The father-son hopefuls to watch ahead of the 2018 AFL Draft

They’re the draft picks that keep the romance in the modern AFL game, and this year, a bumper crop of father-son hopefuls are looking to follow in their fathers’ footsteps.

Father-son hopefuls ahead of the AFL Draft.

They’re the draftees that give the AFL some long-lost romance.

The father-son selections that keep some of the game’s most famous names in familiar colours.

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This year, a bumper crop of young guns are looking to follow in their fathers’ footsteps.

While some - such as Rhylee West and Oscar Brownless - face simple choices, others, including Nick Blakey and Bailey Scott have multiple options.

Nick Blakey celebrates a goal during the under-18 national championships.

NICK BLAKEY

Sydney Academy

H: 195cm W: 80kg

Bloodline: Son of former Fitzroy and North Melbourne star John Blakey, who played 359 AFL games, ranking him 11th on the all-time VFL/AFL most games played list. The younger Blakey has turned his back on his father-son options, though, in favour of nominating as a Sydney Academy player.

What he’s got: Athletic tall who can play a variety of positions. Growing pains have interrupted his final two years of underage football but Blakey still averaged 18 disposals and 4.5 goals in the AFL Academy Series for Sydney this year.

Kevin Sheehan says: “He still showed enough in a couple of games at the national level that he could tear a game apart. His father was quite elite with his running ability and he’s a lot bigger than his father but still has that running capacity. Who knows what his ceiling might be.”

Draft Range: Top-20, the Swans likely to have to stump up draft points to get their man.

BEN SILVAGNI

Oakleigh Chargers

H: 194cm W: 84kg

Bloodline: Son of former Carlton star and AFL Team of the Century full-back Stephen Silvagni, who played 312 games for the Blues, winning two club best-and-fairests.

What he’s got: Taller than his older brother, Jack, and has proven he can play a key position role at either end of the ground. Also showed plenty of speed during combine testing.

Kevin Sheehan says: “His best game was probably as a lead-up forward playing at TAC Cup level. He took eight or 10 marks and really impressed. But as a tall defender he’s really competitive in the air and quite agile.”

Draft Range: Likely to be a late pick or a rookie, essentially giving Carlton a free hit.

The Silvagni dynasty (from left) Sergio, Stephen, Tom, Jack and Ben in 2005.

WILL KELLY

Oakleigh Chargers

H: 193cm W: 83kg

Bloodline: Son of former Collingwood hard-nut Craig Kelly, who played 122 games for the Magpies across eight seasons including the club’s premiership in 1990.

What he’s got: Plays more like his brother - Adelaide defender Jake - than his old man. Quick and agile key defender who makes good choices and is strong with his intercept marking.

Kevin Sheehan says: “We don’t have a lot of defenders of this type that show the sort of AFL traits that he showed. He’s very raw, no doubt about that, but he progressed to play some good games in nationals and was a solid performer with Oakleigh throughout the year.”

Draft Range: 25-50. Collingwood has the draft points to get him.

OSCAR BROWNLESS

Geelong Falcons

H: 186cm W: 76kg

Bloodline: Son of former Geelong forward Billy Brownless, who played 198 games across 12 years for the Cats, kicking 441 goals.

What he’s got: Medium-sized forward who has no shortage of goal-sense and has an incredible running capacity and workrate, allowing him to also play as a high half-forward or through the midfield.

Kevin Sheehan says: “He’s got the one attribute of Billy and that’s goal-sense. He’s certainly got a high football IQ which you’d expect coming from a football family. That elite running capacity is his X-Factor as well as his ball-winning.”

Draft Range: Late selection. Cats are very interested, and have a rich history of father-sons.

Rhylee West fires off a handball during a TAC Cup match.

RHYLEE WEST

Calder Cannons

H: 180cm W: 80kg

Bloodline: Son of former Bulldogs midfielder Scott West, who played 324 games in the red, white and blue and won a club-record seven Charlie Sutton Medals.

What he’s got: Not too dissimilar to his old man in the way he plays. Finds the footy, can win it in tight quarters and is a competitive beast who averaged 5.8 tackles a game in the TAC Cup.

Kevin Sheehan says: “The first word you use for Rhylee is ‘feisty’. He can find the footy and that’s the essence of the game and he can use it. He’s going to be a player and he’s had a terrific year.”

Draft Range: 20-40. Expect him to get to the Bulldogs.

BAILEY SCOTT

Gold Coast Academy

H: 186cm W: 64kg

Bloodline: Son of former Geelong and North Melbourne midfielder-forward Robert Scott, who played over 100 games for each club and won a premiership with the Kangaroos in 1996.

What he’s got: Midfielder who has a good mix of inside and outside play, can win a clearance and kick a goal. Picked the Roos as his choice of club, turning his back on nominating as an academy player for the Suns or a father-son at the Cats.

Kevin Sheehan says: “He’s very footy smart, reading off hands, crumbing goals. He averaged over 20 disposals and starred for the Gold Coast Suns so he’s really had a terrific development year.”

Draft Range: 20-40. Expect him to get to the Kangaroos.

Joel Crocker as a Victorian under-15 schoolboys team member. Picture: Andy Brownbill

JOEL CROCKER

Sandringham Dragons

H: 191cm W: 73kg

Bloodline: Son of former North Melbourne forward Darren Crocker, who played 165 games for the Kangaroos including the club’s 1996 premiership.

What he’s got: Can play at both end of the grounds and is a strong mark but missed a large chunk of this year with a foot injury.

Kevin Sheehan says: “He could be a hidden gem in this. He might not get a bid until very late because he’s missed all of his 18th year but he looked a star in his 17th year.”

Draft Range: Late selection. Desperately wants to get to the Kangaroos.

JAMES RENDELL

Sandringham Dragons

H: 198cm W: 90kg

Bloodline: Son of former Fitzroy and Brisbane Bears star Matt Rendell, who played 177 games, winning two club best-and-fairest awards.

What he’s got: Athletic mobile ruckman and tall forward who developed well as the year went on and showed leadership as a stand-in skipper of Sandringham in the TAC Cup.

Kevin Sheehan says: “He’s a kid who really came on late in the year in a draft that doesn’t have a lot of ruckmen and tall forwards. He’s quite a promising mobile ruckman prospect who can mark it, can get forward and kick a goal.”

Draft Range: Late selection or rookie, but no certainty to be snapped up by Brisbane.

Other late selection or rookie chances:

Casey Voss (son of former Brisbane captain Michael Voss)

Zach Hart (son of former Adelaide defender Ben Hart)

Kyle Dunkley (son of former Sydney defender Andrew Dunkley)

Liam Hickmott (son of former Carlton and Geelong utility Adrian Hickmott)