Andrew Capel’s Road to the Draft: Izak ranks as the best, says Champion Data
WEST Adelaide speed machine Izak Rankine should be taken at pick one at this year’s AFL national draft, according to Champion Data. This and more on our budding young stars in Andrew Capel’s Road to the Draft.
- Meet the stars of SA’s footy future
- Rankine pushes his case as SA wins title
- Izak’s goal to keep a cool head
- Stone the Crows: Do we need a South Aussie war cry?
- Road to the draft: Year of the Croweater
WEST Adelaide speed machine Izak Rankine should be taken at pick one at this year’s AFL national draft, according to Champion Data.
Rankine's sizzling AFL under-18 division one championships campaign has propelled him past SA teammate Jack Lukosius and Larke Medallist Sam Walsh from Vic Country to be the bona fide No. 1 selection in Champion’s eyes.
In a feat never before achieved, forward/midfielder Rankine — who kicked five goals in the Croweaters’ championship-deciding win against Victoria Metro last week — has topped Champion Data’s player ratings in consecutive years at under-18 national level.
As an underage player last season, Rankine — who has a bag of tricks which has experts comparing him to greats of the game like Andrew McLeod, Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli and Eddie Betts — topped the player ratings with an average of 18.0.
The two players who finished right behind him — Paddy Dow (17.5) and Cameron Rayner (17.0) — went at picks three and one at the national draft to Carlton and Brisbane respectively.
This year Rankine raised his rating to 18.5 — a whopping 2.3 points higher than the next-ranked player Walsh, who is in the conversation to be the 2018 No. 1 draft pick.
Midfielder Walsh had 16.2 points, with Vic Metro’s Xavier O’Halloran (14.4) and Bailey Smith (14.1) the next-ranked players.
SA’s MVP Luke Valente, who captained the Croweaters to their first under-18 championships win since 2014, was the second-highest ranked SA player with a rating of 12.9.
Lukosius was ranked 10th overall with an average of 11.8.
The complicated points system is designed to give a true measure of a player’s worth, taking into account disposal numbers, quality of possession, metres gained and key pressure statistics.
Champion Data analyst Jacob Wilson said he had never seen a player dominate like 18-year-old Rankine has in consecutive championships.
“In terms of performance no-one has been so successful at bottom-age level and then backed it up in their draft year like Rankine,’’ Wilson said.
“He’s our clear No. 1 pick at this point and is probably the most AFL-ready junior we’ve ever seen.
“He is that good that he could slot straight into an AFL premiership team now and be among that side’s best 10 players.
“It’s been mentioned that there might be some (discipline) issues which might push him lower than No. 1 but based on pure ability and performance he’s the best player in the draft.’’
The stats specialists rank Lukosius and Walsh as the two players fighting it out for the No. 2 and 3 draft slots.
Rankine and Woodville-West Torrens key forward Lukosius were among six South Australians named All-Australians after the championships.
The others were midfielders Valente (Norwood) and Central District’s Jackson Hately, Bulldogs defender Jez McLennan and under-age key position player, Glenelg’s Will Gould, who is not eligible to be drafted this year.
Rankine topped the Champion Data ranking points for SA with 120.
Valente was second with 118 followed by Hately (108), Lukosius (107), Sturt midfielder Tom Lewis (101), Eagles wingman Kai Pudney (100) and Norwood forward Ben Jarvis (93).
Walsh was the top overall ranking points player, averaging 142, from Smith (125).
UNDER-THE-RADAR FORWARDS
IZAK Rankine and Jack Lukosius have stolen the headlines but Crows key forward Josh Jenkins believes SA’s victorious under-18s side has two draft sleepers who could have successful AFL careers.
Jenkins worked as a line coach with SA’s forward line during its successful campaign and has
identified Ben Jarvis and Oscar Chapman as potential steals in the draft.
“I like them both,’’ Jenkins said.
“When you've got probably the No. 1 (Lukosius) and No. 3 (Rankine) picks in the draft in the one forward line other guys certainly go under the radar but those two boys have shown a fair bit as medium-size forwards.
“And that's a bit of a trend in the game right now, to have those 185-188cm type guys who can get up and compete in the air and then put on tackle pressure at ground level and finish their work around goal.
“Those two guys look really good from that point of view.’’
Norwood’s Jarvis, 188cm, averaged 93 ranking points for the carnival while North Adelaide’s Chapman, 187cm, averaged 60.
Jenkins also is a fan of 197cm key forward Hugo Munn, who is a member of the AFL Academy squad.
“He has the size, athleticism and ability to play as a key forward who can pinch-hit in the ruck,’’ Jenkins said.
While Jenkins worked with SA’s forwards, his Crows teammate Brodie Smith worked with the defenders.
“It was just some craft work with the forwards form me, showing them the same stuff that we do at AFL level from an aerial point of view,’’ Jenkins said of his role with the team.
“There was some technique stuff with marking and leading and hopefully the guys benefited from it.
“Having such a prominent and talented forward line to work with made my job a fair bit easier.’’
MATURE AGE WATCH
Lewis Johnston
Norwood
The former Swans and Crows key position player starred in Norwood’s 51-point win against Adelaide at The Parade on Saturday.
Playing as a genuine utility who patrolled between half-forward and half-back, he had 35 disposals, took six marks, had five inside-50s, kicked a goal and laid four tackles in a dominant performance.
The Redlegs, whose win was their eighth on the trot, would have won by a lot more if not for some poor goalkicking as they registered 13.24.
While Johnston, 27, won the ball with ease, coach Jarrod Cotton put the heat on him to be stronger defensively.
“He was good but defensively he still needs to get better,’’ Cotton said.
James Battersby
Sturt
Former Crows rookie has had back-to-back outstanding games, following his 39-disposal performance against Adelaide with a 29-possession performance in the Double Blues’ upset win against then ladder leader North Adelaide at Prospect on Sunday.
The 22-year-old midfielder admitted he had struggled with the extra attention he had received from opposition midfielders this season and had spoken to coach Marty Mattner and star on-ball teammates Zane Kirkwood and Aidan Riley about the best ways to combat opposition heat, leading to more grunt work.
“I’ve copped a little more attention this year so I’ve had chats with Marty as well as Zane and Aidan and I need to try and do other things when I’m not getting 25, 30 touches a game,’’ Battersby said.
THE QUOTE
There’s clearly some high-end talent at the top of this draft and the names are pretty obvious, it's the ones that have been bandied about. But there’s not a lot splitting those players (at the top) so where they live, where they come from and what type of player they are has to come into the conversation.
Adelaide national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie gives his take on this year’s Superdraft to the AFL website.
PLAYER COMPARISON
Jackson Hately = Michael Barlow
BEST OF THE REST
Sam Walsh
Midfielder, Geelong Falcons/Vic Metro
The No. 1 draft pick contender won the Larke Medal as the best player in division one at the AFL under-18 championships despite his side not winning a game.
It was a brilliant performance from the star midfielder who is such a professional that he also was voted as the AFL Academy squad’s MVP, which was voted on by his peers.
Walsh averaged 29.5 disposals and seven tackles during the national championships and showed how well he is handling the pressure of being a likely high draft pick by declaring “I’d love to be No. 1’’.
“I’ve got to keep working on my game and be the best player I can be, whether that’s the No. 1 pick or not, I’ve just got to keep working hard and that can hold you in good stead,”
he said.
Jarrod Cameron
Small forward, Swan Districts/WA
The brother of former Crow and current Brisbane Lions excitement machine Charlie Cameron starred in Western Australia’s only win of the AFL under-18 championships.
He kicked five goals from 10 disposals in the Sandgropers’ 32-point win against Vic Country in Geelong, illustrating similar traits to his gamebreaking brother to thrust his name in front of AFL recruiting scouts.
Cameron possesses blistering speed and a good eye for goal and is eligible to join West Coast as a Next Generation Academy member at the end of the season.
“What is impressive is his finishing on the run, like real class small forwards do,’’ WA talent pathway manager Mick Ablett said.
Cameron also displayed strong forward line pressure, laying 11 tackles in the round one loss to Vic Metro.
PICTURE THIS
South Australian key defender Riley Grundy (right) celebrates his AFL under-18 championships victory with his brother, star Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy.
SAY WHAT?
Me personally, it might be a bit selfish, but I’d go Dylan Shiel. He’s obviously a ready-made super talent. That’s probably selfish of me because I’m towards the end of my career.
Carlton 300-gamer Kade Simpson when asked on Fox Footy whether the Blues should keep or trade their top pick at this year’s national draft for an established player such as GWS’s Dylan Shiel.
SA DRAFT FLASHBACK
Shane Edwards
Selected by Richmond from North Adelaide at No. 26 at the 2006 national draft.
Speedy forward/midfielder starred in last year’s grand final win against Adelaide, gathering 25 disposals and earning two Norm Smith Medal votes. He also was outstanding in the Tigers’ 47-point demolition job on the Crows last Friday night. Now 29, former Golden Grove junior Edwards debuted in his first year in the AFL in 2007 and has played 222 games and kicked 150 goals for Richmond. A damaging kick and smart ball user, he is a unique talent who can open games up with his run and class in traffic.
AFL DRAFT ORDER
(After Round 16)
1. Carlton
2. Gold Coast
3. Brisbane
4. St Kilda
5. Bulldogs
6. Fremantle
7. Essendon
8. Adelaide
9. GWS
10. North Melbourne
11. Hawthorn
12. Geelong
13. Adelaide (from Melbourne)
14. Sydney
15. Port Adelaide
16. Gold Coast (from West Coast)
17. Collingwood
18. Richmond
19. Adelaide (from Carlton)
20. Gold Coast
21. Brisbane
22. Port Adelaide (from St Kilda)
WORTH WATCHING
SA’s star under-18 players will return to play for their SANFL clubs this weekend after focusing on national duties for the past month. Lukosius, Rankine and Hately are all expected to jump straight back into league ranks.