Draft Intel: All the latest AFL Draft news from around Australia

Clubs say the integrity of the NGA program is at stake as North Melbourne provides an update on its links to hot prospect Ryley Sanders. Plus the current draft order and much more.

Chris Cavanagh

@chriscavanagh1

5 min read

August 11, 2023 - 5:30AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Ryley Sanders won the Larke Medal as the best player of the under-18 national championships this year. Picture: Getty Images

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With the AFL season just weeks away from finishing up for some clubs, attention is quickly turning to November’s national draft.

Here’s the latest news from around the country on some of the top prospects, plus your club’s current draft order.

SANDERS STILL UP IN THE AIR

North Melbourne says an application to include top-10 draft prospect Ryley Sanders in its Next Generation Academy is still “pending” as rival clubs continue to raise concerns about the situation.

According to the latest AFL Next Generation Academy Active Nomination List, which was sent to clubs on July 28, North Melbourne has no eligible NGA players this year.

Kangaroos list manager Brady Rawlings told AFL Media on Wednesday that there had been no further movement in recent times regarding Sanders’ eligibility.

Rawlings said North Melbourne lodged paperwork to have Sanders included as part of its NGA “a couple of years ago” and the club has been keeping close tabs on him since.

While Sanders has been boarding at Melbourne Grammar this year, he originally hails from Tasmania and has Indigenous heritage.

Rival clubs fear that the AFL could hand over Sanders to North Melbourne as a draft pre-selection – as part of a special assistance package – if he is suddenly deemed to be NGA eligible.

Under normal rules, North Melbourne would be unable to match a bid on any NGA player inside the top-40 picks in the national draft.

“This is a big issue,” one recruiter told this column.

“The integrity of the NGA process is at stake here.”

A gun inside midfielder, Sanders won the Larke Medal as the best player of the under-18 national championships after averaging 35.8 disposals across his four games for the Allies.

Ryley Sanders has still not been officially included in North Melbourne’s NGA. Picture: Getty Images

THE HARLEY ‘HYPE IS REAL’

Many in the AFL industry play down hype surrounding individual players, at least publicly.

However, Essendon coach Brad Scott only fuelled the fire around likely No.1 draft pick Harley Reid with his comments this week.

Reid debuted for Essendon’s VFL side last weekend and was one of the side’s best as he racked up 24 disposals and six clearances in an eight-point loss to Southport on the Gold Coast.

The performance certainly got the attention of Scott, who didn’t hold back when asked about Reid on Fox Footy’s AFL360 on Monday.

“He looked like a No.1 pick. The hype is real,” Scott said.

“He’s a very, very good player – a very complete player. He played in the midfield, had it 24 times, took a really strong mark.

“There’s no discernible weakness in his game … and he’s really level-headed too. There’s been a lot of hype around him – and the hype’s justified – but he takes it all in his stride.”

A 185cm midfielder-forward from the Bendigo Pioneers, Reid had also played two VFL games for Carlton earlier this year.

HARLEY REID HAS TAKEN AN ABSOLUTE HANGER! ðŸ˜ pic.twitter.com/8hWB3U1KPE
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2023

WIZARD WEAVES MORE MAGIC

The Wizard wove his magic for the last time for Caulfield Grammar in the APS competition last weekend.

Nick “Wizard” Watson capped off his school season with five goals in a 39-point victory over Carey Grammar last Saturday.

It was one of multiple bags of five or more goals that the small forward has kicked for his school side this season, with observers noting that he is clearly a class above the competition.

Caulfield finished the season second on the ladder with a 9-1 record, behind only the unbeaten Haileybury.

With the Coates Talent League having a general bye this weekend, the 18-year-old will enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Watson plans to return to the Eastern Ranges next week for the final two matches of the regular season and a finals campaign.

CURTIN STARS FOR CLAREMONT

A likely top-10 draft pick took another big step forward in his development as he made his senior WAFL debut for Claremont last weekend.

Daniel Curtin played primarily across half-back against East Fremantle and showed great composure as he logged 21 disposals, four marks, seven intercept possessions and five spoils to be named among the Tigers’ best.

The top draft prospect from the west, the versatile Curtin starred as a defender in his bottom-age year last season but has also been used as a midfielder at stages this season.

The left-footer averaged 23.5 disposals, 6.5 marks and 3.5 clearances mixing his time between defence and midfield roles for his state at this year’s under-18 national championships, winning WA’s MVP award.

West Australian talent manager Adam Jones describes Curtin as a “top-line talent”, while recruiters said he “pushed his stocks up” with his performances at the championships.

Taylor Goad is attracting plenty of AFL attention as a 203cm ruckman from South Adelaide. Picture: Dean Martin

TOWERING SA TALL JUMPING UP

A “raw” young ruckman from South Australia is attracting plenty of attention from AFL clubs as he quickly emerges as one of the state’s top draft prospects this year.

Taylor Goad measures 207cm but is also nimble on his feet and lightning quick.

The 18-year-old only joined the talent pathways late last year, accepting an invitation to head down to South Adelaide’s under-18s.

He went on to feature in all four matches for South Australia at the under-18 national championships and performed well against some of the best young rucks in the country.

“I learnt so much during the carnival and by the end of it felt that my game had come a long way,” Goad told The Advertiser.

Goad, who looks up to Melbourne captain Max Gawn, has since spoken to more than half of the 18 AFL clubs.

South Australian under-18s coach Tony Bamford said Goad was a player with plenty of upside.

“He’s one that will get drafted because of the potential he possesses,” Bamford said.

“He’s a big ruckman.”

NEXT YEAR’S DRAFT CLASS SET FOR AUDITIONS

The 2023 crop of draftees might be pushing their cases for selection at this year’s national draft, but the 2024 draft crop is already gearing up for their time in the sun.

Two under-17 Futures trial games will be played at Werribee on Sunday as players vie for selection in the national Futures game next month.

That match is traditionally held as a curtain-raiser to the AFL grand final at the MCG.

Vic Metro will face NSW from 10.30am at Werribee, followed by a match between Vic Country and Queensland from 1pm.

Excitement is building about what shapes as a strong top-end of midfielders in next year’s draft, including the likes of Vic Metro trio Levi Ashcroft, Jagga Smith and Josh Smillie, and Vic Country duo Finn O’Sullivan and Sam Lalor.

Those five all featured as bottom-age players in this year’s under-18 national championships and had some serious impact.