The lost drafts: Demons, Dockers biggest losers from NGA rule change as Dons clear winners
Mac Andrew at Melbourne. Ryley Sanders at the Roos. Recruiters have been left ruing what could have been after the AFL’s call to restore next generation academy protection. We track the clubs who were robbed the most by the three years of open season.
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Eyebrows were raised across the AFL recruiting landscape at the news all AFL clubs would be allowed access to their Next Generation Academy prospects after three drafts of open slather in the top 40.
Only four clubs – Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney and GWS – have had secured access to their NGA prospects in the past two drafts following uproar over the Western Bulldogs having priority access to the best talent in the 2020 draft by matching Jamarra Ugle-Hagan at pick 1.
It meant NGA prospects from 14 other clubs were up for grabs in the opening 40 selections, and cost several clubs highly-touted prospects, but clubs were able to match bids outside the top 40.
Six clubs lost highly-touted prospects to the open draft pool, while it looks like two clubs will come up as winners on draft night in November.
LOSERS
Melbourne – Mac Andrew
Andrew was the first and most high-profile casualty of the changing rules, with the South Sudanese prospect whisked off to the Gold Coast with pick 5. Melbourne had believed they would have access to him the whole way through his development under regular NGA rules. Initially projecting as a ruckman, Andrew has blossomed into a key defender for the Suns over the past 18 months. Ironically, the NGA backflip means the Demons will have access to Mac’s brother Riak, who is shorter but has more speed. However, if the Demons had held onto Mac and matched a bid at Pick 5, they wouldn’t have brought in Jacob van Rooyen with pick 19.
St Kilda – Cam Mackenzie
London-born, French-speaking tall midfielder Mackenzie was quickly apparent as a first round prospect in 2022, meaning St Kilda would never be able to match a bid on its academy prospect. While there may have had faint hope Mackenzie would slide to the Saints’ first pick (which ended up at 10), Hawthorn nabbed him two picks earlier, leaving St Kilda with South Australian Mattaes Phillipou.
North Melbourne – Ryley Sanders
The Kangaroos made several pitches to the AFL to have access to Sanders as part of its assistance package, which would have left them with picks 2, 3 and Sanders after trade week. However, they were knocked back and then took Colby McKercher and Zane Duursma with their first two picks of the draft, leaving the Western Bulldogs to pounce on the highly-touted Tasmanian – but the Roos can’t cry too much considering they did have two chances to select him.
West Coast – Lance Collard
He has just been handed a six-game suspension for homophobic language, but that won’t stop Eagles fans from being annoyed they didn’t have access to the speedy small forward in last year’s draft. He ended up going to St Kilda, who used pick 20 on him. He’s played three games so far for St Kilda, debuting as the sub in Round 1 2024, but will miss the next six games at any level after using slurs against Williamstown players in the VFL.
Fremantle – Jesse Motlop and Mitch Edwards
Fremantle has been dudded out of two highly-touted NGA prospects over the past three seasons, with now Carlton forward Jesse Motlop and developing Geelong ruck Mitch Edwards two players who could be on the Dockers’ list. Motlop was one of the first victims of the change, being selected at pick 27 of the 2021 draft, and could have been a successor to Michael Walters up forward. He’s played 33 games for the Blues as part of a revolving door of small forwards, while the 206cm Edwards was taken with pick 32 in 2023 and is a long-term project ruckman.
Hawthorn – Tew Jiath
Hawthorn was within three picks of matching Tew Jiath – the brother of Changkuoth – before Collingwood swept in with pick 37 to take him off the board before the Hawks had the chance to match a bid.
Western Bulldogs – Luamon Lual
The Bulldogs may have secured access to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, but lost out in one of the cruellest manners on raw defender Luamon Lual. Adrian Dodoro and the Bombers swooped with pick 39 to pluck the dashing half-back, just one pick before the Dogs would have been able to match a bid.
WINNERS
Essendon: Isaac Kako
The Bombers are the huge winners out of the changes, with possible top 10 pick Isaac Kako now likely wearing red and black next year. Touted as a similar – if not better – small forward to Hawthorn’s Nick Watson, he perfectly fills the biggest void in the Bombers’ side. A huge coup for the red and black, who now can trade back and load up for the 2025 draft pending changes to the bidding system.
West Coast: Malakai Champion
Champion was looking like Western Australia’s highest prospect in the draft before the rise of Bo Allan in the National Championships, but Champion is still one of WA’s brightest prospects as a damaging player forward of centre. Certainly not expected to be a first-round prospect, but Champion would have been on the edge of the top 40 picks, but it will save the Eagles running through lots of scenarios to figure out how to use their picks.
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