The famous names hoping to get picked up in the 2020 AFL Draft pool
You know Sam Walsh and Jack Macrae. But what about their younger brothers? The pair are among a group of AFL draft hopefuls - which also includes a Rioli - with famous links this year. Is your club in the mix to get one?
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There have been suggestions the Rioli in this year’s AFL draft could be the ‘best of the lot’.
Maurice Rioli Jr is a father-son prospect for Richmond, but he’s not the only father-son prospect in the competition.
Here’s a look the famous names in this year’s draft pool, from father-sons to brothers of current AFL players and grandsons of footy greats.
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MAURICE RIOLI JR (ST MARY’S/OAKLEIGH CHARGERS)
Forward
H: 175cm
W: 73kg
The son of Richmond great Maurice Rioli Snr and the cousin of current Tigers forward Daniel Rioli has indicated his desire to don the yellow and black next year amid a choice of clubs. Rioli Jr could go to Richmond or Fremantle as a father-son choice or join Essendon through its Next Generation Academy. Rioli Jr has generated some hype among recruiters after starring for AFLNT club St Mary’s last summer. Rioli is a fierce tackler, is admired for his repeat efforts, has serious pace and a great goal sense. His St Mary’s coach Shannon Rioli has said Rioli Jr “could be the best of the lot” among the Rioli’s, which also include Hawthorn premiership player Cyril Rioli and West Coast premiership player Willie Rioli. Rioli Jr played three NAB League matches last year, averaging 11.3 disposals and 6.3 tackles. Maurice Rioli Snr played 168 games for South Fremantle and 118 games for Richmond and was a two-time best-and-fairest winner for the Tigers in 1982 and 1983. Rioli Snr also won the Norm Smith Medal in 1982 in a losing Grand Final against Carlton.
CHARLIE HAM (GEELONG FALCONS/VIC COUNTRY)
Defender
H: 181cm
W: 74kg
The brother of Essendon midfielder Brayden Ham, the Falcons’ flyer is a defender for now but is seen as being a player who could quickly evolve into a genuine midfielder or wingman at AFL level in the future. Ham has a defend-first mindset but has exciting attributes and takes the game on when he wins the ball back. A classy left-footer, he can break the lines with his speed off the backline and took major strides forward with his development last summer. A shining light for the Falcons in two practice matches earlier this year, Ham had looked set for a bumper 2020 before COVID-19 lockdowns forced the NAB League season to be scrapped. However, recruiters still like Ham after a promising bottom-age year that saw him play nine games for the Falcons and average 7.2 disposals at 76.9 per cent efficiency, 1.8 rebound 50s, 2.6 intercept possessions and 1.3 tackles.
HENRY WALSH (GEELONG FALCONS/VIC COUNTRY)
Ruckman
H: 202cm
W: 86kg
The brother of Carlton midfielder and 2018 No. 1 draft pick Sam Walsh, the development of the Falcons ruckman over the past 18 months has been particularly impressive. Walsh played 13 NAB League games for the Falcons last season, holding down a role as the club’s No. 1 ruckman in his bottom-age season. He averaged 7.6 disposals, 27.3 hit-outs (5.4 to advantage), 2.8 clearances, three tackles and 59 SuperCoach ranking points and had been expected to continue his rapid improvement this year before the season was abandoned. Walsh trained with Carlton and his brother for a week over pre-season as part of the AFL Academy program and also played in the Under-17 All Stars game at the MCG on AFL Grand Final Day last year. He is viewed as a player whose follow-up work around the contest is particularly strong and who has a good kick for a big guy. Given his size and potential at the next level, recruiters are confident he will be selected in this year’s draft as a developing project player.
OLIVER HENRY (GEELONG FALCONS/VIC COUNTRY)
Forward
H: 187cm
W: 77kg
The brother of Geelong defender Jack Henry, there’s plenty to like about the younger Henry who is firmly on the radar of recruiters. Henry played primarily as a forward in his bottom-age season for the Falcons last year and shone brightly. In just his third NAB League game, he booted 5.3 from 11 disposals and seven marks against Dandenong and kicked 4.2 among nine score involvements in his next appearance against Sydney. Henry is athletic, has real speed and power, jumps at the footy and has strong hands. Recruiters also see him as a versatile player who could play a role in defence, the versatility another big plus. Henry finished last season having played 15 games for the Falcons, averaging 10 disposals, 4.4 marks, 1.2 goals and 3.5 score involvements. One recruiter said he would just like to see a little more consistency from Henry, but others believe the upside is sizeable and that will come.
ELIJAH HOLLANDS (MURRAY BUSHRANGERS/VIC COUNTRY)
Midfielder/forward
H: 190cm
W: 84kg
The son of Ben Hollands, who played eight games for Richmond in 1999, the Bushrangers think Hollands is the most well-rounded player to come out of their system in at least seven years. He played primarily as a half-forward in the NAB League and in the Under-18 national championships for Vic Country last year, but had been expected to push into more of a big-bodied midfield role as a top-age talent this year. A season-ending ACL injury at training in February scuttled those plans, but as it has turned out Hollands has not missed much given NAB League clubs and his school side Caulfield Grammar have not got on the park due to COVID-19 lockdowns in Victoria. Hollands played every game for Vic Country in last year’s national championships as a bottom-ager and is seen as an elite runner with serious top-end speed, a good decision maker and a player who is comfortable kicking on either side of his body. He was also viewed as unlucky not to win the best-on-ground medal in the Under-17s All Stars match at the MCG on AFL Grand Final day last year after logging 24 disposals, five clearances and two nice goals as captain of Team Brown.
FINLAY MACRAE (OAKLEIGH CHARGERS/VIC METRO)
Midfielder
H: 186cm
W: 72kg
A half-brother of Western Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae, the younger sibling is similar but different. While Jack racks up the ball with ease for the Bulldogs week-in, week-out, Finlay has to work a bit harder both playing forward and as a midfielder. But he did have an impact in the back half of last year.
Macrae performed well in the Under-17 All Stars game — a key measuring stick — and stepped up for the Chargers when it counted during their finals campaign, logging 22 disposals and a goal in a preliminary final. Across seven NAB League games, he averaged 16.9 disposals, 3.4 inside-50s and 4.3 score involvements. Recruiters like his stoppage craft and believe he has good football IQ, with his kicking efficiency the only question mark.
JAKE BOWEY (SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS/VIC METRO)
Midfielder
H: 175cm
W: 65kg
The son of former St Kilda rover Brett Bowey, who played 85 games for the Saints from 1988-94, Jake is a small and lightly framed midfielder, but a player who knows how to find the ball. Bowey played 16 NAB League games last season, averaging 15.8 disposals, 2.9 inside-50s, 3.4 marks, 4.5 score involvements and 79 SuperCoach points while also booting four goals. Bowey trained with the Saints last summer and has speed and solid endurance. He also starred in the Under-17 All Stars game last year with 22 disposals to be recognised as one of the better players on the ground.
LUKE EDWARDS (GLENELG/SA)
Midfielder/defender
H: 187cm
W: 78kg
The son of Adelaide dual-premiership player Tyson Edwards — who played 321 games for the Crows — the younger Edwards is eligible as a father-son selection. However, he is yet to commit to Adelaide. Edwards caught the eye for South Australia as a bottom-age player at the under-18 national championships last year, averaging 18.8 disposals and 86 SuperCoach ranking points. He played the first three rounds in the under-18s for Glenelg this year but has since stepped up to make his senior SANFL debut in Round 7. Considered a smooth mover and elite decision maker who reads the play well, Edwards is hard-at-it and can also go forward and kick a goal.
JOEL JEFFREY (GOLD COAST SUNS ACADEMY/WANDERERS/NT)
Forward/defender
H: 192cm
W: 78kg
The Darwin product is the son of Russell Jeffrey, who played 42 games for St Kilda and eight games for the Brisbane Bears between 1987 and 1992. There are no shortage of clubs interested in Jeffrey, but the Suns will get first crack as a member of their Academy. Recruiters see the swingman as a special talent given his ability to play at either end of the ground and his marking ability and silky skills. Jeffrey made his senior NTFL debut for Wanderers at just age 16 in the 2018/19 season and continued his improvement last year. He averaged three marks, 2.7 intercept marks and 5.7 intercept possessions from three matches at the under-18 national championships in 2019.
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TOM POWELL (STURT/SA)
Midfielder
H: 180cm
W: 70kg
The son of former Adelaide player Matthew Powell, who played 16 games for the Crows before becoming a premiership player for Sturt. After an injury-riddled past two years, the ball magnet is finally fit and firing and has already been interviewed by all 18 AFL clubs, such is the interest. Clean and great in traffic, Powell has yet to earn a senior SANFL debut but has been tearing up the under-18 competition. From 12 games this year, he has averaged 35.9 disposals, 5.9 inside-50s, 8.9 clearances, 10.2 score involvements and 3.8 tackles. He has also booted nine goals and logged 24 score assists. The numbers have Powell as the top-ranked player in the competition, averaging 162 SuperCoach ranking points.
TAJ SCHOFIELD (WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS/SA)
Midfielder/forward
H: 177cm
W: 74kg
The son of Power premiership player Jarrad Schofield is a smart midfielder, who is clever in traffic and precise by foot on the outside. The 17-year-old, who showed off his clean hands and skills in last year’s AFL grand final curtain-raiser, isn’t a big accumulator of the footy but his efficiency and ability to go forward sets him apart. Schofield has played 10 SANFL under-18s games this year, averaging 18.5 disposals, 3.6 inside-50s, 2.3 clearances, 2.9 marks and 5.2 score involvements.
JAMES BORLASE (STURT/SA)
Key defender
H: 191cm
W: 88kg
The son of former Port Adelaide player Darryl Borlase, James is tied to Adelaide through its Next Generation Academy because he was born in Egypt. The nicely-built defender played eight reserves games for Sturt last year and made an impressive SANFL league debut in Round 10. He impressed at the MCG in the Under-17 Futures game on grand final day last year, where his intercept marking was a highlight. Borlase has impressed in three senior SANFL games for Sturt this year, while he has also played five SANFL under-18s games, averaging 11 disposals, 3.8 marks, 4.2 intercept possessions, 3.4 spoils and 2.3 tackles.
JOSH GREEN (GWS ACADEMY)
Utility
H: 191cm
W: 84kg
The brother of Greater Western Sydney midfielder Tom Green, Josh is also part of the Giants’ Academy. Green is a versatile player and lined up in four games for GWS as a bottom-age player in the NAB League last year, as well as playing two games in the NEAFL. Green’s best performance came against Murray Bushrangers in his last NAB League game, logging 15 disposals (12 contested), six marks, seven score involvements, two goals and 120 SuperCoach ranking points. Green, who was one of the best players for Team Dal Santo in the Under-17 All Stars game last year, has primarily been used in defence in the past. Like Tom, Josh is the grandson of four-time Richmond premiership player Michael Green.
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ZACH REID (GIPPSLAND POWER)
Defender
H: 202cm
W: 82kg
Reid hails from good bloodlines, with his grandfather Peter McRae having played two seasons with Footscray in the 1950s.Recruiters are “pretty comfortable” with where Reid sits in this year’s draft, many believing he is firmly in the top 12. A key defender, Reid measured 202.5cm during pre-season testing and while he thinks he has now stopped growing, he has managed to add about 4kg to his sizeable frame to now sit around 86kg. Reid models his game on Brisbane defender Harris Andrews and has settled and thrived down back after playing a variety of roles during his junior football days. Reid is considered good above his head, has a big leap and good endurance. He averaged 11.1 disposals, 3.9 marks, 4.1 intercept possessions and 2.1 spoils across 15 NAB League games as a bottom-age player for the Power last season.
Originally published as The famous names hoping to get picked up in the 2020 AFL Draft pool