Draft Intel: All the latest news from around Australia
Keep up with the all the latest draft news and views from around the country, including the 189cm onballer who’s caught the eye of recruiters after an impressive return from a knee injury.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A little over two weeks remain until this year’s AFL national draft as clubs scramble to finalise their plans.
Here is the latest draft news and views from around the country.
MORE AFL DRAFT:
CAV’S EARLY PHANTOM DRAFT — How the first 27 picks could fall
2023 DRAFT DOSSIER — Top 100 prospects profiled with exclusive stats
INTRIGUE CONTINUES AROUND STEVENS
Uncertainty remains around where big-bodied midfielder George Stevens will land in this year’s national draft, with recruiters labelling him a “fascinating” prospect.
An AFL Academy member, the 189cm onballer produced a strong season at all levels after returning from an ACL injury which wiped out his 2022 campaign.
Stevens was named on the bench of the under-18 All-Australian team after averaging 19.3 disposals, 3.8 clearances and 6.3 tackles across four games for Vic Country at the national championships.
He also starred across the year with the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the Coates Talent League and played two VFL games for Geelong, gathering 29 disposals and four clearances in one of those.
Stevens has been linked to the Cats, but also has interest from a range of other clubs.
Expectations are that he will be selected anywhere from pick 20 to 40 in the draft.
“Somewhere around a pick 30, maybe,” one recruiter said.
“I think he’s just a matter of where. He can find the footy. You’d think he gets an opportunity.”
WHAT IS HARLEY REID REALLY LIKE?
Likely No. 1 draft pick Harley Reid has been described by teammates and opponents as a “freak” who “lights up a room”, “loves a joke” and looked destined for big things as a 12-year-old.
Some fellow top draft prospects this year — including Nick Watson and Nate Caddy — first played alongside Reid in the Victorian team at the School Sport Australia 12 years and under Australian Football championships in Darwin in 2017.
Victoria won the Gold Medal match, with Reid kicking one goal in that decider against South Australia.
“I’ve known him for years now,” Caddy said.
“You don’t even really look at him as a teammate, you look at him as a mate. I get along really well with him and he’s going well. He was always good, but I didn’t think he was going to be this good. He was very good back then (under-12s) but he’s probably got a bit better.”
Watson, who shares the same manager as Reid in Nick Gieschen from Connors Sports, said he too had been impressed by the Tongala product’s progression since the trip to Darwin.
“I sort of always knew he had it in him,” Watson said.
“Then last year he just sort of took off and showed what he could do.”
Top-five draft prospect Colby McKercher played with Reid as part of the AFL Academy program this year, as well as against him in the under-18 national championships.
“He’s a really nice guy and I get along quite well with him,” McKercher said.
“He’s very upbeat and loves a joke. He just lights up a room.”
Victorian rebounding defender Archie Roberts — another AFL Academy member — said he looked up to Reid and what he had been able to do over the past two years.
“He’s super strong and a bit of a bull and brute in the midfield,” Roberts said.
“He’s someone I like to idolise a bit and take bits out of his game with how he goes about it and how he prepares. He deserves to go where he’s going to go. He’s just a freak.”
DEMONS NOMINATE FATHER-SON
Melbourne has nominated Kynan Brown as a father-son for this month’s national draft, with the midfielder a chance to attract a rival bid later in the order.
Brown, who is the son of 146-game former Demons utility Nathan, produced a consistent season across all levels of football this year.
He served as a co-captain of the Oakleigh Chargers in the Coates Talent League and won Vic Metro’s best-and-fairest award after an eye-catching under-18 national championships campaign.
The left-footer also performed well at the Victorian state draft combine last month, placing third in the 2km time trial as he stopped the clock at 6min 12sec.
Clubs had until Tuesday to lodge father-son and Academy bidding nominations.
Brown joins Jordan Croft (Western Bulldogs), Will McCabe (Hawthorn) and Calsher Dear (Hawthorn) among the father-son prospects in this year’s draft.
BROTHER OF POWER RUCK A BIG WATCH
A towering ruckman who is still growing has attracted interest from clubs as he looks to join his older brother and grandfather in making the big league.
Vigo Visentini is the younger brother of Port Adelaide ruckman Dante, while the pair’s grandfather Ian Hayden played 30 games for Richmond in the 1960s.
A Sandringham Dragons product, Vigo measured 202.9cm during pre-season testing in March but came in at 203.5cm at the national draft combine in early October.
“I guess I’ve done a bit of growing throughout the year,” he said.
“If I grow a few more I wouldn’t be too mad about that.”
Vigo looks up to 201cm St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall, who is one of the smaller No. 1 ruckman’s in the league when compared to the likes of Collingwood’s Mason Cox (211cm) and Hawthorn’s Ned Reeves (210cm).
“He (Marshall) is a bit of an undersized ruck,” Vigo said.
“You’re seeing a lot more taller guys. I’m trying to follow his game, not necessarily modelling my whole game off him, but looking at his ability to get his hands on the ball. He’s very agile around the ground as well and has a high work rate and an ability to take contested marks. He’s a massive physical presence, so if I can be half the ruck he is I think I’m going okay.”
COLLARD A CLONE OF BOBBY
Clubs believe it will be “touch and go” whether West Australian draft bolter Lance Collard makes it past pick 20 in this year’s national draft amid a surge in interest.
Multiple recruiters have described Collard as a “Bobby Hill clone”, with the 18-year-old forward needing a minimum number of touches to have a sizeable impact.
Hill provided a timely reminder of what livewire small forwards like him can do in this year’s AFL Grand Final, booting four goals to win the Norm Smith Medal and help spearhead Collingwood to the premiership.
Collard is tied to West Coast’s Next Generation Academy, but the Eagles will be unable to match a bid on him unless he slides past pick 40.
The Subiaco product has been linked to clubs with first-round picks including North Melbourne, St Kilda and Collingwood.
Carlton (picks 22 and 28) and Fremantle (pick 34) are also believed to have shown interest, but their first selections could come too late.
Collard, who measures 180cm tall, booted five goals in each of Subiaco’s two WAFL Colts finals to finish his season strongly.
He went on to star at the national draft combine, taking out the agility test and finishing fourth in the 20m sprint.
ROBERTS THANKFUL FOR AFL LEGENDS
Highly-rated draft prospect Archie Roberts says he will be forever grateful for two AFL legends whom he learnt plenty from this season.
The halfback has attended Haileybury College this year and was part of the school’s APS team which went undefeated to win the title.
The team was coached by Essendon great Matthew Lloyd, while Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury served as an assistant.
“It’s not often you go undefeated in the APS,” Roberts said.
“Since the first pre-season back in November I knew something special was building.
“He (Lloyd) is super great for us. He’s so invested and he’s super competitive as well. He loves winning and has just built such a professional environment. Having Pendles as well, I learnt so much off him for my game as well.
“Having those two was so incredible and I’m so thankful for what they’ve done for me.”
A rebounding halfback, Roberts went on to win a second premiership for the year with Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League in September.
The AFL Academy member looks up to players like St Kilda’s Brad Hill and Richmond’s Daniel Rioli and expected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick in the national draft.
More Coverage
Originally published as Draft Intel: All the latest news from around Australia
‘Absolute blunder’: Essendon’s ‘staggering’ draft move smashed
The Bombers had a relatively quiet trade period by their standards, with their focus on Isaac Kako. Now after securing the small forward, their method has been whacked by a draft expert.
Tiger delight as North pays heavy price for final draft night pick
On a night where little caused a surprise, North Melbourne waited until the last moment to pull a stunner, paying a significant price and taking an even more significant risk.