AFL Draft: Top prospects face off against Geelong VFL side for AFL Academy
The best AFL draft prospects from across the country will be put to the test against Geelong’s VFL side on Saturday. And one youngster has received a late call-up.
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A raft of injuries to the NAB AFL Academy squad has provided an unlikely opportunity for Lachlan Rankin, who received an eleventh-hour call up to play in Australian under-18 exhibition match on Saturday.
The Oakleigh Chargers midfielder was on his way to school at Caulfield Grammar at 8am on Friday morning when he received a call from Academy coach Tarkyn Lockyer inviting him to become the 30th player in the national squad.
“I got the call from Tarkyn saying, ‘We want you to come play tomorrow’,” Rankin said.
“We quickly turned around the car and went home and spoke to the parents then came to training.
“I think the heart might have skipped a couple of beats. But it’s a really great opportunity.”
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The cousin of prominent AFL player manager Paul Connors, Rankin had impressed as a midfielder-forward across his first three games of the NAB League season for the Chargers.
The 18-year-old kicked three goals in Round 1 and has been rotating with fellow Chargers midfielder-forward and AFL Academy member Nick Daicos.
“One of the main goals for me this year was to make this Academy,” Rankin said.
“When I missed out I was like, ‘Oh well’. But now I’m in, I’m just looking forward to playing.”
Josh Sinn (hamstring), Sam Banks (wrist), Campbell Chesser (knee) and Ben Hobbs (ankle) are among the injured AFL Academy players who will miss Saturday’s match against Geelong’s VFL team.
This year’s AFL draft hopefuls will face off against a Cats team that is set to include AFL-listed players Jordan Clark, Josh Jenkins, Esava Ratugolea, Charlie Constable and Quinton Narkle.
The match, which kicks off at 10.10am, will be played as a curtain-raiser to Geelong’s AFL match against West Coast at GMHBA Stadium.
2021 NAB AFL ACADEMY
Mac Andrew (Vic Country/Dandenong Stingrays)
Braden Andrews (Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers)
Sam Banks (Tas/Clarence)
Rhett Bazzo (WA/Swan Districts)
Jase Burgoyne (SA/WWTFC)
Finn Callaghan (Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons)
Campbell Chesser (Vic Country/Sandringham Dragons)
Toby Conway (Vic Country/Geelong Falcons)
Nick Daicos (Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers)
Neil Erasmus (WA/Subiaco)
Josh Fahey (NSW/ACT/GIANTS)
Josh Gibcus (Vic Country/GWV Rebels)
Cooper Hamilton (Vic Country/Bendigo Pioneers)
Austin Harris (Qld/GC SUNS)
Ben Hobbs (Vic Country/GWV Rebels)
Jason Horne (SA/South Adelaide)
Blake Howes (Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons)
Matthew Johnson (WA/Subiaco)
Ned Moyle (Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers)
Cooper Murley (SA/Norwood)
Blayne O’Loughlin (SA/North Adelaide)
Josh Rachele (Vic Country/Murray Bushrangers)
Matt Roberts (SA/South Adelaide)
Josh Sinn (Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons)
Tyler Sonsie (Vic Metro/Eastern Ranges)
Ned Stevens (NT Waratah/SUNS)
Jacob Van Rooyen (WA/Claremont)
Nasiah Wanganeen (SA/Glenelg)
Jack Williams (WA/East Fremantle)
Lachlan Rankin (Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers)
NAB League: See the top 50 U18 SuperCoach scorers
AFL Academy member Samuel Banks will be sidelined for up to eight weeks after breaking his wrist in the NAB League last weekend.
Banks, who plays for the Tasmanian Devils, fell awkwardly in a marking contest early in the last quarter, having led the way for the Devils in the opening three terms.
A rebounding defender, Banks had logged 29 disposals and taken seven marks before the injury and the 18-year-old sits as the fourth-ranked player in the NAB League, averaging 139 KFC SuperCoach ranking points.
“There’s a four-week break in the NAB League fixture but we’re hoping to get him back for the second-half of the NAB League season,” Devils coach Cameron Joyce said.
“His game on the weekend was exceptional. He really kicked into gear with his leadership, his attack on the ball, his ball use was excellent. He had a lot of the ball up until he got injured.”
Fellow Devils star Oliver Davis – who missed selection in last year’s draft – is reportedly considering a move to Adelaide to play in the SANFL, with the Crows keen on him as a mid-season draft prospect.
A 183cm midfielder, Davis had 23 disposals, four clearances and 117 ranking points in another strong match for the Devils in Round 4.
Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy prospect Cody Raak is another player catching the eye in the NAB League, with the Western Jets defender recording a massive 215 ranking points against Oakleigh Chargers last weekend.
A mid-sized intercepting defender at 192cm, Raak’s day out included 33 disposals, 11 intercept possessions and seven spoils.
Another to watch for Bulldogs fans is 197cm tall Sam Darcy - the son of club great and current board member, Luke – who clunked nine marks (four contested) to go with 21 disposals, 11 intercept possessions and 132 ranking points for the Chargers, thriving in defence and through the ruck.
In the same game, Nick Daicos continued his barnstorming start to the season, recording his third successive best-on-ground performance.
The Collingwood father-son strengthened his pick one claims at Werribee’s Avalon Airport Oval, amassing 40 disposals, 11 score involvements, six clearances, 145 ranking points and booting 2.2 in a dominant display.
Daicos had time and space whenever he had the Sherrin and was regularly directing traffic before he disposed of it – a testament to his high footy IQ.
The 183cm midfielder, who spends most of his time at centre bounces and rests as a dangerous deep forward, looks well above the level after slotting eight majors and averaging 32.7 disposals and 162 ranking points across his first three NAB League games.
While Daicos could attract a pick one bid in November, the impressive form of Sandringham ruck/forward Jacob Edwards suggests he may be the first name called out in this year’s mid-season draft.
The athletic 202cm tall, who was overlooked in last year’s national draft, is fresh off 14 disposals, 12 hitouts, seven score involvements and 120 ranking points against Dandenong on Saturday.
A late developer after crossing over from basketball, Edwards is viewed as a project player, with his fantastic leap and ability to cover the ground standing out.
Explosive mid-forward Josh Rachele missed Round 4 with soreness but was one of the top performers the previous week, hitting the scoreboard with four goals in Murray’s win over Geelong Falcons.
The AFL Academy member was used predominantly as a small forward, tallying 17 disposals, 13 contested possessions and 136 ranking points.
NAB LEAGUE SUPER RANKINGS AFTER ROUND 4
Rank -- Player -- Club -- Position -- Games -- 2021 avg KFC SuperCoach Points
1. Cody Raak (Jets) -- KEY DEF -- 3 games -- 163 points
2. Nick Daicos (Chargers) -- MID/FWD -- 3 games -- 162 points
3. Ned Long (Knights) -- KEY FWD -- 3 games -- 145 points
4. Samuel Banks (Tasmania) -- DEF -- 2 games -- 139 points
5. Joel Trudgeon (Knights) -- MID -- 3 games -- 139 points
6. Connor MacDonald (Stingrays) -- MID -- 3 games -- 138 points
7. Patrick Parnell (Bushrangers) -- DEF -- 3 games -- 132 points
8. Oliver Davis (Tasmania) -- MID -- 2 games -- 129 points
9. Ewan Macpherson (Knights) -- DEF -- 3 games -- 123 points
10. Noah Gribble (Falcons) -- FWD -- 3 games -- 123 points
11. Sam Conforti (Pioneers) -- MID -- 3 games -- 122 points
12. Joel Fitzgerald (Knights) -- MID -- 3 games -- 122 points
13. Joshua Rachele (Bushrangers) -- MID/FWD -- 2 games -- 122 points
14. Nick Hodgson (Rebels) -- MID -- 3 games -- 118 points
15. Toby Conway (Falcons) -- RUCK -- 3 games -- 117 points
16. Flynn Lakey (Cannons) -- MID -- 3 games -- 117 points
17. Tyler Sonsie (Ranges) -- MID/FWD -- 3 games -- 116 points
18. Jacob Edwards (Dragons) -- FWD -- 3 games -- 115 points
19. Josh Ward (Knights) -- MID -- 3 games -- 115 points
20. Oliver Sanders (Tasmania) -- FWD -- 2 games -- 113 points
21. Lachlan Riley (Dragons) -- DEF -- 3 games -- 111 points
22. Henry Brown (Chargers) -- MID -- 3 games -- 110 points
23. Fraser Marris (Rebels) -- FWD -- 3 games -- 109 points
24. Jack Evans (Pioneers) -- MID/FWD -- 3 games -- 108 points
25. Fraser Elliot (Chargers) -- MID -- 2 games -- 107 points
26. Chance Doultree (Power) -- DEF -- 3 games -- 105 points
27. Flynn Gentile (Cannons) -- MID -- 3 games -- 105 points
28. Hugh Hamilton (Pioneers) -- MID -- 3 games -- 105 points
29. Miller Bergman (Stingrays) -- DEF -- 3 games -- 103 points
30. Campbell Chesser (Dragons) -- DEF -- 2 games -- 103 points
31. Daniel Turner (Bushrangers) -- MID -- 3 games -- 103 points
32. Max Walton (Power) -- MID -- 3 games -- 103 points
33. Harrison White (Jets) -- DEF -- 3 games -- 103 points
34. Mac Andrew (Stingrays) -- RUCK/KEY FWD -- 3 games -- 102 points
35. Sam Clohesy (Cannons) -- MID -- 3 games -- 102 points
36. Samuel Foley (Tasmania) -- DEF -- 2 games -- 102 points
37. Darcy Gardner (Tasmania) -- MID -- 2 games -- 101 points
38. Ned Moyle (Chargers) -- MID -- 3 games -- 101 points
39. Giacomo Thomas (Cannons) -- DEF -- 3 games -- 101 points
40. Tom Brown (Bushrangers) -- FWD -- 3 games -- 100 points
41. Eren Soylemez (Dragons) -- FWD -- 3 games -- 100 points
42. Liam Conway (Jets) -- DEF -- 3 games -- 99 points
43. Marcus Herbert (Rebels) -- MID -- 3 games -- 99 points
44. Charlie McKay (Dragons) -- MID -- 3 games -- 99 points
45. Oscar Morrison (Falcons) -- KEY DEF -- 3 games -- 99 points
46. Mitchell Moschetti (Power) -- DEF -- 3 games -- 99 points
47. Josh Sinn (Dragons) -- MID -- 3 games -- 99 points
48. Paddy Cross (Power) -- MID -- 1 game -- 98 points
49. Liam Podhajski (Cannons) -- MID -- 3 games -- 98 points
50. Mitchell Knevitt (Falcons) -- MID -- 2 games -- 97 points
Dees in danger of missing out on draft bolter
Melbourne is in danger of missing out on its brightest Next Generation Academy prospect this year, with agile big man Mac Andrew shaping as a top-20 draft bolter.
Standing 200cm, the Dandenong Stingrays ruckman and forward was on Tuesday added to the NAB AFL Academy after an eye-catching start to the NAB League season.
Andrew will play for Australia’s under-18 team in its clash with Geelong’s VFL side on Saturday, which will be closely watched by recruiters around the country.
Under changes to the draft bidding system last year, clubs can only match bids for players from pick 21 onwards.
Recruiters are already salivating about Andrew, with some believing he could push into the top-20 if his rapid rise continues.
“Now the first 20 picks are protected, it might be the first time in history that a bloke’s jumped out of nowhere that might sit inside the top-20 and you might not end up with him,” one opposition recruiter said of Melbourne’s predicament.
“The fact he’s been added to the AFL Academy shows the way he’s started the year has been huge.”
The changes to the bidding system came after the Western Bulldogs snagged exciting key forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan with pick No. 1 in last year’s draft, matching a bid from Adelaide who had the first selection.
The Bulldogs’ first official pick in the draft had been at No.29, with the club’s ability to select Ugle-Hagan causing outcry from opposition clubs.
Andrew was born in Egypt to South Sudanese parents, qualifying him for Melbourne’s NGA program.
The 18-year-old was unsighted at NAB League level in 2019 but has played the first three games for the Stingrays this year, averaging 15.7 disposals, 3.3 marks, 3 clearances, 14.3 hit-outs and 102 KFC SuperCoach ranking points.
The NAB League season is now on a month-long break, with Round 5 kicking off on May 22.
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