For the first time ever the draft will take place over two nights with the first round taking place on Wednesday night and the following rounds on Thursday night.

Tasmania Devil’s coach Jeromey Webberley lived through the AFL draft experience back in 2009 when he was taken by Richmond in the fifth round and now he’s hoping some of the state’s best young talent can fulfil their AFL dreams.

“The build up to the draft is full of emotion for all aspiring players and their families,” Webberley said.

“We all know how tough it is to get drafted by an AFL club and the players, with the support of our talent team, have put in a heap of work over a long period.

“We wish all of our players the best of luck and we’ll continue to support them regardless of the outcome,” he said.

This year Tasmania has a number of young stars vying to fulfil their AFL dreams and we have compiled a list of the Apple Isle’s strongest hopes of making it to the big time.

Sam Banks – medium defender – 187cm – 71kg

Banks has battled injury and Covid, yet still stands as Tasmania’s greatest hope in the draft.

Banks, the Tassie Devils captain who plays with Clarence but hailed from Oatlands, has impressed recruiters with his precise ball use and decision-making out of defence.

While Banks suffered a broken wrist early in the season which kept him out for 12 weeks the youngster still showed enough in his four Tassie Devils games to be selected in the NAB League Team of the Year after averaging 21.8 disposals a game off the halfback line.

Banks said while it was difficult being unable to play more footy this year he used the recovery period to work on other areas of his game.

“I was really disappointed not being able to play footy especially in my draft year but I tried to stay positive and really worked on things like my leadership and helping out with coaching,“ he said.

“They were two big things I think I was really able to improve on so while it was tough not playing I was still able to improve parts of my game.”

Banks has been touted as a potential draftee since 2019 when he became just the fifth Tasmanian to win the Alan McLean Medal for most valuable player at the under-16 national carnival.

Since then Banks has continued to impress between his duties with the Devils and Clarence, with the youngster revealing he had received contact from 17 of the 18 AFL clubs this year despite missing a large chunk of footy.

Banks said despite the external pressure he was not going into the draft with set expectations.

“It’s something I try not to look at too much,” he said. “I know it’s something that’s been said about me the past couple of years but really I just take things one step at a time. I was a lot more confident before I broke my wrist as I was playing great footy but since then it’s been a bit harder to prove myself due to the injury and Covid.

“Now it’s just a waiting game.”

Banks said despite not having set expectations it would be a dream come true to hear his name.

“It would be everything for me,” he said.

“It’s something I’ve put a lot of hard work into to try to achieve and it would certainly make my family proud.”

AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan:

“Sam is a medium defender also capable of displaying his polish through the midfield and has been Tasmania’s shining light for several years after winning the MVP and All Australian honours at Under 16s level in 2019,” Sheehan said.

“His use of the ball is elite being a combination of precise decision making and neat disposal by hand and foot.”

“He had an injury interrupted season after suffering a broken wrist missing the NAB AFL Academy game but he was in sparkling form before and after that playing four matches with the Devils in the NAB League averaging 21.8 disposals and selected in NAB League’s Team of the Year.”

AFL Tasmania’s southern talent manager Mathew Armstrong:

“Sam is a versatile player who has showcased his skills across a number of positions.

“He has a great athletic profile with elite skills by hand and foot and is an outstanding leader.

“Sam is the consummate professional on and off the field.”

Tyler McGinniss – tall defender – 194cm – 82kg

McGinnis is a versatile defender with the ability to play on talls or smalls that loves to fly for intercept marks and use the ball by foot.

The halfback flanker was one of four young Tassie prospects who participated in last month’s draft combine which to receive an invitation required each player to receive a nomination from at least two AFL clubs who were interested in learning more about the possible draftees.

Across nine games for North Hobart this season McGinniss averaged 22 disposals, 5.1 marks, and ranked fourth in the TSL for rebound 50s with an average of 7.2 per game.

For the Devils McGinniss played eight matches and averaged 17.1 disposals and 4.6 marks.

Ahead of the draft McGinniss said he hoped he’d shown enough to hear his name.

“It’s obviously been the dream for a long time and I would love to get picked up but I know it’s very hard to get drafted so now I just need to wait and see what happens,” he said.

AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan:

“Tyler is a tall defender who showed great poise across half back for the Tasmania Devils this year showing some of the traits of GWS Giants star Nick Haynes.

“He’s an excellent intercept mark and fine user of the ball by hand and foot he is a one touch player who absorbs pressure well in defence.

“Tyler topped off an excellent season, after missing nearly two years following a shoulder injury, being named his state best player in the NAB AFL Challenge match against Queensland in Brisbane on AFL Grand final eve.

“His running vertical jump of 91cm impressed at the NAB AFL Draft Combine in Tasmania.”

AFL Tasmania’s southern talent manager Mathew Armstrong:

“Tyler has developed well after a few injury-plagued seasons.

“He’s quick and agile enough to play on talls and smalls and has a very good kick.

“Tyler has a good head on his shoulders and impresses with his professionalism.”

Will Splann – tall forward/defender – 195cm – 90kg

Splann is an exciting young key forward hoping to get selected after a fine season for the Tassie Devils and North Hobart.

Splann, 18, had suffered a retched run with injuries and off field health issues over the past few seasons but with a clean bill of health in 2021 the young centre-half forward put in a number of great performances to announce himself as one of Tassie’s most legitimate draft chances.

While the 195cm swingman has shown the ability to perform well as a key position player at either end of the ground, it is up forward the boy from Geilston Bay believes he plays his best footy.

“I think I can play both ends of the ground pretty well but I’d say having played the majority of my football forward I think I’m a better forward and obviously playing in that position more regularly it’s easier to grasp,” Splann said.

“However I also like to think I can go down back and do a job on a tall forward if that’s what’s required,” he said.

Across 2021, Splann showed an uncompromising style of play and in his five games for North Hobart he led the TSL for average contested marks with 2.8 per game while ranking third across the competition for marks inside 50 with three per game.

Splann said whether he gets drafted or not he felt primed for a big 2022 season.

“I have no expectations on myself going into the draft but after playing a full season of footy it definitely gave me a lot of confidence in my footy,” he said.

“I think with another pre-season and getting into great condition I can give myself a great chance of taking my footy to another level next year.

“Whether I’m lucky enough or not to get drafted we’ll wait and see.

AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan:

“Will is a tall forward that’s also capable of playing in defence.

“He still has massive upside having missed almost two years due to injury and illness but his undoubted potential began to unfold with some exciting performances for the Tasmania Devils this year in the NAB League.

“His three goals from six marks against the Bushrangers gave a thin slice of what he is capable of as a forward with his attack on the ball in the air and strong hands real weapons.

“He played six matches averaging nine disposals and 3.4 marks for the Devils in the NAB League this season as well as playing some eye-catching matches for North Hobart late in the year.”

AFL Tasmania’s southern talent manager Mathew Armstrong:

“Will is a strong contested mark with good hands.

“He’s a powerful athlete and has the capacity to play as a key post at either end but has impressed as a forward.

“I really like Will’s contested marking and his aggression and he is a good tackler for his size.”

Oliver Sanders – midfielder – 179cm – 79kg

The Tassie Devil and North Launceston young gun is a ball magnet that certainly raised his draft stocks in 2021 with some stellar performances.

Sanders enjoyed an impressive year in the Devil’s midfield, opining the season with back to back 29 disposal games in the NAB League and ending the season with a starring role against Queensland with 26 disposals and two goals.

The silky smooth left footer also made his debut VFL debut for North Melbourne this season and was named in their best players in round two with 12 disposals and a goal.

After an injury kept him out for the middle portion of the year Sanders returned to his best for North Launceston and across six games for the Northern Bombers averaged 24.8 disposals 4.5 marks, and 11.2 contested possessions which ranked 4th in the TSL.

Sanders was not originally invited to the AFL draft combine but based on his stellar form he eventually received an invite and took part in the Tasmania’s combine last month in Hobart.

AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan:

“He’s a small midfielder who is a prolific ball winner and neat user of the ball on his preferred left foot.

“He shows astute game sense and is a good decision maker.

“He handled the step up to show distinct potential in two matches for North Melbourne in the VFL this season.”

AFL Tasmania’s northern talent manager Nathan Warren:

“Ollie is a really versatile player and the ultimate professional. He is a great citizen who shows strong leadership qualities.

“Ollie has demonstrated an ability to rise and adapt to the level of competition he’s playing and has shown great diligence throughout his injury rehabilitation.

“He has a great left foot and a strong football IQ that’s second-to-none.”

Baker Smith – tall defender – 197cm – 82kg

The Devils and Clarence youngster is a strong, competitive utility that shows potential at both ends of the ground and has defensive attributes that have likened him to Richmond star Dylan Grimes.

As a defender Smith has the ability to be just as being effective at ground level as he is in the air and has great defensive instincts which allow him to be a damaging intercept player.

After playing predominantly as a defender for the Devils this season he was swung forward in the latter half of the year to show he’s also capable ahead of the footy.

In his eight matches in the NAB League he averaged 11 disposals and 3.6 marks per game.

Smith was one of the four Tasmanians to participate in the AFL drat combine in Hobart last month.

AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan:

“Baker is a developing tall defender who is athletic and uses his anticipation to intercept mark and competitiveness to compete one-on-one.

“He’s blessed with a big tank that allows him to match up with hard running mobile tall forwards and spoil strongly or half the contest which draws some comparisons to the Tigers’ Dylan Grimes.”

AFL Tasmania’s southern talent manager Mathew Armstrong:

“Baker is a courageous, versatile player who can play as a key post at either end.

“Baker’s competitiveness is one of his strongest assets and he’s also got a good pair of hands and is a strong contested mark.”

Oliver Davis – inside midfielder – 182cm – 75kg

The Tassie Devil gun was seen by many as extremely unlucky not to get picked up in last year’s national draft and will be hoping it’s the case of second time lucky this year.

The 2020 Mathew Richardson medallist and 2020 Clarence best and fairest winner made the move to South Australia this year after being invited to train with the Adelaide Crows who were believed to be considering picking Davis up in the mid-season draft.

While he was not picked up by the Crows he did play some good footy for Adelaide in the SANFL where he averaged 16 touches and over 5 tacklers per game across 12 games in a competition that many view as the best outside of the AFL.

Davis has clean hands and is known for contested footy and being a tackling machine.

The young midfielder recently announced he had signed with SANFL club South Adelaide for season 2022.

Sam Collins – medium defender – 187cm – 83kg

Like his Devils teammate Davis, the dashing defender was another who missed out on their AFL dream in last year’s draft and in 2021 moved interstate in a bid to impress recruiters on the mainland.

The former U16 All Australian defender averaged 17 disposals, 4.7 marks, and 5.7 tackles across 3 games for the Oakleigh Chargers while also playing one game for Collingwood’s VFL side.

Collins is seen as a versatile defender who can play on a number of different opponents while also being a great intercept player with an attacking flair.

Jye Menzie – small forward – 181cm – 79kg

The exciting Devils and North Hobart small forward is another over-age player that is hoping to fulfil his boyhood dream of being drafted.

In 2021 Menzie averaged 16.7 disposals, 3.8 marks, and 1.7 goals across 7 games for North Hobart while also playing 2 games for North Melbourne in the VFL.

Menzie was another draft hopeful who participated in the recent state AFL draft combine which required nomination from at least two AFL clubs to be invited.

The National draft will kick off from 7pm (AEDT) on both nights.

The draft will be telecast live on Fox Footy as well as streaming on Kayo Sports.

jarrod.lawler@news.com.au