AFL Draft 2023: Michael Rudd’s big statement after combine snub, bottom-age prospects go large for Geelong Grammar

A Geelong Falcons goalkicker made a big statement after a surprise draft snub, while two Geelong Grammar young guns starred. See all the ranking points, stats and top performers.

Geelong Falcons goalkicker Michael Rudd has produced a dominant display after his draft combine snub, booting three goals in a best-on-ground effort against the Western Jets in their 53-point win.

Rudd, who wasn’t among the 83 draft hopefuls selected to take part in national and state combine testing in October, was commanding in the air with 10 marks – three of those contested – and impressed with his trademark workrate, finishing with 23 disposals, 2.2 and 186 SuperCoach ranking points for the match.

RANKING POINTS FOR FALCONS AND GEELONG GRAMMAR BELOW

While the Western Jets are one of the weaker teams in the competition, his performance is another reminder to recruiters of his talents after a strong national championships for Vic Country where he booted seven goals and averaged 14 disposals and five marks.

Falcons coach Paul Corrigan conceded he was surprised by Rudd’s omission from the combine list, but said performances like this will help stake his claim for a late invite.

Michael Rudd was left off the draft combine list. Picture: Getty Images

“Obviously you’re always bullish on your own players but I probably was a little bit (surprised), but we’ve just sort of said that performance will hopefully get him a later invite,” Corrigan said.

“We’ve just said to keep performing, keep playing good footy and they can’t ignore that so that’s the key.

“I think that’s the best response to do what he did on the weekend and if he keeps producing that I think they won’t be able to ignore him.”

Combine invitee Angus Hastie pushed up the ground to kick a goal and finished with 18 touches, six rebound 50s and 101 SuperCoach points, while Pat Hughes shone in a new role up forward.

Hughes, whose tank and outside ball-winning have been questioned by recruiters, was dangerous on the lead air and at ground level inside 50, finishing with 3.3, 18 disposals, five marks and 125 points.

“I think we just need to explore that and we obviously need to make players a bit more versatile and show that they have different strengths and opportunities,” Corrigan said.

“We have played him forward here and there, but yesterday was one of those days where we said ‘lets just leave him forward for the majority of the day’ and we just had a different mix through the midfield which was nice.”

Forward Zekiah Davey played his best game for the season, booting three goals to go with 15 disposals, eight marks and 133 points while Will Mclachlan finished with three majors himself.

Vic Metro forward Logan Morris kicked three of the Jets’ nine goals, while Jake Smith was their top ranked player on the ground with 27 disposals, a goal and 141 points.

Logan Morris finished with three goals. Picture: Getty Images

SUPERCOACH POINTS

FALCONS

M.Rudd 186

Z.Davey 133

P.Hughes 125

M.White 122

L.Kershaw 113

A.Sinnott 101

A.Hastie 101

T.Murray 97

A.Hanley 89

T.Burke 79

K.George 75

T.Bartlett 73

G.Morrison 70

J.Pike 68

N.Tullio 68

C.Foster 65

T.Peirce 65

W.Mclachlan 59

E.Borys 55

H.Pierson 47

R.McWaters 38

D.Lowther 35

M.Butcher 20

JETS

J Smith 141

L. Morris 92

M.Raso 96

D.Weeks 86

L.Impey 76

L.McArthur 72

D.Moloney 71

B.Parker 69

D.Gilham 68

B.Gallop 68

R.Barry 67

L.Grego 63

J.Freeman 54

H.Miller 53

I.Nixon 48

W.Kliszewski

J.Kovacevic 44

Bottom-age Geelong Grammar guns go large in final APS clash

A pair of bottom-age draft prospect had massive days at the office in Geelong Grammar’s narrow loss to Wesley College in their final APS match for the season on Saturday.

Vic Country and GWV Rebels representative Sam Lalor had a massive day on the inside, finishing with 34 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 10 clearances, nine inside 50s, a goal and 155 ranking points, while Geelong Falcon Xavier Ivisic tallied 31 disposals, eight marks, seven tackles, six clearances, a goal and 149 ranking points.

But Wesley’s Ben Hill was the matchwinner despite being inaccurate in front of goal, booting 5.5 and tallying 18 disposals, 12 contested possessions, three contested marks and 106 ranking points.

Ball-winners Xavier Bamert (24 disposals, 14 contested, nine clearances, two goals, 124 points) and Charlie Rozenes (24 disposals, seven inside 50s, 1.4, 120 points) also shone brightly for Wesley.

Potential 2025 draft prospect Josh Lindsay was another to rack up huge numbers for Geelong Grammar with 37 disposals, 33 kicks, 12 rebound 50s and 110 ranking points, while Ollie Peake kicked four goals along with 16 touches, six marks and 110 points.

Rebels bottom-age ruckman Flynn Penry gave Grammar first use in the ruck with 16 disposals, 33 hit-outs, 11 contested possessions and 118 points, while Jack Headon (25 disposals, eight inside 50s, seven clearances, 124 points) gave them plenty of drive out of the midfield.

Meanwhile, Geelong College were comfortably beaten by APS champions Haileybury, with ruckman Joel Grigsby and state combine invitee Tom Anastasopoulos among the best.

RANKING POINTS

GEELONG GRAMMAR

Sam Lalor 155

Xavier Ivisic 149

Jack Headon 124

Ollie Peake 110

Josh Lindsay 110

Sam de Steiger 91

Reef Page 79

Seb McNamara 70

Marley McCombe 57

Andy Wills 57

Will Bull 51

Jack Robinson 48

Will Lake 41

Will Francis 39

Georgie Richardson 38

George Lithgow 38

Jensen Fernandez 32

Rudie Webster 31

Charlie Calvert 22

Jock McGavin 29

Hugh Ross 8

WESLEY COLLEGE

Xavier Bamert 134

Charlie Rozenes 120

Blake Leidler 115

Felix Kneipp 108

Ben Hill 105

Wesley No. 61 97

Oliver Toussaint 89

Jack Howard 80

Will Sands-Morris 79

Josh Cresswell 74

Richie Andrew 73

Jack Hart 69

Thomas Walker 55

Dillon McDougall 52

Adam Petracca 45

Ripley Pritchard 43

Matthew Loveless 40

Lucas Heriot 38

Noah Park 32

Zak Blacker 30

Thomas Wilson 27

Fergus Ekins 4

Originally published as AFL Draft 2023: Michael Rudd’s big statement after combine snub, bottom-age prospects go large for Geelong Grammar