St Mary’s defender Lachie Jaques headlines Geelong prospects in the AFL Draft mix
There are a host of prospects from the region on the radar of AFL clubs, and one stands above the rest. See who could get taken and their possible suitors.
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St Mary’s defender Lachie Jaques is the Geelong Falcons’ top prospect ahead of this week’s AFL Draft after a strong season.
The Geelong Falcons co-captain shone in the Coates Talent League and at the national championships, winning his side’s best-and-fairest and earning All-Australian honours for Vic Country.
A 184 centimetre rebounding defender who reads the play well, Jaques is set to enter draft calculations in the second round.
Geelong Falcons and Vic Country coach Paul Corrigan has watched his growth over the past 12 months, with Jaques going to a new level after returning from a broken hand he suffered at the end of last season.
“It was all off the back of the way he approached pre-season, what he was able to do, and he just elevated himself in the games early off the back of that,” Corrigan said.
“Obviously when he got his opportunity and Vic Country level he sort of went to Vic Country with some confidence off the back of the games that he produced prior to that. He just built on that confidence through the championships,”
“He had times when he showed he can defend and there was times in games where he was able to open up and show his offensive drive.
“I think people started to realise that this young man could play a really good role across halfback.
“He is a strong interceptor, he is courageous, but he also has that other element where he can get metres gained, get on his bike, break some lines, which is quite attractive to recruiters.”
Bell Park and Geelong Amateur junior Xavier Ivisic shapes as another chance later in the draft, while North Melbourne has nominated River Stevens, the son of Roos champion Anthony, as a father-son prospect.
The national draft will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, while the rookie draft will be held on Friday.
See the seven draft chances from the Geelong region and where they could land.
LACHIE JAQUES (St Mary’s)
Draft range: 30-50
The Western Bulldogs, Geelong, GWS and Essendon are Jaques’ main suitors, and they all hold selections in the 30-50 range. Jaques has grown up supporting the Cats, but they don’t enter the draft until pick 45, which may be too late for him.
XAVIER IVISIC (Bell Park)
Draft range: Late draft/rookie
A lightly-framed midfielder-forward who makes good decision and uses it neatly by foot, Ivisic has dominated at all levels this year. West Coast and St Kilda have done plenty of work on him, while Geelong and Western Bulldogs are other potential landing spots.
RIVER STEVENS (Newtown & Chillwell)
Draft range: Late draft/rookie
Stevens is a silky small forward who played two games with Vic Country and was best on ground in the Geelong school derby for geelong College. North Melbourne hasn’t formally committed to taking Stevens, but the signs overall have been positive. The Roos can match a bid if it comes later in the draft, take him with their last selection or preselect him as a rookie if he slides through.
DAN LOWTHER (Lara)
Draft range: Late draft/rookie
Lowther had his pre-season wiped out by hamstring tendinitis but has still managed to catch the eye as an athletic 199cm key forward after a monster growth spurt. The son of Lara premiership player Shane has been interviewed by Collingwood and Geelong, with Fremantle also showing interest. He told this publication he is set to train with the Cats’ VFL program over the pre-season if he doesn’t hear his name called.
CHARLIE MCCARTIN (Lorne)
Draft range: Late draft/rookie
We saw Oli Wiltshire go from Barwon Heads to the bigtime last year, and McCartin is a chance to be the next local footy smokey from the region. McCartin had Sydney – where he used to work as a recruiter – Geelong, St Kilda and Gold Coast watching him tear it up in the Colac & District league for premiers Lorne this year. The key defender also played two games for Sydney’s VFL side midway through the year. McCartin is the middle brother of former No.1 pick Paddy and Swans key defender Tom.
JOE PIKE (Barwon Heads)
Draft range: Late draft/rookie
Pike was on the radar of AFL clubs 12 months ago and again ahead of the mid-season draft after improving his running significantly. The 203cm Barwon Heads ruckman has spent the year with Geelong VFL and with the Cats seemingly after another ruckman, he presents as an option for them late in the piece or as a rookie selection.
AJANG KUOL MUN (Anakie)
Draft range: Late draft/rookie
The rise of Sudanese talent Ajang Kuol mun from the Geelong & District league to the radar of AFL clubs has been one of the best stories to come out of Geelong local footy this year. Kuol mun, a raw and athletic ruckman, was invited to the state combine where he won the standing vertical jump. West Coast has continued to keep tabs on him and, like Pike, he has been under the noses of Cats in their VFL program this year. He has signed with Port Melbourne in the VFL for next season.
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