AFL Draft 2022: The unlucky prospects left on the board
More than 70 players of all ages found new homes through the national and rookie drafts. But a host of unlucky prospects didn’t hear their name called.
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The draft intake is over and more than 70 players of all ages found an AFL home.
But there were a number of talents who were left on the board, which is part and parcel of any draft.
There are more mechanisms than ever for overlooked prospects to realise their AFL dream:
PRE-SEASON SUPPLEMENTAL SELECTION PERIOD (SSP)
The SSP allows clubs the opportunity to invite players to train with them over the off-season with the potential to be added to their list ahead of the following season.
The likes of Sydney intercepting revelation and Paddy McCartin and St Kilda mature-age tall Jack Hayes found their way onto AFL lists at the beginning of this season as SSP signings.
MID-SEASON DRAFT
The mid-season rookie draft saw 17 players taken this year — among those were Essendon Rising Star nominee Massimo D’Ambrosio and No.1 pick Jai Culley.
Undrafted 18-year-olds can also return to their under-18 clubs as overage prospect, which worked a charm for D’Ambrossio, Culley and Western Bulldogs draftee Harvey Gallagher.
Gallagher was stiff to miss out in this year’s mid-season draft after being previously overlooked in the 2021 draft, but was taken by the Bulldogs with pick 39 after a stunning finish to the year as a 19-year-old for the Bendigo Pioneers.
Who was unlucky to be left on the board in this year’s draft?
We look at nine prospects who were stiff to miss.
Mitch Szybkowski (Dandenong Stingrays/Calder Cannons)
Szybkowski was expected to drift but the inside midfielder’s slide was dramatic.
Billed as a potential top-20 prospect early on in the year, the AFL academy graduate was left on the board, and would be considered as one of the most unlucky prospects to remain undrafted.
The Stingrays prospect averaged 24 disposals and 102 ranking points for Vic Country at the national championships and is a serious steal as a rookie.
He may not have an elite athletic traits of other on-ballers in the pool, but he is consistent across the board as a strong bodied midfielder.
Sam Gilbey (Claremont/WA)
Gilbey is another talented prospect whose draft year was severely interrupted.
The smooth mover from WA struggled with a bout of glandular fever early in 2022 before a broken leg ended his season.
But he’s been on the radar for a while now and recruiters are aware of his class, composure and decision making across halfback – or through the midfield, where he’s played in spurts.
Some were surprised to see him overlooked.
Jed Hagan (East Fremantle/WA)
Hagan may be small but his form has stacked up against men in the WAFL.
The 175cm utility shone up forward for East Fremantle, averaging 13.4 disposals, a goal and 79 ranking points against senior bodies and was named in the All-Australian side in defence at the national champs.
Hagan can be used all over the ground, is a clever ball-user and is clean at ground level.
Ethan Phillips (Port Melbourne VFL)
A mature-age 196cm intercepting defender, Phillips said on Tuesday he had nominated for “six or seven” drafts but was again.
The 23-year-old had attracted some interest, after being named in the VFL Team of the Year and winning the state league competition’s Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the competition’s most promising young player this year.
The past 15 winners of that medal had found their way onto AFL lists.
Phillips broke the VFL’s intercept record this year in a breakout season down back for Port Melbourne.
Luke Teal (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
A member of the NAB AFL Academy at the start of the year, Teal endured a rocky 2022 which included suffering a broken collarbone.
However, the 189cm rebounding defender or wingman put his best foot forward when he did get out on the field and showed his abilities one-on-one and that he has a penetrating kick when he wins the ball back.
He is the son of Robert Teal, who played 18 games for Sydney in 1989 and 1990.
Adam D’Aloia (Eagles/SA)
The SA ball magnet couldn’t have don much more.
He starred as a bottom-ager for South Australia and the Eagles at under-18 level, and put up more big numbers this year, with only Will Ashcroft averaging more ranking points at the national carnival.
Clubs have concerns about his ability to hurt the opposition, and his lack of speed, but D’Aloia is strong and clean around the ball and boasts exceptional leadership qualities.
Nick Sadler (Sturt)
Some view Sadler as one of the best kicks in this year’s crop.
Add to that a great combination of speed and endurance, versatility and the ability to hit the scoreboard, and there is a lot to like.
The goalkicking midfielder, who was invited to the national combine, had enough desirable traits to be in the rookie draft mix, but was overlooked.
Olivier Northam (Geelong Falcons/Vic Country)
A 197cm ruckman-forward, Northam has a strong leap and is a mobile and agile big man who follows up his work in the air well at ground level.
He is super competitive in the air when playing forward and impressed for the Falcons in the NAB League as well as playing all four games of the under-18 national championships for Vic Country.
Harry Cole (Claremont/WA)
A 187cm forward, Cole has clean hands and is a dangerous player around goals.
In one under-18 national championships game against Vic Metro this year, he kicked 2.3 from 10 disposals in what was an ‘almost’ day.
Cole captained his school team at Hale and tested well at the national draft combine.
ROOKIE DRAFT - EVERY PICK
FIRST ROUND
1. North Melbourne - Blake Drury (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
Great to see Drury get his chance. He’s worked very hard for it and had an impressive national carnival.
Drury Lane meets Arden Street ðŸš
— North Melbourne FC (@NMFCOfficial) November 30, 2022
Welcome to the Kangaroos, Blake!#AFLDraft
2. West Coast - Isiah Winder (West Coast, re-drafted)
3. GWS - Phil Davis (GWS, re-drafted)
4. Essendon - Rhett Montgomerie (Central Districts)
The Bombers go with a SANFL mature-ager here at their first pick of the rookie draft.
Rhett is now a Bomber.
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) November 30, 2022
Welcome to the Dons. pic.twitter.com/RVPhxrtq8G
5. Adelaide - Andrew McPherson (Adelaide, re-drafted)
6. Hawthorn - Seamus Mitchell (Hawthorn, re-drafted)
7. Gold Coast - Connor Blakely (Fremantle)
The first surprise of the rookie draft with the delisted Docker becoming a Sun.
8. Port Adelaide - Dylan Williams (Port Adelaide, re-drafted)
9. St Kilda - PASS
10. Carlton - Ed Curnow (Carlton, re-drafted)
11. Western Bulldogs - PASS
12. Richmond - Seth Campbell (Tasmania Devils/Allies)
13. Fremantle - Liam Reidy (Frankston VFL)
Liam Reidy highlights 🎥
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) November 30, 2022
See what our rookie ruck selection can do. #AFLDraft#foreverfreopic.twitter.com/95kOdosOSG
14. Melbourne - Will Verrall (South Adelaide)
15. Brisbane - Ryan Lester (Brisbane, re-drafted)
16. Collingwood - Cooper Murley (Collingwood, re-drafted)
17. Sydney - Cameron Own (Tasmania Devils)
18. Geelong - Oscar Murdoch (Geelong Falcons/Vic Country)
SECOND ROUND
19. North Melbourne - Hamish Free (South Fremantle)
The Roos pluck the 24-year-old mature-age ruckman out of the WAFL.
20. West Coast - Zane Trew (West Coast, re-drafted)
21. Adelaide - Paul Seedsman (Adelaide, re-drafted)
22. Hawthorn - PASS
23. Gold Coast - Jake Stein (GWS)
24. St Kilda - PASS
25. Western Bulldogs - PASS
26. Richmond - Tylar Young (Richmond VFL)
With pick No.26 in the rookie draft, we’ve selected @RichmondVFL's very own Tylar Young 🙌 pic.twitter.com/cq3Mt2w2qb
— Richmond FC 🯠(@Richmond_FC) November 30, 2022
27. Fremantle- PASS
28. Melbourne - Oliver Sestan (Xavier College/Mansfield)
A powerful forward from Xavier College. 😤
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) November 30, 2022
Oliver Sestan is officially a Demon. 👌#DemonSpirit | @IGAuspic.twitter.com/YhC39VfvvG
29. Brisbane - Nakia Cockatoo (Brisbane, re-drafted)
30. Collingwood - PASS
31. Sydney — Jaiden Magor (South Adelaide/SA)
32. Geelong - Osca Riccardi
ROUND THREE
33. North Melbourne - Daniel Howe (Hawthorn)
Back with Clarko! The Roos take former Hawk Daniel Howe who will add some experience to their outside mix.
34. Gold Coast - PASS
35. Richmond - PASS
36. Melbourne - PASS
37. Brisbane - PASS
38. Geelong - PASS
ROUND FOUR
39. North Melbourne - Kayne Turner (North Melbourne, re-drafted)
Kayne Turner has been re-listed with our final rookie pick.#AFLDraft
— North Melbourne FC (@NMFCOfficial) November 30, 2022
40. Gold Coast - PASS
ROUND FIVE
41. Gold Coast - PASS
DRAFT OVER
PRE-LISTED ROOKIE SELECTIONS
Lloyd Johnston (Gold Coast), Northern Academy
Nick Madden (GWS), Northern Academy
Will Edwards (Sydney), Northern Academy
Anthony Munkara (Essendon), NGA
Joshua Draper (Fremantle), NGA
Conrad Williams (Fremantle), NGA
Joshua Bennetts (Hawthorn), NGA
Ted Clohesy (Geelong), NGA
Nathan Barkla (Port Adelaide), NGA
Angus McLennan (St Kilda), NGA
Jordyn Baker (West Coast), NGA
Tyrell Dewar (West Coast), NGA
Shadeau Brain (Brisbane), QLD zone
Jason Gillbee (GWS), NSW zone
Osca Riccardi (Geelong), father-son
Pies’ bush bolter much more than draft fairytale
— Jay Clark
Collingwood wants to thrust Wangaratta specialist school teacher Joe Richards straight into a half back running role to help its Nick Daicos midfield move next year.
The Magpies plucked the bolter from the bush with pick 48 in the fairytale storyline of Tuesday night’s AFL national draft.
And Collingwood believe the country footy star is made for the MCG after watching him dominate in the forward half despite heavy tagging attention in the Ovens and Murray League.
Recruiting chief Derek Hine said while the Magpies know he could add to their goal kicking stocks from the get-go, they have a big switch in mind.
Rising Star winner Daicos is ready to establish himself in the engine room next year, opening up a spot on the half back flank.
Hine said Richards’ clever running game was a snug fit for the way the Magpies’ wanted to move the ball out of the back line.
And as a 23-year-old, physically Richards was ready-to-go as the Magpies look to mount a genuine premiership tilt.
“We bring him in with a level of confidence,” Hine said.
“He has got the game for the MCG that’s for sure because of his speed and his lateral movement.
“We potentially see him playing that high-back role because he’s instinctive in transition, he just does it naturally.
“He’s already accustomed to the one v one stuff.
“We know what he can do in the midfield and as a high forward and I think he will really transition into that high back role really quickly.
“We really do snap out of there quite quickly which allows us to give Nick a little bit more midfield time.”
Richards had lots of attention from Port Adelaide and Geelong as well with Hine admitting club representatives had watched Richards six times this year.
Recruiters had likened him to Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko and Hine was convinced he could make it at the top level after sparkling in the premiership decider.
“He’s one who really needs an opportunity,” Hind said.
“His form would suggest he’s ready to take that opportunity.
“He plays the way that we play. He’s instinctive in transition, he’s dual-sided both by hand and by foot.
“Over the last month he’s had an elevated program, so he should be able to step into the program really quickly.
“The grand final was the one which really ticked the box for us because he’s a player tagged week-in week-out and when the game was in the balance in the last quarter he just took it apart.
“That was enough for me.”
The selection rounded out an eye-catching draft for the Magpies who took dashing defender and emerging cult figure Jakob Ryan with its Ollie Henry pick (28) and pushed its Brodie Grundy selection (30) into next year.
Collingwood fans will have extra reason to cheer against arch enemy Carlton after Collingwood traded pick 30 for the Blues’ future second-rounder.
Ryan models his game on Hawthorn star intercepting defender James Sicily.
But the Pies wanted to add to their picks next year to bolster any potential trade plans.
“Next year we are going in with one future-first and one future-fourth,” he said.
“We didn’t want to go in next year with such a gap.
“So we put ourselves in a position where we can hit the trades, free agency and so on, but you can’t do that without any picks.
“We just wanted to make sure we put a bit of meat on the bone so to speak.”
Day 1: Drunk draft selfie, ‘surreal’ Ross Lyon meeting
— Owen Leonard
St Kilda recruit Mattaes Phillipou is thriving off the fame that comes with being an AFL player, revealing his first fan selfie came with a “drunk mum” following the draft on Monday night.
Phillipou, who before the draft declared he was made for the big time in Melbourne, was approached by the woman at a pub near Marvel Stadium as he celebrated landing at the Saints at pick 10 with his family.
He was asked to pose in another fan photo outside AFL House on Tuesday morning as draftees gathered to speak with media and flaunt their new club colours.
He happily obliged with the man, telling the Herald Sun he was pumped to embrace the footy-obsessed city after moving across from Henley Beach in Adelaide, and had “loved” taking his first couple of fan selfies.
The powerful and athletic 190cm midfielder-forward was also ecstatic to meet Ross Lyon after his name was called by the Saints on Monday night, laughing about his “surreal” introduction to the high-profile coach when quizzed about his first impression.
“It was so surreal meeting him. I remember walking in, he was standing facing away from me so I didn’t realise it was him,” Phillipou said.
“He turned around and was just right in my face. I said, ‘Woah, Ross, what’s going on?’ He was full of energy and seemed very pumped.
“It doesn’t get bigger than playing under Ross Lyon, really.”
Lyon encouraged Phillipou to conduct himself with the confidence he has already displayed, with the repatriated St Kilda coach also telling the draftee that he possessed the weapons he was looking for in a rejuvenated Saints squad.
“He said to the team that he wanted talented, athletic, hard work, endurance, that’s what he wanted (in players). He said, ‘You are that’. So he’s stoked, and he wants me to go about it that way,” Phillipou said.
The versatile talent out of Woodville-West Torrens said he was confident he could help the Saints rise back into September, with two disappointing seasons following their 2020 finals campaign.
“100 per cent, if I can contribute to that, that’d be really awesome. But my main focus will be getting into pre-season, doing some hard work and hopefully I can have a positive influence from there,” he said.
“I think early on, I might start forward and pinch-hit in the mid. But we’ll see what happens.”
Late mail: Will Dees trade up to snag overlooked ruckman?
– Chris Cavanagh
After a failed bid to secure another top-20 pick, Melbourne will seek to prise the first selection of the second night of the AFL draft out of the hands of Greater Western Sydney.
The Giants remain open to offers for the selection, which has become pick 22 after four first-round father-son and Academy bids were matched on the opening night.
The Demons have a number of players they would weigh up if they can secure the pick, including South Australian ruckman Harry Barnett who was overlooked in the first round.
“We’re looking at various types, but another young ruck would be of some interest,” Melbourne national recruiting manager Jason Taylor said.
“But there’s also some other players on our board we think could add some value as well.
“We’ve been having a conversation ongoing with them (GWS) about that.
“We’ve got a few scenarios that may play out and we’re happy to sit with anyone, to be honest.”
The Giants selected key forward Aaron Cadman (pick one) and a pair of midfielder-forwards in Harry Rowston (pick 16) and Darcy Jones (pick 21) on the first night of the draft.
GWS had hoped a bid for Rowston would not come in the first 30 selections, but were forced to pay up early by cross-town rival Sydney.
“We understand the bidding system and at the end of the day clubs have to rank players in their order and we’ve done that in the past and we’ve placed bids on players from other clubs,” GWS national recruiting manager Adrian Caruso said.
“We planned for the scenario and ultimately it hasn’t affected us too much.
“Clubs are doing what’s in the best interests for them. The Swans don’t owe us anything. We were looking at our overall draft hand and we don’t feel like it’s affecting us too much at the minute.”
Caruso said the Giants would assess offers for pick 22 ahead of the second night of the draft, which kicks off at 7pm.
“We’re going to let the dust settle,” he said.
“There were clubs coming at us all through the back end of the first round with offers for some of those picks. At the moment we’ve said, ‘Nope, we’re going to hold firm and pick our player’, knowing that with that first pick tomorrow we can sit there tomorrow and see what comes through.”
GWS will not demand a future first-round selection in exchange for pick 22.
“If we move back three or four spots and take a future second, that’s an option and those sort of deals are regularly offered up,” Caruso said.
“The first pick on night two, that’s been more of what’s happened – slide back for a future second rather than a flat-out future first. If someone comes to us with a future first, we’ll listen. There’s a few different scenarios there that we will consider, but we also might just keep the pick and pick a player.”
Draft hopeful responds to ‘horrifying’ social media abuse
- Owen Leonard
Top draft prospect Harry Sheezel has described anti-Semitic comments on social media as “ignorant and uneducated” as he prepares to start his AFL career.
Sheezel, touted as a top-10 pick in Monday night’s draft, has been subjected to a slew of racist social media comments targeting his heritage.
Sheezel will become the first Jewish player to make the elite level since Ezra Poyas - who played in Richmond’s 2001 preliminary final team – with the exciting forward’s name widely tipped to be called out by North Melbourne at pick 3 or 4.
He has been heralded as a beacon of inspiration in the Jewish community following a dominant season at the Sandringham Dragons.
But social media users on Sunday appeared to take umbrage at Sheezel’s feel-good story, targeting the top prospect with a series of anti-Semitic slurs on a Facebook post.
The comments, too distasteful to repeat in full, make reference to the Second World War and cite Jewish generalisations.
“My initial reaction was I kind of found it quite disrespectful, obviously,” Sheezel told The Australian ahead of Monday night’s AFL national draft.
“I think they’re just ignorant and uneducated and they’re probably not sure about the impact that stuff can have, but to be honest, I don’t let that stuff affect me.
“I just think those people probably need to learn and they need to find out that that’s not right or tolerated in today’s society.
“I just try to move on from that, just focus on my football.”
North Melbourne ruck Todd Goldstein has a Jewish father but Orthodox Judaism recognises lineage through the mother.
The AFL on Monday afternoon confirmed its integrity unit was investigating the comments, labelling them “deplorable and unacceptable” in a statement provided to the Herald Sun.
“The AFL is aware of discriminatory commentary online directed towards a draft nominee,” a spokesman said.
“To denounce a young man on the eve of realising his dream of being drafted to the AFL is deplorable and unacceptable, and there is no place for this type of behaviour anywhere in our community.
“This morning the AFL contacted the player’s management, and the AFL integrity department is investigating as to whether those who made comments are genuine social media accounts and if they are club members.” The 18-year-old recently told Code Sports that kids in the Jewish community were already looking up to him.
“You see these kids that you’ve just never seen come up to you and are like, ‘Oh, you’re Harry Sheezel’,” he said.
“It’s just like, wow, I can be such a positive role model and an influence to the kids.”
North Melbourne ruck Todd Goldstein has a Jewish father but Orthodox Judaism recognises lineage through the mother.
Ronnie Lewis, president of Ajax – the amateur club where Sheezel played his junior football – said the club had been left “horrified” by the comments.
“As a club we are horrified, offended and saddened that this anti Jewish behaviour and belief exists in our multicultural society,” he said.
“No person, regardless of race, religion or culture should be subjected to these taunts. This is totally unacceptable.”
Dr Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission and prominent Jewish community spokesman, called on AFL clubs to investigate the culprits and issue bans if they were found to be members.
“The number of revolting posts that have targeted Harry Sheezel on Facebook is alarming, and points to a large-scale normalisation and acceptance of bigoted, hateful speech that is a hallmark of social media today,” Dr Abramovich said.
“Some of the ugly, hurtful expressions that I have seen shared about Mr Sheezel are not only stoking the flames of intolerance but are recycling age-old blood libels and stereotypes of Jews that would make neo-Nazis very proud.
“I hope that every AFL team takes the time to see if these trolls are club members, and if they are, expels each one.”
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Originally published as AFL Draft 2022: The unlucky prospects left on the board
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