See who your club picked and what to expect in our AFL Draft club-by-club analysis
WHO were the AFL Draft winners and losers? Draft expert Sam Landsberger analyses every club’s picks. SEE WHO YOUR CLUB DRAFTED HERE.
HOW did your club fare on draft night 2016?
Herald Sun draft expert Sam Landsberger analyses every club’s haul of young talent.
From Andy McGrath to Jake Waterman, see who your club picked and have your say.
DRAFT RE-CAP: SEE EVERY PICK AS BOMBERS MAKE McGRATH NO.1
TOP PICK: McGRATH CAN BE PART OF BOMBERS REVIVAL
ACADEMY GUN: SUNS SECURE BOWES IN DRAFT STEAL
ADELAIDE
The Himmelbergs must be on the Crows’ Christmas card list. After bidding on Harrison only for GWS to match last year, Adelaide landed taller brother Elliot on Friday night. He can play either end. Jordan Gallucci is just as a good an athlete as No.1 pick Andy McGrath. The first-round pick was co-captain of Vic Metro, with McGrath, and loves to carry the footy. He’s powerful, can sharply change direction and leap high off the ground. Can put the jets on and once scored a 226-point SuperCoach game. Between Galluci, Myles Poholke and Matthew Signorello the Crows finally built a midfield pack which lost Jarryd Lyons. Signorello, a smokey who mostly played at Ivanhoe Grammar, but was interviewed by Adelaide four times. Ben Davis is a 19-year-old who represented Sydney’s reserves this year, but didn’t nominate for last year’s talent count due to injury. Younger brother of Swan Abe Davis.
WHO THEY PICKED
15 Jordan Gallucci (Eastern Ranges)
44 Myles Poholke (Dandenong Stingrays)
51 Elliot Himmelberg (Redlands QLD)
62 Matthew Signorello (Northern Knights)
75 Ben Davis (UNSW NSW)
BRISBANE LIONS
Not only do many think Hugh McCluggage is the best player in it, pairing him with North Ballarat and Vic Country teammates Jarrod Berry and Cedric Cox lessens the go-home risk. McCluggage moves like Scott Pendlebury – time seems to slow as he glides through traffic – and is good for multiple goals most weeks. Berry’s mature head and outstanding leadership adds to an area of critical concern at Brisbane. His versatility is perfectly suited to modern footy, but his best fit is in defence as a Dane Rampe-type. Alex Witherden has just about recovered from a broken leg, and his booming right foot will open up the Gabba. It’s Halls Creek to Camperdown to the Gabba for Cox, a super talent and even better story. With a sturdy spine and 200cm academy star Connor Ballenden coming next year, Chris Fagan would be rapt with this batch. Academy kid Jacob Allison was All-Australian in 2015 and while he needs to settle in a position, arrives with a raking kick.
WHO THE PICKED
3 Hugh McCluggage (North Ballarat Rebels)
17 Jarrod Berry (North Ballarat Rebels)
23 Alex Witherden (Geelong Falcons)
24 Cedric Cox (North Ballarat Rebels)
55 Jacob Allison (Aspley/Lions Academy)
71 Corey Lyons (Sandringham Dragons)
CARLTON
Sam Petrevski-Seton declared he wanted to move to Melbourne to play in front of big crowds. Well, the Round 1 season opener at the MCG would be a nice place to start. He’s an elusive midfielder who hits targets and elevated his game a few levels this year. How? By adding a contested touch – ranking top 10 for tackles in WAFL Colts and winning clearances. Jack Silvagni will like leading to SPS. Zac Fisher is Dennis Armfield’s cousin and the only West Australian to average at least 20 disposals at the championships. He’s small but crafty. After trading in nine former Giants, Stephen Silvagni bid on Will Setterfield and then grabbed Harrison Macreadie from their academy. Macreadie was relocated to school in Sydney by the Giants, but slipped well down the pecking order this season. The Henty lad can hold down key forwards and run off half-back. Cameron Polson a bit of a smokey. Finished by making Patrick Kerr’s dream come true. You won’t meet a bigger blue-bagger than the full-forward grandson of Carlton great Laurie Kerr.
WHO THEY PICKED
6 Sam Petrevski-Seton (Claremont)
27 Zac Fisher (Perth)
47 Harrison Macreadie (Henty/GWS Academy)
59 Cameron Polson (Sandringham Dragons)
61 Tom Williamson (North Ballarat Rebels)
65 Pat Kerr (Oakleigh Chargers)
COLLINGWOOD
Daicos, Brown and Moore – Magpie fans will wake up marvelling at that. North Melbourne forced the Pies to pay a fair price for Callum Brown and no bid came for Josh Daicos, so Collingwood snared him with its final pick. One club ranked the Caleb Daniel-type Brown 15-20. He’s tough, and models his game on Fremantle magnet Lachie Neale. Loved Alan Didak and wore No.4 as a kid. Clever forward Daicos and inside midfielder Brown are both small, but the Pies went tall at their first pick and snared the big backman they desired. Sam McLarty is an Oakleigh boy with a bionic ear after being diagnosed with profound deafness as an infant. McLarty’s a super size and loves to reel in pack marks. Ironically, he will inherit Peter Daicos’s 35 – a tradition given to the Pies’ first pick every year. If the Magpies can get Kayle Kirby fit they’ll have a gem. High skinfolds but some say he’s built like Byron Pickett with tricks from Cyril Rioli’s bag. Kicked nine goals in two VFL games for Richmond and has impressed a fellow Bendigo boy, Jake Stringer.
WHO THE PICKED
30 Sam McLarty (Oakleigh Chargers)
35 Callum Brown (Eastern Ranges, father-son)
50 Kayle Kirby (Bendigo Pioneers)
57 Josh Daicos (Oakleigh Chargers, father-son)
ESSENDON
Andy McGrath landed on the right side of the coin, edging Hugh McCluggage and having already endeared himself to the fans. The Dons first thought about the Brighton Grammar school captain at No.1 after a 44-disposal and 19-tackle game at Gippsland in May. From there McGrath transformed from blistering half-back to brilliant midfielder. He’s a leader, an elite athlete and the perfect prototype for modern footy. McGrath speeds the game up and is ready to rock. He can do it all, and even joined the school choir this year. Dylan Clarke’s kicking is a little rusty but the brother of North’s Ryan is a great get late. Wanted a developing tall and took defender Jordan Ridley, who won the kicking test at the combine. Kobe Mutch is a ball-magnet with a handy efficiency, given how much footy he wins inside. GWS didn’t want the academy midfielder. Asked for extra time not once, but twice – classic Bombers.
WHO THEY PICKED
1 Andy McGrath (Sandringham Dragons)
22 Jordan Ridley (Oakleigh Chargers)
31 Joshua Begley (Eastern Ranges)
42 Kobe Mutch (Bendigo Pioneers/GWS Academy)
63 Dylan Clarke (Eastern Ranges)
FREMANTLE
Went local with Griffin Logue after returning Cam McCarthy, Joel Hamling and Shane Kersten to Western Australia. Logue is an athletic defender in the Josh Gibson mould, will debut in Round 1 and makes life after Michael Johnson a little easier. Didn’t go Tim English but still found an Aaron Sandilands replacement in massive ruckman Sean Darcy. At 113kg it’s easy to see why some are thinking Shane Mumford. Key defender Brennan Cox was in the mix far earlier than No.40 after an All-Australian season. Luke Ryan was the slider and the expanses of Subiaco will suit him nicely. At 20 he’s an intercepting half-back who reads the play like a picture book. Think Easton Wood. They say he’s a bit of a lad, but one fast maturing. Ryan was cut by Essendon’s VFL squad after pre-season and then carved it up at Coburg.
WHO THEY PICKED
8 Griffin Logue (Swan Districts)
38 Sean Darcy (Geelong Falcons)
41 Brennan Cox (Woodville-West Torrens)
66 Luke Ryan (Coburg)
GEELONG
THE Cats didn’t have to cast their net wide – plucking two from the VFL side and a ruckman from Grovedale, 200cm Ryan Abbott. He’s a former basketballer and going at the national draft was a shock. Abbott was the standout Geelong Football League ruckman. Tom Stewart received a flurry of late interest and so snaring him second is a win for Stephen Wells. Stewart finished runner-up in the Cats’ VFL best-and-fairest and made the VFL team of the year. Top pick Brandon Parfitt was All-Australian in 2015 as he averaged 25 disposals and four tackles. Fijian big man Esava Ratugolea kicked eight goals in a TAC Cup game and can leap over hills. Timm House slotted 19 in the VFL this year and can play at either end. A surprise haul but a handy blend of players after securing the creative pace of Zach Tuohy last month.
WHO THEY PICKED
26 Brandan Parfitt (NT Thunder/North Adelaide)
40 Tom Stewart (Geelong VFL)
43 Esava Ratugolea (Murray Bushrangers)
60 Quinton Narkle (Perth)
68 Timm House (Geelong VFL)
69 Ryan Abbott (Grovedale Tigers)
GOLD COAST
Gold Coast held all the cards to Friday night’s draft and flipped over four aces. Inside bull Will Brodie was long in the No.1 frame and could win the Rising Star next year, while half-back Jack Scrimshaw is the most talented player in it. Scrimshaw’s old man said he put hair gel on his toothbrush before the draft. Powerful forward Ben Ainsworth will love it at the feet of Lynch and Wright and will also play Round 1, while Jack Bowes the steal of the night. Ridiculous a bid didn’t come until pick No.10 – most recruiters rated him in the best few. Suns botched their birth, but the second coming looks super. Late bid for Brad Scheer another academy triumph, who averaged 179 SuperCoach points in the under-16s, 131 SuperCoach points in the under-18s and scored 154 from his sole TAC Cup game. Can have big impact from small numbers.
WHO THEY PICKED
4 Ben Ainsworth (Gippsland Power)
7 Jack Scrimshaw (Sandringham Dragons)
9 Will Brodie (Murray Bushrangers)
10 Jack Bowes (Cairns/Suns Academy)
67 Brad Scheer (Palm Beach Currumbin/Suns Academy)
GWS GIANTS
The Giants were a kick off the Grand Final and went close to winning the draft. The mail was Tim Taranto with a bullet and he was the man at No.2 A goalkicking midfielder will slot into a forward pocket next to Stevie Johnson and into the line-up with Brett Deledio. His overhead marking have some thinking Nat Fyfe and an ability to win games from 15 disposals and a few goals sounds like Shaun Burgoyne. Matched bids for Will Setterfield, Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming and selected Lachlan Tiziani and farewelled Harrison Macreadie, Kobe Mutch from the academy. Setterfield is a clearance and tackle beast and Perryman as natural as thongs on sand, the skilful half-back is strong overhead and a great bloke. Read out delisted Docker Matt de Boer’s name last, who takes former teammate Rhys Palmer’s place at the club. GWS has top-five prospects Jarrod Brander and Jack Powell on the way next year. The former a key forward, the latter plays like Isaac Heeney. Scarier than Nightmare on Elm St.
WHO THEY PICKED
2 Tim Taranto (Sandringham Dragons)
5 Will Setterfield (Sandringham Dragons/GWS Academy)
14 Harry Perryman (Collingullie-GP/GWS Academy)
20 Isaac Cumming (Broken Hill/GWS Academy)
54 Lachlan Tiziani (Murray Bushrangers/GWS Academy)
58 Matt de Boer (Fremantle)
HAWTHORN
Graham Wright’s audition for the comedy festival won a five-star review. After trading Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis and waiting more than two hours to grab the microphone, he drafted Mitchell Lewis. Who is he? Well, he’s a Calder Cannon. Beyond that we’ll find out. Pick 81 was wound into 74 and that was used on Harry Morrison, a cousin of Brisbane Lions captain Tom Rockliff. The medium defender returned from an ACL in 2015 and shone in this year’s TAC Cup Grand Final. The Hawks are still eyeing Tristan Tweedie, an indigenous forward from Healesville who kicked six goals in Round 1 and then broke down. Injury troubles, but in their next generation talent academy. Rival interest means they might have to take him at Monday’s rookie draft. But seriously, if Hawks fans want to get excited they should rewind the clock one month. Jaeger. O’Meara. Enjoy.
WHO THEY PICKED
74 Harry Morrison (Murray Bushrangers)
76 Mitchell Lewis (Calder Cannons)
MELBOURNE
Jeremy Howe. More like Jeremy who? That’s what Demon fans will be asking when they get a glimpse of Mitch Hannan. The 22-year-old played in Footscray’s VFL premiership win against Melbourne’s affiliate Casey this year and spent most the season jumping on opponent’s heads, raking in hangers. This bloke’s speccy reel is off the charts, with one famous Gary Moorcroft-like grab this year going viral. Serious spark up forward alongside Jesse Hogan and Sam Weideman. The Demons went for Dion Johnstone with their second and final selection, the Scotch College football captain. He’s another goalkicker and impressive citizen. Originally from Warrnambool, Johnstone is quick and hits players hard in tackles. Will they look to Casey’s Tim Smith in the rookie draft? But the Demons will be most delighted with Michael Hibberd, Jordan Lewis and Jake Melksham – they are the players who could catapult Simon Goodwin’s team into September.
WHO THEY PICKED
46 Mitchell Hannan (Footscray VFL)
64 Dion Johnstone (Oakleigh Chargers)
NORTH MELBOURNE
The Kangas nailed their need for speed. First pick Jy Simpkin’s broken leg won’t cause any career troubles and his dancing feet will spark up the front half. He tackles hard but was cut down playing for Scotch after booting four goals in his only TAC Cup game. There was talk that a Will Brodie or Oliver Florent would reach their first pick, but with both off the board Simpkin was a beaut pick given he was a safe top-10 bet pre-injury. Raided the Queensland academies with Declan Watson coming from Brisbane’s and Josh Williams from Gold Coast’s. Watson is a big backman who averages a heap of marks. Williams is all zip, zip, zip. A shy kid, his X-Factor is raw pace and has long hoped to be a rare Townsville draftee. Nick Larkey finished the year in fine form and even kicked three last-quarter goals to steer Oakleigh to a win, despite a penchant for the backline. The rebuild is real. Real exciting.
WHO THEY PICKED
12 Jy Simpkin (Murray Bushrangers)
34 Declan Watson (Aspley)
36 Josh Williams (Surfers Paradise)
73 Nick Larkey (Oakleigh Chargers)
PORT ADELAIDE
Is it boom or bust for Todd Marshall? After the exit of Jay Schulz and John Butcher, Port plucks the No.1 key forward in the draft. Deniliquin boy Marshall exited the GWS Academy and while he teased this year, he glows with potential. The former off-spin bowler only focused on footy full-time this year and could form a devastating long-term partnership with Charlie Dixon. Marshall’s raw, but great in the air and below his knees. Powerful midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper has overcome plenty of hardships to reach this stage and has the respect of the recruiting world. Powell-Pepper never recorded 30 disposals from 51 games watched by Champion Data, but his metres gained figures are high. The Power are yet to get many games out of the past couple of drafts, so will be hoping he can impact next season. Inside midfielder Joe Atley is the brother of North Melbourne’s Shaun. The freckly Willem Drew plays onball and is taller than most.
WHO THEY PICKED
16 Todd Marshall (Murray Bushrangers)
18 Sam Powell-Pepper (East Perth)
32 Joe Atley (Bendigo Pioneers)
33 Willem Drew (North Ballarat Rebels)
RICHMOND
The Tigers grabbed inside terriers Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy in trade period and added another contested king in Jack Graham. He captained South Australia and won the Larke Medal as the best player on the national stage. West Australian Shai Bolton slipped to their first pick and he has exhilarating pace. Zips through traffic and will provide spark next to Jack Riewoldt, but will he want to return home? Some were spooked. Ryan Garthwaite finished top 10 at the combine in clean hands and kicking tests but does his best work down back. After Troy Chaplin’s retirement and with a question mark on Jake Batchelor and David Astbury, it was important to boost that position. Two first-rounders next your courtesy of the Brett Deledio trade means the Tigers walk away from the off-season pleased.
WHO THEY PICKED
29 Shai Bolton (South Fremantle)
53 Jack Graham (North Adelaide)
72 Ryan Garthwaite (Murray Bushrangers)
ST KILDA
Ben Long waltzed through Collingwood’s defence to kick six goals for Footscray in the VFL preliminary final. Oh, and he’s the nephew of Essendon great Michael Long. And that’s a bloodline that’s damn exciting. The Saints beat the Dogs to the punch for Long and then landed slider Josh Battle. The third forward won a 3km time trial this year and could evolve into a big-bodied midfielder. Champion Data ranked him the No.1 key forward, averaging three goals per game this year. Battle models his game on Jack Gunston. He and Long complement trade gems Jack Steele and Koby Stevens beautifully, while Jake Carlisle takes a post at the other end. Edward Phillips is the brother of Collingwood youngster Tom and arrives as a medium midfielder with a big tank. This list is seriously starting to take shape. Long had an array of admirers – if it wasn’t the Saints or Dogs, the Bombers or Kangaroos were likely to pounce. Averaged 61 SuperCoach points in the VFL.
WHO THEY PICKED
25 Ben Long (NT Thunder/Footscray VFL)
39 Josh Battle (Dandenong Stingrays)
56 Edward Phillips (Oakleigh Chargers)
SYDNEY
Oliver Florent and Will Hayward deliver a sexy layer of speed and goal sense after the Swans were sorely beaten on the outside in September. Florent’s a resilient kid but will require welfare to leave his mum and younger brother after the death of father Andrew in August. Hayward slid despite kicking 13 goals in his last two SANFL finals – nine in the preliminary final and four in the Grand Final. After losing Toby Nankervis, the Swans grabbed ruckman Darcy Cameron. He’s a 21-year-old from Claremont who was overlooked in the 2013 draft. Is he quick enough? Jack Maibaum fell later than some suspected and was this year’s All-Australian full-back, after shutting down the best goalkickers in the land. Outstanding stopper. Florent and Hayward enhance the Swans’ 2017 premiership chances.
WHO THEY PICKED
11 Oliver Florent (Sandringham Dragons)
21 Will Hayward (North Adelaide)
45 Jack Maibaum (Eastern Ranges)
48 Darcy Cameron (Claremont)
WEST COAST
Whenever you see the Rioli name your eyes light up. Willie Rioli is Cyril’s cousin, and he shed 16kg in the pre-season before sparkling for Glenelg in the SANFL. The boost in fitness provided midfield capabilities and Rioli announced himself with four goals for South Australia in the state game against the Vics. Jake Waterman is the son of dual premiership star Chris and he kicked four in Claremont’s WAFL Colts premiership. Josh Rotham lasting to the Eagles second pick a big win. They liked him so much some thought they could pull the trigger in the first round. He’s a homegrown speedy and athletic defender who is likely to evolve into a wingman. Most thought Jarrod Berry was their man, but they instead plumped for Daniel Venables. He’s a powerful midfielder who won All-Australian honours and can hurt clubs from limited touches.
WHO THEY PICKED
13 Daniel Venables (Western Jets)
37 Josh Rotham (West Perth)
52 Willie Rioli (Glenelg)
77 Jake Waterman (Claremont, father-son)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Simon Dalrymple couldn’t read English fast enough. With Bob Murphy, Marcus Adams, Matthew Suckling, Stewart Crameri and Lin Jong to return to the premiership team, they didn’t need to draft for 2017. And English is the best ruck prospect in years, but slid just like Brodie Grundy in 2012. He needs to find about 10kg in the gym, but brilliant mobility and midfield impact has some thinking Dean Cox. Rarely wastes a disposal. Opened the Lipinski files at the next pick, with goalkicker Patrick as fit as they come and with a basketball background. Lipinski’s a big Bulldogs man and super citizen, reminding some of Josh Dunkley. Missed out on Footscray stars Ben Long (Saints) and Mitch Hannan (Demons). Lewis Young plays at both ends and can roll through the ruck while smokey Fergus Greene ran the best beep test of any combine. Great leap. Dogs don’t mind draft night.
WHO THEY PICKED
19 Timothy English (South Fremantle)
28 Patrick Lipinski (Northern Knights)
49 Lewis Young (Sturt)
70 Fergus Greene (Bendigo Pioneers)
Originally published as See who your club picked and what to expect in our AFL Draft club-by-club analysis