Mick Malthouse looks at every club’s recent draft picks in search of the next batch of superheroes
Jaidyn Stephenson has plenty of talent but he’s struggled for form this year. Is he getting ahead of himself? Mick Malthouse looks at the talent from all 18 clubs and identifies the players with and without star potential.
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Footy supporters love a superhero.
Seeing them attempt the mark of the year, or kicking a goal from an impossible angle, winning a tough one-on-one duel, taking out the Norm Smith Medal in a premiership team. It’s what keeps the fans coming back for more.
Equally, footy fans love watching young talent emerge. The excitement of wondering if that draftee or rookie will be a one-season wonder, or a genuine superstar.
It can be hard to pick, because promise and potential don’t always equate to superstardom.
St Kilda chose Nick Riewoldt with its first pick in the 2000 national draft. For 17 seasons and 336 games, the Saints faithful were spoiled with leaping, marking, goal kicking, courage and professionalism. And they loved it. They loved Nick.
In the same draft, Collingwood chose Alan Didak, and Magpie supporters were equally as enamoured with his feats, particularly in the 2010 premiership triumph.
In the same draft, Justin Koschitzke went to St Kilda at No.2. While he was a talented and brave servant of the club for 200 games, injuries stopped him from reaching his full potential.
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Shaun Burgoyne went to Port Adelaide with the No. 12 selection, and is still playing, rounding out a brilliant career at Hawthorn.
Daniel Kerr’s name was called out by West Coast at No. 18, and Drew Petrie to North Melbourne at 23. But what happened to Carlton’s Luke Livingston (No. 4) and Eagle Andrew McDougall (No. 5)?
Talented players who couldn’t reach the same heights. It happens.
Drafting is all about taking a chance on a player. So many factors decide whether that chance pays off or not. And whether it happens instantly or in the long run.
Not all drafts are equal. The 2001 draft was an absolute beauty, producing Luke Hodge, Luke Ball, Chris Judd, Jimmy Bartel, Nick Dal Santo, Steve Johnson, Sam Mitchell, Leigh Montagna and Gary Ablett (father/son). They weren’t all picked up in the top 10, which goes to show that the draft can be very hit and miss and not all players develop at the same rate.
The game will always have superstars, and young players coming through to replace them. A crop of youngsters from the last three national drafts have star material written all over them.
Sam Walsh was chosen by Carlton at No. 1 in the 2018 draft. His work ethic is perhaps his greatest quality. Compare him to young Brisbane Lions Cam Rayner, No. 1 in 2017, who appears to be on the lazier side, and I know who I would back.
Andrew Brayshaw (No. 2 in 2017) was a good pick for Fremantle. He will be a handy player in the future. But No. 2, 2018, Jack Lukosius has star qualities.
Quick and a beautiful deliverer of the ball, Gold Coast can build a team around Lukosius.
Coupled with last year’s No. 1 pick, Matt Rowell, the Suns are a future top-eight club.
Then there’s Izak Rankine, taken at No. 3 in 2018. It is make or break for some players in the early years, that they are coached well on and off the field.
There is a bit of lair material in Rankine, which is good if it’s used well. I hope he doesn’t read all of his press, because he is already being touted as a champion. His game has tapered off as he takes on more than he can handle. But by understanding his responsibilities to the team he could be another star for Gold Coast.
So too Noah Anderson, best mate of Rowell and No. 2 pick in 2019. He has been terrific for the Suns.
Numbers 6 and 7 from the 2017 draft are potential 200-game players at their respective clubs — Magpie Jaidyn Stephenson and St Kilda’s Hunter Clark.
Stephenson, like Rankine, needs to be careful about reading too much about himself in the paper. He’s talented for sure, but already in and out of the Collingwood team.
Clark just gets on with his job and has become a vital part of the St Kilda backline.
Number 9 from the 2017 draft could be anything the Western Bulldogs want him to be. Aaron Naughton is a superstar on the rise. The Bulldogs need to ensure that he is physically and mentally looked after.
He plays in the toughest position on the field as a key forward, and can also play as a key back. He is a beauty.
Rising star Bailey Smith delivering to Naughton after a ruck tap from Tim English … it’s a glimpse into an exciting future for the Bulldogs.
From the 2018 draft, Ben and Max King are Nick Riewoldt clones. Fierce competitors and unfairly mobile for their height, when they put on some size and gain more experience, they will each terrorise opposing backlines.
In 2017, Gryan Miers came cheap for Geelong at pick number 57. He is holding his own in one of the best teams.
Port Adelaide cleaned up big time in the 2018 draft with picks No. 5, Connor Rozee, Zak Butters (12) and Xavier Duursma (18). It was brilliant drafting of young talent which can hunt in and around Charlie Dixon’s feet. The sort of talent that could propel Port into a Grand Final.
Picking Tarryn Thomas at No. 8, from the same draft, was the best thing North Melbourne has done for some time. He is an excitement machine. When he recovers from injury he could be another Tim Kelly, and that gives all North supporters hope.
West Coast have a handful of rising stars to back up the likes of Kelly and Nic Naitanui. Oscar Allen will be a very good player for the next 10 years. Liam Ryan provides the highlights, because sometimes you don’t need a lot of touches to have an impact. And Bailey Williams outjumps Naitanui, so that’s saying something.
Aside from the obvious at Richmond, there’s another player with superstar written all over him and that’s 2016 draftee, Shai Bolton. He has outstanding poise and balance. The more time he spends in the middle with Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin, the more he will learn.
The Tigers have also found a replacement for Alex Rance in Noah Balta. He was a cheap pick and is excelling in filling the shoes of a champion.
Essendon found a special talent in the 2017 rookie draft in Sam Draper — 205cm and very mobile, it won’t be long before he’s mixing it with the best. While Irving Mosquito could become a Bomber favourite, with Michael Long comparisons.
Sometimes it can take years for a player to mature and fully emerge, particularly the ruckmen. Rucks to look out for are Rowan Marshall at St Kilda, who is leading the way, and Melbourne’s Luke Jackson, another with a really bright future.
A couple of surprises to jump up this season, Josh Daicos at Collingwood and Caleb Serong at Fremantle.
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Daicos takes baggage into every game with him, as the son of a Magpie legend. It’s not fair, but expectations come in many forms. He has marvelled in recent weeks and looks to be carving out his own name.
Serong has played almost every game for the Dockers this season and has been key to their improvement as the weeks have gone on.
With flair, passion and an X-factor, all of these players have the potential to be the league’s next superstars. Gems, just getting polished.
But you can’t predict everything, and no doubt some will fizzle out. But the talent coming through is quite extraordinary, and that’s exciting, because everyone loves a superhero.
Originally published as Mick Malthouse looks at every club’s recent draft picks in search of the next batch of superheroes