AFL draft’s best small-medium defensive prospects profiled
Does your club need an Daniel Rich or Adam Saad in defence? Meet the top prospects from around the country who possess similar traits, in our guide to the AFL Draft’s best small-medium defenders.
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Running defenders are becoming increasingly important in the modern game, showcased by Carlton’s hunt for Essendon line-breaker Adam Saad.
The ability to distribute by foot and provide run out of defence see these players become barometers for their sides.
But even Saad, one of the most damaging defenders in the game, had to wait until he was 20-years-of-age before being he got his chance, drafted by Gold Coast after starring for Coburg in the VFL.
Small-medium defenders are often lightly built and don’t excel until at least their top-age year, making the job extremely tough for recruiters trying to identify Victorian backline talent from the NAB League.
The seemingly inevitable drop in list sizes may also count against these backline prospects who were unable to show their wares in 2020.
Meanwhile, South Australian Lachlan Jones boosted his draft stocks significantly with an imposing season at SANFL level for Woodville-West Torrens.
Check out the best small-medium from the NAB League and from across the country.
Connor Downie – Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
Running defender/wingman
185cm, 83kg
Downie is a consummate professional and it’s no surprise he excelled as a bottom-ager last season across halfback and on the wing. The Ranges product is an attacking weapon on the outside with his long, penetrating kick and mix of endurance, speed and power. Leave Downie alone outside 50 at your peril. Several NAB League clubs found out the hard way in 2019 when he launched long-range goals like Brisbane’s Daniel Rich. He managed to break in for one game in a stacked Vic Metro side at the Under-18 national championships last season and played 14 NAB League games for Eastern, booting nine goals and averaging 16 disposals, 3.8 inside 50s, 3.3 intercepts and 82 SuperCoach ranking points.
Downie is a student of the game with standout leadership qualities, voted in as skipper of the Ranges for the 2020 season. An enhanced midfield role beckoned in his top-age year where he was set to work on his inside game, seen as a prospect who can progress into a quality AFL midfielder in time. Hawthorn has first call on arguably the best running defender in the draft pool as a member of its Next Generation Academy, and the Hawks will nab him for a steal if a bid comes after the second round. Downie is one who is capable of playing senior footy in 2021.
Sean Toohey says: “The most professional junior I have ever seen. He’s a beautiful, long left foot kick and covers the ground really well,”
Cameron Fleeton – Geelong Falcons/Vic Country
191cm, 80kg
Medium defender
It was a baptism of fire for Fleeton in a young and undersized Falcons side last season, with the ball regularly entering their defensive arc with interest. Fleeton proved he was up to the task against older forwards of all sizes, averaging 15.8 touches, 6.4 intercept possessions, 3.4 spoils and 96 SuperCoach points from nine NAB League games. The reliable defender has a number of AFL traits: he is competitive in 1-on-1 contests, reads the play well and is cool under pressure.
One of his best games of 2019 came in his match-up against potential number-one pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. While the talented forward slammed home four goals, Fleeton kept him to 10 touches and had 19 of his own – including 12 intercepts – in a thumping loss for the Falcons. Fleeton is a quiet personality but was given the nod as a member of the Falcons’ leadership before the season shutdown. Fleeton’s defensive attributes are similar to those of Brisbane stopper and former Falcons graduate Darcy Gardiner.
Falcons talent manager Michael Turner says: “He was one of our players all year (in 2019). He’s got all the attributes to play AFL footy.”
Patrick Walker – Tasmania Devils/Allies
186cm, 80kg
Running defender/wingman
Walker is a smooth moving halfback/wingman who shapes as one of the Apple Isle’s leading draft prospects. The North Hobart product showed promising signs with his silky skills on both sides and his ability to cover the ground in the NAB League last season, averaging 16.6 touches at 75 per cent disposals efficiency, 5.5 rebound 50s, 4.7 intercept possessions and 77 SuperCoach points across 16 matches.
Walker missed the recent Tasmania All Stars clash and his state draft combine with a calf complaint but displayed his running prowess with an elite 6:28 two-kilometre time trial during pre-season testing. He has had the luxury of playing senior footy in the Tasmania State League competition on a wing for North Hobart, where he has improved his physicality – an area he will have to continue working on if he is drafted. Walker is a hardworking prospect who is expected to have no trouble transitioning into an AFL environment.
Devils talent manager Craig Notman says: “An elite runner who uses the ball really, really well. He’s the kind of kid who just glides across the ground, he’s a real smooth-mover.”
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Sam Collins – Tasmania Devils/Allies
185cm, 75kg
Small defender
Like his namesake for the Suns, Collins possesses great aerial ability and sharp reading of the play in defence. However, he is a different kettle of fish standing at 185 centimetres, compared to the Gold Coast best-and-fairest winner at 194 centimetres. Collins plays with an attacking mindset – whether that be zoning off to take intercept marks or setting up the play with an aggressive kick. His impressive leap and strong hands overhead mean he plays taller than his height suggests, tallying 17.4 disposals, 5.4 marks 4.5 rebound 50s, 2.1 intercept marks and 89 SuperCoach points at NAB League level last season.
Collins played alongside Walker for North Hobart in the TSL this year in more of a lockdown role in defence. He proved he can mix it with the best in the draft pool in 2019, taking part in the Under-17 All Stars match on Grand Final day, representing the Under-17 All Australian team in its showcase clash against New Zealand and playing a game for the Allies at the national carnival. He and Walker may come into draft calculations later in the piece.
Notman says: “He can be very brave in the air; he can be that guy that comes off his opponent quite well as third man in. He’s always looking to set things up from the back half.”
Nick Stevens – Greater Western Victoria Rebels/Vic Country
191cm, 82kg
Medium Defender
Stevens is a determined and hardworking prospect who is arguably Greater Western Victoria’s top draft chance. The halfback brings poise and penetration out of defence and has good balance in his game, knowing when to switch from attack to locking down on his opponent. An early injury and school footy for Geelong Grammar kept him to six NAB League games last season, showing potential and winning 14.3 disposals, five intercept possessions, three rebound 50s and 72 SuperCoach points per game. High possession tallies were expected from Stevens in his top-age year.
The Rebels were looking to push him up the ground through the middle and on the wing at stages in 2020 to build the contested side of his game. Stevens boasts strong leadership qualities and would have been in the mix to captain the Rebels if the season went ahead. He trained with the Cats during the pre-season and took part in the All Stars showcase on Grand Final day last year. The 191 centimetre defender has been working tirelessly with Rebels fitness freak Harry Sharp in preparation with for the upcoming combine.
Rebels talent manager Phil Partington says: “He’s just one of those players who can find space and use the ball well to his teammates. He’s very determined in where he wants to get to.”
Charlie Ham – Geelong Falcons/Vic Country
181cm, 74kg
Small Defender
A similar player to his older brother – speedy Bomber Brayden Ham – the Falcons defender takes the game on with run, is good overhead and is a smart decision maker. Ham is a late developer – like his sibling, who was drafted to Essendon as a 19-year-old – but was more advanced in his bottom-age year than Brayden at the same age.
Nevertheless, recruiters have a difficult task on their hands evaluating his talent without a top-age year under his belt, averaging 7.2 disposals, 2.6 intercept possessions and 43 SuperCoach points from nine matches in 2019. Fortunately, Ham performed strongly in their two practice games at the start of the year, giving every indication that he was in for a stellar season.
The Falcons expected Ham to dominate off halfback with his classy left-foot kick and intercept skills. Ham will need to build his frame but possesses exciting traits that are highly sought after. An invite to the Vic Country combine is a vote of confidence for his draft prospects.
Turner says: “He’s a beautiful left-foot kick, he can run and distribute into the midfield or the forward 50. I’m sure he would have played really well (if the season went ahead).”
OUTSIDE THE NAB LEAGUE
Lachlan Jones – Woodville-West Torrens/South Australia
188cm/86kg
Medium defender
Jones is the standout small-medium in the draft after a glittering season at SANFL senior level for premiers Woodville-West Torrens. The Power Next Generation Academy prospect has become more accomplished as the year has gone on, playing a crucial role down back in three of their finals (missing one with injury), including their 39-point Grand Final win on Sunday. Jones is a tough, ready-made prospect with strong defensive attributes, doing jobs on some of the best forwards in the competition this season. He’s not just a dour defender, though, taking a sensational hanger against Glenelg in the back-half of the year. His intercept game has improved in spades against seasoned bodies, averaging 10 intercept possessions during the finals series, headlined by an eye-catching semi-final where 15 of his 19 possessions were won from the opposition. Jones’s last month may see him attract a bid inside the top-10 and it won’t be long before he’s making his Port Adelaide debut in 2021. Fellow South Australian Zac Dumesny, a defender/wingman with tidy skills, cracked in for six SANFL games this season and looms as a second-round pick.
Power NGA prospect Lachlan Jones has capped off a stellar year at SANFL senior level with an imposing finals series for premiers WW Torrens. Major impact averaging 16 touches, 10 intercepts and 93 #SuperCoach points. Another quality youngster to add to their ranks â˜‘ï¸ #AFLDraft
— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) October 19, 2020
😲| Check out the monster hanger from @EAGLES_WWTFC Lachie Jones in the latest round of @SANFL!
— The Advertiser Sport (@TheTiserSport) September 15, 2020
Not bad for an 18yo...
HIGHLIGHTS: https://t.co/ncSu8geonF pic.twitter.com/WuhyIhaNAY
Brandon Walker – East Fremantle/Western Australia
184cm, 75kg
Small defender
Yet another Next Generation Academy member, Walker is a smooth-moving defender tied to Fremantle. Walker has enjoyed a promising WAFL Colts season, gathering 18.6 disposals, 13.9 kicks, 5.7 intercept possessions, three rebound 50s and 94 SuperCoach points from 10 matches. The East Fremantle product uses the ball well by foot and has a touch of flare, using his speed to take the game on from defence. A foot injury in the WAFL Colts preliminary final meant Walker was unable to test at the WA combine or participate in the their All Stars matches, His twin brother, Chris, is also part of the Dockers’ NGA. Like Dumesny, Walker will likely come into calculations in the second round.
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