AFL Draft 2023: Scouting notes on every player from AFL Academy showcase
Two top prospects had a big impact against men in the AFL Academy game. See how the top 30 prospects across the country fared, plus their stats and SuperCoach points.
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Top prospects Harley Reid and Nick Watson were the talents who shone brightest in dreary conditions for the AFL Academy in their showcase clash against Port Adelaide in Mount Barker on Saturday.
Thirty of the best AFL draft prospects from across the country came together for the contest along with a four-day camp in Adelaide.
Reid tore it up in the first half, while Watson was nearly the matchwinner for his side late as a gallant Academy line-up went down by just 13 points in the curtain-closer to the one-sided Brisbane win over North Melbourne.
Northern Academy prospects Jake Rogers (Gold Coast) and Caiden Cleary (Sydney) were also among those to impress, along with Tasmanian inside midfielder Ryley Sanders.
There was heavy rotation throughout the match with the Academy’s 12-man bench, meaning players were thrown into different positions and most were on the pine for extended periods throughout the match.
We rate and analyse every AFL Academy player below.
TOP 10 PERFORMERS RATED
#7 Harley Reid – 9/10
Midfielder/forward, 185cm, Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country
22 disposals, seven clearances, six marks, five inside 50s, one goal, 111 SuperCoach points
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell was watching on in Mount Barker and Reid put on a show for him in the opening half. The No. 1 pick favourite was clearly best on to that point with 15 disposals, six clearances, five inside 50s and a goal to the main break, and his goal summed up his matchwinning ability. Reid leapt high to clunk a strong overhead mark under close defensive checking and converted the banana set shot from 20m on the boundary. But Reid, who turned 18 on Monday, lost his cool at times in the third term. He conceded a goal after giving away a free kick and 50m penalty and got into a scuffle on the deck on the boundary line after fending off a strong Port Adelaide opponent. The Tongala talisman faded a touch by his lofty standards, but still finished as the No. 1 ranked player for the Academy with 111 SuperCoach points, 22 disposals (18 of those effective), seven clearances, six marks and five inside 50s.
#1 Nick Watson — 9/10
Forward/defender, 170cm, Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
18 disposals, nine loose-ball gets, four rebound 50s, one goal, 109 SuperCoach points
The smallest man on the ground’s impact was arguably bigger than any. Watson was quiet by his standards in a forward role early, but the freakishly skilled youngster was thrown into defence in the second half and stood up with the game on the line. Watson slotted a classy goal and racked up eight disposals – taking off on a Tom Papley-esque celebration – in the nailbiting final term, with his dashing speed, reading of the play and clean hands standing out in the wet. Finished as the second-ranked player for the Academy with 18 disposals and nine loose-ball gets. The 170cm Ranges talent is proving he can be more than a dangerous forward at the next level.
#9 Jake Rogers — 8/10
Forward/midfielder, 172cm, Suns Academy/Allies
12 disposals, seven tackles, three clearances, 86 SuperCoach points
Rogers had been flying under the radar a touch – he didn’t have a manager until he was snapped up by Kapital Sports Group last week – but this performance is sure to grab the attention of recruiters. The Suns Academy prospect turned heads with his defensive pressure and speed, with a rundown tackle in the second term along with a dummy handball and burst away from a Port tackler highlighting his x-factor. Rogers capped his night with a banana set shot goal tucked up in the pocket from 35m, set up by another defensive effort, which forced a Port player to give away a free kick for insufficient intent. The speedy 172cm product finished with 12 disposals, seven tackles and three clearances, but his influence was far greater than that.
#10 Ryley Sanders — 8/10
Midfielder, 186cm, Sandringham Dragons/Allies
20 disposals, six tackles, four inside 50s and 93 SuperCoach points
Sanders has started his draft year with a bang for the Sandringham Dragons and his strong form continued against Port Adelaide. The inside ball-winner, who is clean below his knees, won plenty of the footy in the last quarter in tight, finishing with 20 disposals, six tackles, four inside 50s and 93 SuperCoach points. It was a well-rounded display from the Tasmanian – who is boarding at Melbourne Grammar – and he got involved outside the contest as well with eight handball receives.
#3 Caiden Cleary — 8/10
Midfielder, 180cm, Swans Academy/Allies
16 disposals, 12 tackles, 92 SuperCoach points
These conditions were made for the Swans Academy product. Cleary’s pressure was absolutely manic, applying a game-high 11 tackles – including four in the final quarter alone – and 11 of his 16 possessions were won in a contest. There is no doubting his competitiveness and inside grunt work – the next step will be improving his ball-use.
#27 George Stevens – 7.5/10
Defender/midfielder, 189cm, GWV Rebels/Vic Country
19 disposals, six rebound 50s, 89 SuperCoach points
Was forced to play tall on Port Adelaide’s array of forwards and Ollie Lord – who he gave up eight centimetres to on Saturday – got on top of him early, kicking three first-quarter goals. But Stevens got better as the day went on, showcasing his offensive traits out of defence, with his rebound, efficient ball-use and composure standing out. Had 19 disposals in total — 14 of those effective – and was the fifth-ranked Academy player on the ground. Not bad for a a guy in his fourth game back from an ACL blow.
#12 Darcy Wilson – 7/10
Wingman/forward, 185cm, Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country
19 disposals, five marks, 65 SuperCoach points
Like Sanders, Wilson’s hot start to the season continued in the Academy showcase. Was busy with 19 disposals and five marks on the outside and showed his speed with a dashing run up the wing in the second half. The wingman made a key intercept late in the last quarter, smartly cutting off a handball in the middle of the ground and getting the ball going his side’s away. Perhaps the only blip was his efficiency, going at less than 50 per cent.
#25 Nathan Philactides – 7/10
Defender, 181cm, 78kg, Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
He has had a modest start to the Coates Talent League season, but Philactides was arguably the Academy’s best in the third quarter where he stood up with some impressive one-on-one wins. The Oakleigh Chargers defender read the play nicely to take a chest mark, then minutes later he gathered, spun away from a tackler under heavy pressure and found an option. The distributor showed his usual polish with ball-in-hand, hitting the target with 12 of his 14 disposals.
#6 Colby McKercher – 7/10
Midfielder, 181cm, Tasmania Devils/Allies
The Tasmanian talent was named among the best for the Academy in an impressive showing through the midfield. Won five clearances and was clean with his disposal in trying conditions, going at 75 per cent efficiency from his 15 touches.
#5 Riley Hardeman — 6.5/10
Defender, 188cm, Swan Districts/WA
After getting a taste of senior action in his WAFL debut for Swan Districts the previous week, Hardeman showed good signs yet again against bigger bodies. Was generally clean by foot and laid a strong tackle to dispossess his opponent deep in his own defensive 50. Collected 14 disposals – including 11 in the first half – and four marks.
SCOUTING NOTES ON EVERY PLAYER
#2 Jack Callinan
Forward, 179cm, Tasmania Devils/Allies
Got a lucky gift with a 50m penalty walking him to the square for a third-quarter goal. The son of Crows goalsneak Ian finished with nine touches and three tackles on a day where no Academy forward really starred.
#4 Jack Delean
Forward, 181cm, South Adelaide/SA
A soaring leap over a massive pack on the wing would have been the highlight of the match – only problem was he didn’t get near it … Nonetheless, it showcased the athleticism of the South Adelaide goalkicker. Had the seven touches and kicked two behinds. But was one of just two Academy players who didn’t lay a tackle for the match.
#8 Archie Roberts
Defender, 184cm, Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Roberts’ precision by foot was on display out of defence, hitting the target with seven of his nine kicks. The Dragons product had 12 touches and five rebound 50s for the game and put on a handy spoil over the top on the wing late in the last.
#11 Orlando Turner
Forward, Northern Territory/Allies
Turner had a fantastic one-on-one win, paddling the ball along the deck under heavy pressure and managing to keep his feet before handing it off to a teammate on the wing. Had the six disposals and kicked two behinds, but the Northern Territory forward doesn’t need much of it to have an influence.
#17 Lachie Cabor
Midfielder, 181cm, Swans Academy/Allies
The Swans Academy product didn’t see much of it with four touches, but looked to be one of those impacted by the Academy’s 12-man bench.
#18 Nate Caddy
Forward, 192cm, Northern Knights/Vic Metro
Kicked the first goal of the match but found the going tough from thereon, winning four possessions. Caddy, the nephew of former Tiger Josh, did manage to stay in the contest, though, laying a terrific rundown tackle in the last term to force a Port turnover.
#20 Will Lorenz
Midfielder, 186cm, Oakleigh Chargers
A solid game for the smooth-moving Chargers midfielder, finishing with 10 disposals, but just four of them hit the target. Provided good link-up play with six handball receives.
#19 Zane Duursma
Forward, 190cm, Gippsland Power
The potential top-five prospect was uncharacteristically quiet with three touches for the match in a forward role, but he produced a cracking goal in the third quarter. Duursma recovered from a dropped mark, gathered and launched a long bomb from outside 50 that bounced through – a highlight that was certainly worth the wait.
#21 Kane McAuliffe
Midfielder, 187cm, North Adelaide/SA
The South Australian slotted the goal of the day in the third term, pouncing on a crumb beautifully and snapping it off his left at full tilt from 40m out. While McAuliffe had just the eight touches, he made them count, hitting the target with every disposal and getting his hands dirty defensively with five tackles. McAuliffe has been beating up on sides for North Adelaide in the SANFL under-18s and is a nice size at 187cm.
#22 Ashton Moir
Forward, 186cm, Glenelg/SA
A tough day for the forwards and the highly-touted homegrown talent got limited opportunities to impress. Moir’s dribble snap on goal in the second term resulted in a tap-in from Jed Walter, and he nearly created something out of nothing in the same quarter by cleverly roving a ruck tap deep in the forward 50. Just one of his six kicks were effective, but he will get more chances to strut his stuff against senior bodies in the SANFL this season.
#23 Connor O’Sullivan
Defender, 198cm, Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country
O’Sullivan, who has played all over the ground for the Bushrangers this season, settled in defence for the Academy and showed some good signs. Competed well in one-on-one contests, earning a free kick at one stage after getting himself in a better position than his opponent. A clean gather off the deck followed by a 1-2 handball chain and raking kick highlighted his athleticism and mobility for a prospect standing 198cm. Had 10 touches, three rebound 50s and two inside 50s.
#24 Will Patton
Defender, 192cm, 79kg West Adelaide/SA
Patton is known for his intercepting and he zoned off nicely to clunk a Port Adelaide forward foray. The South Australian’s ball-use out of defence was tidy, finishing with 11 disposals, three marks and three inside 50s.
#26 Cooper Simpson
Midfielder, 182cm, Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
Simpson had more centre-clearances than any player on the ground with three, surging the ball inside-50 with his penetrating kick and finishing with 11 touches. Didn’t have as much of the footy in the second half, but the Academy was running plenty of players through the midfield.
#28 Koltyn Tholstrup
Forward, 188cm, Subiaco/WA
It was an almost day up forward for Tholstrup with nine disposals (three effective) and five contested possessions, but his competitive intent was there for all to see. In the first half Tholstrup managed to somehow neutralise a contest where he was outnumbered 1-on-2, and went in hard to lay a strong tackle in an earlier contest. However, West Australian prospect’s decision making was below par at times. This included turning the ball over opting for a low percentage short pass instead of going back to take a set shot, getting caught holding the ball trying to take on a tackler and a flying snap from 40m that fell straight in the lap of a Port defender 15m out. But he took a strong mark in front of his opponent in the last quarter and also came close to kicking a cracking late goal after crumbing a deep forward 50.
#29 Daniel Curtin
Key defender/forward, 196cm, Claremont/WA
Curtin, who was best-on-ground in the U17 All Stars game on grand final day last year, had just the two disposals to three-quarter-time, but lifted in the final term. The athletic swingman showcased his agility by shaking two tacklers with sidesteps before spotting up an option in the middle of the ground in wet conditions. However at one stage in the last he sagged off his opponent – overlooked 2022 draft prospect Jed Hagan – far too much, with the Port small able to take an open mark inside 50.
#30 Mitchell Edwards
Ruck, 207cm, Dockers NGA/Peel Thunder/WA
Edwards clunked a towering contested mark in a big pack outside the 50m arc, showing his aerial ability and strong hands. Defied his size by switching a long kick into the middle of the ground which hit the target. The Dockers Next Generation Academy prospect had five hit-outs and five touches for the day, splitting the ruck duties with Ethan Read and Will Green.
#31 Will Green
Ruck, 204cm, Northern Knights/Vic Metro
Showed some nice composure with a kick into the middle of the ground at one stage. Was fighting well out of his weight division against Port reserves ruck Sam Hayes, but managed to win three free kicks for the game to go with five hit-outs.
Nic ecomposure with a kick into the middle
#32 Ethan Read
Ruck, 202cm, Suns Academy/Allies
Was the most impressive of the three Academy ruckmen, covering the ground well and competed hard in the ruck. Started the match with a strong tackle on Hayes that was given holding the ball, and laid a desperate tackle deep in defence in the last quarter to force a stoppage. The Suns Academy talent finished with 59 SuperCoach points from five disposals and five hit-outs, illustrating his high-impact per possession.
#33 Archer Reid
Key forward, 203cm, Gippsland Power/Vic Country
It wasn’t a day for a 203cm marking forward. Didn’t have a touch until the last quarter but managed to get his hands on it in the last, including a mark on the lead in front of his opponent as the rain poured down.
#34 Jed Walter
Key forward, 195cm, Suns Academy/Allies
Walter kicked his side’s second goal of the match, running onto a dribble snap from Ashton Moir and soccering it off the deck from close range. Threw his weight around in one repeat effort in the second quarter, crunching an opponent and then following up with a sprint effort.
AFL ACADEMY SUPERCOACH RANKING POINTS
Harley Reid – 111
Nick Watson – 109
Ryley Sanders – 93
Caiden Cleary – 92
George Stevens – 89
Jake Rogers – 86
Archie Roberts – 76
Colby McKercher – 70
Kane McAuliffe – 70
Darcy Wilson – 65
Nathan Philactides – 60
Will Patton – 60
Ethan Read – 59
Riley Hardeman – 58
Connor O’Sullivan – 54
Jed Walter – 51
Cooper Simpson – 49
Jack Callinan – 46
Will Lorenz – 45
Koltyn Tholstrup – 44
Daniel Curtin – 38
Nate Caddy – 32
Orlando Turner – 29
Zane Duursma – 27
Jack Delean – 27
Ashton Moir – 26
Mitchell Edwards – 25
Will Green – 24
Archer Reid – 22
Lachie Cabor – 16
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