AFL draft: Star trio lead Calder Cannons prospects

CALDER Cannons are expected to have at least three players chosen in this year’s AFL drafts, with the TAC Cup club hopeful as many as seven will be selected.

Curtis Taylor (right) is one of Calder Cannons’ top draft prospects.

CALDER Cannons are expected to have at least three players chosen in this year’s AFL drafts, with the TAC Cup club hopeful as many as seven will be selected.

Western Bulldogs father-son Rhylee West, forward Curtis Taylor and co-captain Jack Bytel are the club’s leading contenders to be snapped up.

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The trio were members of this year’s AFL academy and West and Taylor have been mooted as potential first-round selections in the National Draft.

“We have got four, five or six players we think could potentially get rookied or maybe even drafted,” Calder coach Ross Smith said.

“We’ll be doing cartwheels if we get 6-7 players through.”

Lachlan Sholl emerged as an AFL draft prospect this year.

Smith said 19-year-old Mitch Podhajski, who shared the captaincy with Bytel, deserved an AFL opportunity after a dominant season in midfield.

The Greenvale and Aberfeldie junior proved his talents in defence and attack last year before transitioning into the Cannons’ engine room.

“He’s probably played only half the games, played the other half at Coburg and did really well there,” Smith said.

“We’re still really hopeful he will get drafted.”

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Half-back flanker Lachlan Sholl has been one of the club’s big improvers, relishing a move to defence after being introduced to TAC Cup last year as a wingman.

Sholl, the son of former Carlton player Brett, has gone from a possible draftee to a probable selection thanks to an eye-catching 2018 campaign.

“I was told at the start of the year (he) had improved a fair bit,” Smith said.

“I reckon he improved again from the start to the finish.”

Western Bulldogs father-son prospect Rhylee West wins a hard ball for Calder Cannons.

Essendon father-son prospect Mason Fletcher was limited to three games due to back stress fractures but is still considered a chance to be picked up.

Smith said the key defender and son of Essendon games record holder Dustin had “enormous upside”.

Key-position players Daniel Hanna and Jake Riccardi, Tye Browning and Jack Evans are others the club expects to attract interest.

Calder missed out on TAC Cup finals after a one-point loss to Geelong Falcons in last weekend’s wildcard round.

The AFL national draft starts on Thursday, November 22 and will be completed the following day.

The rookie draft is on Friday, November 23.

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