Aaron Sandilands, Harry Taylor and Ben Brown headline AFL’s best mature-age recruits

THERE’S All-Australians, premiership players and star goalkickers. Every club boasts its share of mature-age talent, but how does yours stack up? See the full list and vote for the best player.

Some of the AFL's best players took their time making it to the top.

THEY are the late bloomers, the late comers — and sometimes just the straight out overlooked.

But a glimpse through AFL ranks suggests Melbourne star Max Gawn might be onto something when it comes to the value of mature-age recruits.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EVERY CURRENT MATURE-AGE RECRUIT AND VOTE FOR YOUR NO.1

Earlier this year, in his exclusive Herald Sun column, Gawn suggested AFL recruiters needed to pay more attention to “second-tier” footy and look more at mature-age footballers.

MAX GAWN: TAKE OFF THE BLINKERS

RULES: HOW CHANGES CAN MAY ALTER DRAFTING

“The blinkers need to be taken off,” Gawn wrote, saying while he understood the majority of draftees came straight from elite-level under-18 football, more attention could be paid to other senior leagues.

Gawn, who said he took “six years to do anything at senior level”, used North Melbourne star Ben Brown as a posterboy for mature-age recruits.

With every list boasting their share of ready-to-go talent, we thought we’d take a look at each club and how its current list has fared from mature age drafting.

*Some 19-year-olds drafted from junior football leagues.

Collingwood's Tom Phillips is an emerging star. Picture: Michael Klein

ADELAIDE

Luke Brown (age when drafted — 19)

Ben Davis (19)

Hugh Greenwood (23)

Kyle Hartigan (21)

Paul Hunter (22)

Alex Keath (23)

Mitch McGovern (20)

Lachlan Murphy (19)

Reilly O’Brien (19)

Patrick Wilson (23)

WHAT WE SAY: Some good gets here from the Crows’ recruiting team. Hugh Greenwood left a promising basketball career to become an established member of the Adelaide midfield. Kyle Hartigan has been a rock in defence after being overlooked for three years, while Mitch McGovern’s aerial ability is currently being desperately missed by Don Pyke.

BRISBANE LIONS

Rohan Bewick (21)

Cedric Cox (19)

Matthew Eagles (26)

Oscar McInerney (22)

Dayne Zorko (22)

WHAT WE SAY: All-Australian Dayne Zorko’s name stands out here. The midfielder/forward was finding his way early before developing into a genuine matchwinner for the Lions. Perhaps not as many mature-age players at the struggling Lions as the club invests in the draft and a rebuild.

Dayne Zorko joined the Lions after starring for Broadbeach. Picture: Getty

CARLTON

Ciaran Byrne (19)

Levi Casboult (19)

Ed Curnow (21)

Jarrod Garlett (21) — former Gold Coast draftee

Cillian McDaid (20)

Cam O’Shea (25) — former Port Adelaide draftee

Sam Rowe (24)

WHAT WE SAY: Like the Lions, not a heap of mature-agers here. Ed Curnow would be top three in the club’s best and fairest this season, while Sam Rowe has been a regular after eventually finding his way back to AFL footy (he was first rookied by the Swans in 2006). Levi Casboult has his limitations but has been more than serviceable, while the jury’s out on recent additions Jarrod Garlett and Cam O’Shea.

COLLINGWOOD

Mason Cox (23)

Jamie Elliott (19)

Tyson Goldsack (19)

Tom Langdon (19)

Jack Madgen (24)

Brody Mihocek (24)

Adam Oxley (20)

Tom Phillips (19)

Josh Smith (21)

Rupert Wills (22)

WHAT WE SAY: Some class and excitement here for Pies fans. Mason Cox continues to develop, Tyson Goldsack is a premiership player and fan favourite, Jamie Elliott is an x-factor (albeit an often injured one) and Tom Phillips is the surprise packet. The former Oakleigh Charger was drafted from the TAC Cup system as an over-age player and is now an emerging star of the AFL competition.

ESSENDON

Patrick Ambrose (22)

Mark Baguley (24)

Mitch Brown (25) — former Geelong draftee

Matt Guelfi (20)

Michael Hartley (22)

Cale Hooker (19)

Luke Lavender (21)

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (22)

Ben McNiece (24)

Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (19)

WHAT WE SAY: Cale Hooker was 19 when drafted from East Fremantle, and has gone on to become a key part of the Bombers for a decade. It took three years of starring in the VFL for Mark Baguley to earn his chance. Matt Guelfi looks to have a future and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s rise to AFL footy is one of the great stories.

Aaron Sandilands has been a star for a long time. Picture: Getty

FREMANTLE

Hayden Ballantyne (21)

Bailey Banfield (19)

Ethan Hughes (20)

Michael Johnson (19)

Scott Jones (22)

Lloyd Meek (19)

Ryan Nyhuis (19)

Luke Ryan (20)

Aaron Sandilands (19)

Lee Spurr (24)

Cameron Sutcliffe (19)

Sam Switkowski (21)

Matt Taberner (19)

WHAT WE SAY: Aaron Sandilands is not only a dual best and fairest winner but a four-time All-Australian. He was 19 when rookied by the Dockers, which proved a shrewd move. Michael Johnson and Hayden Ballantyne formed key parts of the Freo teams that almost went all the way, while Matt Taberner is among the faces of the new-breed Dockers.

GEELONG

Ryan Abbott (25)

Mark Blicavs (20)

Wylie Buzza (19)

Timm House (21)

Tim Kelly (23)

Sam Menegola (23) — former Hawthorn, Fremantle draftee

Jordan Murdoch (19)

Quinton Narkle (19)

Mark O’Connor (19)

Tom Stewart (23)

Harry Taylor (21)

WHAT WE SAY: The Cats have landed some gems here. Harry Taylor was recruited as much out of need (Matthew Egan suffered what ended up a career-ending foot injury in 2007) as ability. Tom Stewart could well follow him to All-Australian status this year while Tim Kelly’s instant impact is a big tick for WAFL footy. Mark Blicavs and Sam Menegola will be long-term Geelong players.

Harry Taylor is a two-time All-Australian and premiership Cat.

GOLD COAST

Aaron Hall (21)

Nick Holman (22) — former Carlton draftee

Josh Jaska (19)

Sean Lemmens (19)

Max Spencer (19)

Rory Thompson (19)

Mackenzie Willis (20)

WHAT WE SAY: There ain’t a heap to like about the Suns’ list right at the moment. But Nick Holman’s 2018 has been one shining light in an otherwise forgettable season. It wasn’t so long ago Aaron Hall lit up the competition in the midfield, but injury and hard tags have him scratching to rediscover his place in the line-up.

GWS

Jack Buckley (20)

Nick Haynes (19)

Harrison Himmelberg (19)

Adam Kennedy (19)

Zac Langdon (22)

Daniel Lloyd (23)

Rory Lobb (20)

Tim Mohr (23)

Jake Stein (22)

Lachlan Tiziani (19)

WHAT WE SAY: Among the heap of first-round picks the Giants have also used some later-round selections to grab some more-proven talent. Nick Haynes is the pick of this bunch, although the then 19-year-old was drafted at pick No.7 straight out of TAC Cup footy. Forwards Zac Langdon and Harrison Himmelberg have showed a bit, while Rory Lobb’s potential seems untapped.

Isaac Smith is among the Hawks’ mature-age draft stars. Picture: Mark Stewart

HAWTHORN

Daniel Howe (19)

David Mirra (26)

Paul Puopolo (23)

Isaac Smith (22)

Ben Stratton (20)

WHAT WE SAY: On top of reloading their premiership teams with some star free agents, the Hawks’ success also came on the back of some astute drafting. Isaac Smith, Paul Puopolo and the unheralded Ben Stratton are all three-time premiership players, each playing key roles throughout that dynasty. David Mirra is the feel-good story, having battled away with Box Hill for years before making his debut in 2018.

MELBOURNE

Oskar Baker (19)

Bayley Fritsch (21)

Mitch Hannan (22)

Declan Keilty (21)

Corey Maynard (25)

Joel Smith (19)

Tim Smith (25)

Aaron vandenBerg (22)

Josh Wagner (21)

WHAT WE SAY: No A-graders here for the Demons but, like most of Simon Goodwin’s squad, there’s plenty of promise. The high-flying Bayley Fritsch has come in and made an immediate impact after starring at the Casey Demons last year. Mitch Hannan has shown he’s more-than capable at the top level after being plucked from Footscray’s VFL side, while there’s high hopes for Oskar Baker too after he plied his trade for Aspley in the NEAFL last year.

NORTH MELBOURNE

Ben Brown (21)

Mitch Hibberd (19)

Tom Murphy (19)

Gordon Narrier (19)

Braydon Preuss (19)

Scott Thompson (21)

Mason Wood (19)

WHAT WE SAY: A lot of clubs would love ‘bookends’ like Scott Thompson and Ben Brown. The Cats were poised to snaffle Thompson, then with the club’s VFL side, before North swooped at the end of 2007. Brown’s rise from Werribee wannabe to Coleman Medal leader shows the stars that can emerge from the VFL system.

After 63 goals in 2017, Ben Brown leads this year’s Coleman Medal race.

PORT ADELAIDE

Dom Barry (23) — former Melbourne draftee

Sam Gray (21)

Emmanuel Irra (22)

Tom Jonas (19)

Jarrod Lienert (22)

Justin Westhoff (20)

WHAT WE SAY: Justin Westhoff was playing SANFL footy for Central Districts when Port took a punt with pick 71 in the 2006 draft. More than a decade and 238 AFL matches later, ‘The Hoff’ is playing some of his best footy. Sam Gray doesn’t get the press his namesake Robbie does, but he’s also become a key part of Ken Hinkley’s forward set up.

RICHMOND

Liam Baker (19)

Nathan Broad (22)

Nathan Drummond (19)

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith (19)

Kane Lambert (23)

Sam Lloyd (23)

Oleg Markov (19)

Callum Moore (19)

WHAT WE SAY: Kane Lambert was overlooked as a kid but there was no ignoring his display for Williamstown in a VFL prelim in 2014. The Tigers then swooped with a rookie selection and Lambert is now an AFL premiership player. So too is Nathan Broad, who progressed from the WAFL to play his role in 2017. Sam Lloyd is another VFL graduate who continues to bang down the selection door.

ST KILDA

Ray Connellan (22)

Sam Gilbert (19)

Darragh Joyce (19)

Ben Long (19)

Rowan Marshall (21)

Ben Paton (19)

Jack Sinclair (19)

WHAT WE SAY: Sam Gilbert is one of Queensland’s great footy stories. He grew up playing rugby league until age 15, and four years later was at the Saints where he has now played more than 200 matches at the highest level. Rowan Marshall looks to have a future after coming under notice while playing VFL for North Ballarat. Jack Sinclair is one of the Saints’ more promising youngsters, having been picked up after sharing Oakleigh Chargers duties with Port Melbourne as a 19-year-old.

Swan Dane Rampe went from kicking around grounds in Sydney to the SCG. Picture: Michael Klein

SYDNEY SWANS

Aliir Aliir (19)

Jake Brown (19)

Darcy Cameron (21)

Robbie Fox (23)

Jake Lloyd (19)

Sam Naismith (20)

Nic Newman (21)

Colin O’Riordan (20)

Tom Papley (19)

Dane Rampe (22)

Ben Ronke (19)

Dean Towers (22)

WHAT WE SAY: Sydney has been the king of reinventing players at the Swans’ ‘second-chance saloon’, but they’ve also found some gold among mature-age ranks. All-Australian Dane Rampe was playing just a couple of kilometres from the SCG (for Uni of NSW) after shooting to prominence, while Jake Lloyd, Tom Papley, Aliir Aliir and Ben Ronke are currently key pillars in John Longmire’s best 22. Dean Towers and Nic Newman have also showed they’re more than handy at AFL level.

WEST COAST

Brayden Ainsworth (19)

Hamish Brayshaw (19)

Ryan Burrows (19)

Mark Hutchings (21)

Tony Olango (19)

Willie Rioli (21)

Liam Ryan (21)

Francis Watson (21)

WHAT WE SAY: The high-flying Eagles have added livewires Willie Rioli (SANFL) and Liam ‘Flyin’ Ryan (WAFL) over the past two seasons, both having cut their teeth in state leagues. Mark Hutchings isn’t in Adam Simpson’s 22 at present but the mature-age recruit has proven himself a quality run-with player.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Marcus Adams (22)

Tom Campbell (20)

Tory Dickson (24)

Tim English (19)

Billy Gowers (21)

Fergus Greene (19)

Dale Morris (22)

Nathan Mullenger-McHugh (19)

Liam Picken (22)

Jack Redpath (21)

WHAT WE SAY: Somebody say big men? While Liam Picken is a headline act among these Dogs, veteran Dale Morris is the pick after a gutsy, at times injury-riddled career. Talls Jack Redpath, Marcus Adams, Tom Campbell and ruckman Tim English all had to wait to get their chance but can forge long-term careers at Whitten Oval.

Dale Morris has had his injury woes, but has had a stellar career. Picture: Michael Klein

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Originally published as Aaron Sandilands, Harry Taylor and Ben Brown headline AFL’s best mature-age recruits