The Geelong Falcons draft prospects to watch out for in 2024

The Geelong Falcons had four prospects taken in this year’s draft, but next year is expected to dwarf those numbers with a promising group. And there are several father-son talents.

Chantal Mason became a Cat. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos

The Geelong Falcons had two prospects from their girls program taken in the AFLW Draft, and there is plenty of talent on the horizon.

St Joseph’s forward Chantal Mason and Grovedale gun Chloe Adams both found homes, with Mason taken by the Cats at pick 18 and Adams picked up by Essendon with the 38th selection.

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It came after dashing Geelong West defender Angus Hastie and lively Newtown & Chillwell goalsneak Tom Anastasopoulos joined the AFL ranks from the Falcons boys side.

Early indications from the 2024 Falcons crop suggest there will be more than four prospects drafted next year, with the girls program alone boasting six players who are taking part in the Vic Country training hub.

Chloe Adams became a Bomber. Picture: Alison Wynd

That group is headlined by Coates Talent best and fairest winner Sara Howley, who looms as a likely top-10 selection.

The Falcons boys list had three talents named in the Vic Country hub squad.

Geelong Falcons girls talent manager Mel Hickey is excited by the talent coming through next year.

Hickey, who captained Geelong’s AFLW side in her two seasons at the club, believes that Mason is a great fit for the Cats.

She said Adams could be a potential bargain for the Bombers and has all the tools to play right away.

“The Cats were pretty keen to get a tall forward given some of their tall forward stocks are in the latter stages of their career. I think they saw Chantal as a really good prospect to spend some time on developing and they really like some of her attributes,” Hickey said.

“I’m sure they would be very happy to get her with that pick. I think it is still just that athletic profile that clubs you can see, some girls were taken who are quite tall and athletic but probably don’t have anywhere near the skill level of Chloe.

“You’ve pretty much got a ready-made player there that can make awesome decisions, obviously her skills are a cut above so I’m sure Essendon are absolutely stoked to get her.”

Jo Sunderland was perhaps the most unlucky talent from the Falcons girls program to remain on the board, but several clubs have list spots remaining and can invite prospects to train with them to pursue a spot on their list.

In the meantime, Hickey expects Sunderland to be hot property for VFLW clubs after an impressive season for the Falcons.

Falcons graduates Kate Martin and Bella Gilham are others in the frame to be snapped up in the VFLW.

Martin is currently training with Geelong’s VFLW side since the Falcons season finished and has already caught the attention of the Cats.

“I reckon (Sunderland) will be pretty sought after in the VFLW. There’s obviously going to be train on opportunities that kind of pop up, I don’t think they start until April-May,” Hickey said.

“I’d say she will be someone that a club will look at for that.

“Kate Martin is doing really, really well down there at the moment with her pre-season, I know they have been impressed with her running and athleticism and dedication.”

Sara Howley looms as a top pick in next year's draft. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

GIRLS PROSPECTS TO WATCH

Sara Howley (Newtown & Chillwell)

Winning the league best-and-fairest is a fair achievement, but doing it as a bottom-ager is even more incredible. Add her All-Australian nod and her eye-catching under-17 futures game against the best in the country and it is no wonder Howley is touted as a potential top-five pick for next year’s talent stacked draft. Howley is a ball-magnet, uses the ball well, dashes away from her opponents with speed and kicks goals. A complete package as a midfielder.

Seisia White (St Mary’s)

White broke her wrist after her first game at the national championships but she impressed her coaches in that performance, tallying 10 disposals, five tackles and five inside 50s. The small forward is set to get more midfield exposure next season and is noted for her athleticism, goalkicking ability and relentless defensive pressure.

Kiara Woods (Geelong West)

Woods was part of the Vic Country hub this year but had was unsighted after the first four games after suffering an ankle injury. The Geelong West prospect has great athleticism for a player standing 182cm and is strong overhead. Will likely split her time between the ruck and the forward 50 at the Falcons in 2024.

Mekah Morrisy (Newtown & Chillwell)

Morrisy is a prototype winger who runs hard both ways and can push forward to kick goals. The Newtown & Chillwell product had a huge game against Western Australia at the national championships for Vic Country, finishing with 23 disposals, four inside 50s and two goals.

Rebecca Clottey (St Mary’s)

The Ghanaian talent is relatively new to the sport, but she possesses serious power and is a tackling machine. Debuting in the final home-and-away round, Clottey laid 18 tackles in her first three Falcons games last year and kicked 1.3 in the elimination final. She burst onto the scene after starring in a Victorian diversity all-stars clash where her fierce defensive pressure was put on show. Is part of the Vic Country squad.

Chloe Bryant (St Joseph’s)

An outside midfielder who is a pinpoint kick and gets into good spots for her teammates. She starred with 24 disposals and a goal in their elimination final win over the Tasmania Devils and averaged 16 touches per game this season along with six majors.

Lucy Marescuk (South Barwon)

Maraschuk possesses lightning speed and strong endurance, with her running capacity a cut above. The Falcons will use her on a wing and up forward, where she can burst past opponents and lay rundown tackles. Won 19 disposals or more in three consecutive games earlier in the season.

Lucy Marescuk is an elite runner. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Kate O’Brien (St Mary’s)

A recent addition to the Falcons, O’Brien is an athletic tall who could be used all over the ground next season. The 180cm utility will likely spend time in the ruck and as a key position player at both ends.

Stella Huxtable (Torquay)

Huxtable only turns 16 on Friday but already she has been touted as a player to watch, named as one of three 2025 draft prospects in the Vic Country training hub. It came after she earned All-Australian honours at the under-16 championships this year. Huxtable knows how to find the footy, winning 17 disposals and booting a goal in the last of her six under-18 games for the Falcons in round 17.

BOYS PROSPECTS TO WATCH

Zac McInnes (Bell Park)

McInnes would likely have been playing in the U17 Futures match on grand final day if he wasn’t sidelined by an ankle injury. The key forward is strong in the air and a great kick at goal, finishing with 16.5 for the year – including three hauls of three goals. At 197cm, McInnes shapes as one of Geelong’s top draft chances next year.

Xavier Ivisic (Bell Park)

Ivisic had a superb bottom-age year and was perhaps unlucky not to be picked for the U17 Futures match on grand final day. He starred at APS level as a full-time midfielder for Geelong Grammar, finishing as the four-highest disposal winner and averaging 28 disposals, six clearances and 107.5 ranking points per game. At the Falcons, Ivisic was used up forward and through the midfield where he was a consistent performer. Will press his draft claims as a full-time midfielder next year.

Xavier Ivisic looks for an option. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Noah Tullio (Newtown & Chillwell)

Tullio made an eye-catching debut in round 12 against Eastern Ranges and never came out of the Falcons side. Playing on a wing, the bottom-ager showed off his strong running attributes, neat ball-use and clean hands at ground level. He then took out the best-on-ground medal in Newtown & Chillwell’s grand final triumph.

River Stevens (Newtown & Chillwell)

Perhaps the most highly touted of the three father-son Falcons, Stevens is tied to North Melbourne as the son of Kangaroos team of the century member, Anthony. Stevens had a promising bottom-age year at Coates Talent League level and in school football for Geelong College, also representing Vic Country in an U17 Futures trial. The speedy small forward kicked three goals in two consecutive matches at the back-end of the season to underline his potential.

Alfie Wojcinski (Newtown & Chillwell)

Wojcinski, the son of three-time premiership Cat David, has already turned out at Geelong training this off-season with Geelong’s potential father-sons and Next Generation Academy prospects. Last season was considered as a development year for the defender, who was unable to make his Falcons debut, turning out for Newtown & Chillwell and winning an under-18 premiership with his dad as coach. Geelong has taken Oscar Brownless and Osca Riccardi in recent years out of the Falcons program so recruiting guru Stephen Wells will be sure to keep a close eye on Wojcinski.

Alfie Wojcinski won a premiership with his father David Wojcinski (left) as coach. Picture: Mark Wilson

Noah Caracella (Newtown & Chillwell)

One for Bombers fans to keep tabs on. Caracella is the son of former Essendon, Brisbane and Collingwood star Blake, but is only eligible to be taken as a father-son prospect by Essendon, where he played 126 of his 187 games. The rangy forward, who has strong hands overhead, managed just two games this season after undergoing surgery on a broken thumb. He featured in the AFL Barwon under-18 division 1 grand final and booted two goals in the Eagles’ premiership win.

Ben Rongdit (Colac)

Tied to Geelong’s Next Generation Academy, the Sudanese product was one of six 2025 draft prospects selected in the boys Vic Country training hub after Rongdit represented Vic Country at this year’s U16 national carnival. A key defender with great spring, Rongdit was a shining light in their thumping loss to South Australia, where his reading of the play, defensive pressure and competitiveness stood out. He finished with 16 disposals, 12 tackles, 12 contested possessions, nine intercepts and 128 SuperCoach points. The Colac local has even been used in the ruck and on a wing, a credit to his athleticism.

Originally published as The Geelong Falcons draft prospects to watch out for in 2024