NAB League Top 50: Rankings and SuperCoach scores after round 8

Two Sandringham Dragons stars put in eye-catching performances days out from landing on AFL lists. Check out the top SuperCoach scorers and standouts.

The NAB League was back in its entirety over the weekend after a month of split rounds and byes, and a host of draft prospects didn’t miss a beat.

Starting at the top, potential No. 1 pick Will Ashcroft returned for the Sandringham Dragons after a stint with Brisbane’s VFL side and tallied 27 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 10 score involvements and 148 KFC SuperCoach points under lights against the Dandenong Stingrays on Friday night.

Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

But he was outshone by rising ball-winner Taj Campbell-Farrell, who led the Stingrays to victory with a dominant display.

The 185cm midfielder topped the disposal count and the SuperCoach points tally in round 8 of the NAB League, racking up 40 disposals, 11 clearances and 181 points.

Will Ashcroft returned in the NAB League and had it on a string. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Mid-season draftees Hugo Hall-Kahan (21 disposals and 1.3) and Max Ramsden (11 disposals, 11 hit-outs, two goals) both posted SuperCoach tons in their final dress rehearsal in front of recruiters, with Ramsden joining the Hawks at pick six while Hall-Kahan became a Swan.

Melbourne Next Generation Academy member Finn Emile-Brennan also impressed in the same game, with the skilful Stingray – who has drawn comparisons to diminutive Demon Jake Bowey – registering 26 kicks at an elite 80 per cent efficiency and slotting a goal.

Coming off a strong performance for the AFL Academy last weekend, Geelong Falcons midfielder Jhye Clark had his biggest NAB League game of the season with 28 disposals, 16 contested possessions, seven tackles and 150 points against the Oakleigh Chargers.

Recent AFL Academy addition Aaron Cadman booted five goals against the Western Jets on the way to 147 points, with the key forward looming as one of the best talls available in the draft.

Fellow Academy member Lachie Cowan continued his blistering form across halfback for the Tasmania Devils in his side’s nailbiting one-point win over the Eastern Ranges, finishing with 31 disposal and 154 points.

The speedy defender was one of four 140-plus totals in the game along with Liam Jones (167), Lewis Hayes (147) and Brandon Leary (143).

Taj Campbell-Farrell (right) topped the SuperCoach charts in round 8. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

TOP SUPERCOACH SCORES FROM NAB LEAGUE ROUND 8

DANDENONG STINGRAYS 14.10 (94) de Sandringham Dragons 9.19 (73)

Taj Campbell-Farrell (Dandenong Stingrays) – 181 points

Will Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons) – 148 points

Finn Emile-Brennan (Dandenong Stingrays) – 148 points

Lachie Benton (Sandringham Dragons) – 142 points

Henry Hustwaite (Dandenong Stingrays) – 121 points

GWV Rebels 14.9 (93) def Western Jets 6.9 (45)

Hugh Bond (GWV Rebels) – 151 points

Aaron Cadman (GWV Rebels) – 147 points

James Van Es (GWV Rebels) – 132 points

Adam Azzopardi (Western Jets) – 118 points

Jaeden Pavlidis – 110 points (Western Jets)

Tasmania Devils 8.19 (67) def Eastern Ranges 10.6 (66)

Liam Jones (Tasmania Devils) – 167 points

Lachie Cowan (Tasmania Devils) – 154 points

Lewis Hayes (Eastern Ranges) – 147 points

Brandon Leary (Tasmania Devils) – 143 points

Jack Callinan (Tasmania Devils) – 126 points

Lachlan Cowan continued his strong season for the Devils. Picture: Linda Higginson

Geelong Falcons 11.7 (73) defeated Oakleigh Chargers 10.11 (71)

Scott Beilby (Oakleigh Chargers) – 163 points

Jhye Clark (Geelong Falcons) – 150 points

Kynan Brown (Oakleigh Chargers) – 132 points

Jed Rule (Oakleigh Chargers) – 123 points

Tom Gillet (Geelong Falcons) – 117 points

Bendigo Pioneers 10.9 (69) def. by Calder Cannons 16.11 (107)

Paul Pascu (Calder Cannons) – 145

Corbin Anderson (Bendigo Pioneers) – 127

Amin Naim (Calder Cannons) – 120

Ben Cameron (Bendigo Pioneers) – 119

Sam Valensisi (Calder Cannons) – 117

Murray Bushrangers 10.13 (73) def. by Gippsland Power 14.9 (93)

Caleb Mitchell (Murray Bushrangers) – 171

Joel Scholtes (Gippsland Power) – 138

Cooper Vickery (Gippsland Power) – 135

Bailey Humphrey (Gippsland Power) – 132

Jacob Konstanty (Gippsland Power) – 112

NAB LEAGUE TOP 50 RANKINGS AFTER ROUND 5

Ranking, Player, Club, Position, 2022 Games, 2022 Ave. KFC SuperCoach Points

1. Lachlan Cowan (Tasmania Devils), DEF, 6 games, 143 points

2. Will Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons), MID, 5 games, 143 points

3. Elijah Tsatas (Oakleigh Chargers), MID, 4 games, 137 points

4. Taj Campbell-Farrell (Dandenong Stingrays), MID, 6 games, 135 points

5. Massimo D’Ambrosio (Western Jets), DEF, 4 games, 134 points

6. Ted Clohesy (Geelong Falcons), MID, 3 games, 31 points

7. Kynan Brown (Oakleigh Chargers), 2 games, 131 points

8. Bailey Humphrey (Gippsland Power, MID, 6 games, 130 points

9. Charlie Molan (GWV Rebels), MID, 3 games, 129 points

10. Seth Campbell (Tasmania Devils), FWD, 7 games, 128 points

11. Lloyd Johnston (NT Thunder), DEF, 3 games, 127 points

12. George Wardlaw (Oakleigh Chargers), MID, 3 games, 125 points

13. Harry Sheezel (Sandringham Dragons), FWD, 5 games, 123 points

14. Jason Gilbee (Bendigo Pioneers), DEF, 4 games, 124 points

15. Patrick Dozzie (Northern Knights), MID, 4 games, 122 points

16. Hugh Bond (GWV Rebels), MID, 5 games, 121 points

17. Oskar Faulkhead (Bendigo Pioneers), MID, 5 games, 121 points

18. Aaron Cadman (GWV Rebels), FWD, 5 games, 120 points

19. Amin Naim (Calder Cannons), 1 game, 120 points

20. Michael Ktona (Calder Cannons), 4 games, 120 points

21. Olivier Northam (Geelong Falcons, RUC, 6 games, 118 points

22. Tom Gillet (Geelong Falcons, FWD, 1 game, 118 points

23. Colby McKercher (Tasmania Devils), 7 games, 115 points

24. Scott Beilby (Oakleigh Chargers), DEF, 2 games, 115 points

25. Mitch Szybkowski (Dandenogn Stingrays), MID, 4 games, 115 points

26. Liam Jones (Tasmania Devils), MID, 7 games, 114 points

27. Luke Giacometti (Sydney Academy), DEF, 4 games, 114 points

28. Jamieson Ballantyne (GWV Rebels), MID, 4 games, 113 points

29. Max Walton (Gippsland Power), DEF, 3 games, 113 points

30. Mitchell Moschetti (Gippsland Power), MID, 5 games, 113 points

31. Euriah Hollard (Geelong Falcons), FWD, 6 games, 113 points

32. Oliver Hollands (Murray Bushrangers), MID, 2 games, 112 points

33. Jed Foggo (Suns Academy), MID, 3 games, 112 points

34. Jhye Clark (Geelong Falcons) MID, 4 games, 111 points

35. Angus Anderson (Swans Academy) MID, 2 games, 110 points

36. Jaspa Fletcher (Lions Academy), MID, 3 games, 110 points

37. Jack Newitt (Calder Cannons), MID, 6 games, 109 points

38. Jaelen Pavlidis (Western Jets), FWD, 6 games, 108 points

39. Angus Curry (Oakleigh Chargers), MID, 3 games, 108 points

40. Coby Burgiel (Geelong Falcons), FWD, 4 games, 108 points

41. Tyreece Leiu (Eastern Ranges), FWD, 3 games, 108 points

42. Max Ramsden (Sandringham Dragons), 6 games, 107 points

43. Jake Rogers (Suns Academy), 3 games, 107 points

44. Jordan Endemann (Swans Academy), MID, 4 games, 106 points

45. Henry Hustwaite (Dandenong Stingrays), DEF, 6 games, 106 points

46. Harley Reid (Bendigo Pioneers), FWD, 5 games, 106 points

47. Noah Bradshaw (Lions Academy), MID, 6 games, 105 points

48. Callum Verrell (Eastern Ranges), MID, 6 games, 105 points

49. Finn Emile-Brennan (Dandenong Stingrays), DEF, 6 games, 105 points

50. Bailey Tome (Lions Academy), MID, 3 games, 105 points

Will Brisbane’s premiership window tempt No. 1 overall pick?

Former Brisbane father-son candidate Marc Murphy has urged potential No. 1 draft pick Will Ashcroft to consider his chances of winning a Lions flag in his first season as he weighs up his future.

Lions father-son prospect Ashcroft will likely wait until he finds out who has the No. 1 overall pick before a decision on whether he goes into the open draft.

The son of triple Brisbane premiership player Marcus would ideally prefer to stay in Melbourne for his football future but if he knocked back a father-son offer would be at the mercy of the national draft.

Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Ashcroft has lived in Melbourne for the last five years with his family, who will not relocate back to Brisbane given brother Levi, 16, is a draft prospect and 12-year-old sister Lucy is a future AFLW player.

In an ideal world he might follow Murphy’s path in knocking back a Brisbane father-son offer and being chosen by a Melbourne side with one of the draft’s early selections.

Will Ashcroft, the son of triple Brisbane premiership player Marcus, has lived in Melbourne for the past five years.

But West Coast has the draft’s No. 1 pick and North Melbourne already has a long list of smallish midfielders like the brilliant Ashcroft, who stands at 180cm.

Murphy told the Herald Sun on Monday Ashcroft had a difficult decision but should factor in the potential to win a premiership in coming seasons at the Lions.

Essendon also has a batch of smallish midfielders so might look elsewhere while Adelaide and GWS currently have top-five picks on ladder order in the national draft.

Murphy knew Carlton (pick 1), Collingwood (pick 2) and Hawthorn (pick 3) would all take him with their first selection so was safe in the knowledge he would not move interstate.

The former Blues captain said on Monday he would have likely gone to Brisbane if West Coast or an Adelaide-based club were in line to sign him but given the first nine picks were Victorian sides it made his decision easier.

Taj Campbell-Farrell of the Stingrays is tackled by Will Ashcroft of the Dragons.

“I was pretty keen to go to Brisbane but then they gave me a four-year offer and it probably worked against them because I didn’t want to lock myself in,” he said.

“It was a really hard decision but I was a good chance to go to a big Victorian club like Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon or Hawthorn. It was a hard call because Brisbane had invested so much time in me.

“I thought at the time Brisbane might have exhausted their options and won their flags but right now Brisbane is right in their premiership window. He needs to weigh up, can I slot into that side and play in a premiership in my first year.”

Ashcroft has signed with the Hemisphere management stable and is being advised by Julian Petracca and Alex McDonald.

Petracca said on Monday there was no hurry for Ashcroft to make a decision.

Does the potential to win a premiership in coming seasons at the Lions lure Ashcroft north?

“We will help guide him through it and given the family history the decision will probably be made towards the back-end of the year once his footy is finished with the Sandringham Dragons,” he said.

Ashcroft professed his love of Melbourne in March, stating:” I love it in Melbourne. I think I’m a Melburnian now — I’ve been here for long enough. I’m at uni here, my whole family’s here and I’m playing footy here, so at the moment I’m just trying to take it day by day, to be honest.”

Other early No. 1 contenders include 182cm Vic Metro midfielder George Wardlaw, West Adelaide’s 202cm key forward Harry Lemmey, Swan Districts midfielder Elijah Hewett.

Originally published as NAB League Top 50: Rankings and SuperCoach scores after round 8