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.

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.

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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

Jai Culley had a huge first half for the Young Guns on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

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.”

Max Ramsden produced another big game on the weekend. Picture: Getty Images

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.

Recruiters rated the performance of Tyreece Leiu for the Young Guns. Picture: Getty Images

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

Jamieson Ballantyne had 18 disposals for the Young Guns. Picture: Getty Images

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