Cameron Rayner, Luke Davies-Uniacke or Paddy Dow could go No.1 in national draft
CARLTON could secure Cameron Rayner in next month’s draft as SAM LANDSBERGER takes a look at the top three contenders for the No.1 pick.
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CARLTON could secure No.1 draft pick fancy Cameron Rayner next month as Brisbane Lions and Fremantle consider drafting Vic Country midfielders with the first two selections.
Recruiters say Rayner, 18, has the “Dustin Martin blueprint”, although the explosive Western Jet believes he plays more like Melbourne bull Christian Petracca.
Clubs are finding it difficult to separate Rayner, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Paddy Dow as this year’s cream.
Davies-Uniacke — nicknamed LDU — and Dow are considered slimmer flight risks for the Lions and Dockers, who lost homesick youngsters Josh Schache and Lachie Weller this month.
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Davies-Uniacke’s mother owns a house in Brisbane, where she lived for two years, and the keen surfer from Rye would also enjoy the waves at Perth’s beaches.
Swan Hill boy Dow destroyed Gippsland Power with 35 disposals, six clearances and two goals before he was booked for a shoulder reconstruction.
Rayner rocked a Dusty haircut at the national carnival, where he topped the goalkicking and dazzled as a half-forward with X-factor.
The question mark on him is his endurance. But he would be a dream fit for the Blues as they chase goalkicking power in their engine room after Bryce Gibbs’ exit.
Rayner won five flags and six best-and-fairests at Hillside and was nicknamed “Hollywood” by a junior coach for his goalkicking flair.
North Melbourne holds the No.4 selection. It is likely to consider Jaidyn Stephenson and Adam Cerra.
Midfielder Andrew Brayshaw is firming as a top-10 selection. Western Bulldogs would be pleased to land the brother of Melbourne’s Angus at No.9.
Three clubs have two top-10 picks — the Dockers (Nos.2 and 5), the Blues (Nos.3 and 10) and St Kilda (Nos.7 and 8).
For the first time Greater Western Sydney does not have a top-10 selection after activating 19 in the past five drafts.
The Dockers are expected to grab the best tall to go with one of Davies-Uniacke, Dow or Rayner.
They have previously been linked to Sam Hayes but clubs believe Peel Thunder’s Aaron Naughton is more likely.
Taking Naughton would gazump Collingwood’s interest in the 194cm intercepting defender. The Magpies hold the No.6 pick, their only selection in the first two rounds.
Aidan Bonar could leap into the top 15, but is laced with risk.
T he powerful Dandenong Stingray recovered from his second knee reconstruction late in the season.
THE RACE TO GO No.1
CAMERON RAYNER
Disposals 18.5
Clearances 3.8
Contested possessions 11.5
Score involvements 7.5
Goals 3.0
SuperCoach 120 pts
LUKE DAVIES-UNIACKE
Disposals 21.8
Metres gained 349m
Clearances 3
Score involvements 3.5
Goals 0.8
SuperCoach 82pts
PADDY DOW
Disposals 18.5
Contested possessions 11.8
Metres gained 325m
Clearances 5.3
Score involvements 5.5
SuperCoach pts 99
*Averages from this year’s national carnival. Source Champion Data
DRAFT ORDER
1 Brisbane Lions
2 Fremantle
3 Carlton
4 North Melbourne
5 Fremantle
6 Collingwood
7 St Kilda
8 St Kilda
9 Western Bulldogs
10 Carlton
11 GWS
12 Adelaide
13 West Coast
14 Sydney
15 Brisbane Lions
16 Western Bulldogs
17 Richmond
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