Sandringham Dragons 2022 draft prospects
Sandringham Dragons might not have the league record 12 players drafted like last year but they will have a few gems. Here’s why.
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Even though the Sandringham Dragons may have less than the record 12 they drafted last year, the level of excitement for this year’s prospects has not changed.
They set the record for the most players drafted from one club last year when they produced 12 AFL players in Finn Callaghan (GWS), Josh Sinn (Port Adelaide), Campbell Chesser (West Coast), Mitchito Owens (St Kilda), Blake Howes (Melbourne), Marcus Windhager (St Kilda), Dante Visentini (Port Adelaide), Luke Cleary (Western Bulldogs), Charlie Constable (Gold Coast), Luke Nankervis (Adelaide), Charlie Dean (Collingwood), Jack Peris (St Kilda), Jacob Edwards (North Melbourne) and Max Heath (St Kilda).
The 2021 AFL draft saw three Dragons picked up in the top 20 picks but this year, there could be more which includes Will Ashcroft who looks like a player who will follow in the footsteps of first-year AFL young gun Nick Daicos.
See the top Dragon prospects with insights from club talent operation manager Mark Wheeler.
Harry Sheezel
Height: 184cm Weight: 77kg D.O.B: 13-10-2004
The “Mr Dynamite”, a player “that can do things others can’t do.” He can turn players inside out, he knows where the goals are, he doesn’t have to look at them. A genuine forward who is also “a very good team player.” Wheeler said “you can’t call his goals an accident” because he kicks spectacular snags regularly which reach highlight reels. He is similar to Jack Ginnivan, Josh Daicos in the way he can kick goals inside out on the boundary line, he also does little things that Dustin Martin can do and he can find space like Scott Pendlebury. A moment that sticks out for Wheeler is the time “in the grand final where he ran out to the boundary line, turned his bloke inside out, threw it over his shoulder and split the middle to ice the game really. He shouldn’t have done it, he had two opponents on him all night because they knew how dangerous he was.” Wheeler recalls a funny moment after the game re his teammates were telling him “he didn’t even look” at the goals and he responded “‘yeah, but I knew I was kicking it’, he had a bit of confidence he knew what he was doing.”
Olli Hotton
Height: 181cm Weight: 77kg D.O.B: 06-09-2004
The son of former Collingwood and Carlton footballer Trent Hotton, Olli developed his game under Haileybury coach Matthew Lloyd who made him the number one midfielder for the school and also a handy player in the forward line. He is also a talented basketballer but as a footballer he has learnt how to use his high speeds from tests in actual games which he lacked in the past. Wheeler said “he is a very smart forward, he did very well through the midfield but he is also a bloke who knows how to play with five other teammates in the forward line. They’re gold, those ones.” He is a player that you can also “see sitting on people‘s shoulders at some stages.”
Will Ashcroft
Height: 181cm Weight: 78kg D.O.B: 06-05-2004
An ultra professional who is nearly living the life of an AFL player already. He is programmed in what he does for his football in terms of his nutrition, how he trained and when he did it. Wheeler said “the biggest thing that I saw about him was his number one concern was how he could help others get drafted so that’s why I say he is the most professional I have ever seen.” Ashcroft who goes to Brighton Grammar did not play his first NAB League game until this season having commitments in APS school games. Wheeler said he is someone who is “ready to play” and could follow in the footsteps of Nick Daicos that had a stellar first season. He also said he is someone who is “so respected” and one that “wants to help others.” Wheeler also said he is a strong leader who “speaks like he has already played 100 AFL games.”
Cameron Mackenzie
Height: 187cm Weight: 80kg D.O.B: 21-01-2004
Has been in the Dragon‘s program all the way through and developed greatly. The Brighton Grammar student set out clear goals this season in what he wanted to achieve and he went out and did it. He began the season as a forward and midfielder who then became “a genuine midfielder who probably didn’t show how good he could be as a forward.” Wheeler said he enjoyed “his output this year, he came with a plan and when he made a mistake he owed it and moved on. He didn’t dwell on it and it didn’t consume him.” Mackenzie is likened to a young Dangerfield model who is “a ball hunter who loves it” and can also be handy on the outside.
Charlie Clarke
Height: 182cm Weight: 75kg D.O.B: 04-01-2004
He is one of Wheeler’s favourites at the Dragons. Clarke had to work his way into the talent pathway after being left out of Dragon sides in early years. The Port Melbourne Colts club footballer plays as an “aggressive” player who has become a handy “team player” that likes to celebrate the success of others. Wheeler said “he makes his presence known” and “he has got two minutes where he can turn a game on its head and win you a game of footy.” He works as a carpenter but it looks likely that he will have to put the tools down soon.
Jakob Anderson
Height: 187cm Weight: 81kg D.O.B: 12-09-2004
Missed the NAB League grand final due to doing a hamstring and just falling short of a comeback. The youngster still contributed to the game by sitting on the bench and in the coaches box to help his teammates which proved his good character. Wheeler says he is an “AFL type of player” and a strong leader.
Angus McLennan
Height: 187cm D.O.B: 02-09-2003
A Next Generation Academy player listed for St Kilda who had 18 months worth of injury. He made a good comeback to the game and reached great heights this season.
Nathan Scollo
Height: 191cm Weight: 81kg D.O.B: 06-01-2004
Ben Hempel
Height: 190cm Weight: 78kg D.O.B: 07-06-2004
Mitchell Rowe
Height: 185cm Weight: 77kg D.O.B: 26-05-2004
Jamie Hope
Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg D.O.B: 11-01-2004
Darcy Gilbert
Height: 193cm Weight: 90kg D.O.B: 07-06-2004
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