AFL Draft 2022: The latest on the top father-son and academy prospect tied to your club
Father-son and academy bids are set to shake up both nights of the draft. Where will your club’s aligned talent receive bids? Here’s everything you need to know.
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The best player in this year’s draft Will Ashcroft has taken all the headlines with the son of three-time premiership player Marcus to land at Brisbane under the father-son rule.
But he’s not the only highly-touted prospect aligned to an AFL club.
There are more famous names, hoping to follow family bloodlines all the way to the top level, while a number of talented Next Generation Academy members have drawn significant interest.
This year, clubs do not have direct access to its NGA prospects until after pick 40 and cannot match a rival bid before then.
So, where will your team’s prospects fall?
Here are the names aligned to every club that are in the draft mix – and the latest intel on what might happen.
Note: The official nominations list will be finalised closer to the draft.
ADELAIDE
The Crows are set to secure under-18 All-Australian Max Michalanney after officially nominating the son of Norwood great Jim, who played 211 SANFL games for the Redlegs between 1974 and 1986, as a father-son prospect. Adelaide then traded its pick 23 to North Melbourne for pick 59 and a future second-round selection, while also orchestrating a deal with Brisbane for the Lions’ pick 56, in exchange for Fremantle’s future fourth-round call. It means the club is unlikely to take another player before having to match a bid, which is expected come between 25 and 40, for Michalanney – a versatile, competitive defender, who has a nice turn of speed. Isaac Keeler’spath to the Crows isn’t as clear, however, with the highly-talented big man unlikely to still be available at pick 40, when Adelaide would have rights to him under the Next Generation Academy rules. The 198cm prospect’s brilliant best – as an unstoppable forward and mobile ruckman – is likely to see a club pounce in the second round, if not before.
BRISBANE
The Lions will secure Will Ashcroft as a father-son, but will have to match a very early bid on him given he is rated as a standout player in this year’s draft. The brilliant ball-winning midfielder – who is the son of three-time premiership player Marcus – has done it all this year, including playing some stunning VFL games for the Lions and winning the Larke Medal as the best player at the under-18 national championships. Midfielder Jaspa Fletcher is both a father-son and an NGA prospect for the Lions who starred for the Allies during the national championships. The son of Adrian Fletcher – who played 231 AFL games for four clubs – shapes as a first-round pick. Shadeau Brain is another highly-rated Lions Academy prospect who attended the national draft combine and played three games for the Allies in the national championships. A 185cm forward, Brain is a good in the air and at ground level and also featured in three VFL games this year. Brisbane is also set to land Darryl McDowell-White Jnr as a categroy B rookie, who is the son of three-time premiership player Darryl White. McDowell-White, 25, had previously pursued a basketball career but played four VFL games for Brisbane late this season.
CARLTON
Calder Cannons prospect Dane Whitnall, the son of former Blues captain Lance, was solid as an overager in the NAB League but did not receive a state combine invite, meaning the Blues do not have any father-sons or NGA prospects right in the draft frame. But Carlton does have a family tie. Draft bolter Olli Hotton’s father, Trent, played 61 games for the Blues from 2000-02. Hotton has surged into top 20 calculations after an impressive national carnival and NAB League grand final, but would pick 10 be too early for the quick and classy small?
COLLINGWOOD
Oakleigh Chargers duo Yuyu Ashwin and Riley Voulanas are both tied to Collingwood’s Next Generation Academy. Outside playmaker Ashwin had some monster games in the NAB League, including three goals and 34 disposals in a best-on-ground display, and kicked a goal in all three of his VFL matches for Collingwood. Voulanas didn’t receive a state combine invite but booted a goal in his sole VFL appearances for the Pies and kicked three majors in a talent-stacked clash between the Chargers and the Sandringham Dragons late in the year.
ESSENDON
The Bombers could do with a livewire small forward and have access to two as father-sons this year. Alwyn Davey Jnr and Jayden Davey are both eligible to Essendon, as the twin sons of 100-game Bomber Alwyn Davey. Alwyn is considered a late first-round or second-round pick and considers himself to be more like his uncle, former Melbourne midfielder Aaron Davey. Jayden has not played this year after doing an ACL injury during pre-season but is described as being a “clone” of his father. The pair are keen to join the Bombers but are yet to make their intentions clear on whether they will officially nominate as father-sons. Essendon also has access to 188cm Northern Territory forward Anthony Munkara as an NGA prospect. An AFL Academy member, Munkara left school in Adelaide and returned home to Tiwi Islands to deal with a series of family tragedies this year which have meant he has little exposed form. But what he has shown has been exciting and the Bombers have told Munkara they want to pick him if a bid does not come too early.
FREMANTLE
Dockers Next Generation Academy prospects Josh Draper, Jasper Scaife and Conrad Williams all received state combine invites, but it is Draper who looms as the most likely to join the club despite missing the middle part of the year with an ankle injury. The claims of Draper, an athletic 195cm key forward with a nice leap who can back up in the ruck, have been strengthened by the departures of Rory Lobb and Lloyd Meek. Tall forward Scaife, who booted 20 goals in 10 WAFL matches this year and represented WA at the national carnival, is also in the mix to be taken by Fremantle.
GEELONG
The Cats have history with producing father-sons and have access to one this year in Osca Riccardi, who is the son of 288-game player Peter. Riccardi played some solid football with the Geelong Falcons in the NAB League this year and also featured in one VFL match late in the season for the Cats. He has primarily played as a rebounding defender, but has also gone forward and kicked goals on occasion. Riccardi was invited to the state draft combine in October - where he won the 2km time trial in 6min 17sec – and is a chance to be a late draft pick. Geelong also has access to midfielder Ted Clohesy through its NGA program. A vice-captain of the Falcons in the NAB League this year, Clohesy is a strong contest and clearance player who featured in three games for Vic Country in the national championships and also impressed in one late-season match for the Cats’ VFL side.
GOLD COAST
Athletic prospect Lloyd Johnston is a rookie chance after impressing recruiters with his high marking – mainly in defence - at NAB League and national level this year. It’s a similar story for smart goalkicker Beau Tedcastle, who, like Johnston, is aligned to the Suns through their Darwin zone. The clever forward, who took part in the Victorian state combine, booted 19 majors in 11 appearances for GWV Rebels this season, after he burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old at junior level in the NTFL. Queensland local Brinn Little is another academy product in the mix with the 19-year-old defender testing alongside Tedcastle last week, after featuring in the VFL in 2022.
GWS GIANTS
GWS will add tough as nails midfielder-forward Harry Rowston to their mix from their Academy, who the club expects to attract a bid in the 25-40 range. The Griffith product earned U18 All Australian status and took out the Allies’ MVP after an eye-catching national carnival, with the highlight being a 24-disposal, three-goal display against South Australia. Fellow Academy product Nick Madden, a 201cm ruckman, might not receive a bid until later in the national intake or slide through to the rookie draft. Madden recorded 27 hitouts and seven touches in a VFL game late in the season for GWS and has imposing size - already weighing 110kg - but will take time to build his tank. After being unable to secure Tigers big man Ivan Soldo in the Jacob Hopper trade, the Giants are understood to be still deciding whether they take Madden.
HAWTHORN
It will be a nervous wait for the Hawks on the second night of the draft, with speedy NGA defender Cooper Vickery a genuine chance to be swooped on before the top 40 cutoff. The Indigenous prospect from the Gunaikurnai nation in Gippsland told News Corp that he has no reservations about joining the Hawks - despite the harrowing accusations levelled at the club - and has spoken to at least nine clubs in the lead-up to the draft. The lockdown defender recorded the eighth best 20m sprint time at the national combine, with his closing speed and ability to shut down his opponents his major strengths. The Hawks also have father-son prospect Jerome Lawrence – the son of 1991 premiership player Stephen who played 146 games for the Hawks – and Eastern Ranges NGA product Josh Bennetts tied to the club. Lawrence is a nimble key forward that showed some good signs as an overager for the Oakleigh Chargers but missed a fair chunk of the year with injury, while Bennetts is a 178cm outside player who is considered a chance to be taken as a Category B rookie. After narrowly missing out on Noah Anderson in 2019 as a father-son, draft bolter Ed Allan is the heartbreak story this time around, with his father Ben playing 98 games for the Hawks – an agonising two matches off meeting the eligibility criteria.
ST KILDA
The Saints will have to pay up if they want to secure their top NGA player this year in midfielder Cam Mackenzie. The Sandringham Dragons product shapes as a potential top-10 draft selection this year, given his great speed, composure and ball-winning abilities. He logged 26 disposals, six clearances and two goals for the Dragons in the NAB League Grand Final in September and also played some good school football with Brighton Grammar. Likened to Sydney’s Callum Mills, Mackenzie has been part of St Kilda’s NGA program for the past three years, eligible given his father was born in South Africa.
MELBOURNE
The Demons have access to Finn Emile-Brennan as an NGA prospect this year. Considered a potential pick later in the draft, the Dandenong Stingrays defender is part of the club’s Academy given his mum hails from Mauritius. He played three games for Vic Country during the under-18 national championships and was invited to the state draft combine in October. Emile-Brennan’s kicking is his strength. Riak Andrew is an NGA prospect to watch for next year, being the younger brother of Gold Coast’s Mac Andrew. Basketballer Kyah Farris-White has signed on as a Category B Rookie ahead of the draft.
NORTH MELBOURNE
After a strong finish to the season, capped off by an impressive performance for Vic Metro in the under-18 championships decider, the son of AFL/VFL games record holder Brent Harvey, Cooper Harvey, is a chance to become just the sixth father-son selection in North Melbourne’s history. The clever goalkicker, who has terrific hands above his head, battled injury early in 2022 but looks to have done enough to put himself right in the mix at the back-end of the draft.
PORT ADELAIDE
Port Adelaide has decided against nominating Harper Montgomery, the son of Brett who played 126 games with the club, as a father-son prospect. The tough, intercept defender has emerged as a draft prospect this year while playing under-18s and reserves for North Adelaide, as well as two league matches for the Magpies. Montgomery was a late call-up to the SA draft combine after receiving a little bit of interest from other clubs. Will Francou, the son 156-game midfielder Josh, who impressed in the Roosters’ under-18 grand final loss, is another father-son-eligible prospect in this year’s draft, but it could be NGA member Nathan Barkla who finds his way onto the club’s list as a category B rookie. The midfielder-defender, who featured for SA at the under-18 carnival and in three games for Port’s SANFL side, is part of the Power’s Multicultural Next Generation Program, given his mother’s Filipino heritage.
RICHMOND
The Tigers don’t have any notable NGA or father-son prospects this year.
SYDNEY
Sydney has 19-year-old key defender Will Edwards in their Academy - who is raw but ran a sizzling 2.876-second 20m sprint time at the state combine – as well as Indhi Kirk, the son of Sydney great Brett. However, both are unlikely to be taken by the Swans. Edwards’ standout game came earlier in the season against expected top-two selection Aaron Cadman, where his closing speed and intercept marking stood out.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
It’s a case of almost, but not quite for the Bulldogs this year, with top-10 pick contender Mattaes Phillipou’s father Sam playing three games for the club back in 1995. And Brett Montgomery played 78 games for the Bulldogs – 22 short of qualifying Harper as a father-son candidate.
WEST COAST
He may have started in defence, but West Coast NGA prospect Tyrell Dewar finished the year as an exciting small-forward. The skilful, speedy prospect booted five goals in Subiaco’s first two Colts finals, but there’s every chance he slips all the way through to the rookie draft and becomes an Eagle. Classy wingman Jordyn Baker, who averaged 118 Champion Data ranking points in his first eight WAFL Colts games this season and featured for WA at the national carnival, is another tied to the club’s academy.
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