AFL Draft: The best prospects in each position in 2022
Does your club need a gun midfielder? And do they have the draft picks to land one? See what makes the top 12 mids in the draft so special.
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His close mate and teammate George Wardlaw describes Elijah Tsatas as “a player you want to play with”.
“He makes you better,” Wardlaw said.
“He’s not selfish. He works extremely hard. You can see it in his numbers and his running numbers – they’re through the roof. He’s competitive on the field, but he has the ability to become your friend and be easygoing off the field, which is something I commend him on.”
Wardlaw and Tsatas first played together at state level under-12s and have come through the Oakleigh Chargers talent pathway together in recent years.
They shared a room together at the AFL draft combine in October, but look set to be headed in different directions at this month’s national draft.
North Melbourne has its eyes on Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel with its first two picks, leaving Tsatas in the mix to join Essendon at the next selection.
There’s a reason Tsatas’ running numbers are “through the roof” – he hails from an athletics background.
“I made a national final in the 100m hurdles when I was in under-15s. I think I came sixth in that,” Tsatas said.
“It was always footy in winter and athletics in summer. But footy was always going to take over in the back of my mind.”
Tsatas was faced with a large hurdle of his own this season.
He was sidelined three months after fracturing his foot in late May, including six weeks spent in a moon boot.
However, the injury has done little to dampen the excitement of recruiters, who see him as a classy player with explosive breakaway speed from the contest.
Tsatas was asked by one club this year what type of car he would be.
“I said a Ferrari,” he said.
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The Surrey Park junior looks up to Sydney’s Chad Warner but isn’t quite as much of an inside player just yet.
“I’m trying to be stronger in the contest and winning my own footy is one thing that I’ve been looking to build on in the back end of this year,” he said.
When he isn’t playing football, you might find Tsatas with his head buried in books.
The 18-year-old wants to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Chris and study law at university, while he also rates his skills as an amateur chef.
“I love cooking,” Tsatas said.
“Salmon and rice is my favourite one. Pan fried with a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper. All the good stuff.”
BEST MIDFIELDERS IN 2022 AFL DRAFT POOL
1. Will Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
A ready-made AFL player who is ultra-professional, Ashcroft is headed north to Brisbane where his father Marcus played in three premierships. The standout player in underage football this year, the midfielder was showered with awards after producing a consistent campaign across all levels. Ashcroft is an elite ball-winner, uses the footy well, makes good decisions and is a strong two-way runner who lays plenty of tackles. Compared to Carlton’s Sam Walsh, he has future AFL captain written all over him.
2. George Wardlaw (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
A midfield bull, Wardlaw was pegged as a top-three draft prospect at the start of the year and that hasn’t changed despite him missing most of the season with repeat hamstring injuries, a concussion and a bout of illness. In the handful of games he did play, Wardlaw showed what a special talent he is. He beat Ashcroft in a head-to-head battle in the NAB League in Round 1 and was best afield for Australia’s under-18 team against Collingwood’s VFL side in May. Wardlaw attacks the ball in the air or at ground level, has explosive pace away from the contest and is very defensively minded.
3. Elijah Tsatas (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
An elite ball-winner with line-breaking speed, Tsatas is an exciting prospect who models his game on GWS midfielder Josh Kelly. While still more of an outside player at this stage, Tsatas is working to improve his inside game. He missed three months this year with a foot injury, but had an impact with 29 disposals when he returned for Vic Metro’s final game of the national championships. Recruiters have had him slated as a top-three draft prospect since the start of the year.
4. Reuben Ginbey (East Perth/WA)
There is plenty of interest in Ginbey, who has been one of the big draft bolters this year. A bid-bodied onballer at 189cm, he was named Western Australia’s MVP from the national championships and also featured in some senior WAFL football. As well as his size, Ginbey possesses great speed and endurance and knows how to find the footy. He also has a second string to his bow, with the ability to be deployed across halfback which is where he might start his AFL career.
5. Bailey Humphrey (Gippsland Power/Vic Country)
A powerful midfielder-forward, Humphrey finished the year on fire after missing the middle part of the season with a knee injury. He is a neat kick on both feet and can hit the scoreboard when playing forward. Humphrey kicked 21 goals across 11 NAB League games this year, on top of averaging 19.8 disposals and 4.2 clearances.
6. Jhye Clark (Geelong Falcons/Vic Country)
The tough-as-nails onballer is being called ‘Jhye Selwood’ in recruiting circles, in reference to his likeness to recently-retired Geelong champion Joel Selwood. A brave ball-winner who is also developing into a fine leader, Clark shone brightly with both the Falcons and for Vic Country this year. Not only does he win his own ball, but Clark is also an aggressive tackler and was named as a ruck rover in the Under-18 Boys All-Australian Team this year.
7. Mattaes Phillipou (Woodville-West Torrens/SA)
Considered a top-five talent by some clubs, Phillipou is a damaging midfielder-forward who produced a big year and still has enormous upside. He is a nice size at 190cm, has good speed and endurance, is strong in the air and kicks the ball well. Recruiters believe Phillipou has more matchwinning qualities than most players in this year’s draft. He is the son of three-game Western Bulldogs forward Sam Phillipou.
8. Cam Mackenzie (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
An onballer who looks to have the footy on a string at times, Mackenzie has emerged from an outside draft chance to sit as a first-round lock after a consistent season at all levels. Standing 188cm tall, he averaged 25 disposals and 3.5 clearances across four national championships games for Vic Metro and also played some strong football with Sandringham Dragons and Brighton Grammar. A St Kilda Next Generation Academy member, Mackenzie has great composure in traffic and uses the ball well.
9. Oliver Hollands (Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country)
Arguably the best runner in this year’s draft pool, the wingman or midfielder finished equal-first in the 2km time trial at the draft combine in October. Along with being a strong runner, he finds plenty of the ball, shows great composure and tackles and pressures very well. Hollands is the son of former Richmond player Ben Hollands and the younger brother of current Gold Coast wingman Elijah Hollands.
10. Ed Allan (Claremont/WA)
Emerging as a possible top-10 pick on draft night, Allan is an athletically-gifted midfielder who has some real height at 194cm. A stress fracture in his back meant Allan missed a large portion of his draft year, but he returned to finish the season strongly and tested well at the draft combine in October where he was the quickest player over 20m. Allan is the son of former Hawthorn and Fremantle player Ben Allan.
11. Jaspa Fletcher (Lions Academy/Allies)
A Brisbane father-son prospect who is expected to receive a bid in the first round on draft night, Fletcher is a hard-running wingman or onballer with great skills. The son of former Brisbane Bears and Lions player Adrian, he has also shown an ability to push forward and hit the scoreboard, kicking goals in five of his six matches across the NAB League and national championships this year.
12. Henry Hustwaite (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
A tall midfielder at 195cm who can also play as a third-tall across halfback, Hustwaite is an efficient ball user who is extremely composed with the footy. The brother of Collingwood VFL co-captain Campbell, Hustwaite was a consistent performer for Vic Country across four national championships matches this year. While not particularly quick, his skills in traffic have seen him draw some comparisons to Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury.
THE FORWARDS
Is Petracca-like gun a draft steal?
Anyone who has ever played SuperCoach knows that if a player scores 150 points, they have had a huge game.
This year, top AFL draft prospect Harry Sheezel scored more than 200 points in three separate NAB League games for the Sandringham Dragons.
It was the first time a player had done that in the competition since 2014.
“I have played SuperCoach,” Sheezel said.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE BEST FORWARDS IN 2022 AFL DRAFT POOL
“I kind of don’t know how I get those scores. I think it just suits my type of game style, the system. It is pretty cool to see. But something I have been working on is the consistency. While those games are really good, I’m trying to bridge the gap between my worst and best.”
Sheezel’s worst performances this year were still impressive, with recruiters marvelling at his ability to keep himself in games and even get up for matches when he was battling hip soreness late in the season.
A crafty 183cm forward or midfielder who can turn a half-chance into a golden opportunity, Sheezel’s ability to impact on the scoreboard is off the charts.
Not only did he average 2.6 goals a game for the Dragons, but he also recorded the most score assists of any player in the league with an average of 2.1 a game.
“I do see myself as a midfielder as well,” Sheezel said.
“I’m able to impact the scoreboard when I am in there. But I probably settled as a forward this year.”
Sheezel looks up to GWS star Toby Greene and there are some similarities there with his intensity around the ball and footy smarts around goal.
“He’s a class above,” one recruiter said of Sheezel.
“He’s an unbelievable drop-of-ball player inside forward 50. He’s just a freak who has got real forward craft.”
The one knock on the 18-year-old is his speed, which Sheezel is aware of and might limit his midfield opportunities at AFL level.
“Speaking to a few recruiters I like to think I counter that with my ability to use my agility and spatial awareness,” Sheezel said.
“Straight line speed, while it is important and it is something I’m working on for longer distance, there’s not really times in games when you’re hitting top speed.
“I think my agility’s up there – one of the best – so I think that helps me a lot.”
Sheezel has grown up a Hawthorn supporter and piqued the interest of senior players at St Kilda when he trained at Moorabbin as part of the AFL Academy program over Easter.
However, he looks set to be snapped up by North Melbourne with one of the first three picks in this year’s draft – before the Hawks or Saints come into the picture.
SHEEZEL’S 200-POINT SUPERCOACH SPECIALS
Round 4 v Tasmania: 237 ranking points, 28 disposals, 5 marks, 6 goals, 6 score assists, 17 score involvements
Round 9 v Northern: 217 ranking points, 37 disposals, 9 marks, 6 clearances, 3 score assists, 13 score involvements
Round 10 v Western: 202 ranking points, 33 disposals, 6 marks, 6 clearances, 3 goals, 1 score assist, 6 score involvements
BEST FORWARDS IN 2022 AFL DRAFT POOL
1. Harry Sheezel (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
A freakish talent, the 183cm Sheezel can do a lot of damage with not many disposals. He is a classy goalkicker who averaged 2.6 goals across 14 NAB League games this season and possesses arguably the biggest X-Factor of any player in this year’s draft pool. Sheezel can also have a run through the midfield. He is not overly quick, but has good endurance and brings a high football IQ to the onball brigade. He looks a certainty to be snapped up by North Melbourne with one of its first two picks.
2. Aaron Cadman (Greater Western Victoria Rebels/Vic Country)
The best key forward available in this year’s draft pool, Cadman has drawn comparisons to Geelong champion Jeremy Cameron. A mobile 194cm big man with a lovely left-foot kick, he has strong hands above his head and is also good below his knees. Cadman’s running ability to get up the ground to provide a marking target for teammates stands out and he kicked multiple goals in each of his four matches for Vic Country in the under-18 national championships. Most clubs don’t rate Cadman in their top four or five, but the Giants are in need of a key forward and traded up the draft order to ensure they can secure him at pick 1.
3. Matthew Jefferson (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
A clear second-best key forward behind No. 1 pick fancy Cadman, Jefferson grew in confidence and developed his game significantly throughout his draft year. Likened to Essendon’s Harrison Jones, he is a hardworking lead-up forward whose contested marking is his weapon. Jefferson announced himself when he kicked five goals in a quarter against Western Australia in the under-18 national championships, on his way to seven goals from eight kicks for the game. While still lightly framed, he is a player with enormous upside.
4. Olli Hotton (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
The 181cm Hotton struggled in a new role as a forward at the start of the season, having mostly played as a midfielder in the past. But he flourished in the role in the second half of the season and sits as a likely top-20 pick. At the draft combine, Hotton showed he is as quick as almost anyone over 20m and has a serious leap. But it was a 24-disposal, 3.2 game against South Australia in the under-18 national championships that really got recruiters excited. Hotton is the son of former Collingwood and Carlton forward Trent Hotton.
5. Charlie Clarke (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
There is no shortage of interest in Clarke, who has spoken to 15 AFL clubs as he has emerged as a potential top-20 pick. The likes of GWS, Hawthorn and North Melbourne are all big fans of the 182cm medium forward, who shot to prominence after a seven-goal game against Tasmania in round 4 of the NAB League. Clarke brings great energy around the ball, is an elite runner and can snap a goal from almost anywhere. While he has also spent time through the midfield with the Dragons, Clarke is viewed as a forward at the next level. He kicked six goals from four under-18 national championships games.
6. Jacob Konstanty (Gippsland Power/Vic Country)
Not without a chance of being a top-20 selection on draft night, Konstanty is an exciting pressure forward who has some serious tricks. He is on the small side at 176cm, but has great pace and evasiveness and loves to lay a tackle on his opponents. Konstanty was also able to impact through the midfield for the Power in the NAB League this year but is more likely to settle as a forward at the next level. He made the most of his opportunities in an eye-catching game against the Allies in the under-18 national championships, recording six score involvements and three goals from only eight disposals.
7. Alwyn Davey Jr (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
A highly talented Essendon father-son prospect, Davey has pace to burn and can do things out on the field that not many others can. He likes to take the game on, has a good balance between his inside and outside game and often impresses with his pressure and tackling. Davey starred playing school football throughout the year for Xavier College but was a little quieter than he had hoped to be in the under-18 national championships. His standout game from the tournament came against Western Australia when he booted two goals and had three score assists from 19 disposals. Rival clubs have differing views on where a bid will come for Davey, but one is expected somewhere between picks 15 and 30.
8. Darcy Jones (Swan Districts/WA)
A late draft order mover, Jones caught the attention of clubs even more after he set a new record in the agility test and finished fifth in both the running vertical jump and 20m sprint at the national draft combine. What Jones lacks in height at 175cm, he makes up for athletic traits and football ability. Recruiters say he is “pretty hard to fault” as a half-forward who possesses creative ball use and is a constant goalscoring threat in the attacking half. Jones averaged 19.7 disposals and kicked four goals across his three under-18 national championships games for Western Australia and also impressed playing some senior WAFL football late in the season.
9. Brayden George (Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country)
A 185cm power forward who has been compared to Melbourne’s Christian Petracca, George might have sat in the top few places on this list had he played a full season this year. He ended up playing in only eight NAB League matches due to a knee injury and had his year come to an early end after he ruptured his ACL during a match for the Bushrangers in late August. But what George has shown when he has been out on the field is that he is a threat in attack both in the air and at ground level. He averaged 2.3 goals and 5.5 score involvements from an average of just 8.8 disposals this season.
10. Coby Burgiel (Gippsland Power/Vic Country)
The 183cm Burgiel started this year on a wing for the Power in the NAB league before moving to half-forward where he proved a goalkicker. Burgiel has good spatial awareness, serious speed, sound skills by hand or foot and can win more than his fair share of contested ball. He averaged 21.6 disposals and 1.3 goals across nine games for the Power, before going on to average 16.5 disposals and 1.3 goals across four games for Vic Country at the under-18 national championships. Expect him to find an AFL home somewhere in the second round of the draft.
11. Isaac Keeler (North Adelaide/SA)
A 198cm athletic key forward or ruck, Keeler has drawn comparisons to a young Paddy Ryder. He represented South Australia in the national championships, as well as averaging 17.9 disposals and kicking 19 goals from 15 SANFL under-18 games. Keeler’s competitiveness and endurance have been raised as potential concerns among some recruiters, but he is viewed as a player with significant potential upside. Keeler is a member of Adelaide’s Next Generation Academy, but is expected to attract a bid in the top 40 picks in the draft, meaning he is unlikely to find his way to the Crows.
12. Anthony Munkara (West Adelaide/Allies)
Tied to Essendon’s Next Generation Academy, Munkara hails from the Tiwi Islands and has excited during a limited number of games he has played this year. He booted nine goals for Westminster in a school football match against Trinity College in Adelaide earlier this season and also showed some good signs while playing as part of the AFL Academy team against Collingwood’s VFL side in May. Injuries and personal reasons meant Munkara only featured in one national championships match for South Australia and played no SANFL under-18s games in the second half of the year. However, he remains a player who is of interest to a number of clubs – including the Bombers – given his speed, agility and overhead marking ability, which make him a dangerous player inside 50.
Originally published as AFL Draft: The best prospects in each position in 2022
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