AFL Draft Grades: Essendon, Sydney and Collingwood among early winners from 2020 AFL Draft
There is still plenty of time for members of the 2020 AFL Draft class to shine, but clubs are already emerging as winners. Every team’s haul rated.
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Years will pass before anyone truly knows which club ‘won’ or did best out of the 2020 AFL Draft, but there are some early frontrunners.
Sydney, Essendon and Collingwood all invested heavily for various reasons and are reaping the rewards, but they aren’t the only ones.
The (very) early draft grades are in, based on opportunity, upside and exposed AFL and second-tier form.
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ADELAIDE
The Crows placed a bid on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan at No.1, only for the Western Bulldogs to swiftly match it. There were some murmurs when they then selected local product Riley Thilthorpe over uber-hyped fellow key forward Logan McDonald. However, Thilthorpe’s flashed star potential in six senior appearances, including a five-goal debut against Hawthorn. Fellow 2020 draftees James Rowe (11 games) and Sam Berry (10) also look good choices. There are also high hopes for No.11 pick Luke Pedlar and No.25 Brayden Cook, but they remain at SANFL level.
Early draft grade: B. Thilthorpe’s performances, including multiple goals in four matches, have silenced critics, while Rowe and Berry look like decent role players at worst.
BRISBANE
Blake Coleman, younger brother of fellow Lion Keidean, was the Lions’ first of three selections in last year’s draft at No.24, but it was always unlikely any of them would make a sizeable impact for a contending squad. Even so, Harry Sharp – who broke the AFL’s 2km Draft Combine record last year – played in the first two rounds. Sharp has since undergone ankle surgery and is out for three months. Coleman and Henry Smith are developing in the VFL.
Early draft grade: C. It was a good result that Sharp snuck a couple of early games in.
CARLTON
The Blues’ top-10 pick was used to secure Adam Saad from Essendon and they also moved back in the second round to bring in ex-Cat Lachie Fogarty. They nabbed Corey Durdin and Jack Carroll in the national draft, but it’s rookie-lister Luke Parks – a 192cm intercept defender – who’s broken through to play five AFL matches.
Early draft grade: C. Durdin and Carroll have battled to make an impression at VFL level to date, but Parks’ ability to break into the senior side already is a nice surprise.
COLLINGWOOD
This was the Pies’ most-important draft in years, after they shipped off Adam Treloar, Jaidyn Stephenson, Tom Phillips and Atu Bosenavulagi in some serious salary sacrificing. They ended up selecting a competition-high six players in the national draft: Oliver Henry (17), Finlay Macrae (19), Reef McInnes (23), Caleb Poulter (30), Liam McMahon (31) and Beau McCreery (44). Henry was all the rage in the pre-season and debuted in Round 1, but is yet to make his mark in three games. Macrae is the younger brother of Bulldogs star Jack and gathered 18 disposals in his first match. However, it’s McCreery (eight games) and Poulter (five) who’ve made the biggest impact. McCreery has kicked three goals twice and had eight and nine tackles in separate outings, while the athletic Poulter has made a seamless transition.
Early draft grade: B. In a tough season, Collingwood’s 2020 draft crop is offering a ray of hope. Henry and Macrae have more to give, but Poulter and McCreery already look hits with late-ish picks.
ESSENDON
The jokes about the Bombers’ epic drought without a finals win have faded this year as their kids take centre stage. It’s a remarkable reversal of fortunes in the PR stakes, after Joe Daniher, Adam Saad, Orazio Fantasia and Conor McKenna departed last year. They had three top-10 picks and the first two of them – Nik Cox and Archie Perkins – have played 20 games between them. Commentators and fans alike are falling over themselves about Cox’s athleticism and skills for someone of 200cm, while Perkins is also holding his own, including winning 20 possessions against Brisbane. The other top-tenner, Zach Reid, made his senior debut in Round 5 before being struck down by glandular fever. Next Generation Academy products Josh Eyre and Cody Brand are longer-term prospects.
Early draft grade: B+. The Bombers had the best draft hand last year and the evidence so far is they picked wisely and with genuine upside in mind. A big tick.
FREMANTLE
Shoulder surgery prematurely ended the season of the Dockers’ top choice, defender Heath Chapman, but not before he showed he will be a big part of the club’s future. He played six games up to Round 7 before going down in his maiden Western Derby. None of Freo’s other three national draftees – Nathan O’Driscoll, Brandon Walker and Joel Western – have cracked it for a senior game yet. Western’s good WAFL form has him on the verge of senior selection, though. All four guys are from Western Australia, so retention shouldn’t be a problem. This year’s other standout is Josh Treacy, the No.7 pick in the rookie draft. Treacy’s AFL numbers don’t pop off the page yet, but, at 18, he already boasts seven goals in a WAFL pre-season game and five in a regular season match.
Early draft grade: B. From a small sample size, the Dockers appear to have unearthed two bookends, while the diminutive Western has hit the ground running, too.
GEELONG
We didn’t expect to hear much in 2021 from the Cats’ three draftees last year, but Max Holmes was having none of that. Holmes, the son of dual Olympian Lee Naylor and taken at pick 20, forced his way into Chris Scott’s veteran-laden side with impressive VFL form. The 18-year-old amassed 16 disposals on his AFL debut against Hawthorn in Round 3, and was solid again at the weekend after twice being the medical substitute. Beanpole ruckman Shannon Neale has played two VFL games, but will take time to develop an AFL-ready body, while defender Nick Stevens has made an early impression at second-tier level.
Early draft grade: B-. Holmes looks a good long-term prospect who could yet play a role this year.
GOLD COAST
The Suns another top-10 pick to its list with Elijah Hollands, who slid to pick seven as he recovers from a knee reconstruction. They are taking a cautious approach with Hollands’ rehabilitation. AFL concessions enabled them to sign Academy products Joel Jeffrey and Alex Davies – both of whom may have attracted first-round bids – as well as Aiden Fyfe and Rhys Nicholls before the draft. Davies has been a consistent ball-winner in the VFL, while Jeffrey had a breakout game against the Lions’ reserves a couple of weeks back. Nicholls and Fyfe, in particular, have also had their moments.
Early draft grade: C+. They can’t be graded too highly without any of them playing at AFL level, but there’s plenty of reason for buoyancy from what we’ve seen to date.
GWS GIANTS
Like Essendon, the Giants lost some experienced talent to rival clubs, so their potential replacements came in the first round of last year’s draft. Two of GWS’s three picks in that territory – Tanner Bruhn (five games) and Conor Stone (four) – have received several chances each at the top level. Bruhn hasn’t been able to replicate his eye-catching four-goal Community Series effort, but he’s displayed some nice glimpses. Ryan Angwin has been a solid VFL performer so far. The Giants also took a flyer in the late 50s on Cameron Fleeton and mature-ager Jacob Wehr, who’s consistently racking up possessions for the club’s reserves.
Early draft grade: B-. Injuries somewhat forced the Giants’ hand in selecting their newest kids, but they’ve been solid. Bruhn’s Community Series effort was a sneak peek at his ability.
HAWTHORN
It’s been a rough introduction for the Hawks’ top draftees. Prized No.6 selection Denver Grainger-Barras (knee) and No.29 pick Seamus Mitchell (ankle) were both sidelined in the first half of the season. Next Generation Academy product Connor Downie was tipped to be an early debutant, but remains at VFL level, where he’s made steady progress. Goalsneak Tyler Brockman has enjoyed the biggest impact of this group, kicking six goals in four senior games after a promising pre-season.
Early draft grade: C+. Harder than others to get a read on. There are big raps on Grainger-Barras, and how he turns out will determine how this draft class is perceived for the Hawks.
MELBOURNE
We’re yet to see any of the Demons’ draftees – Jake Bowey (pick 21), Bailey Laurie (22) or Fraser Rosman (34) – but that’s not surprising, given they sit on top of the ladder. Bowey’s won 22 disposals or more in four of his five VFL matches, with an ankle injury ending his other game early. Athletic wingman Rosman is making good progress, but Laurie is recovering from a fractured eye socket that has sidelined him since mid-April.
Early draft grade: C. Bowey is small and light but classy – and clearly the closest to an AFL game of the trio. More will be known once these guys are seen at senior standard.
NORTH MELBOURNE
It’s hard not to be impressed with the way the Roos’ second pick, No.13 overall, Tom Powell, has adapted to AFL football, including gathering at least 18 disposals six times. His composure has already been well noted. They’ve also exposed No.3 selection Will Phillips (seven games) and fleet-footed Charlie Lazzaro (10) early and often. Phillips is yet to make his mark at senior level, but won a season-high 33 disposals in his last VFL game, in a sign he’s finding his feet after not playing in 2020. Ex-Tiger Connor Menadue has also filled a role for injury-ravaged North after being a rookie pick. Eddie Ford is settling in at state league level, but Phoenix Spicer (hamstring) is out indefinitely.
Early draft grade: B. Powell is the clear standout, but Phillips is the one they’ve invested most in and overlooked Logan McDonald to select. If Phillips takes off, this looks a handy haul.
PORT ADELAIDE
The Power didn’t hesitate matching Collingwood’s bid for ready-made man-child Lachie Jones at pick 16 in last year’s draft. Jones was tied to the club through its Next Generation Academy and would have made an instant senior debut if not for a hamstring setback. An ankle injury sidelined him again after three AFL matches, but he was back in the side immediately once he was fit. That proved plenty about the esteem with which he’s already held in. Key forward Ollie Lord, chosen at pick 49, is developing in the SANFL.
Early draft grade: B-. The Power wasn’t a big player in last year’s draft, but has struck gold with Jones, who will be a key contributor for the next decade and beyond.
RICHMOND
The Tigers swapped first-round picks last year with St Kilda in the Jack Higgins trade, then also shipped the Saints’ selection to Geelong to bolster their 2021 draft presence. That made for a very quiet draft last year, but they still added ruckman Samson Ryan (pick 40) and matched Essendon’s bid for father-son prospect Maurice Rioli jnr (51). Ryan’s made a good impression up forward and as a back-up ruckman, kicking 10 goals in six matches. Damien Hardwick is also on record as saying Rioli is more advanced than he expected.
Early draft grade: C. Everything is relative, but the Tigers look to have done well with two late picks at this stage.
ST KILDA
The Saints nabbed Calder Cannons forward Matthew Allison with the last pick of the first round last year. They haven’t featured strongly in the draft for much of the past six years, making only nine picks in the first or second round since 2015. Allison’s playing a high half-forward and wing role so far in the VFL and remains a work in progress. St Kilda’s made a habit of bringing more established talent in and it did that again with defender Tom Highmore at pick 45. Highmore’s managed five games – one as the medical sub – and doesn’t look out of place at the highest level.
Early draft grade: C+. Highmore has been a decent contributor, but they need Allison to work out in the long run to boost their small base of top-quality kids.
SYDNEY SWANS
Last year’s draft was a slam dunk for Kinnear Beatson and his recruiting team. Snaring prized tall forward Logan McDonald at four was a great result, but they also scored two promising Academy talents, Braeden Campbell and Errol Gulden. The Hawks placed a bid on Campbell at No.5, but Gulden lasted until pick 32, when Geelong tried to draft him. All three players debuted in Round 1 and were pivotal in the Swans’ hot start. Campbell and Gulden are currently sidelined with stress-related injuries, while McDonald went back to state league ranks after a pair of quiet games at AFL level. Rookie Malachy Carruthers is winning plenty of the ball in the VFL, too.
Early draft grade: A. Campbell and Gulden have already received Rising Star nominations, while McDonald kicked seven goals in his first three AFL matches. All three have star potential.
WEST COAST
The Eagles sent their 2020 first-round pick to Geelong as part of the mega package a year earlier to secure Tim Kelly. They then set about trading further out of last year’s draft, given the uncertainty after Covid-19 wiped out the NAB League season. West Coast made just two national draft selections, Luke Edwards (52) – son of ex-Crow Tyson – and Isiah Winder (57), while Zane Trew was added in the rookie draft. Edwards will make his AFL debut against Carlton on Sunday, while a knee injury has ruined Winder’s season so far. On-baller Trew could prove a bargain, given his consistent WAFL efforts.
Early draft grade: C-. Injuries have paved the way for Edwards to play, and Trew could join him soon.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Dogs are yet to blood the dux of the 2020 draft class, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who they gleefully matched Adelaide’s bid for. Luke Beveridge and co. have repeatedly stated they will take it slowly with Ugle-Hagan despite the obvious anticipation for his AFL debut. A concussion then last week’s VFL abandonment mean he’s been unsighted for a few weeks. Ugle-Hagan’s five-goal showing against the GWS Giants’ reserves whetted fans’ appetite. Dominic Bedendo (pick 55) has impressed at the lower level with his intensity and he’s kicked nine goals in his past four VFL appearances. Rookie Lachie McNeil’s missed only one AFL match – when he was still the medical sub – as a pressure forward.
Early draft grade: C+. McNeil’s been able to contribute straight away and Bedendo is promising, but Ugle-Hagan is the biggest focus here.
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