AFL draft 2019: Best mature-age prospects from the WAFL
Tim Kelly, Liam Ryan and Marlion Pickett were all drafted from the WAFL as mature-age recruits and became overnight AFL stars. Which experienced WA guns should be on your club’s radar?
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The WAFL has been a goldmine of mature-age talent in recent years for AFL clubs.
Our minds immediately turn to West Coast star Tim Kelly, who was plucked by the Cats in 2017 national draft and shone instantly at AFL level. The same year, the Eagles gave the high-flying Liam Ryan a chance at the big-time and he repaid them in spades, injecting x-factor on the way to a premiership.
The most recent example is Marlion Pickett. After years of dominating in the state league the Tigers took a punt on the 27-year-old in the mid-season draft, and again, in selecting him on Grand Final day. We all know how that went.
The success of Pickett could see other clubs follow suit to snare their own mature-age sensation in the upcoming draft, and there’s a number of WAFL talents who could have an impact from day one.
Will a former Docker and Pie get another chance, and could a goalkicking machine slot into your side’s forward line next year? Check out the leading WAFL mature-age hopefuls ahead of the 2019 draft.
Haiden Schloithe (South Fremantle)
184cm, 88kg, 26 years old, midfielder/forward
Schloithe has had another stellar year at WAFL league level, booting 23 goals and averaging 24 disposals, six clearances and 113 SuperCoach points per game. These sort of numbers have been the norm since he was delisted by the Dockers in 2013, with an outstanding average of 113 ranking points across his past six seasons. The 26-year-old won the Sandover Medal ahead of teammate Tim Kelly in 2017 – the year he was drafted by the Cats - and finished fifth in this year’s count. Will this be the year he joins him in the big league?
Jye Bolton (Claremont)
187cm, 84kg, 27 years old, midfielder
Like Schloithe, Bolton has been banging down the door for several seasons but 2019 was his best season yet, according to Champion Data. The Claremont star finished fourth in the league best-and-fairest, recording a touch under 30 disposals, eight clearances and 123 SuperCoach points per game. It would be the ball magnet’s second chance at AFL level after he spent a season on Collingwood’s list in 2011. His game has grown since then, but time is running out for the midfielder, who turns 28 in March. Received interest from numerous clubs last year after taking out his second Sandover Medal.
Ben Sokol (Subiaco)
186cm, 85kg, 23 years old, forward
A 60-goal season is sure to grab recruiters’ attention and 150-plus goals across three years at WAFL level is even more impressive. Sokol has been a goalkicking machine since he entered the league, topping the list with 60 majors this season and averaging 15 disposals, eight marks (two contested) and 102 SuperCoach points. This included a matchwinning six-goal haul in the grand final. The forward is a strong marking presence for his size and dangerous at ground level, with pinpoint accuracy in front of goal. Sokol was invited to the WA state combine and could appeal to a club in the market for a medium forward.
Mason Shaw (South Fremantle)
197cm, 95kg, 25 years old, key forward
Shaw spent three injury-riddled years on Port Adelaide’s and is now the leading spearhead in the WAFL. The 25-year-old was named full-forward in the WAFL team of the year after booting 55 goals for the season – second in the comp behind Sokol. Shaw has hardly missed a game since being cut from the Power and has kicked more than 45 majors in each of his four seasons.
Ajang Ajang (East Perth)
198cm 96kg, 22 years old, ruckman
Ajang is a former West Coast’s academy member and possesses athleticism in spades. The Kenyan-born ruckman played his first full WAFL season in 2019, averaging 12 disposals, 26 hitouts and 79 SuperCoach points per game. Ajang tested at the state combine so he is on the radar of AFL clubs, and could prove to be a promising project player.
Jeremy Goddard (Claremont)
202cm, 95kg, 21 years old, ruckman
The former AIS academy member missed out on draft night in 2016 and has been honing his craft in the WAFL since. Earning the No.1 ruck spot this season, Goddard recorded the most hitouts in the league, averaging almost 40 per game along with nine disposals and 79 SuperCoach points. Another who received a state combine invite.
Declan Mountford (Claremont)
183cm, 70kg, 22 years old, midfielder
After being delisted by North Melbourne last year, Mountford went straight to work for Claremont and performed strongly, earning selection in the WAFL team of the year. He averaged 22 touches, six clearances, nearly nine tackles and 119 SuperCoach points per game, showing his wares in the coalface. He played 12 games for the Roos in 2017 in a variety of positions before injury cut his 2018 campaign short.
Corey Gault (Swan Districts)
200cm, 100kg, 26 years old, ruck/forward
The former Pie presents as a possible mature-age forward/ruck option after tallying 14 disposals, 14 hitouts and just under a goal per game this season. He played just six games in five years with Collingwood with persistent injuries holding him back. Gault was rated by recruiting expert Gary Buckenara as his No.1 state-league prospect ahead of the 2019 mid-season draft.
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Bailey Rogers (Claremont)
185cm, 82kg, 22 years old, general defender
Rogers was named at half-back in the team of the year after a breakout season at WAFL level. The attacking defender averaged 22 disposals, seven intercept possessions, six rebound-50s and 94 SuperCoach points per game, providing Claremont plenty of drive from the back half. Has a strong intercept game and uses the ball well by foot.