AFL draft: Sandringham Dragons set for strong haul at national draft
Footballers come from far and wide hoping an AFL club will take a chance on them. But there is one NAB League club, more than any other, that gives its players the best chance of getting drafted.
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It was a remarkable concentration of talent from one NAB League club.
When invitations for the AFL national, state and Rookie Me combines were issued, the Sandringham Dragons had enough players to form a starting 18.
Eleven were asked to the national draft, four to the state and three to Rookie Me.
And even then club talent manager Mark Wheeler and coach Josh Bourke said they could make a case for one or two others being unlucky to miss out.
Little wonder the Dragons are expected to be front and centre in next week’s national draft.
Wheeler dislikes talking names and numbers, and is happy to use AFL draft guru Kevin Sheehan’s top 40 as a guide to the Dragons’ prospects.
Sheehan listed Miles Bergman, Finn Maginness, Jack Mahony, Fischer McAsey, Hugo Ralphsmith and Josh Worrell in his top 40.
But the club believes its haul could hit double figures when captain Ryan Byrnes, Darcy Chirgwin, Jack Bell, Corey Watts, Louis Butler, Oscar Lewis, Angus Hanrahan and Charlie Dean are factored in.
“You’d like to see all of them drafted, but we reckon we’ll get six. We’re confident about six at the national and it could possibly be 10 and from there you might get some rookies on top of it,’’ Wheeler said.
“Most of them had good years. We probably don’t have a lot in that first one to 10, but we have a lot in the late first round, early second round.
“But I always say, it’s an opinion. We say that to the boys all the time. Only one club has to like you. All the clubs have done a bucketload of work with the boys, most of them over three years. It’s not just this year, it’s the last three.’’
Sheehan told Leader the Dragons region was a “hot spot’’ for football talent.
He said an AFL tracking program put it at No 1 of the 96 regions across the country.
“It’s the most productive spot in Australia for producing talent,’’ Sheehan said.
“It’s the hotspot when it’s measured against 95 other regions. So they’ll have another productive draft.’’
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He said he believed Fischer and Worrell were among the best talls in the draft, and that Fischer could be a top-10 pop.
“In my top 40 there are only about eight key positions, and just a handful in the top 20,’’ he said.
“McAsey can play back or forward, he’s grown to 197cm, he had a wonderful national championship.
“Worrell wasn’t far from joining him as an All Australian … he kicked four goals in one game and three in another … so he can play both ends of the ground too.’’
MARK WHEELER ON THE DRAGONS PROSPECTS
Miles Bergman: “Bergs could be the one. He had to manage shin splints all year and couldn’t get to train a lot, so there’s massive upside to him. He’s elite. He can play both ends, and he kicks it like an AFL player already. He loves a goal too. I think he can go up to the next level and in two years have people saying, ‘Why did he go out so far?’. He’s one we rate very highly.’’
Finn Maginness: “He’s an amazing story. Wasn’t even in the Metro squad at the start of the year and had to work his butt off. Got told as a 17-year-old what he needed to do and came back and did it. He was an outside midfielder but he turned himself into an insider this year. He for me should be pushing into a top-10 pick. Looks like his old man (former Hawks defender Scott) so hopefully he goes father-son to Hawthorn.’’
Jack Mahoney: “He’s the one we missed in the finals, that small forward who knows where the goals are, can kick a goals no matter which spot he’s in. He’s also an elite runner and a great young man off the field. He’s another we think might get out late and get people asking why. It’s just injury. He didn’t see enough of it.’’
Fischer McAsey: “Everyone loves him. He had the best carnival (national Under 18 championships) out of all our players. He’s a key defender but we threw him forward at the back end of the year and he actually plays both ends and he’s also a big-bodied mid.’’
Hugo Ralphsmith: “Another one with huge upside. He’s got some elite athletics traits. Position-wise, he’s probably still working out which one suits him best. We think he can be that second or third forward. You can’t put a small on him because he goes too high up and you can’t put a tall on him because he’s got elite speed. He’s a hard match-up. With 12 months under his belt he’s going to fly up the ladder.’’
Josh Worrell: “He’s an interesting one. Really love him. We played him on the wing Round 1 and then put him back to half back. He popped his shoulder and then did it a second time so he went and got that fixed up to ensure he was ready for an AFL pre-season. I think this kid could be anything. He’s a ball hunter. I actually think he’s going to be a midfielder once he’s in the system. With his size and athletic ability I liken him to Nick Haynes (of GWS), who I had years ago at the Stingrays.’’
Ryan Byrnes: “Couldn’t have done any more this year. Another one who had to fight his way into the Metro squad. Unfortunately he was injured and only got one game at the nationals, and he was probably only 80 per cent. Finished off the year really strongly for us. He’s an inside mid who can go forward and is hard a hard match-up because he’s strong overhead and he’s got explosive pace coming out of a pack. I think he’ll get picked … might be a back-end pick.’’
Darcy Chirgwin: “He was flying in February and then he broke his leg. To come back and play well and push his way into one game for Vic Country at the carnival showed off his talent. He’s a big-bodied midfielder who could be a third forward. I think this year was a bonus, coming back from injury as quickly as he did.’’
Angus Hanrahan: “He was an elite 18-year-old and we didn’t realise at that time that he was coeliac. Once he got his diet right he put on a fair bit of muscle. He was probably the No 1 kicker in our side … he wants the ball in his hand … he’s that outside wing with a beautiful kick.’’
Jack Bell: “Lightly framed 202cm ruckman and I think he’ll be very unlucky if his name isn’t there late. We all know ruckmen take a bit longer to develop. He’s a mobile ruckman with dangerous hands going forward. He kicks it really well and he’s good below his knees. He’s a well-rounded player.’’
Andrew Courtney: “Another ruckman and he’s got a bigger body so he’s already ready. At the end of the year he had a couple of little niggles – he’s a combative ruckman – and if he doesn’t get picked up he’s got to play VFL.’’
Corey Watts: “Probably played the hardest position on the ground, full back. We really like him and think he could be a late pick or in the mix for a rookie spot. He’s very aggressive and runs very well, as he showed with his combine testing.’’
Charlie Dean: “After three rounds he was leading our goalkicking and then along the way he picked up a couple of injuries that didn’t help him. He’s 194cm, 90-odd kilos, and a genuine forward. That said, the year before he played as a defender and some people say he’s a better defender than forward. He’s a talented kid. He’s the cricket captain, the football captain and the school captain at Wesley.’’
Oscar Lewis: “Went to the combine and played nationals in what was his second year of football after switching from his main sport of rowing. Great size, power and athletic ability that has all clubs talking about him — would see him as a late-end pick.’’
Louis Butler: “Had a really good start to the year, went to the nationals and had a fairly strong and consistent campaign as a small defender. Tapered off a little bit in the second half of the year, but he’s an athlete, he kicks it well and carries the ball. Deserves to be in the mix.’’
AND TWO SMOKIES
Riley Bowman: “19-year old ruckman-forward who played a mixture of games with us and Essendon VFL. Kicks it like a midsizer and competed against bigger bodies in the VFL. Deserves a late to rookie pick.’’
Jackson Voss: “Our most consistent player all year, playing prominently as a small defender. He’s aggressive, a penetrating kick and has great football nous. Coaches would have loved three of him as they wanted him to play back, forward or midfield. Rookie chance.’’