Find out which draft hopefuls have family links in the AFL world
You might not know these draft hopefuls’ faces, but you certainly know their names. As the AFL draft draws closer, check out the top prospects who have family connections in the AFL world.
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In horse racing terms, these are the highly-sought thoroughbreds of this year’s AFL Draft class.
Not only are they among the best juniors in the country, but they also have the bloodlines which suggest they can make it at the top level.
From the grandson of a four-time Richmond premiership player to the brother of current Carlton midfielder Paddy Dow, here are some names to watch ahead of the draft given their strong football links.
NOAH ANDERSON
The highly-rated midfielder’s father, Dean, played 83 games for Hawthorn between 1988 and 1992 including in the Hawks’ 1989 and 1991 premierships. Dean finished his career with St Kilda, featuring in 67 games from 1993-96.
FISCHER MCASEY
The Sandringham Dragons key defender’s father was a one-hit wonder for St Kilda. Chris McAsey played a single game for the Saints in 1983 from two years on the club’s list. Fischer’s second-cousin, Darren McAsey, played 34 games for Sydney from 1985-91, while his uncle Alan played three games for Footscray.
FINN MAGINNESS
A contested-ball beast in the midfield, Finn is a father-son prospect for Hawthorn with his father, Scott, having played 131 games for the Hawks from 1988-96. Finn’s grandfather, Norm Maginness, also played 64 games for Hawthorn from 1953-58.
ELIJAH TAYLOR
The livewire forward from Western Australia has no shortage of football talent in the family tree. On his father’s side sit former St Kilda star Nicky Winmar, Derek and Dale Kickett, former Fremantle defender Roger Hayden, former North Melbourne forward Tom Curran and St Kilda ruckman Paddy Ryder. On his mum’s side of the tree there are West Coast midfielder Tim Kelly, former Eagles pair Troy Ugle and Phil Narkle and Geelong forward Quinton Narkle.
LIAM HENRY
The small forward and midfielder, who is part of Fremantle’s academy, has a few football links but lists the “closest” as being talented journeymen Derek and Dale Kickett, who are his father’s uncles.
TOM GREEN
The bullocking midfielder from Canberra is a member of GWS’s academy but is instead a Richmond supporter with Tigers links. His grandfather, Michael Green, played in four premierships for the Tigers in the 1960s and 70s and father, Richard, played for Richmond’s under-19s before deciding to pursue a career in the army instead.
DEVON ROBERTSON
Leadership is in the veins of this year’s Western Australia under-18s captain. Robertson’s uncle is Darren Glass, who played 270 games for West Coast from 2000-14 including the club’s 2006 premiership. Glass also served as captain of the Eagles for seven seasons from 2008-14.
THOMSON DOW
The outside midfielder grew up following North Melbourne but has had to switch teams. His older brother, Paddy Dow, was drafted by Carlton with pick 3 in the 2017 national draft and has gone on to play 39 games for the Blues across two seasons since.
WILL DAY
The mid-sized defender is the grandson of a famous former centreman, Robert Day. Robert made his name with West Adelaide in the SANFL before going on to be a Hawthorn premiership player in 1971 during a two-year stint with the Hawks.
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JAXON PRIOR
The medium defender from Western Australia is the son of former Essendon and West Coast player Michael Prior. Michael played 81 games for the Bombers between 1994 and 2000 before finishing his career with two years at the Eagles for a total of nine games.
HAYDEN YOUNG
The highly-rated defender from Dandenong Stingrays is the brother of Lachie Young, who was picked up by the Western Bulldogs in the 2018 rookie draft and has played six AFL games since.
FRASER PHILLIPS
The mid-sized forward with a good goal sense is the grandson of former South Melbourne star Ken Phillips. Ken played 60 games for the Swans from 1963-69.
HUGO RALPHSMITH
The midfielder, who is described as a gifted all-round athlete, is the son of former Hawthorn and St Kilda player Sean Ralphsmith, who played 34 AFL games from 1988-94.
MITCH GEORGIADES
The tall forward from Western Australia, who has been hampered by a quad injury this year, is the son of former Footscray player John Georgiades, who featured in 15 games for the Bulldogs from 1989-91.
CALEB SERONG
It isn’t as clear cut as some of his fellow draftees, but somewhere in the family bloodlines Caleb is related to Bill Serong, who played in the 1950s and 60s for Collingwood. Bill’s first year was 1956, with the Magpies losing that season in the Grand Final Melbourne. He also played one season at North Melbourne.
SAM DE KONING
The battles in the backyard were mightily fierce between key position big men and brothers Sam and Tom De Koning. While Sam is a potential first round pick this year, Tom was snapped up by the Blues at pick 30 in 2017. Not done yet, their dad Terry De Koning played 31 games for the Western Bulldogs in the early 80s.
JACKSON MEAD
Jackson’s father Darren was one of the original players to pull on a Port Adelaide jumper in 1997. And his name will forever be remembered at the club. Darren was also the Power’s first ever best and fairest winner. He went on to play 122 games across six years.
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KYSIAH PICKETT
Few draftees can challenge Kysiah Pickett for incredible AFL bloodlines. As a teenager, he moved from Western Australia to South Australia to live with his uncle Byron, who played 204 games across a career that included stops at North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Melbourne. The highlight was the 2004 Power premiership. Meanwhile, his YouTube ‘Greatest AFL bumps’ videos are still favourites among footy fans today. Another one of Kysiah’s uncles is Richmond premiership player Marlion Pickett. Not done there, he has AFL listed cousins on both sides of his family, with Lewis and Neville Jetta on one side and West Coast premiership player Liam Ryan on the other.
LACHLAN ASH
Vic Country captain Lachlan Ash is the nephew of former player and coach Chris Connolly. Connolly played 84 games for Melbourne throughout the 1980s before retiring. He served as caretaker coach of Hawthorn for one game before taking over the top job at Fremantle between 2002 and 2007. Connolly then transitioned into football department roles.