AFL Mid-season Draft 2022: Massimo D’Ambrosio stars in Colgate Young Guns vs Vic Country under-18s
Seven draft hopefuls caught the eye of recruiters as the mid-season intake approaches. Find out who impressed and every KFC SuperCoach score.
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Western Jets defender Massimo D’Ambrosio has rocketed into the top group of prospects for next month’s AFL mid-season draft after producing a standout performance in a key lead-up game last weekend.
D’Ambrosio was the top-ranked player on the ground in the Colgate Young Guns’ second exhibition match against Vic Country’s under-18s on Sunday, shining under the watchful eyes of a raft of AFL recruiters at Princes Park.
A smooth-moving rebounding defender or wingman, D’Ambrosio showed off a polished kick, strong running skills and good composure as he logged 32 disposals, nine marks, seven rebound 50s, six inside 50s and 140 SuperCoach points against Vic Country.
The performance backed up a solid 24-disposal game in the Young Guns’ first match a week earlier and added to a strong start to the year with the Jets in the NAB League.
A super impressive performance from Massimo D'Ambrosio for the Young Guns.
— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) May 15, 2022
The @WesternJetsFC defender had it on a string and his elite kicking was on show. Deserves an AFL opportunity #AFLDraft
Congratulations to Point Cook’s Massimo D’Ambrosio and Werribee Districts’ Jaelen Pavlidis, who have been named Western Jets co-captains this season #WestIsBest#WRFL
— Western Region FL (@WesternRegionFL) March 31, 2022
📸 @westernjetsfcpic.twitter.com/czjtjndPzu
I went down to Avalon Oval and watched a kid named Massimo D'Ambrosio play in a TAC under 19 team and he's impressed me more every time I have seen him play (3rd time). If Noble wants a kid who can open up the play, this is him. He has a tracer bullet for a left foot.
— Teflon Snake (vibes) (@SnakeTeflon) May 7, 2022
D’Ambrosio also played one VFL game for Richmond in Round 1 and did not look out of place with 15 disposals and four marks.
Recruiters rate D’Ambrosio’s “beautiful kick” highly, with his main knock being his size at only 178cm.
However, the likes of Western Bulldogs defender Caleb Daniel (170cm) and Richmond’s Jayden Short (178cm) have shown in recent years that undersized players with damaging kicks can still play an important role at AFL level.
Midfielder Patrick Dozzi also put himself into the mid-season draft mix with 34 disposals, 10 inside-50s and nine clearances for the Young Guns.
Recruiters believe Dozzi has improved with each game this year and is a chance for to find a spot on an AFL list on June 1.
Oskar Faulkhead was another shining light for the Young Guns and is expected to win a mid-season draft selection.
The hardworking Faulkhead finished with 31 disposals, five clearances and two goals, including a lovely snap out of congestion in the second quarter.
Mid-sized marking forward Hugo Hall-Kahan had another eye-catching game and shapes as one of the hottest mid-season draft prospects.
The 188cm forward had 13 disposals and kicked two first-half goals, before slotting the goal of the day from 40m out on the boundary in the third quarter only for it to be disallowed after the umpire because he had run too far.
Hall-Kahan has had his exemption to nominate for the mid-season draft approved by the AFL, after not nominating for last year’s drafts.
On a wing, Jamieson Ballantyne impressed with 24 disposals and a game-high three goals and will come under close consideration by AFL clubs.
Hailing from the Greater Western Victoria Rebels, Ballantyne’s hard running both ways and sizeable tank are a key feature of his game.
Ballantyne has featured in one VFL game for Footscray this year.
After dominating the Young Guns’ first match against Vic Metro a week earlier, Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Jai Culley missed the weekend’s match due to soreness from a series of knocks.
However, Culley remains very much in the sights of clubs with picks in the mid-season draft.
Fellow highly-rated prospect Max Ramsden had a quieter game but still had some nice moments.
YOUNG GUNS THAT CAUGHT THE EYES OF RECRUITERS IN GAME 2
Massimo D’Ambrosio – 32 disposals, 9 marks, 1 clearance, 6 inside-50s, 7 rebound 50s
Patrick Dozzi – 34 disposals, 4 marks, 9 clearances, 10 inside-50s, 1 goal
Oskar Faulkhead – 31 disposals, 6 marks, 5 clearances, 8 inside-50s, 2 goals
Jamieson Ballantyne – 24 disposals, 5 marks, 1 clearance, 4 inside-50s, 3 goals
Hugo Hall-Kahan – 13 disposals, 4 marks, 2 inside-50s, 2 goals
Tyler Norton – 24 disposals, 8 marks, 2 clearances, 4 rebound 50s
Charlie Molan – 22 disposals, 5 marks, 2 clearances, 3 inside-50s, 3 rebound 50s
SUPERCOACH RANKING POINTS – YOUNG GUNS v VIC COUNTRY U18s
YOUNG GUNS
140 – Massimo D’Ambrosio
137 – Patrick Dozzi
130 – Oskar Faulhead
124 – Charlie Molan
123 – Lachlan Carrigan
100 – Jamieson Ballantyne
93 – Tyler Norton
81 – Fletcher Hart
79 – Euriah Hollard
78 – Hugo Hall-Kahan
76 – Jed Rule
75 – Zavier Maher
75 – Samuel Grant
67 – Paddy Cross
55 – Ryan Eyers
53 – Tyreece Leiu
47 – Hamish Sinnott
46 – Jack Newitt
43 – Max Ramsden
41 – Jerome Lawrence
18 – Toby Murray
12 – Harvey Gallagher
VIC METRO U18s
132 – Jason Gillbee
131 – Jhye Clark
112 – Oliver Hollands
101 – Bailey Humphrey
99 – Aaron Cadman
91 – Hugh Bond
89 – Oscar Murdoch
80 – Jacob Konstanty
78 – Nick Collier
74 – Harley Reid
72 – Zane Duursma
66 – Cooper Vickery
63 – Henry Hustwaite
60 – Jonti Schuback
58 – Thomas Cappellari
53 – Harvey Howe
45 – Darcy Wilson
45 – Finn Emile-Brennan
43 – Max Dow
37 – Olivier Northam
35 – Max Knobel
25 – Felix Fogarty
19 – Will Parkhouse
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