AFL Draft 2024: Potential No. 1 picks Levi Ashcroft, Jagga Smith, Finn O’Sullivan and more line up at VFL level ahead of November’s draft
A host of top-end draft talent lined up against men in the VFL this weekend. See who staked their claim for No.1 and full SuperCoach scores.
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Soon-to-be Brisbane Lion Levi Ashcroft has given fans an early taste of his exciting potential with a best on ground showing in the VFL on Sunday.
In what could be his only VFL cameo for the season given his Coates Talent League commitments, the future father-son selection put on a clinic in the Lions’ 50-point victory over GWS at Brighton Homes Arena.
Last week Ashcroft, the son of Lions great Marcus and brother to second-year star Will, confirmed his intent to join the club at November’s national draft where he is a prospective No. 1 pick.
And the 179cm midfielder did those claims no harm in his VFL debut on Sunday, amassing a game-high 35 disposals and 11 clearances in an eye-catching display.
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Ashcroft even crept forward in the second quarter to slot a silky goal from the boundary line.
It was a statement showing from the young gun, who will now return to the Sandringham Dragons for the remainder of their Coates Talent League season.
A host of first-round draft talent was on display across the VFL at the weekend, with top pick prospects Jagga Smith and Finn O’Sullivan playing for Richmond.
Smith, who is firmly the favourite for the top pick, has played three VFL games for the Tigers, while O’Sullivan made his state league debut.
It was not as prolific a performance from Smith compared to his first two games when he had 27 and 32 touches, but he collected 24 disposals and seven clearances.
Only three Tigers gathered the ball more than Smith, who played off the half forward flank with stints in the midfield.
O’Sullivan was not as prolific with his disposal count, collecting just 12 touches, but he booted 2.1 in a midfield-forward role, showing his wares as a damaging prospect.
Meanwhile, Bendigo Pioneers product Jobe Shanahan did his draft stocks no harm with another strong performance for Essendon’s VFL side.
The Bombers defeated Gold Coast by two goals despite kicking a wayward 11.25 (91), with Shanahan slotting 2.3 from his 11 touches.
He took seven marks, playing primarily as a deep lead-up forward, with Peter Wright kicking 3.2 to lead the Bombers’ goal scorers.
It was a tall forward line with Wright, Vigo Visentini and Todd Goldstein all spending time inside the forward 50, but despite that Shanahan showed his wares.
Shanahan is expected to be picked up in the second round, with Essendon currently holding its own selection.
The Bombers showed last season its preference to trade up, moving up one selection to take Nate Caddy, and they could see Shanahan has a long-term key forward prospect to pair with the 10th pick in last year’s draft.
Gold Coast had its own draft hopeful in Leonardo Lombard featuring again in the loss.
Lombard is a Suns academy player and will be bid on, and likely matched, in the first round of the 2024 draft.
The joint Larke Medalist had 22 touches and three goals against Coburg last week, but he wasn’t able to have the same impact in the loss to the Bombers, collecting 13 touches.
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