AFL Draft 2022: Top performers and SuperCoach points from NAB League, SANFL U18 grand finals

With the grand final slipping away from Glenelg, an SA draft prospect delivered a remarkable performance. See the SANFL U18 standouts and full ranking points.

SA young gun Archie Lovelock has enhanced his draft standing with a commanding performance in Glenelg’s SANFL U18 Torrens University Cup grand final win.

The 178cm prospect tallied 35 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 11 score involvements and a game-high 166 Champion Data ranking points in a prolific display to lead the Bays to a come-from-behind victory at Adelaide Oval.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE SUPERCOACH POINTS FOR EVERY PLAYER

Glenelg’s Archie Lovelock won the Allan Stewart medal as best afield. Picture: SANFL/Peter Argent

In a standout season, Lovelock has impressed through the midfield and inside-50, with his brilliant hands and ability to find a teammate under pressure – and that was no different on Friday night as he claimed the Alan Stewart Medal as best afield.

Lovelock worked tirelessly in the first half to keep his side in the game, with the help of North Adelaide’s second-quarter wastefulness.

But, with the game on the line, it was after half-time when the 18-year-old really proved his worth.

The Sacred Heart College student marked strongly inside-50 and booted the first goal of the second half, before marking on the lead again minutes later and finding teammate Chester Forster in the pocket who kicked another.

North Adelaide, on the back of a strong showing from fellow draft prospect Billy Dowling, still led by five points at the final change, but Lovelock produced one of the quarters of the season, taking control of the game late and not letting go.

In the fourth term, he had 11 disposals, six score involvements, four contested possessions, three inside 50s and a huge contested intercept mark to thwart a late Roosters foray forward.

Lovelock in action for South Australia at the national carnival. Picture: Kelly Barnes/Getty Images

Crows NGA prospect Isaac Keeler faded in and out of the SANFL U18 decider. Picture: SANFL/Peter Argent

Bays skipper and McCallum Tomkins medallist Ben Ridgway had 28 disposals and seven inside 50s of his own, confirming he is one to watch ahead of the 2023 draft.

Of this year’s crop, highly-touted defender Jakob Ryan was prolific and composed as ever, tallying 28 disposals and 10 intercept possessions, while Roosters ball magnet Dowling finished with 27 disposals, eight clearances and 119 ranking points in another impressive midfield display.

Crows NGA prospect Isaac Keeler had moments of brilliance, but faded in and out of the game, like he’s done at times this season.

While Dowling, Ryan and Keeler will test at the national draft combine, Lovelock, who has drawn AFL interest as a pure half-forward at the next level, has been invited to the state screening along with Glenelg teammates Jake Walker (21 disposals and six clearances) and Lachlan Scannell.

NAB League guns star in decider

- Dan Batten

Four first-round AFL draft prospects tore it up on the big stage as Sandringham claimed a 43-point NAB League grand final win over the Dandenong Stingrays – and it was the No.1 pick favourite with another best-ground display.

Brisbane father-son star Will Ashcroft added a grand final best-on-ground medal to his illustrious list of accolades this year, finishing with a game-high 39 disposals, nine score involvements, six clearances and 157 SuperCoach points.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE SUPERCOACH POINTS AND TOP PERFORMERS

The prolific 182cm prospect, who polled three votes in his final VFL game for Brisbane in the JJ Liston Trophy last week, looms as a round 1 starter in the Lions’ midfield next year.

Ashcroft received 11 votes in the NAB League grand final voting, followed by fellow top-ten prospects Cam Mackenzie (eight) and Harry Sheezel (five), who also wowed recruiters at Ikon Park.

Will Ashcroft was named best-on-ground. Picture: Getty Images

Cam Mackenzie dishes out a handball. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Mackenzie was the top-ranked player on the ground in a polished and well-rounded display through the midfield.

The St Kilda Next Generation Academy prospect tallied 170 SuperCoach points from 26 disposals, 17 kicks (at an elite 85 per cent efficiency), 10 score involvements, 6 tackles, 6 clearances and two goals, franking his status as a top-10 pick in this year’s draft.

Rising speedster Olli Hotton boosted his draft stocks with 25 disposals, seven clearances, 129 SuperCoach points, and one of the goals of the night streaming through the middle with multiple involvements.

While Ashcroft, Mackenzie and Hotton did the damage through the midfield, it was Sheezel who put on a show up forward.

This is simply superb from Olli Hotton!

Could he be a first-round prospect? pic.twitter.com/MHzza2wXTq

— AFL (@AFL) September 16, 2022

Everything Sheezel touched turned to gold, with the Dragons livewire booting four majors - including an incredible snap over his shoulder from the pocket - and registering 10 score involvements and five score assists from his 13 disposals.

The electric forward claimed he “didn’t even look at the goals” before snapping it through and said the triumph was made sweeter by the tight-knit relationships in the group.

“I saw there were three Dandenong boys who spoiled and I had to chase after it. Then I just knocked the guy off the ball, picked it up, didn’t even look at the goals and turned around - It was a good feeling,” Sheezel told the Herald Sun moments after the win.

HARRY SHEEZEL 😳

Watch the @NABLeague Grand Final here: https://t.co/EMIKsHRtewpic.twitter.com/wB5OfdMU36

— AFL (@AFL) September 16, 2022

“(The win) means so much. It has been an unbelievable effort from the first game, we have improved every week.

“We love each other, we’ve experienced so much together this year. Well not just this year, but it’s been building for a couple of years. This is just a credit to all the work we put in as a group and all the connections we have made together which I’m sure will last a long time.”

The win meant a lot to Harry Sheezel (right). Picture: Getty Images

It was a disappointing night for the Stingrays who were blown out of the water early, but running machine Jaxon Binns capped an impressive NAB League finals series with 18 disposals, 12 contested possessions and 100 SuperCoach points.

Melbourne Next Generation Academy prospect Finn Emile-Brennan, a running defender, was another of the Stingrays’ best, finishing as their highest ranked player on the ground with 17 touches, 11 rebound 50s and 108 points.

Possible first-round prospects Henry Hustwaite (13) and Mitch Szybkowski (15 touches) returned from illness and injury respectively for the grand final and were below their usual output.

KEY CONTRIBUTORS

DRAGONS

Cam Mackenzie

170 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals, 17 kicks at 85 per cent, 2 goals, 10 score involvements, 6 tackles, 6 clearances.

Harry Sheezel

164 SuperCoach points, 13 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency, 11 contested possessions, four goals, five score assists, 10 score involvements

Will Ashcroft

157 SuperCoach points, 39 disposals, 24 uncontested possessions, 9 score involvements 6 clearances

Olli Hotton

129 SuperCoach points, 25 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 7 clearances, one goal

Archie Roberts

103 SuperCoach points, 21 disposals nine intercepts, two intercept marks

Will Brown

126 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals, seven marks, eight score involvements and a goal

Olli Hotton bursts through the middle. Picture: Getty Images

DANDENONG

Finn Emile-Brennan

108 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals, 82 per cent kicking % (14 kicks), 11 R50s, seven intercepts

Jaxon Binns

100 SuperCoach points, 18 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 0.2

Sam Frangalas

76 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals, five inside 50s, one goal

Hugo Nosiara

88 SuperCoach points, 15 disposals, two score assists, one goal

Originally published as AFL Draft 2022: Top performers and SuperCoach points from NAB League, SANFL U18 grand finals