Collingwood opts against nominating Tom McGuane as father-son prospect
Collingwood has made a shock call on father-son prospect Tom McGuane. Plus, a Victorian half-back was the big mover as junior prospects strut their stuff at the draft combine.
Collingwood has opted against nominating Tom McGuane as a father-son prospect for this year’s national draft in a surprise move.
McGuane, who performed strongly at the state draft combine on Sunday, was informed of the decision at a meeting during the week.
He has met with a number of other clubs and will now be freely available for them to select in the open draft pool next month.
The son of 1990 premiership player Mick McGuane, the midfielder ran an impressive time of 6 min 20 sec in the 2km time trial at the Victorian state draft combine on Sunday.
He had earlier clocked a time of 2.93 sec in the 20m sprint, seeing him rank fourth among those who attended the state combine.
Some rival recruiters had considered McGuane a potential top-50 pick in this year’s draft, especially after he made a dominant start to the season as an onballer with the Western Jets in the Coates Talent League.
Collingwood currently holds picks 38, 57, 69 and 75 in this year’s draft, heading into the trade period.
McGuane, who turned 18 in late August, went on to play three games at VFL level for the Magpies in the back end of the year after a solid under-18 national championships campaign for Vic Metro.
He was used in a less familiar role on a wing and across half forward during the second half of the season, but still ran great patterns and found the footy.
McGuane’s ball-winning ability, high footy IQ and neat left-foot kick were standout traits across the year.
Melbourne officially nominated tall Kalani White – the son of 236-game ruckman Jeff – as a father-son for this year’s draft in late August.
Carlton is widely expected to nominate key defender Harry Dean – the son of two-time premiership player Peter – as father-son later this month, with the Murray Bushrangers product shaping as a potential top-10 pick on draft night.
Mick McGuane was a two-time Copeland Trophy winner during a 152-game career at Collingwood before finishing his career playing one season for Carlton in 1997.
DASHING DEFENDER’S LATE BOLT UP DRAFT ORDER
A dashing half-back from the Eastern Ranges has put his incredible athletic traits on show during the final day of the AFL’s National Draft Combine.
Oskar Taylor – who rocketed into first-round contention during the second half of the Coates Talent League season – starred with top-two results in both the 20m sprint and agility tests on Sunday.
Taylor ranked No.1 in the 20m sprint with a time of 2.823sec and finished No.2 in the agility test with a time of 7.840sec.
Eastern Ranges teammate Lachy Dovaston – a livewire small forward – won the agility test with a blistering time of 7.794sec.
The interim results will be confirmed by the AFL on Monday, but were jotted down by dozens of recruiters watching on at the State Netball Centre.
Taylor was overlooked for selection in Vic Metro’s squad for the under-18 national championships, but averaged 20.5 disposals across 17 games for the Ranges this season.
He logged 21 disposals and six intercept possessions in the grand final last month as the Ranges surged to a premiership.
“He’s just got great speed and agility,” Ranges coach Lauren Morecroft said last month.
“We’ve been giving him roles on a small forward for the opposition throughout the year and he’s done that job really well. Then now he’s added more attacking to his game.”
West Coast Next Generation Academy member Tylah Williams also recorded top-five results across both tests, with the small forward running a time of 2.892sec in the 20m sprint and 7.878sec in the agility test.
Hunter Holmes – the younger brother of Geelong star Max – clocked the third-best time in the 20m sprint with 2.895sec, while mid-sized Tasmanian defender Avery Thomas also performed well across both tests.
Players were also put through vertical jump and running vertical jump testing on Sunday, after completing the 2km time trial on Friday.
AGILITY TOP FIVE
1. Lachy Dovaston – 7.794sec
2. Oskar Taylor – 7.840sec
3. Xavier Taylor – 7.869sec
4. Tylah Williams – 7.878sec
5. Avery Thomas – 7.887sec
20M SPRINT TOP FIVE
1. Oskar Taylor – 2.823sec
2. Tylah Williams – 2.892sec
3. Hunter Holmes – 2.895sec
4. Avery Thomas – 2.898sec
5. Thomas Burton – 2.915sec
*All results interim, to be confirmed
EVERY CLUB’S DRAFT HAND AHEAD OF BUMPER TRADE PERIOD
The AFL National Draft Combine is over, with clubs now set to turn their attention to the trade period where plenty of draft picks are expected to change owners.
Richmond, West Coast and Gold Coast had the strongest draft hands as of Sunday, with the Tigers still in possession of picks 2 and 3 – for now.
The Eagles’ hand will get even better when Oscar Allen’s free agency move to the Brisbane Lions is finalised this week, which is expected to net them pick 2.
Carlton received picks 9 and 21 as free agency compensation for Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni on Friday, which will help the Blues match an expected early bid on father-son prospect Harry Dean.
Essendon secured pick 20 as compensation for ruckman Sam Draper’s move to Brisbane on Saturday, giving the Bombers three top-20 picks heading into the trade period.
YOUR CLUB’S PICKS BEFORE 2025 TRADE PERIOD
Adelaide: 15, 46, 53, 55, 71, 73
Brisbane: 19, 42, 45, 51, 54, 66, 77
Carlton: 9, 21, 40, 49, 67
Collingwood: 38, 57, 69, 75
Essendon: 4, 5, 20, 26, 29
Fremantle: 12, 33, 43, 52, 70
Geelong: 18, 39, 58, 76
Gold Coast: 6, 14, 17, 35, 61, 72
GWS: 13, 34, 36
Hawthorn: 8, 30, 41, 60, 74
Melbourne: 27, 59, 64
North Melbourne: 24, 25, 44, 62
Port Adelaide: 28, 47, 65
Richmond: 2, 3
St Kilda: 7, 48, 63
Sydney: 10, 31, 50, 68
West Coast: 1, 16, 22, 23, 37, 56
Western Bulldogs: 11, 32
FATHER-SON BLUE WANTS DAD’S NUMBER
AFL draft prospect Harry Dean says he would love to wear his dad’s old number at the Blues as he prepares to nominate as a father-son for Carlton later this month.
The key defender did not take part in testing at the national draft combine over the weekend as he recovers from recent surgery to remove plates from his left shoulder.
However, the Murray Bushrangers product said he would be back in contact training within “four to six weeks” as he prepares to attack pre-season at Ikon Park.
Dean – who is now measuring in at 194cm – is the son of two-time Carlton premiership player Peter, who wore the No.35 jumper across a decorated 248-game career in the 1980s and 1990s.
That number was worn by fellow defender Billy Wilson at the Blues this year, but reshuffles can occur.
“I’d like to play anywhere in football – to play at any club – but to pull on the Navy Blue would be pretty special for not just dad but also my family as well,” Dean said.
“To get the number would be good as well. Billy Wilson’s got that and he’s worked for that so it’s all his, but to wear the Navy Blue would be nice.”
Carlton secured pick 9 in this year’s draft on Friday as compensation for Jack Silvagni’s departure to St Kilda as a free agent.
Dean said while he was not fully across draft bidding rules, he had discussed the matter with his manager David Trotter.
“I was a little bit confused with all the bid matching and the points and stuff, but I’ve talked to my manager about it and I think they’re going to get enough points to hopefully bid on me wherever I go,” Dean said.
“I’ve spoken about that process (nominating), too. I’ll speak to Carlton probably at the end of this month about nominating and hopefully nominate as a Blue.”
Dean spent time at the Blues during pre-season in January, as well as having a week at the club in July.
“Nic Newman this year has given me some time to go over some vision with him on my game while he’s been injured,” he said.
“Then at training, Mitch McGovern, Nick Haynes and especially Jacob Weitering – who’s been a bit of an idol for me – have taken me under their arms.”
Dean shapes as the best key defender in this year’s draft pool after starring for Vic Country during the under-18 national championships, with recruiters believing he is capable of playing at AFL level early next year.
Originally published as Collingwood opts against nominating Tom McGuane as father-son prospect
