Draft experts Jay Clark and Sam Landsberger give their thoughts ahead of the AFL national draft
SUPERFOOTY'S draft gurus have come up with their likely top 20 picks in this year's AFL national draft.
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SUPERFOOTY draft experts Jay Clark and Sam Landsberger have spoken to all the clubs and come up with their likely top 20 picks in this year's AFL national draft.
Take a look at each pick and read through our bio of each player as we count down to draft day on Thursday November 21.
1. Greater Western Sydney
TOM BOYD
200cm, 103kg
Club: Eastern Ranges
Another hulking spearhead to add to the Giants' key-forward riches. What elevates Boyd is his football smarts; his aerial timing and judgment on the lead is well advanced.
2. Greater Western Sydney
JOSH KELLY
183cm, 75kg
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Aerobic midfield beast with an elite left foot who can play inside and outside. Unflappable teenager who averaged 154 SuperCoach pts in the TAC Cup.
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3. St Kilda
JACK BILLINGS
184cm, 78kg
Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Classy half-forward has oodles of x-factor. Superb ball use on both sides and great mark for his size will add coat of gloss to Saints' forward half. Will become A-Grade midfielder.
4. Western Bulldogs
JAMES AISH
184cm, 75kg
Club: Norwood
A two-time senior premiership midfielder with trundles of outside class which the Dogs need. A rich history of SANFL talent runs in the bloodlines.
5. Gold Coast
KADE KOLODJASHNIJ
190cm, 81kg
Club: Launceston
Another Scotty Clayton special. Athletic and tall half back is so damaging with his running game, like Grant Birchall or Andrew Mackie. Has poise and a beautiful left foot.
6. Collingwood
MARCUS BONTEMPELLI
192cm, 83kg
Club: Northern Knights
Nick Dal Santo's cousin who was thrown into the midfield late this season and dominated clearances. Raking left footer with great vision and athleticism, like Scott Pendlebury. Time stops around him.
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7. Brisbane
MATT SCHARENBERG
190cm, 87kg
Club: Glenelg
The ultimate prototype. Can play anywhere like Brendon Goddard, marks strongly overhead and provides clever drive. Dual All-Australian would be a steal here for the Lions.
8. North Melbourne (Father-son)
LUKE MCDONALD
188cm 85kg
Club: Werribee
Hard-running defender with a deadly left-foot and strong leadership, like Luke Hodge. Dominated the VFL finals and will slot straight into Brad Scott's side.
9. Melbourne
NATHAN FREEMAN
182cm, 85kg
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Inside midfielder is exhilarating to watch, using his top-line speed to burst away from danger or cut apart stoppages, in the same vein as Patrick Dangerfield. Will add bite to one-paced Dees midfield.
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10. Collingwood
BEN LENNON
188cm, 77kg
Club: Northern Knights
One of the most offensively gifted and exciting players in the draft due to his lethal long kick and courageous overhead marking. Kicks goals but could also settle on a back flank, helping fill the Heath Shaw void.
11. West Coast
DOM SHEED
184cm, 83kg
Club: Subiaco
The man the Eagles wanted at six slips to 11, validating move to fall down the order. Well-rounded midfielder racks up big numbers and is damaging by hand or foot, despite lacking a top gear.
12. Richmond
CHRISTIAN SALEM
183cm, 81kg
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Combines strength with silk, like Dan Hannebery, in a perfect mix for the Tiges. Salem’s left foot is precise, he kicks goals and boasts impressive contested footy numbers.
13. Carlton
CAMERON MCCARTHY
193cm, 85kg
Club: South Fremantle
Key forward who clutches big marks leaping from the side or back of pack. Shot up ranks in his first year of serious footy, before broken leg in the champs. Snug fit for Blues but Richmond could pip them.
14. Greater Western Sydney
DARCY GARDINER
192cm, 85kG
Geelong Falcons
The Giants want a defender here and Gardiner is the best key back in the pool. The All-Australian can clamp down on talls and offers rebound from defence.
15. Sydney
MATT CROUCH
183cm, 80kg
Club: North Ballarat
Aggressive ball magnet who averaged 38 disposals and excels at stoppages. The brother of Brad boasts quick hands and, like Tom Mitchell, would thrive in tight confines of SCG.
16. Geelong
ZAK JONES
181cm, 76kg
Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Fiery defender/inside midfielder with a splash of pace who attacks the footy with purpose. The brother of Nathan won Vic Country's MVP and is a favourite of Stephen Wells. Runs both ways.
17. Fremantle
LEWIS TAYLOR
173cm, 73kg
Geelong Falcons
Explosive ball-winner has the makings of Brent Harvey, combining toughness and pace at ground level. Short stature a turn-off for some but pinpoint skills and gut-run has helped him to dominate junior level.
18. St Kilda
BILLY HARTUNG
177cm, 75kg
Club: Dandenong Stingrays
A running machine who smashed Brad Hill's all-time beep test record at draft camp (16.6) and boasts elite foot skills. A run-and-carry specialist the Saints are monitoring closely to help give them some outside dash.
19. St Kilda
BLAKE ACRES
190cm 80kg
Club: West Perth
Mr Versatile will give Saints a tall and classy ball-winner to plug almost any hole. Wins inside footy, good overhead and is smooth on both sides. Handy size.
20. Gold Coast
LUKE DUNSTAN
185cm, 83kg
Club: Woodville West Torrens
A big-bodied and smart midfielder who shone at the national carnival. Added leadership and strength at clearances has him in first-round mix.
THE WILDCARD
JONATHON MARSH
192cm, 87kg
Club: East Fremantle
Marsh is lightning quick for a big man and can follow up at ground level and turn like Lance Franklin. But he's a project. The Dockers wouldn't mind a big man — could they reach early and pounce at 17?
THE BIG QUESTIONS:
How good is the draft?
Recruiters wanting run-and-carry midfielders would be licking their chops at the top 20. There's plenty of pocket rockets at the top end who confidently tuck the ball under their arm and use it well, such as Kelly, Billings, Hartung and Taylor. But it's light on for genuine key position players, leaving clubs looking to next year to nab one of the many available big forwards.
Overall, the depth this year is only average, thinning the talent pool after about pick 30. Maybe it will produce 10-15 200-game players.
Will Dayle Garlett get drafted?
Earlier in the year, it was a resounding yes, but clubs remain nervous about drafting the silky midfield-forward from WA. On talent, he might be top-15. A smooth-moving outside runner who has shades of Harley Bennell, kicking almost 50 goals in the WAFL seniors this year.
But defensively he can be poor and many clubs, such as West Coast, have again put a line through his name. In our view, he is worth taking the chance, at a strong club, with a late pick.
There will be lots of busts from this year's draft. His best chance might be at Geelong or Hawthorn.
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