AFL Draft 2015: Sam Landsberger looks at how every club fared on draft night
HOW did your club fare on draft night? Sam Landsberger casts his eye over every clubs draft haul.
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IT’S the biggest night in a young footballer’s life and can change a club’s future in an instant.
After the AFL draft dust has settled, Sam Landsberger looks at how every club fared.
From Carlton’s four first-round picks to Geelong, who didn’t step up to the microphone until pick No.60.
Find out which young guns your club snared and who they look for the future.
ADELAIDE
Added local Crows fan Wayne Milera with its Dangerfield selection. The silky, indigenous half-forward who had heart surgery this year has already starred at senior SANFL level. Won’t leave, rated by one club at No.4 and will light up the Adelaide Oval wings. The Crows shocked at their next pick, taking 187cm defender Tom Doedee instead of local goalkicker Ryan Burton but No.17 was the Crows’ last pick and Doedee has great closing speed and run out of defence.
11 Wayne Milera (Central District)
17 Tom Doedee (Geelong Falcons)
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TURNING POINT: CURNOW VOWS TO REBUILD REP
BRISBANE LIONS
Josh Schache needs time but is the heir to Jonathan Brown’s goalsquare throne. Might have taken him No.1 if it had the pick and most importantly he wants to be a Lion, where his late dad Laurence played. Paid a high price for gangly tall and academy product Eric Hipwood but got ball magnet Ben Keays for unders. Hipwood needs time but is athletic, while Keays has shades of Simon Black. Grabbing players unlikely to walk out crucial. Picked the slider - Rhys Mathieson - at No.39, a physical inside midfielder who hunts the ball. Sam Skinner recovering from ACL. Lions big winners.
2 Josh Schache (Murray Bushrangers)
14 Eric Hipwood (Aspley/ Brisbane Academy)
24 Ben Keays (Brisbane Academy)
39 Rhys Mathieson (Geelong Falcons)
47 Sam Skinner (Gippsland Power)
CARLTON
Jacob Weitering was the clear No.1, Harry McKay was born eight days too early to be next year’s No.1 and Charlie Curnow was rated by one club as the clear No.2. That’s not a bad haul of talls. Weitering, along with Patrick Cripps, delivers a decade of leadership and he will play against Richmond in Round 1. Curnow could be the next Jarryd Roughead – high-marking forward with a motor fit for the midfield. David Cunningham brings blistering speed from stoppages. Essendon bid on Jack Silvagni, which SOS matched in record time.
1 Jacob Weitering (Mount Eliza)
10 Harry McKay (Gippsland Power)
12 Charlie Curnow (Geelong Falcons)
23 David Cunnigham (Oakleigh Chargers)
53 Jack Silvagni (Oakleigh Chargers) father-son
COLLINGWOOD
Was this the shock of the night? The Pies took little-known Brayden Sier with their first pick – a strong midfielder who played just two TAC Cup games. He spent the rest of season playing for Marcellin College but has a late birthday and interest grew late in the year despite not attending national or state combines. Tom Phillips was overlooked last year but the speedy wingman kicked two goals in the TAC Cup grand final. Finished with tall midfielder and VFL Magpie Rupert Wills, 22, who the club tucked away. Unexpected haul.
32 Brayden Sier (Northern Knights)
58 Tom Phillips (Oakleigh Chargers)
63 Rupert Wills (Collingwood VFL)
65 Ben Crocker (Oakleigh Chargers)
ESSENDON
Pay rise for Adrian Dodoro? Country kid Darcy Parish is an inside-outside midfield jet with flowing blond hair. That sounds like Dyson Heppell. Plenty of clubs firmly believe he is the No.1 midfielder and, with speedy rebounding defender Alex Morgan, will light up the midfield. Grabbed ex-Cat and top-up player Mitch Brown cheaply to partner Joe Daniher and Jack Gunston-like forward Mason Redman was up at 8am on Tuesday fartlek running. Key defender Michael Hartley another old bloke taken after two Coburg best-and-fairests. Yestin Eades shifted from WA to St Pat’s Ballarat and has worked closely with Lions champ Chris Johnson.
5 Darcy Parish (Geelong Falcons)
6 Aaron Francis (West Adelaide)
29 Alex Morgan (Oakleigh Chargers)
30 Mason Redman (Glenelg)
54 Mitch Brown (Cheltenham)
64 Yestin Eades (North Ballarat Rebels)
68 Michael Hartley (Collingwood)
FREMANTLE
Shane Yarran is a 26-year-old WAFL goalsneak who in 2013 was released from a six-year prison sentence for burglary. Cousin of Chris Yarran, he will join Hayden Ballantyne up forward, while sliders Darcy Tucker and Harley Balic are massive wins. Half-back Tucker was once rated as a top-five prospect and is a beautiful kick, while ex-basketballer Balic looks like Scott Pendlebury – time slows down and he has joyful lateral movement.
27 Darcy Tucker (North Ballarat Rebels)
38 Harley Balic (Sandringham Dragons)
55 Samuel Collins (Box Hill Hawks)
61 Shane Yarran (Subiaco)
GEELONG
After waiting just over two hours the Cats took Ryan Gardner – an athletic Tasmanian who won a late call-up into the Grand Final curtain-raiser. A key defender who needs time after suffering a stress fracture in his foot this year. Sam Menegola gets a third crack after rookie stints at the Hawks and Dockers. Third in the Sandover Medal from just 12 WAFL games and averaged 27 disposals in Subiaco’s premiership side. Wylie Buzza is a power forward with a great name and even better hair.
59 Ryan Gardner (Burnie Dockers)
66 Sam Menegola (Subiaco)
69 Wylie Buzza (Mt Gravatt)
70 Matthew Hayball (West Adelaide)
GOLD COAST
Did the Suns fluff their trade from pick No.3 to No.6? With top targets gone they took high-flyer Callum Ah Chee ahead of where some had him but he will thrill. Josh Schoenfield is a freak runner who broke the 3km time-trial record and Brayden Fiorini has a booming left foot and might be able to go on the opposite back flank to Nick Malceski. A haul that suits Rocket Eade’s game plan nicely.
8 Callum Ah Chee (South Fremantle)
20 Brayden Fiorini (Northern Knights)
34 Joshua Schoenfeld (Peel Thunder)
52 Mackenzie Willis (Kingborough)
GWS GIANTS
Yet another three first-round picks for the Giants. Some clubs said they would have taken Jacob Hopper at No.1 before Weitering, and fellow midfield gem Matthew Kennedy was an absolute steal at pick 13. Think Dangerfield for Hopper. Harry Himmelberg shapes as important pick given Cam McCarthy wants to leave. Giants got exactly what they wanted with four academy kids – three from the Riverina. Hopper boarded at St Patrick’s College and Victorian clubs will try to get him back here one day.
7 Jacob Hopper (North Ballarat Rebels/ GWS Academy)
13 Matthew Kennedy (Collingullie/ GWS Academy)
16 Harrison Himmelberg (Mangoplah-CUE/ GWS Academy)
41 Matthew Flynn (Narrandera/ GWS Academy)
HAWTHORN
Did it take the right Kieran? All the talk was of the 100kg Collins but it picked 173cm Lovell. He’s a Sam Mitchell-type who’s got crazy agility. Ryan Burton will be another Jack Gunston if he can recover from his horrific knee injury. Top-five on talent and jagged with the Jed Anderson pick. Medium forward Blake Hardwick adds more firepower up front and kicked 56 TAC Cup goals – including bags of 12 and 10.
19 Ryan Burton (North Adelaide)
22 Kieran Lovell (Kingston Tigers)
44 Blake Hardwick (Eastern Ranges)
MELBOURNE
Got its dream package – the big bolter Clayton Oliver and the big goalkicker Sam Weideman. If Oliver’s rapid rise continues he might make fans forget about missing Ollie Wines, while Weideman is Jesse Hogan’s new co-pilot – but his fitness needs building. Grandson of Pies’ legend Murray. Dees wanted a ruck so bid on GWS academy tall Matt Flynn and then took ACL victim Mitch King. Snapped up Liam Hulett to thwart some clubs’ rookie plans.
4 Clayton Oliver (Murray Bushrangers)
9 Sam Weideman (Eastern Ranges)
42 Mitch King (Murray Bushrangers)
46 Liam Hulett (Dandenong Stingrays)
NORTH MELBOURNE
The Kangaroos grabbed three key defenders last year and another with their top pick this year – 199cm lockdown backman Ben McKay. He can lack self-belief but only 17 and has spent just half a season in the pathway system. Cleverly took Ryan Clarke – who they loved – with their second pick, the gut-runner who will be aided by a cut in rotations. Mitch Hibberd is a bargain. Shoulder and knee recos ruined 2014 but carries the footy and will have home games in Tasmania.
21 Ben McKay (Gippsland Power)
31 Ryan Clarke (Eastern Ranges)
33 Mitchell Hibberd (Clarence)
43 Corey Wagner (Aspley/ Brisbane Academy)
60 Declan Mountford (Claremont)
PORT ADELAIDE
Must have been laughing when the best kick in the draft – West Adelaide’s Riley Bonner – fell to No.37. He’s an attacking half-back weapon with penetrating disposal on both sides. Bonner’s a great size and will play next year, hopefully jamming it down Charlie Dixon’s throat. Bendigo’s Aidyn Johnson went to Scotch College and is a forward whose agility generates space but was marred by injury this year.
37 Riley Bonner (West Adelaide)
45 Aidyn Johnson (Bendigo Pioneers)
RICHMOND
Daniel Rioli instantly brings huge excitement at the club ‘grandfather’ Maurice Rioli won a Norm Smith. Freakish athlete who’s lightning quick with a tank and that sexy Rioli ball control. Fills that hole as a clever small forward after Tiges refused to give up No.12 for Chris Yarran. Oleg Markov, whose dad Dimitri was a world champion pole-vaulter, has great endurance and kicked five against Vic Metro. Nathan Broad is a 22-year-old defender who’s AFL-ready.
15 Daniel Rioli (North Ballarat Rebels)
50 Oleg Markov (North Adelaide)
67 Nathan Broad (Swan Districts)
ST KILDA
Jade Gresham is slight but quick and has the rare ability to win his own ball and spread. Think Luke Shuey. An indigenous talent who captained Northern Knights and was Vic Metro’s MVP. Grabbed father-son Bailey Rice cheaply, a courageous half-back who is already mates with Hugh Goddard and Tom Lee. Brandon White charged up the order late and can give it a roost.
18 Jade Gresham (Northern Knights)
40 Brandon White (Dandenong Stingrays)
49 Bailey Rice (Dandenong Stingrays) father-son
SYDNEY
Callum Mills created history by becoming the first player taken under the new academy bidding system. Injuries wrecked this year but he’s a huge ball winner who, along with Isaac Heeney, gives the Swans two potential A-grade midfielders for their next generation. Added leadership as the academy fruits begin to prosper. Tyrone Leonardis kicks it well and Jordan Dawson shot up to 190cm this year. But, let’s be serious, it’s all about Mills. He had 24 touches and four goals at half-time in a game two years ago. Let father-son Josh Dunkley join the Dogs.
3 Callum Mills (North Shore/ Sydney Academy)
51 Tyrone Leonardis (Northern Knights)
56 Jordan Dawson (Sturt)
WEST COAST
The good bloke draft. Luke Partingon might be the best kid in it, the speedy outside midfielder. He coped incredibly well with his dad’s shock death at the start of the year. Bendigo’s Tom Cole heads west as a low-maintenance citizen best used at half-back while Matthew Allen is a popular tall forward. The grand finalist will get better in 2016 through trade additions Jetta and Redden.
28 Luke Partington (Norwood)
36 Tom Cole (Sandhurst)
57 Kurt Mutimer (Dandenong Stingrays)
62 Matthew Allen (Glenelg)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Dogs swapped pick 11 for 20 and 21 – and it was franked as a shrewd move. Got their man – 100kg full-back Kieran Collins – in a heist, filling a hole in the list. He’s 17 but will take on the gorilla forwards and didn’t lose a single one-on-one contest for Vic Country. Sydney let Josh Dunkley – a Luke Parker-type utility – stay in Victoria. Undersized WAFL key defender Marcus Adams is 22, well built and ready to rock. Bailey Williams once had 56 disposals - think Jimmy Bartel.
25 Josh Dunkley (Gippsland Power)
26 Kieran Collins (Dandenong Stingrays)
35 Marcus Adams (West Perth)
48 Bailey Williams (Glenelg)
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