AFL Draft 2024: News, stats and scouting notes from AFL Academy v Coburg VFL match
The race to be the top pick in this year’s AFL draft is heating up, with the son of a Lions legend pushing his case to be taken first. Get all the stats and ranking points from the AFL Academy clash.
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A Victorian key defender caught the attention of a raft of recruiters as he played a starring role for the AFL Academy side in a key exhibition match on Saturday.
Luke Trainor pushed his draft stocks in a match against VFL side Coburg at Ikon Park, overshadowing a host of big-name top-10 prospects to secure the best-on-ground medal with a huge performance down back.
The 194cm Sandringham Dragons product continually read the play well, was solid one-on-one against some bigger bodied opponents and took some quality intercept marks in the air.
He also provided plenty of drive off half-back for the AFL Academy side, racking up 20 disposals for the match.
Trainor trained with St Kilda during pre-season and has drawn some comparisons to Essendon’s Jordan Ridley.
Some believe that he could also be developed into a tall forward in time.
In a draft pool that is expected to be dominated by midfielders at the top of the order, Trainor shapes as one of the leading key position prospects early in the year.
A quartet of father-son prospects also shone brightly in the AFL Academy’s 27-point loss to Coburg.
Levi Ashcroft – who is a father-son option for the Brisbane Lions – was the leading possession winner on the ground with 33 disposals playing a mix of midfield and forward roles.
Ashcroft also logged five clearances and kicked a nice goal in the third quarter.
Carlton father-son prospects Lucas and Ben Camporeale were both prolific across the afternoon.
Lucas racked up 25 disposals and seven rebound 50s playing primarily on the wing, while Ben gathered 24 disposals and two clearances spending his time across halfback and onball.
Adelaide father-son Tyler Welsh, son of Scott Welsh, also caught the eye as a strong marking key forward, finishing with eight disposals, seven marks and a goal.
Other standouts included Gold Coast Suns Academy midfielder Leonardo Lombard (18 disposals, one goal) and Victorian midfielders Jagga Smith (22 disposals) and Josh Smillie (20 disposals).
Late inclusion Taj Hotton – who spent time on a wing and forward – gathered 16 disposals and kicked two goals.
The AFL Academy is set to play a second match against Footscray’s VFL side on April 27 or 28.
STATS, SUPERCOACH POINTS AND SCOUTING NOTES ON EVERY PLAYER
Levi Ashcroft
33 disposals, 5 clearances, 1 goal, 133 ranking points
The Brisbane Lions father-son prospect started in the midfield but also spent some time forward. He was the leading possession winner on the ground, and finished with a nice third-quarter goal. His ability to break the lines at stages caught the eye.
Ben Camporeale
24 disposals, 2 clearances, 3 inside-50s, 4 rebound 50s, 6 tackles, 93 ranking points
The Carlton father-son prospect began the day in defence before spending some time onball. He was a key link-up player, primarily on the outside of the contest.
Lucas Camporeale
25 disposals, 7 marks, 7 rebound 50s, 100 ranking points
Spent most of the day on the wing, where he was able to get up and down the ground and provide some run and carry. Some of his kicks were better than others, though.
Leonardo Lombard
18 disposals, 4 inside-50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 80 ranking points
An exciting prospect for the Gold Coast Suns as part of their Academy. Started in the middle and found plenty of the ball early. Gets from contest to contest, is a real competitor, has a nice side-step through traffic and possesses and clean hands. Was rotated forward for large potions of the match, kicking one goal in the second quarter.
Sam Marshall
18 disposals, 4 marks, 2 clearances, 70 ranking points
A Brisbane Lions Academy member who is boarding at Melbourne Grammar this year, Marshall started across half-back before spending time on a wing where he provided some run.
Ricky Mentha
9 disposals, 2 marks, 3 inside-50s, 1 goal, 44 ranking points
The small forward had limited opportunities. However, he showed some class when he was around the footy, snapping a lovely banana goal on the run in the third quarter and showing off a lovely spin out of trouble in the final term. Has some speed and some tricks.
Christian Moraes
16 disposals, 2 marks, 2 clearances, 51 ranking points
The Eastern Ranges product played on a wing and onball. He only had three kicks before being crunched in a marking contest during the third quarter and leaving the field.
Jagga Smith
22 disposals, 3 marks, 3 clearances, 98 ranking points
Traditionally a midfielder, Smith is spending some time as a forward this year to show his ability in another position. He started at half-forward, before rotating onball. He’s had better games but it is clear that he has some real talent and a high footy IQ.
Jayden Nguyen
12 disposals, 2 marks, 3 rebound 50s, 34 ranking points
A late inclusion for the Academy side due to some injuries. The 177cm Calder Cannons defender worked hard, primarily playing a lockdown role. He is part of Essendon’s NGA Academy.
Joel Cochran
13 disposals, 2 marks, 3 rebound 50s, 38 ranking points
Part of the Sydney Swans Academy, the 195cm tall rebounder spent most the day in defence.
Tom Gross
21 disposals, 5 marks, 3 clearances, 82 ranking points
Started forward and missed an early snap on goal before getting some midfield minutes. Took a nice contested park in the second quarter.
Harvey Langford
16 disposals, 3 marks, 4 inside-50s, 1 goal, 84 ranking points
The 190cm big-bodied midfielder had some moments onball and also spent some time across halfback and forward, kicking a goal in the opening term. Cracks in hard for the footy and showed off his penetrating kick at times.
Noah Mraz
7 disposals, 1 mark, 30 ranking points
Was a tough day down back for the defenders, including the 198cm Dandenong Stingrays product. He did his best to compete in the air but was outmarked by bigger bodies at times.
Harry O’Farrell
11 disposals, 5 marks, 2 rebound 50s, 44 ranking points
The 196cm Calder Cannons tall impressed in a key post in defence. He didn’t win a huge amount of the ball but showed some very good defensive craft and made some important spoils.
Jobe Shanahan
7 disposals, 1 mark, 1 goal, 62 ranking points
The 194cm key forward started well, slotting a first-quarter goal from a free kick in a marking contest. He missed two snaps on goal in the second and third quarters, but took a nice contested mark.
Josh Smillie
20 disposals, 5 clearances, 6 tackles, 96 ranking points
A big-bodied midfielder at 194cm who has drawn comparisons to Patrick Cripps, Smillie has been discussed as a potential No.1 pick. He was busy early in the midfield, showing his strength around stoppages and cleanness at ground level. He was rotated across half-back and was rarely beaten there. Of Smillie’s touches, 10 were contested.
Luke Trainor
20 disposals, 4 marks, 3 inside-50s, 105 ranking points
Won the best-on-ground medal for his work down back. The 194cm interceptor from the Sandringham Dragons was seemingly everywhere and finished the game as the name on the lips of recruiters around the ground. He competed strongly against some bigger-bodied forwards, read the play well and worked hard up the ground. His kicking was clean and provided some rebound out of defence, with 14 of his touches being kicks.
Taj Hotton
18 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 2 goals, 105 ranking points
One of the additions to the Academy squad due to injuries, the hard-running Sandringham Dragons product started on a wing and covered the ground well. He applied some good pressure and slotted goals in the second and fourth quarters, but missed a couple of other opportunities.
Tobie Travaglia
15 disposals, 4 marks, 3 rebound 50s, 86 ranking points
A 187cm halfback from the Bendigo Pioneers, Travaglia showed his mobility, was brave in marking contests and won some intercepts. He generally looked composed when he won the ball back.
Oliver Dean
4 disposals, 1 mark, 8 hitouts, 27 ranking points
The 201cm Tasmanian toiled in the ruck all day but battled against some stronger and more seasoned opponents.
Jack Whitlock
9 disposals, 2 marks, 3 hitouts, 2 goals, 72 ranking points
An early-season draft bolter from the Murray Bushrangers, the rangy 200cm key forward made the most of relatively few opportunities. He kicked two second-half goals, including one from a nice contested mark in the last quarter. Was also used as a back-up ruck to Dean.
Tyler Welsh
8 disposals, 7 marks, 3 inside-50s, 1 goal, 37 ranking points
It wasn’t quite as big a game as his five-goal haul at Ikon Park in the under-18 national championships last year. However, the Adelaide father-son prospect and 191cm forward still showed some great signs as he presented well and took some strong overhead marks.
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