AFL Mid-Season Draft: Top performers, stats, from Young Guns v Vic Metro exhibition match

Father-son prospects for Melbourne and Western Bulldogs were among the standouts in a crucial mid-season draft audition. Check out the stats and every SuperCoach score from the match.

The Western Bulldogs will have priority access to yet another emerging key forward in this year’s draft in what shapes as an embarrassment of riches at Whitten Oval.

Bulldogs father-son prospect Jordan Croft caught the eye for Vic Metro in an exhibition match against a Young Guns side on Sunday, booting four goals in a breakout performance.

In wet conditions at Sandringham, the 200cm Croft was clean with his hands, moved well for a big man and kicked the ball beautifully.

The Calder Cannons product had nine disposals, took four marks and kicked 4.1 in attack to help Vic Metro to a 20-point win.

All four of Croft’s goals came after quarter-time in what was a shortened match of four 25-minute quarters with no time on.

The performance backed up a five-goal haul from Croft three weeks earlier in the Coates Talent League, albeit against a struggling Northern Territory Academy side.

He is the son of former Bulldogs swingman Matthew Croft, who played 186 games for the club between 1991 and 2004.

AFL Academy squad members Nathan Philactides and Archie Roberts were among other standouts for Vic Metro in the match.

Jordan Croft flies for a mark while playing for Vic Metro on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

Nathan Philactides looks for an option. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Philactides’s run off halfback was impressive and he racked up an equal game-high 25 disposals.

The Oakleigh Chargers’ powerful left boot wasn’t at its best, but neither was the kicking of a lot of others in the trying conditions.

Roberts also played in defence for Vic Metro and logged 25 disposals and five marks.

Melbourne father-son prospect Kynan Brown (20 disposals) was another who was part of the same backline and showed some good signs.

Brown is the son of former Demon Nathan Brown, who featured in 146 games in the red and blue.

The Young Guns side featured a host of AFL mid-season draft prospects, looking to push their cases for selection under the watchful eyes of recruiters from across the competition.

Jedd Longmire was impressive through the midfield across the day with 23 disposals, five clearances, five tackles and seven inside-50s.

Longmire, who stands 188cm tall, has been playing for Collingwood’s VFL side this year after being overlooked in his top-age draft year in 2022.

In the forward line, Dandenong Stingrays 19-year-old Ziggy Toledo-Glasman was a threat as he kicked three second-half goals among 13 disposals and six marks.

Inside midfielder Mitch Szybkowski (20 disposals, three clearances) worked hard, as did another player who was considered unlucky to miss out on selection in last year’s drafts in Luke Teal (18 disposals).

Jedd Longmire was one of the best players for the Young Guns. Picture: Getty Images

Luke Teal worked hard and found a bit of the footy for the Young Guns. Picture: Getty Images

Forward Ryan Maric (nine disposals, 1.3) and ruckman Clay Tucker (seven disposals, 13 hit-outs) both had some good moments after attracting mid-season draft interest in recent weeks.

Maric worked hard up the ground as a leading forward and won some nice ground balls for a player who stands 193cm tall.

The Young Guns will play a second match against Vic Country this Sunday, ahead of the mid-season draft on May 31.

KFC SUPERCOACH RANKING POINTS

YOUNG GUNS

115 – Jedd Longmire

111 – Ziggy Toledo-Glasman

92 – Tom Bower

90 – Mitch Szybkowski

90 – Paddy Cross

90 – Hamish Pierson

85 – Nicholas Newton

83 – Beau Tedcastle

83 – Jack Cleaver

79 – Luke Teal

70 – Archie Sinnott

62 – Ryan Maric

60 – Jovan Petric

58 – Tom Stern

54 – Archer May

50 – Rye Penny

50 – Levi Young

44 – Clay Tucker

43 – Ethan Stanley

37 – Michael Kiraly

24 – Mitch Dodos

20 – William Elliott

19 – Flynn Riley

16 – Joziah Nannup

Forward William Brown was solid for Vic Metro. Picture: Getty Images

VIC METRO

132 – Mahmoud Taha

115 – Charlton Harrop

110 – Archie Roberts

107 – Kynan Brown

91 – Taj Hotton

87 – Nathan Philactides

86 – Tarkyn O’Leary

86 – Jordan Croft

82 – Jake Smith

78 – Josh Docking

77 – William Brown

73 – Isaac Kako

65 – Caleb Windsor

65 – Zak Johnson

59 – Lucca Grego

54 – Harvey Johnston

52 – Ryan Eyre

50 – Calsher Dear

47 – William Green

45 – Cameron Nyko

42 – Christian Mardini

32 – Cooper Trembath

31 – Remy Maclean

31 – Riley Weatherill

Originally published as AFL Mid-Season Draft: Top performers, stats, from Young Guns v Vic Metro exhibition match