Colgate Young Guns v Vic Metro: Who caught the eye of recruiters?
A host of mid-season draft hopefuls stood out in front of club recruiters. Find out the full stats and KFC SuperCoach scores — including a monster total.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Dandenong Stingrays sensation Jai Culley has further bolstered his mid-season draft chances as he put on a show in the Colgate Young Guns game last weekend.
Culley caught the eye of a raft of AFL recruiters at Werribee’s Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday as he logged 22 disposals and kicked four goals in an impressive afternoon for the Young Guns against Vic Metro’s under-18 side.
Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
A hard-at-it midfielder who stands 193cm tall, Culley also recorded three clearances, five tackles, seven inside-50s and four score assists.
His four goals all came in the opening half of the match as he helped get the Young Guns on their way to a 59-point triumph.
Culley continually showed an ability to get to the right spots in the match and impressed with his sublime ball use both in front of the big sticks and hitting up teammates inside-50.
anyone catch Jai Culley for the colgate young guns yesterday? Kid can seriously play, 100% should be picked up in the mid season draft 🔫
— Liam (@Liam89899394) May 8, 2022
The 19-year-old burst out of the blocks in his first two NAB League games for the Stingrays this season — averaging 24.5 disposals and two goals — before sitting out three matches with a minor shoulder injury.
Culley had primarily played as a mid-sized forward last season before moving into more of a midfield role this season and received 13 nominations from AFL clubs to play in the Young Guns side as clubs cast an eye to the mid-season draft.
Bendigo Pioneers forward Harvey Gallagher was another standout for the Young Guns, booting 5.3 from 15 disposals and seven marks in attack.
Gallagher, who has been doing some work with Carlton’s VFL side, kicked goals from set shots as well as snaps on the run as he continues to develop after suffering injuries in each of his first two NAB League games this year.
“He’s probably still just coming into peak fitness and I think he’ll be better for the run,” Bendigo Pioneers coach Danny O’Bree said.
“He not only knows where the goals are but he’s a really good lead-up forward too and he takes the opportunities where he has them.”
Exciting Sandringham Dragons tall Max Ramsden was also solid for the Young Guns and shapes as another top mid-season draft prospect.
The 202cm ruckman had 16 nominations from AFL clubs to feature in the game and impressed with 16 disposals, 13 hit-outs, three clearances and two goals rotating between the ruck and forward line.
Sandringham teammate Harry Sheezel was a standout for Vic Metro, with the 184cm forward booting five goals from 13 disposals.
“He was a class above,” one recruiter said.
“He’s an unbelievable drop-of-ball player in forward 50. He’s a freak.”
Sheezel, 17, is part of the NAB AFL Academy squad and shapes as a first-round draft pick at the end of the year.
Vic Metro was missing a lot of its other star players due to school football and VFL commitments, including top prospects Will Ashcroft, George Wardlaw and Elijah Tsitas.
The Young Guns will play a second game against Vic Country’s under-18 side at Princes Park on Sunday from 1.30pm.
The AFL mid-season draft will be held on June 1.
COLGATE YOUNG GUNS GAME SCOUTING REPORT
10 MID-SEASON DRAFT PROSPECTS WHO CAUGHT THE EYES OF AFL RECRUITERS
Jai Culley (193cm midfielder, Dandenong Stingrays) – 22 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 7 inside-50s, 4 score assists, 4 goals, 197 ranking points
Max Ramsden (202cm ruckman, Sandringham Dragons) – 16 disposals, 3 marks, 13 hit-outs, 3 clearances, 2 goals, 103 ranking points
Harvey Gallagher (177cm forward, Bendigo Pioneers) – 15 disposals, 7 marks, 1 tackle, 1 score assist, 5 goals, 130 ranking points
Massimo D’Ambrossio (178cm defender, Western Jets) – 24 disposals, 2 marks, 1 clearance, 6 tackles, 9 rebound 50s, 159 ranking points
Tyler Norton (184cm defender, Murray Bushrangers) – 16 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 rebound 50, 70 ranking points
Oskar Faulkhead (179cm midfielder, Bendigo Pioneers) – 27 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 5 inside-50s, 100 ranking points
Lachlan Carrigan (191cm midfielder, Richmond VFL) – 20 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 rebound 50, 107 ranking points
Hugo Hall-Kahan (188cm forward, Sandringham Dragons) – 18 disposals, 7 marks, 1 clearance, 4 inside-50s, 43 ranking points
Tyreece Leiu (194cm midfielder, Eastern Ranges) – 14 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 3 inside-50s, 2 rebound 50s, 76 ranking points
Jamieson Ballantyne (183cm midfielder, GWV Rebels) – 18 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 2 inside-50s, 1 rebound 50, 86 ranking points
FULL SUPERCOACH SCORES
YOUNG GUNS
197 – Jai Culley
159 – Massimo D’Ambrossio
130 – Harvey Gallagher
129 – Zavier Maher
107 – Lachlan Carrigan
103 – Max Ramsden
100 – Oskar Faulkhead
92 – Jerome Lawence
86 – Jamieson Ballantyne
85 – Charlie Molan
76 – Tyreece Leiu
73 – Max Wolton
70 – Toby Murray
70 – Tyler Norton
68 – Paddy Cross
67 – Euriah Hollard
67 – Hamish Sinnott
66 – Ryan Eyers
56 – Patrick Dozzi
50 – Fletcher Hart
46 – Jed Rule
43 – Hugo Hall-Kahan
7 – Samuel Grant
VIC METRO U18s
136 – Harry Sheezel
101 – Jason McCormick
94 – Josh Bennetts
90 – Callum Verrell
88 – Ben Hempel
82 – Caleb Windsor
78 – Charlie Clarke
78 – Lewis Hayes
67 – Paul Pascu
60 – Clay Tucker
58 – Mitchell Rowe
56 – Nate Caddy
54 – Kai Windsor
51 – Hudson O’Keefe
50 – Cam Nyko
41 – Will Green
41 – Cameron Kizan
36 – Dane Harvey
34 – Mason Helleran
32 – Jack Newitt
19 – Jack Chubb
8 – Riley Weatherill
7 – Jackson McMenamin
Cornes’ mind blown by Lions trade bomb
Following the Brisbane Lions’ links with one of the AFL’s best key forwards, Kane Cornes has eviscerated the reigning premiers.
Roos cop major injury blow, another star Eagle hurt
SuperCoach alert! The Roos have taken a big blow to their pre-season preparations with one of their young guns now in doubt for round 1. Get the latest pre-season injury news here.