AFL Draft 2023: South Australia’s top prospects – June edition
The national under-18 carnival is underway and AFL Draft boards across the country are taking shape. We profile and rank South Australia’s best prospects.
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A freakish talent, son of a gun and standout leader headline South Australia's top 2023 AFL draft prospects.
Glenelg excitement machine Ashton Moir, who can kick equally well on both sides of his body, remains the SANFL’s hottest teenage prospect as the AFL U18 Boys National Championships get underway.
But the challengers are coming thick and fast.
Central District giant Will McCabe – son of former Hawthorn small defender and Central Jack Oatey Medallist Luke McCabe – and South Australia under-18 captain Will Patton are pushing their cases.
Reputations will be enhanced and ruined in the nationals, which kicked off last weekend, with a star-studded Allies side too strong for South Australia.
But the Croweaters will be looking to bounce back against Vic Metro on Sunday at Thebarton Oval.
The championships, to be played in June and July, will see all five teams - SA, the Allies, Victoria Metro, Victoria Country and Western Australia - play each other to decide the national champion.
Individual performances in the championships will be crucial to determining the draft order.
SA’S TOP 20 DRAFT PROSPECTS
1. Ashton Moir
(Glenelg)
Medium forward, 18, 188cm, 84kg
RP: 104 (Under-18)
The freakishly-skilled forward, who booted 30 goals in 10 SANFL under-18 matches in a standout bottom-age season in 2022, is a top-10 pick on talent. But, after dividing his time between Glenelg’s under-18s and reserves this year, and battling a hip injury, he’s failed to really enhance his standing. Took four marks but didn’t have any real influence in the national carnival opener against the Allies, and will be out to make his mark against Vic Metro.
Under-18 coach Tony Bamford says: “He’s two-sided, kicks left and right. Is able to impact in the air and at ground level and is very powerful.’’
2. Will McCabe
(Central District)
Key defender, 17, 197cm, 82kg
RP: 112 (Under-18)
Hawthorn father-son prospect, with dad Luke, a Central premiership player, having played 138 games for the Hawks from 1995-2004, McCabe is one of the few Croweaters to push his name up draft boards in the first half of the year. He was the best player on the ground against a combined GWS and Sydney Academy side in SA’s warm-up game, with his aerial prowess on full display, before tallying a team-high seven intercepts against the Allies.
Bamford says: “A very good one-on-one defender who can play on talls and smalls. Is very athletic.’’
3. Will Patton
(West Adelaide)
Defender, 18, 193cm, 81kg
RP: 119 (Under-18)
South Australia’s under-18 captain has a few similar traits to emerging Hawthorn star Will Day, who was also drafted as a smart, left-footed defender from West Adelaide. Patton, who had an impact on the national state as a bottom-ager in 2022, reads the play exceptionally well, often getting himself into the right spot to win the ball back off the opposition – in the air and on the ground.
Bamford says: “A very composed, elite decision-maker. Can defend all types of forwards, Possesses excellent leadership skills.’’
SEE EVERY SUPERCOACH SCORE FROM THE SA V ALLIES MATCH HERE
4. Kane McAuliffe
(North Adelaide)
Midfielder, 18, 188cm, 88kg
RP: 148 (Under-18)
The big-bodied midfielder was close to the cleanest player on the ground in last year’s SANFL under-18 grand final as a bottom-ager and he’s picked up where he left off in 2023. McAuliffe is averaging 26 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 1.2 and 148 ranking points – the most of any player to have played at least three games – and the penetrating left-footer tallied eight more disposals than any teammate in the warm-up game against the SA under-20s side.
Bamford says: “An inside, ballwinning midfielder with great penetration and power.’’
5. Logan Evans
(Norwood)
Defender, 17, 189cm, 76kg
RP: 75 (League)
The teenager is having an impact for Norwood in the SANFL this season, averaging 15 disposals and six intercepts in his first four matches at senior level. In a similar mould to Norwood’s Crows father-son draftee Max Michalanney last year, Evans has shown a tremendous ability to compete. But he’s also a terrific intercept mark and clean on the ground.
Bamford says: “A smart intercept defender who has a great ability to anticipate opposition ball movement.’’
6. Jack Delean
(South Adelaide)
Small forward, 18, 182cm, 74kg
RP: 110 (Under-18)
The skilful, high-flying forward has been making life difficult for opposition defenders in the SANFL under-18s for the best part of three seasons now. Delean booted 34 goals in 13 matches as a 16-year-old in 2021, 28 in 2022 and 16 in four matches already this season. He’s an AFL Academy member and was clever and creative with 16 disposals in the team’s recent clash with Carlton’s VFL side, before booting four goals – three of them in a blistering third term – in the first game of the national champs.
Bamford says: “A small forward with plenty of tricks. Does his damage in the forward 50 and has the ability to hit the scoreboard quickly.’’
7. Jed Dignan
(North Adelaide)
Forward/midfielder, 18, 188cm, 77kg
RP: 118 (Under-18)
Dignan showed his versatility as a midfielder, winning the ball at ground level at stoppages and in the air, in the exhibition match against the U20s. The classy 18-year-old then tallied 21 disposals, 14 contested possessions, eight clearances, six marks, two goals and 171 ranking points in a dominant SANFL under-18s performance a week later. But, like a number of his teammates, he struggled against the Allies
Bamford says: “An elite decision-maker, has clean hands, doesn’t fumble and is very impactful. Hurts the opposition in the front half of the ground.’’
8. Taylor Goad
(South Adelaide)
Ruckman, 18, 206cm, 92kg
RP: 80 (Under-18)
Rapidly developing big man has caught the eye with his outstanding athletic profile and ability to stay involved at ground level for a player of his size. Goad posted ranking-point tallies of 142 and 125 in his final two SANFL under-18 matches before enjoying some nice moments in the ruck against the Allies.
Bamford says: “He’s raw but has great potential. Is very tall and athletic and a great kid who is very open to learning. He’s the fastest player in the (SANFL) under-18 competition over 20 metres.’’
9. Callum Fairall
(Eagles)
Defender, 17, 188cm, 74kg
RP: 124 (Under-18)
The brilliant ball-user sets up play from the back half, more often than not picking the right option and hitting it. But Fairall, who started the year in the Eagles’ reserves side, has also shown an ability to win the ball through the midfield and make good decisions by hand in tight. Was SA’s second-leading ball-winner, behind bottom-ager Sid Draper, in first game of the national carnival.
Bamford says: “A composed, classy ball user off half-back. Is light in stature but can win the ball both inside and outside the contest.’’
10. Patrick Weckert
(Eagles)
Key forward, 18, 191cm, 93kg
RP: 153 (Under-18)
The strong-marking forward, who chose footy over a promising junior cricket career, started the year in the Eagles’ League side, after making his debut as a 17-year-old in 2022. But after failing to have any real impact, he dropped back to SANFL under-18 level and took a combined 17 marks and booted eight goals in his first two matches. An interesting under-18 carnival looms against the country’s best junior defenders.
Bamford says: “A big, powerful key forward who approaches the game in a physical manner.’’
11. Alex Holt
(Sturt)
Defender, 18, 183cm, 81kg
RP: 70 (Reserves)
The teenager has held down a spot in Sturt’s reserves side this season and possesses a nice blend of offence and defence. Holt is competitive, clean - in the air and at ground level - and reads the play well, getting himself in spots to win the ball back and use his foot skills going the other way.
Bamford says: “A very competitive one-on-one defender who can play deep or high.’’
12. Luca Slade
(Sturt)
Midfielder, 17, 182cm, 70kg
RP: 105 (Under-18)
The versatile midfielder makes good decisions with the ball, often waiting and finding the right target by hand or foot – as he did on a wet night against the under-20s. Slade, who starred for Sturt at the back end of his bottom-age season, has a knack puts his teammates in better positions.
Bamford says: “A very clean footballer, especially under pressure at ground level. Has great composure with ball in hand, making very good decisions.’’
13. Trent Tattoli
(Central District)
Midfielder, 18, 181cm, 70kg
RP: 142 (Under-18)
Prolific, well-balanced midfielder, who averaged 29 disposals and 143 rankings points as a bottom-ager, has picked up where he left off last year, leading the SANFL under-18s for disposals in 2023. Tattoli can win the ball at the contest and is very damaging on the outside, with his kicking efficiency of 77 per cent the best of any midfielder averaging at least 7.5 kicks per game.
14. Liam Fawcett
(Central District)
Key forward, 18, 198cm, 87kg
RP: 104 (Under-18)
Fawcett has proven a difficult match-up for defenders – he’s hard to beat one out, terrific on the lead, and has the athletic ability to get up the ground and get his hands on the ball. The strong-marking tall has had 22 disposals or more in three of his eight under-18 matches this year and booted 18 goals, in a 213-ranking point display against West Adelaide, when he also recorded six score assists.
15. Bodie Ryan
(Glenelg)
Defender, 18, 188cm, 82kg
RP: 119 (Under-18)
Cousin of Collingwood defender Jakob Ryan, Bodie plays in a very similar, eye-catching fashion. The Sacred Heart College sets up the play from defence and leads the SANFL under-18 competition for intercept possessions.
16. Loch Rawlinson
(Sturt)
Forward/midfielder, 18, 177cm, 69kg
RP: 115 (Under-18)
The clever ball-winner is fast and clean and just makes things happen when pushing forward from the midfield. Rawlinson averaged 24 disposals, six score involvements and one goal in his first six SANFL under-18 matches of the year.
17. Ben Ridgway
(Glenelg)
Midfielder, 18, 183cm, 80kg
RP: 107 (Under-18)
Winner of the McCallum Tomkins Medal as the best the SANFL under-18s player, the tough, hard-working midfielder had a brilliant bottom-age season in 2022. He averaged 24 disposals and 134 ranking points, led Glenelg to a flag and impressed in the under-17 showcase game on AFL grand final day. But he’s yet to really make his mark this season.
18. Tom Wheaton
(South Adelaide)
Midfielder, 17, 190cm
RP: 107 (Under-18)
Tall, strong midfielder who gets his hands on the ball first at the contest. Wheaton, who had a team-high nine tackles against the Allies, is clean at ground level and has shown glimpses of what he can do in traffic.
19. Declan Gladigau
(Sturt)
Wingman, 17, 181cm
RP: 103 (Under-18)
Gladigau is hard-running wingman with a nice turn of speed and a terrific ability to find space. After a strong finish to 2022, which saw him boot seven goals in his final four games, the long-kicking right footer has provided Sturt with plenty of run and drive this season.
20. Anders McShane
(Glenelg)
Midfielder, 18, 185cm
RP: 123 (Under-18)
A no-frills midfielder, who gets the job done – at the contest and away from it – McShane was one of the Croweaters to standout up to the Allies early dominance in the national carnival opener. Lacks a bit of polish, but just gets himself into the right spots.
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