AFL Draft 2021: Tigers put No.15 pick on the table to improve future draft hand
Richmond is remaining flexible with its strong draft hand. And the decisions it makes with its first two selections can blow the draft wide open.
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Richmond is open to trading its No.15 pick for a superior draft hand as the Tigers prepare to capitalise on draft night chaos with five picks to help replace premiership stars.
The Tigers will back in their draft order with coach Damien Hardwick giving the list team their head while in America on a fact-finding mission that includes more study in Boston.
Richmond is mindful of having lost three key position players in recent months and will hope to replace them by drafting the stars of the future with selections 7, 15, 26, 27, 28.
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While the Tigers look set to keep pick seven - which will drift back to pick nine after father-son bids - recruiting boss Matthew Clarke said Richmond was open to trading pick 15.
If rival clubs are keen to get up the order the Tigers would be prepared to swap pick 15 with a later pick in the teens as long as the compensation was adequate.
Richmond is open to only taking four picks as they eye stockpiling more selections in a 2022 national draft already laden with key position stocks.
The Tigers are likely to secure one of intercepting defender Josh Gibcus, Northern Knights midfielder Josh Ward, East Perth key position forward Jye Amiss or Vic Country midfielder Ben Hobbs with the first pick.
Richmond’s welter of early picks means the Tigers can consider their list priorities or trade some of their later picks to ultimately improve their draft strategy.
“We have talked about moving up from pick seven but given our rankings we think we have some really strong options who will get through to us. Potentially some clubs with picks in the 20s are keen on our pick 15 and we would be reluctant to give it up unless there was a good offer. But if we could get back into pick 19 or 20 the player we select might not be much different.
“So if someone really wanted pick 15 we could get a future first and potentially flick something back to them later in the draft.
“We are definitely mindful of those key position types. We have lost David Astbury, Mabior Chol and Callum Coleman Jones. But five picks gives us nice flexibility. If there are good players available with our rankings we could use all five picks and if clubs come hard we might get something good for next year.
Clarke said the club believed key defenders Ben Miller and “Biggy” Nyuon could make an impact next year but made clear it was dangerous to select on needs and ignore players with superior talent when taking top 10 picks.
“There will be some players we like. We are just sticking to our ranking. We want to be true to our rankings, we will come up with an order. We are pretty comfortable with where we sit. There will be some good players as there will be right through to 30, we are pretty confident we will get a good player.”
Richmond has always drafted for talent and traded for needs, so is aware if it can secure another selection in next year’s draft it could help restock the club’s midfield with another experienced player through the 2022 trade period.
Nick Daicos a ‘steal’ at pick four
Collingwood father-son Nick Daicos would be a “steal” at pick four in Wednesday’s national draft and could have played a whole season at the club this year if eligible, according to former Pies assistant coach Brenton Sanderson.
The brilliant son of club legend Peter Daicos will arrive at the Pies as a fully formed midfielder with an astonishing junior pedigree and some of the tricks that made his father famous.
But as the Herald Sun revealed last week, the top six selections in the national draft seem set in stone with Daicos drifting from pick 1 early in the year to the fourth overall selection.
Patrick Dangerfield clone Jason Horne-Francis will go to North Melbourne with the No.1 overall pick, handing him a $105,000 starting salary, a $10,000 NAB bonus as the first selection and $4000 per senior match.
Greater Western Sydney will then bid on Western Bulldogs father-son Sam Darcy as a 205cm ruck-swingman utility before taking Sandringham Dragons midfielder Finn Callaghan, with Gold Coast then bidding on Daicos.
After Collingwood matches that bid the Suns are then set to secure young Sudanese ruck prospect Mac Andrew, quashing Demons hopes of securing the Melbourne NGA prospect, before Adelaide snaps up electric goalsneak Josh Rachele.
Instead of having to match a bid with the No.1 overall pick the Pies would save the equivalent to pick 24 in draft points, with ex-Collingwood assistant Sanderson raving about his skills as a generational talent.
“For Collingwood fans they have now got two Browns on the list (Tyler and Cal), two Daicoses (Josh and Nick), it’s pretty exciting,” Sanderson told the Herald Sun on Tuesday.
Asked how many games he would have played in 2021 if on the Pies list, he replied: “Almost all of them for sure. He played a handful of VFL games for us in the pre-season before Covid hit and he was the best player on the ground as a 17 year old. He is going to come in straight away and be a really good player.
“(Pick four) would be a steal. If you think about Gary Ablett Jr, he went for a third-round draft pick and thank God they changed the rules, that was daylight robbery back in the day.
“He is going to be one of those players in this generation.
“I can remember going scouting games at the MCG on a Friday night and Peter would be sitting with the two Daicos boys at 13 and 10 and he was educating them at a young age, watching games live at the MCG.
“He has had a proper education in getting himself ready to be an AFL footballer.”
Daicos said it was “upsetting” that he had not been interviewed by the Giants this year, but GWS recruiting boss Adrian Caruso on Tuesday said the Giants had other list needs.
“We absolutely rate him as a top end talent, we rate him in the top five based on his talents, but it’s a decision based on our list needs,” Caruso said of the club’s intention to not bid on Daicos.
“In regards to not interviewing him, he was locked in to going to Collingwood ... we knew he was going there,” Caruso said.
“Ultimately, we view the bidding system as ranking the players as they would be in the open draft so that is what we have done with Nick and Sam (Darcy).
“They are rated highly on their talent but when you rank them as whether you would pick them it has to come back to a positional fit and needs and ultimately it’s the decision we have come to.”
Caruso revealed the Giants could be open to trading their No.13 draft selection if they could not find a suitable player at that selection, with the Hawks (with picks 21 and 24) one suitor.
The Dogs are also open to trading out pick 23 given they are amassing points for Darcy, with a number of live trades expected early in the national draft.
“Pick two gives us something at the top end of the draft and having coverage with pick 13, we can wait and see what gets through and if there is nothing there we love we can always move back or even go back into next year’s draft,” Caruso said.
“We have kept their options open and there are a few different players in that mix we would consider, but if they are all gone, we could do something with that on the night.”
Why Roos must consider father-son bids
— Dan Batten
Victoria will account for a high percentage of the talent prised by AFL clubs yet again, headlined by two father-son prodigies at the top.
As many as 15 Victorians could be selected in the first-round of the AFL Draft on Wednesday night — which is no mean feat for this group of prospects, that have been heavily impacted by Covid-19 enforced interruptions across the past two seasons.
Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs are expected to welcome Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy to their respective clubs, with both viewed as top-three prospects across the country behind ready-made South Australian Jason Horne-Francis.
Oakleigh Chargers talent manager Jy Bond said that if he was in North Melbourne’s shoes, he would contemplate bidding on both the players he has helped develop in the Chargers program.
“I think (Daicos) is up there as a No.1 pick. Having said that, I could justify taking Sam Darcy at No.1 too, I can see the benefits of both those young men and they’ve both got extremely high football futures,” Bond told the Herald Sun.
So, who are the best 10 talents out of Victoria?
Find out the top talents and where they could they land on draft night.
VICTORIA’S TOP 10 DRAFT PROSPECTS
Nick Daicos
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Midfielder, 183cm, 86kg
Plays like: Zach Merrett
2021 Champion Data Ranking Points average: 159 (NAB League)
Draft range: 2-4
Oakleigh Chargers talent manager Jy Bond: “He showed this year he can accumulate through the midfield, he is very dangerous around goal. He is an extremely smart player and he’s got that freakish football ability around goals like his father (Peter Daicos) and his brother (Josh).”
Dan says: Daicos is a class above the rest in Victoria and if he had greater opportunity to prove his talents this year, he may have been viewed as the clear standout across the country. The Collingwood father-son prodigy combines prolific ball winning with outstanding footy IQ, exquisite skills, goalkicking nous up forward, versatility, the list goes on.
Where does he land: We know he will end up at Collingwood, but intrigue surrounds whether Greater Western Sydney will bid on the father-son prospect. News Corp reported this week that rival clubs believe the Giants are open to letting him through, which would be music to Magpie fans’ ears.
Sam Darcy
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro/Western Bulldogs father-son
Key forward/defender, 205cm, 93kg
Plays like: Max King, Ben King, Darcy Moore
RP: 90 (NAB League)
Draft range: 2-4
AFL Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan says: “He is a unique talent. He dominated centre half back the first time I watched him play, the next he’s kicking six goals in a trial match for Vic Metro, and he was a star at that end as well. He is like the King boys in my view in the air. He is mobile, he kicks the ball very well. Western Bulldogs supporters, you’re getting an absolute beauty, I reckon.”
Dan says: The standout key forward by some margin with his vice-like hands and size, with his flexibility to be used down back giving him major upside. Narrowly ahead of Callaghan for me, but not by much.
Where does he land: Darcy fills the Giants’ needs to a tee, so the father-son prodigy is tipped to attract a bid from them. Will it be at pick two, or three?
Finn Callaghan
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Midfielder, 191cm, 86kg
Plays like: Marcus Bontempelli
RP: 111 (NAB League)
Draft range: 2-6
Sandringham talent manager Mark Wheeler says: “It is a very big statement, but I liken him to a young Marcus Bontempelli. His ability to get through traffic, his little sidestep, his ability to grab the ball and become a 100m player on the outside. I think he becomes an all-round package. He’s an outside player when he gets into the system but he’ll definitely be an inside player because he has this step that no one can stop him on.”
Dan says: An extremely dangerous offensive threat with his booming kick and unparalleled speed-agility mix as a midfielder, allowing him to weave through traffic with ease. Deserving of the second pick of the open draft, as he can do what other midfielders in this draft class can’t. He has grown an extra two centimetres, which is an added bonus.
Where does he land: Multiple clubs have presented offers to the Giants for their prized second selection, with Callaghan in mind, but to no avail. Adelaide will have themselves a bargain if he slides to its selection at pick four (potentially six after the father-son bids). Greater Western Sydney is poised to call Callaghan’s name but if they opt for Mac Andrew, expect Gold Coast to pounce.
Ben Hobbs
GWV Rebels/Vic Country
Inside midfielder, 183cm, 79kg
Plays like: Joel Selwood, Rory Laird
RP: 152 (NAB League)*
Draft range: 7-11
*Not including injury-affected score of four in Round 4
GWV Rebels coach David Loader says: “He’s a genuine inside midfielder. Clean hands, good contested player, loves the pressure and the intent of the players around the footy. It can be pouring rain and nothing changes with Ben… He’s one of these players that if you’re looking at someone who (a club) can lock in and play 150 games of AFL football, I would’ve thought ‘Hobbsy’ would be your perfect prototype for that.”
Dan says: Hobbs is the man you want in the clinches with his ball-winning, tackling and leadership qualities. A future contested beast who looks a 200-gamer in the making, which is why I view him as a top-five talent in the draft.
Where does he land: Will Hobbs be Fremantle’s Adam Cerra replacement? The Hawks appear to favour Josh Ward over Hobbs, which may leave the Dockers and Tigers in the box seat to secure the midfielder. It is unlikely he will get past those two clubs, but St Kilda looms large if he slips through.
Josh Rachele
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country
Forward/midfielder, 179cm, 81kg
Plays like: Toby Greene, Robbie Gray
RP: 129 (NAB League)
Draft range: 5-8
Murray Bushrangers talent manager Mick Wilson says: His ability to hit the impact the scoreboard and create chances from minimal opportunities… he is elite in this area. His strength is his forward craft but he can actually play really well through the midfield, so he is a similar pretty similar player to someone like Toby Greene.”
Dan says: A genuine matchwinner who kicks goals from all angles – underlined by his six goal haul in his final NAB League game. His ability to become damaging a pinch-hitting midfielder can’t be understated, winning the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the under-16 carnival MVP. There has been a reluctance to take small forwards early, but Melbourne livewire Kysaiah Pickett is case in point of how handsomely it can pay off.
Where does he land: Adelaide is very keen on Rachele and West Lakes appears to be his likely destination. The Giants have also expressed interest, but their selection may be too early with the likes of Callaghan and Andrew on offer. After that, Hawthorn and Richmond loom as potential suitors if the Crows look elsewhere.
Josh Gibcus
Greater Western Victoria Rebels/Vic Country
Key defender, 196cm, 87kg
Plays like: Jake Lever
RP: 83 (NAB League)
Draft range: 5-14
David Loader says: “He’s the new-age defender. He’s 197cm, he’s quick, he’s got good endurance, he’s quite agile and he’s got a massive leap. He is the perfect prototype to play on the up and coming gun forwards of the competition. Athletically, Josh is really, really gifted and a super exciting player.”
Dan says: Gibcus attacks the ball in the air like his life depends on it. This along with his incredible vertical leap, speed off the mark and reading of the play sets him apart from other key defenders in the pool. Think Jake Lever, but taller.
Where does he land: A difficult prospect to place, but he is expected to be taken inside the first dozen. Could he slide all the way into the teens (after father-son bids)? If he did, it would be a massive steal.
Josh Ward
Northern Knights/Vic Metro
Midfielder, 183cm, 77kg
Plays like: Zach Merrett, Luke Power
RP: 133 (NAB League)
Draft range: 5-12
Northern Knights talent manager Natalie Grindal says: He’s got really clean hands to get the ball out, really reliable at stoppages and has got a trusty left foot. One of the game that probably stands out was the game against Oakleigh, where he went head to head with Daicos and really showed he can hold his own. He was probably the best player on the ground that day and his footy has shown how reliable he can be.
Dan says: Ward is as reliable as they come – possessing inside-outside ball-winning traits and incredible endurance – and even gave Daicos a run for his money in a head-to-head duel in the NAB League earlier in the year. One of the most bankable prospects in this draft crop.
Where does he land: Will Ward end up at Hawthorn, the club he grew up supporting? Talk suggests it is on the cards, with the midfielder linked to the Hawks at pick five. Richmond, at seven, is another club who has shown interest, and it’d be hard to see him sliding outside the top-10
.
Mac Andrew
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
Ruckman, 201cm, 73kg
RP: 88 (NAB League)
Plays like: Luke Jackson, Nic Naitanui
Draft range: 2-10
Dandenong Stingrays coach Nick Cox says: “I think he is going to be a really safe pick, not only for his footballing ability but as a person as well. He can forward, back and we’ve seen him play through the ruck this year. His ability in the air and on ground is very appealing to clubs, and not many big blokes can do that.”
Dan says: Might not take as long as first thought to develop after adding eight kilograms across the year. Has been compared to Luke Jackson for his leap and follow-up work as a ruckman – somewhat ironic given he will not make it the Demons as an NGA prospect, with bids unprotected inside the top-20. His scope to be used at either end adds to his significant ceiling.
Where does he land: GWS is believed to be contemplating selecting him with the second pick of the open draft. But if they go with Callaghan, as expected, Gold Coast looms as the most likely suitor, having also been linked to the Egyptian prospect. Andrew has toured Hawthorn’s facilities, and he may be too tantalising to resist for the Dockers if he falls to their two selections in the top-10.
Josh Sinn
Sandringham Dragons
Defender/midfielder, 187cm, 78kg
Plays like: Hayden Young/Isaac Smith
RP: 90 (NAB League)
Draft range: 8-17
Sandringham talent manager Mark Wheeler says: “I think he will come in (to the system) behind the ball when he starts… but I can see that he becomes another inside player. I’d be confident that he becomes a very good player in the AFL system and if he goes past pick 12, someone has got a bargain. I think we were all talking about him a couple of years ago as pick one, two or three. I reckon there’s a bit of drive in him to say, ‘you know what, I am a pick one, two or three.’”
Dan says: A potential top-five draftee entering the year, an uninterrupted season could have seen him maintain that, but injury and Covid got in the way. Other draftees may have jumped ahead of him, but he will provide serious value if he slides into the late first-round range with his game-breaking qualities and class.
Where does he land: St Kilda has been linked to the Dragons product, and interstate clubs around the mid-first round range have shown interest. Is Port Adelaide’s first round selection at 12 (14 after bids) his floor?
Josh Goater
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro
Midfielder/defender, 190cm, 80kg
Plays like: Miles Bergman
RP: 116 (NAB League)
Draft range: 8-17
Calder Cannons talent manager Matthew Burton says: “Josh’s athletic traits would be quite envious to other players – he can go above head, he’s talented vertically, and also he’s got speed off the mark that is quite eye-catching. He’s quite pleasing to watch as a footballer. If it all clicks for him at AFL level, he can become a damaging and exciting player.”
Dan says: Goater screams X-Factor through the middle and across halfback, possessing terrific agility, leap and overhead marking. A prospect who could be anything, but his endurance remains a question mark.
Where does he land: Goater has family ties in Western Australia, where his father played WAFL footy for East Perth, and his range probably begins at Fremantle’s first pick at eight. After that, the clubs in the 9-15 bracket have all shown interest, Would the Tigers pounce if he slid to their selection, set to be at 17?
The next 5
Tyler Sonsie (Eastern Ranges)
Mitch Knevitt (Geelong Falcons)
Campbell Chesser (Sandringham Dragons)
Darcy Wilmot (Northern Knights)
Sam Butler (GWV Rebels)
All five of these players end up as first-round selections – a reflection of the strong talent pool out of Victoria this year. Dynamic and skilful midfielder Sonsie is just on the periphery and might have been a top-10 selection if he had greater opportunity this year, while 193cm clearance machine Knevitt has bolted into first-round calculations after showcasing his elite speed-endurance mix at the combine. Chesser provides blistering speed and a raking right boot which makes him an attacking weapon as a midfielder-defender, while Wilmot is a run-and-gun half-back who is equally as effective as a lockdown defender. Butler, the brother of St Kilda livewire Dan, is an athletic and creative midfield-forward option who is adept winning the ball as a crumber or at the coalface.
Honourable mentions
Zac Taylor (Calder Cannons)
Tom Brown (Murray Bushrangers)
Blake Howes (Sandringham Dragons)
Judson Clarke (Dandenong Stingrays)
Michito Owens (Sandringham Dragons)
Dees or Suns? Famous Melbourne name opens up on ‘tough’ call
Kalani White, the son of Demons great Jeff, is one of the top prospects in next year’s draft. But will he pass up the father-son option altogether? A complicated, difficult decision awaits.
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