AFL Draft: The best father-son selections of all time and the famous names in the 2024 pool
The father-son rule is set to deliver again for AFL sides, with 17 club-aligned prospects sitting on draft boards across the county. CHRIS CAVANAGH assesses their prospects.
The father-son – and now father-daughter – rule is one of the best in footy.
And the beauty of it has come to the fore again early this season.
Sam Darcy, the son of 226-game Bulldogs great Luke, was one of the Dogs’ best in Friday night’s loss to Essendon, a week after he was named the round 4 Rising Star.
This year’s AFL Draft is also littered with famous names.
Who is your club eligible to select come November?
THE 2024 CROP
– with Chris Cavanagh
Levi Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
Some believe the Victorian could be the best of the bunch in this year’s draft class. The son of three-time Brisbane premiership player Marcus and the younger brother of 2022 No.2 draft pick Will, Levi can play midfield or forward roles, has clean hands, makes good decisions and can hit the scoreboard.
Tyler Welsh (Adelaide)
A promising 191cm key forward, Welsh announced himself in an under-18 national championships game against Vic Country last year as he booted five goals. He has great marking hands, nice speed and is generally a good kick at goal. His father Scott played for North Melbourne, Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs but Tyler is only eligible as a father-son for the Crows.
Ben Camporeale (Carlton)
A classy midfielder who wins his own ball and makes good decisions, the right-footer won the best-on-ground medal in the under-17 Futures game on AFL Grand Final day last year. He is the son of 1995 Blues premiership player Scott and is considered to sit slightly ahead of his twin brother Lucas.
Lucas Camporeale (Carlton)
A left-footed wingman or half-back who was prominent like his brother in the under-17 Futures game last year, Lucas has nice composure and good skills. The Glenelg product is also eligible to join the Blues as a father-son, given his father Scott played 233 AFL games for the club.
Elwood Peckett (St Kilda)
A high half-forward or inside midfielder, Peckett has started the season strongly with the Dandenong Stingrays in the Coates Talent League. He possesses good athletic traits and has some breakaway power. Elwood is the son of Justin Peckett, who played 252 games for the Saints and finished second in the club’s best-and-fairest in 1994.
River Stevens (North Melbourne)
The son of two-time Kangaroos premiership player and former captain Anthony, Stevens is a 176cm small forward who snagged three goals from 15 disposals for the Geelong Falcons in round 2 of the Coates Talent League. He works hard on the lead and has good finishing skills with ball in hand.
Noah Yze (Melbourne)
He is the son of Richmond coach Adem, but Noah could soon find himself at rival club Melbourne where his father played 271 games. The Oakleigh Chargers product plays in a similar way to his dad as a mid-sized lead-up marking forward and stands 190cm tall.
Ky Burgoyne (Hawthorn/Port Adelaide)
The son of Shaun ‘Silk’ Burgoyne, Ky is father-son eligible for both Hawthorn and the Port Adelaide given his dad played well over 100 games for both clubs. He is a competitive defender who reads the play well. He also has speed to burn, having finished second in the 20m sprint during pre-season testing in South Australia with a time of 2.88 seconds.
Rome Burgoyne (Port Adelaide)
The son of 270-game Power champion and 2004 premiership player Peter, Rome is also the younger brother of current Port Adelaide wingman Jase. He’s a 182cm rebounding defender who is clean with his disposal and regularly makes good decisions.
Louie Montgomery (Port Adelaide)
A versatile 184cm player who can be used in defence, through the midfield or forward, Montgomery is quite athletic, reads the play well and can win his own footy. His father Brett played for both the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide, but Louie is only father-son eligible for the Power.
Oliver Francou (Port Adelaide)
A midfielder from North Adelaide, Francou possesses good endurance and is hard at the footy. He is the son of 156-game Power champion Josh, who was a three-time Showdown Medal winner and was an All-Australian in 2002.
Isaac Barry (Sydney)
A 180cm prospect from the Oakleigh Chargers, Barry managed just one Coates Talent League game last year due to injury but returned as a 19-year-old this season. He is the son of Sydney’s 2005 premiership hero, Leo.
Ned Maginness (Hawthorn)
The son of two-time Hawks premiership player Scott and the younger brother of current Hawthorn midfielder Finn, Ned returned to the Sandringham Dragons as a 19-year-old this year after being overlooked in last year’s draft. He’s a 194cm big-bodied inside midfielder or running wingman.
Alfie Wojcinski (Geelong)
A 181cm midfielder or half-back who is part of the Geelong Falcons program, Alfie is the son of three-time Geelong premiership player David.
Alex Alessio (Essendon)
A 199cm developing ruckman or key forward, Alessio is still relatively raw but is coming along with his game at the Calder Cannons. He is the son of 2000 Essendon premiership player Steven.
Noah Caracella (Essendon)
A high forward who reads the game well, the 188cm Caracella is playing for the Geelong Falcons this year. He is the son of former Essendon, Brisbane Lions and Collingwood midfielder Blake, but is only father-son eligible for the Bombers where his dad is the current VFL coach.
Boston Everitt (St Kilda)
A 183cm forward, Everitt is linked up with the Gold Coast Suns Academy as well as St Kilda. He is the son of former St Kilda, Hawthorn and Sydney ruckman Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt, but is only father-son eligible for the Saints.
WHO IS THE BEST OF ALL TIME?
All are a chance to join some of the lists of greatest father-son pickups of all time.
But who is the best of all-time?
Have your say on Nick Delaney’s top 20.
*Selections considered from the first AFL draft in 1986 onwards only*
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