National draft guru Kevin Sheehan is confident Lloyd Johnston will be picked up by an AFL club
Three young Territorian footballers appear set to be picked up by AFL clubs and a further two are in contention, a national draft guru says. Meet the young footy whiz set to be the lad to watch.
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Three Territorian footballers are set to be picked up by an AFL club at next Monday’s national draft, guru Kevin Sheehan says.
The long-time draft sage, and AFL talent ambassador, has no doubt the twin sons of former Essendon livewire and Palmerston product Alwyn Davey – who have already nominated the Dons as their preferred home under the father-son rule – will be selected.
And he also had big wraps on former Wanderers defender and NT News Rising Star Award winner of 2021-22, Lloyd Johnston, comparing his aerial ability to Brisbane Lions premiership player Darryl White.
Sheehan has also revealed his thoughts on Tiwi Bombers product Anthony Munkara and St Mary’s small forward Beau Tedcastle, who both attended the national draft combine in October.
SHEEHAN’S SPECULATION ON THE TOP END’S DRAFT HOPEFULS
Alwyn Davey Jr and Jayden Davey
Sheehan has already named Alwyn Davey Jr as one of his top 40 prospects ahead of the draft which begins on November 28.
He said the 18-year-old recorded the fastest in-game speed this year, moving at nearly 34km/h while playing for Victoria Metro and Oakleigh Chargers.
“That’s regarded by the high performance people as pretty swift,” Sheehan said.
“He’s one of the quickest players around the contest.”
However, brother Jayden had endured a much tougher ordeal having injured his ACL earlier in the year.
“For twins, you probably couldn’t get a more different 18 months for them,” Sheehan said.
“One that’s been able to play and present and another that’s been tucked away with a knee injury.
“There’s not a lot between them, some say Jayden was the better performed (in the past), others say Alwyn, in the fullness of time we’ll know.”
He said Alwyn Jr had shown enough this season to know he belonged at the elite level, also turning out for the AFL Under 18 Academy against a Collingwood VFL team in May.
“He’s well exposed as a very exciting prospect, he’s certainly got the speed of dad, one of the quicker players around the ball,” he said.
“The way he gets to the fall of the ball, the way he accelerates away, the way he sets the play up, he’s creative.
“Maybe (a pick in the) 20s or 30s, it’s very hard to read what other clubs think.”
He said there had been a “small sample” of what Jayden was capable of but still expected him to be selected.
“It’s a bit more speculative on performance,” he said.
“It’ll be a nervous wait to see what occurs.
“I’m sure that both boys, with their hand-eye coordination and speed, would be pretty dangerous around the goals.
“They’re both certain to get through and be listed, we’ll have to wait and see what part of the draft that occurs.”
Lloyd Johnston
Wanderers’ young defensive ace Lloyd Johnston was the most exciting Territorian Sheehan saw this year.
Describing his capabilities as akin to former Brisbane Lion Darryl White, Johnston is likely to be taken by the Gold Coast Suns, where he played two VFL games this season.
Johnston, who won the NT News Rising Star Award in 2021-22, was one of just three Territorians – alongside Anthony Munkara and Beau Tedcastle – to be invited to the national draft combine in Melbourne, where he recorded a 2.95 second effort in the 20m sprint.
Johnston, who represented the Territory (averaging 18 touches and four marks) in the national Under 18 competition before joining the Allies squad, was also talked up for having “AFL traits” by a Gold Coast recruiter.
It’s an opinion Sheehan shares.
“Certainly he’s the most exciting kid that played for the NT this year,” Sheehan said.
“You’ve seen it all, the marks, the runs from defence, the aerial stuff looked a bit like Darryl White, he’s quite acrobatic in the air.
“The way he jumped at the ball ... crikey, that’s star stuff.”
Believing it was difficult for Allies players to fully gell due to the tyranny of distance, Sheehan said he saw enough glimpses that Johnston had what it took to play at the highest level, able to break games open with his defensive runs.
“There was still enough to suggest he was well worth a crack on a list,” he said.
“The Gold Coast have got the final chance to match a bid if it comes, or to put him on as a rookie if it doesn’t.
“I think he’d be well worth getting onto a list.
“Surely he’d end up on Gold Coast’s list on what he’s shown. We’re optimistic for him going into the draft.
“I can still picture him standing on their heads ... in those games earlier in the year.
“He’s got some real X Factor about him.”
Beau Tedcastle
The talented small forward pushed his case for an AFL list position after kicking 19 goals in 11 games for Greater Western Victoria Rebels in 2022.
That included a bag of four against the Swans Academy and three against top teams in Dandenong Stingrays and Gippsland Power, after relocating to Ballarat in 2021, while also turning out for the Allies in the Under 18 national competition,
Tedcastle first announced himself to Territory footy watchers in 2019-20, winning the Abala Medal after an Under 18 season for St Mary’s where he slotted 85 goals in 18 games.
Then, the following season, he booted 25 goals from 13 matches for the Saints in the Men’s Premier League — adding a further seven from four in 2021-22.
Sheehan said Tedcastle had some “terrific games” for the Rebels in 2022, describing him as a dynamic, “very quick, smart” small forward who was an elite kick.
“One of those boys who can put them through from the boundary line, he’s got a good burst of speed,” Sheehan said.
“He’s not without a chance but would be at the back end (of the draft).
“He’s in contention.”
Attending the national draft combine with Tiwi product Anthony Munkara in October, Tedcastle rated third for the running vertical jump.
Anthony Munkara
Where Munkara ends up in 2023, in a footballing sense, is a topic of great debate after showing “glimpses of his potential” this year, says Sheehan.
He said the 18-year-old, who relocated to South Australia to attend Westminster College, had proven the talent is there, but without a large body of work.
After two games for West Adelaide in the SANFL’s Under 18 competition – he kicked four goals against Norwood in his opening match – injury while trialling with the Allies, and a death in the family which forced Munkara to return home to the Tiwi Islands, had slowed his momentum.
“His talent is there, but whether he’s had the body of work and the continuity needed, that’s the only thing you don’t know,” Sheehan said.
“Somebody might take a punt, as he’s a lovely size.
“He’s the biggest potential unknown in terms of where I suppose his ceiling is.
“He’s an unknown, he could be a bolter.
“We just didn’t see his year unfold ... where we got a clear line of sight.”
However, he said Munkara had kicked nine goals for Westminster in a school game in 2021, and showed a bit when he represented the AFL Under 18 Academy against Collingwood’s VFL team in May, saying his movement at times was “something special”.
“You thought: ‘Gee, we’ve got a bit to work with here’,” he said.
“He’ll be watched with great interest to whether he attracts a bid.”
He said Munkara could be selected by Essendon after training with the club through its Next Generation Academy program, or left to develop for another year.
“He’s still got AFL traits and talent written all over him,” he said.
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