AFL Draft Intel: Jagga Smith proves a point, the ‘Unicorn’ coming in 2025 and all the latest whispers

Potential No. 1 pick Jagga Smith proved a point in the VFL and a Vic Country defender is rising fast – but it’s the Luke Jackson-like prospect who’s really got recruiters talking.

Finals footy is almost here as attention for some clubs starts to turn towards November’s AFL national draft.

Here’s the latest draft news and views from around the country.

Jagga Smith says he was able to prove a point in a VFL stint with Richmond. Picture: Getty Images

JAGGA HAD A POINT TO PROVE

Potential No. 1 draft pick Jagga Smith says he took plenty away from a three-week stint in the VFL where he was able to “tick off” another box in his top-age season.

The midfielder has been a dominant ball-winner in underage football this year, collecting 50 disposals in one Coates Talent League match for the Oakleigh Chargers in May.

However, proving his abilities against bigger bodies in senior football had been a key focus for Smith and he was able to do that across three matches for Richmond’s VFL side.

The 18-year-old collected a game-high 31 disposals and eight clearances in his first match for the Tigers against Williamstown last month, before going on to log 27 disposals against Collingwood and 24 disposals and seven clearances against Sandringham.

“I’m very grateful for Richmond giving me the opportunity to play VFL footy,” Smith told this column.

“I was lucky enough to play a lot of midfield in those games so I learnt a lot about body craft and stoppage work and little things like that.

“That was something that I really wanted to prove to people, that I was able to play at a good standard against men, not just being able to play under-18 footy.

“I think I can still take another step forward, but I was definitely pleased that I was able to still win some footy against bigger boys.”

The VFL opportunities followed Smith being named captain of the under-18 All-Australian side after leading Vic Metro to the championships title in July.

Recruiters said Smith “was the one setting the standards” during the tournament, while Vic Metro coach Rob Harding said he had future “club captain written all over him”.

“Leadership is something I’m really interested in and I’ll aspire to be a leader wherever I end up,” Smith said.

A 181cm midfielder who has drawn comparisons to Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters, Smith returned to the Chargers last weekend and recorded 42 disposals, seven clearances and a goal in a loss to the Greater Western Victoria Rebels.

Oakleigh faces the Sandringham Dragons in the final round of the regular season this weekend.

ANOTHER ‘UNICORN’ ON THE WAY

He’s known at the Calder Cannons as ‘The Unicorn’ and Cooper Duff-Tytler is quickly emerging as one of the top draft prospects for 2025.

The ruckman – who celebrated his 17th birthday on Thursday – was named the Cannons’ second-best player last weekend after gathering 30 disposals, 10 marks, 17 hit-outs and kicking two goals in a loss to the Dandenong Stingrays.

It was just his third match at under-18 level in the Coates Talent League.

The outing came a week after Duff-Tytler had also caught the eye in an under-17 trial match for Vic Metro, gathering 13 disposals, five marks, five hit-outs, five clearances and kicking two goals in that match against Queensland.

A dual-sport athlete, Duff-Tytler last year represented Australia at the FIBA under-16 Asian Championship in Qatar.

He already tops 200cm and is still growing.

Duff-Tytler has been likened to Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson, who similarly had a strong basketball background and can take hit-outs before turning into a 199cm midfielder.

The No. 3 draft pick in 2019, Jackson has also been referred to as a ‘Unicorn’.

“We can see him (Duff-Tytler) as a very early prospect for next year if he commits to footy,” Calder Cannons talent manager Sebastian Spagnuolo told this column.

“He moves like no 200cm player can move, he gets involved in handball chains, he’s like an old-fashioned follower that takes the hitout and then he’s another midfielder.”

Junior basketball star Cooper Duff-Tytler is making a big impression on football in his bottom-age season. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

TOP PROSPECTS MAKE RETURNS

Highly-rated Victorian key defender Harry O’Farrell returned to the field in a different role last weekend after a lengthy lay-off with an ankle injury.

O’Farrell suffered the injury early in Vic Metro’s second match of the under-18 national championships on June 23, pulling the boots back on for the Calder Cannons only last weekend in the Coates Talent League.

O’Farrell lined up forward for his return match against the Dandenong Stringrays, recording 10 disposals, four marks, nine score involvements and 2.4.

“He only kicked a couple in the end but he looked pretty damaging there as a forward at times,” Calder Cannons talent manager Sebastian Spagnuolo said.

“He’s such a great athlete and reader of the play, he’s got good hands and uses the ball well.

“He’ll work into the back end of this year quite well, hopefully.”

Some clubs had wanted to see how O’Farrell looked as a forward, but he could still return to defence for the closing stages of the season.

While O’Farrell’s return was welcomed, Cannons teammate and Essendon Next Generation Academy member Isaac Kako will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery on Tuesday.

The small forward suffered a syndesmosis injury during the Cannons’ win over Tasmania in round 17, with the injury also set to sideline him from testing at October’s national draft combine.

AFL Academy member Harry O'Farrell returned from an ankle injury for the Calder Cannons last weekend. Picture: Getty Images

Meanwhile, top-five draft prospect Finn O’Sullivan is set to return to the fold at the Oakleigh Chargers this weekend after missing last week’s loss to the GWV Rebels.

O’Sullivan had suffered a corky in the first quarter of his VFL debut for Richmond the previous week.

He played out the match but later pulled up sore.

O’Sullivan has not played for the Chargers since round 1 and featured in only two matches for Vic Country during the under-18 national championships due to a series of injuries this year including finger and thumb issues.

However, some recruiters still believe the “combative” onballer and strong two-way runner should be the No. 1 draft pick this year.

TAURU PUTTING IT TOGETHER

After a rough injury run over the past two years, versatile Victorian draft prospect Alixzander Tauru is firming a top-30 pick in November.

A 191cm defender who has also had stints forward and through the midfield this season, Tauru managed just two Coates Talent League matches for the Gippsland Power last year and spent more time on the sidelines earlier this season with tendinitis in his right hip.

However, he showed some glimpses of his talent with Vic Country during three matches at the under-18 national championships and has gone on to have a big second half of the season with the Power.

Tauru logged 13 disposals, six marks, seven score involvements and kicked 3.2 when playing forward in a win over the Northern Knights last weekend.

As a defender he had 23 disposals, seven intercept marks, and 13 intercept possessions in one match against the Murray Bushrangers in June.

A competitor whose aerial abilities are his clear strength, the Warragul product also lays some great run-down tackles and can have an impact on games from limited disposals.

“His baseline is he competes in everything – midfield, forward and back,” Gippsland Power talent manager Scott McDougal told CODE Sports this week.

“If there’s a contest, he wants to be involved in it. He reminds you of someone out of the 1980s, the blonde hair, the way he attacks the ball, sort of, ‘I’m just going for it’.”

Alixzander Tauru is climbing club draft boards. Picture: Getty Images

DECISION TIME LOOMS FOR STAR RUCK

Dual-sport star Alex Dodson says he will make a difficult decision over whether or not to pursue football after Sturt’s under-18s campaign comes to an end in the SANFL.

A highly-talented junior basketball star, Dodson is also a top-rated ruckman who has been invited to October’s AFL national draft combine and shapes as a potential top-30 pick in November if he makes himself available.

The mobile and athletic 203cm big man featured in three games for South Australia at the AFL under-18 national championships and arguably showed himself to be the best available ruckman in the draft pool this year.

Alex Dodson still needs to decide whether to pursue football or basketball. Picture: Getty Images

However, he has also represented Australia in basketball and won a gold medal playing for the country at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany earlier this year.

“It’s a really tough one for me because basketball has been my main focus over the past two or three years but I came back to footy for a run around this year and have really enjoyed it and rediscovered my love for the game,’’ Dodson told the Adelaide Advertiser recently.

“Everyone keeps asking me which sport I love the most but it’s hard to give an answer because I love them both, they’ve been great to me and I’ve had a strong desire to keep getting better at both sports.

“So it’s going to be really hard to let one of them go, but you have to make that decision for your future.”

The SANFL under-18s competition has a pre-finals bye this weekend, with Sturt to face Woodville-West Torrens in an elimination final next weekend.

STATE LEAGUE DEBUTS FOR DRAFT PROSPECTS

A number of this year’s top draft prospects made their VFL debuts last weekend in the final round of the regular season.

Potential top-10 pick Harvey Langford pulled on the boots for Richmond’s VFL side in its match against Carlton, with the powerful 190cm midfielder gathering 12 disposals, eight inside-50s and two clearances in a nine-point win.

That match also saw fellow first-round prospect Tobie Travaglia line up for the Blues, with the Bendigo Pioneers product finishing with 22 disposals and nine intercept possessions playing a role across halfback.

Midfielder Harvey Langford made his VFL debut for Richmond last weekend. Picture: Getty Images

Eastern Ranges midfielder-forward Christian Moraes recorded 10 disposals and two score involvements in his VFL debut for Box Hill.

In the SANFL, one of the contenders to be the No. 1 draft pick in 2025 – Dyson Sharp – made a splash in his SANFL league debut for Central District, logging 14 disposals, six clearances, 10 tackles and one goal.

Sharp only turned 17 in May but impressed as a bottom-age player for South Australia in this year’s under-18 national championships.

Originally published as AFL Draft Intel: Jagga Smith proves a point, the ‘Unicorn’ coming in 2025 and all the latest whispers