Sandringham Dragons finalise list for 2022 NAB League boys season

Max Ramsden is a player to watch this year at the Sandy Dragons, who have named the sons of an AFL coaching great and a premiership Magpie on their list.

Hugo Hall-Kahan takes a kick for the Dragons. He’s returned as a 19-year-old.

There’s another big fellow named Max showing promise at the Sandringham Dragons.

Max Ramsden, 202cm, was at Melbourne Grammar last year and has joined the club as a 19-year-old player.

MG director of football Rhy Gieschen alerted the Dragons to Ramsden’s potential after he played three games for the school last year, taking 10 marks from centre half forward in the last of them.

Dragons region manager Mark Wheeler likes what he sees in Ramsden.

“He’s a boy who’s had no exposure and he’ll come in and play NAB League against the No 1 team in Oakleigh Chargers,’’ he said.

“If he can stand up and do what he’s been doing with us in pre-season and in his first game we’re pretty hopeful for him.

Max Ramsden at Melbourne Grammar.

“Athletically he’s as good as I’ve seen. For a bloke who’s 202cm and runs a 6.04 (2km), not many his size can do that. And he takes the game on. On the weekend (in a practice match against the Dandenong Stingrays) he went forward and he was four-deep and launched at the ball and nearly clunked it.’’

Last year the Dragons had three ruckmen drafted – Jacob Edwards, Max Heath and Dante Visentini – and they also sent two on to the VFL, Felix Flockhart and Joe Nowell.

They also have 200cm Timothy Parris on their books this year, but he recently had shoulder surgery and will miss a lot of the season.

Earlier this week the Dragons finalised their squad for the new season and it features the touted Will Ashcroft, the son of Brisbane premiership player Marcus.

Ashcroft and Harry Sheezel are in the AFL Academy and both were prominent last week against the Stingrays, with Sheezel kicking five goals and Ashcroft piling up possessions.

“I’ve never seen a young bloke so dedicated to getting the best out of himself,’’ Wheeler said of midfielder Ashcroft.

“He’s meticulous in what he does on and off the field.

“And his growth in bringing people along for the journey is the thing that really gets you excited.’’

Will Ashcroft celebrates a goal during the Under 17 Championships match between Vic Country and Vic Metro at Geelong last year.

He said Sheezel “has excitement written all over him’’ every time he took the ball.

Matt Clarkson, the son of coaching great Alastair, and Nick Christian, former Collingwood defender Michael’s boy, are on the list, as is Vigo Visentini, Dante’s brother.

Clarkson is listed as 170cm and 60kg.

Wheeler said he was the best kick at the club.

“He hits every target. He’s good on both sides. Caleb Daniel is the player he’s modelling himself on,’’ he said.

“He’s trying to own a small-back position.’’

Lachlan Benton, considered unlucky to be overlooked in last year’s drafts, is back as a 19-year-old, as is Hugo Hall-Kahan, who Wheeler believes is set for a terrific season.

The Dragons have a new coach in former Oakleigh assistant Wayne Cripps, who replaced Jackson Kornberg, now steering the Gold Coast Suns’ VFL team.

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 2022 NAB LEAGUE BOYS LIST

Mackenzie Allen, 180cm 76kg Euroa Magpies (local club), Scotch College (school)

Jakob Anderson, 187, 81, Old Haileybury, Haileybury College

Ben Andrews, 198, 86, Old Xaverians, Monash University

Will Ashcroft, 180, 76, Old Brighton, Deakin University

Jack Atkinson, 187, 79, St Kilda City, Caulfield Grammar

Lachie Benton, 186, 79, Dingley, RMIT

Hugo Birks, 192, 80, Old Scotch, Melbourne University

William Brown, 192, 80, East Brighton, Caulfield Grammar

Matthew Carroll, 187, 78, East Malvern, St Kevins

Nick Christian, 190, 78, Prahran JFC, Melbourne Grammar

Charlie Clarke, 182, 75, Port Melbourne Coltsk

Matthew Clarkson, 170, 60, Beaumaris, Caulfield Grammar

James Creighton, 185, 77, Old Brighton, Deakin University

Ned Crowe, 188, 89, St Kevins, RMIT

Jack Forer, 183, 72, De La Salle, VAFA University

Darcy Fountain, 183, 74, St Bede’s

Charlie Gaiardo, 187, 79, Old Carey, Carey Grammar

Darcy Gilbert, 192, 88, Old Brighton, Brighton Grammar

Ned Gray, 186, 72, Hampton Rovers, St Leonards

Hugo Hall-Kahan, 188, 78, Old Haileybury

Charlie Harrop, 185, 76, Beaumaris, Haileybury College

Ben Hempel, 190, 79, St Bedes Mentone, St Bedes College

George Hill, 181, 70, Old Brighton, Brighton Grammar

Jamie Hope, 181, 71, Old Brighton, Brighton Grammar

Olli Hotton, 181, 77, Hampton Rovers, Haileybury College

Jake Johnson, 193, 88, Beaumaris, RMIT

Harvey Johnston, 183, 76, Mordialloc Braeside JFC, Parkdale Secondary College

James Keys, 184, 83, Hampton Rovers, St Leonards

Justin Krok, 187, 81, East Sandringham JFC, Caulfield Grammar

Robert Larcher, 181, 72, South Melbourne, St Kevins

Lachlan Lawrence, 195, 79, Bentleigh, Caulfield Grammar

Luke Lloyd, 192, 78, St Peters JFC, De La Salle

Archie Loughnan, 194, 85, Caulfield Grammarians, Swinburne

Cameron Mackenzie, 187, 80, Beaumaris, Brighton Grammar

Luca Macnab, 183, 76, Old Brighton

Thomas Marriott, 182, 73, Brighton Grammar

Lachlan McCluskey, 190, 82, Brighton Grammar

Angus McLennan, 187, 81, Old Scotch

Spencer McLennan, 180, 73, Beaumaris, St Bedes College

Toby McMullin, 183, 71, Port Fairy Seagulls, Melbourne Grammar

Oliver Murphy, 198, 81, East Brighton, Caulfield Grammar

Jake Nicholas, 199, 78, Malvern East, Melbourne Grammar

William Nish, 182, 77, Beaumaris, Mentone Grammar

Luke Nixon-Smith, 188, 82, Hampton Rovers, St Leonards

Tarkyn O’Leary, 176, 64, Mordialloc Braeside, St Bedes College

Timoth Parris, 200, 86, East Malvern, St Kevins

Elliot Perkins, 183, 73, Hampton Rovers, Brighton Grammar

Max Ramsden, 202, 86, Old Melburnians, Melbourne University

Muoteer Reech, 189, 67, St Mary’s, Melbourne Grammar

Aydin Rielly, 172, 77, St Kilda City

Archie Roberts, 182, 71, Hampton Rovers, Haileybury College

Christopher Rousakis, 187, 74, St Pauls, McKinnon SC

Mitchell Rowe, 186, 77, Mordialloc Braeside JFC, Mentone Grammar

Ryley Sanders, 184, 80, North Launceston, Melbourne Grammar

Cameron Saultry, 182, 72, St Bedes Mentone Tigers

Nathan Scollo, 193, 76, De La Salle, ACU

Harry Sheezel, 184, 77, Ajax, Mount Scopus

Ethan Smith, 175, 71, Kiama Power, Melbourne Grammar

Harry Sullivan, 180, 71, Labrador, Caulfield Grammar

Nathan Sullivan, 188, 75, Mordialloc Braeside JFC, St Bedes College

Mason Szonyi, 187, 77, Old Brighton, Brighton Grammar

Luke Travers, 181, 73, St Kilda City, Brighton Grammar

Oliver Tyrer, 189, 83, South Melbourne JFC, Melbourne Grammar

Vigo Visentini, 199, 78, Brighton Beach, Xavier College

Lachlan Voss, 196, 74, Port Melbourne Colts JFC, Albert Park College

Conor Willis, 177, 70, Lavington Panthers, Melbourne Grammar