Draft Intel: The latest AFL Draft news from around Australia ahead of final under-18 carnival game
Several of this year’s first-round draft prospects have been testing their mettle in state league competitions across the country. CHRIS CAVANAGH details who’s enhanced their claims.
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Only one game is still to be played in the under-18 national championships as the countdown to November’s AFL national draft ramps up.
Here’s the latest draft news from around the country, including an updated indicative draft order.
TOP PROSPECTS SHINE IN STATE LEAGUES
Some of this year’s top AFL draft prospects have lit up state league games, hot on the heels of strong under-18 national championships campaigns.
Likely top-10 pick Sid Draper played his first senior SANFL game of the year for South Adelaide last weekend, with the dynamic onballer starring with 23 disposals, five clearances, five score involvements and 11 tackles for a total of 147 ranking points.
Draper, who had an injury-interrupted start to this year with a stress fracture in his shin, lined up alongside his older brother Arlo in that match.
A No. 45 draft pick for Collingwood in 2021, Arlo returned to South Adelaide at the end of last year after being delisted by the Magpies.
Meanwhile, Port Adelaide father-son prospect Rome Burgoyne made his senior SANFL debut for the Power last weekend as he pushes to join older brother Jase on the club’s AFL list next year.
The son of 2004 premiership player Peter, Rome did not look out of place as he gathered 15 disposals and six marks in defence.
Adelaide father-son prospect Tyler Welsh also returned the SANFL with the Crows and produced his best senior game this year, with the strong-marking forward racking up 14 disposals, six marks, six score involvements and a goal.
In the WAFL, first-round draft fancy and tough onballer Bo Allan played his best senior game this year with 15 disposals, five marks and 12 tackles in Peel Thunder’s win over West Coast.
Gold Coast Suns Academy midfielder Leo Lombard – another first-round draft prospect – is enjoying a couple of weeks off before he launches into some more VFL footy with the Suns.
Multiple Victorian young guns are also expected to be handed VFL opportunities in the back end of the season.
‘DRIVEN AND COMPETITIVE’ PAIR BLUES-BOUND
South Australia under-18s coach Tony Bamford says Carlton has two very impressive young players coming its way at the end of the season in Ben and Lucas Camporeale.
The twins are both father-son prospects for the Blues in November and put their abilities on show while playing for their state during the recent under-18 national championships.
Ben was South Australia’s best performer during the tournament, playing onball and averaging 26.8 disposals and 4.5 clearances across the four games.
Not to be outdone, Lucas showed what he can do playing an outside role on the wing and particularly impressed when he racked up 29 disposals in the side’s third match against Western Australia.
Bamford said Carlton was in for a treat.
“They’re going to get two very, very, very driven and competitive brothers,” he said.
“There’s a bit of a love-hate relationship there with those two, which at times needs to be managed. They’re very competitive with each other, which is probably why they’re so driven and so good. But they’re ripping kids. Their parents have done a wonderful job bringing them up. They’re really pleasant to coach.”
The twins are the sons of 1995 Carlton premiership player Scott Camporeale, who played 233 games for the Blues.
TITLE DECIDER AWAITS
The final match of this year’s AFL under-18 national championships will decide the title winner, with Vic Metro and Vic Country set to face off in search of the crown on Sunday.
The two Victorian teams sit undefeated from their first three matches of the tournament, having both played games against the Allies, South Australia and Western Australia.
They will do battle at Marvel Stadium from 10.35am on Sunday.
A raft of first-round draft prospects are set to feature in the match.
Vic Metro’s team includes Josh Smillie, Jagga Smith, Levi Ashcroft, Luke Trainor, Murphy Reid and Christian Moraes, while Vic Country boasts the likes of Finn O’Sullivan, Harvey Langford, Sam Lalor, Tobie Travaglia, Matt Whitlock and Jack Whitlock.
While the Allies claimed a maiden championships victory last year, Vic Metro is vying for a second title in three years after also reigning supreme in 2022.
Vic Country will be searching for its first championships crown since 2015.
Sunday’s match will be the first game of a double-header, with Vic Metro and Vic Country also set to do battle at Marvel Stadium as part of the under-18 girls national championships.
NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM OUT WEST
Early predictions were for a very slim crop of draft prospects from Western Australia this year, but a few lesser-known names pushed themselves up during the under-18 national championships.
Captain Bo Allan — a left-foot defender who has pushed into the midfield this year — was the star of the show for the state and highlighted why he had been tipped to be a first-round draft pick.
However, a raft of Allan’s teammates also put some AFL traits on show.
Dangerous half-forward Malakai Champion — a relation of AFL great Eddie Betts — kicked six goals across Western Australia’s four games and impressed with his workrate.
Luke Urquhart was the side’s leading disposal winner for the tournament as he averaged 21 disposals and 5.3 clearances, with his inside work and burst speed from stoppages catching the eye.
Key defender Darcy Petersen performed well with his one-on-one contest and intercept work before suffering a season-ending medial strain in his side’s third game of the tournament, while running defender Jaxon Artemis surprised as he won the state’s MVP award.
Other players who are considered chances to be drafted at the end of the year include half-forwards Will Hayes and Cody Angove, overage talls Aiden Riddle and Max Rohr, third-tall forward Hamish Davis, key defender Clancy Dennis and forward-ruck Kayle Gerreyn.
A total of 11 players were selected from Western Australia in last year’s national draft, headlined by No. 8 pick Daniel Curtin who found his way to Adelaide.
FATHER-SONS EXCITE IN UNDER-16 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Some talented father-son prospects are on the horizon for clubs over the next two years, with a raft of famous names shining brightly during the closing stages of the under-16 national championships this week.
James O’Loughlin — the son of Sydney champion Michael — and Aidan McCartney — the son of former North Melbourne, Adelaide and Collingwood player Jason — each booted three goals in the Sydney Swans Academy’s 52-point win over the Northern Territory on Monday.
O’Loughlin is a 2025 draft prospect who was playing in the tournament as an approved overage player, while McCartney could either join the Swans or nominate as a father-son for North Melbourne in 2026.
Hawthorn 2026 father-son prospect Cooper Hodge — the son of four-time premiership legend Luke — has played for the Gold Coast Suns Academy during the championships and has shown good signs.
Carlton father-son prospect Cody Walker is also catching plenty of eyes on the Gold Coast, having gathered 26 disposals and seven clearances through the midfield in Vic Country’s loss to Western Australia on Tuesday.
INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER
Circle August 3 in the calendar.
It could well be the day the wooden spoon winner is decided – and therefore who receives the No. 1 draft pick.
The current bottom-two sides – Richmond and North Melbourne – are set to face off at Marvel Stadium in a round 21 match that day.
Both teams have won just two games to this point of the season and are separated on the ladder by only 3.8 percentage points entering round 18.
The Tigers hold a sizeable draft hand as it stands, with not only the No. 1 pick but also two second-round selections and three third-round picks.
Fremantle is also stacked with four selections inside 25, while Gold Coast has five selections inside 32.
Recruiters believe this year’s draft has a strong top 30, but there is an even group of players in the top-10 – sitting in contrast to last year where Harley Reid was a clear No. 1 fancy.
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