as polling 26 Brownlow Medal votes.
His numbers have been slightly down this season, but his coach David Teague said Cripps had played an “important part” in Carlton’s seven-win season so far.
Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale was among Brisbane’s three nominations and would be favourite to win his first MVP.
Reigning Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe and Collingwood defender Darcy Moore were among the other contenders with nominees from nine clubs released on Wednesday.
Lion-hearted Gold Coast defender Sam Collins, GWS defender Nick Haynes and Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien were among other players in contention for the award.
Nominees from the remaining nine clubs will be released on Thursday.
AWARDS EXTRAVAGANZA ON ITS WAY
The AFL will condense its four most prestigious awards behind the Brownlow Medal into a single-night extravaganza on Thursday September 24.
The Herald Sun understands the league will roll the All Australian, Rising Star, AFLPA MVP and Coaches Association champion player of the year awards into an all-out extravaganza.
Fremantle’s Caleb Serong is the warm favourite to take out the Rising Star award, while Brisbane’s Lachie Neale is a prohibitive $1.25 favourite with TAB after another strong showing in the victory over Gold Coast.
The AFL normally has the luxury of drip-feeding out those separate awards nights over the entire month of September given the prestige associated with them.
But instead given the severe limitation of COVID-19, Fox Footy will broadcast them while interviewing players over a streamed format.
Neale was awarded the perfect 10 votes in the Coaches Association votes from Thursday’s performance and leads Travis Boak by 14 votes in a near-unassailable lead.
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The AFLPA’s Leigh Matthews Trophy was won by Patrick Cripps last year but has come under fire because teammates nominate three players per team for the award.
It meant Patrick Dangerfield was not eligible last year despite subsequently polling 27 votes in the Brownlow Medal, only six behind Nathan Fyfe.
The event will be hosted by Fox Footy’s Sarah Jones, with the 22 All Australians all interviewed by AFL legends Nick Riewoldt and Jon Brown.
Christian Petracca, Jack Steele, Dan Butler, Brayden Maynard, Darcy Moore, Caleb Daniel and West Coast’s brilliant stopper Brad Sheppard could all be fresh faces in the All Australian team.
Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield has been mentioned as a potential All Australian captain, although Neale’s dominant year in a side pushing for a top-two spot would also make him a contender.
The AFL will finish its Round 18 on Monday September 21 with the Collingwood-Port Adelaide game in Queensland.
Then there is a nine-day break before the finals kick off on a Wednesday night, with clashes expected to be held on the Wednesday-Saturday nights of the first week of finals.
The AFL’s Brownlow Medal will in coming days be confirmed on the Sunday night before the Grand Final as a hybrid event with some players at the event and those competing in the Grand Final to be interviewed on zoom.
Host Hamish McLachlan will not be in Queensland at the Gold Coast Convention Centre given racing commitments, with the Cox Plate on the same day as the Grand Final.
The league is expected to announce a start time to the Grand Final between 7.10pm and 7.50pm to allow host broadcast Seven the proper time to lead in to the event after racing’s Cox Plate that afternoon.
AFL CONFIRMS DECEMBER DRAFT, LOCKS IN TRADE PERIOD
The AFL has confirmed a national draft in early December and free agency period starting on October 7 as it bans clubs from starting pre-season training before November 30.
The league has told its 18 clubs that the next generation academies for 14 clubs would be incorporated into the AFL pathway system, with only GWS, Sydney, Brisbane and Gold Coast able to keep their academies.
The Herald Sun reported last month that the league would go ahead with a full-length free agency period starting the Friday after the Grand Final and an eight-day trade period.
An October 24 Grand Final will see free agency running from October 30-November 6, with the trade period from November 4 to 12.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE TOP 25 DRAFT PROSPECTS OUTSIDE VICTORIA
It will avoid a conflict with the Melbourne Cup on November 3, with the trade period running from the next day until the following Thursday.
The AFL national draft will start around December 7 but full details are still to be finalised after last year’s event ran over three days. The AFL’s final list lodgements and total player payment estimates will be in mid-December.
It means AFL clubs will still be working deep into December to finalise their lists.
It is expected the AFL will reduce list sizes by a handful of players after early fears they could be cut to as few as 35.
The league stated in its release to clubs on Tuesday: “There will be no training for any AFL players before Monday, November 30 at the earliest. A date for pre-season training to be allowed to commence ahead of the 2021 season will be advised in due course.”
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It remains possible the league might only allow clubs to return to training in January if it pushes the season back past its normal late March start because of COVID fears.
But broadcasters would be wary of a season start that came as late as May or June given they are intent on maximising ratings on TV networks and streaming devices.
The league also confirmed the VFL and NEAFL will combine into a single second-tier competition.
Clubs can field a stand-alone team, align with an existing second-tier club or spread their players across multiple second-tier clubs.
AFL clubs would love to pay for their own VFL teams given the boost it gives them in terms of control and coaching their own style of play.
But those teams will cost them as much as $500,000 which would have to fall under the $6.2 million 2021 football department budget, so don’t believe they can afford such a luxury.
Clubs fear for the standard of football when they will not be able to run their own VFL programs, and recruiters say they will stop taking risks on left-field prospects because they won’t have the welfare or coaching to ensure they make it to the top level.
TOP 25 DRAFT TARGETS OUTSIDE VICTORIA
– Chris Cavanagh
He is the talk of the WAFL and has quickly become this year’s AFL draft bolter.
Western Australia under-18s coach and former West Coast forward Peter Sumich had Perth’s Logan McDonald flagged as a likely first-round draft pick entering this year.
Many recruiters now have the key forward as a top-three selection.
Unlike draft hopefuls in Victoria, McDonald has been able to play football in the WAFL this year and has grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
From six games playing against men, the 18-year-old has kicked 17 goals to lead the competition’s goalkicking table.
He is also averaging 13.2 disposals, five marks (2.8 contested) and 112 SuperCoach ranking points.
“If you’re talking about a bolter in the top-end, he’s the one,” Sumich told News Corp.
“He’s just really taken the next step. We’d seen that in his pre-season camps. We had a camp either side of Christmas and you could see that he was developing from the year before.
“Not too many kids at 18 can go to WAFL level and average two or three goals and take half a dozen marks as a power forward. I don’t like putting a lot of pressure on, but you’d think he would go in the top-five if not top-three right now.”
McDonald is one of a healthy crop of West Australian talent this year, with as many as five players considered potential top-20 selections.
South Australia also has no shortage of gems that have been given their chance to shine in the SANFL this year, while Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland also have plenty of top-40 talent in a draft that is considered to be strong, particularly when it comes to key-position players.
“There’s good depth. It’s strong for key position,” one recruiter said.
“It’s a pretty good draft for a whole range of different types of players.”
25 OF THE BEST KIDS FROM OUTSIDE VICTORIA
LOGAN MCDONALD (PERTH/WA)
Forward
H: 196cm
W: 85kg
Has lifted his name on the draft boards of many clubs after an outstanding start to the WAFL season this year. From six games, the key forward has kicked 17 goals to lead the competition’s goalkicking table, while also averaging 13.2 disposals, five marks (2.8 contested) and 112 SuperCoach ranking points. A member of the Australian under-17 side last year, McDonald is mobile, a great mark above his head and has good goal sense. He also played three games for Western Australia at the under-18 national championships last year as a 17-year-old, rating above-average for ranking points (75 a game), score involvements (five a game) and goals (one a game).
RILEY THILTHORPE (WEST ADELAIDE/SOUTH AUSTRALIA)
Key forward
H: 201cm
W: 102kg
Widely considered South Australia’s best prospect this year, Thilthorpe is expected to be a top-five draft selection. The athletic key forward can also spend time in the ruck and has drawn comparisons to Collingwood star Brodie Grundy for his athleticism and ball-winning ability. From nine senior SANFL games this year, Thilthorpe has averaged 11.9 disposals, 4.1 marks (1.6 contested), 3.4 score involvements and kicked five goals despite often playing high up the ground as a marking target on a wing. Recruiters view Thilthorpe as a player with enormous upside.
DENVER GRAINGER-BARRAS (SWAN DISTRICTS/WESTERN AUSTRALIA)
Key defender
H: 195cm
W: 78kg
Like fellow West Australian product Logan McDonald, Grainger-Barras has impressed playing senior WAFL football this year. The backman has averaged 9.8 disposals, 4.3 marks, 6.8 intercept possessions, 4.5 spoils and 73 SuperCoach ranking points to rank as one of the best key defenders in the competition despite having only turned 18 in April. He reads the play well and is good one-on-one but is still considered a little skinny and is working to develop his and fill out his big frame. Grainger-Barras had also played two games for Western Australia as a bottom-age player at the under-18 national championships last year, averaging eight intercept possessions and five intercepts marks to rate elite in both categories.
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BRAEDEN CAMPBELL (SWANS ACADEMY/ALLIES)
Midfielder
H: 179cm
W: 71kg
It is shaping as another bumper draft for Sydney, which could have a top-four pick as well as snapping up two highly rated Next Generation Academy members in Campbell and Errol Gulden. A talented midfielder, Campbell won the best-on-ground medal in the U17 All Stars game on AFL Grand Final Day last year with a 14-disposal and three-goal performance. The best-on-ground in the corresponding game in 2018 was none other than Gold Coast Suns gun Matt Rowell. Campbell joined the Swans Academy at under-11s level and recruiters see him as a player with elite attacking traits, genuine speed and a strong goal sense. He averaged 15.8 disposals, two goals and 123 SuperCoach ranking points from four NAB League games last year, while also impressing during three senior NEAFL matches late in the season.
LACHLAN JONES (POWER ACADEMY/WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS/SA)
Defender/midfielder
H: 185cm
W: 88kg
A member of Port Adelaide’s Next Generation Academy, Jones is expected to attract an early bid. A rebounding defender, he made his senior SANFL debut for Woodville-West Torrens in Round 1 this year and has not missed a game since. From his 10 matches he is averaging 11.3 disposals, 3.2 rebound 50s, 5.7 intercept possessions and 3.5 tackles. A penetrating and quality kick, Jones is also quick, strong and thrives in one-on-one contests. In the SANFL under-18s in 2019 he was the second-ranked defender in the league, rating elite for disposals (19.7 a game), intercept possessions (8.8 a game), contested possessions (10.2 a game) and spoils (3.5 a game).
NATHAN O’DRISCOLL (PERTH/WA)
Midfielder
H: 187cm
W: 76kg
A competitive beast in the midfield, O’Driscoll is continuing to take his game to new heights. He made his senior WAFL debut this year and was relatively quiet with seven disposals and one goal. But the very next week O’Driscoll came out and had 20 disposals (14 contested), as well as winning four clearances, six tackles and recording two score assists. There are still areas for O’Driscoll to work on, but his ball-winning ability and fierce tackling and pressure game has him in the conversation as a top-15 prospect. As a bottom-age player last year, he also played three games for WA at the under-18 national championships, ranking above average for contested possessions (eight a game), pressure points (58 a game) and tackles (6.7 a game).
ALEX DAVIES (GOLD COAST ACADEMY/CAIRNS/ALLIES)
H: 191cm
W: 85kg
Midfielder
A free kick for the Gold Coast Suns, who are able to automatically list this Academy talent before the draft under concessions they received in 2019. The Suns did the same thing with 2020 Rising Star nominee and long-time Academy member Connor Budarick last year. Davies has not had as much exposed form as some players this year due to an elbow injury which saw him miss the Northern Academy Series. However, recruiters still see him as a modern day big-bodied midfielder that every club would be interested in. Across four NAB League games in 2019, Davies showed his knack of winning the ball at stoppages and using it cleanly, averaging 18 disposals and 3.8 clearances. The former junior basketball star also played seven senior NEAFL games last year.
HEATH CHAPMAN (WEST PERTH/WA)
H: 193cm
W: 81kg
Key defender
Some have Chapman in the conversation to be a top-10 pick after taking huge strides forward with his game this year. Unlike some West Australian state Academy teammates, he is not playing senior WAFL football. However, the reason for that is put down to the fact West Perth is flying in second spot on the ladder. Instead captaining West Perth’s Colts team, Chapman is averaging 23 disposals, 7.5 marks, 10.5 intercept possessions and 4.8 spoils. He sits as the second-ranked player in the competition by the statisticians, averaging 139 SuperCoach ranking points. Injury was the only reason Chapman did not play for his state in the under-18 national championships last year, but he did feature in the under-17 All Stars game on AFL Grand Final day.
ERROL GULDEN (SYDNEY SWANS ACADEMY/ALLIES)
Midfielder/forward
H: 171cm
W: 71kg
The second of two talented members of the Sydney Swans Academy this year. A high-impact small forward or midfielder, Gulden has been a member of the Academy since under-11s. During the under-16 national championships in 2018 he was best afield against Northern Territory, logging 38 disposals and five goals in a match that put him on the map. While on the smaller side at just 171cm, recruiters like his competitive edge. Gulden played four games of the national under-18 championships as a bottom-age player last year, averaging 15 disposals, 3.8 inside-50s. 4.3 score involvements and kicking three goals. He also spent time last season playing senior NEAFL football and NAB League.
LUKE EDWARDS (GLENELG/SA)
Midfielder/defender
H: 187cm
W: 78kg
The son of Adelaide dual-premiership player Tyson Edwards — who played 321 games for the Crows — the younger Edwards is eligible as a father-son selection. However, he is yet to commit to Adelaide. Edwards caught the eye for South Australia as a bottom-age player at the under-18 national championships last year, averaging 18.8 disposals and 86 SuperCoach ranking points. He played the first three rounds in the under-18s for Glenelg this year but has since stepped up to make his senior SANFL debut in Round 7. Considered a smooth mover and elite decision maker who reads the play well, Edwards is hard-at-it and can also go forward and kick a goal.
JOEL JEFFREY (GOLD COAST SUNS ACADEMY/WANDERERS/NT)
Forward/defender
H: 192cm
W: 78kg
There are no shortage of clubs interested in Jeffrey, but the Suns will get first crack as a member of their Academy. The Darwin product is the son of Russell Jeffrey, who played 42 games for St Kilda and eight games for the Brisbane Bears between 1987 and 1992. Recruiters see the swingman as a special talent given his ability to play at either end of the ground and his marking ability and silky skills. Jeffrey made his senior NTFL debut for Wanderers at just age 16 in the 2018/19 season and continued his improvement last year. He averaged three marks, 2.7 intercept marks and 5.7 intercept possessions from three matches at the under-18 national championships in 2019.
ZANE TREW (SWAN DISTRICTS/WA)
Midfielder
H: 187cm
W: 78kg
The tough inside midfielder logged 41 disposals (21 contested), six clearances and 10 tackles in his last game of 2019 in the WAFL Colts before a shoulder injury ended his season. However, that has not put recruiters off, with Trew still considered a potential first-round pick. Likened to Richmond captain Trent Cotchin, Trew has bounced back to play five WAFL Colts games so far this year. He is averaging 24.2 disposals, 4.8 clearances, 5.2 tackles and 113 SuperCoach ranking points. A good size for a modern midfielder and classy by hand and foot, Trew is seen by some as an ultimate professional who works hard and loves the contest.
KAINE BALDWIN (GLENELG/SA)
Key forward
H: 194cm
W: 93kg
On talent, Baldwin is seen as one of the best in this year’s draft pool. But he is expected to slip down the order a little due to injury, with a second knee reconstruction in as many years wiping out his 2020 campaign. Baldwin has been on the radar of many clubs since he captained South Australia in the under-16 national championships in 2018 and averaged 15 disposals, 6.7 marks, 117 SuperCoach ranking points and kicked six goals from three games. Likened to Richmond’s Tom Lynch, Baldwin is an elite runner with strong hands and also boasts leadership skills. But how AFL clubs view him now given the injury history remains to be seen.
JACK CARROLL (EAST FREMANTLE/WA)
Midfielder
H: 188cm
W: 79kg
Yet another West Australian product in the mix to be a top-30 pick and potentially even first-round selection. Carroll is a consistent, composed and makes good decisions. He has also taken his game to another level this year. The midfielder has played six WAFL Colts games for East Fremantle, averaging 24 disposals, 5.3 clearances, six score involvements and 130 SuperCoach ranking points. The numbers put Carroll as the fourth-ranked player in the under-18s competition this year and a Round 7 game in which he logged 31 disposals, eight clearances, seven score involvements and kicked two goals certainly helped further push his case as a top prospect.
COREY DURDIN (CENTRAL DISTRICTS/SA)
Forward/midfielder
H: 172cm
W: 71kg
Durdin won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player at the 2018 under-16 national championships and has continued to grow and develop as a player ever since. While on the smaller side, he makes up for what he lacks in height with elite skills, clean hands and an excellent ability to win contests at ground level. Durdin models his game on former North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey and has an explosiveness in the way he plays. He played three games for South Australia as a bottom-age player at the under-18 national championships last year, averaging 7.3 disposals, four tackles and kicking four goals. He has spent this year playing senior SANFL football and is averaging 11.3 disposals, three marks, 3.4 score involvements and 0.9 goals from eight games
ZAC DUMESNY (SOUTH ADELAIDE/SA)
Midfielder/Defender
H: 188cm
W: 80kg
An ankle injury has interrupted Dumesny’s season, which had started a little up and down playing senior SANFL football. But he remains a highly-rated player who is composed, classy, great in the air and reads the play well. A ball-winning but largely outside midfielder now, Dumesny is seen as a player who could eventually become a quality rebounding halfback at AFL level. From six senior SANFL games this year he has averaged 13.7 disposals, 5.7 marks and 2.8 score involvements.
OLIVER DAVIS (CLARENCE/TASMANIA DEVILS/ALLIES)
Midfielder
H: 182cm
W: 75kg
A midfield bull, Davis is attracting a bit of interest after being among the best-performing bottom-age players in the country last year. One of three co-captains for the Tasmanian Devils, Davis played 13 NAB League games and was a runaway winner of the NAB League side’s best-and-fairest award. Strong and agile in the contest, the onballer rated elite last season for total ranking points (130 a game), clearances (5.5 a game) and tackles (7.8 a game). He has again caught the eye of recruiters while playing senior football in the Tasmanian State League this year and has been named among the best players for Clarence in three of his six games.
TOM POWELL (STURT/SA)
Midfielder
H: 180cm
W: 70kg
The son of former Adelaide player Matthew Powell, who played 16 games for the Crows before becoming a premiership player for Sturt. After an injury-riddled past two years, the ball magnet is finally fit and firing and has already been interviewed by all 18 AFL clubs, such is the interest. Clean and great in traffic, Powell has yet to earn a senior SANFL debut but has been tearing up the under-18 competition. From nine games this year, he has averaged 37.3 disposals, 5.8 inside-50s, 9.1 clearances, 10.7 score involvements and 4.3 tackles. He has also booted seven goals and logged 15 score assists. The numbers have Powell as the top-ranked player in the competition, averaging 166 SuperCoach ranking points.
CALEB POULTER (WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS/SA)
Midfielder/forward
H: 191cm
W: 74kg
Poulter is a unique player who can rack up the ball through the midfield but is also a strong overhead mark in attack. His long left-foot kick is a major strength and he has improved his contested ball work at ground level. Poulter has played nine SANFL under-18s games this year, averaging 25.9 disposals, 5.8 marks, four clearances and 0.9 goals a game. He is the third-ranked player in the competition for total output, averaging 137 SuperCoach ranking points to attract high levels of interest from AFL clubs.
JACKSON CALLOW (NORTH LAUNCESTON/TASMANIAN DEVILS/ALLIES)
Key forward
H: 193cm
W: 94kg
A mobile and agile key forward, Callow is quick on his feet and strong above his head. He proved to be one of the best bottom-age key forwards in the NAB League last season, kicking 24 goals from 14 games while also ranking elite for disposals (13.5 a game), contested marks (2.7 a game) and forward-50 marks (3.1 a game). Callow has stepped up to senior football in the Tasmanian State League this year and continues to impress, kicking eight goals from seven matches and being named among North Launceston’s two best players on the ground on three separate occasions.
BRANDON WALKER (FREMANTLE ACADEMY/EAST FREMANTLE/WA)
Defender
H: 184cm
W: 75kg
A rebounding half-back flanker, Walker possesses serious speed, has a great vertical leap and is considered by some to be a top-40 pick or higher. He reads the play well and has been going nicely in the WAFL Colts, averaging 18.8 disposals, five marks, 5.3 intercept possessions and 2.3 tackles a game. A member of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy — which produced classy forward Liam Henry last year — Walker has been on the radar of many since earning All-Australian honours at under-16 level.
JOEL WESTERN (FREMANTLE ACADEMY/CLAREMONT/WA)
Midfielder
H: 172cm
W: 67kg
Another Next Generation Academy member for the Dockers, Western is a wingman or onballer who is also producing a strong season at WAFL Colts level. He played in the under-17 All Stars match on AFL Grand Final Day last year and is an exciting player who possesses speed and agility. Western has played four under-18 games for Claremont this season, averaging 22 disposals, 3.5 clearances, 4.8 inside 50s and one goal a game.
SAM COLLINS (NORTH HOBART/TASMANIAN DEVILS/ALLIES)
Defender
H: 188cm
W: 85kg
A defender who has been likened to Geelong’s Tom Stewart given his ability to read the ball well and, more importantly, intercept it. He is reliable one-on-one and will drop off where needed to help a teammate. Collins played 13 NAB League games last season and ranked elite for disposals (17.4 a game), marks (5.4 a game) and intercept marks (2.1 a game). He has played seven games of senior football in the Tasmanian State League this year and continues to improve.
PATRICK WALKER (NORTH HOBART/TASMANIAN DEVILS/ALLIES)
Defender
H: 186cm
W: 80kg
A rebounding defender, Walker is a clever ball user who can also play a role on a wing and shapes as one of the Apple Isle’s hottest talents this year. In his bottom-age year in the NAB League in 2019, Walker played all 16 games and averaged 16.6 disposals, 5.5 rebound 50s, 3.8 marks and 4.7 intercept possessions. He has been a consistent performer playing senior Tasmanian State League football this year and was best afield for North Hobart against Lauderdale in Round 8.
JARED DAKIN (LAUNCESTON/TASMANIAN DEVILS/ALLIES)
Midfielder
H: 182cm
W: 88kg
One of the older players still playing underage football, Dakin was eligible for last year’s draft but shoulder surgery in November 2018 wiped out most of his 2019 season. One of three co-captains for the Tasmanian Devils last year, he returned for only the final game of NAB League season but hit the ground running to record 25 disposals (12 contested), eight clearances, eight score involvements and kick one goal. An endurance athlete who can run all day, the 19-year-old has played all eight senior games for the ladder-leading Launceston in the Tasmanian State League and has caught the eye on more than one occasion.
Originally published as AFL: Brownlow favourite Lachie Neale looms likely to win AFL Players MVP after earning teammates’ nomination